Luminous ' It's a charm, which is use during evil rituals.'
Looking at the map again, I turned towards Firuza.
Usman " Alright, this is the plan. You and Growlithe will attack from the right side. You will catch one wereboar in your fire sphere, which will catch attention. At that time, Growlithe." I said looking at him.
Growlithe" Woof!"
Usman " You will kill the coming wereboar with Flare blitz. Then, you will finish the earlier with flamethrower."
He nodded.
Firuza" What about you?"
Usman" I will target the gnoll with the charm first. Then, I will take care of them."
Then, I conjured two bracelets and a collar. It was imbued with smell hiding magic.
Usman " Here, these will hide your smell."
I tied one, other Firuza took and fasten the collar on Growlithe's neck. It was a black bracelet with white stone. Then, they moved as quiet as they could. I jumped up on a tree and aimed for gnoll.
Usman " Enchant."
WOOSH!
Three arrows tips were engulfed in black flames.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
As gnoll was hit by arrows, he caught fire. In his struggle, he rolled on ground but soon he stopped moving. Merchant, who was tied with carriage was horrified by the flames. Hearing gnoll shouts wereboar arrived. Who before got any ideas were taken down by me in same manner.
Usman " Well, that's that."
I blitz towards the merchant.
...
Firuza P.O.V.
As I reached near the wereboars, I was again amazed by the powers of a Guardian. I looked at my left hand.
Firuza ' To think, a simple bracelet like this can hide your smell.'
I turned towards the wereboar and used my spell.
Firuza " Fire sphere!"
As I said that wereboar was prisoned in a fire.
Wereboar " OIIINNKK!"
Hearing his voice, other one charged towards me, when I came out of the bushes.
Whoosh!
BANG!
But before he came near me, he was blasted away by Growlithe. Blue flames were truly beautiful.
Growlithe " Argf..."
He jolted. According to Usman, blue flames were tough to handle. Looked like, Growlithe still need time to master them.
WHOOSH!
Then, he used his fire breath to finish off mine.
Firuza " We are done. Let's go to Usman."
I went towards the source of all shouts.
....
Usman P.O.V.
When I reached the burning bodies, I saw the merchant tied up with the carriage. I went near him and cut his ropes.
Usman " Don't worry. I am a mercenary. Sabae sent me here to rescue you." I said as he removed clothing from his mouth.
Ibad" Good God! Really?! I am truly lucky. If you hadn't come, I don't know what will happen to me." He said rubbing his arms.
At that time, Growlithe and Firuza arrived. Merchant stood up and came behind me.
Usman " They are in my party." I assured him.
Firuza " Are you okay if not I can heal?" She said looking at him.
Ibad" No, I am good. Even though people aren't when they are around those." He said looking at the corpses.
Usman" Can you drive the carriage?" I asked Firuza.
Firuza" Yes, you can sit inside."
Ibad" It is filled with goods, I will sit beside you."
Usman" Alright, Growlithe. You take the front, I will be in rear."
Growlithe" Woof!"
Ibad" Is it me or the beast is smart?" He asked.
Firuza" He is."
When, we were in formation, we started our return to the Warm Nest.
.....
Usman P.O.V.
During night, we reached the gates. Where guards took the carriage to a tavern suggested by Sabae. As for us, we returned to our tavern and went to our rooms.
Ding!
Quest: Completed!
Rewards: 160 GPS
Ding!
Congratulations!
You have leveled up!
Cr 8!
Balance:
12 pc
3190GP
2 Citrine 50 gp
1 Calcedony 50 gp
9 Amethyst - transparent deep purple 100 gp gems
5118 sp
385 cp
10 Azurites ( opaque mottled deep blue) each gem worth 10 gp each
6 White jade worth 100 gp each
1 potion of greater healing
Powers:
Projection: 68 arrows / 34 pairs of swords
17 pairs of awakened byakuya and Kanshou
8 low power Cadelborg 2
4 high power Cadelborg 2
2 Rho aias
2 sword barrel
1 Unlimited Blade Works
Mana enhancement
All purpose map
Demonic mark opened!
Self healing
Hell blaze
Growlithe
Cr 8
Moves:
Crunch
Fire Fang
Flamethrower
Flare Blitz
Usman " Looks like our adventure ends in this town." I said caressing Growlithe's back.
Then, I slept.
....
Usman P.O.V.
On our 6th day. We went to the reagent's office to get our documents. When we entered, Jacinta was reading a book. Seeing us, she closed it and put on her desk.
Jacinta " Yes. How can I help you?"
She was....polite.
Usman" We are here to get our documents remade. We are moving out tomorrow."
Her eyes widened.
Jacinta" Really?! I meant. Isn't it too early?"
She was confused.
Firuza" What he mean is that situation is now normal here."
Jacinta" So, you are going to city."
We nodded. She sighed.
Jacinta" Alright. Let me arrange things."
After few minutes, I put my hands on the plate. Hologram appeared.
Status!
Usman
Cr 8
Demon mark opened.
(A.N.: I am only describing new things.)
Jacinta " GOOD GODS!"
She was probably surprised.
Firuza " I know!"
After she wrote my new status, I moved aside. Firuza went and put her hands on it.
Status!
Name: Firuza Fironova
Race: Human
Class: Druid
Cr 4!
Job: Viscountess
Usman " Looks like you level up too."
Firuza " R... really?!"
She turned her head.
Jacinta " Yes. Congratulations!"
When she wrote both of our documents, she stamped them and gave to us. After that we went out to get something for Firuza like provisions.
.....
On our 7th day when we were going to the gates.
Sabae " Wait!"
Clip! Clop! Clip! Clop!
We saw a carriage coming behind us. From it's window, Sabae was waving her hand. As the carriage stopped, she came out.
Sabae " Usman. Lady druid."
She nodded to us. We also replied.
Firuza" Are you going out?" She asked looking at the carriage.
Sabae" Yes. After what happened to Ibad, someone needs to inform the city. So, I am going there and I presume you are going there also."
Usman" You want us to take a quest to escort you, right."
Sabae" You are blunt, aren't you."
She furrowed her eyes.
Firuza" It's obvious with you coming here without any guard. Probably, your friend told you." She said with a glint in her eyes.
Sabae sighed.
Sabae " Yes. So?"
Usman " We accept."
Ding!
Quest accepted!
Sabae " Then, I will be in your capable hands."
Usman" Firuza, you sit with her. Growlithe will be our Vanguard and I will take the rear." I said looking at her.
Firuza" Okay but don't push yourself too hard."
I nodded. She got in the carriage and we took the formation. Then, we moved out.
.....
In evening,
Me and coachman were setting camp and making preparations for our dinner.
Firuza " Pardon me but what is name of our next destination?" She asked taking tea.
She and Sabae were sitting on the projected chairs. Tea was brewed by me in projected tea set.
Sabae " I will but before that I am still surprised of the skills of guardian." She said sipping the tea.
Firuza" Well, his class is unique." She said smiling.
Sabae" Well that's true. As for your earlier question, we are headed to the city, Reme Serine. It's famous for its meat dishes."
Firuza" Interesting. Who is the lord?"
Sabae " It is governed by Countess Phelorna Selakiir. A 300 years old Elven woman."
Firuza" Hm, tell me more."
.....
Next noon.
We were on our way when I saw 5 trolls coming from the north side on the map.
Usman " Trolls from the north side!"
I alerted everyone. Growlithe stood on guard and I changed my swords. I also used the hell blaze. As the first troll came out near the carriage, it was captured in a fire prison. Second came in the front, who was hit by flamethrower. Third came in rear, who was both bisected and burnt to ashes by me.
Another came near the prisoned troll but was cross slashed by me moving fast. The fifth came near Growlithe, who took down his troll.
Troll" Ooooh!"
Slash! Whoosh!
Troll " OOOOH!!"
He fell down on fire. Growlithe went to the last and burnt him.
Usman " Everyone okay."
Firuza " Yes." She replied.
Usman" Well, let's keep going."
After that we returned to our formation and continued our journey.
...
Normal P.O.V.
During evening, Usman was roasting a deer. While ladies were sitting in the tent which was also projected by him. Sabae, who was laid on a fluffy Futton.
Sabae " His skills are broken, don't you think?" She said to Firuza, who was laying on her own Futton.
Firuza " Haaah~ I know. I felt the same way too before but after some time, not anymore."
She shook her head.
Sabae" Why?"
Her eyes narrowed.
Firuza " I had guidance before coming here, in which Lord called him a ' Guardian '."
Sabae eyes widened.
Sabae" So, you knew."
Firuza " I was confused with the word until.... that day."
Sabae" His class emergence day."
She nodded.
Sabae " What about... those black flames?"
Firuza " He awakened them recently."
Sabae" Awakened?"
Firuza" Yes."
Sabae" I see."
...
Usman P.O.V.
In the afternoon of the journey to Reme Serine. I saw a bulette coming towards me by digging underground on the map.
Usman " I finally get the opportunity to test it's strength." I whispered.
Suddenly, the bullete came out with his open maw.
Bullete" RAWR!"
It pounced on me but I stopped him mid action.
Firuza " Usman! What's...."
She and Sabae became quite when they saw me holding him in a awkward standing pose. Right now, I was only using demon mark. But I was able to feel his power.
BANG!
I pushed him back with a punch. It slides on the ground few feet. Then, he roared and charged towards me. I entered into opened state of demon mark. Right then, I could feel the energy flowing through my body. I controlled the darkness and turned my arms into claws like Meliodas did when he went berserk.
Slash!
Then, I slashed the incoming bullete into shreds. Which disintegrated later....
Usman " It's more powerful and tempting than I thought."
I looked at my clawed arms. Then, I turned off the demon mark and my arms became normal with darkness evaporating.
Firuza "... Usman..."
I turned around and saw her and Sabae with Growlithe looking at me. I sighed.
Usman " Don't worry. I am okay. I was just testing the powers of demon mark in its states."
Firuza".... Usman... don't mind me... but that power is.... disturbing..."
Sabae" Yes... you should be careful... with it's use..."
They sounded worried.
Usman" I know...I do feel the temptation of the power... but don't worry. I will not use it too much."
They sighed.
Firuza" It's good, you understand that."
Sabae " Yes."
Usman" Shall we?"
They nodded. After that we continued our journey.
...
Firuza P.O.V.
In evening, we reached the city walls. They were made of stones and were cemented. Sabae had told us that she would handle our entrance fee. Which Usman agreed as the quest reward. As discussed, Sabae handled our entrance and we went inside. Then, she took us to the reagent's office.
According to Sabae, City has a hexagonal shape. North area belonged to guards. Upper western belonged to nobles. Upper eastern side was commercial area.
Lower eastern side belonged to commoners and lower western side has merchant homes. Southern area was slums. Soon, carriage stopped to a two floors building. We came out and Sabae brought us in.
.....
Sabae P.O.V.
I escorted the guardian and lady druid inside the building. Guards who knew me beforehand made way for us. Then, we climbed the stairs and entered the second floor. Calarel Yeschant, a 400 years old voluptuous Long Black haired spectacled elvish woman, who was also my friend. At times like this, they were really useful.
THUK! THUK! THUK!
I knocked the door.
Calarel " Yes."
Her voice came. I opened the door slightly and saw her sitting on her chair. She was wearing a dress.
Sabae " Hello! It's being a while. Are you free?"
Calarel" Oh. Sabae, come in."
Coming in, I nodded to both of them and they came after me. Calarel looked at them and me.
Sabae " How about you helped them with their visas first, then, I will tell you everything." I said with a meaningful smile.
She looked at me and nodded. I turned to them and nodded as well. Lady druid gave their documents to her. As she was reading them, her eyes were widening.
Calarel " SABAE! THIS...."
Sabae " I will TELL you everything after you give them their visas." I said seriously cutting her words.
Calarel" You better." She said seriously.
Usman " How much for 3 of us."
Calarel" That would be 15 GPS." She said with a calculative look.
Boy put his right hand in his mini bag and took out a big purse. It gave the clicking sound of coins when he put it on her table. Calarel looked at him and the purse. Then, she picked it up and opened it. After that she emptied it on the table. Silver coins of purest quality fell on the table and calarel started counting them.
When she had counted the 150 SPS, she put them back in the purse.