[Third Person's POV]
" A ritual? "
Allyson asked, her hands trembled. A sudden reveal of a mysterious circle, perhaps something sinister is at stake. Kleid frown, his eyes peered at the ridges of the magic circle - glowing and pulsing for every few seconds.
" There's no mistaking. This is really the same circle... "
He crouched down and proceed to inspect. Chills leaned closer to his face - concerning from his reaction.
Kleid gave a soft smile. Although, behind his eyes were the same as he was before. He remembers the feeling... The dread, the tragedy-
...
A younger Kleid was strolling in the forest with nothing but a sturdy branch on his left hand. There he sees someone from a distance.
" Who's there? "
The man asked.
He wore a dark robe and was holding a large staff, decorated with a stylish shape and bright stones.
He stares at the distance, hoping he would spot a movement from the bushes. Kleid was hiding. Instead of being wary from the strange man, he was curious to what will the man do.
Assured and relieved, the man kneels - he lay his palm at the ground. A strange light appeared. The young beastfolk couldn't help but to look closer.
That was when in a quick gust of wind, he was found by the same man standing behind his back.
" A beastfolk child? "
The man points his staff, few inches away from meeting Kleid's nose. He then gave a sigh and helped the boy from standing up.
" Sorry for that. I must've frightened you. " He apologizes. Kleid shook his head.
The boy was just surprised.
" I'm Wahl, an adventurer. You must be one of the tribes living in this dense forest. "
He smiles. He looks at Kleid. He had this poker face on him. The man mistook him as a mute. Kleid on the other hand, leaned closer to the light the stranger has casted upon.
" Oh. "
" Easy there, young beastfolk. That's dangerous to get close to. " He gets closer with the circle.
" This is a magic circle. "
He points at the light slowly forming a circular symbol. With it's purplish light, it pulses for few seconds.
Kleid backed off a bit, but the man noticed it.
" It's not dangerous. "
He smiles. He then touched the ground and another magic circle formed.
With a quick chant. A small flower popped out of the circle. Kleid was amazed.
" See? Magic circles aren't dangerous. They are used to create something. "
Kleid then approached the first magic circle and looked at the man with questions on his face. The man gave a soft smile and explained the details.
" That magic circle is used to nurture the forest. "
He smiles. Behind his eyes, were darkness...
Despite the animosity of the man, the child never suspected. A glint of innocence shone in his eyes. So precious... so easy to deceive.
********
[Allyson's POV]
We were observing the magic circle. I walked closer to it and tried to erase it.
" It seems impervious to disruptions. "
Kleid kneels as he stomped it's symbols. The light then fades.
" It's the symbols. Dangerous but too easy to defuse the magic. " He said.
Kleid was about to leave along with it's companion but I hurriedly stopped their tracks.
" Wait! ".
He looked back with a concerning stare.
" That was too easy. There must be plenty of them scattered around! "
Kleid thought for a bit.
" I didn't think it would be possible. " He replies.
" Well it can be if they clearly know that Dixinians will snoop around. " I replied.
He averted his gaze as if trying to avoid me.
" If you're planning to find someone through capturing one of them. Maybe atleast help us stop this devious circles. "
Hmm. Seems like it's not budging him.
" You don't want the same thing happening here right? "
Kleid didn't answer instead walked in another direction.
" Are you going to leave again!? " I asked him again. I followed him after.
" No. "
I was annoyed.
" What are you doing then? "
He stops as he immediately pushed a small bush aside. Another magic circle was pulsing behind of it. He then replied.
" Helping. "
Oh.. you could've just said you were gonna help.
It took us few minutes to spot at least 3 magic circles nearby. I'll say, this "Kleid" fellow is quite the stubborn one, but he do care for a bit.
" This is the fourth one. How many are them? " I complained after smearing the symbol.
Magic circles. I did saw them from a book back at the library. Mysterious and contain a taboo for magicians to perform. Don't know the reason why they are targeting this mountain in the first place. Phantoms are weird.
BOOGSH!!
A large sound then blasted at the place where Rachel and Charles are. I wanted to return but Kleid said they can handle it.
" Can we help them back there? " I asked.
" Aren't we trying to defuse as many as we can? " Kleid sarcastically replied.
" It's just for a bit. Though, it's gotten so quiet back there. "
I looked back. The night wasn't very dark but I knew that we were very far from them. I hope they are okay.
* Stops.
" Kleid. "
I called his name for the first time.
" I know that I'm meddling too much, but won't you at least care for your sister's worries? "
He didn't answer back.
" Can you explain what happened 7 years ago? If you're okay with this. "
He had this concerning look just like before. Maybe I'm digging to much. I'm just curious to know what's going on between him and Rachel.
" Nevermind what I jus- "
He then interrupts me.
" I was the last of my clan. " His eyes looked sad.
From this short light, I can see how behind his nonchalant face shows all the trouble and trauma he has been feeling.
" The Winter Clan was exterminated after I was born. Rachel, a Fang, welcomes me with another child into their village. "
" The village welcomes us but never treat us the same as them. Strangers. I survived along with the other child. His name was Leo.
For 6 years, it was peaceful for just the three of us.
It wasn't long after that incident occured.
A strange man came to the woods. I didn't suspect him at first. Wary from this stranger, I didn't notice the magic circle he was planting was to destroy the village.
That dawn - I woke up and saw a huge fire from the village. I then saw some of tribesmen are in pain screaming.
Without a second, Leo quickly helped the village by stopping the cause while i was cowering in fear. When the torment has ended. They began to wonder why that man arrived. It wasn't long before they accuse Leo. The one who helped them was treated the cause of it. They blame him from being the bad omen of the village.
Despised by the victims... Leo ran away that day. That's when the tribe separates one by one. "
Kleid explained it with the usual calm face. I don't know how long he has been keeping this.
" Will you ever plan to tell her about what happened? " I asked him.
" I guess. " He replies.
" Like I said before. She's happy to see you again, come see her - after all this commotion has ended. " I smiled back at him.
" Well, what do we do with this last one? "
Both of us were staring at a very large magic circle. Except this one had a strange hue. Like it's different.
Kleid tries to destroy the symbol by stepping it again but it didn't wear off.
" This isn't a Ritual Magic circle. " He said.
His wolf - Chills, was growling at it. It peaked my interest to stay alert.
" It's already been used. " He added.
Twoosh..
Something came flying at us. Kleid caught it and it was decapitated leg. It got me to flashback at the guy who was eating a hand.
" Hey. " He called me.
" Don't Hey me. The name's Allyson. "
" Whatever. Send us back when I tell you. "
Huh? What is he talking abou-
" Now! "
A lashing spikes tries to impale us but immediately sent us back to our positions 10 minutes ago. It was quick that we evade an attack.
" Is it another one of them? " I asked. Kleid didn't know.
Someone is approaching us very fast. It was a woman cladded in white cloak as Kleid pulled me towards the right.
She gave a small cut from my right cheek. Without Kleid's help, I could've been impaled by her.
" Thanks. " I stood up and saw the woman looking back at us. She wore a different mask just behind her head.
" Nice reflex, boy. "
" Who are you? " I asked her.
" I'm Arach. I was informed by my troop that you spotted here. "
" My, you had a beautiful eye. " She grinned.

That face. It sent shiver in my spine. It's the face of a true murderer.
Without a second thought I grabbed Kleid and Chills as we sent ourselves back.
We arrived few meters away from Rachel and Charles. I can spot Charles' strings from the ground indicating that they were fighting someone.
" Guys!!! " I shouted at them.
" There's a huge problem! " I informed them.
Kleid noticed something as he pointed at the top of the tree.
A huge monster was looking behind a trees. It's pulsing glowing veins crept into its reddish skin. With a simple motion - a tree fell down. In an instant, we ran away from it's rampage.
That's when strings came to rescue us by pulling us up from the trees - away from the goliath's eyes.
" Charles! "
I was happy to see him fine. And it seems like he was hiding in the leaves away from the monster outside.
" What's with the huge monster? " I asked him.
" It's a long story. Besides, what were you shouting earlier? " He asked.
I explained to him the situation. He didn't looked happy about it. Well, I can't blame him for being upset with the a huge monster wandering outside.
" Where's Rachel? We have to inform her! That person will come running in this place any sooner! " I explained.
But Charles insisted that it's priority to take on the gargantuan first. He pointed down. Rachel was hiding from the trunk and was holding something in her hand. Something glistening. A blade?
With a moment to pounce, she swiftly dealt a slash in it's heel. Blood spew but the wound wasn't enough to take down it.
GWAAAHRGH!
The monster groaned and tries to swat Rachel but she was quick to avoid.
Kleid heard something as he leapt down along with the wolf.
" Look out! " He shouts.
A figure dashes and aimed a quick impaling strike in her right shoulder. Followed by kick, Rachel flew and landed on a trunk. Kleid tool the change and grabbed the woman as he threw her away like it was nothing.
We immediately jumped down to assist them. Worried about Rachel, I didn't waste anytime and rushed to help.
" Bluestone! " Charles warns.
In a spur of moment, a quaking thump came rushing towards me. I thought to myself that I can't evade from this distance. I then felt a thug in my clothes - it was his string!
Charles was quick enough to pull me away from the speeding kick of the beast. Panting from the attack, I ran towards Rachel to aid her.
I know that kick might've broken some of her bones. Despite the durability of beast-folks, a fracture is still a fracture.
" Don't ignore me, Bluestone! "
She moves once again. With her elongated sharp fingers ready to harm me again but Charles wasn't having it. He pulls everyone with his strings in a merely one meter away from being impaled by that psycho. Saving our asses in the process.
I didn't take any break as I tended Rachel's wounds by reversing the time. Charles was really at it's limit, he had enough of marionetting all of us.
" Allyson. " He called my name with a furious glare. I gulped.
" When in battle. You MUST NOT turn your back at the enemy. "
" We are currently in a pinch. With the Phantom earlier still roaming... and this wild card. We might have been outmatched! " He added.
He was right. I should've help him and Kleid dealing with these folks. I can't use my ability all the time. It wears me out.
" Are you done chatting? " The woman spoke. Her red eyes glaring - a predator locking eyes in it's prey. She grinned and began to point at us.
" Two Beastfolks, two Peculiars. This is Exciting. "
We are really in a harsh situation. Like a bug trapped in a spider's web.