I give a slight smile, realizing I might've gone a bit overboard with my abilities. "Well, let's just say it's more of an empathic connection with nature. Nothing too magical, just a subtle understanding of natural signals some animals give off."
Mira seems a bit skeptical, but Piper is still looking at me with stars in her eyes.
"Elemental magic can do that?" Mira asks.
"I didn't know it could either, Magister," Piper chimes in, just as surprised as Mira, yet thrilled. "How do you manage it?"
I shrug. "Why not?"
The damage is done; might as well go all in, right?
I take a moment to focus, then let out a soft whistle. Soon, a small squirrel appears, joining our walk and happily hopping along beside me. My companions look on, switching between awe and shock. Even Griffin can't hide his surprise.
Piper bends down to pet the squirrel. "This is amazing, Magister. Your bond with nature is truly something special. I can only sense disturbances in magical flows within nature." She glances over at Mira. "Mira, it's almost like a kind of psychic magic, isn't it?"
Mira nods with a slight smile. "It is." She observes the squirrel with curiosity. "It's fascinating to see how magic can take on so many forms."
Griffin, on the other hand, stays quiet, though his expression reveals a hint of puzzlement.
I just smile in response. Lesson learned: less talk, fewer questions…
In the meantime, let's enjoy the scenery.
We continue walking with a calm appearance, letting the squirrel bounce around us. Piper keeps peppering me with questions, eager to learn more about my magic and its limits. She even asked if I'd mentor her, which I politely declined, claiming I wasn't much of a teacher since I'd learned everything solo. Instead of discouraging her, though, it only made her admire me more, calling me a "genius" and whatnot.
The others listen quietly, even if Griffin keeps his serious look, focused on the mission ahead.
Finally, not able to take Piper's endless curiosity any longer, I suggest she focus on our mission. After all, we're nearing the village of Javal, and it's time to get ready for our confrontation with the wanted criminal, right?
Piper, though a little disappointed, understands the importance of the task. I enjoyed passing the time chatting, but when all the attention is on you, it starts feeling more like a chore than anything else.
The village of Javal appears on the horizon, with the trees giving way to the first houses.
As we approach the edge of the village of Javal, the quaint houses come into view, and I notice figures moving in the distance. That's when Griffin turns to me with a serious expression.
"So, Magister, what's the plan?"
I blink, slightly thrown off. Odd—I thought Aunt Libel had already covered everything in our briefing. But apparently, she left some details out, and now I'm feeling a bit lost.
I scratch my head, trying to gather my thoughts. "Well, you know, Warden Piper studies nature to detect magical disturbances, Warden Mira reads thoughts to find clues, and you, Warden Griffin, are ready to step in if there's an attack. Isn't that it?"
The team members exchange confused glances, clearly not buying my answer. Griffin furrows his brows. "Yes, Magister, we already know that. But how are we supposed to enter the village?"
I stand there, baffled. Enter the village? Aunt Libel didn't give us any instructions on that. Why is Griffin bringing it up now?
Mira steps in, her impassive gaze fixed on me. "Should we enter openly, or investigate quietly? The villagers mustn't be exposed to magic."
A good question, and I feel a bit foolish for not considering it sooner. We definitely don't want to alarm or provoke suspicion among the people of Javal. Why didn't Aunt Libel mention this? What do I do now?
I nod slowly, trying to look decided. "Good question, Warden Mira. I think we should observe from a distance first before making a move. No need to raise any suspicions, right?"
The team nods, relieved by this cautious approach. A lazy man's best weapon is patience. After all, waiting means I get a little downtime.
We head to a hidden observation point.
The sun sets gently behind the hills, casting a calming glow over the village of Javal. Seated on a small ridge, shielded by trees, we have the perfect view of the quiet village below. The stone houses look frozen in time, their red-tiled roofs reflecting the last rays of the day.
I watch the scene idly, letting my mind wander. The whispers of the wind and the hum of insects create a soothing backdrop. The calm around us could've lulled me into a refreshing nap if it weren't for the mission hanging over me.
Piper leans forward, intently observing the village. Her magical expertise lets her sense even the slightest shifts in the surrounding energy. I watch her, amazed at her focus, while I'm perfectly content to let things unfold without much effort.
Beside me, Mira stays silent. She's likely already envisioning action scenes and preparing spells, just in case.
Griffin, meanwhile, looks ready to spring at any moment. His muscles are tense, prepared to respond to the slightest threat. I get it, but personally, I'm hoping we wrap this up quickly so I can get back to my peaceful life.
"So, Warden Piper, see anything?" Griffin asks impatiently.
Piper shakes her head. "No, nothing at all. This village is too quiet, too normal. No trace of magic anywhere."
"Maybe she's not here, then," I suggest. As they say, no news is good news.
I start to stand, ready to head back to the guild when—
"Or maybe she's just very well hidden," Mira retorts.
Mind your own business.
I sigh, not really sure what to do.
"We need to get closer, question the villagers. Maybe they've seen something suspicious," she insists.
"And how are we supposed to do that without raising suspicions?" Griffin asks, ever cautious.
Exactly, Griffin. The best thing would be to head back to the guild... Wait a minute.
Just then, Aunt Libel's words come back to me: "The sooner you complete these tasks, the sooner you can return to your peaceful life."
Oh, screw it!
"I'll go alone, posing as a traveler. You all stay here and keep telepathic contact with Mira. If I find anything, I'll let you know. If I'm in danger, you come in," I say, coming up with a plan on the spot.
"That seems risky, Magister. Are you sure about this?" Piper asks, concerned.
Risky? I'm not so sure. But tiring? Absolutely. I'm already exhausted just thinking about it.
But I want to get this over with.
"Don't worry, Warden Piper. I can handle myself. And remember, I'm your Magister. If anyone here needs to dive headfirst into the tiger's lair, it's me, right?" I say, pretending confidence. At least I have to look cool, no matter what.
"Alright, Magister. But be careful, okay?" Griffin says, giving me a pat on the shoulder.
Am I dreaming, or did I just gain this guy's respect? Never mind.
"Yes, yes, I'll be careful. Don't worry about me."
I pick up my backpack and turn to Mira. She hands me a slip of paper covered in mysterious markings.
"This talisman will let me track your movements and keep in touch with you," she says calmly.
I nod absent-mindedly, not really caring about the talisman's implications. I just want to get this mission over with and return to my quiet life.
She continues, "As for telepathic communication, I'll need to link with your mind. It's—"
Her words feel like a dagger. Link with my mind?
A wave of inner panic washes over me. Such a link would mean she'd have access to my memories, right? She'd see my most private thoughts... No way!
Thankfully, she warned me before acting!
As she goes on about her spell and something else, I start racking my brain to escape this situation. Thinking back, I'm the one who suggested this whole approach earlier. What was I thinking? I really need to stop saying things off the cuff.
You know, being lazy doesn't mean being lazy-minded. Sure, thinking can sometimes be exhausting, but when it's crucial, it's a different story... Just as I'm thinking at lightning speed, I remember a spell.
Yes, with that, I can get out of this!
I abruptly interrupted Mira: "Wait, Warden Mira. Your method has too many flaws. Not only could it be intercepted by the enemy, but the information would also only be between the two of us, leaving Piper and Griffin in the dark. Actually, I have a more effective spell."
I spoke without thinking (it seems I haven't always learned from my mistakes), hoping my bluff would go unnoticed.
My teammates watch me with expressions of mixed surprise and curiosity.
Piper, ever quick to get excited about any new magical discovery, doesn't take long to react. Her eyes sparkle with enthusiasm as she exclaims, "Another spell, Magister? You never stop surprising us!"
I give her a confident smile, though my thoughts are a bit chaotic inside.
Mira, on the other hand, furrows her brows, clearly puzzled. "I'm not sure I understand how elemental magic could facilitate long-distance transmission, Magister. Could you tell us more?"
Griffin watches the scene with palpable interest. I take a deep breath and launch into an improvised explanation, hoping my words will sound convincing.
I've just realized that I may have spoken too much about my magical abilities, but there's nothing I can do about it. Between that and someone reading my thoughts, the choice is easy.
I close my hand, leaving a dramatic pause before opening it again to reveal a tiny polished stone.
"With this," I declare.
TO BE CONTINUED!
Next Chapter: I'm not looking for trouble