"Do...you...fear...us"
As Aron heard the creature mutter these words while being only a few inches away, he raised a brow oddly. As a beast monger, Aron's instincts naturally told him if an opponent was dangerous. But ever since he had left Argos's library, Aron had never felt that sensation of a warning again and this time was no different as he simply looked back into the creature's lifeless eyes and replied.
"No, I don't fear anything that I can kill." After Aron replied with these words, the creature simply looked at him blankly before turning its attention to a wandering animal not too far from them.
In an instant, it appeared in front of the animal that now seemed frozen in place and asked the same odd question. However, the animal of course did not answer, causing the creature to smile before lifting the animal with its large arms and devouring it.
'...what is that thing.' Aron thought to himself before the ring he wore gave off a glow as it passed the knowledge he wanted into his mind.
[ A mana demon. A creature made of pure mana but with little records of it's origins. All that is known is that once they come to be, they merge with the soul of an individual and grant them unmatched talent in manipulating mana but always at a cost far exceeding the benefits. Thus they are viewed as a curse and not a blessing. ]
After gaining this information, Aron glanced over at the mana demon and continued to observe its behavior. It was passive most times and only acted when living creatures came within a hundred meter radius of Evanora. Whether big or small, each animal and creature met the same fate.
This cycle carried on until the sun began to rise. The mana demon's figure slowly began to become more and more transparent before it faded completely.
Once it did so, Evanora let out a murmur as she slowly got up and stretched her arms before rubbing her eye sleepily while looking in Aron's direction.
"Hmm, you're still here?" She asked slowly and with visible confusion on her still sleepy face.
"Is there a reason I shouldn't?" Aron asked before turning his head in her direction with a brow raised.
"Everyone leaves, always. If they don't by the time night falls, they die. So Evanora left, Evanora must be alone." Evanora muttered as she began looking and the many patches of blood splatter that covered the once green grass.
'So it only appears at night and only attacks living creatures within a hundred meter radius that show fear? That explains why nothing occurred at the manor and on the airship.
"I see… My only question is, how did you end up this way?" Aron asked still hopeful for any leads that would help in finding a way back to limbo faster.
"Evanora was always this way. Evanora doesn't knowwhy. She is sorry." Aron could only sigh before standing up and turning to leave.
"Then I have nothing more to ask," Aron said no goodbyes and simply began to walk away, although he knew the chances were slim, he was still hopeful of learning more about a way to Limbo from Pesia.
'From what Ariel told me, I'd need to wait for years before getting that sort of opportunity in the academy, more especially since my background is non-existent. My best option is to forcefully get such an opportunity thought I should first check if they even have knowledge on the subject.' Aron clicked his tongue in irritation at the mere thought of having to spend time around multiple individuals like the aristocrats he had encountered earlier.
"Why are you following me?" Aron who hadn't walked too far had come to a stop and turned to Evanora who was walking a few feet behind him.
"You don't fear Evanora, You didn't die because of Evanora. She wants to follow, to learn why." She looked towards Aron with an expectation but he simply turned and continued walking.
"I've got my own problems to worry about, I don't need to add more." He explained shortly before continuing to walk away but Evanora continued to follow.
"Evanora will listen, she will not cause trouble. Evanora is very strong."The odd girl added as she followed while Aron chose to give her no response.
They continued to travel this way for the days to come, not exchanging any words despite being close to each other.
As the sun rose and the fourth day finally came without anything eventful occurring, Aron looked in the north-eastern direction and showed a small smirk as he began moving forward with a persistent Evanora not too far behind.
"We are being watched" Evanora revealed after the two had passed the twenty-kilometre mark Aron had travelled since the cave.
Aron turned to her and without asking she raised her hand and pointed towards a pitch-black small bird that stood on a tree branch not too far away from them.
"Evanora wants you to die." Evanora instructed while raising her hand towards the bird, in an instant, it lost all life in its eyes and collapsed to the ground.
Aron gave Evanora an odd look for a moment before walking over to the dead bird. He touched it only for a moment before raising his head and speaking.
"Jin, it's Aron!" He declared in a loud tone before hearing some rustling come from another large tree not too far from them.
Both Aron and Evanora looked up at the tree as the leaves began to move strangely as if they were a mirage, soon revealing Jin's figure seated on a branch while making strange hand gestures.
"Well, consider me impressed once again. I take pride in my ability to conceal myself. I see you ran into the silent girl as well." He sighed before jumping off the branch and landing on the ground a few meters away from Aron. After checking the mana signature on the bird he found it was was exactly like Jin's so it wasn't hard for Aron to discern this.
"I take it you travelled without problems?" Aron approached Jin and asked in a casual tone to which Jin nodded and shrugged.
"Aside from the nagging woman who keeps demanding we explain what's happening, the journey has been quite smooth. Speaking of the aristocrats if you're here then..." Jin trailed off and had a small smile appear on his face which soon faded when Aron shook his head.
"I can not antagonize the families fully without being sure they won't be a nuisance. At the very least I can make an example of them but even that needs to be done in the open and projected for all to see." Aron explained causing Jin to sigh but nod in agreement.
"Even then what makes you sure they won't do everything in their power to have you dead? Even in Galos Academy I'm sure things happen in the dark." Jin was cautious but Aron simply smiled.
"For now the mana crystal is valuable so they'll keep each other in check, as for what happens in Galos academy if they try to use hidden means it only work against them." Aron didn't go into much detail as Jin couldn't be trusted.
Over the days traveling with Evanora he had enough time to congeal a solid plan on to deal with his new found enemies temporarily.
'So him asking Jagu and me to leave was for the aristocrats to not know he worked with others in the cave? Did he do that for our safety... or his benefit, this fellow is tricky to read.' Jin couldn't help but wonder as he looked at Aron who only tilted his head as if asking if something was the matter.
"Well, at least you've got it figured out. Let's head to the airship then." Jin could only smile and say this while putting his worries to the back of his mind.