The Beastmaster

Guests

Two days have passed after that grueling battle, and I am still adjusting to my new forest life. I’ve devoted the previous days in scouting my surroundings while I try to sleep as least as I can. There were a few plants and herbs that I was able to gather for food, and I started thinking of stockpiling them for emergency purposes.

Afterwards, I tried searching for materials to be used for my shelter, and since I deemed that I must not yet venture deeper into the forest, I have only gathered wood that is found on the perimeter of the riverbank. These chunks of wood are mostly those that have been destroyed along with the fight, with some that I got just because they almost fell off of trees. I tried picking as much as I can find even though the shape and size might not be suitable for building, because I can just use them in creating firewood, though I think I’ll have quite a difficult time finding a source for fire.

Back in the palace, basic magic was all over the place so creating fire and water were common occurrences. Once, I had a magic teacher introduced to me by my mother when I was still adored, he was a Strigon which was known for their proficiency with magic as they are considered descendants of the primordial phoenix. He taught a lot of things ranging from basic lifestyle magic to unique branches like body enhancement magic, elemental magic, and many more. However, this was also the point where I understood that I have an extremely low potential for magic. It was so low that it was almost nothing, I can’t even cast the most basic of spells like creating small sparks of fire or even bubbles of water.

That was also the time when people around me started to create unnecessary rumors. Doubt spread throughout the palace as to why I cannot use magic even though I had primordial blood. And eventually, the news reached my family, that includes my stepmother, who immediately made her move in verifying the claims. I was sure that a number of my attendants were replaced by her in order to monitor and assess if the rumors were true. In the end, she knew the truth and just like a flip of a card, mother’s affection for me turned into disgust and disdain. She rarely visited me after that, and when she does, it’s to check if there are any changes in my capabilities. The look on her eyes as she ‘commanded’ me to invoke different spells were dull, and whenever I fail to cast even the most basic of spells, she would scold me and hit me as if the past were nothing to her.

“Beasts cling to the strong.” These were the words that Leopold, the only one truly cared for me, always said.

“It’s true Leo,” I muttered. “It’s very true. That’s why I’ll be strong, and I’ll make sure to carefully pick those who would follow me and those who don’t.”

Along with my goal, I will also bring justice to Leopold. He who truly cared for me to the point that he sacrificed himself just so that I can even have at least a moment’s time of opportunity to escape however I can. I’ll take that in mind, and it would be for the best if I can find someone as loyal as him here, though I know it’s almost impossible; but even with that, a lot of what I thought was impossible happened before my very eyes, so I cannot entirely eliminate the chances.

I still tried casting fire magic multiple times just in case something happened, enabling me to at do this at least. Yet, it all failed, I kind of expected it but it still leaves a bad aftertaste learning that your weakness is still a weakness. Afterwards, I tried recollecting if there are any kind of plants or plantae that may have an ability related to fire, well there would be so much that would fit the criteria so I reduced that to plants that can create fire.

“Hmm. Redbuds should be fine, but they are too rare, I’ll just go with Eupyromons for now.”

[ Eupyromon. Flowering plantaes that have the characteristic of engulfing itself in flames when it senses danger. They are usually harvested for basic necessities because of their particular ability. They are common monsters that can be found in places rich in sunlight. ]

I brought with me some pieces of wood and started searching out for eupyromons, though I planned to do that just at the perimeter of the dense woodlands near the riverbank, thinking that it would be relatively easy since this place is often flooded by sunlight. Much to my expectations, I already found one just as I was approaching a group of trees bundled together. Three yellow flowers stood out as they lined horizontally in front of the trees. I thought for a moment on how to scare these plantaes in order to get fire from them when I immediately remembered about my blood—

Wait. I almost rushed in and tried to bite my finger, but a sudden realization came in. Would I always use my blood for any occasion? Though I have encountered a lot recently, it’s not that I’m immune to pain already, and as much as possible, I want to avoid exposing my blood to the forest; I don’t know if there are beasts who have immunity to my blood, especially for those who hunt and track prey using blood.

So I tried using the piece of wood that I brought, since I’m not sure how the ‘self-immolation’ really happens, I stayed as far as possible until I can only reach it with my hands outreached and the piece of wood touching it. Poking at its flower head, nothing happened at first, so I tried several times afterwards, still to no avail. The eupyromon didn’t budge even when I tried to move forward a bit and added strength to the poking that I’m almost thrusting the piece of wood.

Confused and somewhat annoyed, I got closer and tried to smash the plant. However, the wood slipped out of my hand and dropped, picking it back up, I did not notice that along with the wood, I also picked leaves that somehow was connected to a small branch.

Once I picked up the wood, there was a sudden scream.

“WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!”

That was when I realized that I picked up a mandrake as well. And that was not the end of it, during the ear-killing scream, the eupyromon finally immolated itself. However, different from what I expected, the process was more intense than what I thought; the eupyromon’s blaze almost reached me had I not backed off by the small sparks that I noticed during the scream. It was then that fire literally blasted off the top of the flower and spread throughout its surroundings, setting a few plants ablaze. And then the fire backed off and coated the eupyromon and finally acted as an outer defensive layer.

[ Mandrake. A type of plantae that lives of its whole life underground, with only their leaves sprouting out from the ground. Its main body resembles a humanoid face and would let out a screech if pulled from the ground inappropriately. It is yet unknown why it screams when pulled out, but theories point out that its purpose is to draw out other predators, making sure that the one who pulled it out dies as well. ]

The fire caught on the wood that I am holding, almost getting my hand on fire as well. Unfortunately, even though I needed fire, I had to let go of the wood and I’m not sure if that wood will still be usable when I bring it back. Well, the eupyromon is on fire. It was also a good thing that along with the wood, the mandrake was also incinerated so somehow, the painful screech was gone. However, it doesn’t take a fool to realize that I’ve just given out my position to an entire area of the forest. Pretty sure that a lot of beasts and monsters would start investigating this place, so I need to devise countermeasures immediately.

There were a lot of plants and plantaes that also caught fire and started spreading it to other parts of the forest. It was really surprising to witness how a eupyromon inflames itself, yet it is also a curiosity in a way— if it was so common in the forest with so many predators, all with enormous killing intents, why is the forest not yet ridden with fire?

As much as I would like to ponder on the matter, I had to get away from the location since its most likely that this would result in a wildfire at worst. There are plants that are already cindered through and through and some plantaes, who didn’t know best, are trying their best to put out the fire from parts of their bodies. Unfortunately, most of them can’t move so they’re just using whatever they have to at least minimizes the damages that inflicts them. It’s a shame that I can’t bring the pieces of wood that I brought before since that would just be deadweight; backing off as much as I can, I finally reached a point where there is no more grass on the ground but just rocks, I’m at least safe from the fire now.

“Tsk, so peace and quiet’s out of the question now.”

Before I go back and prepare for the worst, I had to observe first what would happen to the fire and what was that abnormal blazing that the eupyromon produced. Maybe I mistook it for a eupyromon? But I’m pretty sure it was, all of the characteristics fit the description. I remember that there were two other eupyromons beside the one that blazed up, yet I don’t seem to recall them igniting themselves. Eupyromons are supposed to ignite themselves but according to the text’s illustrations, it’s not supposed to be that grand; the veterans even brought some of it before in the palace and yet there was no report of any large-scale fires. Even though this is my first time seeing it, I have to doubt if this was the norm.

“The only option left would be that it was—”

I ran. I ran as soon as I sensed several movements, not anymore thinking about how good my reaction time became. Tch, They came so quickly. Based on the rushed sounds that’s moving ever so quickly towards my location, there were at least twenty that are coming. I had to return to the riverbank and prepare for the worst.

As soon as I got back, I cut a small wound at the middle part of my arm using one of the broken woods and applied the droplets of blood onto major parts of my body, since I don’t really want to hurt myself too much, several droplets should be fine in dealing with these monsters.

Judging from their quick movements and how they’re creating little noise by doing so, it seems that everything’s going well. However, I need to consider a new type of beastkin as well; sorting out the species that I remember having nimble bodies and might as well be living inside this forest, there are still plenty that come to mind. For now, I just need to prepare as much as possible.

As I finished lathering my body with my blood, I stood near the riverbank to make sure that whoever tries to surprise attack me would be caught by the vine monster first. Nonetheless, I have some back-up plans in case that monster doesn’t show up. I stayed vigilant and listened to my upcoming guests. However, I need to make sure as well to think of a way to put out the fire—

“Kind of interesting, this is.”

While looking at the place that I ran from, the stillness of the greenery was back, with the trees and plants stuck in the ground swaying peacefully by the wind.

There should still be burning based on the scale at which the fire spread out, yet nothing but plants were there.

Nothing else.

This was certainly an interesting development, and as mysterious as it can be, if I were to point out the most probable explanation, the whole thing that I experienced must be an illusion or some kind of mental interference.

The sounds were getting louder and louder, though that was just from my perspective whose senses were enhanced by primordial blood. The numbers are also increasing steadily. There are a number of pieces that doesn’t fit, if my assumption about the fire was correct, then what is the reason why these creatures are going here?

There are still many inconsistencies that I have to think about, but as always, I need to deal first with the immediate threats, the threat of the incoming horde. Until now, I still can’t totally grasp the exact creatures that are coming, but at least, I am certain about characteristics such as agility and numbers, so my tactics would have to just rely on that.

The shadows started to appear one by one, the silhouettes covering my field of view. Sweat trickled at the back of my head as I furiously racked my brain on how to deal with this situation. At the very least, I know that my fear is less intense than the fear that I initially had when those monsters before fought here. I’m unsure if it was due to the blood that I have, or my own development, but I was thankful that I had somewhat improved my will and composure. Now I just have to make sure that I make it out alive in my next challenge here in the forest.

They were numerous. I surmised that there are at least a hundred of them now, even though I may not see the entirety of their group, my senses tell me that they are now slowly surrounding all of my possible paths of escape. In this case, they must hold at least a capable amount of intelligence and on top of that, they most likely have experience in hunting and expeditions. An analysis of the situation gives me an idea that I only hold two advantages against them; the fact that they do not know that my blood is special, and the fact that they must know about the monster lurking deep in the river.

However, the river monster is not in my control, so I cannot completely say that it’s an advantage for me. Also, there’s the factor that it may have attacked Hiten and Giden earlier because it was hungry, I must consider the possibility of it being docile against intruders.

From all of the shadows inside the forest, one began to move. Emerging from the thick trees were a creature covered in fur, with slender but muscular limbs and a glare that would give you a sense of death. With its stride mixed with confidence and caution, it steps on flowers and small plants along its way like they were mere pebbles.

That was not really far from my prediction.

Yes, the one that is in front of me, is another pantherian. And it surprised me for a different reason.

“Ratussian! How dare you kill them?!”