Mana Knight: A Progression Fantasy Adventure by Morgan Ranger

Author:Morgan Ranger [Ranger, Morgan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-06-23T00:00:00+00:00

30

The days went on, and everything was coming up roses. We traveled through wonderful forest regions and big, beautiful hills, past bubbling streams, and fish-filled lakes.

There was a moment in a forest when a lovely song called out to me. My ears twitched as I caught sounds twirling in my mind like ribbons.

"Sirens," Cosette hissed, grabbing my arm. "Cheap sluts, having to resort to dirty magic to bring an audience."

The spell was broken as we left, and I shuddered to think what would happen if she weren't there. How beautiful those mermaids would be, until I saw they were not.

On our journey, Cosette and I were cozy, holding hands and such, but we hadn't touched each other intimately since the inn. It was a sleeping dragon we dared not wake until we were between four walls.

It wasn't out of shame. Perhaps the passion for our quest was greater than any romance we could halt it for. Maybe it was out of respect for Isobel. We enjoyed her company and didn't want to make her feel awkward. She was such a good sport, third-wheeling us and not complaining once, enjoying our company as we did hers. Either way, Cosette and I were together now, and knew we only had to wait for it to be even sweeter, not rushed in a brief moment when, say, Dame Isobel went to piss.

At least, this is what I assumed. We didn't speak of it.

Now, the smell of forest flowers and dirt filled the air. A little brown rabbit bounced away in the distance, then another and another.

And suddenly, the rabbits hopped back the other way and passed us by.

"Never seen rabbits do that before," I mumbled, reaching for my sword.

There was rustling now from a bigger animal. A bear? I drew my blade slightly, Isobel the same. Cosette raised a hand, ready to cast a spell.

The bushes parted, and a man drenched in sweat appeared. He wore a cap tight over his head, and his tunic bore many rips, revealing gashes of blood.

He looked at us and collapsed. Either he thought we might help him or had run from one danger to another, giving up to let fate do its worst.

I ran over and helped him up.

"What happened to you?" I asked.

Relief came over him as he sat up against the tree. "Goblins," he said. "Attacked our wagon."

"How many?" I asked, and blood started pumping in my ears.

Suddenly, flashes of their feral faces sank fear into my spine. It was like I was that same weak warrior who could barely handle one.

I wasn't. And I could.

"How many?" I repeated.

"A dozen, maybe more."

"Down this path?"

He nodded.

"How far?"

"I dunno. I ran like...I dunno, felt like I ran forever, but maybe it weren't that long. Five-hundred paces? A thousand?"

I instinctively felt for my belt. We had no mana or health potions.

I gazed at the path ahead. What'd seemed like a pleasant walk was now a dark tunnel, blackening long before it should have, judging from the bright day breaking through the trees.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.