As usual, the phylactery oozes an ominous purple.
The bones surrounding the sigils don't make the room any less unsettling.
Rosa's crimson eyes dart at every shift in the dark.
Mostly rats.
Her face scrunches at the mix of smells filling the room.
She flicks her eyes to the twitching furry ears of the church nun beside her.
Then her eyes, then her hand, and the wine bottle in her grip.
"You reek…"
"Huuh? Hic Got a problem with that?"
Akira jerks her neck left and right. Rosa can hear the gentle cracks from each movement.
"You sure you can fight with… that?"
"Worry not squeak, I'm only drinking two of 'em right now"
"Only? Also, stop with the squeak will you?"
"Eh, fine."
Akira tips the wine bottle to her mouth, throat bobbing as she chugs.
"Pwaaaah! Nothing beats an evening wine!"
"You said that regardless the time though…"
"Course I do! Wine is an all time drink!"
A retort storms through her throat. Yet the sheer disbelief swallows it whole.
"Want some?"
Akira tilts the bottle towards Rosa ever so casually with a bright smile on her face.
Rosa sighs.
"No thank you… I'd rather have my mind working perfectly for tonight."
"If you say so. No harm in a sip, I'd say."
Akira tips the bottle back for another swig.
"Of course you would…"
Rosa's eyes drift to the papers beside her.
Mana readings outside of the shed, normal.
In this room also normal.
No help signal from Lilia, Werner, or Erika.
"Brought some holy water, if it calms ya down."
Akira tilts another bottle to Rosa. A translucent bottle with clear liquid in it.
Rosa takes the bottle from her. She turns the bottle to look at it from various angles.
"You brought some?"
"Didn't know what lurks 'ere. Never hurt to bring one or two."
"So… I've been meaning to ask for a while but…"
Rosa puts down the bottle beside her.
"What is your actual game? Why would a church nun be interested in a wolf standing upright in a remote farm?"
Akira's green eyes blink several times before she sighs.
"You're being nosy about it aren't cha?"
Rosa tilts her head. Her low tails flick with it.
Her lips curve upwards, not quite touching her eyes.
"Well… considering all of your excuses are flimsy, almost as if deliberately so, I can't help but get awfully curious~"
She answers in a syrupy, singsong voice.
"Even if I told you, what would it change?"
"My trust~ You know, I'm quite good at recognizing a pattern when someone withholds something. They usually seek to use me~"
"Use ya? Me? Imma just a church nun! Besides don't we know each other for a while now?"
"Exactly! I learned for a while even the closest may hide something in plain sight~"
Akira's words would be reassuring — if not for Eisenvalt.
An ore survey quest led her straight into a death trap. One that turned out to be a state-level intelligence operation.
The closest person they know handed them runic weapons. The exact solution. Almost as if he knew.
They've discussed it. Neither knows how to confront a man who says so little.
Rosa squints her eyes towards Akira, who swirls the wine in her bottle.
But for Akira, she doesn't plan to let her go.
"So, what would it be, miss church nun? You clearly know something…"
Akira goes silent, before she sighs.
"Fine… I do know something, alright? Ya don't have to look at me like Imma bite off yer throat or something."
She takes another swig of wine.
Her orange tail flicks left and right. The white tip brushes against the wall.
"There's one possibility I haven't told ya. Ya know, if I spill it right the first time y'all might look at me differently."
Her tail flicks faster as her ears flatten.
Rosa gulps. She hates the guilt creeping up to her stomach, yet she needs an answer.
"I'm listening… As for how I'll react, I'll hear what you say first."
"The creature. The way it acted, and how the people here and the animals describe it. It's almost like-"
BOOOM!
The thunderous explosion jolts Rosa's body.
Akira immediately brandishes her weapon, looking left and right.
"We'll continue this later, squeak! Outside, now!"
Rosa nods as she picks up and shoves the holy water into her satchel.
Her now repaired amber staff held tight in her hand.
Both rush out of the cellar.
Outside the shed, the sky is dark but Rosa notices an orange light.
"Naissaich…"
Rosa's eyes glow a faint blue as the dark sky becomes visible in shades of gray.
Then she notices gray smoke floating above the brighter orange.
"The pheasant enclosure. ...I was wrong."
Akira growls.
Rosa's eyes glance at Akira's sharp jaw. Her teeth bare as she clenches her jaw.
"Did we alert the beast too much?"
"Probably. Either way, Imma check it!"
"I'll stay just in case…"
"Alrite, shoot a fireball in the air when ya need something!"
"Roger!"
Rosa throws a scroll towards Akira, which she catches immediately.
"Flow mana to it when you-"
Akira starts at a quick walk, then her steps rapidly become a sprint too quick for a normal human.
Too quick, as Rosa didn't even finish her sentence.
The rustles from her footsteps fade away, leaving Rosa to sigh in silence.
Rosa takes the papers from earlier and sticks them near the doors.
The mana reading still normal for the outside and inside the shed.
No help signals from either Erika, Werner, or Lilia.
Nothing yet. She has to wait for Akira's signal — if she even heard the instructions.
Hopefully, since she doesn't bother to stop to even listen.
She turns around and waits, scanning the shades of gray trees with her crimson eyes.
Not for a single second does she drop her guard, even as seconds stretch into minutes.
Then all of her hairs suddenly stand up while her body shivers.
Back, she turns around and finds the door and all the sigils on the paper.
Below, the ground, nothing vibrates on her feet.
Above—
She jumps forward, rolling to the ground to avoid the claws plunging down at her.
The impact explodes where Rosa stood a heartbeat ago.
Rosa plants her hand and pushes herself up.
Finally she sees it.
It is exactly like what described in the book she read as a child.
Black, curled, and uneven fur all over its body.
Standing upright on two legs, like a man.
Claws as sharp as a razor, baring its gnarly teeth.
Eyes glow in the moonlight. Head exactly as a wolf with its snout.
Only a couple of things are off from what she read.
It is too slim compared to the bulky and muscular depiction of the book.
If slim is even the word. Thin, no, skeletal would be more appropriate.
As if the creature is nothing but skin and bones.
And the shackle bindings, still attached to its limbs.
She observes as it moves. Fluid. Too fluid for a regular undead.
Which means it might actually be a chimera. ...Confirmed.
Rosa points her staff up. She glows as a fireball starts to form.
The creature's hands snap into motion, forming rapid gestures.
One after another, each form shifting seamlessly.
Then she notices. The paper on the left side of the door glows red.
Her fireball dissipates the moment she launches it.
It fizzles into nothing against the dark sky.
Then from its mouth, flames start to seep out.
Rosa's eyes widen as she sprints sideways.
"Vlitzschreitt!"
Lightning envelops Rosa's legs and she begins to speed up.
By the time the flames shoot out, Rosa is already elsewhere.
Stepping as fast as lightning. Here one moment, gone the next.
Bzzzzt Bzzzzt
She dodges the incoming flame breath chasing after her again and again.
Bzzzt
When Rosa lands on the rooftop of the shed, the creature is below her.
She aims her staff downward. Lightning wraps around her.
Above her are three bird-shaped lightning pointing at the creature.
"Vlitzsperling!"
One by one they dart forward in quick succession.
Another forms as soon as one leaves.
Yet the beast is quick. It jumps backwards, rolls sideways, and then it jumps forwards.
Lightning birds rain down on its path, yet it zigzags closer and closer.
Another sequence of hand signs.
Again, her lightning birds dissipate into the air.
It leaps up to the roof where Rosa stands.
Flames engulf its hands as it bares its claws.
"Vlitzschreitt!"
Her incantation finishes the instant the claw grazes the air before her face.
The heat of it still lingers in her skin as her body zaps away.
The roof erupts into splinters as the creature's hands tear through.
Another shiver shoots down Rosa's spine.
She glances at the trees around her — some have wilted.
When she lands on a patch of grass, the creature forms another sequence with its hands.
Then it vanishes in a gust of wind.
A chill spreads as the first reflex to look back kicks in.
The beast lunges at her. She takes another lightning step.
Mid-landing, she kicks back. Her body zaps backward.
BAM!
The creature strikes where she stood, a storm that vanishes the instant it lands.
A frustrated hiss escapes her. She can't parallel-cast.
Dodge with Vlitzschreitt, strike with another spell. If only she could.
But she is not Callista. Not yet. Someday. But not now.
BAM!
Behind her. Closer. She runs to the lines of trees in front of her.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Each strike misses her, yet each one lands closer than the last.
She slides under the tree roots, the smallest gap she can fit through.
Yet the beast just shreds through the woods.
It pauses and does another sequence. Its chest rises and falls, heavy and uneven.
Then the lightning on her legs dissipates.
Without the boost to her speed, she keeps running.
But the creature swifts, cutting the path in front of her like a whirlwind.
It snarls and growls at her.
Rosa steps backwards. Her hands can't stop shaking as her knees begin to weaken.
This is not it. Not here. Not like this.
Rosa closes her eyes, begging for a miracle.
She points her staff upwards.
"Feuervall!"
A fireball shoots from the amber crystal tip of her staff.
When she opens her eyes, the creature's gaze goes up before returning to her.
"Varriere!"
Translucent panels like honeycomb begin to form before her.
The creature is already lunging. Its claw pierces the barrier, crushing through.
Rosa jumps backward as the claws almost reach her.
If the barrier hadn't provided the slight delay, she would be finished.
Thud
"Urk!"
Something hard hits her back. A tall tree, she realizes the moment she glances back.
The creature is before her, heaving. Its tongue hangs out, drool dripping.
Rosa's hand reaches into the satchel and finds the holy water.
SPLASH
The holy water hits it square in the face. For an undead, this would be devastating.
Yet the creature stands still. It even licks the water from its face.
It begins to slowly move forward, yet when it is just a step away from Rosa, it falls to its knees.
The creature clutches its stomach with its arms. Rosa hears a loud growl, not from its mouth.
This is not an undead at all.
Then it raises its head once more, eyes sharpened.
"Hee!"
Rosa shields herself with her arms, bracing for the worst.
Clang!
The clash of metal snaps her eyes open. Akira. Between her and the beast, the creature's claws locked against her weapons.
"Sorry! Took me long enough. Bastard was clever, had to put the pheasants back…"
She hooks its arm with the prongs and kicks the creature in the stomach.
It wails as it falls backwards. When its eyes meet Akira's, she recognizes what's in them.
Fear.
"Akira… this creature… it isn't-"
"I know. I had my suspicions confirmed just now."
Akira turns around and carries Rosa in her arms.
"H-hey! What are you- I can stand on my own!"
"We're leaving, squeak."
"I'm not a squeak!"
Akira jumps to the nearest branch, then leaps from tree to tree towards the farm.
She's never seen movement like this.
"We're not going to-"
"We're not. Now that I know what it is."
Just as they see the grass field in front of them, a blur tears past them. It takes Rosa seconds before she realizes — it is the beast.
Akira lands on the grass before she runs in the direction of the main house.
"It's… going back to the shed."
"I know. We're not going to chase."
Questions swarm her mind, but she nods on this one.
Akira knows. Starving beast in fear in the shed.
If they choose to chase it, it'll be cornered.
In her experience, nothing is more dangerous than a cornered beast.
"Akira… now you have to answer this one. What is that? What did you hide?"
"Alright… here goes nothing… It is probably a kemomimi."
Rosa's eyes widen, her gaze freezes at Akira's face.
Green eyes focus forward, orange hair flows as she runs through the grassland.
Silence becomes their companion for a moment.
"Kemomimi… you mean…"
"Yeah, same as me. Beast eared and all."
Rosa's eyes glide from Akira's face to her chest — smooth skin, no fur. Nothing like the creature.
"Done admiring the views?"
Rosa's face flushes crimson, almost like her eyes.
"Wha-!? I'm not! That's not! You know what I meant!"
A quiet chuckle from Akira.
"Yeah, yeah. Just messing a bit with ya."
Before they realize, they're back outside the mansion-like house.
"Also, would you let me down already!?"
Rosa's question meets silence.
"Nah, I think I'm good. Lilia's right. You feel good to carry."
"That doesn't make it- Put me down!"
Rosa's hand smacks Akira's shoulder in a flurry of weak hits.
"Alrite, alrite, putting ya down!"
Footsteps immediately rush to them.
"Rooosiiiieeeeeee!"
"Urk!"
Something, or someone, slams her to the ground and wraps her tight.
"Hwaaaaa! You're fine! Thank goodness you're fineeee!"
"L-Lilia!? This is how you greet me!?"
Lilia just hugs her even tighter.
"I'm so glaaad! I'm so glad you're okaaaay!"
"Had 'er insisting on going with me. When I told her yer alone, her face went pale as snow…"
"Hwaaaa! When we found out none of the pheasant was missing… I thought… I thought… Hwaaaaaa!"
"Had to run back on that one."
Another rush of footsteps closes in.
Erika, Werner, and Pauline immediately join them.
"Rosa! Akira! I saw that fireball! Are you guys okay? Did you meet with the beast!?"
Erika bends forward, catching her breath as she asks.
"Yeah, we're alrite. We need to discuss a plan though. That beast was never an undead."
"Wasn't an undead? What— what about—"
Pauline clears her throat.
"Um… shall we discuss it inside? I don't think we should stay out here…"