Wolves
As Max sank into the thickets of the woods the beams of light that beckoned the nights churning to day had signaled just how long he had been in the shop. He felt tired from the night's training, still trying to adjust to this new feeling as the two separate pools filled, a start reminder of his mixed blood as he began to trudge through the forest with a little less gusto than earlier. His feet seemed a little heavier and his body more sluggish as he ducked and weaved through the dim woods, climbing over logs and bluffs, watching the rolling hills which he bound through now seem like a trek as he didn't stop, wanting to get back to his father before he woke up as he tried to concentrate on the path ahead.
He swore he could hear the wolves closer as another piercing howl sounded off, this one sounding closer than the others as a chill ran down his spine. The golden eyes of the boy darted about, looking for clear signs of no danger as he made his way up a bluff only to duck behind it at the sounds of animals fighting. The snarls of beasts and the cries of a woodland creature sounded off as he gulped, peeking over to see a pack of wolves circling a deer. The wolves seemed normal, all except the large wolf, arrows stuck in its hide and scars in its fur as a small ding went off in his head as a small text box appeared.
{Alpha Dire Wolf: Caution, user is not capable of fighting the large creature with the skills available. The best chance of survival, fleeing. Chances of being able to make it to safe haven, twenty-three percent. Be cautious and godspeed.}
Max felt his heart in his throat as his head felt light, the snarling of the wolves and the cry of their prey echoing through the forest as they attacked, felling the animal in a flurry of fur and teeth as they began to rip into its flesh with the sound of its dying breath escaping it and the tearing of flesh from bone as Max felt a sudden wave of nausea. He was quick to try and disappear into his robe as he whimpered out, hearing the sounds of the beasts filling their bellies as it gave him flashbacks to his own encounter as he gagged and tried to look for a means of escape as he dashed past the slew of animals, trying to not look back as he heard something rustling behind him.
The Alpha was hot on his heels, its eyes red like the blood soaking his maw as he growled and chased after the boy. Max was focusing, trying to ignore the beast hot on his heels as he whimpered, dodging through the trees and branches, the snarl of the beast echoing in his ears as he swore that he could feel the hot breath of the alpha on his heels as he felt the beast nip at his heels as he jumped off a bluff, grabbing onto a stray brank, leaving him dangling five foot above the forest floor as he whined out and pain through his left thigh as teeth dug into his flesh, a blood-curdling scream leaving Max as tears of pain began to well up in his eyes.
The alpha had nicked him pretty well, leaving a good bite into his back leg as he weakly dangled from the branch, blood drooling from his wound as the wolves began to circle under him. He struggled to find the strength to pull himself up as instinct began to kick in a bit. He had to be fast and he had to stay out of their reach as he pulled himself up onto the branch and began to imagine a path for him to take along the branches of the trees. He had to be fast, he just had to and death wasn't an option, not at this age as Max swears he was going to get sick. His body began to surge as he needed to find a way to use what he had at his disposal, focusing on his legs to will them one. He willed the magic he had to fill them, taking the raw magic inside him as he felt his legs fill with strength.
Max felt that he could run for miles like no gap was too small as he took a leap just to land on a nearby branch but he knew stopping meant his body might give out. Another leap, keeping momentum as he landed on each branch with little weight as he let his speed carry him with jump to jump, each branch holding his weight as with unknown precision and good footwork, each leap filling him with more confidence as he raced through the trees, each one had turned from obstacle to lifeline as each jump caused more blood to gush from his wound.
The sounds of wolves rushing to keep up with their prey continued to follow Max, not seeming to let up as nothing was going to break Max's stride. He watched from above as the beasts were hell-bent on chasing him down as the alpha watched with unnerving attention as Max swore the creature was smarter than it let itself seem as he bound and leaped from branch to branch. He needed to slow them down as he focused his magic to his legs, rushing through the trees as he tries to shape his human magic as best he can.
He gathered what he could of his human mana up, pooling it into his hand and shaping it into and orb like earlier before willing it forward, sending it hurling in front of the wolves as once it touches the ground it explodes, knocking a few wolves back as the alpha and two others race forward, tracking their prey as Max pants, feeling more exhaustion overtaking him as his body grows weaker. Max didn't think he could pull that out of his ass again any time as he saw the daylight shining through the tree lines as he kept jumping, feeling like he was going to pass out as he neared closer and closer to his father.
Ken was growing worried, Max had been gone for some time and he lacked any semblance of an idea where the boy ran off to. He was worried sick as Wave, his trusty stallion began to neigh and grow nervous, the sound of beasts on the hunt growing closer as Ken drew his weapon. he undid his belt, pulling the flexible metal blade from his hip as sweat began to furrow on his brow.
"Gald, please don't let my boy be the prey those beasts have in their maw. Please for all that is holy let my son be fine and if I must lay these animals down, let my sword strike true. Unfurrow, Loke Carca"
The silver mess of steel and wire began to lightly glow green as Ken gripped the hilt, watching something leap from the treetops. He recognized the flash of lavender as he sent his blade forward, the flats wrapping around Max and pulling him to Ken's arms for an embrace but one of safe return wasn't in question currently as he set the injured boy to the side. As a wolf darted from the forest's edge he flicked his wrist, the whip-like blade making short work of the beast as it cleaved it in two, causing the beast to split in two before falling silent. Another dashed from the treeline as Ken made his blade catch the beast like a serpent constricting its prey before smashing it into a tree.
Neither he nor Max was ready for the Alpha to suddenly lash out, leaping from the trees and gnashing its fangs at Ken, ready to tear out his throat. Max however was quicker to the draw, raising his hand up, letting loose another ball of magic as it propelled past Ken's face. Ken's hair stood on end from the amount of raw power within the projectile, feeling it vibrate and hum with power as it blasted the wolf. The blast of magic made contact, blasting the wolf into the air as Ken willed Loke Carca to coil, the whip becoming a sword as he didn't give the beast a moment to recover, rushing the beast and plunging his blade into the creature as it fought for a moment before the sword pulsed and the beast went still.
Tensions began to settle as no more creatures dare to follow the three wolves that had met their end as Ken rushed over to Max, scooping the boy into his arms and holding him close, both of their hearts racing like horses in the wild as Max began to cry. His tears were uncontrollable as he clung to his father, only capable of sobbing as the man gently comforted the boy, hushing him before noticing the pool of blood gathering under the boy. Ken's first reaction was to reach for a healing pot but quickly recoiled his hand from one of the small flasks on his hips. Vice kept that from being effective possibly causing more harm than good as he curses and takes the boy into the carriage as he begins to tend to his wounds.
Max was overtaken by exhaustion, too tired from the night before, the expenditure of mana, and his lack of stamina after being chased for so long. Ken was no doctor, they rarely existed after all since magic was a curse all but he managed to stop the bleeding, his stomach sick after seeing his son with a gash in the back of his leg as he stabilized the boy. They would have to make it to the next town to get any real help and that would give Ken plenty of time to think of an excuse why magic or potions couldn't be used as after fixing up the boy he puts his sword back to his belt. His mind was racing as he willed Wave to ride, the horse almost seeming to understand the urgency as he picked up speed much quicker than he had in recent times, rushing off down the worn path. Proudly on the back of the carriage, the alpha's body rode for a ride into the village. The beast caused the damage and at least its cadaver could help pay to fix it as the family rode to town.
As Max slept he was peaceful but once again in the headspace where he could envision the separate magics. As he peered into the cups he noticed that each one was near empty, most likely due to his stunts and tricks to outrun the wolves and help his father defeat them as he tried to separate the manas without aid of the rings.
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{{Maxamillian Ashcrop}}
Race: Half-Elf
Age: Five
Health: 255
Human Mana: 10/275
Elven Mana: 255/1225
Level: 1
Stats: Str(5), Dex(5+15) Con(8), Int(10+10), Wis(10+5) Cha(10+10)
Skills: Dwarvish (Fluent), Gnomish (Fluent), Common (Fluent), Elvish (Adept), Economics (Basic Lvl: 2), Math (Adept Lvl: 5), Drawing(Basic Lvl: 2), Sales (Basic Lvl: 5) Mana Separation (Basic Lvl: 1)
Racial Skills: Human Adaptability (MAX), Elven Magic (Basic: lvl: 3),Basic Magic (Basic Lvl: 1), Magic Circuits(Fixed, Adept Lvl: 2), Elven Dexterity (MAX), Increased Charisma (MAX), Elven Mind(MAX)
Unique Skills: VICE (MAX)
Skill Evolution: Elven Foot Work ->Elven Hunter's Step (Basic Lvl: 2) Using Elven Foot Work properly and as second nature, capable of imbuing each step with magic. This evolution path differs from its brother (Elven Soldier's March) instead of allowing the user to better assess the battlefield rather relies on the ability to make quick and sudden movements like an animal on the run or hunting. Evolution Criteria; Using Elven Foot Work like second nature and imbuing the steps with magic, gained after observing animals hunt out in the wild and participating in a hunt.
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