'The conduit... and this thing. It looks like it wasn't a dream, after all. But why's it still following me around!?'
"Meow! Meow, meow! Meow!"
The cat's tail flicked back and forth, wrapping around Linnie's leg. It had been following Linnie since morning, when he found it asleep inside his sleeping sack. Alwyn and Aliza told him to ignore it, saying it would get bored and leave eventually.
But they didn't know what Linnie did. This was no average wild kitty.
"What do you want? I can't understand you! Why don't you just speak like before?"
"Meoooow!" it growled, its bright orange eyes communicating anger.
"You're so annoying—hey! Don't scratch me, or I'll eat you!"
"Meow..."
They were travelling through a dense and calm forest, peacefully basking in the dim spring sunlight that filtered through the canopy of green. The mossy, uneven ground was lit up in a soft, shifting glow, and the air was cool and still, filled with the faint scent of pine and damp earth.
Birds called lazily from hidden perches, their songs beckoning for a mate—or perhaps their partner—to come to their nest. Besides that, though, it was quiet. No distant howling, or the creaking of a caravan.
The place felt untouched, patient, eternal, and calm. No one was watching them in that isolated forest. However, if anything was, it would certainly be hard to tell.
Anything even a few meters off the path would be completely concealed by the dense trees.
The three of them—and the cat—continued down the trail. It would be at least another week before they reached Corvailles, their destination, and they started getting into the rhythm of travelling together.
There was one oddity, though. Typically, a wizarding party's journey was rife with trials and tribulations, monster parties or passing mercenary groups.
In comparison, their travels were, quite frankly, boring.
All the three of them had to entertain themselves were their thoughts and conversations. Aliza found particular enjoyment in Linnie's strange and amusing—though a little dark—childhood tales. She even considered sharing stories of her own, though she decided against it.
"After we leave Corvailles, are we gonna go to the magic tower?" Linnie asked.
"Fu—gaud no. Hopefully, you won't ever have to step inside that place," Alwyn said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "All your instruction will be by me and me alone."
He gave an accusing look to Aliza.
"Oh, forgive me for teaching him the most basic fucking spell in the world. I'm poisoning the well of his brilliant young mind," she scoffed.
"Hey! He's my student, I don't want you teaching him anything! Not even if he asks how to wipe! That's my job!"
She shook her head, ignoring him.
"I know how to wipe, you senile idiot! And if I didn't, I definitely wouldn't ask you to teach me!"
This, too, of course. Alwyn, despite being the 'leader' of the party, was always causing arguments. Whether it was with Linnie or Aliza, it had gotten to the point where it seemed like their travels would've been easier if Alwyn was gone altogether.
"What!? Why not?"
"I don't want you anywhere near my butt, you sick bastard!"
"Don't curse out your teacher, Lin..."
"Or what?"
"A teacher has the right to discipline his apprentice!"
Aliza kicked him in the leg. "Seriously, what's wrong with you? You'd dare put your hands on cute wittle Winnie?"
'I don't know how I feel about that...' Linnie grimaced.
"Huh? I was taught the same way, there's nothing wrong with it!"
"Yeah, and your teacher wasn't normal. Look how you turned out."
"I don't know what you're trying to say, since I turned out great."
"Meow!"
"See? The cat agrees!"
"I don't think that's it," Aliza said apprehensively. "It looks like it's trying to tell us something."
"I think it wants to become my familiar," Linnie said.
"Not this again. Lin, you don't want a familiar, just trust me."
"Meow! Meow! Meo—"
Barreling through the trees, a large wagon came crashing down in front of them. It toppled onto its side, and three armed men climbed out and on top of it, shouting at each other. Where horses were supposed to be, only snapped ropes hung idly.
"We've gotta run! That thing's gonna kill us!"
"We can't abandon the cargo, you idiot! The duke'll have our heads!"
"To hell with the duke!" he shouted, jumping from the carriage and bolting down the path.
From the trees, a large quill shot through the air, impaling the man straight through the back. He stumbled around for a few seconds before collapsing onto the ground.
Linnie just about started running towards the carriage, but Alwyn pulled him back, shaking his head.
The remaining two drew their swords, holding their shields high in the air in defense. A roaring could be heard from the trees, shaking the entire forest.
"I was thinking it's been an awfully peaceful journey so far, especially considering where we are," Alwyn said, grinning. "Hello, men, what's happening here?"
"A wizard? A wizard! We're saved! Please, help us! A large beast appeared in the middle of our route, a porcupine bear!"
"Aha, it interrupted your route, did it? And what exactly are you folks carrying in there?"
"Oh... I see, that's how it is! Of course! You'll be paid handsomely! It's very important cargo we're delivering to the nearby duke!" he said, shaking in his boots.
"No, that's not what I asked," he sneered. "Again, what is it you got in there?"
He pointed at the wagon. They looked at each other, then back at Alwyn.
"It's a slave, sir wizard. We're slave traders!"
'A singular slave? That's odd. Anyways, they're definitely not worth saving from what's coming.'
Suddenly, a human body flew from the trees, slamming into the two and knocking them off the carriage. The roaring filled the air, and the monster broke through onto the path. It stood on its hind legs and shot quills everywhere.
Alwyn moved quickly, shielding Linnie and Aliza—and the cat—behind his robes. They watched as the bear swiped at the carriage, sending it tumbling again. It then charged at the two slave traders and roared.
They raised their shields and held their swords out warily. The bear clawed at them, brutally dismembering one. It took the remaining man in its mouth, sinking its teeth into his flesh and eating him whole.
"You think it'll leave us be?" Linnie asked, optimistic.
"Meow..." The cat shook its head, face-palming.
"Whoa, the cat really responded, that's crazy," Aliza said. "Alright, Alwyn? Kill that thing so we can be on our way already."
It spotted the three of them and started creeping slowly, wary of the unknown threats. The creature narrowed its eyes, licking the blood from its lips.
"About that..." Alwyn said, scratching the back of his head. "I'm kinda running low on mana right now. Linnie will take care of it."
"Low on mana? You? No way. That's never happened before." Aliza raised her eyebrow in suspicion.
"Ehehehe." Linnie gulped. "You're just joking, right? Funny. You're gonna take it out with some flashy spell, now."
"I'm not joking. Go on, fight it. I'll even permit you to cast fireball. It should be a piece of cake for you!" he reassured, grinning.
Alwyn slapped his back, pushing him towards the bear.
'I guess he's right, it should be a piece of cake! I mean, I basically took out that abbot all on my own; a bear should be nothing, now!'
"FIREBALL!"
A large ball of flame materialized in the space between his hands, swirling with heat.
"Why's he say 'fireball' every time he casts the spell? Did you teach him that? He looks like an idiot."
"Obviously not. It probably just helps him visualize the spell in his head. Not everyone's a genius, you know."
"Oh, so I'm a genius, then?"
"Shut up." Aliza paused. "You really think Linnie can beat that thing? I get you're trying to teach him not to form a bad habit of relying on fire magic, but how the hell's he gonna—"
"What? No, I'm not trying to do anything like that. I actually can't afford to waste mana right now." Alwyn turned to face her, furrowing his brow. "Why'd you think that?"
"Aren't you making him fight that thing since their quills disperse non-physical conjurations?"
"Oh, shit, did porcupine bears have that quality?" Alwyn laughed. "No way—he's totally gonna get mauled."
"Meow!"
"You idiot! Should I step in?"
"Uh, and what are you gonna do?"
The fireball flew from Linnie's hands. Upon impact with the bear, though, the fire seemingly had no effect. It disappeared, the flames dispersing into the air.
"Wha—what the hell!?"
The spiky bear, now roaring, charged Linnie. He started to sprint in the opposite direction, screaming for help. Looking back, he kept shooting fireballs, but it was useless.
'It doesn't work! Is Alwyn trying to kill me!? How am I supposed to kill this thing if my spell doesn't work!? Shi—'