Chapter 25

Outside the mansion, Satella was now in much more comfortable clothes, provided by one of the maids. In a black short sleeved shirt that hung around her shoulders, the straps of a purple undershirt could be seen. She wore dark blue pants, and had on a pair of black adventurer boots. Dark purple gloves covered her hands as she gripped the hilt of a wooden sword.

Mercury, wielding a set of wooden daggers, had taken a defensive stance.

"Isn't it a bit late to train?" Satella asked.

The sun had began to set, painting the sky and trees a gorgeous crimson as day turned to night.

"Nope." Mercury replied. "C'mon, let's see whatchya got."

Raising her blade, Satella was clearly nervous of striking Mercury.

"Are you sure about this?" She asked.

"I want to see your knowledge of handling a sword." Mercury replied.

"Okay..."

"Alright." Mercury took his stance, prompting Satella to do the same.

He noticed her feet were too close together, and she held her sword too close to her body. However, he didn't say anything about it.

"Whenever you're ready."

Satella took a deep breath before rushing Mercury.

Going in for an overhead slash, Mercury easily side stepped and bumped her on the head with his dagger.

"Sloppy." Mercury told her. "Try to attack quicker. Give your opponent less of a chance at guessing your strikes."

Satella looked at her sword before nodding.

"Your stance also needs improvement." Mercury added. "You need to be wider and closer to the ground."

Satella did as told, shifting her feet further apart as she held the wooden sword out in front of herself.

"Now," Mercury approached Satella and moved behind her. Putting his dagger away, Mercury shifted her grip on the sword. "If you follow the swing too much, you just leave yourself open for attack. Practice a few quick slashes."

Hours later

Having trained late into the night, Satella and Mercury were both exhausted. Breathing heavily, Satella collapsed to the ground. The two were bruised, but it wasn't anything too serious.

"Let's call it a day." Mercury said as he helped Satella stand.

Satella didn't respond as she accepted the help up.

Heading into the mansion, Mercury paused next to one of the bushes lining the grounds. Stopping to glance at it, Satella looked from Mercury to the bush.

"What's wrong?" Satella asked.

Mercury shrugged.

"Nothing." The two began heading to the entrance of the mansion again. "Thought I saw something."

Once the two went inside, the bush Mercury had glanced at rustled. From behind it, Christine looked at the place Mercury and Satella had practiced, an idea forming in her head.

Inside the mansion, Satella looked to Mercury, letting out a yawn.

Hearing it, Mercury glanced at Satella.

"If you choose, I can have one of the spare rooms to sleep in." Mercury told her. "Or you can head home. Your choice."

Satella yawned again before answering.

"You won't mind if I stay here?"

"Not at all."

Satella smiled and said a quick thanks before one of the maids came along to show her to her room. Once alone, Mercury began heading for his own room.

Upon entering, Mercury saw Makoto sleeping in his bed. For a moment, he thought he was in the wrong room.

The sound of the door closing caused Makoto to stir. Parting her eyelids, Makoto saw Mercury standing next to the door. Lifting the covers, she pat the spot next to her, inviting Mercury to join her.

Without questioning it, Mercury removed his armor before climbing in next to Makoto. Instantly, Makoto wrapped her arm around Mercury, her breaths tickling the back of his neck.

Slowly, Mercury drifted off.

A week later

In a small village close to Siltvelt, Mercury and his party, including the new addition, Satella, were helping with a bit of a monster problem. Having heard of a large beast terrorizing the locals, Mercury decided to check it out and bring Satella as a sort of training mission.

As of now, Mercury was gathering info on the creature, going door to door. Not much was said about the beast. It seemed the townsfolk had never seen it, but they have seen what it does to their crops and livestock, leaving behind nothing but bloody messes. A few of the townsfolk have even went off to kill this thing but none had returned.

Learning of a cave near the base of the mountain, a few kilometers away, the people believed it to be the creature's home. Deciding that was their best bet, they began heading there.

A few hours later

As they got closer to the mountain's base, Mercury noticed all the sounds of animals seemed to abruptly stop.

"I don't like this..." Satella said softly. "It's too quiet."

"You'd think there'd be at least a cricket chirping or something..." Daenerys said while glancing around the forest.

Raising his dagger in front of himself, Mercury led the group with caution.

"Don't let your guard down for even a second."

A sudden scream echoed throughout the forest.

"What was that?" Satella asked once the scream died down.

"Should we check it out?" Daenerys looked to Mercury.

Makoto's hair suddenly changed to a dark orange color as she looked to Mercury.

The scream echoed out again, much louder this time.

"We should help." Daenerys turned to the source of the scream.

"No. Wait." Mercury said quickly. After a few seconds, the scream turned into an unholy, inhuman, screech.

Everyone froze as they looked to Mercury, a look of horror spreading across his face.

"We have to get out of here." Mercury stated, his voice barely over a whisper.

"What is it?" Satella asked.

"A Wendigo."

End of chapter 25