Practice makes perfect

The Mage sighed.

'I only lived because they were senseless, I barely did anything to them even with a direct attack on their soul.' The Mage resisted the urge to get out his bestiary and waited until the guards had finished calming the crowd.

'Wait.' The Mage just remembered someone was missing, he felt around for Robin's bond. The bird had flown as high as he could, the bond nearly snapping.

The Mage sent the feeling of safety through the bond, Robin slowly started to descend.

The Mage looked around before sighing, the guards still blocked the doors while the mayor spoke with the same guard from before.

After an hour of questioning the guards and getting no answer, people slowly trickled out of the group, soon only a handful of stubborn people remained.

A howl sounded out, it seemed to pass through anything as it directly rang out in the villagershearts.

The handful outside paused as the others slowly came back.

The Mage could barely make out, "Why would a wolf come so close to town?"

The Mage stood up startling Emma and Sophie, he soon walked over to the mayor while putting on his backpack.

"Your town is in danger." The Mage said from underneath his hood.

"Pardon?" He said looking back.

"Your town is in danger, the murderer is coming back." The Mage said while feeling his bond, Robin had shared his alarm before circling something, the circle moved as the thing moved.

"And you believe that they would be able to beat my guards?" The mayor said with slight arrogance.

"They made that hole in the wall." He said while walking towards the doors, the guards unaware of his approach.

The Mage stood before them before shouting.

"The murderer is coming back, they use a trained wolf to kill their victims!" The crowd slowly put two and two together as the guards turned back and stared at the Mage.

The crowd start to push against the guards as they shouted for orders off the mayor.

The crowd grew as the villagers from before and new appeared, attracted by the loud noise in the dead of night having been awakened by the howl.

The Mage smirked under his hood while walking back to Emma and Sophie, sitting with the scared mother and daughter.

Emma trusted the outsider more than the panicking mob outside and Sophie only trusted her mother.

Another howl sounded from outside, it was closer this time and it felt like it was coming from beside their ears.

The mayor shook his head before signalling the guards, they soon nodded to each other before moving out of the way, letting the crowd of villagers flow into the building before the door slammed behind them.

The door was soon blocked with a metal drop bar, the crowd now silent.

They stood there, gazing around the town hall before catching sight of the mayor, their eyes slowly gathering on him.

"Why hasn't the murderer been caught?"

"Why are all the guards hiding from the murderer?"

"Why wouldn't you let us in?"

"Why-" The crowd barraged him with questions, their fear overpowering any resemblance of loyalty that had.

*BANG* The door creaked in its frame as it was rammed, the light from the torches kept the town hall well lit yet the dark corners felt darker.

The guards made a line a few metres away from the door, their swords at the ready. The crowd scattered, some crying, some hiding under tables, some hoping to join the defensive line, some just standing there numbly, one person even fainted.

The Mage turned to Emma.

"Can you look after my bag and cloak for me? I know you won't steal anything."

The Mage said while smiling, seeing a faint nod he took off his cloak before putting it in his bag, leaving it facing towards him in case he had to grab and run.

Nobody was paying attention but the Mage's eyes were now on full view, he took out his cane and walked with it.

The tapping was drowned out by the various voices and noises floating around the hall.

The Mage walked to the side of the defensive line, gathering the attention of a guard.

A look of horror soon appeared on his face.

"Guys lo-" The door was rammed again, the metal bar indenting as the door chipped and splintered.

The creature had could now be seen, its hulking figure just visible through the gap.

The Mage looked at the line before shouting, "I suggest you all brace yourselves with swords pointing forwards, it's going to be a hard fight for you lot!" Some paid attention to the Mage's words, their faces soon replaced with fear.

An enemy had appeared inside the building they were trapped in.

Some of the older guards followed the Mage's advice as the younger suspected the Mage, two of them even turning their swords towards him.

The Mage flashed a kind smile before shouting, "Trust me, that creature can kill me just as easily as it can you, I would rather not deal with it without you lot."

After giving his inspiring speech, the Mage held his cane in two hands while facing the door. His muscles tightened as the door was rammed again.

'It's weaker than before?'

The Mage didn't falter as he stood there prepared.

The door burst open, the creature barrelling into the defensive line, chaos ensued as pained yelps and shouting echoed in the hall. Limbs swung at each other as swords drew blood and claws scraped armour.

The creature caught one of the young guards by his leg and dragged him, the creature opened its great maw as teeth covered in saliva entered the young man's vision.

The creature chomped down and ripped a chunk out of the poor guard's neck kill him, the creature quickly looked around before sprinting on all fours towards its next target.

The Mage watched with interest before he noticed something, he felt the aura of magic. His eyes honed onto the young guard to see him convulsing, his body growing fur.