Chapter 47: Choices

"You're forcing Coco to evolve," said Naa'ri. Shifting her gaze between Ned, Coco, and the horde of ghouls. "Look at Coco's size, he's young, but you're breaking his limits by giving him your blood, which will force him to evolve. It's like stretching  rubber until it won't hold any longer, it will snap!"

She's right, I never thought of that, my lack of understanding about this world could have resulted in the life of Coco. Ned thought and regretted. 

While the group was defending the nervous kids. Coco on the other paw vaulted all over the place to kill all the horde on his way. With pure Mana surging inside his body, although just a drip of blood from Ned, the concentration of pure Mana was high enough to make the low-level mythic beast transform into a high grade. Feeling the tremendous amount of pure Mana inside his body, Coco unleashed a barrage of electric current. From the paws of his feet, and from the friction of his fur. Coco's body let out a deafening roar. Blurring the area, Coco encircled the defending group, shocking the horde trying to block his way. 

On the other side of the circle, Master Will, sliced ghouls that were missed by Coco. With only a hand, and a fire that enveloped his common iron sword, a sword that the town guards would use, master, will give the ghouls an introduction to death. 

To not appear suspicious, Sir Edwin, cast spells that cut the ghouls unknowingly. Without drawing his sword, he raised his hands, muttered something, curved his waist, and imprinted the ground with his knuckles. Releasing a storm of invisible wind that sliced the charging ghouls. 

The ghouls stood no chance against the group will hardened defenders. All of them had their own fighting styles, but combined altogether made a symphony of powerful magical attacks, and dance of swords and arrows. 

From biting, to pawing, and clawing, Coco dealt the most damage against the mindless beasts. But with only a borrowed power, Coco eventually resides beside Ned and fell on the ground. Curling like an oddball. Coco knew his limits. 

"I"m sorry Coco," Ned whispered. Bending his knees and brushed a fur of Coco's head. "You've done too much, go in the middle, and rest." 

Coco limped towards the group of terrified kids being encircled and defended by the group. 

"Ned, please, do not let Coco exhibit that kind of power, again," said Naa'ri. Concerned, for she, herself, was a Tamer. Of all professions, Tamer was the one beasts, and magical creatures alike, are more likely to make a pact with. Tamers studied magical beasts like there future were aligned to it. "Give time, and Coco will naturally evolve to its final form." She added, she then whistled with her hand. With a long smooth sound, her tamed beasts, the Falkonet, gave off a small amount of light, and dashed towards the ghouls. Swiping their feet off the ground. Followed by a wedge of arrows, the grounded ghouls were struck to their vital parts. 

Seeing the effectiveness of the dou, the Falkonet, and Naa'ri, the Devourer let out a growl. With the device almost destroyed, the Devourer shot a sharp, and rapid dark energy that aimed towards the Falkonet.

"No!" Naa'ri cried. With the lance of darkness shot straight towards the Falkonet's head. Its body thudded on the ground. Lifeless. 

For years, Naa'ri tried to subdue the Falkonet, the Grade D flying beasts was also a proof that Naa'ri was a Tamer, one of the conditions to enter the Griffith Academy, or any Academy to said,  and enlist as an official Tamer. Now with her Falkonet gone. Naa'ri's future is at bleak. "No! No!" 

She wanted to dash forward the lifeless body of her tamed beasts. But she knew, she couldn't. For the flying beast was surrounded by the ghouls. 

Some ghouls that were near the lifeless body was entranced by the aroma of the Falkonet's fresh blood. The mindless beasts then started to feast on the dead tamed beast.

Naa'ri could only close her eyes while her precious beast was eaten to pieces. 

Feeling the sadness of the Tamer. Coco crawled towards Naa'ri. And leaned on her side. Naa'ri picked up Coco and hugged him as tight as she could. 

After the Devourer shot dead the Falkonet. It started to release blue energy,  successfully destroying the device on its chest. It was about to flap its wing and charge another devouring attack. When a streak of pale yellow light illuminated the entire area. Precisely encasing the Devourer inside a barrier. 

"Lord Edwin!" one of the men shouted. It was the Handlers. Behind him were two carriages pulled by a stallion of horses. 

Judging by their count, sixteen Handlers were the only ones left after the attack started. Each Handler was riding a horse. Arriving at the orphanage they saw the Devourer. With only a handful of Level 5 Barrier runes, these barrier runes were the one used to shield the Hoglob island during the Selection process, the Handlers threw the runes into the Devourer. Successfully encasing the dragon inside. 

The clock was ticking, the Handlers knew the barrier won't hold much longer. Supporting the group the Handlers slew the ghouls, draining their number to almost zero. Some were limping, while others escaped with the arrival of the Handlers. 

"Ned! Come!" shout Toni. Stretching her hand for Ned.

With the rest inside the carriages, especially the kids. The group was ready to leave. It was only Master Will, Ned, and Sir Edwin that stood against the Devourer. They saw that the barrier cracked, indicating that only minutes were left before it collapses. 

"Go, kid, I'll follow along," Master Will said. Old and low voice hummed Ned's ears. Master Will smiled. "Don't worry—"

Seeing the carriages we're full, Master Will decided to stay. Along with Sir Edwin - which he doesn't have any worries about transportation, cause he has a steed of his own. 

"But, Master," Ned stopped Master Will into his words. 

"Don't worry kid, go," said Master Will, once more. 

"I'll be staying with your Master, kid," Sir Edwin said. With a blank face. "I have my beast, I can, always carry him if everything went south." He added. Arching a part of his lips, unnoticed. 

Five barrier runes were webbing the Devourer into its place. Five, then turned four, to three. The barrier was losing its power. 

The Handlers saw the crack on the barrier was widening, which means they were forced to leave Sir Edwin and the rest. 

The carriages were about to leave, when Toni, pulling Ned, climbed and grabbed a seat. 

Two carriages and fourteen handlers were surrounding the group. Making the survivor's safety comes first. 

"What about the other kids?" Asked Granny. Her pipe was unlit but still able to chew the remains. 

"They're fine, I guess," answered the Handler driving the coach. 

"What do you mean?" It was Toni who asked. She was bent at the edge of the carriage, her cozy normal looking dress was flattened at the edges of the coach. Her Kiki'Dorra dagger was twisted beside her waist to give space to the other passengers. 

"The port was overrun buy bigger Ghouls, with no options left, the pirate ships that carrying the other survivors left. Leaving us with a couple of merchant ships," that Handler explained. Swaying the coach left and right against the darkness. 

"My brother," Toni murmured. 

"You mean the one from the orphanage?" Asked the Handler. "Don't worry, the first batch was hauled together with the McGreedy's, and some survivor, that appeared to be healers from the kingdom." 

Hearing those words, Toni let out a sigh of relief. She looked at Xi, Naa'ri with Coco, piping Granny, and Ned. With a couple of whipping kids. 

Halfway into the forest, Ned and the group heard the crackling roar of the Devourer. Under the veil of darkness, Ned stood, gripped the edge of the carriage, and looked behind his shoulder. "I must go." 

All turned to gaze Ned, surprise peaked their eyes. 

"But, Ned, you can't," Xi said. Gripping a part of the bow given to him by Ned. 

"Yes, what will you do if you're there? Be a burden to your Master?" Naari's teary eyes stopped when he heard Ned was about to get off the carriage. 

"Kid, don't worry, I will take a good care of your book, and your soon to be, wife," gazing a curious eye towards Toni. Granny smiled under her pipe. 

"I really can't leave my Master," Ned answered the group. 

"But...you'll be in danger...Ned, please don't," Toni said with a trembling voice. Her eyes started to flush red. 

"Don't worry, we'll catch along," Ned said. Assuring a smile, she lightly touched Toni's shoulder. Pass a smile towards Xi, and bowed at Granny. "Naa'ri, I'm sorry, but please, take good care of Coco," Ned shifted his gaze at Coco, between Naa'ri's grip, totally exhausted. He gave a faint smile. Then looked back at Toni. And jumped off the carriage. 

"Hey, kid!" shout the Handler that was trailing them.

Toni saw a glimpse of Ned's Butterfly under the moonlight before he vanished by the edge of the forest. 

A drop of rain descended and pecked a part of Toni's face. She cried.