The group awoke early the next day and were shadowed by the Shades who were wielding the weapons offered. It appeared to Karastak that his spells' reach was far greater than the flavour text offered. For the Lesser Animation stated he could only have two minour floating weapons, or one that was lesser. Instead, he had three, which was strange to his mind, and decided to look into it in a moment after the group broke their fast upon steaming rolls, jerky, and mugs of warm tea.

Once finished, the mugs were passed back to himself for disposal by way of replacing them back in the bag. Whereas the females excused themselves to relieve their bowels and bladder behind the trees, away from his eyes. Himself, on the other hand, frowned at his own internal structure. Although he was able to eat, his body did not produce much in the way of waste to be expelled.

Though he was greatly curious as to why this was so, he was not about to ask Command in case it tried to rectify this. Therefore, the Foxman kept quiet and awaited the return of the girls and Wolfwoman.

The latter appeared around the corner wearing common linens that he had created upon awakening. Certainly, she was grateful for this gift, but was still wary. Especially when she had seen her body through the rags for which she wore.

“So,” she spoke slowly, her voice full of suspicion, “who are you and why is a Cat-kin and a Wolfgirl with you?” Her arms crossed as she gave him a short glare whilst her demeanour was like that of an interrogator.

“You should name yourself before asking for another's,” rumbled the illusory Human who tapped at the air in front of his eyes. Whereupon his Status Screen came to life, revealing to him his everything. After which he tapped his skill , which then gave him the details he had grown curious about.

Cost: 50 mana

Description: Able to summon Lesser Shades from the Void in order to wield offered weapons. Once summoned, they will remain until either dismissed, the weapons break, or are banished by way of Holy or Light based magicks.

“Huh,” Karastak muttered to himself, pleasantly surprised whilst ignoring the woman and the girls who gathered around him. His finger drifted over to his Weapon Creation spell, and was once again surprised by what he read from them.

Cost: (Base: 50 mana) Dependent upon the desired weapon (x2 mana if a magickal weapon is created)

Description: Through the use of one's own imagination and mana, a weapon is created. This weapon is physical in nature, and will remain as such until it is either destroyed or dismissed.

Durability Score: Dependent upon the weapon with a +25 bonus added to the total amount.

“That has certainly changed,” he muttered half to himself, half to the rest of the world.

“What has?” wondered a curious Lupa, whose eyes had dilated and ears perked.

“The description of my spell changed. Quite strange, to be sure... Well, no matter.” His hand swiped away the placards as he turned his attention towards the Wolfwoman with a raised eyebrow, “You were going to tell use your name, I believe.”

To which she gave a frown before speaking, “I am Sergeant Sia of Magistrate Rosenfall, and I demand that you-”

“You don't get to make any demands here, Sia,” Karastak waved away her desires, “I am Karas, the Wolf Girl is Lupa, and the cat-eared girl is Puella. That is all you need to know.”

“Hi!” Puella waved at the woman, who squinted her eyes in frustration at the Human before her. Whereas Lupa moved the other's hand down and shook her own head at her friend.

“So tell me, Sia,” he spoke slowly, a thought brushing past his mind, “How is it that you are able to walk and talk after being subjected to such torture from the hands of the other Humans in the village?”

“What?” her eyes twitched as the inquiry was absorbed into her mind.

“You were without food and water for two days,” he continued, “So how is it that you are able to move, as it's only been a full night since we've rescued you.”

“Huh?” Sia gave him an expression which believed he was an imbecile for asking such a simple question, “You gave me food, that tea, and I was allowed to rest comfortably. It's enough to recover from, and anyone is able to do it.” A thought crossed her own mind, one that was fleeting and unimaginable. Of which stated that he might not be from this world of Azzarath, but that was shaken away as the man before him was old and venerable. Therefore, it was likely he was becoming senile.

“Interesting,” was his only comment as he moved to his staff which was still planted in the ground from the night prior. After pulling it out and shaking it free of any clumped earth at the bottom, his left hand was stretched out as energy condensed around his limb. “,” he chanted, and summoned up a child sized version of his own staff.

Whereupon Puella, upon seeing this, scampered towards himself, her tail twitching with excitement and eyes widened as it was passed over to her person. “Thank you, Mr. Kar,” she shouted before hugging his robed leg and waddling over to Lupa to show it off.

Just as she did so, Sia stomped over with a frown and pointed a digit at his chest, “You can't giver her that! It's not safe!”

“It's a caster's focus in the form of a spiked staff and is not meant to be safe,” was his reply as he tried to move past her, but was blocked.

“She's a child!”

“It's educational.”

“What if she cuts herself?”

“Then that will be an important lesson.”

“How can you be so cruel? To give a child a weapon like that; do you want her to be targeted by others?” the Wolfwoman growled, her hackles raised as he just looked at her with pity.

“Puella, come here for a moment,” Karastak's primary finger was hooked as he made the motion to summon her from her friend's side. When she did so, it was tentative and she made a curious sound whilst her head tilted towards her right shoulder. “Now, what I wish for you to do is close your eyes and try to imagine the staff's spike within your mind. Let me know when you can see it, okay?”

“Kay,” she mumbled, closing her eyes and scrunching her face.

“What is this?” Sia moved to reach out for the child, but halted when the tip of the diamond spike atop the illusory Human's staff came within half a dozen centimetres from her nose.

“Stay right there, Sia,” he commanded, then turned his attention back towards the little girl who had furrowed her brows in concentration.

“I can see it, Mr. Kar,” she exclaimed, opening her eyes to beam a smile up at his person. Who then giggled as she was rewarded with the ruffling of her hair.

“Very good. Now, focus your thoughts into the staff in your mind, and cast the spell . Can you do that for me?” Another curious sound was released from her throat as her head was tilted towards the left. Shrugging her shoulders, she once again scrunched up her face in concentration whilst ignoring the frowning Wolfwoman as she delved back into her imagination.

“Um,” mumbled the girl, “?” After which she opened her eyes as an array of scintillating colours erupted all around her, waving and sparkling. Whereupon she reached up to touch one of them, but gasped as it erupted into a metre wide circle which danced in front of the eyes of the living.

Sia's own eyes were widened in a paralysing, physical shock. Her “Mr. Kar”, on the other hand, was also stunned, but to a lesser degree as a placard appeared before his eyes for a few moments before vanishing completely without the need to swipe it away.

You have been stunned!

Duration: 30 seconds

Due to your innate resistance from higher stats, the duration has been dropped from 30 seconds to three (3) seconds.

Karastak shook his head with a light smile playing upon his lips as his eyes drifted down to the child. Of whom was panting softly from the spell, leaning against her staff for support. Here, he reached over and rubbed her head softly, who then leaned into the gesture as her throat released a soft purr. Whereas the Wolfwoman's body couldn't move, but she could still swivel her eyes towards their persons. The light within were of a dangerous glower, but was distorted from the lack of facial movements. Therefore, it appeared more along the lines of a glare than anything else.

However, once she was free, Sia moved to intercept them once more, but was once again stopped by the spike atop his staff. “That was her stun spell, Sia,” his voice was soft and held a dangerous tone hidden within, “Mine is far greater than her own.”

“What are you?” her voice shook with a myriad of emotions that combined anger, shock, and curiosity into one.

“I believe we already went over that when you inquired before everyone slept,” a smile played upon his lips as he rolled his shoulders slowly, “I am what I am and what I am is me. Therefore,” a single digit was raised before the whole hands joined it as it pointed towards the road, “Therefore, I simply am.”

*****

Riveene stared down upon the world from above, frowning as she searched the area for any and all disturbances. For herself, it had been only a few hours, but down below had been several days since the Librarian's outburst at the missing Stories he was tasked to protect. Of whom still fumed at the loss, but could do little else beyond watch the others in case something went awry.

Though, he did provide some detail. For the ones in question were a pair of girls who had earned the 'Quest For Freedom' notification, but when their captors were cut down by an invisible entity. One not even their own Command and its System could pick up from. It was as though whole paragraphs vanished from the texts during their final moments, which only fueled the fire which was figuratively lit under his seat.

It was here that the Goddess searched for any and all such disturbances along with the Librarian, and had found that it all began after the summoning of four Heroes from the world of Terra. Where there were reports of a fifth Hero, but it was an unknown, a blotch of darkness upon the canvas of Azzarath. This entity even set about in the creation of several small cyclones of wind and sand upon the city below. All in an effort to run away from a greedy bank manager and her desire for a reward for obtaining an non-collared Mage. Of which many would have indeed paid a hefty price for.

This being then dashed off into the nearby desert, caused a scene with a small caravan of people before disappearing into the forests. Whereupon they returned full circle to their dilemma of when the children disappeared along with their Stories and the mysteries of who the unknown being was. For there were many reports of a giant of a man in the beginning, and a giggling Demon towards the end of the Slavers' lives.

“We need to find and contain this... thing,” Riveene hissed to herself, nibbling on a fingernail out of frustration, “before Lord Anu figures out what is going on, but where is it?”

After asking the open space with the world's image below her question, a portal the colour of old parchment erupted into being behind her. Turning to face the abrupt structure, she quirked an eyebrow as an old spectre of an Elf appeared and bowed deeply to her person. “My Lady Riveene,” its voice sounded much like a pair of crumbling parchment pages rubbing against one another, “Our Librarian wishes for your attendance. It seems he has found the closest location of where the disturbance had struck last.”

Moving faster than expected, the woman dashed into the portal, which closed behind the Elf as it walked through behind her. However, unbeknownst to the pair, a single floated in from the darkness. The organ had been watching the Goddess for quite some time, and its owner chuckled in a deep, robust voice which devolved into a fit of uncontrolled giggling.

“Dearest sister,” a voice spoke from the darkness as a body formed around the eye. One which, when fully formed and clothed, revealed itself to be a jester with a laughing mask strapped to its face. “Dearest sister,” it giggled again, “what is it that has your interest piqued so?” More giggling ensued afterwards, as it vanished, teleporting to who knows where.