Terrible News

Emily escorted me to the gate as usual and gave me a peck as I turned to leave.

"Let's do this again". She said with a shy smile.

"That would be a pleasure". I replied and smirked. "Don't forget what I said though, keep it private".

"Of course I will". She said and winked at me.

I smiled and shook my head, then I started the walk home.

"Show me my profile". I said as I walked.

[Here's your profile]

[Name: Levi]

[Level: 2]

[Title: One star mage, Beast Slayer]

[Strength: 30]

[Intelligence: 20]

[Stamina: 20]

[Speed: 30]

[Mana: 310/1000]

[Element: Air]

[Lust points: 350]

I studied the profile, I noticed my mana points were now over 1000 as opposed to earlier when it was just over 300. That meant I had to get 1000 mana points to become a two star mage.

Jeez, where am I going to see enough beasts to level up? I thought to myself.

I decided to increase my stamina to 30.

"Increase my stamina by 10 points". I said.

[Purchasing +10 stamina points]

I did the math, I still had 150 lust points left. I really wanted to improve my speed or strength but if I didn't upgrade my intelligence, I wouldn't be able to level up.

"Increase my intelligence by 10 I said".

[Purchasing +10 intelligence points]

I suddenly felt heat course through my body and I almost yelled out from how searing it was.

[You have leveled up]

[Current level: 3]

Satisfied, I checked my profile again.

[Here's your profile]

[Name: Levi]

[Level: 3]

[Title: One star mage, Beast Slayer]

[Strength: 30]

[Intelligence: 30]

[Stamina: 30]

[Speed: 30]

[Mana: 310/1000]

[Element: Air]

[Lust points: 50]

I sighed and continued walking, I would use the remaining points later.

When I got back to the farmhouse, Ava was sitting at the porch waiting for me.

As I drew close to her, I grabbed her hand and pulled her up and into my arms for a hug.

"I missed you". I said and pecked her forehead.

"I missed you more". Ava said and sighed blissfully.

"Why not come into the room so I can show you just how much I miss you". I said with a wicked smile on my face.

Ava blushed beet red, then she pulled back and looked at me from head to toe. She shook her head. "No, you look like you need some rest".

"We can rest as much as we want after". I said and smiled lazily at her.

Her face turned crimson again but she shook her head. "Go in and rest". She said firmly.

"Okay". I said in a resigned tone. "But you're missing a lot".

Ava turned away so I wouldn't see her blushing face. "I'm bringing dinner". She said and marched off.

That night I had my first nightmare since I got to the place.

In my nightmare, the two human like beasts stood over me, with weapons in their hands, they towered menacingly over me and their red glowing eyes seemed to pierce my soul, paralyzing me. Then they looked away from me and looked up, I followed their gaze and saw a throne but the people on the throne were shadowy, I couldn't make out their faces.

Then the figures looked back down at me, they both raised their weapons and brought it down on my head.

I woke up sweating, I couldn't sleep again till daybreak.

Then after completing my chores for the day, exhaustion caught up to me and I slept off on the bench.

I woke up to the sound of the gate being closed and I sat up, rubbing my eyes. The person who closed the gate was none other than Mr Simon.

He had left to the market to sell some farm produce and was just returning. Usually he would be in a jolly mood as he returned, this was because his friends were at the market and they engaged in interesting conversations all day.

However today he wasn't in a happy mood, in fact his face seemed pensive. I blinked my eyes to make sure they weren't deceiving me and looked at him again.

Mr Simon had a worried look on his face, his steps were brisk and hurried, completely business like.

I stood up to help him with his load and he gave me some of them.

"Come with me". He said and I followed him into the house.

He called his wife and Ava and when the four of us were at the table, he leaned in and told us in a quiet pensive voice.

"A village at the outskirts of town was attacked today".

His throat bobbed as he swallowed. "They say it was done by beast monsters, the kind that attacked here".

"Beast monsters?" I whispered.

"Yes". Mr Simon said with a nod of his head. "Except they were not as lucky as we were, the entire village was destroyed".

"Destroyed?!" Mrs Simon exclaimed. "You mean.."

"Yes, completely destroyed". Mr Simon cut in. He sat down slowly. "They say it was terrible, people, houses, farm, all gone.. it was completely wiped out".

"Surely the Emperor must do something about this". Mrs Simon whispered.

"Another thing". Mr Simon said. "An eye witness who escaped said it was an army of beast monsters that did it and they were commanded by a strange looking beast monster who seemed capable of rational thought".

As I heard the statement, my heart began to pound heavily in my chest. There was an army of beast monsters on the loose and I might have seen their commanders just a few days ago.

"Did he say what the commander looked like?" I asked.

Mr Simon shook his head. "All he said was that it was the most unnatural looking being he'd ever set his eyes on. They suspect the army has only just started and they will keep attacking villages".

"The Emperor must do something about this". Mrs Simon continued to say. "He will protect us".

"Oh this is terrible". Ava said in a dejected voice.

Yes, it was terrible.

I didn't go to train with Emily that evening, i stayed awake in my room, pondering about the army of beast monsters, was there a connection between the ones that attacked our farm and the ones that decimated the village? That was what occupied my mind till I fell asleep.

Like a thief in the night, the nightmare crept on me again and I woke up in fear, sweating.