After I finished going through all the projects in my mind and was tired from the laps around the wagon, I started fiddling with my spells.

Well, using mana in a situation where I could suddenly need it was obviously stupid, but between distracting myself and not, the choice was obvious indeed.

A couple of constructs with [Shaped Mana];

A few favorite characters with [Low Illusion];

And then, accidentally, I discovered something so incredible that I fell out of reality for nearly two hours. Using the second function of [Record], the one to recall and replicate a memory on paper or else, I had created the plans for the book machine and then even the first draft of the stories I printed.

So while rummaging through my memories for something to record now, as a distraction, I concentrated on an absolutely random memory, one of my favorite songs, and found that between [Record] and [Perfect Memory], I was able to 'play' it in my mind!

"I want out

To live my life alone

I want out

Leave me be

I want out

To do things on my own

I want out

To live my life and to be free."

And so, I discovered that I could replay music!

And it did not stop at only that, but even movie scenes!

[Record] had no fixed duration, being a single-activation spell for a definite thought. Thus, if I concentrated on a song, it would be a mana point. And at the same time, an entire film would not cost more, at least if I could clear my mind from everything else and only concentrate on the movie. This latter because I found that new thoughts or lack of attention stopped the spell.

{Now, if I could understand how to use the ability to create and change spells with which Sepyre helped before, I could probably construct one to have an active soundtrack!}

***

I was brought out of my small happy world by the chiming of [Danger Sense]. And as I instinctively activated [Life Radar], another assignment for my ideal spell list arose, {I wonder if auto-activating spells are possible, something like the radar going live as soon as something happens.}

If before I had been nervous, by this moment, I had calmed down enough to act as I should and not as a headless chicken. The radar did not show anything moving, no human-sized dots either. Still, I felt that something or someone would make its appearance soon. Not that I had any idea why I was so sure of it, though.

...

"Life Radar."

...

"Life Radar."

...

Acting on my feelings, I activated the spell every minute, concentrating on it for the entirety of its 15 or so seconds duration. And between the 10th and 11th activation, I noticed someone.

The signature was identical to mine or Aison's, but it had the same intensity as mine, showing that it was someone active and conscious, unlike my companion.

{The one behind this? A passing traveler? A victim of this situation that managed to awaken?} Three questions emerged in my mind, but I quickly dismissed them.

After all, it couldn't be the culprit. Or why would they wait for several hours? They should be more than aware of the effects of whatever was this. Plus, I doubted the culprit, if it was a human, would not be a mage, so the lack of any spells, at least if I believe the silence of my [Mana Sense], also served as some proof.

A lone traveler was rare from what I had heard before. They should have been following the road, not coming from the grasslands to my right. Thus, it should be anything but a simple passerby.

As for the third one, I had no idea what was affecting the area. So it could be someone that woke up, all right. Yet, with Aison and Weral, or the horses for the matter, not showing any stamina recovery, I doubted that it would be so easy to snap out of the effect. Plus, the same question about why the person would be nearly a kilometer away from the road dismissed the idea of someone entering the zone by accident.

{So, who could it be? And what reasons would make them leave the road's anti-beast effects?} As I questioned myself further, I did not stop using [Life Radar], thankfully so. The dot started moving, making a nearly straight run towards my location. And this movement of theirs voided my first dismissal.

With the time being after midnight and me not having used any [Light] or started any fires, it should have been impossible to notice us without being very close. {And this raises another question - Is this person running towards here without knowing, or..?}

{Better be prepared for danger.} Recalling Aison and previously Gris' words about unexpected dangers, I quickly looked around, confirming there were no signs of my activity.

After producing my sword from behind the seat, where it had traveled since we left Megvuroz, I sprawled on the ground. All to look like I had fallen asleep and fell from the coach seat.

***

"The ten be with you! I know there's someone conscious. I am no enemy." The approaching person turned out to be a female, which I found as she stopped and shouted out from half a hundred meters away from the wagon.

{Oh, yes. I should trust anyone who says that.} With such inner commentary, I tried my best to shuffle a bit, to take a better look at the new arrival.

While my eyesight had improved by several notches after becoming an apostle, I could not see in the dark as I would have wanted. Yet, the declining half-moon shone some light on the surroundings, enough to at least get an overall idea.

From what I could see, she was dressed in armor, judging from the metallic shine on her shoulders. The long rod in her arm also shone by the tip, so it should be a spear or some bladed polearm. But, what should I care about what I see with bare eyes, with me having the advantage of an untraceable [analysis] in the face of [Status Screen]?

NAME (AS SEEN BY ME) LEVEL (IF APPLIES) (ONLY ABOVE AVERAGE) Unlanded Noble, Kingdom of Neverc. - Strenght 14 Body 15 Labor 16 Camping 13 First-Aid 15 Hunting 11 Danger-Sense 14 Detection (first time I see such a skill) 17 Piercing 18 Close-Combat 14 Shield-Combat 11 Block 15 Formation (first time I see such a skill) 14 Warfare 13 Maintenance 13 Command 12 Field-Hero (marked as title) -

Well, definitively not your run-of-the-mill lass, huh? For some reason, I thought this latter in Count Rien's manner.

In any case, her being an unlanded noble but not a knight and the high martial stats could mean only one thing, she was part of the army (skills and the title looked that part as well). So, I probably should consider she wasn't an enemy. Still, not that I could trust her openly without some confirmation, especially as she did not know that I knew! Hah, that latter sounded so cheesy even in my mind.

"I am not an enemy to you. We are in the same situation, under the influence of the [Tr'axt Tree's Blossom]. I don't care who you are, but we should cooperate." She did not approach but shouted out again. Judging from her manner and words, she also did not entirely trust the people she just encountered, but there was a reason to approach, huh? Though with her stats, I doubt she will be in much trouble against a single person.

I did not answer anything, waiting for what else she could reveal. For starters, the name of whatever was affecting everyone around was already something if it was authentic. Not that I could check it, so why not wait for a bit more? Plus, until she introduced or announced her affiliation, why would I or someone else reveal themselves?

...

A few minutes went by. The soldier remained silent, and I stayed still. With the wagon between us, Aison on the coach seat, and with her not knowing the wagon's layout, she had no way to pinpoint who was the one not under the effect.

Frankly, Aison was out, as he was in plain view, but the wagon's interior? It was undoubtedly the reason for her not trying to approach. After all, I doubt it would be fun even for a soldier of her skill to earn an arrow between her eyes or something. Back to cheesy lines in my thoughts, huh? Likely a sign of my anxiety, as whatever I may have thought at that moment, I was not calm and collected as I would have liked to be.

"Look, we may stay here for all eternity. The effect of the [Tr'axt Tree] will not end by itself, and magic beasts awaken in a few hours, not stay still until the end!" She yelled once again, this time adding pressure to her voice.

I could assume that I was calmer and more patient than her, but it was just a matter of timing. If she had not shouted at this moment, I would have come out the next. Yet, now I could continue for a few silent minutes again.

{I will not come out before she states who and what she's doing here. Even if I assume her as a soldier, what if she's not one? A lesser noble isn't a guarantee of her being a good person.} Sometimes, even I wonder just how my thought process goes. Wasn't I ready to come out just a moment before?

But such a situation could not continue forever, could it? The woman's patience was on the limit, the latter shown as she stepped forward while angrily shouting, "Whoever is there, get your ass out, or I swear to the Ten that I'll burn your damned wagon!" She wasn't joking, and I clearly felt it.

Not wanting to risk the safety of my companions now that the woman's character was clear to be not so calm, to call it somehow, I stood up and half-stepped from the wagon's side. As I did, I called out the crossbow from [Inventory]. It was empty, as I did not stop to load it, but with such distance between us, she would not be able to see if it was.

{I expected an introduction, not threats. And why the hell she hasn't stated anything about herself? I am no enemy but come out, or I burn your wagon? Screw it.}

Reuben had more-or-less explained that the Guild was respected even by the Royal Council, as over half of land trade was under them.

Thus, I spoke up using the Guild's name. And did so in the manner I heard Gris use, "This wagon is property of the Megvuroz branch of the Cadowden Trade Guild. State your affiliation and do not come closer. Otherwise, I'll have to take measures to protect our cargo."