Cara hesitates before responding.
"It depends...some of them can be. I've never heard of one as intelligent as an elf, but if they evolve enough, some of them can learn basic language." (Cara)
My eyes widen involuntarily at the realization they can talk, before I'm intrigued by another part of her comment.
[What do you mean, about them evolving?] (Mizuki)
I feel Cara shrug against my back.
"I don't know much about it, truthfully, just that some of them can transform with time, and that tends to make them smarter and more powerful." (Cara)
I purse my lips, studying the little shadow nymph lying just a few meters away from us with greater interest. Naturally, the moment that Cara first alluded to its unique nature, I'd cast every concealment spell I know around us to keep from scaring the creature away while I study it.
Realizing that I'm reaching the limits of Cara's knowledge, I reach out to Ciri through our bond. A millions-of-years old Elder Dragon ought to know something about magic beast evolution, right?
[Ciri, what can you tell me about magic beasts and how they evolve?] (Mizuki)
Immediately, I feel a rush of satisfaction through our Bond, her telepathic 'voice' practically dripping with eagerness.
[Mizuki! Fufufu...how lovely to hear from you. Our very first remote conversation!] (Ciri)
I sigh internally.
[Ciri...magic beast evolutions?] (Mizuki)
[Ah...oh, of course. What about them?] (Ciri)
I fight the urge to roll my eyes.
[For starters, what causes them?] (Mizuki)
There's a brief pause in our telepathy.
[I am not sure of how, exactly, but the evolutions appear to be driven by excessive magic consumption.] (Ciri)
I raise my eyebrows, though of course she can't see that.
[Magic consumption? Not absorption?] (Mizuki)
I feel a vague positive emotion from her, giving me the impression that she's nodding, wherever she is.
[Yes, their natural absorption alone is barely enough to sustain their existences. In fact, using their magic abilities can be dangerous, draining their reserves to critical levels. But, they can also siphon magic from other lifeforms to supplement their basal mana absorption. If they do so frequently enough, excess magic can accumulate until they evolve.] (Ciri)
I blink, briefly stunned by the implications. That basically makes all magic beasts parasites, right? I begin eyeing the innocuously cute shadow nymph in front of us a bit more warily.
[So, they can just suck the life and magic right out of you?] (Mizuki)
[No, they're not quite that capable. They'd have to kill or severely incapacitate another creature to forcibly drain them like that. The most they can do otherwise is gradually siphon trace amounts of magic. It wouldn't outpace a normal creature's natural absorption, and someone like you'd probably never even notice it happening.] (Ciri)
I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding.
[What about shadow nymphs? Can you tell me anything else about them, specifically?] (Mizuki)
I feel the telepathic equivalent of a shrug through our Bond.
[Hmm...they're small, nocturnal. Not very tasty?] (Ciri)
Guess that explains why it's conked out in the middle of the day. Also, I try not to let the horror I feel at her last comment leak through our connection...
[Other than that...hmm. I've never seen one evolved – they're too weak to kill and drain other creatures. They can become partly incorporeal and meld with other lifeforms' shadows, but that's about their only noteworthy ability. They're nearly impossible to detect in their shadow forms.] (Ciri)
Shadow-melding chipmunks? Not gonna lie, that's pretty cool.
Having gotten what I need from her, I end my conversation with Ciri politely, a subtle gleam taking root in my eyes as I study the shadow nymph ahead of us. Apparently, it catches Cara's attention, because I soon feel her slightly accusatory whisper tickle my ear.
"Why are you smiling at it like that?" (Cara)
I was smiling?
I shake my head, giving her an embarrassed smile.
[Honestly, I was thinking it'd be interesting to study.] (Mizuki)
My answer is met with only silence...vaguely judgmental silence, if you ask me.
Ignoring Cara, I begin creeping closer to the small, magical rodent, preparing to secure it in a forcefield. However, as I close in, I notice that something about it seems...wrong. Now that I think of it, even if it's nocturnal, why would it sleep in such an exposed fashion? Shouldn't it be sheltered somewhere more protected, or better yet, sleeping in this shadow form that Ciri mentioned?
Eventually, I'm close enough to discern the particular sense of 'wrongness' I felt – the little fella seems injured.
Its little chest is rising irregularly, its breaths shallow and raspy. I also notice that it's not actually unconscious, its tiny eyelids fluttering open in short intervals as if it's fighting to stay conscious. Yet, despite it's clearly poor health, I see no evidence of any physical injuries. It's silky, black coat of fur is nothing short of pristine.
I glance at Cara, her chin still resting on my shoulder.
[Is it sick? It looks like it's...dying.] (Mizuki)
Cara's eyes narrow, studying it intently, and she shakes her head.
"Something's clearly wrong with it, but...as far as I know, magic beasts can't contract illnesses like normal creatures. Maybe it's suffering from magic depletion? It could have overexerted itself while trying to escape a predator." (Cara)
Right, Ciri did allude to something like that being possible. Well, in that case...
Without a single thought for the consequences, I drop all of my concealment spells, suddenly appearing less than a meter from the shadow nymph. Almost immediately, I see it's eyes flutter open again, but with significantly more alarm. Curiously, despite clearly noticing us, it doesn't try to run. It's body just trembles pathetically, its tiny ribcage rising and falling much more quickly than before.
Cara's sympathetic voice interrupts, no longer bothering to whisper.
"It's this terrified and it's still not running. It must be in pretty bad shape...poor thing." (Cara)
I share her sentiments, speaking softly to it in a subdued tone.
"Hey, little guy...don't worry, we're not going to hurt you. Here, hold still..." (Mizuki)
I reach out, placing my index finger against its side. For a moment, I'm briefly caught off guard...
It's fur is so fucking fluffy!
Shaking my head internally, I refocus on my original goal. I visualize my magic flowing out of me and into the shadow nymph through my finger, 'releasing' my control over the magic in the process. Basically, it's a simple magic transfer, like what I've used before to replenish Zara after a fight.
At first, I'm not even sure it's going to work...I've never dealt with a magic beast before. However, almost as soon as I start the spell, I see the little shadow nymph freeze, its eyes going wide as its breathing seems to halt. But, only for a moment, before its signs of life return, slowing from their initial frenzy to something...calmer.
After a few seconds, I still haven't felt the sensation of a person's magic reserves reaching capacity under my spell, like water overflowing from a full cup. Yet, I'm certain that I've already infused enough magic to replenish a typical person.
I stop the spell, watching to see how the small creature reacts before I proceed further.
As I pull my hand away, studying the shadow nymph, its eyes are locked on me in return. It doesn't move, doesn't make a sound, it just stares back at me alertly with breathing far steadier than when Cara first noticed it.
Then, it suddenly bolts, disappearing into the forest before I can even consider what to do next.
After a moment, I sigh regretfully.
"Damn...lost a perfectly good test subject." (Mizuki)
I feel fingers dig into my shoulder, and glance over to see Cara's disapproving expression. I clear my throat hurriedly.
"Ehem, I mean...glad to see the little guy's feeling better. All in a day's work, really." (Mizuki)
Her eyes darken with amusement, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"How gallant of you..." (Cara)
Opting to change the subject, I smile at her sheepishly.
"So...what now?" (Mizuki)
She sighs softly, seemingly deciding to let my comment go, then nods towards a certain direction.
"Now, we go on as we were. I still need to find a good spot for my people to start development on the new settlement." (Cara)
With that, her freeloading under the guise of training me continues, and we press further into the woods...
Completely oblivious to the pair of small, beady eyes now watching us from the shadows.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Some twenty or so minutes later, a small lake becomes visible through the trees ahead of us. Cara's arms around me tighten, her voice dropping to a faint whisper in my ear.
"You can stop now...I think this is the place." (Cara)
I halt my steps, giving her a quizzical look.
[Because there's a source of water here, or...?] (Mizuki)
I feel her head shake.
"Kind of...the game we hunt seems to have a strong presence here. I can tell from the distinctive markings on the trees over there. Plus, the presence of the water lilies there suggests this area is suitable for the growth of Mertroot, which we need a steady supply of for potions." (Cara)
My eyes widen in shock at the response. Sure enough, when I look closely enough, I can see the presence of the things she mentioned, but...noticing them so quickly and realizing the implications is another matter entirely.
My expression naturally turns curious.
[Where did you learn all of this outdoorsy stuff anyway?] (Mizuki)
Though I can't see her face, pressed against the back of my shoulder, I feel her tense ever so slightly at the question. She's silent for several moments before responding.
"Alyse taught me...once upon a time." (Cara)
Her tone makes it clear that her feelings on the subject are...complicated, and I'm personally torn about whether it's okay to ask the questions that raises for me. From the first time I met Alyse, watching her interact with Cara, it was clear that the two aren't on the best of terms.
Before I can make up my mind, Cara hops off my back suddenly, making no attempt to do so quietly or discreetly. She merely gestures in a particular direction and begins walking, not bothering to look at me.
"Let's head this way, I still need to decide on the actual land on which to start development nearby." (Cara)
I quickly catch up, falling in step beside her. We continue like that for several minutes in companionable silence, her thoughts seemingly elsewhere, until I can't contain my curiosity anymore.
"So, can I ask what the deal is between you and your sister, orrr....?" (Mizuki)