The remaining 2 deer, seeing Viktor walk off, decided it was safe enough to attack. They were 9 levels higher than Mana but being natural herbivores when alive, they weren't a huge threat to her.
They lined up next to one another, snorting in anger at her and stomping their hooves. Mana raised her arms again, taking a long, deep breath to calm herself.
"Roorf."
Mana charged on Fluffy's queue, and the deer dashed towards her in unison the moment she moved. Viktor readied his shield, beginning to swing his flail about in case Mana was unable to handle it.
As the beasts charged her, they began to bare their teeth in anticipation of a bite. She jumped up, using both of their heads as a boost, before kicking off and landing behind them. The landing sent shivers up her spine in excitement.
She quickly turned around, "time to test something," she whispered to herself. She sprinted towards them as they began to turn and upon reaching them, she quickly grabbed one of the deer's head, her strength keeping it from moving. Using both of her hands to control it left her completely exposed to the other. The remaining creature bit down onto her left shoulder, instantly causing a gush of blood to seep from the wound around the deer's teeth.
As Mana let out a pained wince, Fluffy detached a paw from her back before digging it into the animal's face. "You will regret it if she drops me because of you," he attempted to warn it as he reattached his paw to Mana. The deer let go briefly in pain, giving her the moment she was waiting for.
"Shit..." Viktor muttered.
Mana then tossed the full-sized doe at Viktor, causing him to raise his shield to block the body. "That's for mocking me earlier," she winked as Viktor landed the final blow onto the herbivore.
She then planted the balls of her feet into the ground, steadying herself before letting out a loud, strained groan. Mana leaned in towards the remaining enemy and quickly made contact with the neck of the last monster, barely missing its face.
It went in for another bite, Mana's punch seemingly having no effect, but she was prepared. She sent her other fist hurling at it, connecting with its jaw.
Critical. It died before it even started falling. An instant sense of relief overcame her.
"Now that we're safe," Fluffy began as he raised a claw up, "this is payback," he said, his voice low and evil, before bringing it back down and sinking it into Mana's back without his magika.
"Ow!" She screeched, flinching at the pain. He let out a dry laugh before removing his paws and meowing to heal her and Viktor in an aura.
"Only an aura cat, huh?" Viktor teased Fluffy as he approached the two, referencing his technique.
"I don't like to work if I don't have to," he rolled his little golden eyes, "but our heroine isn't exactly the best, yet."
Mana's bite wound began to slowly heal, closing up 1 tooth hole at a time. She gagged at the site.
"Me-ohhh," Fluffy began, sending a boost to the aura, instantly closing 2 more of the marks, and numbing the pain.
"Thank you," she said with sincerity.
"Be careful," he warned, "if I have to keep empowering you like this, I'm going to need to nap soon."
She turned to look at the deer who still possessed a heart. They had 3 hours to destroy them, or they'd come back. Viktor grabbed his dagger from his waistband before offering it to her, "this is why we carry daggers." He wasn't going to help her, he needed her to try and get used to one of the worst parts of being a heroine.
He knew she didn't want this life, but since she felt it was her job to fix the world, he felt he needed to do his part to support her in any way possible. Even if it meant making her get her hands dirty; literally.
Mana sheathed her weapons then took the small dagger from his hand.
She felt her stomach start to churn as she slowly approached the first one Viktor had killed. It was lying on the ground with its head a few inches away from its body, a pool of blood surrounded it, coating the grass underneath.
She dropped down to her knees close to its chest, her arms weakening from her nausea that was starting in the pit of her stomach.
As Mana sat contemplating her life choices after finally sinking the dagger into the carcass, their attention was suddenly diverted by rustling bushes nearby.
Viktor readied his shield and flail while Mana stood up to join his side. She threw the dagger at one of the corpses to embed it before bringing her knuckles out.
"Excuse me!" A young man's voice called out, "I'm sorry to bother you, but I come with dire news for Mr. Klora!" The man continued as he emerged from the bushes, his hands raised.
"Who are you?" Viktor demanded, refusing to lower his weapon. None of them had seen him before, but he was dressed as a guard.
"My name's Camden," he introduced himself, lowering his hands to his sides as he got closer to them. Mana came out from behind Viktor to introduce herself.
"What do you need?" Viktor asked, finally lowering his weapons.
"There's a situation back at the village that they need your help with," he began, making eye contact with Viktor. "There's a rotted pack of wolves trying to get in, and the others are having a hard time with them."
Viktor read his level; 25. "What's your rank?" He asked, holding out a palm to stop him. Camden was only a few feet from them when he halted.
"Sir?"
"Your rank," he repeated, looking at his gear.
"I'm a guard, sir," Camden confirmed.
Viktor gave him a slight glare, "alright, I'll go check it out." He then turned to Mana, "if you don't remove their hearts soon, they will come back; even the headless one."
He walked over to her, placing a hand onto her shoulder and leaning down to whisper into her ear, "you need to finish the job, no matter the cost. Guild members don't become guards until they're level 40." Mana's eyes got wide, and Fluffy smirked. "Remember, I won't let you die, but-"
"Sir? Is everything alright?" Camden asked, curiously.
"Yes, sorry. She's still learning how to kill the heart," Viktor replied, acting embarrassed. "Can you help train her?"
"Of course, sir."
"And be nice, give her the good loot," Viktor commanded.