4 The Green Energy

"Well that could have gone better." Cameron groans to himself as he lays on the floor of the wagon with head resting on his pack.

Along with George's yelling the wagon came to an abrupt stop, as a cheese wheel falls from its usual place Cameron reaches up to catch it when a green light flashes. The light seemed to stretch from his hand pushing the cheese to the side of the carriage. As it did Cameron felt a slight breeze blow across his body as if from nowhere.

Cameron stares at his hand in wonder and confusion then begins glancing rapidly between his hand and the cheese wheel now sitting quietly in the corner of the wagon. "Did I do that? But i've never learned magic before" Cameron mumbles to himself.

Screaming interrupting his train of thought Cameron takes his longsword before pacing towards the front of the wagon.

From his seat at the front of the wagon George yells "what are you doing back there! Something serious is going on, go deal with it. That was the agreement!"

"I was getting my longsword" Cameron replies, before hopping of the wagon and making his way towards the front of the caravan, twisting his fathers ring for good luck as he walkes.

Looking around Cameron immediately spots the boss and his men marching towards the front of the caravan, but after several seconds he spots what he's really looking for John.

Running up to John, Cameron asks "John do you have the beast core? I failed to"before cutting himself off halfway realizing they haven't met yet.

Giving Cameron a peculiar look John replies "Of course I have the beast core, I got it from hunting the beast itself. Strange beast never seen one like it a bird that could control the wind. Had beautiful green and white feathers too seemed almost a shame to hunt her. My grandson needs the core though for a shot at becoming a mage so I did what had to be done. The question is how do you know about it boy, I hunted that beast by myself and haven't told a soul of this core."

"Err well, I know about the core becuase you told me about it, how else could I have known!" Cameron says with a perfectly honest looking face.

"Really boy, make more believable excuses next time. I would remember if I told anyone, and your included in everyone boy are you not?"

"Yes, but I was just wondering how does the core work? I mean what effects is it supposed to have when someone swallows it."

Worried expression on his face John grabs Cameron by his shoulder and proceeds to yell into his face. "Boy who do you know that swallowed a core, that is equivalent to a death sentence! Sure they will be able to absorb the entire energy of the core if they ingested it in such a stupid method like that but unless they are already a powerful mage they wont be able to control that energy! Depending on the element type of the core there will be severe side effects, fire element for example will start slowly burning their body out from the inside!"

Looking worried Cameron starts checking each of his limbs staring intently but not knowing what he is searching for. Seeing his actions John flicks his forehead and says "focus boy, now where you the fool who eat a beast core!" Now panicking Cameron begins patting his limbs looking for anomalies.

Seeing his expression John's worried face vanishes replaced by a smile, then he starts laughing boisterously. "Haha boy you should have seen the expression on your face! If you had really eaten a core you would be already feeling the side effects. Looks like you've been scammed by some merchant."

With only a few carts left until boss and his men reached the front of the caravan Cameron turns to John and says "Hey there could be an ambush up ahead we should warn those guys otherwise they could all be slaughtered."

"Not to worry, bandits groups are just desperate men with rough weapons. That boss and his boys might not be the brightest but they can handle themselves in a fight. In fact their mercenary group has taken out a number of bandit groups before in this area."

Seeing the two volleys of arrows shooting towards the group Cameron yells to grab their attention while pointing up towards the arrows. Feeling a powerful wind blast out around him Cameron watches as a green energy shoots from his pointing finger towards one of the volleys of arrows.

A violent wind rushes out as if from nowhere pushing the arrows causing them to fall short of the boss's group. The second volley coming from the woods on the right side of the forest has no such barricade. Volley lands in the center of the group and men began screaming in pain.

Boss one arrow through his left shoulder and a second buried in his gut turns to bellow at the men. "Get behind the wagons!"

Quickly scattering the men reach cover behind two of the wagons, some of the stronger ones dragging or carrying the wounded behind them. Two more volleys shoot from the woods thudding into the side of the wagons but except for one unlucky person no one was hit by arrows.

After releasing the green energy Cameron stumbles as his face begins to pale from exhaustion. Seeing his state John carries him over his shoulder before dumping him unceremoniously into the back of a nearby wagon. Cameron sees various crates loaded around him but doesn't bother checking their contents.

Reaching into a pocket of his fur coat John takes out a green shining crystal "the beast core" Cameron whispers. "Looks like your a magic beginner overtaxing your mind like that. Here hold on to that, i'll want it back after the battle." Tossing the core to Cameron who fumbles for a moment but manages to catch it, John then turns and hops out the back of the wagon.

Loud sounds of conflict echo throughout the caravan men screaming, weapons clashing and the occasional thud of arrows. Gradually the sounds of conflict began to die down and as it does Cameron grasps his longsword tightly staring at the wagon entrance.

Pushing back the cloth covering a rough looking man covered in scars and blood looks into the wagon. Seeing Cameron he draws a blood soaked dagger form his belt then jumps into the wagon cloth closing behind him.

Still feeling weak Cameron shrugs hoping for the best before tossing the core into his mouth and swallowing. He then stands tall and swings his longsword in an overhead slashing motion, cutting through the cloth of the wagons roof slows the blade before it catches onto a supporting beam. The bloodied man seeing his chance rushes forward and plunges his dagger into Cameron's chest, without wasting a moment the bandit pulls out the blade before savagely stabbing Cameron over and over again across his body.

World beginning to go dark around him Cameron notices green lights floating in the air around him for a instant. Then he let go of the pain and slipped away into the void.