Chapter 140: Seek the Missing

They were stunned. Being a Companion wasn't as lucrative as being a hunter. But still, the rewards and benefits were far better than freeborns trying to live day by day under the noble House's roof. Much better than slaves.

Ned walked to where his bag was, behind Erin—who was standing across Darwyn. He grabbed the bag and tossed it near the soft legged kid.

"All the rewards of being a Porter are yours, Erin," Ned said. His face shows nothing but determination and not a sign of regret.

Erin's eyes were different. Admiration and respect. As a Companion, and as an unwritten rule, they can't go against their hunter counterparts. Unless one was determined.

Erin nodded instinctively.

"I'll follow," Ned said after turning to the two hunters.

Rickart stepped forward Ned but was held up by Keesha's hands pressing against his shoulder. "Let him," she said and looked at Ned. "Why do you insist? You don't know Malik or Sidric, especially Darwyn, so why Ned?"

"I'm looking for someone," Ned said under his thrilled voice. Was I? Was I really looking for Roy? Or was it because of something else? The thought made him think deeply about what was his goal. Master, it was Master. Why would I even think of something thrilling? Thrill. The same thrill Rassus gave me when we fought. It was the thrill of dying—No. I must not.

[Ned.]

It was Master all along. This was for Master. And Edwin. The man whom my vengeance was exact for.

[Ned.]

ICE broke Ned's misplaced thoughts. I was….

[You are, Ned.]

[Focus on the tasks at hand.]

I am… now. Ned answered ICE.

"And you joined us, because of it?" Keesha said. "Then—"

"We should leave," Ned cut short Keesha. "Don't mind me, I'll follow."

Keesha spun and spoke nothing. She then entered the thick forest leaving Rickart and Ned.

"Without Sidric, she's the party leader." Rickart didn't argue more. He turned around. "Follow if you will."

Ned dashed toward the two. Leaving Erin with the wounded knight, and the bag of Olive Zest Herbs.

They were at the edges at the Outer forests. If Ned was right, judging on Rickart and Darwyn's return, it would take them an hour or so of running to reach their destination. And Ned assumed—no, yearned that their destination was the Middle forests; to where Roy was last seen. The Middle forest was vast but better than not going at all.

Rickart caught up to Keesha with ease, while Ned followed behind the two. He wasn't exerting too much effort between his feet, but he caught up with the two.

Rickart took the led as Keesha wasn't aware as to where Malik or Sidric was last seen. Ned was now ahead of Keesha while he trailed the rouge. Rickart's wound wasn't fully healed, but enough for him to exert the force on his legs.

They strode forests and rivers. The ground was rough with mud. Trees made an illusion of bending as Ned traveled with light feet. Leaves fell, brushing Ned's shoulder.

"Wargs!" It was Keesha.

The sun has set but the remaining speck of orange to red light made their path visible, magical creatures shrieked far of their right, wind hummed to their left, and three Wargs trailed from behind.

Ned looked behind his shoulder. It was Keesha gesturing her hands.

She spun around twitching her shoulder, space at the tip of her hand distorted and she let out a quick grunt: "Wind Lance!"

She used her spell fairly: Wind Lance. A wind spell for a quick conjuring with fast travel speed.

Mages were used to attacking while standing still. Unlike Rogues who use their body as weapons and blades for an extension. Mages focus more on their spell rather than the coordination of their body.

The Wind Lance hit nothing but mud and leaves as the warg evaded on four to its right. The first warg rebalanced and pursuit its prey.

Ned and Rickart could leave the wargs. But it was Keesha, Rickart was worried about. Rickart slowed down—

"Keep going," Ned said seeing Rickart's slow pacing. "I'll take care of them."

Rickart nodded. "We're near the Middle forest," he said under his heavy breathing. "Keep going and you'll see a settlement of beasts." With the healing potion, his wound was almost healing. He spun around a fat tree blocking their way and gestured Keesha to follow him.

Ned nodded in response. He twisted his body, facing the three fanged beasts. He kept on jumping behind while looking both under his shoulder and the beasts in front.

The remaining light made the grey fur of the Wargs visible, jaw was profuse of ragged teeth, eyes enraged with red, and paws excited to slash.

But the one in lead was different, grey fur with a streak of pure white running its back ending its tail. Must be the lead. Ned thought, pulling Boom out its scabbard. Ned's senses were heightened. Quickly he stopped, black boot sunk against the mud as he put weight on his right foot. He lunged forward. Slicing the one in front.

But the lead warg was good. It was dark and it was in their favor. Seeing Ned stopped and attacked, it jumped to its left. Evading the tip of the short-sword with almost a thin hair apart.

The distance between the lead warg and the two followings was almost twice a meter apart. Which gave Ned enough time to switch Boom to his left hand after the lead warg evaded the attack.

The trailing warg shrilled in surprise as Ned stabbed the tip of Boom, without injecting mana, right into the middle of its head.

It fell rolling against its own momentum, it then twitched and made a soft growl after dying cold against the mud.

Ned twisted his body, switched back the sword to his right, and booted the warg trying to pounce him. Ned's kick hit the jaw of the warg, force ran his feet to his waist. It was a good hit. Ned smiled seeing the warg rolling and stopping by hitting its back against a rock.

The lead warg growled. For a moment, Ned thought he was blind. He wasn't, the forest was now shrouded in total darkness. Ned's eyes squinted, adjusting to the darkness. Ned stopped and forced himself toward the lead warg.

[Ned.]

ICE chimed amid Ned's contest. It was a warning.

Ned felt it, Mana Leak coming off from the lead warg. It was rough against his skin and fast. The lead warg stopped and howled once more. For a second, Ned could see a streak of fine light flowing from its eye, its back, and ending at the tip of its tail. It uses its skill Howl at the same time, the lead warg was enraged. Fur on its back stood electrifying, canine teeth raised fatally, and eyes blurred with yellow light.

Ned stopped his track. The Grade E evolved and enraged warg growled gutturally. Ned raised his left hand, mechanical bow still attached, and with thought, his gestured turned flashing. He let out a cry: "Fireball!"

The spell traveled mid-air, it was fast, hitting the lead warg. The beasts then shook its head off of smoke. It was a direct hit. A level two fire spell. But it wasn't effective against the beasts. It was natural for magical beasts to use magic at a very young age. The lead warg was covered with mana, available only when enraged. They weren't aware of this, but it was fairly visible. Yellow and white light, although thin, was enveloping its body.

"Even beasts can use mana that way," Ned said. He stood facing the lead warg. Raising his hand, he conjured Fireball once more. A sphere of fire rotates at the tip of his hand along with a hum-hum sound. Trees, leaves, rocks, and grasses turned orange and red. The fireball was ready. With a flick of Ned's hand, he released the Fireball. Along the way, it whistled until it turned to nothing but smoke.