Chapter 16. Explanations.
Eros gazed fearfully into the thicket of the forest. From behind the trees, a four-meter creature slowly emerged, covered with bruises and wounds ...
"Macaque!" - joyfully exclaimed in his mind Eros, - "I will live!"
The volcano slowly approached the boy's body and lifted him into his arms.
- The cub is alive, - the creature said with relief, - We must leave, it's dangerous here.
Having collected all the forces that remained in the body, Eros was able to give out only one word.
- City…
- Okay, - he slowly began to make his way through the dense thicket ...
An hour later, they move closer to the border of the forest.
- The city ... - Vulcan looked at Eros, but he was already asleep and could not answer. The creature did not understand what to do, because if he left the cub here, then the creatures nearby could gnaw him, and if he took him to the city, they would not listen to him, but immediately kill him.
At that moment, he heard the leaves rustled and five magicians came out into the clearing.
"Monster," the girl-magician said briefly, aiming her staff at Vulcan, but the next moment, her eyes filled with shock, "He has a child in his hand!
- Damn monster! I decided to kidnap the child and eat it ?!
- No, I'm a friend ... - Vulcan tried to justify himself, but the magicians did not listen to him and quickly surrounded him. Perhaps earlier it would not have been difficult for him to escape, but now he was badly wounded, and the cub in his arms was much worse. It was very dangerous to make sudden movements with him in hand.
- Of course friend! So we believed you! One of them chuckled, aiming his staff at the monster.
- Let's kill him, try not to hook the child!
The five nodded at the same time, and when they were about to attack, a powerful pressure descended on the clearing and they simultaneously lost consciousness. Only the monster remained on its feet, was shaking all over, but because of the body of Eros, he could not escape.
An old man of short stature came out of the bushes, with gray hair growing only from the outer edges of the head and a large mustache. Dressed in orange pants and a jacket, and on his head he had a cap with stripes in blue and orange.
Makarov at this moment experienced a strong sense of déjà vu.
- How could this happen, - the shocked old man whispered, seeing the boy's crumpled state, as well as the marks from the claws on his chest, but only one trace of them, he immediately realized what kind of monster it was, - What was such a creature doing on the edge of the forest ?
The volcano could not move, from the feeling of fear that gripped him, because he met another human monster.
- Thank you for taking him out of the forest, then I will take care of him myself, - Makarov said with a sigh, taking Eros' body from the hands of Vulcan, he did not have time to notice.
The creature had no choice but to nod and go into the forest.
- Stupid child…
***
As soon as Eros regained consciousness, he immediately felt a sharp pain in his chest.
- Don't move, - Polyushka's stern voice sounded that she was sitting not far away on a chair and reading some book, - You have almost all your ribs, so you won't be able to get up for at least another two months.
- For a long time ... - with a sigh, said Eros, - And it cannot be accelerated, I just cannot lie so much time ...
- Not!
- Eh ...
- Don't sigh here, - the old woman said angrily, - You almost died, and if the claws went even a couple of centimeters into the depths, you wouldn't be lying here.
- I know.
- If so, then sit still and get well.
- Yes, auntie.
- Who did you call that aunt ?!
A week later, Gildarts, who had returned from the assignment, dropped in to see him, with two black eyes under his eyes.
- Yo!
- Hello teacher, - seeing the smirking face of the magician, Eros wanted to smack him well, he was very sorry that he could not move now, - How is the task?
- Everything is fine, just came back and decided to look at you, - he sighed, sat down on a chair, - How are the wounds? Gildarts asked in a more serious voice.
- It's better, Polyushka said that it will be another two months for me.
- Clear.
- Teacher, - began Eros in a serious voice, - Have you found out the reason why this creature appeared on the outskirts of the eastern forest?
After the question, Gildarts froze, then slightly embarrassed looked away.
- This is… He is from the Dark Forest.
- As? What is it like?
- Well ... It's already my fault.
In the next moment, a terrible guess came to Eros's head, which he immediately wanted to confirm.
- Is it because the floor of the forest was destroyed?
- Indeed, all the creatures scattered around the area, most of them moved to the Eastern Forest, but don't worry, eighty percent have already been destroyed by the monsters from the Eastern Forest.
- I see, - Eros nodded thoughtfully, - The monsters from the Dark Forest entered the territory of the monsters from the East and they did not tolerate it.
- Yes, - Gildarts replied with a heavy sigh, - You don't have to worry, that bear, this is only an isolated case, he accidentally wandered into that place after his entire colony was killed.
- So the Eastern Forest also has its own monsters from monsters ...
- They are everywhere, but they will not attack peaceful people.
- Why? The Titan asked in surprise.
- The "Non-Aggression Pact" signed between the King of the Beasts of the Eastern Forest and the King of Fiore in 569.
- This is the first time I've heard about this, - said Eros in shock.
- This is normal, because only the strongest of this world know about this treaty, - Gildarts replied with a slight smile, - And only in Era there is data about this, but only a few can get access to them, this list includes the Chosen of God, the Magic Council, the chapters guilds that have proven their loyalty, the Royal Family, as well as powerful people not included in any of the above lists.
- I don't see the logic why it's impossible to tell everyone about this, but okay, but what is the essence of this agreement?
- Basically, this is a prohibition to leave the Eastern Forest for monsters above the A-rank, but if some magician enters the territory of the Eastern Forest, then this rule no longer applies.
- That is, if I just go into the forest, then a monster of A-rank or higher can attack me at any moment? - narrowing his gaze, Eros looked at Gildarts, he was slightly taken aback by this look, - You still want to kill me, right "teacher"?
Gildarts' face flushed with anger as he understood what had been said.
- What the hell are you talking about! - Eros was surprised to see the magician's reaction, he just wanted to joke a little, but apparently made it only worse.
Gildarts is currently feeling intense guilt over everything that has happened. If he then restrained himself and did not begin to destroy the forest, then this situation would not have happened and his student would not lie in such a grave condition.
In fact, Gildarts returned to the guild a week ago, a day late. And when he found out about what had happened, first of all he ran to Makarov, to find out the boy's condition, but was beaten by him, and then to Polyushka, where he received two of his fingals. After the magician learned that Eros was alive, but in serious condition, he personally walked through the entire forest and destroyed all the monsters from the Dark Forest. Even the self-proclaimed King of Beasts of the Eastern Forest did not interfere with the angry magician and for a while, all monsters of A-rank and higher were summoned to the center of the Eastern Forest.
- Sorry, I just wanted to joke ... - with a sense of guilt, said Eros.
- You, too, excuse me, over the past few days I did not get enough sleep, that's not myself, - trying to laugh as usual, said Gildarts, - As for the monsters, they will not attack if you do not enter their territory, so do not worry about this.
Seeing the beaten state of the always cheerful magician and realizing that the man was very worried all these days for him, he felt warmth in his chest.
- Okay, I'm tired, I'll go, take a little rest, and you get well, - getting up from the chair, he walked towards the exit.
- Thank you teacher.
- Come on, we'll continue in two months, - With a wave of his hand, Gildarts left the room.
"Still, I got the best teacher that can be found and I need to justify his expectations, which means that you can't chill, even now ..." - closing his eyes, Eros began to spread magical power throughout his body and release from all the time absorbing the ether that was in the air.
In the next moment, Eros's eyes opened sharply and there was only one shock in them.
"My magicka has become at least twice as large, what the hell ?!" - Having calmed down, he began to remember what happened during these days that made this indicator jump so much, - "Stop! I remember that in some book there was a theory that the physical state of the body also affects the magical power. That is, if the magician is very strong physically, but there is little magic, then the vessel, which is the repository of ether in a person, becomes larger in order to become comparable in level with it. This means that if I am now physically equal to a B-rank magician, then I must have approximately the same amount of magic to equal the B-rank ... Damn! What a lack of knowledge, it was necessary to study more books on this topic! " - sighing, Eros closed his eyes again, - "Okay, I'll deal with this when I get healed, and now I will continue according to the same plan ..."
While the titan plunged headlong into his training, a satisfied Gildarts watched him through the crack in the door.
- What is the teacher, so is the student, - with a sigh, the displeased Polyushka grumbled, - Even in such a terrible state, he tries to become stronger.
- Hey, we are completely different.
- I cannot but agree, he will be smarter than some, - with a mockery looking at Gildarts, she said, laughing slightly, - Remember how many times a month you came to me? Like five or ...
- Six times maximum, and then, only in the first year, - the magician muttered displeasedly, - But this boy is simply terribly talented.
- You are right, I have no doubt that before you have time to look back, he will surpass you.
- Yes, but I will only be happy if it happens.