The road stretched endlessly ahead of us, the golden hues of the setting sun bathed me in its final warming rays. My legs ached, my gear felt heavier with every step, and my patience was wearing thin. Not from the journey, though that was taxing in its own right, but from my self-proclaimed travel companion, the peppy woman with no concept of personal space or silence.
"So then I thought, if I'm going to be an apprentice, why not be the best apprentice? And that's when I decided to take this staff, which isn't really mine yet—it's my master's spare—and just set out, you know? But oh! Don't get me wrong, I'm not stealing it. I mean, it's technically borrowing since he did say I could use it for training. Speaking of which—"
She barely paused for breath as her words spilled out like a dam that had just been opened. Her robes swayed as she walked, the hems brushing the dirt road. The gnarled staff she carried bobbed with her strides, the faint etchings on its surface glinting in the light of the pulsating gem that now illuminated more than the sun as the sky grew darker. The magic radiated faintly from her, an aura I couldn't see but could definitely feel. She'd thrown a few hints my way about her apprenticeship, and by hints, I mean hours and hours of exposition. If I bothered to listen, I would know the names of each member of her family, her childhood friends, every magical tutor she had ever had, and the entire roster of professors at the magical academy in the capital. While I wasn't entirely sure what to make of her, it was clear she was certainly unique.
I, on the other hand, looked every bit the part of a bandit who'd barely survived his last raid. Blood still clung to my tattered armor and clothes. The guards' potions had done wonders for my injuries, but they hadn't done much for my appearance.
I tore a strip of elk jerky from the pouch at my side and chewed, offering her some, but she declined and pulled out a pastry from some bag she had on her hip. I had no idea how it managed to stay so pristine, let alone fit in such a bag, but she ate it with delight. I too filled with delight as silence washed over me. She tried to talk once or twice, but after I feigned the inability to understand her while she ate, she remained silent and finished her snack. While I had my full senses back, my eyes scanned the road ahead. A family with a cart had passed us earlier, keeping their distance as though my disheveled state might be contagious. The mother had pulled her children close, whispering something I didn't catch, and the father's hand had hovered near the hilt of his sword. I couldn't blame them.
The woman beside me—Mara, as she'd finally introduced herself—had been prattling on the entire day, seemingly unfazed by my grunts and monosyllabic responses. Part of me wanted to tell her to fuck off, but there was something oddly comforting about the way she filled the silence and helped me push away the traumatic memories of earlier.
"You're not much of a talker, huh?" she finally said after whipping her mouth of what I assumed was some sort of cream filling.
"Yeah, you said that when we first met," I muttered as my senses quickly became overwhelmed.
"I'm great at carrying conversations. I mean, look at us! We're practically best friends already." she chirped out, unphased by my statement.
I choked on my jerky, coughing violently as I waved her off. "We're… not friends," I managed between coughs.
"You say that, but I'm growing on you, I can tell. It won't be long till we're arm and arm, skipping our way to the capital," she said with an infuriatingly cheerful grin.
"I didn't say I was going to the capital–"
"No, but you'll want to, everyone wants to, it's a brilliant place, full of wonder, lots of people, lots of new friends to make; you can't help but gravitate toward it. Give me the night, I'll convince you," she replied with a wink. It seemed vaguely sexual, but coming from her, I didn't think she even knew was sex was and I didn't doubt she completely believed her charming personality was all it would take to win me over.
Before I could respond—or groan—a scream pierced the air ahead. My body tensed instantly, and Mara's smile vanished, her expression shifting to one of sharp focus.
"Up there!" she said, pointing with her staff.
Ahead, a group of travelers had stopped in the road. A man and woman stood in front of a cart, their weapons drawn but trembling as they faced off against a pack of creatures. The beasts were like something out of a nightmare—taller than wolves, with bristling fur and glowing eyes, their snarls echoing in the forest. Their claws scraped the dirt as they circled the family, their fangs bared as they tried to separate the parents from the children. However, the wagon made it difficult, the kids clearly weren't going to leave, and the parents weren't about to give up their kids.
"Stay here," I said, gripping my sword tightly and dashing forward.
"Stay here? Are you kidding?" Mara laughed, her staff already glowing faintly. "I've got this."
Before I could argue, she raised the staff, and a crackling bolt of energy shot forth, striking one of the wolf-like creatures square in the chest. The beast yelped, its body convulsing as the magic coursed through it, only to collapse to the ground, its fur singed and smoking.
"Get to the town!" I shouted to the family, who hesitated for a moment before the father nodded. He ushered his wife into the wagon as he climbed up behind the horse and grabbed the reins of the cart, urging the horse forward as the mother protected their kids.
The beasts snarled, two of them breaking off to give chase.
"Go!" Mara shouted, her staff crackling again as another bolt lashed out, striking one of the pursuing creatures and sending it sprawling.
I didn't wait to see if it got back up. I activated Shadow Dance, the world twisting and darkening as the ability pulled me forward.
[Shadow Dance Activated: 20 Mana Cost]
[Mana: 30/20]
I reappeared in the midst of the beasts, my sword slicing through the air. The nearest one barely had time to react as the blade cut into its flank, drawing a spray of blood. The creature yowled, turning on me with a feral snarl.
[Damage Dealt: 30]
Another beast lunged from the side, its claws raking toward my chest. I twisted away, the movement awkward but just enough to avoid being gutted.
"Over here!" Mara's voice rang out as she unleashed a burst of flame, forcing two more beasts to back off. The firelight reflected in her eyes, and I realized she wasn't just helping, she was enjoying this.
The creatures seemed to hesitate as they tried to focus on each of us, deciding which one of us they should attack. For a moment, it seemed like they might retreat. Then the largest of them let out a bone-chilling howl, and the others surged forward.
Mara and I moved as one, not intentionally, but our goals were the same, and our efforts seemed to sync together. She cast another spell and her magic blasted through the pack, as my sword carved a path through their ranks. It was chaos, claws and teeth and blood flying in every direction.
"Behind you!" she shouted, and I spun just in time to see one of the creatures leaping toward me. I thrust my sword upward, the blade piercing its chest. Its weight slammed into me, driving me to the ground, but I managed to push it off as it went limp.
[Critical Strike: Fatal]
[Experience Gained: 250]
[Bonus Experience Gained: 250]
[Total XP: 12,892/12800]
[Congratulations! You have reached Level 11!]
"How many of these things are there?" I panted, wiping blood, some of mine, some not, from my face, and wiping it on my already blood-soaked clothes.
"Not enough!" she replied with gusto, her grin returning despite the sweat dripping down her brow.
The largest beast, the one that had howled earlier, stalked toward us. Its eyes burned brighter than the others, and its muscles rippled beneath its fur. This one was different.
"You take the big guy," I said, still struggling to stand, and feeling she was better suited for a mini-boss fight. Besides, I couldn't let myself die here, and though she was… Interesting company, it would be better for her to go down.
"Deal," Mara said, no idea of my intentions, just eager to show off some more. The flames on her staff roared to life as she stepped forward.
The beast towered over her, its massive frame a daunting vision compared to her petite body. Its glowing eyes locked onto her, sizing her up as if deciding how best to strike. Mara, however, looked unfazed. If anything, she seemed excited.
"Alright, big guy," she muttered, gripping her staff tightly. "Let's dance." She glanced at her HUD and pouted, possibly checking her mana, but I couldn't tell.
She raised her staff, and the flames intensified, crackling as they spiraled up the gnarled wood. With a flourish, she slammed the butt of the staff into the ground, and a ring of fire erupted around her. The beast hesitated, snarling but stopping just short of the flames.
Meanwhile, I turned my attention to the remaining wolves. The smaller ones were still circling, it was clear they were trying to keep me from helping Mara. They knew I was a threat, but they also knew I didn't have half the flashy abilities she did. My arms ached, my legs felt like lead, and my mana bar–Well my mana wasn't half bad at 30/50, I could still do another Shadow Dance.
One of them lunged, its jaws snapping at my leg. I stepped back, swinging the sword down in a clumsy arc. The blade connected, slicing through its neck. The creature crumpled, its body twitching as blood pooled beneath it.
[Critical Hit: Fatal]
[Experience Gained: 250 XP]
[Bonus Experience Gained: 250 XP]
Is Morgana still guiding me again? This is absurd, I was an amateur, how could I be taking down enemies so easily? I wasn't upset, but it did feel kind of cheap.
The others growled, edging closer.
"Anytime now, Mara!" I shouted, parrying an attack as another came at me shortly after, causing me to tumble to the side.
"Busy!" she called back, her voice laced with a strange mix of frustration and excitement. Of course, there was excitement.
I risked a glance her way. The largest beast had stepped through the flames, its fur singed but as their leader, it seemed to not fear her barrier. It swiped at her with claws the size of daggers, but she sidestepped gracefully, retaliating with a blast of concentrated fire. The flames hit its chest, and the creature howled in pain, but it didn't back down.
"She's insane," I muttered, dodging another lunge.
The wolves were relentless, attacking in pairs now. I managed to block one, my sword skittering against its claws, but the other sank its teeth into my arm. I yelled, slamming the hilt of my weapon into its head until it let go. Blood dripped from the wound, but I couldn't afford to stop.
[Damage Received: 30]
[Health:120/150]
"Get off of him!" Mara's voice rang out, and bolts of electricity began arcing from her staff as she started to turn to me.
"No!" I bellowed, "Keep on the alpha, if we take it out they might flee!" I begged as I dodged another strike while taking the following one against my back as claws raked toward me.
[Damage Received: 20]
[Health: 100/150]
I cried out in pain, but I managed to muffle it as another wolf entered the fray. "Keep going, I'll be fine!" I called out to Mara as the wall of flames around her obscured our vision of one another.
I braced myself, raising the sword and aiming for its throat. The wolf leapt, its jaws open wide—and I drove the blade upward, but it shifted, avoiding a fatal blow as my sword glanced along its neck, but not digging very deep. I guess this was my fault for questioning Morgana.
[Damage: 60 Damage]
The wolf lands and snarls as the others creep in closer.
I couldn't see her any longer, but it was clear she was having an equally tough time. I hear her cry out in pain and I feel the need to come to her aid, but the other wolves have me surrounded. The flames lick at the air but start to fade, and I can see the alpha has her pinned to the ground, her arm in its mouth as it shreds her to ribbons. A strange feeling fills me and suddenly I am not OK with her dying. I focus intently on the situation and see my opportunity.
[Shadow Dance Activated]
[Mana 10/50]
I briefly lose my bearings as I struggle to grapple with this still-foreign experience. As quickly as I disappeared, I reappeared behind the beast and drove my blade between its shoulders. I'm not sure how much damage I did, but a notification did arrive in my HUD.
[Boss Defeated: Alpha Direwolf]
[Experience Gained: 1,000 XP]
[Bonus Experience Gained: 1,000 XP]
I stared at her, half-impressed, half-terrified. "You're insane."
She turned to me, a wide grin on her face and blood pouring from her wounds. "You too!."
I groaned as I pulled my blade from the wolf. "Yeah, thanks. Do you have any health potions? For yourself I mean, I'm good, but you need something."
"Err, well, no, but I have a solution," she replied sheepishly, rising to a sitting position and chanting a quick script. She rapidly glows green before the light envelops her entirely. As it fades, her wounds are stitched together and she collapses on the ground.
I panicked and checked her pulse, she was still alive, likely just overexerted herself.