Beast Glades
The night went and the morning came, still with a heavy heart I performed my morning rituals. Even my training of 100 slashes then meditating, it's almost become just all one big meditation practice. I vent our frustrations and unnecessary emotions through swinging my sword down before resetting. Then I purify my core with a clear mind, and I honestly I can feel a slight boost when I do. Not anything wild, but a slight boost is still a boost, especially at this core stage.
While I was doing this, the maids and butlers had been loading everything into the carriage from the party yesterday. While they took me to the adventurers guild we would also be making a stop at the orphanage to donate all the foods. I would also take that time to visit head mother again before I leave, I still can't help but feel my strength is useless if I can't help the people I care about.
Rising from my meditating position I make my way to the carriage, I'm currently in my normal almost military uniform style outfit. I plan to change into my Rez disguise before leaving the orphanage to head to the adventurers guild. Kaspian is supposed to give me a rough map of the Beast Glades, and to my understanding the glades has various zones.
The outer edges are C rank and then as you get farther in the ranks increase. The very center hasn't been fully explored either, which isn't surprising considering the Beast Glades is roughly 1/4th of all of the continent of Dicathen. Elf, Dwarf, and human kingdoms making up the other 3/4ths. I'm hoping to make it to the center at least before my journey ends, even if I don't there are still S class dungeons in the lower rank areas.
The only thing I need to be wary of is don't know how early the Vritra started making their moves. If I'm not careful I could run into someone too powerful for current me.
My thoughts were brought back to the present as we had stopped outside the orphanage. I exited the carriage and made my way inside where I was immediately met by Maeve, who was coming to see what the carriage was doing outside.
"Jaron? What are you doing here?" She asked in confusion. The first group of maids entered as I answered.
"I'm donating the food and drinks that were supposed to be used for my birthday party yesterday. I doubt that me or my family could finish all this food by ourselves, so it seemed perfect." I said with a smile, Maeve smiled in return and came forward to give me a hug. Maeve was already starting to give off that motherly love and she was only just hitting 20 years old. I can tell that the orphanage will be in good hands with her, even if head mother doesn't make it through.
"Thanks Jay, I'm sure the children will love the food. Did you come to see head mother as well?" She pulls from the hug and looks at me, hands still in my shoulders. I dip my head in a slight nod.
"Yes, though I won't stay long as I'm heading out on another journey." Her face saddened at me leaving out for another journey so soon, but she nodded in reluctance as she knew she couldn't stop me.
"I'm sure she'll be glad to see you before you leave." She patted both her hands on each shoulder and gave me a big smile before walking off to help gather the food inside.
I pass through the familiar halls and eventually up the stairs to Meredith's room. Once again the door was left open and I found the same girl from last time sitting with her. I knocked gently on the door, still causing the girl to jump, luckily she caught the bucket of water before it could fall this time.
As I got a closer look at her she seemed to be around 13 years old with long brown hair and equally brown eyes.
"Thank you for always taking care of her." Came my soft voice, and the girl wrung her hands nervously. She seems to be timid as well as being jumpy, but she eventually gave a nod.
"May I?" I gesture towards the seat she is sitting on, and she hastily gets up stumbles slightly again before hurrying out the room. Leaving me scratching my cheek in confusion.
"You look like a noble Jay. She's scared of you, she didn't have the best experiences with nobles. Mary is a half elf child who didn't awaken as a mage, so the nobles beat her before casting her to the street. Maeve found her on one of her shopping runs a few months back and she's been taking care of me ever since. She rarely talks to us beyond the simple 'yes head mother/sister' so don't fret." I just nod, as I approach. I had planned to just sit on the stool and watch over, but a conversation was welcome.
"I see. Then it's good Maeve found her, the girl will do well here. I'm assuming she keep her hair that long to cover her ears?" I ask while looking up at Meredith from their original spot in my lap. I had come here planning to see her, but looking at her hurts as all I can see is the frailness of her body. That already looks worse than it did just last night.
"Yes. Though what did I do to get the pleasure of seeing you 2 days in a row little Jay?" She asks and I slightly wince causing her to chuckle.
"Well it's actually to tell you that I'm going on another journey. I'll be able to come back more often this time, but it will still only be every couple months. Maybe longer depending on the area." She just nods as she rest her eyes.
"Be careful Jaron. I've heard many things throughout my years about the Beast Glades and none of them were good." She said seriously while gazing into my eyes.
"Yes, head mother. Though I must be going, I still have to stop by the adventurer guild." I said and placed another gentle kiss on her forehead, as she had done for me during my 2 years growing up here. She gripped my hand gently, but I could feel the will power she was putting into it. I stared at her in confusion for a few moments.
"Why do you feel the need to get so strong little Jay? Children are supposed to run and play, not worrying about life. But I feel like ever since I've known you, even when you were a baby, you've been looking ahead at something. Something you feel the need to stop. Just, just always be careful Jaron. For me and your family, both your orphanage family and your adopted family." She said with determination and also sadness creeping into her voice.
"I'll be careful head mother. Whatever I'm preparing for is something you don't have to worry about because I'm preparing for it." I placed a calming hand on top the one she had gripped around my arm. She released it with a faint smile and I could see her eyes growing heavy.
"Rest, head mother. I'll be back before you know it." With a bright smile I walk out the room and head to a spare room to change. With my all of my Rez outfit except for the mask I go down stairs and see Maeve one last time before putting the mask on and heading to the adventurers guild.
By now the rumors of how I fought 100 bandits had been told and retold and each retelling gets more exaggerated. Such craziness as I flew from the sky launching thunderbolts covered in ice at the bandits as they fled like ants. That's only one of the stories I've heard be made. There are still a lot of people that think it's fake and I just made it up with the help of Mr. Zany to reach AA rank, but what can I do.
Everyone now gives me a wide berth as I approach the receptionist desk.
"How may I help you Mr. Rez?" I don't recognize this receptionist so she must be new.
"Kaspian is expecting me." Her eyes widen for a second before nodding and rushing off. I could hear murmurs from the crowd shocked that I called the guild master by his first name. Moments later the new girl returned and escorted me to Kaspian's office. I took my seat across from him and removed my mask once the girl left the room.
"Back already?" He said while looking over some papers.
"Yes, you knew I was heading to the beast glades a month after my return." A smirk appeared on his face.
"I suppose I did. Though a part of me hoped you wouldn't. The Beast Glades is dangerous even for a person who took on 100 bandits and won." Eyes shifting to me seriously before going back to the papers.
"I know I'll be careful. Besides I only plan on solo diving C rank - B rank dungeons. I'll join parties for the A rank ones just to be safe. I just hope this training bears fruit." I said while looking out his window.
"Haa, while I'm not sure what kind of thing you need this level of training and preparation for, I can only be glad you're on our side." He pauses before side eying me.
"You are on our side right?" I paused as I watched the thoughts run through his head before responding.
"You have nothing to worry about from me dear guild master." I say with a cheeky grin. He sweat drops slightly but sigh and then smiles as well. He grabs a rolled up paper from his desk and hands it to me.
"Your map of all the located dungeons in the beast glades. If you come across any new ones, just mark them and report back. Do not enter any dungeons alone no matter what zone they're in." He said with a serious expression.
"I understand Kaspian. I'll be careful." Was all I said as stood up and put my mask back on to take my leave.
"Good luck Jaron." To which I just nodded and exited, once again passing through the crowd of the guild hall hearing many whisperings about me meeting the guild master directly. People seem to gossip in any world, I just slightly shook my head and made my way to the gate square. I had already stocked up on supplies the week before my birthday, so I was ready to immediately head out.
'See you there Tuk.' I sent a mental message to my bond, as he has been in the Beast Glades for a few days now.
'I'll be waiting Hatchling.' Was his only reply before we broke the link as I was approaching the Gate to the Beast Glades.
Showing my adventurer card to the guards of the Beast Glades gate, they nod and I calmly walk through. Feeling the familiar sensation that comes from passing through the gates. As I make it to the other side I'm greeted by many tall trees and a dense underbrush. I could see a path slightly to my right and left with markings. The one to the left has the markings for North on it meaning it takes you up against the boundary of the elf domain. The right goes South, along the mountain that separates it from the dwarf lands.
However I decided to just go straight through the underbrush. Or rather I used to wind mana on my feet and jumped from low hanging tree branch to low hanging tree branch. I'm supposed to meet up with Tuk a little way into the glades and we'll begin my training anew. And with new training comes with new techniques I want to try.
Which is what I'm currently working on now that I've met up with Tuk in an open field like area. It's sort of neutral zone in the C rank area. I'm currently in the middle testing out my new ability or rather trying to figure it out. This new ability/technique is something I remember only Arthur ever doing and even he only used it once that I can remember. Which surprised me as it seemed like a really useful ability.
Mana string. He used it when that bandit sent him flying off the cliff by tying a mana string around a knife and throwing it at the leg of the bandit, dragging him off the cliff with him. But Arthur never used it again after that, that I know of. Many theories crossed my mind when I first read that in the books, the obvious one was 'does it work like chakra strings from Naruto?'
You could do a great many things with those from controlling puppets to even making genjutsu more effective. That's not even taking into account all the crazy ideas FF writers came up with. Which lead me to thinking I could manipulate a mana string to wrap around someone and then send element mana into the string. Or if I don't need to be sneaky about it I could just an element mana string for each finger and use them like whips or razor wire.
As a reincarnated as a slime fan I obviously thought of wrapping them up in sharp threads, wind mana, and then fueling it with fire mana to burn them. However I'm still stuck just trying to form a normal mana string at the moment, I'll just have to practice it until I can get it down. I want to be able to get to the level where I can use my sword in one hand and be able to form 5 strings from my fingers. Hmm do the strings even need to come from my fingers? Thoughts for another time, as a mana beast is approaching according to Tuk.
It's a large wildcat like mana beast, though it's only a C rank core according to Tuk. Which might sound strange since Tuk is only a B rank, but he's also a high B rank close to A rank because of his age. Getting a better look at the beast I can finally tell what it is, Terra Puma. It's an earth based mana beast, that's popular for newbie earth mages to buy as they are cheap beast cores. However they usually travel in packs… And there's the other 4, prowling from different directions to my sides and behind me.
A smile appears on my face as I draw my sword. It is a little mean as I'm sure they think I'm an easy meal since they can't sense my mana. Too bad for them. The first charges forward with stone forming around its claws while some small rocks form above it and get sent flying towards me. Hah, mana beasts are interesting, just a C rank and it can use both conjurer and augmenter style magics.
I send a blast of wind at the flying rocks knocking them off course, and forming wind mana around my blade meeting his stone covered claws. My sharp wind covered blade completely sliced through the claw and bisected the arm until I exited at the shoulder. I didn't give it a chance to run away as I immediately elbowed it with my right to the side of its head further stunning it. I then swing down with a powerful over head slash killing it.
The next 4 charge in rage simultaneously, with much the same approach as the first. I sent a fire arrow at the one to my left, but it dodged only to meet a second I threw only a second after. The other 3 engage me right after dipping in and out with claws extended with surprisingly sharp stone.
I used my flexibility to bend, duck and dodge around their claws while chopping limbs and heads as they entered my range. I had killed the 3 when the 4th that I hit with a fire arrow pounced from behind. Apparently it had blocked the arrow at the last second, and was waiting for its opportunity. However they are C rank beast for reason and that only because they travel in packs. A solo Terra Puma is only equivalent to a D rank adventurer, so as it's suspended in the air from its jump I quickly turn and jump off the ground with wind mana. My sword slices through its raised claw and its neck as the Puma falls to the ground dead.
'Welcome to the Beast Glades Hatchling.' Was the words of my bond when the fight ended.
'Yes, it was a rather warm welcome as well.' I say in slight disgust at the warm terra puma blood covering my body.
'Lets find a stream for me to wash of.' All I receive is a chuckle but a mental nudge to follow comes right after. Welcome to the Beast Glades indeed.
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Author's Note
We made it to the beast glades! Also what do you guys think about the mana string idea? I kind of want that to be his thing besides the sword. Razor sharp strings that he can materialize instantly and control with precision. Whips of fire, lightning and wind lashing out at enemies sounds cool to me. Mainly what I want to ask is should they be invisible to everyone or just people not sensitive to mana?
Like just the mana strings with no elements would be invisible to the non sensitive mages. If he channels an element it will be easily visible. Besides maybe wind as it would make sense for it to still be invisible. This could also help my sound magic as I haven't really used it, and this could be the thing that helps me cast illusions and such.
Hope you guys like that idea, as I was always a big fan of characters that use a string like ability.
Oh yeah, let me apologize in advance for mana beast names, as we really don't have a list of known mana beasts. Which means at least in the first few zones they will be completely made up. May let him fight some known ones but haven't really decided yet.
Thanks for reading.
-SocioPhobia