It didn't take long. A few minutes later, he heard the sound of footsteps, heavy and deliberate, moving through the forest. Alexander held his breath, his hand gripping the hilt of his dagger as he watched the cabin.
The werewolf appeared at the edge of the clearing, its massive form silhouetted against the trees. It sniffed the air, its eyes glowing a fierce green as it caught the scent of Alexander's blood. A low growl rumbled in its throat as it moved toward the cabin, its movements slow and cautious.
Alexander watched, and ignited the gunpowder with a spark of black fire, until the werewolf fully entered the cabin.
There was a deafening roar as the gunpowder exploded, sending a plume of fire and smoke into the sky. The cabin shuddered, the walls collapsing inward as the blast ripped through it, sending debris flying in all directions. For a moment, everything was chaos, the sound of the explosion echoing through the forest like thunder.
Alexander remained hidden, his eyes fixed on the wreckage as the smoke began to clear. He could see the smoldering remains of the cabin, the charred timbers scattered across the ground, but there was no sign of the werewolf.
Just as he began to wonder if the explosion had finished the job, a low, guttural growl cut through the air, and the werewolf emerged from the wreckage, its fur singed and its body covered in burns. It was badly injured, its right arm hanging limp at its side, but its eyes still burned with a fierce, unyielding rage.
Alexander stepped out from behind the tree, drawing his dagger as he approached the werewolf. He could see that the creature was on its last legs, its strength nearly spent, but he also needed to finish this quickly before it had a chance to recover.
The werewolf lunged at Alexander with a final burst of energy, its teeth bared in a savage snarl. Alexander sidestepped the attack, bringing his dagger down in a swift, precise arc that sliced through the werewolf's remaining arm. The creature howled in pain, collapsing to the ground as its strength finally gave out.
Without hesitation, Alexander moved in for the kill, bringing the dagger down once more to sever the werewolf's head from its body.
With the werewolf dead, Alexander stood over the body, feeling a rush of pleasure and a thirst for blood. But he pushed it back, forcing it down with an effort of will. He reached out, the black fire igniting in his hand once more, and with a flick of his wrist, he set the werewolf's body ablaze, watching as the flames consumed it, reducing it to ashes.
When the fire had burned itself out, Alexander picked up the werewolf's head, placing it carefully in his backpack. He planned to go back and see if there were any tasks to defeat werewolves in the mission hall. With the head secured, he turned and made his way back through the forest, heading for the path that would lead him back to the magic academy.
Alexander moved swiftly through the dense forest surrounding the Magic Academy, his steps light and deliberate. The shadows of the trees stretched long in the fading twilight, and the cool evening air filled his lungs.
In the bushes not far away, a crow looked at Alexander, its black feathers gleaming in the low light, its black eyes showing human expressions. After ensuring a safe distance between the two, it flapped its wings and flew towards another tree. Suddenly, an invisible hand gripped it tightly, freezing it mid-flight. The crow struggled against the unseen force, cawing loudly in protest.
Alexander revealed himself, dropping the invisibility spell as he stepped out of the shadows. His expression was stern, his eyes dark with resolve. He approached the trapped crow, his hand raised to maintain the magical hold.
"Caught you, the nuisance," Alexander said, his voice low and menacing. "Who are you?"
The crow's eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and it stopped struggling, its body going still. Then, to Alexander's surprise, it spoke, its voice a harsh, raspy, unhuman whisper. "Hehe, guess who? I've already seen what I needed. See you!"
Without another word, Alexander summoned the black fire that now seemed to come so easily to him. The flames danced around his fingers, dark and menacing, before leaping onto the crow. The bird screeched, its body consumed by the black fire, which quickly reduced it to ashes. The last echoes of its cries faded into the night, leaving only silence.
Far away, in the dean's office of House Noctis, Mistress Seraphine watched the entire scene unfold within the shimmering depths of a crystal ball. Her lips curled into a sly smile, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of amusement and anticipation.
"Black fire… so the gears of fate have indeed begun to turn," she murmured, her tone light and teasing. "It seems our little experiment is proceeding just as planned."
Cedric, standing nearby with a serious expression, glanced at his mistress. "Master, should we intervene? Alexander doesn't seem to be someone we can easily manipulate."
Mistress Seraphine's smile widened, her gaze never leaving the crystal ball. "No, Cedric. There's no need to intervene. Blood will guide him, and in time, he will come to us of his own accord. We merely need to guide him gently. Everything we desire will come to light eventually."
Cedric nodded, though his expression remained tense. "And what of Lira's application? Should we approve it?"
Mistress Seraphine's eyes sparkled with interest. "Approve it. I believe it could lead to some interesting developments, don't you?"
Cedric bowed slightly, acknowledging her command. "As you wish, Master. I will see to it immediately."
Meanwhile, Alexander took a deep breath, feeling the tension in his shoulders ease. The academy finally came into view, its towers silhouetted against the dusky sky, the sight filled Alexander with a sense of relief. He made his way through the light curtain gates, and headed straight for the mission center, his footsteps steady and purposeful.
The center was still open, a few students milling about as they looked over the mission board or handed in completed assignments. He approached the front desk, where a young woman with dark hair and glasses was sorting through a stack of papers. She looked up as he approached, offering a polite smile.
"Good evening. How can I help you?" she asked.
Alexander reached into his bag and pulled out the mission completion certificate he had received from the Nox family. "I'm here to turn in a completed delivery mission," he said, handing over it.
The woman took the certificate, examining it briefly before nodding. "Everything seems to be in order. Let me just process this."
As she worked, Alexander leaned against the counter, glancing around the room. The mission center had a cozy, welcoming atmosphere, with walls lined with shelves of books and magical artifacts. After a few moments, the woman said. "Confirmed. Thank you for your hard work."
Alexander nodded. "Thanks. By the way, is there a mission related to werewolf hunting? I happened to come across a werewolf on my journey and… dealt with it."
The woman's eyes widened slightly, and she quickly flipped through a stack of papers. "Let me see… Ah, yes, there is a mission from a professor in House Terra who needs werewolf materials. The reward is a hundred credits. Do you have anything to turn in?"
Alexander reached into his bag again, pulling out the werewolf's head he had carefully wrapped. He placed it on the counter, and the woman's expression shifted to one of surprise and slight revulsion.
"I'll take that as a yes," she said with a faint chuckle. "Give me a moment to process this as well."
A few minutes later, Alexander walked away from the mission center with a hundred credits added to his pouch. Inside the academy, the corridors were quiet, most of the students having already retired for the evening. Alexander made his way to his dormitory, the weight of his backpack heavy on his shoulders.
As he reached his room, Alexander unlocked the door and stepped inside, dropping his bag on the floor. He sighed deeply, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over him. It had been a long, taxing journey, both physically and mentally, and he was ready for a well-deserved rest.
Before he did that, he did a quick calculation in his head, tallying up his earnings and expenses. With the 1600 dollars mission rewards, the 300 dollars he had taken from Edmund, and his various purchases about 65 dollars, he still had a healthy sum left over about 1835 dollars. Even after repaying Cedric, he would have enough to cover his needs for the auction and market tomorrow.
Feeling somewhat satisfied with his earnings, Alexander began to undress to prepare to a good rest. But a sudden, sharp pain shot through his chest, causing him to gasp. He stumbled back, clutching his shirt as the pain intensified, radiating through his body like a burning fire. His vision blurred, and he felt his knees give way, collapsing onto the bed.
It was as if something inside him had snapped, releasing a torrent of raw energy that threatened to consume him whole. He curled into a ball, his body convulsed, his muscles seizing as he fought to keep control. "Not now… not here…" Alexander groaned, his voice strained with effort. The last thing he felt was a cold, searing pain in his chest, like a knife twisting deep inside. Then, everything went black.