Shadow's large body quickly wrapped around the beast limiting its movement. It snapped and snapped but eventually that stopped as the black Necrocoil squeezed tighter.
Tru fell to the ground gracefully when he was met with a bow and arrow in his face. He held up his hands in defeat in face of the threat. Behind the bow was a short skinny brown haired boy.
Before Tru could get a better look at him a cold steel knife was pressed against his neck. He was then forced to his knees. He looked and saw the blade wielder was also another brown haired boy.
"Tell your…uh…snake to release the wolf, or else!" the knife holding boy spoke loudly but sounded nervous. Tru just looked up at him as he was slightly shaking.
"Or what?" asked Tru as he glared at the boy back, his eyes shining in the light.
"Uh…well we'll kill you and…uh…leave you for the birds!" shouted the knife holding boy. Tru just scoffed and stood up.
"Yeah whatever" said Tru as he punched the boy in the gut and had him drop the knife. He then turned to Shadow but saw there was a third memeber of this group. Though this one seemed to be well equipped and held their blade up to Shadow's neck.
"INSOLENCE! BEHEAD THEM ALL AND SHOW THEM YOUR WORTH" spoke the voice though it wasn't a whisper but a full on yell.
Tru clutched his head in pain as he slowly made his way towards the child. His vision became blurry and his strength faded from him.
"Hey, don't you take another step or I will kill your snake!" said the sword holding boy.
"Wait no, you can't Joff! The magical beast did nothing to us. It's him who is commanding it like a slave!" said the bow holding boy.
"Yeah Cristin? You can't go around being soft to every contracted magical beast! Some are just as cruel as their master." said Joff has he held the blade closer to Shadow.
"TSSSSS!" hissed Shadow in annoyance as he ignored the blade and looked towards Tru. Tru stood up and leaned against a tree panting and sweating as the voice ringed in his ear.
"Just put….the blade….down!" weakly said Tru. He struggled with every breath but the voice got louder and stronger.
"Eeeennnd theeeem! This will not be tolerated!" yelled the Voice. Tru's mana circulated rapidly though instead of a deep red it was pitch black as night.
It rose from his feet to his head as if setting him on fire with shadows. He looked up and could see the golden eyes behind Shadow as if goading him to slaughter them.
'I can't, I mustn't. They're children." said Tru in his heart.
"Theeey are fodder. Nothing but nusicance! How dare they raise a weapon against you! The price for this offense is death." said the voice.
"Tru are you ok?" asked Wrath. Hearing her sweet voice caused the pain to subside and he got his mana under control. He looked up and saw that the eyes were gone as well.
He slide down the tree and sat on his butt as he grabbed in the air. "Water, I need water." said Tru weakly.
Cristin looked at Joff who nodded to the knife holding boy to bring him water. "Crispi, you give him some water. Careful now, don't know what he could be planning." said Joff.
Shadow stared hard at the Joff as if trying to burn a hole through his skull. Joff looked up and jumped back a few feet from the Necrocoil's glare. He gulped and put his sword away.
Crispi gave Tru the water which the latter happily guzzled it down. He wiped his mouth and looked up at Joff. He now could see that Joff was a blond haired boy with blue eyes and a slightly cruel smile.
"Hey Joff look I told you his skin was red! It wasn't the light playing tricks or his mana. He really is red." said Crispi as he brought his face closer to Tru's.
Tru waved to boy off in annoyance and stood up. He looked at Shadow who looked to be relieved that it's master was ok. He walked up and stroked it's head.
"Don't worry bout me, Shadow. I'm alright." softly said Tru before turning to the group. "Now what the hell do you three want?" asked Tru as Shadow turned back to them.
Joff stepped forward and pointed at the Flaming Albino Dire Wolf. "We are searching the Emerald Forest for contract and this is the one that I have picked for myself. Then after we get me one we'll get my two companions one also." said the boy with his chest puffed out.
"Oh ok" said Tru curiously "What happens afterwards? You live happily ever after in a hole together somewhere?" mocked the Grey haired man.
"Tsk no!" replied Cristin "After we all get powerful contracts we are going to head to the Gem Fortress and become great warriors for the King of Gems!"
"Oh the King of Gem? That's some ambition." said Tru as he leaned against Shadow.
"The King of Gems?" asked Wrath curiously "Who is that?".
"He's the current king of the Gem Fortress in the south. Biggest population of humans lived there and have been ruled by the king of Gems for centuries now." replied Tru.
"Yeah so if you don't unhand the beast, we will end yoi. Incase you haven't noticed there's three of us and one of you!" said Joff as he unsheathed his sword, pointing the blade at Tru.
"Yeah we may not be able to use mana yet but we are the best swordsman, archer and knife user from our village." said Crispi. Tru casted them a confused look.
"Soooo neither of you can use mana?" asked Tru?
"Nope" quickly replied Crispi.
"Neither one of you? Not even him?" said Tru as he pointed to Cristin.
"Nope not a single drop" said Crispi proudly "Though that won't stop us from easily dispatching you."
"Shadow." said Tru with a obvious bored expression.
"Tsss?"
"Kill the wolf. Then kill them." dryly said Tru before walking away. Shadow squeezed the wolf neck hard until it made a loud snap. It then uncoiled and slow slithered to Crispi.
*ding*
"Mission Updated"
"Kill Albino Direwolf (1/1)"
The trio began visibly shaking as the large twenty-one foot Necrocoil inched closer. It casted a large shadow that engulfed them all. It opened its mouth and showed several rows of fangs. Crispi wet him myself while Joff held his sword in his hands shaking hard. Their last companion didn't even move
"WAIT PLEASE DONT LET IT EAT US!" they said in unison. "We're sorry!"
"Tch" scoffed Tru as he came back and stopped Shadow. "Come Shadow, let's go. Also clean yourselves up, you reek of piss."
Shadow then used Size Manipulation nand returned back to its smaller form and climbed on Tru's shoulder. Tru picked up the cub and headed back towards Vinswill. The trio looked at his back and could see Shadow staring at them mockingly while flicking its tongue.
"Joff, are we gonna just let him go! He killed the magical beast you wanted and took the cub!" said Crispi.
"I see that." said Joff while grinding his teeth. He put his sword back and began to take off after Tru. He ran caught up while his companions chased behind him.
"So uh…sir. What're you going to do with the cub? Don't you already have a contract?" asked Joff.
Tru took a Quick Look behind him at Joff but said nothing and kept walking. He increased his walking speed slightly. Joff basically had to full on sprint to catch up to him.
"If you want I can buy it-"
"3,000 Zil. Right now and the cub is yours." said Tru with his hand out. He could tell from the boys' expression they didn't have that kind of currency.
"Oh stop teasing them and be honest. Though I don't care for their methods, they do have heart." said Wrath as Vinswill came into view.
"Tch. Heart? Yeah if I was any normal human they'd try to rip mine out of my chest. Won't be letting my guard down just because they're children." grumbled Tru.
"Perhaps you could make them work for it then? It's not like you need the cub and you didn't kill it. Besides they could make good lackies in the long run." said Wrath.
Tru pondered this idea as he walked into the gate with the boys right behind him. He then came to the smithy and they stood outside waiting. Tru turned behind him and gestured for them to come inside.
"Daddy! Tru's back!" said Marsalis with a big smile. "He even brought some new friends!"
"We are not friends girl!" said Joff with contempt.
Tru turned and looked at him his eyes glowing even brighter in the darkness. He stared hard at him causing the boy to sweat and become nervous. Shadow also gave him a murderous stare.
"Go and sit in the corner till you're called for."