After a long walk, we didn't encounter anyone that tries to hunt down Liza. I was a bit confused since there's lack of attempt assassination despite the fact that Liza has a bounty on her head.
Then again, I ain't complaining about the lack of attack. But, it's too quiet, so quiet that it's suspicious. It's been a few hour has passed and only wild animals or monsters that attack us.
Now, the sun is already set and there's no sign of attack. My anxiety meter has went through the roof and I can't stop fidgeting. While trying to lit up the campfire, I anxiously twiddling the new dagger with my paw.
"Is something the matter, Sir Darren?" I turn to see Eric while giving more firewood. I simply accept the wood and toss it into the fire.
"A lot of things...." I said while twirling the dagger. "It's too quiet.....there's no sign of attack.....only animals and monsters.....no humans..."
"...now that you mention it...." Eric said before closing his eyes. As he did that, I felt a powerful pulse emits from Eric's heart. My hair stood up and my spine felt a chill from said pulse.
What the hell was that!?
"I can't sense anyone around us, except for the local animals and monsters in this area." Eric said before frowning and look at me. "Say, Sir Darren. I never got to ask, but why there's no trace of mana from you?"
Ah, so that's what he's doing, trying to sense mana on the surrounding by releasing powerful pulse into the surrounding. Since each living creature's mana is different, if a foreign mana attempt to contact other mana source, it'll trigger reaction. And since mana users were trained to sense mana, a reaction between mana will definitely caught by their radar.
I simply grab a mana ore from my bag and simply let him see it. Eric looks so confused as I simply let him see the ore. A minute has passed and Eric looks annoyed.
"What are you doing?" I facepawed before grabbing his hand and place the ore on Eric's hand. And the ore glows brightly, causing Eric to widen his eyes. I grab it and the light diminish, turning into nothing more than a normal crystal ore. This cause Eric to made a face of realization.
You're.....manaless?" I simply nodded, a hint of bitterness still stuck at the back of my head. I have accept the fact that I'm just a normal Kobold in a world full of magic, but it's still sucks.
"....my apologies." I was surprised at Eric's sudden apologies. Back then, if you choose to not upgrade your INT or WIS stats, it'll guarantee with a debuff, and said debuff were cruel. Your fame diminish until you changes it which results your interactions will results in a bad results, you'll get kicked out of any alchemy or magic shop, etc.
When I found out that, I thought I might be discriminate not only because of my Kobold appearance. I thought I can't made contact with any humans due to possible discrimination. I forgot....this is a real world and not all of humans were one dimensional plank of wood.
"It's....okay..." I said hesitantly. "I have....accept that fact...." I twiddling with my dagger as Eric places his hand on his shoulder.
"If you're worry about being discriminated by us, you shouldn't forget. You saved us, helping us during that town, so we owed you a lot." I look at him before I felt my mouth twitch upward.
"Okay.....thanks...." Eric simply smiled before nodding.
"And besides, a lot of knights from Celesterra Kingdom don't possess mana. Some have aura to make up their lack of mana, and others simply train their body to their fullest." Eric said as I was a bit surprised at the fact before nodding.
"Hey, guys. What were you guys talking about?" We look to see Liza finally finish cleaning herself up. A fun fact that I was told by them, some magic were used to do mundane shits, like low tier water magic for shower during camping, etc.
I guess no matter what world exist, there's always superpowers used for mundane stuff.
"We're talking about how quiet it has been." Liza frowns a bit and suddenly, a powerful force from her slaps me like a truck and my leg quivers a bit. I can see why she's a god candidate, her raw mana output is insane!
"....you're right, there's only animals and monster." Liza comment before looking at me. ".....I never got to ask, but how can't I sense any traces of mana from you?"
.....I'm simply grab a mana ore and let her look. She understand it immediately and look apologetic.
"Oh...sorry..." Liza looks away while fidgeting. "I...didn't mean to be insensitive."
"It's okay...." I said while sighing.
"...you're more dangerous than I thought, Darren." I did a double-take at her comment. "You're untrackable by mana pulse or aura sense, it means that you can stay hidden and attack enemies without them sensing you."
".....sadly, I'm a bit loud...to do sneak attack." I said while rubbing my cheek.
"That's something you can fix through training." Liza said as I simply nodded.
"Speaking of training...." I said before grabbing my dagger and point at Liza, earning them a surprised look. "How about we...have a spar? Perhaps, we can....see what we....lack?"
".....sure." Liza said as she grabs her staff. Eric looks a bit anxious but remains seated. Both of us go to a nearby clearing and stand on opposite end. I grab both my dagger and retracted spear while Liza gripped her staff.
We stare at each other before I start charging. Liza points her staff at me and multiple magic circle starts appear in front of her and light orbs start coming out of them. I increase the strength of my legs and went into the forest before the light orb were shot. I can't outran light, so I use the forest's surrounding to use as a shield.
I climb the tree before using my parkour skill and agility to jump around the tree, as the trees near my area slowly got destroyed by the orbs. I land on one of the tree before jumping towards Liza and swings down my spear. To my surprise, several magic circles appear around her staff and it collides with the tip of the spear, resulting with a 'clang'.
"Don't think just because I'm a mage, I can't-!" I didn't give her a chance to talk as I pull the collar of her shirt and slams ger into the ground, pointing my blade at her throat.
"Next time....less talk.....more actions..." Liza was flustered as she stuttered. "My win..." I put away my weapon and help her to get up.
"Y-yeah..." Liza said before shaking her head. "One more time! I'm not gonna get caught off guard!"
I simply grin before preparing myself. And for the rest of the night, we continue to spar.
I won but both of us manages to learn from each of our mistakes in every match, 4-3 in my favor.
To be continued