"That was a scream, and from the sound of things it's a female." There was no mistaking it, the voice was from a woman probably older than him.
And that shout just now meant she was in danger, under the mercy of the hooved beasts of unknown origin.
'If that's a woman, then there's no denying she has to be the one that caught the beasts attention. But how? What's she doing here anyways?' So many thoughts flooded his mind, along with his heart pounding against his chest.
This was the first time in 18 long years there was another person, apart from his parents in this forest. No one ever came or passed through, and he did blame them.
I mean, who would risk their lives and comfort of their home to come to a death trap like this!? The thought itself sent shivers down one's spine, challenging the straight mindset of a human.
"G-get away from me, somebody help me!" The damsel in distress screamed at the top of her lungs, the sense of urgency felt through the echo of her words. Spread by the enclosure of the dark forest, making the slightest of sounds travel fast.
"Damnit! Think, what should I do?" Aurelien but his lips, ruffling his golden hair cascading down shoulder length. Plotting his next course of action, that would very well determine his future.
That is, if he survived to see another sunrise.
'Even if I tried to make a run for it, there's a low chance I'll make it far on my own.' Tilting his head towards the direction the beasts headed, a slight frown formed on his lips.
'I still don't know if she's my ally or not. But if there's really another living human present in this forest, then i have to help her.' He weighed his options in his hands like a scale, opting to go for the second option.
Yes, there were several factors and risk surrounding it. But it was better than the first, without any food supply, water, or equipment and even new set of clothes to change into.
"High risk brings great rewards, right?" His thin lips curved upwards into a sly smile. Staring into the air once again at the invisible camera in his head.
"Alright then, let's get this over with." Proceeding down the rooftop, he was careful not to make much noise capable of attracting attention. Reaching the edge he looked down, the fall wasn't that high so he predicted to sustain little to none casualties.
"Here goes nothing." Calming his breath, he kept from his small cottage. Positioning his body just so he landed with his side, rather than his legs. Rolling some meter on the muddy floor.
"I-i'm alright." Aurelien git up, checking his body for any casualties but there was none.
"Somebody, help me!" The scream averted his attention once more, to the dreadful path awaiting him. Gripping the dagger tightly, he steeled his resolve. No point in turning back now.
Threading through the wet dirt, he carefully trailed the path the beasts followed. Using the trees as his shield and camouflage, making his way forward.
The blue skies and white cloud that'd painted the scenery was changing, converting into a more darker shade of red. As the sun dipped into the horizon, highlighting it was nearing nightfall.
'Not good.' As a kid, to the young adulthood he'd reached now. He always watched the setting of the sun, from the safety of his abode.
But now, for the first time in his entire life he was far from home. On a possible stupid suicide quest, that might end his life before it even began.
Making his way past the towering trees with little red leaves on their branches he stopped, feeling a change in the atmosphere. "It's coming from there."
He could feel it, a strange presence lingering in the air. One that contained some sort of spark that he couldn't explain.
"She hasn't screamed since, could it be they got to her?" There had been silence for quite sometime, which usually was good, but in this case bad. As it could only mean one thing..
'No.' Shaking the thought from his head, his feet pressed firmer to the ground. Adrenaline coursing through his veins as he swiftly moved. What he lacked for power and strength, he made up for it with agility and an evasive body.
Reaching an open path, he squinted his eyes a bit. Locking onto a dark figure standing on all four legs.
"It's a beast." His heart skipped some beats, staring at this malovelent entity.
It was nothing like he'd ever seen before, having a black fur with sharp silver claws. Two pointy ears that stood upright, scanning for any incoming threat. While it's head resembled that of wolf rather than a wild dog.
'D-did it do all of these?' Aurelien's pupil shrunk a bit, realizing the dead bodies of about a dozen antelope like creatures.
With a deep shade of brown hide and black hooved feet, that looked more like carved concrete. A straight black line running from their back, stopping just at their nose like an arrow.
Staring at their white eyes rolled back, aurelien could feel his skin crawl. Afterall, the was his first time face to face with a dead body.
"They weren't given a chance to fight back." He softly uttered, observing the deep claw strike to their neck. Each one made with precision, and the intent to finish the antelopes with one strike.
'Though I don't approve of your ways, I do not resent you. In the end, we're all just trying to survive.'
It was a dark and gloomy environment, home to predators and beasts that hunts. Being a human here was literally trespassing on their turf, which didn't end well for the few unlucky one's that dared ventured here.
"There's no signs of the woman from earlier, could the wolf have already eaten her?" Searching the surroundings, there was no signs of the person that'd yelled out the earlier distress call.
Making aurelien wonder if the wolf has already killed her. But he didn't have to think for too long, a faint white light appearing in the beast front, with the creation of a small football sized flame.
Shooting out swiftly the moment it was created, hitting the beast in it's face. Making it whince in pain, skidding back just a meter. Raising it's head, a deep sharp escaped it's mouth clearly enraged by the petite girl's actions.
"W-what was that just now?" Aurelien stuttered, his deep sapphire eyes locked onto the girl with fiery red hair.
He hadn't seen her before, mainly because the big wolf body blocked her petite frame. But now he clearly witnessed her presence and that strange feat she just pulled off.
Roar!
The wolf beast roared in anger, it's paws sinking into the wet mud as it advanced. Hell bent on claiming his kill, that'd only proved to be slightly stubborn than it expected.
"No, don't give out on me now." She muttered with panic and fear lacing her tone.
Clutched in her hands was what looked like a small wooden stick, barely weighing much. The tip having a pointed edge, kinda like the one he'd read in a single book bestowed by his parents.
"Waverly Magic." He uttered the name of the book with widened eyes.
The move the girl just pulled off right now, was exactly like what was described in the book. Specifically page 59, title: Flames of ember.
'This is just like what grand magus eliron did, except her's is a bitter disgrace no doubt.' But still, she'd achieved such ability to actually cast spells?
Grrrr
The wolf beast growled, closing the distance between the girl fast. Aurelien could see she struggled to cast the fireball skill she used just now, which could possibly mean she'd ran out of an essential commodity.
"Mana." Snapping out from his daze, aurelien knew he had to act fast.
If the beast eventually killed the girl he was no doubt next. While he was lost in his fantasy about magic, he noticed for a brief second the wolf sniffed the air.
Like it was detecting another scent within the area, which was no doubt his.
"This knife would be useless against the wolf able to withstand such assault." There was no question, he needed to look for an alternative and fast.
"Bingo!" He excitedly said, eyes landing on the curved antelope horns with sharp pointy tips. An idea taking shape in his mind.
Crouching down he immediately got to work, severing the antelope horns from their head. It was firm and stiff in their flesh, but he wasn't going to take no for an answer.
"Great, thanks for nothing exlor." He sarcastically rolled his eyes at the invisible camera watching him. Making one question his state of mind?
But it wasn't a no brainer the once dull knife that couldn't slice his weak flesh, had now cut through the antelope tough hide.
"Two is enough." Running at his max pace, he inhaled large amounts of air. His feets striding along the mud, similar to the sensation of his lungs in fire but it didn't matter.
It was either he killed the beast now, or be killed while trying.