It had been an entire 2 months since the Lumos Squad started their expedition into the Camar Forest. Although it seemed like a longer time, it was relatively short. The Camar Forest was in terms of territory equal to a normal nation and the fact that monster waves kept pouring towards their position, didn't help the unit at all.
Although they were compromised of strong individuals and known as an elite reconnaissance squadron, it didn't mean that they had an easy time against all the Menace and Disaster monster. Especially when they were in a frenzy due to fleeing their usual territory, attacking everything that seemed like a threat.
Currently the squad were looming up in the tall redwood trees, that towered over most monsters. They had just recently fought a Menace-Class and were quite tired, but there was also a hint of motivation.
It was for the fact that they had finally entered the inner regions after surviving multiple close calls.
"Gather."
All members gathered around a certain individual.
One of the reasons why the Lumos Squad was so renowned, was for a fact this person. Unlike most squads, this leader didn't have the rank of a sergeant but was already a captain.
Jordan Almun was known for his excellence in leading his troops into any situation which was also reflected by his mission count. With only 34 years had he already reached the Argos Rank, making him a valuable asset to the entire Luxrion Empire.
His dark blue hair shimmered as sunrays fell upon it, as his green eyes seemed to match the color of the surrounding leaves. He wore the typical military attire of the Luxrion Empire and carried something alike to a conductor's baton.
His looks also weren't something to scoff at, as he had many suitors inside of the empire. For him however, his duty always stood in the first place.
"We are near the anomaly…. I can feel it… Sergeant Diedlem, any messages received from headquarters?"
A plain looking man with black hair and black eyes stepped forward, a bow hanging on his back.
"No Captain. It seems that the Mana wavelengths are interrupting the communication. The last information we received was that in the last days, more monsters of higher ranks have started flowing out of the forest."
"Fine…. Diedlem, Private Marsh, Private Naro and Private Anes, you will accompany me as Private Ronwa and Ezek will act as reserves and lookouts for anything that could become a hindrance."
Simultaneously, 3 Privates stepped behind Diedlem and saluted. A broad-shouldered man with 2 chain katars in his hands, a man who resembled a Tibetan monk with beads in one hand and a gloomy looking girl with pale white skin as well as red eyes.
"We will for now only do reconnaissance in the area until we have found the anomaly. Until we act out a plan to resolve the issue, we will also set camp in this region as it is at the boarder of the inner regions and outer regions."
With a calm demeanor, Captain Almun explained the future proceedings.
"Retreat is as always not an option. Understood?"
"Yes Sir!"
The affirmation to the man's commands was chanted in unison by all squad members, showing clear loyalty and motivation.
"We move out at night, until then at ease!"
-----
"I am leaving…"
'Huh?'
"What?!"
I cried out loudly in the camp that I lived in for the last 2 months as Damascus boldly exclaimed, he would be leaving.
"What do you mean leaving? Weren't you supposed to train me for the future Damascus?"
The knight simply yawned and flicked my head, making me fly a few meters back, landing onto the ground.
"I also have stuff to do and I am not really leaving. I am simply going to solve a problem that has appeared."
'A problem?'
I raised my eyebrows in curiosity as Damascus explained his reasons for leaving so abruptly. What could possibly be so important, that Damascus himself had to move.
From what I could speculate, he was for sure one of the strongest individuals in the entire continent itself, maybe even the entire world. The more I thought about it the more curious I got.
"And why can't I come with you?"
"Because you are weaker than a single of my muscle fibers."
'Tsk…'
I looked to the side as I started pouting slightly, as when I had finally gotten the opportunity to explore, I was simply thrown aside. Even the fact that I was called weak by the knight, infuriated me, as he didn't even acknowledge my improvement.
Instantaneously, a golden window popped into my view.
}————{ Arcane }————{
Name: Wendel E. Maelstrom
Age: 12
Mage: Thaumus III
[Progression]: 83%
Physical: Gladiator II
[Progression]: 3%
Core Capacity: 86%
Blessing: Purity
Gift: Absorption, Inner Circulation, Pure Body, God's Language: Arcanum, Arcane Creation, Formula Drawing
…
..
.
}————{ End }————{
I had trained everyday since I casted my first Arcane Spell and if it weren't for the grumpy teacher, then I would have been pretty arrogant already due to my improvement.
Damascus had increased my physical ability by more than double, forcing me to reach Gladiator II in only these 2 months. Now, on average one can easily ascend to another rank when one has a talent in the physical attribute and is still at the beginning of their training.
However, not only was my body really disadvantaged in the physical aspect due to the lacking Mana Vault which would have further strengthened my body. But also having 3 rank-ups in this amount of time seemed to be not the most common thing.
Naturally given the fact that I had a purer form of Mana going through my body, it seemed to be somewhat the reason for my quick evolution.
I was also close to achieving the 2nd Stage of Thaumus which would give me a huge boost in my control over Mana. Additionally, my capacity would go up which gave me the possibility to train more.
It seemed however clear as the night that the higher I went with my rank, the harder it got to progress. It took me 2 entire months to only raise my rank close to reaching another stage. If I looked at my progression rate, I would even suspect that reaching Thaumus I would take me around half a year.
This was considerably short, but still when thinking that I should become equal to Damascus, it seemed like nothing at all.
"The moment I will let you come with me, is the moment that you can make a scratch on my armor. Until then, you will heed my commands. On top of that, you won't be alone…"
"What do you me-?!"
As I tried to confusedly ask Damascus what he was talking about, I felt something appearing behind me. I quickly turned around and suddenly saw how my own shadow was wiggling uncontrollably, as 2 hooded individuals sank up from it.
Not just any though, it was the same black hoods that guarded my door the very day I came to this world.
"Huh?!"
'Oh no! Is 'Father nearby?!'
Only the thought of him being around me made me shudder inside. While I was thinking of the worst-case scenario, the individuals suddenly bowed in front of me, lowering their heads as if they were in presence of something divine.
"These things are your first followers… Well, if you want to call them even followers. They are something like the empty husk of a spirit, so to say, they have no soul. You can say thanks to the 'Seat of Ingenuity', after all they are his… 'creations'…"
'Seat of Ingenuity… interesting…'
Damascus had also taught me a bit about the working insides of a cult. Each department had a Seat which was basically the leader. Each department worked separately from the others with sometimes having them act together. There were some more known in the world while some always remained in the shadows.
One of these more secretive departments was the Order of Ingenuity. An order consisting of majorly what one could call scientists. Their official attire were cloaks, the same as mine which were colored an intense purple. Sometimes, they would even modify their bodies by replacing their arms with artifacts.
Honestly, they didn't seem like the most empathetic people, so getting a gift from their leader didn't seem all too… normal.
'But if I already have them, why not use them'
Ignoring the worries that were in the back of my mind, I looked at the both things in front of me. They were looking exactly the same, no face nothing. Nearly as if they were 2 floating cloaks with a dark cloud inside.
For a short moment, a small idea invaded my mind, however if I were to try it, I would do it when Damascus wouldn't be present.
"They also aren't all too bad, they are a bit stronger than you are right now but follow every command."
Damascus slightly praised the beings and then turned to his side, but there was nothing. Nearly as if he listened to someone that didn't exist.
"Tsk… Anyway, now that everything is good, I will be back in... let's say 2 da- … 1 day…"
Before I could even say something, he waved a bit and then he was gone. As if he hadn't existed, not even a gust of wind came up.
"… Well … Okay…"
I turned back towards the hooded things, analyzing them. Damascus was correct about one thing; they really were like soulless being. Even if I tried with all my might, they had no presence even though they stood before me, not even any aura.
It even seemed, like there was no mana inside of them, there was nothing personal. They had the same impression that Father gave off but a billion times less threatening.
Slowly the idea that was earlier in my head resurfaced.
'What if I could put Pure Mana into them.'
For a fact, it seemed to be lethal to normal living beings to put Pure Mana inside of them as they already had their personal mana. It was as if one would put poison into another being. However, if they didn't have any mana inside of them or any personal characteristic, it maybe could be possible to give it to them.
"Maybe…that's an idea…"
I could feel how slowly a small grin was forming on my face but it again quickly dissipated.
If there was something that made me really annoyed, it was the fact that I couldn't show or feel emotions properly. All I had were some seconds until everything dissipated. I just didn't know if it was because of me or because of my body, I just felt like I couldn't have anything like feelings.
'Come on Wendel… That's not what is important right now… I finally have freedom!'
I rejoiced for the fact that Damascus was finally gone, I could be free. No waking up at 5AM and going to sleep at 1AM. No near-death experiences and most definitely, no burnt food.
I had come to know several things about Damascus, one thing was, he had no tastebuds and couldn't cook. He rarely ate but still always cooked which was for me the most horrible experience. Which meant that I had to suffer all alone.
Now I could finally do one of the things that I always loved to do, even in my old world: Cooking.
"Now, you guys will help me cut some vegetables and meat."
Slowly, each of the ghost-like followers took out a knife out of their cloaks.