Soon, the caravan left the Harben, with an unexpected new member - Chloe. For her, it was hard to earn money there, so she wanted to move to another city. Besides this, Chloe wanted to find a better job, and it won't be possible there, because of her reputation.
Dezen understood this, and decided to help her, not only with moving to another city, but changing her life in hopes of getting a loyal employee and perhaps a friend. This way, his career as a pimp will end for now, but he didn't make any bigger plans regarding it, so it's not a big loss.
After a few weeks, they left the mountain chain and started moving through a giant forest. Though it is enormous, most of the trees are less than 10 metres tall and far away from each other, creating a not so beautiful, but unique sight.
Given the fact that this region is not known from any creatures possessing danger toward humans, they were all surprised when they heard something roaring close to them. No one could recognize it, but somehow everyone knew it is not an ordinary animal, and that it would attack them in sight.
Dezen mentally ordered his undead to encircle the caravan and protect it, sending his undead birds and bugs to find the source of the roar.
Soon they did, and he could see a strange being he has never encountered, nor heard about. Tall, with arm and legs resembling human ones, long tail resting on the ground, and wings. Most of the body is covered with brown scales, and the face is really disgusting for Dezen.
Seeing his face, Chloe asked.
- What is it? You look like a teen who saw his parents fucking.
- What, what is this analogy?
- Honest, but little exaggerated one.
Dezen looked at her, not knowing what to say.
- Let's get back to your question. It looks like a fusion of human and dragon, though I would expect it to be much bigger. And strangely, it doesn't seem to be a magical creature, at least I can't sense any mana via my undead.
- So, is it going towards us?
- No, it doesn't seem to. But I'm going to catch it. Such creature may be precious. And I want to examine it.
Ending the conversation, Dezen sent 5 of his undead wendigo towards the draconian. They quickly immobilized it, without any serious injuries. Then, using enslavement and primal (the one every mage has after awakening, that doesn't need to be learnt) he made chains to chain him up.
Creating items from energy is a trait of every magic brought to a certain level, though he couldn't do this with the necromancy for some reason. Aside from that, he was also sealing him and using enslavement magic to keep him calm and still.
To make transporting him faster, he used space magic and took him into the carriage he is moving in.
One of the items he took for this assignment was a coffin, made by the Church of Alen. Its purpose is containing and sealing creatures inside it, people by default.
Dezen bought it in case he met and defeated some mage criminal, but it will also work on the draconian, though he can be too big.
When he tried to put him in, the draconian didn't fit, so he inside what he could, and started making a formation, which will make the coffin work, even when it is open.
Just as he started, Dezen heard someone speaking right next to his ear.
- Impressive.
Dezen opened his eyes widely, as he has never heard this voice before, nor did he hear someone approaching him.
A little scared, he teleported himself over a meter away, turned into the direction of the stranger. Thanks to it, he could see Chloe and the caravan overseer, both unable to move due to work of some spell. The stranger was crouching, looking at him with his blue eyes. His hair was dark and had too large clothes, made from brown, soft-looking material.
He slowly stood up, covered with a powerful invisible barrier.
- Yea, it will be more entertaining. - He waited a little and added. - If you want we can move outside, I'm not interested in killing normal people, not yet.
Dezen agreed and left the carriage, keeping his guard up. With him, he took most of his undead to fight, leaving the rest to protect the carriages and people.
They didn't move far, only around 10 metres. Dezen was standing in the middle of his undead, who already cast defensive spells.
The man looked at it as if he was bored and attacked with fire. It was easily destroying the barriers, so they separated and tried to surround him, before the defences were broken.
Dezen hid behind one of the undead bears and started preparing cutting fog along with other hate magic spells. It was too dangerous for him to fight directly, so he wanted his undead to get his attention, while he was strengthening them.
As Dezen expected, the mage was powerful, too powerful for him to defeat. The man was easily dodging every attack, sometimes by himself, sometimes unnaturally moving or keeping himself in the air with magic. At first, he was entertained, like he was master training with apprentice, who desperately wants to hit him at least once, or someone playing with a friend.
He even once let one of the undead wendigo hurt him, to see if it will do anything to him, and to his joy, it did.
After a few minutes, of what seemed to be first class entertainment, he started to undecided. Dezen didn't know, but the man wasn't sure whether he is a coward, who hides behind his servants, or someone cunning, who knows to use his advantages and thinks strategically. It was important, because if he comes to the conclusion that Dezen is the first, he will kill him instantly, but if he decides that Dezen is the latter, he will let him live a little longer.
Luckily for him, Dezen soon decided to release the spells he was preparing. They quickly reached the man, and none of them missed, but instead of cries of pain, or any showcase of feeling threatened, he could only hear mad laughter.
- Enjoyable fight, finally after so many months! I'm keeping you alive, you have to provide me with good flights when I'm bored.
Dezen was really stressed scared when he heard that, even more when the mage became more wild and started attacking him. Luckily, his purpose wasn't killing, and he let Dezen barely dodge them every time.
This situation was lasting for the next few minutes, giving Leon enough time to cast his strongest spell with full power.
An enormous pole of light flew from him in the criminal, but he just made a thick barrier and looked at Leon displeased.
When the light disappeared, leaving no damages, the mage finally spoke.
- The rat finally decided to appear. If you didn't, I would let you live, your friend over here is - He pointed at Dezen who was breathing heavily, and was trying to rest a little. - is entertaining enough to make me happy. But do as you please, you have free will after all. - He raised the right hand to cast a spell, before whispering and jumping off. - Damn... - He didn't make it on time, and few metres thick lighting caught him. Not only it persisted, unlike normal ones, but it was also emitting white light, making it look even stronger.
Shortly after, Dezen noticed a group of mages in golden armies. He didn't need to ask to know that they are from Church of Alen.
The pursuit squad wasn't just standing there. One of them created golden light all over the area, which turned the criminal when the lighting ended. The rest were slowly sealing this place.
Surprisingly, the madman didn't look to be hurt, but he surely seemed to be full of fear. Covered with red-blsck gas, not the fog that Dezen encountered earlier, he ran to the barrier that was part of the seal, and wildly attacked it.
The barrier was shaking, but no rupture appeared. The whole time, the barrier was getting smaller, and when he had only few metres left, the mage cut off almost half of his left hand and detonated it.
The explosion threw back the closest mages, making the rest a little disorientated, but not idle. Quickly, the next wave of spells was cast, while the criminal was fleeing.
The squat didn't stay behind, also using movement spells. They also left another golden light, which was supposed to heal everyone who got hurt, but only Dezen had any use of it.
Leaning on one of the trees, he was breathing deeply while Chloe, Leon, caravan overseer and other few merchants approached him.
Chloe was the first to speak.
- Is... There something I can help you with? Or somehow?
Pausing to breath, he responded.
- No, thanks... I will live... The spell they left... Is powerful.
Seeing his state, they didn't want to ask anything, to not make him speak. After a few seconds, Leon came closer to him, wanting to help him get to the carriage. Chloe also helped, while the merchants were ashamed that there was no way to help left for them. The best they could do is stay close, to help whenever it is needed.