Journey

The next day I sat in meeting after meeting. Val found me and was my voice in the meetings as we discussed the possibility of kidnapping or murder of Kana and what to do with me. I was to be put on trial for her disappearance after the news of our equals contract went public. They assumed, like most people do, that when given the chance I would kill my summoner to gain freedom. My intelligence actually hindered me in this because they believed I'd be much more capable of hiding her body than a regular mana beast.

In the end I was exiled, due to my intelligence it was morally wrong to kill me with out proper evidence. Vel testified and threatened the judges on my behalf, for rights pertaining to an intellectual being, as was my right by international law signed by every major nation.

The judges laughed it off until two entire military squads, the head professor and the strongest military Commander in the capital vouched for my intelligence. To top it all off, the day I was exiled the headmaster Williams of the neighboring nations prestigious Academy and strongest water based mage in the nation announced that he would be traveling around the world instead of opening a new school.

That shocked the judges as well and they tried to revoke the ruling on Little White but the damage was already done. Last I heard the judges were fired and cast from the city as a result, I didn't care. It was what it was, I was just the center of the problem this time.

Before I was forced to leave the headmaster, William met me at the gates and put a silver collar around my neck. "This is the item I promised you back in Tormok. An tinker friend of mine worked on this by my request. It has runic patterns, constructs and sigils lining under it and inside it." he took a needle and poked my paw with it. He dropped a single drop of blood on the collar and I instantly felt a connection. "This piece also has the ability to be blood bound to the owner" the guards at the gate gasped and states wide eyed at the small silver band in the masters hands "Now that your connected just follow the thread back to the item and it will allow you to speak out loud. It also has two connections that can be accessed to communicate over long distances." He raised a hand to show his finger. Pointing at a silver band "This is one connection, be warned to send a message that goes beyond its basic limitations you will have to find a ley-line or a great source of mana to use it."

Connecting my mind to the device I spoke mentally "Thank you headmaster William for everything you have done for me and Kana. I don't believe she is in the city anymore and I will use my exile as a chance to widen my search. Is there anyway you can keep an eye out for her here incase she returns" a warm young voice came from the band. The voice was my own from before my transition here, but it held a stronger and more mature tone that I lacked before.

The guards again looked shocked at this exchange, they were their at court for the ruling. They didn't believe it before because he always had a beautiful women speaking for him, they assumed it was some pet from a noble house. A brat didn't want to see their pet die or something, they really didn't pay attention to the whole ordeal. They were paid to stand still and look intimating and occasionally escort convicts from one room to another.

William laughed "I already did Little White, I have someone in every squad in the city keeping an eye out for our missing friend. She's like a daughter to me so if you find her first let me know. It'll be one less thing to worry about if you do"

I nodded "I will, is there anything else I need to know before I go?" I asked

The headmaster paused and thought for a moment before he snapped his fingers "Oh yes, you saw that blank crystal on the front right? It contains a magical construct that enables you to store items inside, we call them interdimensional ring storage, IRS or just storage rings. The crazy man gave you one with nearly an acre of space with a weight reduction of nearly ninety-nine percent. It is safe to say that collar around your neck is now an international treasure, he was going to make it so that the space inside was livable but I took it from him before he added that feature. If he managed to do it however it would be an accomplishment that would shake the foundations of the world. Imagine a whole world in the palm of your hand full of living creatures crops. " he shook his head. "Maybe you can visit him in the future and see if he can finish what he started. Oh and he left a manual in the ring incase I missed anything. Be sure to read it"

I nodded, a bit dazed from the information overload and greatfull that there was atleast a book to remind me what I missed or needed to know "Thank you again headmaster. I'll be going now I plan on traveling to Tormok first to see if I can find anything that would help me locate Kana. The connection to her has been almost completely severed but I feel that south towards Tormok is where I should go first" he nodded his head and spoke softly "Safe Travels" I nodded to him and turned towards the open gate and walked out into the outside world. I saw a Trader heading out of the gate and I hopped into the back as it passed. The trade caravan driver didn't notice and I laid down to let him take me closer to my destination.

For half a day he traveled south before taking a turn east and I hopped out, walking for the rest of the way on foot almost an hour I couldn't find another caravan. Another hour passed and I came across a small clearing with a group of hunters camping in the middle. I decided that having company wouldn't hurt and I made my way towards them, passing through the wood first looking for some game I could catch.

I found a warren of bunnies and managed to snag about five of them. I brought them over to the hunters, I dropped them off at the feet of the one cooking. They all looked at me funny as I just laid down by the flames. I heard one of them behind me draw a knife and felt the killing intent spike from the man. Looking over I met his eyes and released all my killing intent I had towards Kana's kidnappers and they all froze. The man dropped knife in shock as I spoke. "I brought you a meal as a sign of good will. I would suggest you don't try to make an enemy out of me. I only wish to share your fire for the night and nothing else, if I am unwelcome say so. But I will not take kindly to unprovoked attacks" I said quietly, the man who dropped his blade mouthed the word 'Saint' towards his companions. I returned to facing the fire and I laid my head down. I heard the shuffling of items and gear followed the sound of heavy foot falls of running as they took to the hills.

I sighed "I think I had better experiences when I was mute" I muttered to myself happy to finally hear myself talk again. Looking to the sky I wondered where Kana might be and whether she was safe before drifting off to sleep.

The next morning I was awoken by a metal pole being rammed into my side. Opening my eyes I saw the men from last night circling me with spears pointed at me. I sighed 'Is anything going to go my way today? I just left the city yesterday, this doesn't seem to be a good start. Making "friends" and all.'

I called forth my mana on instinct and because I was used to doing so. A powerful blast of water erupted from me at its center, the blast smashed into everyone and threw them into the air. A few managed to get lodged inside trees and others were half buried in the dirt. Looking around I grimaced, I stood in the center of a crater almost half a meter deep and half of my cores mana was gone in a blink of an eye. I didn't mean to do that, I was only going to disarm them. Looking down however revealed three severed arms with weapons in their hands, each from separate people, the blast must have been too strong.

Behind me one man still remained, he seemed to have gotten lucky as my blast seemed to miss him. But he was on his knees hand in front of him in a posture of defeat. The man soiled himself from both ends and he was mumbling about how he was going die. I ignored him, they attacked me first. Even after I brought dinner too, let him wallow in dispare for all I care. I looked at the sun and judged it's movement, turning south I began walking down the road. Sobbing could be heard behind me but I ignored it, I had more important things to do and a long walk was the first on the list.