With out next target set, we walk restlessly through the forest. From time to time I do a quick check of my status and see my MP rising again.
'I think I have a good grasp of my rune magic now with the tests done earlier after the wolf incident.'
Every rune of my magic costs me 100 MP no matter what the rune itself does and I believe that my rare skill unbound imagination is the origin of this. My guess for now is that normally runes can do other stuff but need more runs and complexer structure to achieve things like fire or sounds. Thanks to my rare skill, however, I can accomplish all those things with a basic rune and its cost of 100 MP.
'I wonder, whether Myrna also has magic abilities?'
"Say," I open the conversation after a long walk of silence, "would it be okay for me to do an Appraisal on you? With that I can see your status like HP, MP, skills, race etc."
"I...uhm."
Myrna seems to be fine with skills and the lot, but the moment I mentioned race a slight shock rushed through her body. 'Probably I hit a red flag there?'
"It's fine if you have things you don't want to be known." I smile. "Everyone has secrets, including me. But I just want you to know that things like race or origin doesn't matter to me."
"Th....thanks"
After walking for hours we are finally leaving this forest which Rai chose as my starting point. For the first time after entering this world, I feel tired. Not mentally but physically.
"Let's take a break." I suggest.
"Yeah." Myrna replies.
We have to tents nor a fireplace, so we just sit down on some bigger stones near a road.
Hour after hour we could escape talking by just focusing on walking but now with the rest, there's no way to get around conversation.
"Can you tell me more about this country? I'm not from here and want to know what it's like to live here."
'After all I will live my new life here, demons or not.'
"I don't know much about cities of huma...."
Before she could finish her sentence she shuts herself by placing both her hands in front of her mouth. With eyes wide open she stares at me, probably awaiting my reaction.
Even though I mentioned it earlier she still seems to be on guard, so I give her a smile right away.
"No worries Myrna. I said I don't care about your origin and I mean it."
"O...kay.... Human cities. I've never been to one before. We... people like me get enslaved and live a miserable live as a fun object to humans.." she explains with grief in her voice.
"Not including Ryuu!" she hastly adds. "Ryuu is a good human!"
"I don't take it to heart," I laugh.
But that slavery thing worries me. It almost feels like this world is a past of my own, just with magic instead of technology.
"It's true that humans have the tendency to forgot that we are a mere gear in nature's machine. Ah sorry, I didn't want to interrupt you."
"I heard from others that all bigger cities are surrounded by big walls. Only small villages are free to enter. Cities cost entry fees. I don't know much more, sorry."
"That's already a good amount of information" I reply.
Entering a human city is a difficult matter right now since we don't have money on us and it's also a dangerous place for Myrna as her race is seen as a mere plaything. Humans in this world tend to make the mistake of seeing themselves as the ultimate being of nature. Born to reign and suppress.
"Is....Ryuu fine?" Myrna asks.
"Huh? Oh, sorry. Yes everything is fine. I'm just thinking about our next steps. The sun is also already set. There's no chance of reaching Tovol today, is there?"
Myrna shakes her head.
"I could go on for several hours, but with Ryuu's exhaustion I don't think it's possible."
'Another hint! Whatever her race is, it comes with increased endurance.'
"That's okay. Let's just sleep aside from the road then."
"Won't it get cold for Ryuu?"
"I will be fine, I guess".
Actually I got myself used to uncomfortable circumstances. Not that I desired them but I trained with them in my old life, to keep a calm even if something unexpected occurs. Now it might come in handy.
It doesn't take long till Myrna falls asleep even though our start wasn't probably the best. But now she sleeps like a normal girl.
This would probably be the best opportunity to check her general status and see what she's hiding... but I put the idea aside. There is no virtue in an action like this.
[ Magic chant detected ]
'Huh?'
The surprising message appears in a text box right in front of my eyes. However, it doesn't show the source or what magic was detected, so I can't tell whether it's by foes or friends.
Myrna is still sleeping, so she probably hasn't noticed the use of magic. It's not the finest way but for now I hide behind the rocks near our sleeping ground. If whatever is about to come is hostile, I will take them out by surprise. Otherwise I can just come out of my hidden position an apologise.
From the forest I can see three human shaped shadows, going for Myrna's place. Even though they are near, I can't hear a single footstep.
'Noise cancelling magic?'
"Didn't you say two people?" one shadow whispers.
"Maybe the other one found us and left behind to escape safely."
"Anyway, he left behind a real beauty, eh? Seems like a Demi-Human, Fox breed. She will bring us a lot of money if we manage to not abuse her beforehand."
'So they are enemies. No need to hold back then.'
Still hidden I move my fingers behind my back and write the word for body paralysis in their air. I could use instant casting as well, but there's a thing I want to confirm, so I only make use of Rapid Chain casting and slight of hands to prepare a rune for all three foes.
Just before they are about to reach Myrna, I activate the runes on their body.
"What's...going on.."
All three of them get stuck in their actual posture, not able to move while my runes shine in a bright purple colour on their bodies.
"It's an ambush!"
Not enough with my ambush, Myrna also gets up suddenly, being on all fours like a wild animal, ready to attack. I wasn't sure at first but it seems my suspicions were right. She has enhanced abilities compared to average humans. Without my magic detection I wouldn't have known about this attack.
"Who are you," she hisses. "What have you done to Ryuu?"