As Elanor returnee to her own tent Nathaniel couldn't help but watch
How long had he spoken to someone without obligation and responsibility making it mandatory?
'Hm.. It's a nice change of pace.'
Nathaniel hummed hapilly as he picked up Fenris from the ground climbing up the tree once again yet..
'I feel uneasy.'
Nathaniel couldn't help but stay alert, yes it was supposedly safe after his scan but how long was that?
After a few hours and the laughter of the group predators might be attracted to the noise and flames
With a sigh he'd make a small "tsk" sound as he decided to lay down keeping his blade next to him just incase
' ' Stay in the bag, don't go out okay? ' '
Nathaniel spoke to Fenris in order to keep the pup safe just incase...
Soon the convoy except for a few were fast asleep, this would include Nathaniel..
Crack
A tree branch snapped in the distance, nothing note worthy yet it was enough to awaken Fenris
With a soft whimper the small wolf would wake up Nathaniel
' ' Hm... Ah? ' '
He'd groan as he woke, though after realizing Fenris' tail was not wagging it seemee like the situation was actually serious
Arf! Arf!
Fenris tried to communicate yet Nathaniel couldn't understand
' ' This has to be imoortant rig- ' '
Just before he could speak, he felt something coming, the dreadful feeling of a Magical beast
'You have to be shitting me.. Magical beasts, here? That doesn't make sense they're practically mythical creatures..'
Magical beasts..
Creatures akin to myths themselvee with very few even existing, said to be the rarest type of monsters, these beasts included Dragons, Bassilisks, Pheonixes and so much more..
' ' Dammit.. ' '
Nathaniel muttered under his breath, Magical beasts unlike normal monsters were adept at certain types of magic, this is why they often fetch high prices as they can be devoured and increase magical strength and mana capacity
...
'Which one is it...'
Nathaniel pondered through clench teeth, his hand gripping his sword so hard it began to bleed
' ' Tell me it'll pass soon... ' '
He prayed, begged to the god for the dreadful feeling too pass.. And luckily it did..
With a sigh of relief he sat down once again brushing the cold sweat off of his forehead.. Yet he knew he wasn't alone..
'I still sense some rats lurking.'
With a swift and graceful movement Nathaniel dropped down the tree as his flaming mask once again manifested
...
The leaves rustled as Nathaniel patrolled the area, after a few minutes of walking he began to see multiple shadowy figures which he presumed were bandits
Without any hesitation he unsheathed his blade as he slowly revealed himself, the darkness of the night portraying his burning mask as almost demon like
' ' Eek-! ' '
One of the intruders screeched as he backed away pointing a crude sword at Nathaniel
' ' D- don't come any closer! D- demon! ' '
He shouted alerting the rest of the bandits as they came rushing to help their ally
' ' Save your screams for later. I'll make this quick.. ' '
Nathaniel stated, not as a threat but as a promise as his red crimson eyes penetrated the souls of his foes
Cold sweat dropping from their brow only one thought remaines in their head
'Such a suffocating aura-!'
They coughed and shook, struggling to even breathe due to tbe intensity of the situation, as they began to compose themselves however it was already too late..
With a singular slash one of the bandit's head came slowly rolling to the foot of his ally..
Fear
The one thing he could feel at the moment, like a sheep staring a wolf eye to eye he couldn't move..
And soon, an inferno consumed him, he begged and screames in agony as his flesh burnt yet the demon behind the mask showed not a shred of remorse
' ' 8 more.. ' '
Nathaniel counted, like a hunter counting how many game there was left to hunt, each swing bringing to number down yet..
' ' I'm rusty.. To think I let one go.. ' '
Nathaniel muttered to himself dissapointedly watching the fleeing bandit he couldn't help but smirk.. Yet at the same time he frowned
'Tell me this won't cause a larger attack..'
He thought to himself, it was quite obvious if you thought about it.
A scouting party, and he left one run away, it would either make the rest reconsider an attack or give them an even greater reason to attack the convoy to avenge their fallen
Nathaniel, knowing he made a mistake couldn't help but sigh knowing what was to come he scratched his head as he picked up a small piece of cloth from the disease, cleaning his blade
'I'll think more about it in the future.'
With one last sigh, he returned to his tree to rest
To be continued