Fighting

The sound got closer.

The Mage then realised what was happened and quickly leapt backwards.

A woman lept out of the grass at his feet, she emitted the smell the Mage smelt on that rainy day. Her nails cut through the grass like a fish through water, her long hair covered her back, nearly concealing her white dress.

The deer stomped again, catching her back. It's foot going through her but causing a ghastly scream to come from her, her voice was piercing as the scream seemed to travel around the clearing.

The Mage stood and watched as the deer repeatedly stomped the Ghost, each time her body faded more. The Ghost's nails struck through the deer but the injuries didn't stop it and the corpse didn't require the blood it was losing. The injuries stacked up on both sides, the deer fell to the floor as two of its legs were cut off, the woman pounced towards the deer which used its antlers to stab the woman, she had nearly faded.

Her nails sunk into the deer's neck, they were 4cm long and pitch black. The woman slowly faded away as the deer fell to the floor, its body rapidly decaying.

A few minutes later, only the bones of the deer remained while the woman had long disappeared.

The clearing soon returned to normal, the only weird things being the dead raven and the withered plants.

Robin flew down to rest on the shoulder of the Mage, his beak lightly nipping his ear.

The Mage turned to see Angelo with two guards behind him, one was the young man named Gavin while the other was unknown to the Mage, the second guard was taller than Gavin and had black hair, stubble and a scar over one eye.

"Sir?" Angelo said while walking towards, his eyes glancing from the deer's skeleton and Robin. He could smell the air of death from them.

"I found what spooked the young guard, it was the same creature what accompanied us during that rainy day." The Mage said while getting his backpack off Angelo, he soon started to write in his bestiary.

"What manner of creature?" Angelo said while eyeing the two guards, his intentions clear.

"I reckon a Ghost of sought, it is lucky that our young friend here didn't encounter the creature himself." The Mage said while nodding towards Gavin.

The Mage soon documented in the bestiary fully, soon taking out his notebook and writing under a page called "Thrall".

His writing quick and chaotic, a contrast with his bestiary. His plans to keep his notes hard to read clear as only he could make sense of them.

'While thoughts can't be transmitted, feelings and intentions can, allowing simple communication. This could be seen as a purer form of communication.'

The Mage looked at Robin who soon took flight, his wings soon took him weaving through the trees. It's speed more alike to an eagle's than a raven's.

'Power is increased by half of the original strength, maybe more.' He notes before looking up from his notebook, the once blank page with just a title now filled with information.

"It has been dealt with." The Mage said before he noticed Gavin staring behind him.

His arm pointing at behind him, he couldn't tell where because Gavin was shaking too much.

"Oh her, that was the most likely the original body of the creature I fought. Probably been dead for a long time." The Mage said while staring into the forest, he felt distress and confusion from Robin.

'Range of 150 to 200 metres, bond strength doesn't weaken with distance but feels close to breaking when at the threshold.' His quill moved quick, noting down everything.

"You seem to be in a good mood Sir," Angelo said with a smirk.

"I got to test out a new spell, my findings put me in a very good mood." The Mage said while walking toward back towards the caravan with the others, an unspoken agreement to leave the corpse undisturbed was formed without even a glance.

They soon reached the caravan unhindered, The Mage could feel Robin was watching from the tree line.

Everything was packed away. The Mage and Angelo soon entered the first carriage as the two guards sat on top, they seemed to be the guards for both the nobles.

They then set off, The Mage could feel Robin keeping pace with the caravan. He idly chatted with the two nobles and Angelo, the two nobles realised the Mage didn't care if they talked to him as long as they didn't interrupt him either writing or thinking.

Time seemed to fly as they drew closer to the town, signs of civilisation soon appeared with hunters walking back to town with prey, trees being cut and moved, the occasional log cabin.

Soon the caravan entered the town, children quickly moved out of the way by parents. Tensions were high as carriages rarely came to these parts, let alone caravans with tons of armed guards.

The Mage soon disembarked as Robin flew and rested on his shoulder, his cloak and hood now up. The Mage had already given his farewells and left the caravan behind.

He promised he would find Angelo close to the time Blackriver was built so that they could travel there and buy some property together, a city teeming with Awakened wouldn't be a safe one and the Mage would rather risk his life trusting a friend than a stranger, Angelo felt the same way.

Of course, they didn't trust each other much, Awakened were paranoid creatures as they could be betrayed by anyone. It was quite common for loved ones to sell out Awakened for money or better living conditions.

The Mage petted Robin's head before making him take flight, the raven soon landed on a nearby building and watched around the village.