Chapter 105 - Presences

After practicing for a while, Zaos learned that using Magic Perception wasn't much different from casting a spell. While mana wasn't used, his level of focus determined everything. In essence, Zaos just had to 'forget' his own existence and focus on the others nearby. Thanks to that, even though the boy didn't use any magic, Zaos could feel his presence even when he was thirty meters away when Magic Perception reached level three.

"Magic Perception has a range, but the range can increase the there are vestiges of mana that are recent in a certain area," Zaos concluded.

Health: 480/480

Mana: 820/930

Stamina: 830/830

Strength: 240

Magic: 455

Endurance: 415

Resistance: 455

Focus: 04 + 01 

Sorcery Lv 39, Meditation Lv 23, Magic Swordsmanship Lv 14, Alchemy Lv 06, Magic Resistance Lv 05, Magic Perception Lv 03, Swordsmanship Lv 33, Axemanship Lv 09, Spearmanship Lv 09, Archery Lv 15, Shield Mastery Lv 18, Pain Resistance Lv 15, Blacksmithing Lv 11

Lesser Heal, Heal, Holy Light, Detoxification, Cold Whisper, Mend Bones, Dispel, Protection, Magic Barrier, Stone Skin, Fire Sword, Water Sword, Earth Sword, Wind Sword, Earth Bullet, Ignite, Spark, Agony,

Although it was very faint, Zaos also began to feel the presence of the others. Verkan, the guards, and his squad… he could feel their presence, even though they probably never used magic in their lives. That was curious.

"Are you making any progress?" Verkan asked when Zaos suddenly entered the post around the time the night sky was clearing up.

"I believe so," Zaos replied.

"How long until you surpass the range of our targets?" Verkan asked.

"If they used magic recently, I believe I can track them fast and remain hidden," Zaos replied.

"Well, keep improving that skill," Verkan said. "We will leave once again tomorrow night, and only three guards will stay behind."

"Do you think he is going to talk before that?" Zaos asked. "They don't have strong bodies, so I guess they face a problem with food further in the North. They should be used to hunger."

"I couldn't do it last night since I was tired, but there is another way to make someone's spirit break even faster," Verkan said. "You will see it at night."

Zaos spent the rest of the day practicing Magic Perception, and it didn't take him long enough for him to find an excellent method to train that skill. Closing his eyes and trying to feel other people's presence was as easy as it was weird. Although he didn't use any mana, the skill leveled up three times throughout the day.

"There is no mistake. Such a skill is weird," Zaos thought. "The fact that only me and the followers of the demon god can feel each other's presence isn't the only weird thing about it. This growth speed isn't normal."

Hopefully, his enemies won't exploit that skill… After thinking for a while, Zaos concluded that they had no reason to do it. After all, he probably was the only decent mage on the enemy's side.

When night came, it didn't take long for Zaos to understand what Verkan had planned. The prisoner still had some willpower that could be seen in his eyes. Even though his semblance looked pretty weak and tired, his mind still was resisting. However, it became evident that things would change. The very moment began to fall asleep on the chair, Verkan threw a bottle of cold water on his face. The kid trembled from head to toe, thanks to the cold and because of the scare.

While the temperature inside the post was pretty nice due to the chimney. However, even a small amount of water could negate all that for quite a while. Zaos sighed when he watched that happen several times. It wasn't worse than physical torture, but it was a pretty harsh thing to do to a boy. Despite being the only one who almost died thanks to the kid, Zaos was the only one who was watching and seemed troubled… he couldn't help but wonder why.

"What an annoying brat…" Verkan said and then sighed around midnight since he didn't find any sign that the boy was about to break. "Heal him, Zaos. If we continue like this, he is going to die. We can't afford to let that happen yet."

In the end, Zaos obeyed without thinking twice. He could only respect the spirit of the kid, but he couldn't let that control his actions. If the kid wanted to go down that way by suffering more than it should, Zaos could only respect his wishes.

After healing the boy, the temperature of his body increased. Since it looked like he would have to do that many more times, Zaos decided to stay close by. Thanks to that, he had the chance to see something odd from the window of the post. A certain point in the distance was glowing red… something was on fire.

"Sir, I believe we have a problem," Zaos said.

"What?" Verkan got up and then approached the window to confirm it. "Shit… this is where one of the lookout groups should be. Ready yourselves. Our enemies had come for this boy."

Verkan grabbed his sword and knocked the boy unconscious, and then dropped his chair as well. There would be fewer chances of him escaping that way… Regardless, to think that the followers of the demon god would actually come so fast to rescue a single one of them. Even though Zaos raised that possibility, he didn't consider it possible.

In the blink of an eye, all the soldiers and the recruits assembled in the center of the town. They were all ready for battle, and the sound of their armor moving woke up many of the villagers, but not all of them.

"Zaos's squad will stay in the village and wake up everyone, protect them if a detached groups attack," Verkan said. "If you see that you are fighting a lost battle, take all the villagers away from this place. You are coming with my group, Zaos."