Three days passed and the Heroes had become as capable as mid-rank adventurers. For a normal person, it would have taken years of continuous effort to reach this point. If they wanted, they could easily leave the palace and make a living outside. We had also been having lessons on the history of the continent. Lessons which were heavily weighted around Elsbeth and painted demonkind in an unfavourable manner. Of course I made it my duty to 'fix' some explanations and explain some events in more detail, much to the annoyance of certain people. The Heroes had certainly learnt a lot so far but there was still one thing they had not done yet.
In the usual courtyard we trained in, three large cages had been set up on one end. Knight Captain Rafhound stood next to them with other knights and magicians on standby. On a side note, since my little demonstration of strength I had been exempt from the harsher combat training. Instead I stood at the sidelines and read books from the library as I watched the Heroes train. I had been offered numerous times to come inside but I quickly recognised it at as a ploy to separate me from them. It wasn't only that, I had been offered 'special' lessons in magic away from the Heroes and even a house in the town outside the palace if I ever felt 'stifled' by life here. They couldn't do much directly to keep me from the Heroes, so I stuck to them as much as I could.
Back to topic however, the Heroes and I stood in the middle of the courtyard attentive towards the Knight Captain.
"Today you will taste your first real combat. Although you have sparred with each other and the knights, now you will fight real monsters." He gestured to the cages, "Inside are five horned wolves including their alpha. They are common in areas uninhabited and one of the most staple monsters. Don't underestimate their strength, it is easy for the pack to surround you. In that situation alone, even a knight may have trouble."
Gary raised his hand while looking at the cages with a mixture of apprehension and excitement, "Just what are monsters anyway? Are they like mutated animals?"
"No, monsters are unlike humans or anima-," the Knight Captain began.
"Excuse me, may I explain?" I said raising my own hand, "The Heroes may understand easier coming from me."
The Captain frowned but nodded his consent, "Go ahead."
"Monsters are unlike humans, animals or 'demons'. They are fundamentally different existences and are made from rampant mana combined with properties of this world. They only have three basic instincts, survive, grow and multiply. Unlike normal creatures they don't breed, they consume mana from living beings and this mana is used to create more of them and grow stronger. They come in many species, shapes and sizes but they all have one thing in common. Let one out please."
The Knight Captain signalled for the cage to be opened. A single wolf came out. Its fur was dark blue and a small white horn shaped like a jagged dagger protruded from its head. The Heroes clenched their weapons. Each of them had chosen the weapons themselves from the Castle's armoury. Carl had a longsword, Alicia had thick gauntlets, Sayuri had a 'katana', and Gary held a shortsword as well as small staff.
I raised my own staff towards the monster. The staff was unnecessary as I could manipulate mana directly from inside me but for now it did a good job holding me back. A single lance of ice shot forward and pierced the wolf's skull. It crumbled to the ground and from it a cloud of light began to rise, till it finally dispersed in the sky.
"That was the pent up mana in its body. All monsters will release something like this upon death. Additionally its body will dissolve in the next few minutes. If you want something from it, like its horn or such, you need to harvest them quickly." I finished my explanation with a satisfied nod.
"Umm Dave, just a question," Alicia said hesitantly. "What did you mean 'consume mana'."
"Well, eating works well for most of them. Some can do other things but yeah, that's pretty much the reason monsters need to be hunted. They attack everything else around them."
"Ea-eating…." Alicia shook herself in distaste.
"And we're going to fight the remaining wolves?" Carl asked.
"Are they?" I looked to the Knight Captain.
"Of course," he replied.
"Wait, Dave what did you mean by 'they', shouldn't it be 'we'?" Carl quickly snapped as the cages were being opened.
"Hmmm, I already killed one so, no." I smiled and walked to the side of the courtyard, "Good luck."
"Traitor!"
"Hey at your level this should be easy. Besides I'll help out in a pinch."
"Right…."
"Oh looks like their coming."
The Heroes quickly began to cast magic to reinforce their bodies as the four wolves locked on to them. One of them was significantly larger and the horn on its head a bright red. They immediately pounced forward and surrounded the four Heroes. I was on the sidelines. Sayuri slashed forward grazing a wolf's side only for another to bite at her thighs. Alicia stepped in and bashed it away with her fists. Gary began to gather mana as Carl held the Alpha back. They weren't doing too badly and their teamwork so far had covered them.
"You're attacks are too weak. Horned wolves have a strong pelt that normal swords will have trouble penetrating. Don't overextend yourselves," the Knight Captain yelled, "remember a single mistake in battle could mean your lives."
"Fire ball!" Gary released his magic and several small balls of fire leapt at the wolves. They were easily avoided however the attack had proved its point as the Heroes were no longer surrounded. Taking up the momentum Sayuri released a horizontal slash at a retreating wolf. The tip of her blade cleaved through the monster as it howled in surprise and barked its last. The sensation of metal ripping through flesh however had clearly taken its toll as Sayuri flinched unable to pull her eyes away from what she had done. It was a slight pause but more than enough for the alpha to charge. Its jaws split wide open, saliva dripping from its teeth. There was no mercy and its intention to kill was clear as day. Even seeing the approaching beast Sayuri could only stumble in panic. The others, distracted, couldn't react in time.
Alicia opened her mouth eyes wide in panic, "Sa-!"
The Alpha's jaws prepared to slam shut but never closed as instead it crashed into a glass like wall, bouncing off reeling from the shock.
My staff was pointed towards it, "Focus Sayuri. Remember where you are and who you're with. You can't get startled now."
She nodded and retreated back, her skin pale with sweat. Carl moved to cover thrusting his sword at another wolf. It made contact but barely grazed its fur. With a twist he changed his stance and whipped the blade around, forcing it further slicing deep through the wold's neck. Alicia shot forwards wary of the Alpha's tactics. Like before it tried to jump towards Carl but was surprised instead by Alicia's fist crashing again its head. It reeled back and I winced, that one looked painful.
A pillar of fire rose and the final regular wolf was burnt to a crisp as Gary cheered in success. With the Alpha alone, the Heroes advanced forward. The atmosphere only grew tenser as none of them dared to become complacent. Although Sayuri's mistake had been small they knew what the result would have been if I hadn't stepped in. I smiled. Though new to fighting they were learning very quickly.
With its kin dead the Alpha jumped back and released a powerful howl. Its horn began to glow absorbing the mana in the air. Not only me but the eyes of everyone watching widened. This wasn't just a normal Alpha, it was a variant that could control mana. Captain Rafhound grimaced and stepped forwards but I held out my hand to stop him.
"They can do this, it's fine."
"That's no ordinary horned wolf," he said stiffly.
"I realise that but they are also the Heroes." I smiled to him reassuringly and he begrudgingly stood aside. Well in the worst case I could just save them.
The Alpha finished charging and released a bolt of red light towards the Heroes. Alicia punched the ground and a wall of earth rose up to intercept it. The wall crumbled to bits. Carl and Sayuri swung simultaneously at the light, mana flowing in their blades.
"Rend!" the light was split and shot to the sides of the courtyard exploding. Before the dust could even begin to settle the Alpha pounced immediately.
"Earth lance!" Gary shouted and a lance shot forwards shattering against the Alpha's fur. The monster however continued to charge growling fiercely. Gary grinned far from done, "Times twenty!" A barrage of earth lances fired in rapid succession pushing back the Alpha as it was forced to curl and protect itself. Gary was certainly good at launching multiple small spells at once.
"Let's finish this!" Carl yelled. Before the Alpha could recover he slashed at its legs. Black blood spurt across the ground. Sayuri did the same on the other side, hampering its movements. The Alpha roared and a shockwave expanded from its horn knocking the two back. Then from above a figure fell downwards.
"Breaker!" Alicia's fist crashed down upon the Alpha's head and pummelled it into the ground. A thunderous shatter filled the air and the Alpha's horned skidded across the ground. It didn't get back up.
A second pause followed by a loud cheer and clapping came from the mass of onlookers that had gathered. The Heroes however collapsed in a huddle. They were tired and their nerves had been fired up but they were smiling.
"Congratulations," the Knight Captain and I walked towards them, "but that was just meant to be the warm-up."
Their bodies flinched as they looked at us with incredulous gazes.