Chapter 414 – Evaluation?

“L-lady Castellane, is this necessary? I-I’m sure we can lure in the Blood-Vulture in a different fashion.”

“Don’t be a spoilsport, just take the meat and wait.”

“You don’t trust Lady Castellane’s plan?”

“N-no, perish the thought. It’s just t-that…”

A hushed conversation unfolded among a group of people gathered around a floating orb of light. Among them was a young girl, appearing to be around fourteen or fifteen. Clad in dark robes, they all wore uniforms bearing a distinct emblem, reminiscent of the late Archmage Xandar.

“My dear little Lucienne, if you paid attention in class, then you’d know that Blood-Vulturs are a skittish bunch, just like you~”

Six individuals were present, with four standing behind a particular blond girl. Four of them shared a similar emblem, featuring the legendary phoenix with wings outstretched in fiery brilliance, adorned with hues of gold and crimson. However, the emblem differed for the two other girls standing behind Lady Castellane, their phoenix motif appearing more silvery, while Lucienne’s had a somewhat paler steel coloring.

“B-but…”

“We need those feathers for the next assignment, you wouldn’t want me to fail my next assignment, now would you?”

“N-no…”

“Well then, let me explain again as you might have already forgotten. The Blood-Vulture will only appear when it smells blood but will quickly withdraw if the prey isn’t alive …”

The blond girl turned to the side, nodding at one of the men who had accompanied the four girls. Unlike them, he did not bear the phoenix emblem of Xandar’s Institute, and his attire differed – silvery half-plate armor adorned with a distinct insignia. Responding to the nod, he stepped forward, clutching a jar containing some red liquid.

“The meat might not be enough, so as a precaution…”

“What are you…”

The contents of the jar were poured onto the girls robes and some of it had even spilled through it and onto her body. It had a distinct smell along with a fragrance that the people here knew, it was monster blood.

“Stop squirming, It’ll be fine before the vulture strikes we’ll save you, so do your job and wait.”

Lucienne bit her lip, her eyes darting nervously between Lady Castellane and the chuckling ensemble behind her. The plan seemed to be unfolding in a manner that made her increasingly uncomfortable. The air around her grew tense as the scent of the monster blood permeated the surroundings as she was left to fend for herself in this darkened forest.

The group fell silent, anticipation hanging in the air. The only sound was the occasional rustle of the surrounding trees and the subdued whispers of the group members. Lucienne couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease that clung to her like a shadow. After a few moments, the atmosphere shifted. The air seemed charged with magical energy, and the floating orb of light dimmed. Lady Castellane’s eyes narrowed, and she raised her hand in a signal for silence.

Lucienne’s breath quickened, her heartbeat echoing in the dark forest as she found herself alone and vulnerable. The night sky was clear, the moon casting its ethereal glow across the surroundings. The rustling of trees intensified, and she anxiously scanned the area for the source of the eerie sounds. A fleeting silence gripped the place, but safety remained elusive as mysterious glowing eyes soon materialized from the shadows.

Something felt amiss; the eye structure didn’t align with that of a Blood-Volture. Moreover, it wasn’t an isolated pair of eyes inching closer; there were multiple sets. A ferocious growl pierced the air, and a creature resembling a black wolf emerged from the shadows of the forest. Instantly, Lucienne sensed that this creature posed a far greater threat than a Blood-Volture, a challenge beyond her own capabilities.

“A Wolf-Fiend?”

As Lucienne opened her mouth, many loud howls resonated through the entire area. The monster was not alone, and the haunting sounds echoed from various angles, including where her supposed friends were stationed. The men’s voices soon joined the dissonance as they shouted, urging a retreat.

“Lady Castellane, we must withdraw! The meat has attracted lesser Wolf-Fiends, and there might be a higher form in the pack that we won’t be able to handle!”

“Everyone, retreat!”

Lady Castellane, the leader of the group, issued the command, prompting everyone to sprint away. However, Lucienne, who had been used as bait, found herself abandoned and left to fend for herself. Despite her attempts to catch up with the fleeing group, she wasn’t a swift runner. The wolf-like creatures quickly discerned her as their target and began a relentless pursuit.

Panicking, Lucienne weaved through the trees, her robes getting caught on branches as she desperately tried to put distance between herself and the approaching Wolf-Fiends. The magical blood scent clung to her, acting as a magnet for the creatures.

As the beasts closed in, Lucienne stumbled over a protruding tree root, falling to the forest floor. One of the lesser wolves, a dark creature with crimson eyes, leaped forward, its jaws snapping dangerously close to her. Lucienne who had been frantically chanting a spell pointed towards the wolf. Before it could bite her a shield of mana surrounded her body to protect her.

The monster sank its teeth into the glowing mana shield, but it proved resistant. Undeterred, it recognized that the person behind the shield wasn’t retaliating. The creature’s teeth began to emit a darkish hue as it activated one of its own skills. The shield created by the young mage wasn’t exceptionally robust, it became evident that, given enough time, it would eventually give way.

“No, stay away! Someone? Is there anyone there?”

She called out to the group that she arrived with but the sound of their steps was not there. It became clear to her that she was abandoned and left to fend for herself in this forbidden part of the forest. Soon two more Fiend-Wolves appeared, their growling and howling intensified as they plunged themselves in her direction…

…

“There, is that better my young friend?”

In mere moments, the small cat had become a humanoid figure with fur as dark as midnight, retaining the same feline features. A humanoid black puma now stood before Roland, wearing a pair of spectacles perched on its feline-like nose. The transformation was seamless, a testament to Arion’s mastery of transfiguration magic. Roland couldn’t help but be surprised at the spectacle that had taken place before him.

“Quite the sight, but next time, warn me when you will do that…”

“Ah yes, is this the first time you witnessed transfiguration magic? Perhaps, it piqued your interests? It’s quite the varied field of study but also very volatile if you make any mistakes.”

“Volatile?”

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“Ah yes, if you aren’t careful you might blow yourself up! Or even worse, turn yourself into a chicken and lose all memories!”

“A chicken?”

Roland took a moment to observe Arion’s new appearance. The man belonged to a beast race, resembling a puma. Unlike lesser beast races such as Sister Kassia or Dyana, Arion had fewer human features. His height was slightly below Roland’s, and the sight of a humanoid cat wearing a luxurious mage robe was quite novel. It was evident that Arion cared a lot about presenting himself to others.

“Yes, a chicken… poor Zachary, he will be missed, such a tragedy… but this is not the time for old tales, come let us discuss your stay here!”

“Yes, let us do that…”

Arion gestured towards a comfortable-looking chair across his cluttered desk. Roland took a seat, his eyes still adjusting to the eccentric surroundings of Arion’s office. The floating magical artifacts, the peculiar telescope, and the shelves of ancient tomes all hinted at a life dedicated to the pursuit of magical knowledge. As Roland settled into the chair, Arion joined him on the other side of the desk. The feline professor leaned back in his chair, his tail swaying casually.