Poll ended. Short poll, I know, but half of the average readers read chapter 2, and I promised to release chapter 3 today. Results of the poll: I will use both styles for dialogue, Help will be using messages to communicate with Mana. To those who want to see more of help, it will play a bigger role a few chapters from now, but the current focus is Mana/Quintus/ the Cabbal's. Also, a little remainder: look at the forum from time to time. So, here it is, chapter 3.

“Hey.. I'm sorry, I know that this is not a good moment.. but if you do nothing, the beast that's approaching is going to slaughter you. Grab the sword!”

But Quintus did not react to Mana's words. He was still lying there, sadness had left his face, but so had all other emotion.

(well, this ain't good.. another one of these wolves.. yep, the sword is useless anyways so..)

Before Mana could act, Quintus suddenly sprinted towards the wolf. The wolf was also confused for a short time, but it quickly reclassified this “prey” as “enemy”. Dodging the wolf's claws, Quintus jumped, lading on the wolf's back. Using his arms to choke the wolf, his legs to stabilize himself, the wolf was unable to attack Quintus in this position. However, the strength in Quintus arms did not suffice to let the wolf suffocate. The wolf became furious, but was unable to shake of Quintus. Then it sat down, moving it's hind legs as if to scratch itself, but that was nothing but a deadly attack directed to the annoying person holding onto its back.

Noticing the danger, Quintus jumped of, but the wolf had anticipated this moment. But so had Mana. And when the wolf opened its maw to bite after Quintus, a small dagger made from a beast's claw entered it's throat.. it was the same weapon that had killed the other wolf, the dagger Quintus always carried with himself.

You have slain a level 15 tier 3 magical beast. 7500 exp earned.

(whew.. I almost died there.. like literally)

“So.. it looks like this situation isn't going to get better if we stay here, so before doing anything else, how about making a run for it?”

Quintus looked around, his eyes found the location his fathers sword was lying, he picked it up and then walked away, towards the river. That river went through all of the southern half of the forest, and fueled the small lake that gave his tribe it's name. It was a deep, cold, slow and clear stream. He jumped right in, with all of his clothes. And after the blood had been washed of to a certain extend, he got out of the river again.

“So.. did the cold water return your senses to you?”

“Who are you?”

“What? Don't tell me something like you lost your memories!”

“No. Who or what are you. And don't tell me you are a spirit that's possessing my father's sword.”

Quintus seemed calm. Considering the situation he was in, far too calm.

“Eh, so I've been found out? Well, not like I ever actually told you that I'm a spirit possessing your fathers blade, you just went and assumed that on your own. Hmm.. what am I? Don't really know that myself. All I know is that I can do this-

The dagger started floating around. Then, a stone followed the daggers example.

-and that I seem to be stuck with you for whatever the reason may be. The fact that I exist is what's keeping you from using mana. But there's nothing I can do about that. Also, I know a lot of stuff. But concerning what I am.. well, I guess calling me a part of you would be somewhat accurate.”

The stone that had been floating around started to crumble as a face was carved into it with the floating dagger.

“I guess this will make it easier to talk with each other. So, now that you know what I am, what are you going to do?”- the stone said.

“Why.. did you try to save my mother?”

“Hey, I knew how she could be saved, so I obviously wouldn't just let her die! She also, in a certain way, was my mother you know? ... I guess you could call me your sister?”

...

“Why didn't you show yourself earlier?”

“Well, first it was because I was unable to speak. And when I learned how to do it, I had already listened to the stories of spirits alongside you. I knew pretty well just how I would be treated. Even if our parents wouldn't have told anyone, one day, one mistake.. I didn't want to be responsible for something like that. But when Elsia was nearing death..”

Quintus rapt into thought. This spirit clearly was not possessing a specific object. For it to be the one to control his mana, it only made sense. But in that case.. wasn't it the one to blame for... no. Prejudice and the fact that this spirit was easy to take “revenge” upon by killing himself would not cloud his judgment. He knew very well just who was responsible.

...

“What's your name?”

“Well.. you can call me Mana. Or perhaps, I could be your sister?”

“Mana, there is one thing I have to ask you.. how did you feel when.. you saw that they had killed her?”

“Hmm.. I was angry. But I wouldn't dare to compare it to how you must have felt. Probably because of what I am, I can't feel hatred or sorrow, or deep affection. I regret that I couldn't save her, and I'm still angry at the Caball family, but never would I go as far as to risk my life to get revenge.”

“So.. that's how it is..”

Then Quintus simply collapsed.

(sigh.. he must have been forcing himself..)

“Good morning! Ehm.. as you probably can smell and see, the situation around here has gotten.. quite problematic.”

Forming a semicircle with a radius of roughly ten meters around Quintus and the river, corpses of dozens of magical beast were lying on the ground. One had coincidentally noticed Quintus, and after Mana killed it, attracted by the scent of blood, as there wasn't even the slightest hint of a strong beast, others followed. This vicious cycle had let Mana fight until she was almost out of mana to use, even after reaching level 2 from the experience she earned. However, magical beast possessed basic intelligence, and the newcomers knew how to interpret the many corpses around the sleeping boy, giving Mana some respite.

“They are not attacking?”

Quintus had immediately readied his father's sword.

“No, it looks like they are scared of you. Rather, me. The problem is, we are now effectively encircled by magical beast, and have nowhere to run when one that's strong enough to not be scared comes.”

Escaping through the river was not an option. It might be considered as a sign of weakness, and would most likely change the current aptitude of the many beast around them. Even swimming with the stream, some of the beasts would be faster than them. The crowd grew larger and larger, but the beast had come for the food, they would not start a fight among each other. They kept their distance, but from time to time one of the beasts would close in to take a bite of one of the many corpses. They did not leave, it was almost as if they were waiting for something.

“Honestly, I wonder just what's going on..”

A small beast was being grilled over a campfire. Given their position, they had access to water and food. But how long could this situation last? The answer came in form of a humongous magical beast. All other beast made way for it, with what seemed to be a mixture of fear and respect. Standing roughly 4 meters tall, it looked like the werewolf version of the “Iron wolf”.

“Well, it was nice to know you... just kidding. Let's do our best to stay alive?”

(Attacking it's fur probably is futile.. but.. this is organic material containing chunks of solid iron right? In this case...)

It stood in front of Quintus, but it did not attack. It seemed as if it was saying “you first”.

“It looks like it's challenging us to a duel? I'm going to create an opening. I beg you, make use of it, or we're doomed.”

(well.. time to use the first component of Mana conversion.)

Suddenly the wolf's throat began to glow in an ever brighter red. The thick hair took fire, and the chunks of metal within fell to the ground. In the very same instant, Quintus began his charge towards the wolf. But the creature jumped, landing 8 meters behind Quintus. However, instead of attacking, it jumped straight into the river, extinguishing the fire that had been spreading from its throat.

(if only I'd have had more time to regenerate.. I wont be able to do much more than this. Using heat conversion directly on its body is impossible, so I have to heat the air around it.. and if it moves away that's useless.. using telekinesis to hold down such a large and strong creature consumed all of my reserves.. sorry that I wasn't able to hold it down longer..)

The wolfs throat was now visibly exposed. However, that weakspot was still guarded by humongous claws and teeth. The southern lake clan's swordstyle relied on the elves high agility to dodge or deviate attacks and cut the opponents sinews in quick, fluid moves to cripple, and slicing the throat was the default way to kill an opponent. But.. how was one supposed to evade a “weapon” half a meter broad? How could the incredible force it carried be “deviated” by someone like Quintus?

Quintus ran away from the werewolf, towards the encirclement of weaker beasts..

the werewolf, understanding his opponent was fleeing, jumped after him..

Quintus instantly turned around, diving towards the wolf who was still in midair..

“Man.. this thing is incredibly heavy.. hey, you alright? Course you are.. well, those broken bones probably hurt like hell.. but hey, you're still alive! Honestly, this move was incredibly risky. If it had guarded against your sword, we'd be dead now. But you managed to stab trough it's throat. And then got crushed under its body.. but the injuries this caused weren't fatal, that's close to a miracle you know?”

Quintus was injured to the point he was unable to move. But the many beasts around him didn't attack him. Rather, they looked at him with what seemed to be respectful gazes, as if to memorize his appearance.

“I had to wait till my MP were full again until I was able to lift this thing. Hmm.. none of your injuries is lethal, but you'll be unable to move for a while.. I guess I'll have to take care of you during that time..”

Quintus's sword began slicing pieces of the meat of the nearby dead beasts. Those were then heated until they could be considered to be cooked to medium.

“Say ahhh.. nah, no need, just open your mouth.”

(his head remained undamaged because it was between the area of the wolf's jaw and chest.. so he should still be able to eat.. but his legs won't be usable for some time.. I should apply splints to the broken areas.. I need something to make them..)

“There's no need for you to feed me..”- Quintus said, grabbing for the piece of meat. It flew outside of his reach.

“Say stuff like this after you're able to move again. Now open your mouth..”

He was neither prey nor predator. He was king. That was how Quintus status could be described among the magical beast of “his” part of the forest. He had defeated their old ruler, who had favored the iron wolves, which in turn were able to grow stronger than the other beasts, and now many beasts were fighting for his favor. To prevent the strong iron wolves from monopolizing the possible “tributes”, the other beasts started to gang up on them. With the death of the “iron werewolf”, the balance of powers had been completely messed up. But for Quintus and Mana, this brought nothing but benefits.

“Eh, you guys again? This plant has a healing effect right? There's no need for those anymore, I'm perfectly fine, thanks to you guys.”

“Hey! Aren't you forgetting someone?”

“But didn't you just do it to save yourself?”

...

“Alright, I'm just kidding. Thanks.”

For Quintus, over the past months, the creatures of the forest had become his new “family”. It was the type of family in which one would kill each other on a daily basis, but thus was the law of nature, the weak would become food for the strong. Death was the source of all life, this was the lesson Quintus had learned from this place.

(his condition really has improved a lot, both physically and mentally.. but if this keeps going on, he'll spend the rest of his life in this forest.. that's no way to grow up, now is it.. also, it'd be boring as heck)

“Quintus.. there is something I'd like to request from you.”

“What is it Mana?”

“I wondered if we could leave this forest.”

“No.”

“You.. you've still not given up on that matter?”

“I will avenge my mother.”

“Last time I checked, they had a daughter. What if she ends up like you? .. no, I understand the reason you won't stop. But.. while the other two assisted him, the one to blame is Eamon. The other two seemed to have at least a hint of elvity left in them. If.. you happen to get a chance to do so, would you settle down with killing only him? ( honestly, all 3 of them is just too risky..)”

...

In the southern lake tribe, there wasn't much that had changed. The only notable event was Carmela Caball's coming of age ceremony. Kaila and Kristan, her parent's, were proud of her. Not only was she a talented archer, she had a good aptitude for learning incantations. “Not truly outstanding, but far above average”, to quote elder Dawid. However, as a member of the Caball family, the aptitude test was not the only test she would have to take. Because even if they had lied to Quitus's family, the task of the medicine family was an important one that had to be taken seriously. In case of a plague, they were what all would rely one to prevent the tribes total annihilation.

To make medicine, one has to be able to gather ingredients. So, as her first test, she would have to gather some medicinal herbs in the forest. While she would have to defend herself against the magical beasts herself, Eamon would save her in case of an emergency. He, as the eldest member of the family, was also tasked with judging her performance. But as to not affect her actions, Carmela had not been told that Eamon would protect her, he would follow her through the shadows.

“That's strange.. according to the books, shouldn't this plant grow around here?”

She had searched in various places already, but the “Three-leaved crimson sun flower” was nowhere to be found. It was a rather common plant, said to help heal fractures, and was used in large quantities to help cure champions whose bones had been broken by their opponent, and fractures in general if one could afford it. One of the clans of the west had developed a style that relied on inflicting such injuries, and their way of rendering the rivaling clan's champion “worthless”, was dealt with by using medicine made from this plant.

She did not want to fail this test. With this mentality, Carmela ventured into the deeper parts of the forest..