Andrew's Old Wound

Forty fully armed subordinates spread out in a fan formation as soon as they entered Half-Edge Mountain, meticulously searching for any suspicious signs. Peter and Andrew, the two knights, stayed close to Freyr, protecting him diligently.

The first sighting of the Magical Creature in Half-Edge Mountain was by a hunter from a small village on the southern slope. According to Peter's introduction on the way, local hunters initially mistook the footprints in the forest for those of a large wild animal and gathered some experienced hunters to go hunting. However, they discovered the traces of a Magical Creature on the southern mountain. Realizing they couldn't handle such a creature, they quickly returned to report the situation to the town's garrison. The hunters described the creature as large, about the size of a lion or tiger, and although they couldn't see clearly from a distance what kind of Magical Creature it was, it was certain that the creature's glowing body indicated it was far from ordinary.

After entering Half-Edge Mountain along the mountain path, everyone, including Freyr, dismounted. The soldiers dispersed to search on both sides while the five best warriors led the way ahead.

In this setup, Freyr hardly had a chance to see any Magical Creature. Every step he took was preemptively cleared by someone ahead, ensuring even a rabbit wouldn't be able to cross his path. Feeling a bit bored, Freyr glanced around the dense forest, listening to the occasional chirping of birds. He looked at the slightly nervous Peter beside him and smiled.

He knew exactly what Peter was thinking. "Sir Peter, have you ever seen a real Magical Creature?"

Peter paused, thinking for a moment. "I have. I served four years in the Empire's Northern Storm Legion. Our unit was stationed on the eastern edge of the White Wood Forest, known to have the highest concentration of Magical Creatures on the continent. During patrols, we encountered some. Fortunately, most creatures near the forest edges were low-level and posed limited threats to humans. We never dared venture deep into the forest, as the high-level Magical Creatures there were beyond the capabilities of ordinary soldiers."

Freyr thought for a moment. "What do Magical Creatures look like?"

Peter hesitated slightly. "Magical Creatures are essentially just beasts, but much more formidable than ordinary ones. Regular beasts use claws and teeth to harm, but Magical Creatures have innate low-level magical abilities, making them more challenging to deal with."

"Have you ever personally killed a Magical Creature?"

Peter blushed and lowered his voice. "Master Freyr, back then I was only a second-rank knight. My skills weren't sufficient to take down a Magical Creature alone. However, during one patrol, our squad did encounter a formidable creature. It was a Storm Wolf, native to the White Wood Forest. These wolves are incredibly fast, impervious to arrows, and can crystallize their fur into a hard, armor-like substance. They also emit wind blades from their howls. That encounter resulted in four of my comrades dying, and the rest of us were injured. Our captain managed to sever the wolf's tail, its weak spot, but not before sustaining severe wounds. The wolf's pelt and magical core were valuable, with the core being highly sought after by Wizards for storing magical power and crafting magical scrolls."

Peter reminisced, a bit wistful. "I remember during my service near the White Wood Forest, numerous adventuring teams would ignore our warnings and venture into the forest to hunt Magical Creatures for profit. Unfortunately, about a third never returned. Many died inside, including Wizards."

Freyr sighed and glanced at Ryan. They both knew that Wizards wouldn't hunt Magical Creatures for profit, but the allure of their magical cores, essential for magic, was irresistible.

As they walked, Peter slashed at an overhanging branch with his sword, smiling. "Master Freyr, don't worry. Generally, the larger the Magical Creature, the less dangerous it is. We shouldn't face anything too formidable. With myself and Sir Andrew, we will ensure your safety."

Freyr nodded, but instead of replying, he turned to Andrew. "What about you, Andrew? Have you ever killed a Magical Creature?"

Andrew's expression grew serious. He gently brushed aside his thick curls, revealing a shocking scar on his neck. The wound appeared to be from a severe stabbing, suggesting something had once pierced deeply into his neck. Despite being an old injury, the scar still retained a reddish hue, indicating the severity of the original wound.

"This scar is from an encounter with a Magical Creature," Andrew said in a low voice. "I once ventured into the Southern 'Sunset Swamp.' We ran into a group of griffins there."

Before Freyr could respond, Peter, Ryan, and even Calista, who was trailing behind, gasped in unison. Peter exclaimed, "A group of griffins? Good heavens, how did you survive?"

"Griffins? Are they that dangerous?" Freyr asked.

Ryan shook his head. "Not just dangerous, griffins are among the most troublesome Magical Creatures, short of legendary beasts. They are flying creatures about the size of a common eagle, but they can roar like lions. Their feathers are as hard as steel, their claws can easily tear through armor, and their beaks can snap a knight's sword. The worst part is their ability to fly, making them impervious to regular arrows, and their roars can cause panic or even dizziness."

"Psychic attack magic?" Freyr took a deep breath.

"The terrifying thing about griffins isn't just their individual power," Ryan continued. "They are the only known Magical Creatures that live in groups. In the southern swamps, even small armies would retreat from a flock of griffins. Facing a coordinated attack from the sky is nearly impossible to defend against."

Calista looked at the scar on Andrew's neck and frowned. "How did you survive?"