Chapter XI - My Spell, The Tower Part 2

They both arrived at a village near the territory of Wrolent, a small and village named Lorgan. This place is new and unexplored by Noah so they decided to go incognito and disguised themselves as ordinary travelers before entering the village.

This village looks peaceful with several people walking down the paths for the morning market and also adventures returning and leaving for their mission went and go.

The pair continued to observe and walked around, trying to find where could they find a place where one could pay for information. Vincent pointed out an inn from the corner, both agreed to eat for the time being as they left the Duchy at night and only had a cup of tea back in the Tower.

"I'm telling you! Those people that crossed the Thorn-less Forest will never come out again!" These two people who were chattering caught the attention of Noah, intrigued they went near the two and began asking.

"Good sirs, May I know the details of your conversation? When did the forest began acting weird?" Noah asked as Vincent went to the counter and ordered their meal, trusting Noah that he can handle the information gathering.

"The Forest was fine a few months ago, but that changed two weeks ago! There was a couple of hunters, strong ones who went through and didn't came back! We waited for them to return but neither noise of shadow were heard." The man said as his companion nodded.'

"That's right, many went in to go look for them but none still returned till this day. Swallowed by the abyss." his companion added.

"Then, did anything strange happen after that?" Noah asked as Vincent came back and sat down beside him.

"You sure bet, three days ago we began hearing sounds from the forest. From sudden earthquake to several trees from the distance began falling down one after another." He said as the other listeners grew quiet.

"We also saw some tall figures walking around the vicinity of the other side of the forest." One listener said. "It's tragic, our recent occupant was a young woman who is kind. She came here a year ago, she planned to make jam out of wild berries but she never came back." one woman said while sighing.

"I also saw some figures jumping around in the dead of night, they only seem to appear in the Forest." Followed by another.

"If you were to journey through the path of Thorn-less forest, the once peaceful and safe journey is now filled with sudden loud growls and hysterical laughter." An middle age woman said.

They both think that it may have a connection to the sudden hole in the barrier and asked for the location of the said forest. The man first refused to answer but he could see that the two people in front of them showed no signs of hesitation nor fear.

"The Thorn-less Forest Forest is located a the End of the village, South-Eat from here. I'm warning you two, don't be reckless. We don't want anymore victims to be included in our list." He said as Noah nodded and smiled.

Vincent lead him to a corner table and they sat down, the food also arrived after them and both decided to fill their stomachs first before planning their next move this evening.

The Forest seemed normal nor does it raise suspicion at first glance. Both of them decided to roam the forest first and wait till dark to camp. They found no traces of a fight and destruction that they found strange as the villagers they saw insisted with such terrified eyes in the inn.

A full moon brightly illuminates the night sky, raised high enough to know that it's already midnight. The two of them are resting in a fire makeshift fire place as Vincent took out a shawl out and a basket of food out of nowhere.

"Now where did you get these?" Noah asked as he laughed, Vincent only averted his eyes as his face blushed. They both settled down and began eating before Noah broke the peaceful silence.

"It's strange that we haven't found a single clue nor body in the forest. He said that there were occasional loud growls coming deep within the forest. But only large beings are capable of such thing, and we haven't found one." Noah said as Vincent listened and added.

"There's also the possibility of something resounding from a cave, but we've searched and found none." Vincent recalled as he surveyed several caves and went inside them to ensure nothing is hidden deep within.

Vincent was about to say something but he soon glared and stood up, his eyes eyeing the direction behind Noah. "Come here Iris." He said as he reached out his hand and grasped Noah's hand. Noah too, reacted and observed the figure approaching.

"Please, help me!" A woman who looked like she was in her mid 20's was running towards them with a look of horror.

"Don't move!" Vincent said. She flinched and stopped on her track. A woman, short brown hair and petite figure. She was breathing heavily as her eyes darted back and fort.

"You really need to help me!" She shouted. Noah and Vincent both looked at each other before Noah spoke.

"Please tell us the problem Miss." He spoke politely.

"There's a crazy man chasing after me!" She said. Both Noah and Vincent were dumbfounded.

"A crazy man, you say?" Noah said while awkwardly laughing.

"Crazy? By what means?" Vincent asked, his tone sharp and demanding.

The woman can't seem t stop looking behind her and began to walk to her left, away from the place she came.

"He's crazy, ever since I first saw him. He seems to be a decent man at first. But he's a huge pervert!" She said, or complained.

"Hey now, I'm not a pervert miss." She backed away when an unknown blond haired man suddenly appeared. Contrast to his bright hair and blue eyes, his clothing were black and trimmed with gold from top to bottom.

"I was just giving you my coat because you skirt has a huge torn from the back. you caught it while picking wild berries." He explained.

The woman was shocked and checked to see if he's saying the truth. She went bright red and began to apologize again and again.

Noah let out a breath of relief while Vincent returned to his stoic appearance while watching the man accept the woman's apology.

"I'm really sorry for accusing you, can I ask your name sir?" She said and asked.

"Sebastien." He replied.

"I'm Evelyn, I'm sorry again sir Sebastien. But may I ask why are you here?" She asked again as Noah began to feel a shift in the air and looked at Vincent.

And as if he realized it, Albert began to look frantically for something, or someone. As i was dark, with only the fire illuminating the clearing, it was thanks to their good eyesight that they even noticed Sebastien tearing up.

"Ari? Ari! Where did you go?!" He shoyted as he was about to ran, a rustling of the bushes stopped his track.

"You are the one who ran off first Seb. It was not my fault you got lost." Another man emerge, his hair was pitch black as he also wore contrasting clothes of White, Gold and Purple. He seemed quiet and reserved.

"Ari! I'm so sorry. I won't do it again." Sebastien immediately appeared in front of him and apologized, he seemed like a lost puppy to Noah's eyes and an annoying person to Vincent.

'Ari' smacked Sebastien's head in annoyance. It seems like the hit was strong and cause Sebastien to kneel down. 'Ari' seemed to remeber something and flinched when he saw Noah, Vincent and Evelyn on the other side, he sighed and composed himself.

Sebastien, who is in the state of kneeling, "Ari! Please hit me more!" Everyone except 'Ari' were taken aback by his sudden masochistic behavior.

"Sebatien, if you do not want to be seperated again, stop this instant." 'Ari' said and Sebastien obeyed quickly.

"Now, I am truly sorry for the inconvenience and commotion this man has bought you. I'm Aurelius, his companion." He introduced himself formally. Noah smiled while Vincent nodded in acknowledgement.

"There's no need to be sorry Sir Aurelius." Noah said as he looked at Vincent, "Oh! Where are my manners, I'm Noah and he is Vincent." He said as he pointed as Vincent.

"This is new, I thought no one will ever cross this forest." Aurelius said as Albert went behind him, hugged him and placed his chin in Aurelius's head. They do have a significant height difference.

"Ah! Perhaps you both know something about the recent rise of missing person's case Sir Aurelius?" Noah asked.

Aurelius looked calm, but confusion was clear when he replied "Missing/ By what do you mean? Everyone has crossed safely." He said.

"Huh? But the vil-" Noah's words were cut off by the sudden tremors in the ground. All of them alert, they quickly went to see the problem. They didn't need to observe far away as a large being suddenly emerged behind the trees, the being looks terrifying and hideous, towering over them.

"Noah, could this be...?" Vincent asked quietly as he pulled and hid them both behind the nearest tree.

"I think this being is the one responsible from the report." Noah said as they agreed to take it down.

"I'll support you Vince, you attack." Noah said as Vincent nodded and pulled out his sword, following that was a layer of strong violet colored mana surrounding the blade.

Vincent ran and leaped through the trees as he felt the spells Noah cast onto him came one by one, [Speed, Shield, Strength and Levitation] This was the ability other mages covet , Noah can cast multiple spells on a person without said person blowing up nor crushing to death by wrong incantation and rune.

"Cut off it's ability to move Vince, I need to send that back to the Tower." A voice came by Vincent's head as he finally saw the being near, it smelled horrible and looks like it doesn't even see where they walk through. The voice came from Noah who communicated via bird.

"Don't worry and let out, I've placed a shield over here so fight to your content." He received assurance as he glanced back and saw a faint green shield to where Noah and the other are, he felt relieve as his body let out even more violet man a his eyes and sword glow brighter.

"I won't hold back." Vincent said before he rushed towards the being as he willed his mana to grow long and soon cut off the beings left arm. The being let out an ear piercing cry that was cancelled by Noah's barrier.

The being soon saw or felt Vincent's mana and began to attack him, using it's body and formed a spear like structure from it.

"Ho? you know how to make a weapon?" Vincent said as the spear continued to try and skewer him but this being was far weaker than Vincent imagined.

"I'll just leave you head and torso." He mumbled as he saw that the limbs he cut off were not growing back as he leaped through a tree again and cut off the right arim.

"I suppose playing with you was fun, you just have to ruin my ime with Iris." Vincent mumbled again as he cut of the spear with a single flick from his sword from where he stood up on top of a tall tree.

"This is child's play, maybe Iris can use some barriers to seal your scent. The mages in the tower will probably puke from all this cursed man." he said with as smile as he gaze at the bird who is perched on his head.

"This being is probably a pain if they all attack in numbers, they're weak but combined with numbers, size and knowing hot to make a weapon plus this stench is gonna give your brother a headache." He said as he went down and sliced through both the legs of the being and ran towards where Noah was standing.

"I'll seal it and send it to Reginald, he knows what to do." Noah said as the barrier went down and went towards the limbless being currently on the ground like a giant boulder.

"KYAHHH!" Evelyn screamed as a being emerged from behind her that no one noticed and began to attack, Noah was far away with Vincent and finishing the seal.

"Run away!" Noah said as he shot out a blast of fire to prevent the spear from the being to skewer Evelyn, this bought time for Evelyn. The being then proceed to attack Sebastien and Aureius as another being emerged behind Noah and Vincent.

"Get away from here!" Noah said before he shot a barrier towards Vincent and the two strangers. But now, there's another being that appeared behind Sebastien and Aurelius.

"Behind you!" Noah shouted as another one showed behind Vincent and next to the limbless being.

'Where did they come from?!' Noah shouted in his head.

But just then, when the two beings near Sebastien and Aurelius both attack them, the beings spears were ripped to shreds.

Noah and Vincent were shocked, there Aurelius was hugging Sebastien with his neck bare while Sebastien's ;eft arm was wrapped around tightly around Aurelius's waist. But his face was in Aurelius's neck as his right hand revealed a blood red sword.

Vincent took care of the limbs of the two beings behind him and Noah quietly as Noah's eyes were looked firmly on the two figure.

Sebatien's face was finally in view as he licked Aurelius's neck, the corners of his mouth has blood dripping down as his fangs were visible with the cold smile he has. His eyes were cold and were directed to the beings who dare attack them.

"How dare you try and lay your filthy hands on my love!" He said in a very cold tone. Aurelius cupped his face and kissed Sebastien, not caring to have his own blood smeared on his lips.

"Control your temper Seb." He said as he rested his head towards Sebastien's neck, this futher calmed him as he eyed the beings. "Well, should we kill these bastards that awoke us?" He asked with a smile, "Kill them." Aurelius mumbled enough for him to hear.

With a smile, Sebastien levitates and drew his blood red sword. "Your words are my command, Ari."