As Raphael went around the cabin Carolyn turned to the woods and that was when she saw it.It was a white creature with white hair like an albino and it was wearing black armour with crimson sigils all over it.
It was clearly a humanoid and it was a woman judging by its feminine features and slim figure with a breast plate that was curved around the chest area.
The humanoid noticed Carolyn staring at it and they appeared to have a staring contest as though neither of the two knew what to do.
"Is that a humanoid monster?Quick Carolyn capture it so we can study it in detail." The research mages appeared to have noticed the humanoid and got excited.
They came to study the ambient mana anomaly but they wouldn't turn down the chance to observe and study a humanoid monster.This was due to the fact that they were rare and most of the fae and mer had gone extinct or gone into hiding during the exceptionally long medival period.
In fact most modern sorcerers would never see any fantasy creatures for their entire long lives unless they knew where to look.During the long medival period the human race had gone on countless forgotten campaigns to exterminate the other sapient races and fantasy creatures.They were largely successful.
The sorcerers were the driving force behind the culling campaigns up until they realised that every magical race and species that went extinct caused the magic of the world to greatly weaken.Sorcerers used to be far more powerful during the long medival period.
This was what caused the research mages to get so excited.If they could improve the magical biodiversity of the Earth then magic would be powerful again.Perhaps sorcerer wouldn't need to hide themselves from society any longer.
Thoughts raced inside of the research mages minds.Was this mud born resort a hiding place of the fae and mer?What was that creature they witnessed?Its surroundings seemed far colder then usual.Was that the work of magic?What secrets did it have?Was it the one causing the ambient mana anomaly?
The humanoid became startled so it turned tail and ran into the woods.
"Report log:we're about to chase an unknown humanoid monster please prepare an accommodation as well as nourishment for it.Report finished." A research mage spoke into a reciever but turned it off before they could hear what the person on the other end could say.
Carolyn,Rorick and the five research mages gave chase but the humanoid was abnormally fast.They almost lost it before the humanoid reached a cabin and a dead end.It turned and watched the approaching sorcerers with a small smile on its face.
"Rorick tie it up" one of the research mages snarled.
Rorick began to slowly approach the smiling humanoid trying to anticipate what she would do.When he was 1 meter away a figure jumped down from the cabins roof to land between Rorick and the female humanoid.
Before Rorick could say anything the figure grabbed his forehead with its large hand.Its grip strengh was powerful and when it closed its fingers Roricks skull caved in.A splatter of blood and brain matter landed around the falling corpse tainting the pure snow a red crimson.
"RORICK" yelled Carolyn as she watched Roricks body fall.The body then dissipated which left her stunned along with the researchers.
"Humph...incompetent weakling." Spoke the tall brutish figure.It had expected the man to see it coming.
Carolyn saw that it was a humanoid like the woman but it had small horns and was clearly male.
Carolyn felt frost develop on her skin which didn't make sense since she was ten metres away.She quickly pressed a tattooed sigil on her neck and a warm feeling invaded her body.The frost quickly melted and evaporated.
The five research mages did the same as they prepared for battle but they kept their distance.Carolyn brandished a staff and prepared to cast a spell.
The icy devil brandished its mace and closed the distance in the time it took to blink.This caught Carolyn by surprise who didn't expect the creature to be so fast.She was caught mid chant as the creature lashed out with a kick.
Carolyn reinforced her body in preparation to be struck and struck her body was as the attack seemed to twist the surrounding air.She was launched back and collided with a few of the research mages knocking all of them to the ground.
The standing research mages completed their spells and launched bolts of fire and lightning.The icy devil then used a magic ability of sorts that froze the attacks in the air.The fire and lightning had frozen solid.It fell to the ground and simply shattered.
This shattered the world view of the sorcerer who didn't know you could freeze fire and lightning magic.
Carolyn and the other mages got up and prepared their more powerful magical abilities.The icy devil was faster though as it waved its mace and sent a large wave of frost and snow heading their way.It was like a mini tsunami and the force of it engulfed the researchers and carried them back.They hit the trees behind them.
Carolyn had put up a warding shield spell to offset most of the damage.Despite this the freezing cold temperature in the attack wave bit at her skin and undid the sigil on her neck.
She looked back to see that the researchers hadn't gotten off easy.They were all shivering cold and had severe signs of frostbite.They would die if left untreated.They were researchers not fighters so they had little experience in attack or defensive spells.
Carolyn turned around to see the icy devil standing over her.Unlike Raphael she had never acquired enough merits to learn her true name.She could only curse as the icy devil brought the mace down on her neck.