The Hollow Marsh

"Aurelia, please just relax!" Clara begged, lowering her arms, "All we want is to return you to your family."

"Why the hell are we even speaking to some child? She is just a little cunt!" Kerr shouted, charging at Aurelia at a breathtaking pace.

With her longsword in one arm and her staff in the other, Aurelia's eyes glimmered as a heavy pressure weighed heavy upon her heart. Feeling the death of Talia and her master on the line, her grip around her weapons tightened. Facing the reckless charge of Kerr, she directed her staff towards the fool.

Observing the golden radiance Kerr ignorant of the mystic arts, continued. However, with the whisper of an incantation, a blood-red flame flickered through the air creating echoes of a force powerful enough to break the sound barrier. Horrified, Kerr did not even have time to remove his sword from his sheet as he hoisted his entire blade into the air.

"KERR!!" Both Lief and Clara howled!

Exploding in a thunderous flaming mist of glowing fireflies, Kerr was blasted away into a thorny bush, his entire arm completely seared black while bits of piece of hot iron pierced his face. Screaming at the top of his lungs, everyone's eyes opened wide as they charged towards their injured comrade.

"Featherfoot," Chanted Aurelia, shooting off into the distance without daring to look back. Hearing the wails of Kerr, the young girl's stomach began to churn. With tears overflowing, she continued stopping for nothing.

Taking note of the massive marsh after few kilometers of fleeing, Aurelia slowly came to a halt, only now looking back once the horrid wails of Kerr vanished. Covering her mouth, she shook as a chunky yellowish liquid began to leak from her lips. Unable to hold it in, she threw up her earlier meal.

"Anima, am I safe?" Aurelia weakly asked in a whimper.

"No, but I will make a request that master unlocks the Zero Incantation call Alarm. Most humans do not have strong instincts. So such a spell is universal protection for most castors." Anima Informed bringing a hallowed air around Aurelia.

Wiping the tears from her eyes, the foul scent of the marshes clawed into her nose. Feeling her stomach-churning once more, she clutched her nostrils, disgusted by the smell.

"I hate this place!"

Snuffing the foul air out her nose, Aurelia gasped at the dark woods that covered the marsh. Covered in a thin mist, the echoes of the various beast began to resound, sending chills down her spine. Taking a step forwards into the shallow dark puddles, Aurelia continued in a tense manner.

"Aurelia is not scared. Aurelia is not scared. Aurelia is not scared. " She repeated as though it was her mantra. "Aurelia is here for Master and Aunty."

"If you keep heading deeper, you will find Ravens Glass. Permission for the Zero Incantation Alarm has been denied by Admin." Anima suddenly informed, destroying a little hope in Aurelia's heart.

"DUMB DUMB, AURELIA HATES YOU!!!"

Hearing his laughter within her heart, Aurelia stomped down. Continuing with tears, the crackle of the many sinister-looking trees around began to respond with subtle movement that was quickly caught by her golden eyes. Drawing her bade, she readied herself.

Suddenly a beastal roar sounded as an ashen blur rushed towards Aurelia. Widening her eyes, she leaped into the air. Releasing a mighty roar, the being with rotting flesh and various other parasites clawing at its festering body slapped its chest that was covered in a torn chainmail.

"Do not let this Ghaul pierce your body. Should the host be slashed or pierced with its claws, total paralysis will occur. The only weakness is the head." stated Anima.

With cold sweat flowing from her back, Aurelia gulped. However, noting how fast it was, she knew escaping was not likely in the realm of possibilities.

"Featherfoot," chanted Aurelia when all of a sudden, the Ghoul shot towards her like a panther.

Swiftly dodging by the skin of her teeth, Aurelia's blade suddenly curled like a serpent. Slashing her blade into its arm, a vicious gashed appeared. However, in but seconds, the wound vanished before Aurelia could make some distance.

Barring its fangs, the Ghoul howled towards the ghostly skies. Shattering the ground beneath its feet, the ghoul shot towards its prey. Tearing through the air, its arms tore apart the air in hopes of severing its food in pieces.

Flickering her wrist faster than she had ever before, Aurelia roared, pushing her body to its zenith. Feeling her muscles begin to tear, fear gripped her heart as she parried and dodged. Yet, no matter how much she dug into the Ghoul before her, its wounds would heal. And trying to sever the head of a creature who only had one weakness seemed impossible.

"its defense is tough. It is constantly protecting its head, making it impossible." Aurelia yelled in frustration, feeling her stamina would not last. Gritting her teeth, she took a deep breath, "I need to get close... Really close."

Watching the Ghoul once again enter her zone. Aurelia quickly ducked her sword, suddenly severing its legs in one quick motion. However, before her blade had even passed the second leg, she chanted in a mighty bellow,

" FORCE BLAST!"

Shrieking, a powerful blast exploded off Aurelia blasting the ghouls away, crushing hundred of its bone all around. However, what Aurelia truly wanted was to bast its legs away from its body so it could not run or dodge.

Gathering as much Arcana from the air as possible, Aurelia pointed the Eldritch staff towards the Ghoul clawing at the wet Marsh. While it could regenerate legs, such a process required minutes it did not have.

"FIREBOLT FIREBOLT FIREBOLT FIREBOLT"

Making her first firebolt connect to its head Aurelia continued casting till nothing but ash was left. She fell on one knee, gasping for the foul air within the Hallow Marshes. Exhausted, her gaze began to blur, but she continued studying her surroundings with heavy prudence, hoping nothing would find her.

"I need to leave... more could be on its way. Aurelia made a lot of noise." She weakly stated, pushing her body up. Gripping her staff, she tried to gather more Arcana only to fail.

Too tired to focus enough, she could only continue at a slow pace. Pushing one leg in front of the other with the help of her staff, the young warrior continued pushing her mind and heart to their limit. Thinking of the reaper's blade upon her family's neck, she struggled on. Her legs trembling with each step.

Looking down from the clouds, a silver-headed boy lifted his lips, "Anima gift her the Alarm spell. She deserves it after this battle, but she can do more. This is not her limit."

"Affirmative"