1.45 Golem

Isha, Nairobi and their master Castra walked on the road that wound south of the Naiker's hold. Once they were well away from the town—out of its sight, Castra signalled them to stop.

Without saying a word about why they had stopped, Castra raised her hand, and the air shimmered before her like a heat haze. The air solidified into an … elephant the colour of blood—twice the size of what no elephant had the right to be. It even had a saddle, not to mention those … wings. The elephant had wings! Now Isha had seen it all. 

"Is that a Beast Type Nexus Shard?" Isha asked, clapping her hand in delight. "Can it fly?"

"It can fly, child," Castra said. "But not for long. We shall reserve that ability for emergencies only."

Nairobi circled the creature, inspecting it from every angle. "I have never seen an elephant like this before. How fast can it go?"

"Faster than the carriage I used before," the great mage said. "Hop on! We have a long journey ahead of us."

The winged elephant moved, flapping its wings every now and then, bringing tremors with each of its steps. Atop its saddle, Isha laughed, feeling the wind from the mount's stride. 

Castra smirked at her. "Enjoy yourself while it lasts."

***

Isha looked up at the mud golem with [Barkskin] enhancement and gulped. Her [Dangersense] screamed at her. What was she doing trying to face a creature that was easily the size of a grizzly bear and stronger besides? 

Isha did the smartest thing she could think of, she turned and ran, activating her movement skill, [Like Lightning]. The world turned into a blur of green and brown of the forest, harmless lightning flashing around her. 

She had practised with her skill for long enough, allowing her to weave about the trees of the forest. 

Isha turned to see if she had lost the golem … she almost stumbled over a protruding root.

Naiker's beard! The blasted thing is right behind me. How can it keep up?

Isha ran faster, pushing her skill to its limit. She was about to die wasn't she? What was Castra thinking making her go against that … thing. And why wasn't the woman helping her? Helonar take her!

"Have you already forgotten the advanced version of the Whispering Arrow we developed, specifically for you?" Castra's voice echoed in the forest. "Nairobi had already dealt with her golem and she is lower level than you. I had expected better from you."

Isha growled, wishing to grab something and bash her insufferable master's head with it—if only she could pinpoint where the woman was speaking from. Castra's voice was ricocheting from every direction. That had to be the effect of a spell.

I can't allow Nairobi to best me. If she can do it, so can I.

Steeling her resolve, Isha turned to face the golem once more. Her heart pounded like a beating of a thousand drums.

Isha focused her mind on the intended target and released her new spell, [Thunder Shot].

The new spell was modified from [Whispering Arrow], replacing its wind nature with lightning. The spell no longer resembled an arrow. Instead, it was a jagged bolt of lightning half the length of an arrow, flying through the air.

[Thunder Shot] struck true, punching a wide hole through its enormous torso. The [Barkskin] enhancement of the golem dissolved into essence and the remnant of its body collapsed into a mound of mud.

Isha gaped. The golem was destroyed just like that? She had not even dreamed it would be that easy. Heat of embarrassment washed over her. Naiker help her! She had run away from such an easy prey? Now she would never hear the end of it from Castra. 

[Level Up] 

Congratulations, You Have Levelled Up. You Are Now A Level 16 [High Practitioner].

Training with Castra had raised her from level 8 to 15 [High Practitioner], and now she was level 16. It didn't soothe her mood.

Castra appeared next to Isha out of nowhere. Isha jumped.

Blasted Woman! "Would you please stop doing that?"

Castra laughed. "Every time, you jump like a frightened cat." 

Isha gnashed her teeth. Did she have to rub it in her face? Well, she wouldn't be her master otherwise, that's for sure.

"See? You handled the golem well, didn't you? You should learn to trust your master more. Honestly, running away like that …"

Isha blinked in surprise. Where was the judgement, the witty jibe for running away?

"We will discuss your mistakes at a later date. For now, let us go and collect Nairobi and be on our way."

Castra paused for a moment and gave her a warm smile. "You have grown, haven't you?"

Seriously, who are you and what have you done to my master?

"I guess," Isha said sheepishly.

"I believe both you and Nairobi are ready to face Titan Spawn. I've decided, two of you will destroy their nests one by one."

Isha couldn't help but frown at her master. Was the woman really going to dump all that work between her and the Cniad woman?

She is mad if she thinks the two of us can get rid of all the Titan Spawns in the Naiker's Field—something not even the local adventures had achieved so far. 

"You can't be serious. It will take us years to do it, if we can even do it at all."

"Don't be ridiculous, Isha. Of course, the two of you can't do it alone," Castra snapped. "I have summoned all my students here. Once they arrive, they should make your job less difficult."

Then why didn't you explain it to me beforehand instead of snapping at me? Isha thought, grumbling under her breath. Less difficult, eat my arse!

Isha had heard the [Innkeeper] speak that curse. Why not make good use of that curse, even if it was only in her head?

They walked in silence for a few minutes before Isha spoke again. 

"Castra? May I ask you a question?"

Castra nodded.

"What did the Firstmage want with you?"

"That, my dear disciple, is none of your business," Castra said, disappointing her curiosity yet again.

"Why not tell us?" Isha prodded further, taking her chances. "We are travelling together, so I am bound to find out about it sooner or later."

"Why?" Her master hissed, rounding on her. "Why you ask? It's to maintain my credibility. Nobody trusts a blabbermouth with an important mission unless they want to pull one over you. "

"If you cannot maintain your secret you will never amount to much. If you do not learn to keep your secrets, Isha, the academy will eat you alive. Nairobi understands this. She has secrets not even I have managed to pry open from her. You should learn a thing or two from her."

Isha wilted at her master's words. "I …"

"Now be quiet and follow me. I haven't the patience for you nonsense."