Headless Mules - III

Adonai:

I swung my scythe in the closest way to what I thought it's the right movement, and to whatever felt most natural to me. The enemies are brainwashed so there's really no reason to get all worked up about this, but since we have the opportunity to train on basically a target dummy, we might as well try to get the best out of it.

The downside is that our teamwork can't really see improvements in such a scenario. As of right now Stella stays behind and keeps her spell up, although I can see the sweat and the strain it puts on her, she probably runs low on mana. While me and Maverick are guarding her from the front.

We each took a side and the middle is somewhere we meet if needed. But in this case things are going smoothly. I don't really feel my pure mana running low, but if what was said it's true I should have plenty. I kept naturally processing mana into pure mana for a lot of time by now. But I also don't know how much the materializing of the scythe consumes from it.

It certainly doesn't feel like a lot but I need to find the threshold before we go into something more dangerous. Maverick on the other hand is just using magic left and right, a combination of ... a lot of things.

Honestly I can't really tell if he's taking into consideration our safety or not at this moment, but it doesn't matter. We're almost done.

"This is... my limit." Stella said as she collapsed on the ground, sweating profoundly.

Maverick went to her side to check on her while I took care of the beasts that are trying to make left and right after the spell got deactivated.

"How is she?" I said once the battle is over.

"I'm fine, it's just that I exhausted my mana by keeping the illusionary spell up on so many enemies for so long." Stella said. 

While useful she needs to work on her mana pool more, it wasn't a lot of time and they weren't hard enemies either. 

I checked the badge and I saw that our mission has been completed and the rewards have been issued. Which is true, in my bank account I saw the deposit of a new parallax.

And with this our first mission as a team is over.

"We should head back now, the sun will be setting soon. I mean I'm sure this place looks marvelous at night and all but I don't want to risk running into something that doesn't potentially make us any money."

I said to my companions, who agreed. And so we started heading back towards the train station.

"That was easy, wasn't it?" Maverick asked, I'm sure in a more rhetorical way.

Truth to be told, we can't let this get in our head. We can't risk a misstep or arrogance in such dangerous times. The world is still as ugly and depressing as ever, just because we took a win in our path, that doesn't make it sunshine and rainbows.

"We should not let this get in our head. I would like to point out how our teamwork didn't improve really since our quest was so easy, thanks to Stella. Which brings me to my point, I want to congratulate you for your hard work, but at the same time you need to train more. We won't leave you behind but you need a bigger mana pool and also stronger and a more variety of spells. You did good today, but there's still much more to do."

I saw the look on Stella's face going through joy, depression, and then a shyness determination. She knows it is true, she made this easy, which didn't benefit us in the long run, but it's something we should also be thankful for.

"As for you Maverick, well, to be fair this was a great way to assess our capabilities at least to some degree. You're strong, stronger than me so I can't really comment on much, I also don't really know what's going through your head but try showing consideration about your surroundings when you attack."

Maverick took a bit to think about the answer before opening his mouth. "I know what you mean, I got lost in the thrill a bit, and I realized later I could've hurt someone. After all, my range of spells is big and I need to consider the area of effect more."

Good.

"As for myself... I didn't feel my pure mana depleting much, honestly I have a long way to go. And I'm not too optimistic about the road I'm taking. This might get a little bit emotional but bear with me please. We're searching for The Black Parade because they extended to me an invitation... this is a road I choose to walk myself but is it really if I'm going to join a group led by other people? I don't want to lose you like I lost them... Honestly it would be so unbearable and will probably break my already... half broken self."

Maverick and Stella patted me on the back and just smiled.

It's true that I need emotional support, as any human being. The times where if a man would cry that would be a sign of weakness are long gone. But there are still these... teaching engraved in us. 

Sometimes I'm wondering if there truly is free will in this world. It feels like we're walking a predetermined path... if that's the case then what about the decision we've made along the way? Do they amount to something? Do the sacrifices of people, of our closest ones, or the tragedies amount to anything more than pure entertainment for someone else?

But is there entertainment in an already predetermined future? Can 'god' see it? If yes then why go through this... the answer should be obvious yet...

"YOU PIECE OF SHIT!"

As I was contemplating my inner, deepest thoughts, a battle cry from the distance could be heard... that direction is where the Cleidsman group went.

"Should we go check it out?" Maverick asked.

Honestly I have to stay true to myself. "I don't think so, I don't see the merit in us doing it... it's a mission they picked so they should carry it by themselves."

Stella looked at me a bit furious, while Maverick was still in the middle of the two choices we had. But I already knew which side he would pick so... god fucking democracy.

We rushed to the direction the scream came from... and what we saw when we rechead it was a giant.

A giant mule, at about 20 meters, fat and covered in blood and fire. The blood came down from its neck down to the toes and the fire was spread around its body not only the head... without a doubt this is the pack leader.

Not so far from the mule Maddie was staying on the ground, breathing hard. Her right leg was crushed, blood was running down from top to bottom and it looks like she might not be able to use it again. 

Cleidsman and Madie... They are trying to keep the leader away from their immobilized companion. Cleidsman has a steel sword infused with something that looks like turbulent water... judging from the clouds above the mule head and the heavy rain but the lack of thunder... 

Looks like an incomplete type of storm magic... or maybe he's holding back. And Madie is holding a pair of double shiny black katanas in her hands... and judging by the non usage of spells… so that's why they knew about pure magic, she's a user as well... but these swords look almost... shattered.

"Help them... please!" Stella said with a trembling voice

Maddie saw us and looked like she wanted to say something but considering the amount of blood lost judging by the pool of blood she's standing in... it's thanks to Stella that she could read her thoughts and feelings.

"WRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA" 

A war cry, another one, came from Cleidsman as he launched a tornado towards the enemy. But the mule didn't hesitate and jumped... as surprisingly as that seems the giant mule jumped, covering the tornado in fire from top to bottom, nullifying it.

I drew my weapon, readying myself to enter the battle. Maverick conjured his armor and prepared to launch as well... but we were taken by surprise.

Madie jumped behind the mule and used its tail as a way to propel herself towards the hearth, going full force trying to strike it down... but her katana's were almost shattered... and the mule already showed signs of intelligence.

"Idiot, STOP IT!" Cleidsman shouted but it was too late. 

The pack leader saw it coming and used the same fire breath to counter Madie strike... pushed back by the force of the fire she fell onto the ground, half of her body being burned out... and one of the two swords making up her soul… completely shattered.