As night deepened, the group set up camp next to a small lake, its surface shone like a mirror under the stars. They decided to create two separate camps . one for the elves and another for Vizz and Master Smith. The atmosphere was Cozy, with the Crackling campfire casting shadows on their faces.
As they settled in, Vizz and Ezekiel began to chuckle about ghost stories, their voices started to linger around in a playful excitement. At first with high hopes ,They glanced over at Yin Li, who was trying her best to maintain her composure. Despite being a high elf with centuries of experience—including battles with dragons—she couldn't help but feel a twitching feeling linger around his heart— it was fear at the thought of ghosts.
"Yin Li, are you scared?" Vizz teased, poking fun at her.
Yin Li quickly dodged their gazes, her cheeks slightly flushed out of embracement.
Master Smith, who was well aware of Yin Li's aversion to ghosts, leaned back against a tree with a mischievous grin. "I know a lot of ghost stories," he said, his voice low and teasing.
Yin Li sighed dramatically and shot him an incredulous look. "You wouldn't dare sprout those made up stories again."
Master Smith tilted his head slightly and smiled. "But you brats want to be heroes; why bother with ghosts? You aren't going to be a saint, priest, or paladin."
"I will tell you a story about the most vicious beast of the night in this forest," Master Smith added with flair.
Vizz shouted, "Boring! It's gonna be a lecture on beasts just like John said!"
"You should know about the forest before you dive into it with a dagger, brat!" Master Smith stated playfully.
Vizz shook his head defiantly.
For such situations, Master Smith had a trick up his sleeve—perhaps that was what attracted Yin Li most about him. He swiftly grabbed two rocks from the ground.
Vizz nodded enthusiastically.
This brute force and masculine energy were what Yin Li found appealing about him. While Vizz was naive and carefree, Ezekiel was much more defiant and mischievous when it came to wordplay. He sensed the tension in the air and chimed in, "Yes! You're right! Or maybe it's because our **DEAR** Yin Li is still scared of ghosts!".
Vizz remained clueless while Master Smith saw right through it. Yin Li tried to count stars to distract herself from the embarrassment that was creeping up on her.
Suddenly—thud! Ezekiel had bumped his head against something hard. "Ouch! Old man, do you carry rocks in your pocket or something?" he groaned.
Master Smith frowned but couldn't resist a smirk. "You have got a strange habit. I've developed endurance to these rocks!"
Master Smith with a serious look hi put up for taking his teasing to next level"I should try throwing a dagger or two."
With a gust of wind sweeping Ezekiel for a brief moment saw the after life . Next moment ,Ezekiel dropped to his knees beside Master Smith and looked up at him with innocent eyes while sweat dropped from his forehead. "Oh! My great master! Have mercy on this fool and bestow this naive subject of your some shred of your wisdom"
Master Smith did his best not to laugh at this dramatic display.
Yin Li initially thought Ezekiel was casting some strange spell but then broke into laughter so hard that she fell off the log she was sitting on. Regaining her composure, she said between giggles, "You got me good! Keep on with your enchanting conversation with your master, little elf!"
Ezekiel's face lit up like a beacon as he pleaded for his life. Just then, Master Smith shook Ezekiel off his leg and stood up.
"Alright," he said with mock seriousness as he began explaining about the night in the forest and the creatures that reigned supreme over it.
"As the night deepens," he began dramatically, "the flow of the forest changes. The ecological noises turn into silence; it doesn't mean that the forest is sleeping. Monsters much more vicious than you can imagine come out at night."
Vizz and Ezekiel sat there listening curiously while even Yin Li leaned in closer.
"Among such monsters," Master Smith continued with flair, "the Night Howlers reign supreme in the misty darkness."
Master smith explained briefly that in this World ,There exist extraordinary beings that are evolved forms of wolves, significantly larger—at least three times their original size—and endowed with heightened intelligence. These creatures are monolingual and thrive in eternal packs, characterized by deep bonds of love. Their offspring remain close to them until they find their mates within the pack.
However, among these magical beasts exist unique entities that defy the natural order. These solitary beings grow to enormous sizes and are adorned with magical crystals protruding from their spines and heads for the sake of their solo survival. These crystals are not merely decorative,they possess genuine magical properties that these creatures can harness.
Another fact was that these solitary being possesses high longitivity,that might be even lasted for centuries and after centuries of existence, gain the ability to metamorphose into human form, further blurring the lines between their wolf kin and humanity . This intricate relationship among these magical beings culminates in the names Lobos for the pack-dwelling creatures and Lozes for the solitary ones, setting the stage for a rich narrative filled with magic, companionship, and transformation. Out of fear they were renowned as " The Night Howlers".
But as the time flew by the flower of love bloomed under the eyes of the mother nature . The grey area between the wolf kin and humanity broke when the first beastmen took birth from a lopez and almighty female knight . When the comradeship bloom in a relationship that was abhored by the society.
Vizz exclaimed proudly, "When I get out of this crazy old man's grasp, I will hunt a pack of lozes"
Master Smith replied "Night Howlers prefer being alone! " After a brief moment he realised something and muttered " Wait—is he calling crazy?"
With that remark, Master Smith moved toward Vizz .who started hovering around Yin Li playfully. For her part, Yin Li felt her heart race as Master Smith drew closer; their faces nearly touched as they exchanged glances filled with unspoken tension.They closed their eyes for embracing each other in this gleaming moon light.
Meanwhile, Ezekiel had enough with such .
strange stories as he grew up hearing all sort of stories he might be a toddler but he have lived 50 years worth of human life .he sneaked out safely without having bump on his head . A proud smile emerges on his face as it was his first success in breaking through the watchfull eyes of his master . As he wandered off slightly from camp .His eyes gasped a glow surrounded with the purple mist at the small piece of land on the lake.
Just then—Vizz interrupted loudly: "Aah! Master!"
With his shout breaking the moment between master smith and Yin li, Master Smith turned away right before their lips could collide and they embrace each other. Yin Li's face turned crimson red as she exclaimed embarrassingly, "I didn't do anything! It-it was him!"
Vizz chimed in cluelessly again "I can't find Ezekiel around!"
While Yin Li still flustered turned her gaze away in frustration at Vizz's timing—Master Smith asked Vizz to stay by Yin Li's side before claiming over the a tall tree to find Ezekiel.
As Vizz took a breath of relief and turned behind him—there stood Yin Li with both hands raised one surrounded by fire magic and another glowing ominously.
"Master! I think I'm in more trouble!" Vizz shouted as he ran for his life.
The sin that this child was unforgivable even god of love might have cursed him at least twice but as if he have the goddess of love by his side He dodged all her spells as she threw them haphazardly. her embarrassment turned into playful rage as she missed him time after time!
"Damn your timing! If only you yelled a moment before or after—" she yelled after him as he sprinted away through the trees.
Meanwhile—Master Smith watched from above with an amused expression on his face clearly enjoying every moment spent witnessing them grow closer together through shared experiences like this one!
---
As he climbed higher into the branches of the tree—he caught sight of something shimmering on a small piece of land in the lake behind him—a purple mist swirling enchantingly above its surface!
Another fact is that lake was just behind him all the time but he couldn't bothered to turn around before hopping over a tall tree .
Even the most notorious and powerfull guy in the village was this dense.
"One after another trouble .Day by day I feel more and more alive . " Master Smith chuckled softly as he prepared himself for whatever awaited them next…
----
Meanwhile, down by the lake's edge—Ezekiel had wandered off slightly from camp while chasing after that intriguing light he had spotted earlier. The shimmering mist danced playfully across the water's surface like an invitation beckoning him closer.
As he edged closer toward that mysterious light reflecting off the water's surface…
Suddenly—a loud rustling noise erupted from nearby bushes causing Ezekiel to jump back instinctively!
"What was that?" Ezekiel whispered nervously to himself .he was anxiously—but curiosity got the better of our of him
Before he could react further—a two large figure leaped out from behind trees—these creature were unlike anything he had ever seen before!
But he felt a something was odd the beast were fully fatigued and restless . It seems Rather then hunting they were struggling for survival Yet to them Ezekiel was just a stepping stone or a light meal along the way .
Ezekiel was a gifted child that's why rather then persuing magic further he was interested in forging and he have faced pack of normal Wolves many times while wondering in the forest and at the same time he saved his sister .
Both the lobos started hovering around him in front of him in a cross cross pattern .
Suddenly one of them leaped throw air towards him . It was a trick as the second one was swiftly headed towards him knowing this ,Ezekiel leaped two step forward then rolled back and casted a spell . The lobos that was leaping throughtthe air right before it could land spikes emerged from the ground which pearced through it .
While Ezekiel turned his gaze but he couldn't find the second lobos
'did it ran away ? '
'nope not after seeing his partner fall'
One thing Ezekiel was unware of about lobos was that they can use magic .
Second lobos used stealth .
Before Ezekiel could get the gasp of the situation . The second lobos used his ace up sleave it . A dash skill . He dashed into Ezekiel . Ezekiel bumped into the tree some feets away . Good thing was Ezekiel have casted another spell right before his feets the second he was launched in air towards the tree ice crystals flew from the ground . Second lobos couldn't intercepted this same trick got the both of them . Yet it was defiant . While bleeding it ran towards Ezekiel but right before his claw could reach Ezekiel it fell to ground . While growling timidly . Ezekiel touched it firmly and said " You did well" .then pulled a small dagger out and ended the suffering of this beast .
"Hmm ... You certainly are good at it "
"Assassination"
Mastersmith stated while emerging from the bushes .
" So how many spell's can you cast "added while removing leaves stuck in his hair .
" Five.." Ezekiel muttered slowly. While slowly leaning on the tree for support .
" Ah congratulations!! On your first break through ... " Mastersmith said with a wicked smile
" Nah ! Nope !! I was just taking the laps .. daily training " while laughing awkwardly they passed some glance .
" Who can possibly sneak out from your watchfull eyes master " .
Master smith with mock seriousness replied " You seem to be rubbing it on my face . While I appreciate your efforts " .
For a moment Ezekiel seem relieved .
" as your mentor ..I am bound to teach you a lesson or two on this incident" master Smith concluded .
Ezekiel on this stated " sure !! .. but why don't u take care of that guy first ??"
As master smith turned he saw a enormous figure emerge from the cliff while drolling on its two feets .a beast that was as tall as a troll , with its white fur was bleaming while reflecting the moonlight .while red crystal was embedded in his forehead and blue crystal where coming out of its spine .A ferocious yet piece of art on the Pinnacle of its species looking for a breakthrough into the humanity .
Their was no need to call it's name out loudly
It was a LOZES .
Master smith smiled like a maniac and loudly stated " Things are going to be noisy Tonight " .