The guard stepped into the carriage and his eyes scanned the huddled figures.
A few were asleep and others had their faces pale drawn in the dim light.
He noted the even rows, the lack of movement, the quiet whimpers that were the only sign of life.
Nothing seemed out of place. Yet, a prickle of unease remained. He could have sworn he felt something strange, a faint shimmer of mana, emanating from the carriage itself.
"You already know what happens when you try to escape," he growled, his voice a low threat that echoed in the confined space.
"Death."
He wasn't really expecting trouble. This was just a routine check, a way to instill fear and maintain control.
The slaves shivered with their eyes wide with terror. He smirked with a satisfied look in their reactions, and turned to leave.
As he lifted the heavy cloth, Ezekiel, who had been clinging to the ceiling with his wind magic, silently dropped to the floor.
-Whew... that was close.
- Close indeed.
- ACCK!!!
Ezekiel screamed silently in his head but his body flinched hearing Eurus's voice.
-H-how are you even still here Great Spirit Eurus?! Aren't spirit's manifestations dependent on the contractors mana capacity?
-That's true for most spirits, but I am not bound by those restrictions. I don't take energy from my contractor. After all, it is I who is in charge. The forests of Aetheris, Aethel, and Elandria are all blessed with my power. I can be everywhere at once."
Ezekiel nodded slowly, trying to grasp the vastness of Eurus's existence.
-Uh... Sorry, Eurus... I don't really understand what you mean.
Eurus, in her bird-like form, rolled her eyes.
-Just hurry and find that tool before that 'thing' comes back.
-Thing?
Ezekiel wondered who Eurus was referring to, but he quickly exited the carriage to find the tool.
**
Ezekiel crept from tent to tent, his eyes scanning the dimly lit interiors.
He found weapons, armour, and provisions, but no sign of the tool he sought.
Seven tents, and still nothing. It was getting so bad that he started to have second thoughts on the mission.
But there was still one place he had not checked.
It was the leader's tent, the one farthest from his starting point.
whoosh...
He slipped past the guard on duty with his movements fluid and silent.
But just as he neared the leader's tent, heavy footsteps pounded the earth, drawing closer.
Sniff...sniff...sniff...
"...Yuck"
He caught a whiff of something musky and pungent it must've been the distinct odour of the massive human.
- That means... those footsteps. The giant is awake.
The giant himself was patrolling the perimeter of the leader's tent ensuring there wasn't anyone that would get near the leader at all times.
And Ezekiel who stood still in fear realised he was caught in the open so he dashed off to find cover.
Just as he did, he hid behind a stack of crates as his small body was enough to be barely concealed in the shadows.
SNIFF...
The massive human sniffed the air and immediately noticed something was off.
A smell that wasn't normal was coming from the crates, so he lumbered towards them with suspicion.
STOMP...STOMP...STOMP...
Ezekiel held his breath, praying he wouldn't be discovered.
The giant reached the crates and his massive hand hoevered over them.
GRRR...
With a grunt, he lifted the top crate, peering behind it. Nothing. He grunted again, a sound that echoed through the night, and dropped the crate back into place.
"Thirsty..." he mumbled, turning and lumbering off towards the forest.
Ezekiel exhaled relieved he hadn't been caught because he was on the other side of the tent where the other half of the crates were.
He had been lucky this time. But there was no time to waste.
He was closer now, closer to the key that could save these people.
Ezekiel crept into the tent, adjusting his vision to the dim light.
The first thing he had noticed entering was a white lab coat that hung on a makeshift stand.
It was an odd sight in this makeshift camp since the possibility of a scientist being involved with these operations was second to none.
He dismissed it as a strange quirk of the leader and focused on his search.
As he scanned the cluttered space the leader seemed to be joyfully asleep.
So Ezekiel did his best while going through his small pile of treasury that had maps, weapons, and documents.
-It's not there... but it isn't here either... Oh, found it!
Finally, he spotted it, stuck up from under the desk was a gleaming, shear-like cutter.
As Ezekiel pulled it out from the table It pulsed with a faint energy that seemed to distort the mana around it.
-My mana's reacting weirdly to this...
Although he had a feeling of uneasy from this tool Ezekiel didn't dwell much on it.
He had to save those people.
He snatched the cutter and the metal cool rested into his palm.
-I'll start from the top and make my way to the bottom.
He exited the tent as quickly as he had entered, making his way towards the first carriage.
It was different from the others, its ornate details and luxurious build suggesting a VIP occupant inside.
As he reached the back of the carriage and found a solid door instead of the usual heavy cloth. In it's place was a keyhole for the door which meant, he couldn't break it open without causing a commotion.
"Unless..." An idea sparked in his mind. "The guards must check on whoever is inside."
He retreated a few meters and concealed himself in a bush, his gaze fixed on the carriage door.
He waited and soon after, the guard approached with his keys jangling.
Ezekiel watched carefully as he reached into his pocket, he held his breath and closed his eyes focusing his energy.
-This is it.
Huuu...
The air around him stirred, responding to his will.
His elemental affinity Wind and mana enveloped him, creating a swirling force field of concentrated power.
3... The guard inserted the key into the lock.
2... He turned it, then back again, making sure it was unlocked.
1... His hand reached for the doorknob.
[Spell Arts Technique - Ventus Variation: Energy Bullet]
BAM!
A concentrated blast of wind energy shot through the air, striking the guard with pinpoint accuracy. He crumpled to the ground, unconscious.