Ezra woke Rion and Maria early the next morning, and the three of them continued down the Anoria Highway. The morning air was crisp and cold, but Rion barely noticed. His thoughts were fixed on the night before—on his second meeting with Specter.
****
"Shall we continue where we left off?" Specter asked enthusiastically.
"Where we left off!?"
Specter nodded its hooded head. "Yes. Don't you remember? We were—"
"Of course I remember," Rion groaned. "But you can't just- y'know pop in whenever you want!"
"Why not? Isn't that embedded in the very nature of specters?" Specter replied matter-of-factly.
Rion sighed. "I swear, you can be a pain. Listen, your training was a huge help, but that doesn't mean I want every night's sleep to turn into a training session."
Specter nodded thoughtfully. Rion felt that if it had a real face, its brows would be furrowed in thought.
"Fine. How about three times a week?" Specter suggested.
Even that many times sounded daunting to Rion. But if he ever wanted to retain his memories, he needed strength one way or another. To refuse Specters offer would be a waste.
"Fine," he said begrudgingly. "Three times a week."
Specter puffed out its chest. "Very well! If you ever wish to increase the schedule, just let me know."
"You can hear what I say out there?" Rion asked.
"If it concerns me, yes. Same goes for Eru."
Rion perked up. "Oh. I forgot to ask but how do you know Eru but not yourself?"
Specter shrugged, judging by the movement of its cloak. "No idea. Just happened like that. Anyway, let's begin!"
Rion chuckled. "Why are you so eager?"
Specter turned toward him. "Because I adore magic!"
Rion paused a moment then grinned. "Alright then. I'm read!" And thus Rion gained a master...
****
Even now, as he walked, Rion could feel the difference. Magic flowed through him far more smoothly than before. This time he and Specter didn't focus on water magic, but instead they had worked on the fundamentals of magic, control, flow, awareness. He felt stronger than ever, and the greatest benefit of it was that Specter's training cost him no sleep.
"You okay?" Maria asked. "You seem kind of spaced out."
"Oh—sorry. Just thinking about… magic."
"Hm." She shrugged.
She was about to say more when Ezra suddenly shouted, "Back up, you two!"
Rion's head snapped toward him. "Huh? What's the—"
He saw it immediately. It was one of the lizard creatures they'd spotted grazing the day before. Only this one wasn't peaceful. It was charging straight at them, it was charging towards them screeching, mouth wide open saliva spilling from it and sharp teeth shining bright.
"Those things attack people!?" Rion shouted.
"Usually they don't!" Ezra replied. "But sometimes a Mozard eats a peddle-leaf flower. Small plant but even a few petals can drive a creature mad."
The beast closed the distance fast. As it neared, Rion realized just how massive it was. Even on all fours, it stood at eight feet tall minimum.
"Should I put it to sleep?" Maria asked, readying her harp.
"Don't bother. In that state it probably won't even process the music. Leave this to me."
He winked at them, then dashed forward.
With his left hand, he reached into the pouch strapped to his leg and pulled out a nail. He tossed it into the air and leapt after it, hammer already in his right hand.
As the Mozard charged within six feet of him, the nail hovering above suddenly expanded in size, stretching until it was nearly two feet long.
Ezra swung his hammer and hit the head of the nail with a resounding clink.
For a split second, it felt like time froze. Then a blast tore through the air.
The enlarged nail flew like itd been fired out by a canon then pierced straight through the Mozard's forehead then skull with a sickening thud and squelch, before bursting out the other side.
The creature collapsed instantly.
At the same time Ezra landed lightly, brushing dust from his shirt before turning back to Rion and Maria with a grin.
"Told you I was strong."
He glanced at the Mozard corspe and sighed. "Just sad you had to be the example, buddy. Gotta be careful what you put in your mouth." Ezra then brought his hands together and prayed for the Lizard.
(And thus, Lost Keep's adventure continues…)