They spent hours gathering the remains of the Snagreits, piling the grotesque carcasses into a single, massive mound. The task was tedious, with the stench clinging stubbornly to their clothes and hair. One by one, they dragged the remnants to the pile, though Tyrina handled it differently. She hefted multiple carcasses onto her shoulder with ease, dragging several more behind her as if they were nothing. Watching her, Arnolt could not help but wonder if Tyrina should be ranked higher than Uiridium. As he recalled their previous battle, her sheer strength made taking down multiple Snagreits seem like child's play.
But instead of questioning that, something else was on his mind. He looked over at her and asked, "I still don't get why they're called 'Magical Beasts.' I know some creatures possess magical abilities, but these Snagreits don't seem to have any magic. The only magic I see is that they're magically bigger than regular rats."
Tyrina chuckled, her voice carrying over the field as she hoisted another load of Snagreit remains onto the growing mound. "I thought the same thing when I first joined the guild," she admitted, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "They don't look all that magical, do they?"
Arnolt shook his head, waiting for her to continue.
"Turns out, 'Magical Beasts' are enhanced versions of regular animals," Tyrina said, her tone more serious. "They've been altered by the natural magic of the world, changing their size, strength, and sometimes their behavior. But it's not always obvious. At least, that's how I understand it."
Arnolt frowned. "So they're just... regular animals with a magical twist?"
"Pretty much," Tyrina nodded. "The real difference is inside them. Their hearts carry a residual magic flow—faint but distinct enough for the guild to classify them as magical beast. That's what sets them apart."
Curious, Arnolt glanced back at the pile of Snagreits, searching for one with an exposed heart. He stared at the lifeless creatures, trying to sense any trace of magic, but they seemed completely devoid of it.
"You won't easily find it in low-magic creatures like Snagreits, especially once they're dead," Tyrina said, moving farther to gather more carcasses. "That residual magic dissipates quickly after they die."
Arnolt sighed, letting his gaze linger on the lifeless heap before turning back to his task. Not long after, Xiona trudged over, dragging a carcass behind her. Her face was a mix of disgust and exhaustion, and she could not hold back a complaint.
"This is so gross," she muttered, her voice laced with frustration. "I didn't think adventuring would involve… this."
Arnolt glanced at her, a smirk playing on his lips as he tossed another mangled carcass onto the pile. "It's part of the job, Xiona. No one said it'd be all glory and excitement. Besides, no one forced you to come. You could've stayed back and skipped all this 'fun.'"
Xiona shot him a withering glare. "You know I'd never back out. But this smell is going to stick to us forever. We haven't had a decent bath in ages!"
Arnolt chuckled at her indignation, but then suddenly, something wet and slimy smacked against the back of his neck. He froze, his expression shifting from amusement to surprise as he slowly turned to see Xiona standing there, a mischievous grin on her face. In her hand, she held the innards of a Snagreit, the slimy mess dripping from her fingers.
"Xiona…" he warned, wiping the goo from his neck with a grimace.
She laughed, taking a cautious step back. "What? You were asking for it!"
Arnolt's eyes narrowed, a playful glint flashing in them as he lunged at her. "Oh, you're going to regret that!"
With a startled yelp, Xiona darted away, giggling as she tried to stay out of his reach. But Arnolt was quick, and within moments, he caught up to her, wrapping one arm securely around her waist and lifting her off the ground. With his free hand, he grabbed a handful of the Snagreit intestine and waved them teasingly near her face.
"Apologize, or I'll be taking off your scarf and make you wear this," he teased, his tone a blend of amusement and mock threat.
Xiona squirmed, her legs kicking in the air as she struggled between laughter and disgust. "Okay, okay! I'm sorry! Please, no more rat guts!"
Arnolt grinned, satisfied with her apology. But before he could release her, both of them suddenly found themselves lifted off the ground. Tyrina, who had been watching their antics from a distance, had decided to join the fun. With a wide grin, she wrapped her arms around them both from behind, hoisting them effortlessly into the air.
"Now, now, you two," Tyrina said with a laugh, spinning them around playfully. "If you're going to mess around, at least share the fun!"
The trio's laughter echoed across the marshlands, cutting through the cold air and briefly lifting the weight of their laborious task.
After their work was done, Arnolt let out a relieved sigh as Tyrina finished counting the carcasses. "Eighty-seven, eighty-eight, eighty-nine… That's all of them. Eighty-nine Snagreits vanquished. This'll make for a nice report," she said, a satisfied grin on her face. She then held up something in her hand.
Arnolt squinted at it. "Uh… what's that? Is that a tooth?"
Tyrina nodded. "Yep, specifically the incisor of a Snagreit. Adventurers are required to retrieve a specific part of the subjugated magical beast as proof of a successful quest; I took the biggest one I could find."
"Good to know," Arnolt muttered, his voice heavy with exhaustion, no longer fazed by the strange requirements of adventuring.
Xiona glanced at the mound of snagreit carcasses, her nose wrinkling in disgust. "So, what are we supposed to do with this rat mountain?"
"We burn it!" Tyrina replied immediately. "And we stay to watch until the fire burns out."
Arnolt groaned. "That's gonna take hours. We might not be back at camp by nightfall. Your parents don't even know we're here, Xiona. They'll be worried."
"Don't worry about that," Tyrina said, pulling a small vial from her waist bag. "I've got a fast-burning fire-starter, all thanks to the guild's alchemical division. Perfect for situations like this."
Xiona's eyes lit up with curiosity. "That's so cool. I wonder what other stuff the guild has."
Arnolt and Xiona stepped back as Tyrina carefully poured the chemical solution at the base of the Snagreit mound. With a swift, practiced motion, she struck her axe blade against the metal of her elbow pad, sending a shower of sparks onto the pile. Instantly, bluish-purple flames erupted, hungrily devouring the bodies. The sight was mesmerizing, the otherworldly glow of the fire casting long shadows across the cold, desolate marshlands.
"Wow, purple flames," Xiona said, her voice tinged with awe. "Is it magic?"
"Maybe, I'm not really sure," Tyrina admitted, watching the fire with mild fascination. "This is the first time I've used it. I usually just wait for them to burn with regular fire."
"I hope you didn't waste it because of us," Arnolt said, his tone more thoughtful than worried.
"Oh, please… I can buy more at the guild," Tyrina replied, waving off his concern. "Besides, I did it because I don't want you guys out here longer than you should be."
"Aww… thank you, big sis Tyrina." Xiona said, her voice soft with affection as she stepped forward to give Tyrina a hug.
"Hehe… you're welcome," Tyrina chuckled, hugging Xiona back. Then, with a playful smirk, she added, "You smell of rat guts, though."
"Oh, come on, don't remind me," Xiona groaned, wrinkling her nose in mock disgust.
They stayed for a few more minutes, watching the Snagreit mound burn to ash as the mystical flames slowly faded. The marshlands fell silent, with only the crackle of the dying fire and the cold wind sweeping over the melted ground. With their task done, the trio began their journey back to Dharmeis.