Chapter 29: The Path of the Mage Il

Chapter 29: 29: The Path of the Mage Il --- [Ding. System Navigation Update: First Mana Particle Detected. Location: Whispering Brook Cavern. Coordinates mapped to current memory. Estimated distance: 4 hours.] "It’s called Whispering Brook Cavern," John said aloud. "Four hours to the southeast. Through the deeper forest." Fizz tilted his head. "That’s a suspicious name. Whispering caverns sounds like it contains one of three things, one: ghosts, two: hungry frogs, or there: cursed echo birds." "Let’s hope it’s just a rock with magic." Fizz fluttered down to rest on his shoulder. "I hope it’s frogs. I haven’t seen a frog in years. They always explode when you tickle their throat." The walk was uneventful until the second hour, when the path narrowed and dipped into a ravine thick with moss. Roots arched like ribs over their heads. That’s when the growling returned. It was louder this time, and much closer. John paused. He pulled the void Dagger from his belt. Its edge shimmered faintly with ember light. Fizz sniffed the air. "Something’s watching us. Something drooly." From the bushes, a creature emerged. Its body was like a lizard, covered in patchy fur and bone plates. Red eyes gleamed with a feral light. It was the size of a wild boar but walked like a stalking panther. [F-Rank Beast: Spine Maw] Fizz floated lazily above. "Oh, good. A low rank beast. Should be a perfect warmup for you." John gripped his dagger. "Aren’t you going to help?" Fizz reclined in midair like a floating emperor. "I shall observe and assist if your limbs begin falling off. Consider this a character and experience building exercise." The beast lunged. John ducked and slashed. Sparks flew as his blade scraped bone. The creature twisted midair and slammed its tail down. John blocked it with his arm and grunted from the impact. "Fizz, help me" he growled, "I don’t have any magic. I can’t use void power without a mana ore. I swear if I die I will haunt you forever." "Fine, fine," Fizz said. "I’ll do the thing." Fizz shot forward in a blur. A flash of light sparked from his tiny claws as he slammed into the beast’s face. The creature reeled. John leapt in and drove the dagger into its exposed side. A screech followed. With one final twist, John yanked the blade free and the beast collapsed with a groan. Its body twitched once. Then went still. John panted. His hands shook slightly from the adrenaline. Fizz landed beside him. "You’re welcome," Fizz said smugly. "You waited too long." John complained. "I wanted to see if you’d die dramatically. I had a eulogy prepared." John was speechless. He rolled his eyes. "Help me find the beast mana core." Fizz hovered above the beast. His eyes twitched. "There’s residue in its core. Not much, but just enough. Probably fed on a mana herb near here." They talked a bit then continued the journey. The sun had barely climbed past the treetops when John and Fizz finally crossed the last ridge overlooking the Whispering Vale. Morning dew still clung to the grass, glittering like coins scattered in the brush. Two more hours had passed since they’d beat the beast Spine Maw. John adjusted the strap on his satchel, his dagger slapping lightly against his thigh with each step. The journey was meant to be simple: reach the first mana particle, complete the mission, and begin the path toward becoming a true mage. And yet, simplicity and Fizz rarely occupied the same sentence. Fizz had spent the entire walk performing increasingly ridiculous stunts. At one point, he disguised himself as a floating chicken and flapped past John’s head. "Cluck cluck," Fizz declared, landing on a tree branch. "I am your familiar, now. You must address me as Lord Ball." John didn’t even look up. "You’ve already created three different titles today. Pick one." Fizz huffed. "Spoil my fun, why don’t you." A squirrel squeaks from somewhere above them, clearly annoyed. Fizz yelled back louder, won the argument, and then laughed audibly just to assert dominance. John rubbed his temples. "If I ever write a book about this journey, I’ll title it ’How to Lose Brain Cells with One Furry troublemaker.’" Fizz floated backward in front of him, beaming. "Ah, but you’d miss me if I were gone." "Let me test that theory." They passed under a canopy of old pine, and the forest floor began to change. The dirt became rocky. Roots wove through the path like knotted fingers, and the air held a strange humidity, as if something beneath the soil was breathing slowly. According to the system map, the cavern entrance lay just a few kilometers deeper. John paused by a tree to check his surroundings. "This area’s a little too quiet." Fizz stopped in mid air, sniffing the wind. "You’re right. No birds. No bugs. Even the stupid squirrel went on vacation." Then a sharp crack sounded from the underbrush. John’s hand went to his dagger. "Company?" Fizz blinked. "Not unless you’ve been inviting forest monsters to tea." The ground near a fallen log exploded upward. A small, hulking creature burst forth, covered in rock like scales and chittering through a fang filled mouth. It stood on two stumpy legs, claws scraping the dirt as it hissed. [F-rank Beast: Mosshide Ravager. Known to burrow in damp soil and ambush prey. Territorial. Aggressive. Smells like wet socks.] Fizz hovered higher. "Yikes. I’ve seen toilets prettier than that thing."