Monster Stampede [1]

Since the tribesmen and outside settlers began seeking Father's leadership, he became much busier. His schedule had been consistently full these past few days, leaving me no chance to meet him. There were days when he wouldn't even join us for family dinner.

It was understandable, given the surge of people pledging to work under his leadership, but it worried me with an unsettling breeze in the air. People grew more agitated... or unpleasant, their pallid appearances adding to the unease.

Another concern nagged at me: Father seemed to favor Jaxon since persuading the tribesmen. He recognized Jaxon's talent for persuading people, and under his assignments, the number of residents increased.

Was Father planning to build a city?

"Young master, it's time for your magic practice." Paula, a young mage from the capital serving as my mentor, called from behind my room's door.

"Paula, can we focus on cultivation today?" I asked. "And come in."

Paula, with blonde hair and green eyes, stood in her maid uniform. Seeing her dressed like that again, I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"How many times must I tell you I don't like you thinking of yourself as my servant," I complained. To me, Paula should carry herself more nobly, coming from the same noble status as our family. It would cause a stir if anyone saw her in servant's clothing.

She smirked, giving me a cheeky smile. Setting the book on my study table, she retrieved a core stone from her pocket.

"Just come over here. Why do you always complain about my fashion? I like it," she said.

I groaned, rising from my bed.

"Whatever." I walked over to my study table and sat down. "So, what technique will you teach me? I want to practice cultivation, so adjust your lesson plan this time."

She could only shake her head at my request. Pointing to the core stone she placed down, I nodded with a satisfied smile. It seemed she knew exactly what I needed.

These past few days, I feel tired on practicing spells for some unknown reason. It seemed like something was disturbing me; I wasn't quite sure what, but I could feel it. I had mentioned this to Paula, but she just shrugged it off, dismissing me as untalented in magic.

If the insult had come from someone else, I would have been furious. But Paula was no different; I had known her since childhood, as our families were friends.

"Alright, follow my instructions," she said.

The lesson began, and I listened attentively. Whenever I found parts confusing, I asked her to clarify, diligently correcting my mistakes. Following her guidance, cultivation became smoother. Her technique helped channel mana effectively, filling my mana core, which grew larger with each passing moment.

The lesson went on for hours until I grew tired from the continuous flow of mana. The pressure of maintaining cultivation with the quality of the core stone and the surrounding mana hindered its flow.

I opened my eyes to find Paula asleep with her head on my bed. I sighed, stood up, and stretched. The core stone was already depleted. Despite its less-than-outstanding quality, it aided my cultivation. I felt slightly refreshed, though a lingering fatigue persisted, inexplicable.

These sensations had become frequent, which was abnormal. After cultivation, one should only feel refreshed. However, these past few days, I had felt as if something was draining me. It was why I currently disliked practicing spells.

Yet, I knew this might signify progress in my cultivation. Perhaps I was nearing the second stage. If I reached the Blue Stage, Father would be proud. Achieving the second stage at such a young age was uncommon.

Well, it was reasonable to assume I would soon reach it, given my undeniable talent.

***

Lyra, who had continued her investigation, finally connected the dots from the clues she found. For some reason, the town was under a spell. It was the only explanation she could think of for the situation: people were growing weak. What was once a bustling town had become lethargic, with residents reluctant to leave their homes to work. Something weighed heavily on their bodies.

As a knight-in-training, she couldn't ignore this. She began scouring the town, checking every corner in hopes of finding clues. Her efforts paid off when she discovered traces of core powder. Someone had drawn a magic circle, but where?

Her search led her to a large rock atop a hill near the First Mountain of Giant Valley. Her instincts urged her to investigate further, but she was interrupted by the ground trembling beneath her.

The tremors felt familiar, akin to a monster stampede. Fear gripped her as she turned to see mushroom clouds approaching from Giant Valley beyond the First Mountain.

With Giant Valley so close, visible from the town, Lyra raced toward the outskirts facing its entrance.

"Damn... What's happening? A stampede? Why now?" she muttered, fearing the town couldn't defend against it, especially with the state of the people.

Despite the dishonor for a knight-in-training, curses escaped her lips. An apprentice like her should uphold honor, embodying the demeanor and calmness expected of a knight. However, the occurrence defied common sense. Monster stampedes typically only happen during migration season, but this wasn't that time.

As she ran, she noticed a figure sprinting from town toward the entrance of Giant Valley at great speed. Her fear eased slightly, seeing someone competent reacting to the disaster.

After a few minutes, she reached the entrance, finding the figure already there.

Pausing to inspect the approaching brown clouds, she observed the figure standing with a powerful aura. Their identity obscured by a dark cloak, whether they were a man or woman remained indiscernible.

Her composure steady now, she prepared to face whatever monstrous threat lay ahead.

'I could fathom this feeling but this person seems to be something. As if this aura was familiar to me. Where did I meet this person?'

Despite assuming the person before her was competent enough to defend the town, she didn't want to be complacent, as it could risk her life along the way. To ensure this, she prepared questions.