Chapter 5: Baby Steps

  Killian’s sleep had been much needed. While it hadn’t been the most comfortable, it did wonders for his aches and pains. His head still throbbed, but now the pain was at a more manageable level.

  The world was still cloaked in darkness, faint traces of light creeping over the horizon, painting the sky with hues of deep blues and dim golds. He stretched, allowing some tiredness to seep from his body. Just as he turned over to his side, a small object smacked into his chest.

  Killian still weary, blinked in confusion. Glancing down, finding a loaf of bread resting against his ribs. Tracking the trajectory of the loaf to its origin, he found Jenny sitting, nearby, casually tearing into a second loaf.

  “Where’d you get this?” Killian asked, rubbing the remaining sleep from his eyes.

  Jenny smiled, her expression mischievous, revealing nothing.

  Killian knew he was not going to get an answer. He sighed, accepting her silence as he tore into the bread. It wasn’t great. It was stale but filling, and he wasn’t going to be picky. Between bites he muttered out a “Thanks.”

  They finished eating quickly, wasting no time lounging around before steeping out of the hovel they spent the night in. The city was just starting to wake up, a low hum of movement and voices filling the streets from distance.

  They head straight to their destination— the city gates. As they approached the gates Killian wasn’t impressed. The exit itself was lacking compared to the towering structures and the labyrinth of streets that made up the city. The gate stood at a modest three meters tall and barely two meters in width. It wasn’t meant for mass travel in and out of the city, rather more suited for restricting movement than allowing free passage. As they got closer, Killian found himself wondering, “Was this built to keep the monsters out, or the people in?’

  In spite of his haggard appearance, they had little trouble leaving the city. This was, in large part, thanks to Jenny’s beauty and Killian’s intimidating build. Jenny approached the guards first, putting on an air of fragility she tilted her head slightly, eyes wide with fabricated innocence. She exuded a presence of helplessness; she appeared so innocent that it dissolved any of the guard’s misgivings.

  At least one of them looked ready to try something more than just talking. Gazes lingering too long on her, Killian stepped closer behind her, their greed quicky fading. Killian didn’t have to say as much as a word— his stance was enough, sleek body well-muscled. He stood close enough to step in should the need arise, his sharp gazes daring them to give him a reason to act. The guards caved letting the two of them through with little more than some mild jeering.

  Finally, outside the city, Killian surveyed the landscape. What first stood out was a well-worn road stretching westward toward a peculiar mountain range. The peaks glowed faintly, flickering lights dancing along their ridges. Sparks and dust rose in sporadic burst. The sight was somewhat unsettling, yet Killian was intrigued.

  He made a mental note to go investigate it if he ever had the opportunity to.

  His thoughts were cut off by the sound of crunching footsteps getting further away. He turned his head just in time to see Jenny walking in the opposite direction. She had already gotten a fair bit away, heading east without a word.

  Killian jogged to catch up, cursing her under his breath.

  “Where exactly are we going?” he asked once he reached her side.

  Jenny hummed thoughtfully, not slowing down. “Mmm. East, l suppose. But I’ve never been great at that kind of thing.”

  “You know that’s not what I meant,” he said, irritated. “Do we have an actual destination, or are you just wondering randomly?”

  “A bit of both,” she admitted lightheartedly. Then, glancing at him with a smirk, she added, “Now hush. Wouldn’t want any scary monsters to pop out of nowhere, would you?”

  Killian sighed, sliding his hand down his face in exasperation. He had the distinct feeling that this was going to be a long journey.

  Killian huffed, not putting up a fight. He had quickly learned the that trying to get a straight answer out of Jenny was a losing battle. Staying close, he scanned their surroundings as they walked. The world outside the city was eerily peaceful so far. There were no birds, no flies, no anything. It was just the two of them and the trees around them.

  They walked in silence for a while, the only sounds their footsteps and an occasional gust of wind. The further away they walked from the city the more barren the land became. Dry patches of grass and twisted shrubs poking through the cracked earth became common. The trees that had accompanied the two thus far were now skeletal, standing like forgotten sentinels, their gnarled branches stretching toward the sky. The area felt… desolate.

  Jenny led them along the barrier between death and life intending on going around the cursed place. Then Jenny, sensing Killian’s growing tension, broke the quiet.

  “You’ve been staring holes into the ground for the past hour. What’s on your mind?”

  Killian glanced at her, debating whether to respond. “That mountain we passed. The one with the glowing peaks.”

  Jenny’s eyes flicked westward, toward the distant range now barely visible beyond the horizon. “What about it?” she said.

  “You didn’t find it odd?” Killian questioned.

  She shrugged. “Odd things happen all the time.”

  Killian frowned. “It wasn’t natural.”

  “Neither are we,” she pointed out, grinning. “Besides, what do you think it was?”

  “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But I plan to find out.”

  Jenny hummed in amusement. “Figures. You’re always so serious.”

  Killian ignored her jabbing at him and turned his focus back to the road ahead. The barren terrain soon gave way to a scattering of rocky outcroppings, their jagged shapes casting long shadows under the rising sun. A few birds circled above, their cries distant but sharp against the morning air.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Eventually, they came upon a small creek, its waters trickling softly over smooth stones. The sight was a welcome relief from the otherwise dry and cracked landscape. Without a word, they both sat down by the water’s edge, taking a minute to rest.

  Jenny squatted, pulling something out of her boot. A knife. Without hesitation, she stood and approached a nearby tree, scanning its branches before selecting the straightest one. With a practiced motion, she hacked it off, the rough sound of wood splitting filling the air.

  She turned, handing both the knife and the freshly cut branch out toward Killian. He grabbed them.

  “You need some kind of weapon,” she said, dusting off her hands, “And you can’t keep my knife.”

  Killian got the hint, set to work carving a point onto the end of the branch. Scraping the blade along the branch, the process was slow and repetitive, the dry wood stubborn under his less-than-refined technique. His mind started wondering.

  The carving was dull. Magic, however,...

  He had played enough games back on Earth to know that magic was supposed to be exciting. He had seen wizards in books, mages in movies, all wielding unimaginable power with a flick of their wrists. The idea of doing something like that himself was thrilling.

  Setting aside the spear for a moment, he closed his eyes and focused inward.

  He thought ‘Magic to me always seemed like blood. It flows, circulates, and moves with every heartbeat.

  He imagined it coursing through him, a second life force woven into his veins. With each heartbeat, his mana was pumped throughout his body; with each breath, it expanded and contracted, like an invisible muscle responding to his will.

  But something was missing. He could sense it. It was like standing in front of a locked door without the key.

  Not giving up, he changed tactics. Instead of keeping his focus internally, he turned it outward. He exhaled deeply, trying to push his mana out of his body. Nothing happened.

  Killian frowned. An idea popped into his head. Picking up his half finished spear he started the process again.

  A fallen branch was, by all accounts, dead. It had no roots to draw sustenance, no means to gather energy. But maybe... maybe he could change that.

  Focusing he breathed in, then out. With each inhale, he pictured his body absorbing energy, and with each exhale, he imagined releasing that energy into the spear. The process felt natural, rhythmic.

  Then, something changed.

  A connection. Faint, but undeniably there.

  Killian’s eyes snapped open in shock, and the sensation vanished like smoke in the wind.

  He cursed under his breath but quickly refocused. Now that he had an idea of what to do, he fell back into rhythm, breathing deeply, synchronizing his mind and body once more.

  Again, the connection formed. This time, he held onto it.

  It was strange. It was almost as if the spear was asking him what to do with the energy. He had flooded it with power, but without direction.

  Thinking quickly, he channeled his intent into the weapon. He pushed the energy toward the tip, willing the rough wood to sharpen, to grow into something usable.

  Slowly, but surely, the point of the spear began to shift. It was subtle at first, but over the course of thirty minutes, the wood elongated, reshaping itself into a crude yet unmistakable spearhead.

  A familiar chime echoed in his mind.

  [Pretender’s Spear (Common, Poor)]

  A spear grown from a fallen branch by a dullard. Roughly resembles a rudimentary spear. +1 Agility.

  Killian stared at the words floating before him.

  His eyes narrowed at the “Poor” rating. He assumed it was the quality of his work.

  ‘Is it really that bad?’ he thought.

  He turned the spear over in his hands. It no longer looked like a dead, the wood was a vibrant green, infused with mana. But the flaw was obvious. The shaft had grown slightly crooked, making it awkward to hold.

  Frowning, he stood, adjusting his grip and tested a few thrusts against an invisible enemy.

  Behind him, Jenny snorted. Then she outright laughed.

  Killian stopped mid-motion, turning to glare at her. “What?”

  Still grinning, she gestured toward him. “Oh, don’t mind me. Please, continue your knightly training, Sir Killian.”

  He rolled his eyes, adjusting his grip again. With slightly less enthusiasm, he resumed testing his movements.

  Jenny chuckled but said nothing more.

  At least now, he had a weapon.

  Even if it was a little pathetic.

  The sun had climbed higher in the sky, casting harsh light over the barren landscape as Killian and Jenny continued their journey. The creek they had rested by earlier had widened into a deeper stream, cutting through the land like a silver vein. The air carried a damp coolness now, a stark contrast to the dry heat of the morning.

  Killian, still gripping his newly crafted spear, walked ahead cautiously. Jenny, as usual, seemed unbothered, humming a tune under her breath.

  That’s when the water stirred.

  Killian stopped. The gentle ripple of the stream turned erratic, as if something large moved beneath the surface. A second later, another ripple followed.

  Jenny must have noticed too because she stopped humming. “You see that?”

  Killian nodded. He tightened his grip on the spear, muscles tensing as he peered at water.

  Then, with a sudden splash, two figures lunged out of the stream.

  They were humanoid but grotesque. Standing roughly four feet tall with slick, greenish skin. Their limbs were long and gangly, webbed fingers tipped with sharp claws. Their heads were misshapen, embedded in them were beady black eyes and a bowl-shaped indentation on their scalps, filled with the murky water.

  “Kappas,” Jenny stated.

  Killian barely had time to react before the first one lunged at him, its claws swiping for his throat. He twisted out of the way, the creature’s attack barely missing.

  The second kappa went for Jenny, but she dodged effortlessly, leaping back with unnatural grace.

  Killian didn’t have time to marvel at her reflexes. The first kappa was already attacking again.

  He gritted his teeth and thrusted his spear forward. The sharpened tip struck the creature’s shoulder, sinking in—but not deep enough. The kappa let out a guttural snarl and yanked itself free, blackish-green blood oozing from the wound.

  It retaliated immediately, slashing at Killian’s arm. Pain flared as sharp claws tore through his sleeve, raking across his bicep. He grunted but didn’t fall back.

  Damn, they’re fast.

  The second kappa, seeing its companion wounded, abandoned Jenny and turned its attention to him. Killian managed just in time to raise his spear before both creatures were on him, swiping, biting, forcing him onto the defensive. He could hear Jenny laughing somewhere behind him, the sound both infruating.

  "Having fun?" she called.

  "Shut up and help!" Killian snapped, ducking under another clawed strike.

  Jenny didn’t answer immediately. He caught a glimpse of her leaning lazily against a tree, watching.

  "I think you got this," she finally said.

  Killian cursed under his breath. Sadistic little—

  One of the kappas lunged low, aiming for his legs. He jump back out of the, but in doing so, he lost his footing. His back hit the dirt hard.

  The first kappa pounced.

  Acting on instinct, Killian thrust his spear upward, angling it just right.

  The sharpened wood punched through the kappa’s chest.

  The creature let out a wet, strangled croak. Its body twitched violently before slumping forward, lifeless.

  Killian gritted his teeth and shoved it off him.

  The second kappa hesitated, its beady eyes flicking between its fallen companion and Killian, who was now struggling back to his feet, blood seeping from the claw marks on his arm.

  Jenny sighed dramatically. “Fine, I guess I’ll step in.”

  Before the remaining kappa could react, she moved.

  One second, she was standing by the tree. The next, she was right behind the creature.

  There was a flash of steel. Jenny’s knife slashed clean across the kappa’s throat.

  The creature gurgled, clutching at the wound as it staggered forward. A moment later, it collapsed next to its fallen kin.

  Jenny wiped her blade against her sleeve and turned to Killian. “See? You had that under control.”

  Killian shot her a glare, clutching his bleeding arm. “I hate you.”

  She grinned. “No, you don’t.”

  He groaned, looking down at the two dead kappas. The fight had been sloppy. He had been too slow, too reckless.

  But still...

  He had killed one.

  Wounded and exhausted as he was, that small victory made him stand a little taller.

  Jenny, noticing the look on his face, clapped him on the back—right where his wound was.

  Killian winced. “Damn it, Jenny!”

  She just laughed. “Come on, Sir Knight. Let’s patch you up before you bleed out.”

  With a grumble, Killian followed her.

  This journey was going to kill him.