Chapter 34: First Hunt

Planning is often easier than putting things in actions. Leila and her group have experienced it first hand in this wildlife experience of theirs.

As discussed by the school and the Grandparents of Leila, the adults will only step into crucial situations. And they have been Very faithful with that agreement.

So far in their first hunt such things haven't happened at all. But no matter how tame they wanted it to be worded, it was not a peaceful affair at all. Ryan could testify how rough the whole thing was.

"Ryan you've stepped into a Night Bane again." Leila said as she assessed her teammate's condition. She then glanced to the offending flora that caused this whole thing. "I remember quite well that I have already taught you all about the difference of the poisonous herbs and the cautionary measures against them."

Night Banes are native poisonous plants of this province. It looks like an unsuspecting weed at first glance with only it's purple to reddish stems as it's remarkable feature. But the second it is moved by a certain amount of force it releases a type of toxin that causes some rashes and numbness when in contact with the skin on light cases and death on the worst case.

The said plant can be found anywhere and with proper dosage it is used in medicine, especially as an anesthesia. But to use it in medical application, it needed some thorough preparation and necessary documents to be able to be allowed to utilize them.

It's name originated from its first recorded victim and it's nefarious history. It was said that on a certain day of the aged past, a resentful lover extracted its juices and mixed it into a glass of wine before giving it to her victim. A tale of revenge and love, but it presented the first real record of how dangerous the herb is. Tasteless and colorless, a perfect revenge gift to one's enemy.

When ingested, depending on the amount it takes a very long time before it will take effect. First it will poison the bloodstream then affects the liver and the nearest organs. Over time it will make the person look dispirited like their spirit is slowly being spirited away by the veil of the night.

Usually poisoned person is asleep when it kills making them never see the day ever again. Their death looks almost natural save for a few traces that once made people of the past deem it as a sickness instead of a poisoning case. For years it was thought so making the culprits scott free from their crimes until the recent century.

In the wild, Night Banes are also poisonous to animals and beasts alike. They altogether avoid them. A cluster of them in an area is the most safest and the most dangerous place to be.

"It's the third time you have stepped on this type of plant. Should you be any more 'luckier', paralyzing is the least you will have."

Ryan is in a very messy state. His clothing had some tears here and there and his skin is full of minor scratches. Furthermore his head was decorated with various leaves and dirt that Leila was not even sure if a single bath would thoroughly fix the guy's appearance. The worst part is he can't move a single muscle anywhere on his body.

The boy's eyes glittered a hazy mist. He also didn't want to be this miserable you know?! He did his best but Lady luck had been striking him ever since they arrived in this province.

The first time he stepped into a Night Bane made his whole body itch. The second time made him all numb. And now the latest one he cannot move his whole body.

Maybe the only thing that really puts the boy in a more thankful position was that they haven't encountered a hard to handle beast. So far they only saw some docile animals which they have placed some traps for.

"I'll carry you for now." Khelly said as she effortlessly threw the rather fleshy boy on her shoulders. She remarks that the boy weighed at least like the huge jar that her family stores in their pickles.

Somehow her casual remarks hurt the boy more than his current predicament. First in the whole journey he had been either trying to grasp the workings of this wilderness survival thing or being incapacitated because of some herbs or bites. The only good thing for him was that they are ready to use remedies and treatments that lessens or removes the bad effects of whatever toxicity affects him.

He's a boy for goodness's sake! He is being carried by a girl! And the said girl even has the nerve to compare his weight with her family's pickle jar! His pride cannot take it at all!

"Say how long will he stay in this state." Khelly said as she mentally recited the steps on how to cure Ryan using an unusual method of practically using Mana.

Grandpa Rodleo taught them the first time Ryan stepped into a Night Bane. It's a very odd way of magic as this type of usage is often not looked favorably in the city. Something about intrusive and invading reasons.

But in face of imminent danger for their lives, who cares about it being frowned upon? Everyone wants to live and as long as it won't harm them these things are more useful than what they were taught to. So Khelly and Ryan did their best to learn the technique.

Lucky for Khelly she had a first hand experience due to a live guinea pig available( Ryan: I'm not a pig!). So the girl by the hour is more or less skillful in using it.

Checking the boy's vitals and the flow of Mana circulating his body, Leila estimates that it will take at least thirty minutes for him to be able to move again. The only problem lies in the discharging method. The fastest way is to make him urinate all at once. And the other which is more convenient but time consuming is to make him sweat.

The first one is out of question. They will not rely on that. Although Grandpa Rodleo can accompany the boy to do his business, it's not good to leave the girls alone. Not because they're weak or anything, it's just that they have more comfort having everyone in their line of sight.

So they can only manually move the boy's arms or legs now that he is immobile and make him drink a lot of water while continuously circulating mana to protect his innards and push the poison out. Very meticulous and inconvenient, but necessary unless they wanted to ruin someone.

If emergency will arise they can resort to using the inserted mana to hasten the flushing out. Though the aftermath might have some effects, they will try not to resort to this method.

"I never see someone as lucky as you young lad." Grandpa Rodleo said as he saw how overwhelming the girls are on this trio. He doesn't know if it's a blessing or not for all the boys to be subjected to this type of thing.

"I never see someone who jumps into the same hole twice! Though I don't want to call you stupid, it just fits you well enough at this case." The old young man said trying not to hurt the boy's feelings. But really he cannot stop himself from saying it out loud. It hurts his eyes to keep on seeing it in front of him.

Grandpa Rodleo is the one who followed these three while Rebecca and his wife stayed in the camp to help out the two who remained there.

Being stationary is more dangerous than moving all over. So most adults are concentrated there. Because even if the locals deem that area a safe place to stay, the forest as a whole is very dangerous.

"This is also my first time seeing someone like him grandpa." Leila said as she led them to a clearing. They need to find a relatively secure area to await the toxins to be flush out. "He is the worst person I have ever accompanied in the wilderness. Even my younger cousin is more capable in surviving in this terrain. And that child doesn't even have mana in his body!"

Hearing it out from the pair, Ryan felt a stab in his heart and pride. He laments that he can't even measure to a mana less child in surging in the wild. He questions himself if he is only a burden in this team of his.

"Ah little Philip. That little guy is a very resilient child. I remember accidentally leaving him alone for a day and night in the vicinity of Lake Lola. He survived the night and even had the energy to give me a lively welcome when I found him." Grandpa Rodleo said fondly as he pictured the welcome he received from his grandson back then.

"Really he survived a day and night there? He had grown stronger if he really did." Leila was impressed as she heard the tale of her cousin's feats. Though she knew that the welcome her grandfather meant was actually the boy trying to land a hit to take revenge for leaving him. That guy holds his grudges well enough to try to extract revenge the soonest he can.

"Well not as good as you..."

The grandfather and granddaughter had a conversation about many things, effectively not paying attention to the mortified pair of boy and girl. Though they seem very casual, they are in fact very cautious and they only need a moment to change their stance into a fighting one. Especially when two had their hands in their weapons as they conversed.

As the two were talking about anything and everything, as if they were catching up, various tidbits about Leila's life were exposed just like that. Just by that few exchanges they came to know about some glorious deeds that they didn't expect their resident Magic tyrant.

Khelly was administering her mana to elevate the effects of the toxics out from Ryan's body. She was keeping an ear to the conversation that the elder and child is exchanging to get some useful information about the area. Indeed she heard incredible things and precious info, only she didn't expect Leila's capabilities in this type of matters.

Although Khelly knows how capable her friend is, she can't help thinking that haven't know the other well enough. But she's more motivated to do well. It lit a fire inside of her that she is more than willing to nurse to burn even more.

Ryan on the other hand is more certain that his days ahead are very miserable. All he knew is that it was only Khelly and Harvey who possesses abnormal strengths and Leila is more than the brain of the group. But hearing that this normally tranquil classmate once took down a bear single handedly, he really questioned how he boarded this pirate ship.

But somehow they are quite thankful to know that they are blessed with such capable people. And was furthermore more happy that she didn't really have any interest in handling their group more than she is required to. If not, when they decide to be a little disobedient, a little naughty or a little playful they will live for another day if she exhibits her skills on them.

A few minutes came by and Ryan was able to move again. Although a little sluggish, he can now do his best again. Only this time Grandpa Rodleo is keeping a closer eye on him in case a similar incident will happen again. They cannot afford to lose more time on him being incapacitated for a second time.

"Leila what are we going to hunt today?" Khelly asked Leila who until now still hasn't told them of their objectives.

"Hmm considering it's both your first times I would like it if we hunt a boar, but let's settle with a deer or something similar. Though rabbits are good choices too. It's just that I feel it's a waste of opportunities if we target those animals, so I decided on larger herbivores." Leila answered as she noted to herself that her companions are not exactly the same as her. They cannot just target a bear and not suffer repercussions due to not being skilled and strong enough.

"Thank goodness." Ryan sighs as he hears the ones they will hunt for the day.

The boy is afraid that they'll go to the big guys directly. From what he inferred with the tales he heard during the period he was immobilized, these pairs of elder and child have no problems taking down vicious beasts alone. He knew that in comparison to them, they simply cannot charge to such creatures least they wanted to die. He is speaking especially for himself as he admits to be the weakest in the whole group.