Hidden threat

René already seemed in a better state than before, white bandages wrapping up his whole left torso.

He stood together with Alf near the Monster, discussing if they should take something from it, as a proof they had slewn it.

"It surely even has a core in its head. Imagine what kind of crystal that would be from this creature."

"Then we would have to take the head with us. I mean, look at it. There is barely anything left. How do you want to safely transport it. And even then, due to the explosion its core could have been destroyed, and all we'd do is defile the corpse."

"Then why not check right here if something is in there? Crack it open like a nut. And that wouldn't be defilement, only another security measure." Sophia suggested unfaced, giving Leon and Mikael a glance as they came over, Mark between them.

Meri was chewing on the root Mikael gave her, careful not to accidentally swallow it.

Her expression suggested that the bitterness was not fading, as every other second her face showed the taste.

"Don't think we are able to do such delicate work. Extracting a core is no easy task. It's not like a ball just sitting in there. That thing is a vital part for it to invoke magic, something like a brain, a organ. Connected to everything, it is like you would dissect game, only to cut the gut, spoiling the meat. And this thing we talking about is a small container of raw energy. A wrong cut, and just like that..." René snapped his finger, followed by his hands unfolding and spreading out, picturing an explosion.

"Then why didn't it do so as I had to kill it? I mean, between the bomb and my strike there is basically no chance it could be intact." Mikael asked, carefully lowering Mark down, so Alf could take a look. He had more expertise in the field of medicine than them, so a opinion of him should be valuable.

"Hey, all I can say is from the three books I've read and some tales I heard.

From what old Doris said to me in a fit of joy, the core when the creature is alive or, in our case artificially reanimated, it is stronger, durable like a diamond and almost indestructible. She guessed it is because the mana courses through it all the time and stuff. Don't remember that well. But when dying, the mama begins to return to Mother earth, the core looses its purpose, so it becomes fragile like a glass ball."

"So better no messing with this corpse, got it." Sophia said, regretfully glancing at the body as if just another huge bonus slid through her fingers.

"This was a good procedure with his leg." came Alf's voice from Mark, joining their circle. "And that you had a Kanaris root on hand also helps out Meri greatly.

I wouldn't have done otherwise. Now we only need to return fast. In his state if he doesn't get professional healers attention, it may be possible for him to remain crippled."

He looked around their round, all with bigger or smaller wounds himself included.

"At least we are all still breathing, and only with flesh wounds. No infections or lost limbs. Considering this nightmare of a derailed mission, I'd consider this outcome acceptable."

'An understatement. We thought only to hunt a single powerful enemy, not hordes of Undead and an further evolved monster.' Mikael added, but not wanting to dampen their mood.

This job was taken over by René.

He had previously closed his eyes again. First Mikael guessed he had to rest, but after a while he felt a force retracting, the center being their leader.

"We need to start on your lessons soon. I don't now why, but despite not refining your skills, your aura leaks out too much." He whispered to Mikael, before raising his voice to inform the others.

"I think I have some news that I need to share. While fighting and observing our surroundings constantly, together with the information you got from scouting I made a theory. I'm around 80 percent confident that our big boy here wasn't the bad guy."

As he told that, he got wide eyes from nearly everyone, and the sound of Meri spitting out the root fitted the situation perfectly.

"How is this monster not the bad guy? If he isn't, which one is it? And does that mean we wasted our time, health and resources in vain?" Herald questioned. He held his forehead as if he got a headache, fiddling with the feathers of his arrow.

"This monster was certainly our only enemy back then. If there had been more, they could have easily wiped us out." Leon mentioned.

"You misunderstood me. Yes, this monster was a threat, an enemy we had to take down. But still. I questioned myself if an evolution so extreme to a necromancer beast could be accomplished in a mere week. Too many variables need to be fulfilled and special events happen. It just is very, very unlikely. So the idea is: when our guides here made it retreat, the damage was greater than they thought, and either nearly or fully took its life. Another thing, I think of that hunter you found, may have resurrected it, and all the other monsters."

"Then we deal here with a very strong necromancer that hid himself for quite some time. Maybe a lich? An army like we encountered can't be raised in weeks. They had to prepare them for some time." Alf spoke out loud.

"Then why do we even speak so openly about it. When it catches us talking about it, we could be screwed!" Sophia hissed, lowering her voice as if that would help.

"I certainly don't want to deal with a freaking Lich. That was by no means our target here! Not that we should have been involved at all here!"

"I think Mr. René made sure we aren't snooped on." Mikael calmed her down.

"Right. In the vicinity of about 1 1/2 kilometers there isnt anything that resonated with my mana. And if that lich is so powerful it can escape my search, we wouldn't sit here, and certainly not taken out so many of its forces. But I'd like to get back fast nonetheless. If my theory is correct, we need more people, mages and hunters, maybe churches forces to clean out this piece of land."

He looked towards Meri who was still weak on her feet, breathing heavily even after their short walk over. Alf and his injured side, Mark laying on the ground, unconscious. All of their tired faces, and the child he helped awaken, about to live his live as a apprentice.

"And we are ina bad shape. This mission is a success, as our target is dead."

He took the handle of his long sword, which he had stuck into the ground. Using it as a support, when he stood up he unsheathed it, and in a fluid motion beheaded the already more than dead creature.

Mikael knew it was more than dead, the aura long having faded, but this moment made him ever so slightly twitch.

"To make sure that lich won't try to resurrect it. Can't hurt." he reasoned.

"If anyone needs to do business before we depart, do so now. I'd like to get as far away from here as possible. We won't get very far, but every kilometer is better traveled than not."

After everyone packed their things, salvaged what they could and took ears, teeth and claws that could be exchanged for money, they began their tiring journey back towards Chrysalis. This time Herald led their group. Not having engaged in direct combat, coupled with his eyesight and scouting ability, he silently took the task.

René was at their back, ensuring in case something would creep up on them, he'd take the brunt.

All of them tho were exhausted beyond reason. Leon and Alf carried Mark, who still was knocked out, maybe for his own good. Meri got supported by Sophia, who after getting asked repeatedly reluctantly agreed.

Despite her personality, she wouldn't kick away a sich and injured person. But she nagged here and then, not hindered by her sleepiness.

After the night came and their field of vision worsened René gave the order to set up their camp.

"All who are still on their feet, " he began, as already Sophia, Meri, and Leon sat down, taking out their bottles and food beginning to eat "let us gather some firewood, so we can keep away at leat the mosquitoes and other animals. Mikael, you come with me. Don't wander off alone, understood?"

'Is he going to teach me tonight how to train my mana?' Mikael anticipated.

As they walked away, collecting relatively dry wood and starter, René began to talk.

"You certainly remember, I said when we rest after our fight, I'll begin to show you how to train. Now that your aura got stronger, I want to at least make sure you can somehow hide it. You won't succeed immediately, and certainly won't suddenly begin to hurl fire around. If you manage to mimick some of the stuff you did when awakening, i would consider it a good lesson."

They had gathered each now an arm full of Bin and small pieces of wood, returning to their camp. Meri couldn't keep herself awake, collapsed next to Mark and a blanket thrown over her shoulder.

Herald and Alf came out soon out, too.

"If nothing else positive, at least the absent of monsters makes guarding easier. What are the chances a group of Goblins wander around here?" Alf said, building a cone to start the fire, a stone circle drawing the outline.

Not even 2 minutes later with the help of René and a bit of magic a fire lit up their little camp.

The others began to eat some of their rations, or went straight to sleep as René told them he and Mikael would take the first guard duty.

Mikael grew more and more excited, nearly overcoming his exhaustion. He munched on some dried meat, and took a bit of the strong alcohol Alf brought with him, warming his stomach.

When the others also went to sleep, René sat on the ground, motioning for Mikael to come over.

"Then, let us begin the first lesson."