We strolled through dense forests, no longer running for our lives as the number of attacks decreased rapidly. Perhaps, they learnt their lesson to not attack a mage, or maybe we merely escaped the area where they were most active at. Regardless, our pace was slower, and I could finally catch my breath. While on the way, Nila managed to open her suitcase, using levitation magic, and took out the leftover dried meat and crackers to fill up her empty stomach. She offered me a piece as well, I only took the meat as it was unpleasant to gnaw on without water, bread of such dryness would only cut my gums.
"That was surely a warm welcome, but at least we managed to escape that trap without issue. Did that pleuropod scratch your leg, perchance?"
Nila side eyed me only to be met with a weary shake of my head. She nodded and returned her eyes on the path that did not exist, we were the first one to bring a start to it by trampling the tall grass. Though, someone else using it was unlikely. But I was now wondering if there was some kind of common path that people used to travel from the Dlayla region to Schöltum? I doubted that everyone would just randomly stroll around until they ended up in the barrier, the small sign at the entrance to the Schöltum region was put there for a reason.
Even more suspicious, was the fact that we struggled through the forest, instead of the grassland that I stumbled upon on my first visit here. I sped up my pace to line up with Nila and turned to her, "Say, Nila, after I exited the barrier I was standing right beside some kind of wooden sign, but why were you so far away in the forest?"
Upon hearing my question, Nila's expression did not change, she was still gnawing on the piece of meat, thus could not answer. However, her sudden increase in walking speed made me frown, but I decided to not push this topic further. I did not have a chance anyway, as we were attacked once again, now by a beast that I was well familiar with, the darewolf. Its bone chilling cackle travelled through the trees and reached us from the right. Nila immediately faced the direction from where it was coming from and prepared her staff.
Once again, I saw this large beast emitting soot, its head was just as large as I remember it to be, however, it seemed like this particular individual was smaller than the one I slayed, its teeth were also straighter, yet drool watered its mouth and jaws just fine. As it slowly came closer, mocking weakness in our physical appearance, but it immediately became more cautious as it noticed Nila's staff with its pitch-black eyes like that of a doll. It would be a much greater problem if there were several monsters like that coming at once, but as Solitaire mentioned, darewolfs were solitary creatures, thus I was not as concerned, since Nila surely would be able to kill this one as well.
Nila observed this monster for a few seconds, but then turned to me while tilting her head, "Would you like to take down this one?"
My jaw dropped at her suggestion, and all I could do was silently stare at her. It was not time for jokes! I violently shook my head and exclaimed, "Are you kidding me? I would not-"
Then I remembered all the boast talk I had about slaying this beast before. Although it was true, I used the help of a phantom that did not allow me to talk about itself. Only with Solitaire's power, I was able to move more freely than I ever could, but Nila did not know about it. For her, I was a filthy liar who boasted about the achievement I could not possibly reach. Humility enveloped my throat, disallowing me to speak up further, and I lowered my head, silently pleading with Nila to take care of the beast.
Meanwhile, the beast dashed in our direction, only to stop once Nila fired one of her spells at it. The bolt of light did not hit it, yet the beast hid behind the tree, observing her next move. Nila, however, did not persuade it further, instead she turned to me once again.
"Take out your dagger, Dusk. Let's have a practical lesson."
"W-what do you mean?" I raised my head in confusion, to which Nila said in a soothing tone, "I am your master now, and it is my job to teach you how to survive and how to fight."
"But it does not have anything to do with magic?"
She nodded and confidently replied, "That's correct, you can't use magic now, but it does not mean you should not be able to use your blade, right? Or do you think a mage who had lost his wand would simply accept death?"
It was hypocritical coming from someone who accepted her own demise the very first time we met each other. But in the end, she was an elf with her own customs and world-views, and I was human, no, I was Dusk the snatcher, a criminal who did nothing but dirty his own hands for the sake of others. Now, it was certainly a good opportunity to dirty them for the sake of myself. I exhaled and drew my dagger with my shaking hand, then I turned to the beast that was patiently waiting behind the tree. Upon seeing my face full of courage along with terror, the beast smiled and slowly came out of hiding. I realised that Nila removed her staff, thus the beast no longer considered her a threat.
As it came towards me, I silently stared at it with the tip of my dagger pointed in its direction. I didn't even know what to do, my legs were heavy and hands were shaking at the sight of its drool and black tongue that polished its canines. Suddenly, I felt a tap to my shoulder.
"Darewolfs pounce only when they are absolutely sure about the success of their hunt, they are extremely cautious, thus this beast in particular would not risk it after seeing my magic. It does not consider me a prey as I am too dangerous, but the story is different with you."
"T-then what should I do?" I asked in a trembling voice, while staring down the beast that got closer and closer. Nila did not tease me, but instead explained, "We will take it down in one swoop. I will jump aside and fire a spell, which will immediately take the attention of the darewolf. If it does not run, then you should dash forward and slit its throat. You got that?"
Her words marinated in my head for a few moments, but before I could ask a question, she immediately stepped aside, then leaped away from me. The light spread through her staff and she fired a bolt of light, Sham, at the beast. The beast, on the other hand, immediately turned its head at her and upon sensing magic, tried to escape, but was unable to do so, since her attack cut off its escape route. It all happened in an instant and I had barely any time to react, yet, I successfully closed the distance between us and did as Nila instructed. My nose was violated by its putrid smell, yet I channelled the strength of every muscle in my frail body and stabbed the neck of the beast. Darewolf produced a soul piercing shriek and opened its mouth to crush me with its upper jaw. But before its blade-like teeth came in contact with my body, those were stopped by Nila's defensive spell that materialised before me as she said, "Tureis."
After the single clang that the beast's fangs produced in contact with the defensive spell, the beast jumped around in agony and finally fell over. Its legs twitched a little and torso raised a little, only to lower down and never rise back up. That was its last exhale. I also fell to the ground, my whole body was swallowed by fatigue and shock from what had happened. Even the rotten smell of its flesh did not bother me as I only gasped for air and observed its motionless body, which, peculiarly, did not dissipate.
"I warned you to slice its throat, but it played out just fine, well done, Dusk. You really are able to slay darewolfs, huh." Said Nila and extended her hand. I was still observing its body, but after a while took it gracefully and Nila helped me to stand up. Her expression was no longer aloof, but contained a proud smile, something I had never seen before. I could not observe it for too long as her smile soon dropped, and her face drew closer to me, "Are you ok?"
I raised my brow at her concern, but then felt moisture coming down my cheek. It did not feel like sweat, thus I trailed its path with my finger and reached the corner of my eye. I immediately wiped off these tears and said, "I am… fine." I did not know why I was crying.
Nila looked at me for a little while, but then nodded and faced the direction we were going to, or at least close to it. In the end, I had to overtake the lead on our way to Dlayla. Before we left, I took another peek at the beast, which was laying on its side and did not move. Was it truly dead?
"Why didn't its body disintegrate?" I voiced my thought, to which Nila replied, "Because darewolfs are endemic to the monster realm. If it had killed us here, then our bodies would disintegrate."
"Disintegrate? Then why is every goddamn monster here attacking us if they can't even eat our bodies afterwards?"
"Instinct, perhaps?" hummed Nila, then lined up with me while patting my shoulder, "Anyway, shall we continue with our journey?"
I nodded a few times, taking her words in as mere speculation, but then I stepped forward, and we continued with our travel through the forests of the monster realm.