Poll and the others exchanged glances, feeling the weight of the mission. The forest around them seemed to grow quieter as they prepared to move forward.
As they moved through the forest, Poll found himself lost in thought. How do I cast my first spell? He glanced down at his small hands, wondering if they held enough power. Should I experiment? Or… His mind drifted back to the book he'd read. Should I just follow the steps exactly as I learned them?....
Aaaa… whatever I will do what situation going to demand
Before they reached the rocky area, Eryndor raised a hand, signaling the group to stop. "We need to prepare the traps for the nightwolves," he said, his tone firm but instructive. He turned to Kaida. "Kaida, tell me how we lure the nightwolves into the trap."
Kaida, ever ready, straightened up. "Yes, sir! We'll need the flower of the brown berry shrub and some meat from a small animal. The scent of the flower mixed with the meat attracts nightwolves."
Eryndor nodded approvingly. "Good. So, where are the flower and the meat?"
Kaida smiled, her hand moving to her satchel. "Right here, sir. I picked them up along the way." She revealed a small bundle of purple flowers and a carefully wrapped piece of meat, already prepared for the trap.
Poll watched, impressed by Kaida's foresight and skill, while Lira and Elowen observed closely.
Eryndor gave a proud smile. "Well done. Let's set the traps and be ready."
As Eryndor and Kaida worked seamlessly together, Poll couldn't help but marvel.
Wow, those two are really in sync. I'd love to see them in combat, he thought, imagining how fluidly they'd fight side by side. His mind wandered briefly to the teachings in his books. According to what I've read, I should be using something as a medium between me and my spells, like a staff. If I cast anything too dangerous, my hands could get damaged. Some mages use magical stones in their staves to amplify their mana...
Suddenly, Poll's eyes were drawn to a disturbing sight—scattered bodies of nightwolves and normal wolves littered the ground. His heart skipped a beat. Wait... it's like they've been killing each other. The jagged wounds on the corpses were unmistakable, made by their own sharp fangs.
A chill crept down Poll's spine. What could have caused this?
A sense of unease settled over him. something wasn't right in this forest. something far more dangerous than he had imagined.
"Father you have to see this..." Poll whispered, but his voice barely carried over the rustling leaves.
Eryndor's sharp gaze followed Poll's, landing on the twisted bodies of wolves scattered around. His eyes narrowed, taking in the unnatural savagery of the scene. The wounds, jagged and deep, were unmistakably inflicted by the animals themselves. He stepped closer, kneeling beside one of the carcasses, his experienced hands brushing over the lifeless fur.
A deep frown crossed his face as he examined the wounds. This isn't a normal hunt or territorial fight. These creatures turned on each other, he thought, piecing together the evidence. His fingers hovered near the faint traces of lingering mana, dark and unstable, radiating off the corpses.
[Mana corruption]