The meeting with the village chief had been brief and tense. I managed to convince him of the imminent danger by appealing to his protective instincts, assuring him that Rem and I would neutralize the threat before dawn. Now, the darkness of the Elior forest stretched out before us like a network of shadows concealing death.
I walked among the twisted roots, feeling every crunch of the dry leaves beneath my boots. Behind me, Rem's presence was a frigid constant, a reminder that my life depended on her strength in the same way her safety depended on my vision.
The environmental mana vibrated with a discordant frequency. I closed my eyes for a second, letting the world vanish so that only the threads remained.
"They're close," I whispered, pointing toward a dense thicket of thorns. "The drainage trail intensifies in that direction. The resonance is identical to what I found in Petra."
Rem tightened her flail. The sound of the chains clashing softly against each other broke the oppressive silence.
"Rem trusts Subaru-kun's senses. But the forest is treacherous. The Ulgarms attack from blind spots."
"I know. We're tracking the flow that connects them, Rem. The beasts will come to us."
I visualized the structure of the surrounding area. It was a complex mesh of energies. Each mabeast was a point of consumption, a whirlpool that absorbed the forest's vitality to feed its own frenetic existence. If we followed the patterns of depletion in nature, we would reach the heart of the pack.
A low growl emerged from the shadows. A pair of red eyes ignited between the trunks, followed by four others. The air became heavy with the scent of beast and rotten magic.
"They're coming from the left flank," I announced, my voice steady despite my racing heartbeat. "Three units. High approach speed."
Rem lunged forward before the first beast could jump. The flail described a lethal silver arc, impacting the skull of the first Ulgarm with a dry, final thud. She moved with a terrifying fluidity, a dance of destruction that contrasted with her delicate appearance.
I remained in the center of the conflict zone, my eyes moving from side to side. I identified a fourth presence hiding behind a rock, waiting for Rem's moment of weakness.
"Rem, behind the rock!" I ordered, throwing a stone I had picked up moments before to mark the position.
She reacted instantaneously. She pivoted on her heels and launched her flail with a power that shattered the rock and the beast hiding behind it. The synchrony was perfect. My analysis covered her blind spots, and her strength eliminated the threats before they could reach me.
"The flow continues to stretch deeper," I said, watching as the mana remnants of the fallen beasts dissipated. "These were just the sentinels. The source of the bond is still active."
Rem returned to my side, her breathing barely hurried. Her blue eyes met mine. I saw an implicit shared recognition of my utility, a respect born of shared efficiency.
"Subaru-kun is an excellent guide," she said, wiping the blood from her weapon. "But the night is young and the forest is large. Can we find the root before time runs out?"
"We will," I assured, looking into the impenetrable gloom. "Because the end of this path ensures Irlam's survival."
We delved deeper into the undergrowth, following the invisible trail of the curse. The true hunting game had just begun.