“I apologize, my Lord. I couldn’t find what mana ability could have caused such a puncture wound.” With one hand in front and the other behind, the butler bowed to the lord.

Sitting on the rooftop terrace, the Lord viewed the city of Greycott. “What a noisy night. These humans don’t even realize their own nature. Unfortunate.”

“Yes, indeed.” The butler responded.

Turning to the butler, he responded to his earlier remarks. “What makes it so difficult to determine?”

“Although I wasn’t able to see it for myself, the reports described the wound as remarkably clean. Any puncture related mana attack we know of would be less so. A key comparison was from the abilities of Thunder. She’s the benchmark when comparing such puncture attacks, and even her abilities wouldn’t be this clean. More powerful, but lacking the finesse of the described wound. Not to mention the lack of a burning smell.”

“Hmmmm.” The lord brushed his hand through his silver hair. “Any chance the report is misleading?”

“That’s the original conclusion I came to, but the chevaliers are quite punctual in their reports, so it’s unlikely. It could be something that was ‘manufactured’, but that’s also unlikely. Stool’s only purpose was a distraction, so any focus on him would be unlikely as well.”

“Ah, yes, that would make sense. They aren't chevaliers in name. Especially that of Ilbertus.” The lord stood up and walked to the railing. “We should assume another player has graced us on tonight’s scene. I’ll take action, so things stay predictable.”

The lord jumped up, balancing on the thin railing. “Finish everything without me. We only have one chance. Maybe then they would realize a proper purpose. Instead of living this dream they think this is. The world is cruel, and we shall take what they took from us so long ago.”

“Yes, lord.” The butler bowed. Such true words.

What a rough night so far. I’m drenched, cloth sticking, the adrenaline no longer driving me, and death hanging over my soul. But I had to continue and escape this mess.

Just as I pulled the handle to Raven’s Meat, trying to prepare enough food for the day’s to come. “Pat, pat, pat, pat, pat, pat.” Someone running.

Vigorously flipping my head, l looked further down the alley and saw something dipping between the buildings. I leaned against the building, minimizing my presence.

A Human.

They took quick movements between the buildings, heading in my general direction. Eventually standing one block away before meeting my gaze.

The hazel eyes stood out, matching the blood strewn about on her face. Redness surrounds her pupils, matched by the snot flowing from her nostrils. She froze in my presence, shaking as she tried to hold her breath, but it’s unstable and distorted despite the efforts.

And similarly to the Barren Moons group, a pin adorned on her dress, not the same as Barrens Moons, but one of a shield with an X crossed on it.

It stunned me for a second, but at least someone survived, someone I could actually help. I motion her towards me, using my hand in a waving motion. She shies back initially, but realizes a moment later as she shuffled over, repeatedly checking over her shoulder.

She shakily made her way up the stairs, almost slipping at the constant chatter, but she took care to minimize it. Probably a recently learned skill given the chaos of the night.

Before she gets up, I use [Identify Soul]... and nothing displays. A blank slate untainted by a class and someone yet to be considered an adult by the world.

She’s younger than me, probably by 8 years. Well, the age I appear to be since I am technically an ancient grandma. I start off with a whisper while looking into her eyes. “We gotta get out of here. I’m grabbing some food and we can leave via the rooftops.” I point upwards.

Her eyes traced my hand, looking upward and taking a second to realize, but nodded at my words with her hair flopping about. The thoughts of how she ended up here are many, but I shook my head. Not the best time to discuss such a thing, especially when it’s fresh. The mental damage could be a problem for her, and I’m not making things worse when I can actually save someone.

With her approval, I moved my hand back to the door handle, cracking open the rear entrance to Raven’s Meat. The smell of dried meat wafts through the gap, but I ignored it with peeled eyes.

Hmmm, probably a preparation room with the amount of meat hanging up by hooks and tables covered in residue of past carcasses. An opened doorway further in presents itself to my left, but the coast looked clear otherwise.

I faced back and directed her to follow me in. She accompanied my careful steps and closed the door behind us. The hollow sound of the raindrops returned as the building resonated the impacts, and I moved over to the nearest counter, spotting my aim.

Several twined packs of jerky laid on the shelf underneath the countertop. Man, I wish everything was this easy. I felt bad about stealing it, but I have higher priorities at this point. I stuff the jerky packs into my bag while stuffing several stands into my mouth. Didn’t know when I could eat next, so better fill up while I’m here.

I turned around and held out a piece to the girl. She did a quick look around and backed away, shaking her hands in front of her. I sigh and quietly speak up. “I know, I know. Look, I don’t know when we’ll have another chance to eat peacefully. This could be the difference between life and death. We need the energy.” I brought the piece of jerky closer.

She viewed the shaking jerky and then back at me. Her eyes still showed discomfort. “Listen, if we get out of this we can repay back the owner. The town’s going to be a mess for the next couple of weeks and the food might go to waste regardless.”

She hesitated, but approached me, gently reaching out to grab the jerky. We stayed there for a minute and filled our recipes with our stomachs. “Name?”

She swallows her last mouthful. “Myra.” The word vibrated uncontrollably, but it was clear enough given the awesome situation we find ourselves in.

“Aylsia.” She nodded back before shoving another piece of jerky into her mouth. We finish our makeshift meal before exiting the same door we arrived at. The wetness of the ground returned as I prepared myself to climb onto the roof. Before I attempted the jump, I looked back at Myra. Her smaller form watched me with intent eyes as she shook about. I took another look at the distance to the roof's edge.

Ya, no way is she getting up without my help. Especially with the slippery planks. “Ok, I’ll lift you up and you need to climb to the top. Be careful since it’s slippery.” With a nod, I position her in front of me and reach for her waist. I need to give it my all if this is going to work.

“On three, I will launch you up, reach for the roof, and pull yourself up. I’ll give you as much help as I can.” She nodded once again with her arms already lifted above her shoulders. “Ok, 1…. 2….” I took a deep breath. “3” and lifted with everything I had.

I hoist her high enough to reach the ledge, but my shoulder stutters, almost failing and proving yet again just how good I was at this whole physical thing. When both of Myra’s hands made contact, I repositioned and pushed from her feet, forcing her further up.

“Ahhh.” A groan escaped my mouth as I felt a twinge of pain to my shoulder, but I pushed on.

She got one elbow up. “Yes, get up!” The pain expands, but I can’t fail now when I have the chance to save someone. She squirms her way up, leaving my hands and view as the ledge blocks my sight. I promptly reach for my shoulder, evaluating the damage.

I roll my shoulder, feeling for the pain. “Ahhh.” I let out a strained groan, feeling the pain propagate.

“Yark.”

I pulled my shoulder. I moved it about, trying to find some hope, but all I got was throbbing pain with the disappointment growing.

“Yark.”

I don't think this whole ‘running away’ thing is going my way. I’ve had good enough luck to make it here without injuring myself and not being noticed by the Evil Myconids, but I’m afraid that luck has run out.

Welp, still gotta try. It might suck later, but if I can get back up and stay there, I should be good.

I stood back on the railing, using the wall and my other shoulder in replacement for the other. I saw Myra on the roof’s ridge, waiting for me as her eyes called out. The glistening within her pupils gave all the confidence I needed. “Ok, you got this, Ayla.”

The rain had been subsiding as the night passed, so it should be easier without rain’s distraction, albeit still soaked. Pumping myself up, I reached for the ledge with both arms as the stabbing pain flared up my shoulder.

You got one shot, Ayla. I cemented my grip.

1… 2… A deep breath. 3… I put everything I had in my legs, leaving the railing, and pulled up with my remaining strength. I’d got an elbow up over the edge, but the pain in my shoulder cried out beyond anything I could handle.

“Ahhhhhh.” I let out a cry of pain louder than I should have, cutting it off a second later and gritting my teeth in response. My hands grip wanes as my shoulder thoroughly cuts out, hearing a pop sound as I slipped off the ledge. Myra’s eyes opened wide as she reached out, but can do nothing with the distance between us.

Yark!

The fall was long as my mind raced to minimize the pain coming my way, but before I could squirm around, I slammed into the railing below and felt my back almost break. I bent around the railing before flipping over to the dirt alley. I tried to twist about again, attempting to catch myself, but it ended in a complete failure.

“Oooowwwww.” I let out a grunt as I slammed into the ground.

Yark.

I clenched my teeth, trying to limit the amount of noise. The pain made it difficult to focus on anything but, but I’d manage to roll over and view the alley. Looking for anyone or anything that might have noticed the human body tumbling down from the roof. The pain is one thing, but the Evil Myconids are by far the next level of ‘I don’t want to deal yark.’

The mud filled the gaps in my armor, making everything feel worse. Not to mention the stomach pain from the flying kick last night. I struggled up, using the wall for support as the discomfort continued, but I pushed on. “Man.. this… is… just… awesome.” I unconsciously said underneath my breath as I took it all in.

“Pat, pat, pat, pat, pat, pat, pat.” Before I could think about my misfortune further, I heard the hustle of steps in the distance. The water splashed about as I turned to face the origin of the sound. The fungus and root bodies charge towards me.

[Evil Myconid]

[Evil Myconid]

[Evil Myconid]

I scrambled.

Yark, yark, yark.

I looked up to see Myra’s wavering eyes peering over the roof’s edge, then viewed the charging Evil Myconid and made a quick decision, looking to Myra.

“Stay out of sight and keep to the rooftops.” I tried to calmly deliver the message, but I mimicked her shaking with the coldness of the night getting to me.

Her eyes remained in a voided state after my statement, not responding. She’s safe for now, and I’ve done all I could. I pushed off the wall and activated [Mana Bolt]. I wanted to keep this hidden, but I doubt Myra's knowing would change anything.

The pain almost disappeared as the adrenaline once again kicked in. My focus intensified as I forced the mana into a ball. The glowing orb formed and shot off in an instant, striking some of the water still dripping from the rooftops, shoving it out of the way with haste as it hones onto the target.

Before it even hits, I prepared another one. The Evil Myconid continued, mindlessly ignoring the flying orb. Looked like they still weren't the smartest, even without the infection thoroughly taking over.

The first one strikes, puncturing the forehead of the closest one, but unlike before, this one ignored the new hole it was sporting on its forehead. The black ooze flowed out all the same, but the creature remained unfazed with the steps pounding the mud below their feet.

Yark! How yarking strong are these creatures?

I still fired the second shot, but I turned around before seeing its impact. My feet almost slipped as I pushed off, but I scrambled away, my mind filling with two things and two things only.

Run away and run away fast.

The Barren Moons group took care of them with relative ease, but their skills just made it look easy.

I pushed off each step with everything I had, hearing the circular feet hit the ground behind me, but I had no clue if I was making any distance. “Hahah. Ahahah. Ahahah.” My breathing took over as my heart called out for me to stop. My. “Ahhhhh.” Yarking. “Ahhhh” endurance. “Ahhhh.” Sucks. Especially with only a couple hours of sleep, jumping across rooftops, and the pain along my shoulder to my lower back and stomach.

It all added up to be quite the experience so far, but it was far from over. Down a mess of alleyways, avoiding the major streets, as it’ll be my end if I get caught in the sea of them. While I rounded another corner, I peaked over my shoulder, seeing the Evil Myconids still chasing… and they were getting closer, uncomfortably close, so I made a split second decision.

I jumped up a set of stairs, then rammed my body into the door, attempting to break through, but… the door held shut.

“Yark!”

I wiggled the handle, but unfortunately for me, it was locked.

“Yark!”

I arm another [Mana Bolt] and fire it through the handle, breaking the lock as the door swung open a second later, now conveniently missing the lock.

I hardly took a second to view the room as I climbed up another set of stairs. The darkness made it difficult to move, but I continued to make split-second decisions as I pushed off the walls with my only working arm.

I stumbled around but I found my destination, another window. But it faced a lowered roof from the shop next door, my only chance at an escape. I pushed off the floor and burst open the wooden shutters, using my body as a battering ram, this time actually succeeding as I pushed off the windowsill with one leg.

The gap between me and the wooden roof closed as I flew through the air, slamming into it with a thud as I turned around desperately to see the [Evil Myconid]s just arriving down the long hallway.

I crawl backwards, putting more distance between me and them as I watch them close. They copy my maneuver, jumping and pushing off the windowsill the same way I did, but luckily for me, they aren't the lightest monsters as the wood cracks beneath their feet. It caused them to trip downwards and into the alley below. The 2 others tried to follow and trip down all the same as the wood cracks further down.

I heard the slap of the monsters hitting the ground, confirming my immediate safety. Thank mana they’re hefty yarkers, or it would’ve got a bit more interesting.

I breathe a sigh of relief as the chase ends. Uncomfortable and distressed, but safe and out of reach from more [Evil Myconid]s, at least for now.

“Hahah. Ahahah. Ahahah.” My excessive inhaling and exhaling, without a care in the world, and unmoving on the wooden roof. Man, this day just keeps on getting better. Despite all the exertion I just spent, I peer over the edge to see the Evil Myconids shuffling on the floor. They got up and moved back to the main street. Their simple minds seem to have given up and returned, as they’ve lost a way to get to me.

Thank mana, but I had no clue where I ran to. Everything was just a blur as I flew by. Man, who knew, running for your life sure made everything interesting for the second time in this life.

“If the world has a screw loose, I’ll just need to loosen some of my own.” I whispered, reminding myself of my original commitment, if you could call it that. It's a calming thought that grounds me back to reality. I’m in some random ass city that has crazy Myconids invading the town from the inside out. It’s a yarking mess, one I badly wanted to get out of.

The adrenalin got me to this point, but it won’t last if I’m not actively running for my life. I closed my eyes, regaining my focus. I can rest as much as I want after I get out of here, but for now, I need to continue. Who knows if it’s going to get worse.

I limped my way up the roof, limiting the use of my lower back and right shoulder. “The cities messed up, well, if you even call it a city anymore.” Several buildings were just large rubble piles and the multitude of fires, spurring up despite the wetness from the rain.

“They really picked a good night to attack. Wait for everyone to be unprepared by the incoming, painful rain. Watch them scramble about as they take cover. It limited the spread of information, enough to get away with this before the guards or chevaliers react.”

The turbulent mana was still doing its thing, remaining unaffected by the town falling apart. I put my head into my hands. “What a yarking mess.”

I remained still, staring at the roof below me, thinking just how I ended up here. Letting time do the work to calm down. “Ahhhhhh.”

Metal clashes in the distance, so I moved my head to see the source. A group, or a platoon as they call it, of chevaliers formed a wall, striking down the [Evil Myconid]s as they kept a slow march, pushing the invaders back.

Their blood soaked armor told me everything I needed to know. I didn’t see Ilbertus, but he was probably doing his commanding thing somewhere else, or he was just outta sight. Myra should be fine, then. As long as she stays on the roof, the chevaliers will save her. I could do the same, but I’ve had enough of this yark.

The chevaliers could take care of the Myconids, but something tells me this is just a distraction for something else. It just makes little sense otherwise. I brought my thoughts back to ‘that man’ in Pioneering Merchant. There's no way he’s not a part of this. It brushed my mind earlier, but he just screams evil with the mana reacting the way it does around him. It’s not exactly like Stools, but close enough as far as I’m concerned.

If the size of mana fluctuations determines the amount of power someone has, then the chevaliers are yark outa of luck if they encounter him. Not the best comparison, but Ilbertus called Stool dangerous, and I’d managed to kill him in one shot.

Though I had trouble with the Evil Myconids chasing after me. But from what I’ve seen, they can take a heck of a beating, probably not feeling the pain. I should’ve gone for their legs, but it’s too late now. Or maybe their heart to stop the blood flow? Do they even have human-like blood flow?

“Haaaaaaa.” I let out a puff of air. “Man, I’m not good at this whole combat thing. I just freaked out and ran as soon as something didn’t work.” What was I even expecting, everything to go smoothly? I barely know anything and I’ve been keeping to myself to avoid standing out, but is it worth all of this pain?

The roof was hard and uncomfortable, but I didn’t care, letting the thoughts pass and the wetness soak me from underneath. I stayed for too long, having enough coldness. Hhahaahahahaah. I let out an internal scream as I ruffle my hair with my only working arm. “This is just too much for me. Yark it. I don’t care now. I’m getting away from these people and doing my own thing from now on. It’s not worth all of this trouble.” I turned over and stood up, ignoring the pain pulsating along my back and shoulder.

“Let’s get to the yarking wall.”