Elevation of Mana Chapter 185 Final Test

Adia

Uncle Chien and I slipped through the underbrush, him pointing every now and then at tracks or something. Some of it I could see, most of it I had no clue what he was talking about.

“See here, look at the way the hoof splits, and not too big. This is what we should be after.”

“But it looks deep,” I complained. “You said deep means it's big.”

He smiled a bit. “Deep means heavy, these are all heavy, but don't worry, if it's too much I'll be here.”

“Okay...”

I kept moving, just like he's shown me, keeping quiet, keeping to the shadows. Uncle Chien was really good at sneaking, better than me even, and the things he'd taught me here would be great for later. When we finally got home I'd be even more of a shadow than I already was.

The tracks went along a path, one I could see through the trees. It looked like something had been past here again and again, leaving a blank spot. Having a thought I quietly called out to Uncle Chien.

“How do we know these aren't old?” I asked. “If it came through here a lot.”

“Oh, good question, but when did it last rain?” he asked.

“Two days ago?” I said after thinking a bit.

“Last night.”

“I didn't hear it...”

“No, you'd gone to bed. Look at the edges of the tracks, they're fresh, very fresh.”

“You're good at this huh?” I said.

“No Adia, I'm not. I only know a few things, if I were good we'd have found something much easier to go after.”

That couldn't be right, the knew where the creature we were after was, he knew how to find it, he even knew the weather I'd not noticed. If he wasn't good then I didn't know what good was.

“You've hunted though.”

“With your father when I was younger a good bit. We traveled and had to get food, but less about that now. I think we're getting closer.”

With a nod I got quiet and we continued to follow the path. If he said we were getting closer we must be, and I didn't want to spook the prey. It took time, things always took time sadly, but soon enough we found a clearing.

Slowly I began to move around it, looking for any more prints or the animal we were after. I didn't want to go out into the opening, because I'd been told that a lot of animals could see or hear better than I could.

But there were no other tracks, and I didn't see any animals. Confused I looked at Uncle Chien, shrugging. With a slight smile and shake of his head he pointed, right to the middle of the field.

There were no animals in the middle of the field, I looked and looked, but nothing. All there was was grass and a big rock. I squinted, and almost went into the open area, but with a hand Uncle Chien held me back, pointing again, at the rock. Now I had no choice but to wait. I couldn't talk right now or we might scare the animal, but I just didn't see it.

While I waited I prepared a spell, forming it in my hands. This animal was supposed to be a bit dangerous, not too bad, but something we shouldn't let roam close to the city, so it was good to stop it. I'd been told that those like us had responsibilities, to protect people without magic, and that made sense. The spell I made wasn't supposed to rot like some of the others I'd shown before were, but just to make things stop. It would make the animal die, quickly, painlessly, that was the better way to do it.

Time passed but I still didn't see it. I was nearly ready to ask if Uncle Chien was playing with me when the rock stood up. The rock was the monster, and I'd missed it. It had four stubby legs, and an almost cute face, with a flat nose and two... big teeth to either side. After standing it went to munch on the grass a bit, which was weird, because grass tastes horrible.

I gasped in surprise and the beast turned, eyes shifting over us before locking onto me. It let loose a loud roar and I pushed my magic forward, slamming into it like a thrown ball. I hit one of the legs and even though that should have been enough to stop it the creature just stumbled then charged.

Quickly as I could I formed another spell, then another, eventually giving up on the stopping one and just making the rotting one. I threw them as fast as I could as it tried to get up and run towards us, each hit making it flinch or turn. It didn't stop though, it just kept coming.

Before I realized it the rock thing had gotten close, really close. It would be on us at any second. I kept trying to hit it, kept trying to stop it, but couldn't, it wouldn't die. Panic crept up my back and I felt tears in my eyes. Why had we done this? Why hadn't I brought more help.

Then a blue lance slammed into the creature's mouth, throwing it back and onto it's butt.

“Don't stop, it's not dead,” Uncle Chien said as I continued to pour magic into the struggling beast.

Another few moments and it stopped moving, but I kept hitting it just to make sure.

“That's enough Adia,” he said to me calmly, putting a hand on my shoulder.

I breathed, shaking.

“I don't, it didn't...”

“I know kiddo. Maybe we should have started with something a bit weaker... Thought you could deal with this one though, but maybe I'm getting a bit skewed in my old age. Sorry for that, but you did a good job, and a good thing.”

“A good thing!? I killed it, it wasn't doing anything and I killed it!”

“Adia, you saw how it reacted to seeing us. What if you and I didn't have magic hmm? How would one of your friends have dealt with that? Maybe you don't like killing, and that's good you shouldn't, but sometimes you have to do things you don't like to help others.”

I breathed deep for a few moments, letting him talk.

“I don't wanna do that again,” I complained.

“Well good news. With what you've done here I'm happy to say you're ready to go home. How does seeing your mom and dad again sound?” he asked.

“Good...” I mumbled.

“Then let's go home kid.” As he spoke he ruffled my hair, and I had to spend a moment getting it back and right again, poofing out my cheeks to show him how much I disliked him doing that.