Triiffic-Soul: Can I Be In Control?-Chapter 70 – Kid & Wolf

Chapter 70 – Kid & Wolf

In the immediate area of Arisea Station, there weren't many areas where people could safely go to explore, which was even an issue for some hunters who just wanted to do gathering and collection work.

Compared to the nearby countries, carts and caravans headed to and from Arisea Station had a much higher chance of being attacked. This was a well-known issue and something that Arisea Station spent a lot of money to prevent. But there wasn’t much that could be done; the wide unmanned scrapes of territory were the perfect spot for bandits to hide.

Thankfully, there was a close area marked out by the city that was safer to explore.

The Western Forest, also known as the Sea Side Forest, was the safest of the bunch. Due to being near the sea and being a low, dense forest on flat terrain, visibility was high and there weren't many places for people to hide around. Being close to the city and the ocean meant bandits couldn’t do much to get away if caught. The creatures that inhabited the area were also mostly on the peaceful side; the ones that were deadly were venomous snakes and bats, but it was just a process to learn how to avoid and deal with them.

The closest location to the east of the city was Amber Hollow, colloquially referred to as the Eastern Forest. Out of all the places one could visit going eastward, it was by far the safest because it was the closest to the city, and that peace of knowledge was the beginning of a mistake that many people made.

[Ashened oak. Known for their fire resistance and uniform brown wood.] (Luna)

[Why is like half the trees on this continent bloody resistant to fire?] (Syrus)

[Resistant, doesn’t mean they won’t burn.] (Luna)

[I know, but it’s so weird. They are bloody trees.] (Syrus)

[S-stay on alert! I don’t want anything bad to happen.] (Eva)

[Yeah, we know, visibility is piss poor.] (Syrus)

[It’s not just that!] (Eva)

Amber Hollow was filled with thick foliage and coastal fog. It was the perfect combination to limit a person’s senses, but that was only the tip of the danger.

Today they were looking for some Amber Thorns, not only for a quest but also for Eva’s brewing. Though Eva wasn’t looking out for extra plants today, for this first trip into this forest, she would be rather careful than distracting herself.

Their exploration effort went forward without a hitch. Amber Thorns was a thorny orange vine that wrapped around the roots of trees. While deadly sharp, they made for great painkillers due to the numbing substance they leaked.

[A toe destroyer that comes with painkillers? Wow, nature is such a fantastical place.] (Syrus)

[Certainly a weird combination. There are some theories as to why, but no one is sure. I find the idea that it is a leftover trait of an ancestor to be the most realistic.] (Luna)

[But more importantly! It’s the ingredient in an energy potion.] (Eva)

[Aren’t those things cheap tricks? I’ve found a drink full of sugar does the job just as well.] (Syrus)

[No, there is a fundamental difference between the two.] (Luna)

[Sorry Luna, Syrus is right. Energy potions are just overpriced drinks.] (Eva)

[...] (Luna)

[But! An energy potion is an important ingredient for some other types of potions. Actual important ones.] (Eva)

[Potions to make potions?] (Syrus)

[Yep, and from my research, Amber Thorns are the best option for material in this area.] (Eva)

[...I haven’t read about that.] (Luna)

[Unsurprisingly, the technique required is hard. So, it’s only in books you can get if you are already in the field.] (Eva)

[I don’t know… Just from watching you make potions, they don’t seem that complicated.] Syrus was purposely shooting herself in the foot.

[Well, you haven’t seen me make anything besides basic potions. Anyone can make those to a basic level of quality.] (Eva)

The potion talk drew to a close, to be continued for another day.

After a while longer of gathering; off in the distance, a nearly inaudible cry was released.

[!] (Syrus)

Syrus perked up and looked deep into the fog.

[What’s wrong, Syrus?] (Luna)

They shared senses, but neither Luna nor Eva could make sense of everything Syrus picked up. From the smallest crack to the pitch of a scream told Syrus so much that neither could understand. They couldn’t even tell that that small sound far in the distance was a cry.

[I heard something yell in pain.] Syrus pulled out their combat dagger and she pointed where she heard it.

[...we should go help.] (Eva)

[Agreed, but we are in no state to do so.] (Luna)

Luna and Eva were both in agreement to help out, but neither were confident in the decision.

[We are only going as close as we need.] Syrus commanded. [I’m not risking shit.]

It was a cruel demand, but Syrus was firm. She was fine risking her own life, but her current actions would never only risk hers anymore.

They moved quickly but cautiously, through the forest until they finally found the source of the sound.

There was a young boy, only about thirteen, carrying an aqua-blue pup in his arms. Following him was a pack of brown wolves, who had clearly done some damage to the boy as his clothes were torn and he was heavily bleeding.

[That wolf…] (Syrus)

[What’s wrong with it?] (Eva)

[There is nothing wrong with it…] (Luna)

When it came to creatures, there were only a few ways people classified the extreme difference when they differed from the standard pack. There were normal animals, then there were animals mutated by mana. Mutated animals were a rare occurrence and not one that was understood. Animals had mana in them, only a small amount, but it was there, but somehow certain animals mutated. These mutations were usually centred on a type of mana and left the creature more unstable.

[...It’s a blessed creature.] (Luna)

[I prefer mythic. Sounds cooler.] (Syrus)

Pretty much every culture called them something different. Unlike mutated animals, mythic creatures tended to be born with power, and that power was much greater than what a mutated animal would normally possess. With higher intelligence and the ability to manipulate their own mana in a variety of ways unique to each, they were the rarest creatures on the planet.

All these were completely separate from Monsters. Monsters were their own category altogether, as they were an existence that seemed antithetical to life itself.

[Why is he here, Why is he being chased?!] (Eva)

[Questions for another time.] Luna replied.

Syrus examined the situation. There were only three wolves, excluding the pup.

[...Does it seem manageable?] (Eva)

[Sticking with only Fire and Manipulation? It should be manageable.] Syrus looked at the situation from behind a tree. A longsword would’ve been preferable, but it seemed doable even with their non-fully healed body. The wolves even seemed slightly injured, which was the reason Syrus assumed they hadn’t mangled the boy yet. He or the pup might’ve done something earlier, so they were being cautious.

The wolves were locked onto the kid and the pup, ready to pounce, and didn’t notice Syrus move around the trees behind them.

One of the wolves, which had blood flowing from its eye, lunged forward with its jaw wide open.

Syrus jumped in and plunged the dagger into the wolf’s neck, circling it down and cutting it open. Before the others could do anything, Syrus had already fired two bolts of fire at both as she jumped.

Neither moved out of the way in time and started burning alive. Their fur rapidly blackened, and Syrus kept both moves at a distance. Using a tree branch she picked up, she whacked them away.

One tried running away while the other spun around on the ground, Syrus didn’t want to be cut by a sudden motion so stayed back while the beast exhausted itself. Once that was done, she put it out of its misery.

The boy’s shaky legs finally dropped to the ground now that the danger was over, and the pup leapt out of his arms and snuggled next to him, a little afraid.

Syrus asked, “You okay, kid?”

He tried to reply strongly, “...Yes…”

“Tip for the future, lying in a situation like this is bad.”

Syrus applied medical aid using the supplies and small potions Eva packed. These were nothing fantastic and couldn’t even be used by Anna at the moment, but Eva felt it was better to be safe than sorry.

After she was done with the boy, she looked at the dog. “Is he your dog, kid?”

“Yes…”

“Well, you can’t keep him around town like that.”

“I… I’ll find a way.”

Syrus sighed, and she tapped the pup who was next to the boy. “Dog, can you change your fur?”

The pup just turned his head, confused.

The boy cried back, “What?”

Syrus pulled a snip of the boy’s brown hair out–the boy was already numb from all the pain–and placed it near the pup. “This.” She rubbed it on the pup’s front leg, where he could see it.

The pup slowly turned brown, a similar shade to the large wolves.

[Wow… I wonder if it can do other colour changes.] (Eva)

[I doubt it; it’s not like your Morph.] (Syrus)

The boy asked, “How…”

“Make sure he is always brown, got it? Good.” Syrus continued without letting the boy answer. “Now let’s get out of here.”

The boy said, “I… don’t know the way out…”

“Yeah, that’s why you are going to follow me. Got it? Good.” They had already picked up all the thorns required for the quest and extra; Eva wanted some for personal use.

Thankfully, they didn’t run into any issues on the way back into town, and the day was complete with no more trouble. They handed in the quest and led the boy back to the western side, where he lived.

[With that done, can we go to Ash Evelen’s store? I want to start brewing.] (Eva)

[Yeah, sure, babysitting always drains the energy from me.] (Syrus)

[That’s a lie.] (Luna)

Syrus didn’t try to refute and instead, they moved towards Ash’s store.