Chapter 2:

Review Responses - FFN

KenosDC1 - You'd Be correct. Jormond is the main character. As for heart, they exist at this point, it's just a matter of how well-known they are. And the land's that would become clover are inhabited, and rather developed. They simply won't be unified for a while.

The day proceeded as it usually did in Kirchein, save for the ice mage's attempt at an attack that was thankfully over almost as soon as it started. The quick actions of two local mages certainly helped in that regard. But that much called into question, how they handled the situation before the city's guard did. But these questions were not asked by the city's inhabitants, rather, by a man who observed the situation from afar. His face was unseen, obscured by the gray hood on his head, the same color as the cloak that draped over his body.

"Perhaps… This will be more straightforward than we anticipated."

With no more words, the man activated his magic, as he seemed to sink into his own shadow, just below him. Leaving the space he formerly occupied empty. Within a few moments, he'd arrived at his base of operations, a small camp lined with members of the Alliance's military. But there were two most notable among them.

A large man with a muscular build, wearing ornate robes that befitted a noble such as himself. His beard, and head of black hair were well-groomed. And his emerald-colored eyes focused on the scout that had finally returned to him. At his side was a fair-skinned woman, who looked to be somewhere in her 20's. Sea-green hair that went down to her back, and an equally ornate dress, which stopped at her knees. Above the dress, was a more practical piece of her outfit, armored plates, painted red. A baritone voice came from the larger man, as he spoke.

"So you've returned, Tell me the results of your investigation."

"But of course, Colonel Zakharov… Through my observations, it would seem that the city's garrison will be of no concern. During my time there, I have noted attacks from beasts, as well as from an attack from a rogue mage. They either came late, or did not come at all, and the situation was handled by Civilians."

This much piqued the woman's interest, as she was the next to speak.

"Civilians? Will any of them be an issue?" She questioned.

"I don't believe so. A local hunter and his two friends, but there was nobody else of note."

Taking in this information with a nod, The gears in the Colonel's head began to turn, further considering what strategies could be opened to them.

"While the city is not all that important, its walls can be useful if staffed by the right amount of troops, and it can easily serve as a jumping-off point for further incursions. We could even establish a direct corridor for our forces to enter Ipsheim, or Hallenstedt."

If that's the case… Morozova, prepare your battalion for battle, and relay that same message to the others."

"Right!" With that, Lidiya Morozova began making her way back to her forces.

…

3 days had passed since the attack by the ice-mage in the city center, and Jormond had once more found himself in the rocky cliffs around the Kirchein, hunting. He was not alone this time, however, along with him were Willhelmine, and Andebert. It wasn't too common for them to join him on his hunts, but the situation was a bit different this time around.

"So. What exactly are we here for again?" Andebert questioned.

"Apparently there's some weird Kant'te running around, keeps attacking anything that passes by. Way bigger than what's normal." Jormond answered.

Wilhelmine gagged at this, as a look of disgust came onto her visage. Though she'd seen all manner of magical beasts, considering her friend's occupation, there were some things the woman never got over.

"One of those overgrown bug monsters, and it's bigger than normal? Just when you think it can't get worse…" She let out a sigh. It was no mystery to the two that Wilhelmine had a staunch dislike of insects. In no small part due to an event in their childhood, the girl taking a bite of an apple, unaware of what lied within. Recounting the event alone made her shutter.

"Well, the faster we get rid of it, the less we'll have to look at it." As Andebert spoke, his gaze began moving around the rocky hills, attempting to find this creature, and prevent it from attacking them first. In the meanwhile, Willhelmine spoke once more.

"Guess you're right. Let's get this ov-" The girl's words were cut off by what descended upon them. A large hexapedal insect, which was larger than the 3 combined. A triangular head and short antennae, two enormous compound eyes. Two long, cutting mandibles, projecting from its mouthparts. The creature's thorax was segmented and its abdomen resembled a teardrop. The front half, white with almond rings on one half, and tan beige on the other.

In the face of this, Jormond looked strangely calm as he stared upon it, speaking nonchalantly.

"Yep, that certainly is bigger than average-"

Jormond's words were interrupted by what came next, the large creature leaping up once more, apparently, attempting to crush them underneath. Willhelmine was the one to take the initiative, and get rid of the repulsive creature. Her grimoire, colored purple, almost immediately floated from her belt, and the pages began to flip.

"Spatial Magic: Rending Spheres!"

With her words, her mana was pushed outwards, and what appeared around her, were what seemed like black embers, in spheric form. As she took this action, her two allies took the same course of action, preparing their magic for use against the creature. The balls of spatial magic shot forth, much to the creature's surprise. Even so, it showed a surprising amount of grace as it danced around the spheres, only letting the attacks merely graze it. But the effects of her magic were made clear almost immediately, as the chitin was cleaved through.

The beast let out an angry chitter, as it landed, and subsequently, leaped back. Slamming into the ground, and breaking the earth below up, before flinging chunks of debris at its attackers, Andebert prepared a spell in response.

"Two can play at that game! Magma Magic: Searing Rain!" His two allies began to move behind him, as the earth under their feet began to shudder, and crack.. It did not take long for Molten rock to shoot out of the shaking earth, propelling hot slag through the air, which promptly began crashing into the creature's volley. Now, it was time for Jormond to make his own move. Beginning a dash toward the insect, with a smile on his face, just as he had done many times before, he forged constructs on both arms. The cutting blades that another local creature used to hunt. More resembling a human sword than a claw, which extended from the wrist.

"Beast Magic: Tequn Blades!"

With his spell activated, Andebert prepared to support him with a combination they'd grown fond of using. Jormond had finally stopped in place, with the creature noting this, and pouncing once more. The quick dash ended with the attack going wide, as a plume of Magma underground pushed what earth Jormond stood on into the sky. Its gaze went skyward as the young mage descended upon it.. But, at this point, it had more than enough. The creature jumped out of the way, letting Jormond's attack slam into the ground, rather than the creature itself. By now, it decided the meal wasn't worth the risk, and began skittering off into the horizon.

"All right!" Jormond said in his excitement.

"I don't think it'll be coming back for a while…Hopefully." Willhelmine stated, as she dusted off her clothing.

"Yeah, usually they don't give up that easily… With that, and how it looked, we must've fought a Juvenile…" Jormond explained, something that made Willhelmine blanch.

"You're telling me that thing's gonna get bigger?!" She yelled. Just her luck, not only was this giant thing running around, it wasn't even fully grown? Why did it have to show up around Kirchein of all places?

"Nothing else to do here. May as well get back to town, get more ladies to talk too, after all…" Andebert lied, with a wink. The two took this in stride, as they began walking off, Andebert following behind them… But, as they got closer and closer to the city, they noted something, rapid footsteps approaching them, from the direction of Kirchein.

"Jormond, Wilhelmine, Andebert, You must turn back!" The three looked toward the approaching person, a woman with short graying hair, and a pair of blue eyes. She'd served as a teacher in Kirchein, and someone that the three knew well. Confusion painted their expressions as they gazed at her.

"Miss Braddocke, what's going on?" Andebert questioned

"The Alliance, they…" As the woman trailed off, and their eyes widened. As even they, with their ignorance of politics, could understand what she was trying to say, and that much was enough for them to make a mad dash toward their town. What awaited them was unknown, but that much did not matter in their minds.

Beast Profiles -

Kan'te - The Kan'te is an insectoid predator that has grown far beyond the other arthropod species. It is a Diurnal predator that hunts with its physical strength, and use of mana. Much like humans, different individuals can use mana in different forms. However, they are limited to the four Natural Elements. They commonly compete with the Tequen, and Toanel, for prey. For the most part, they will prey on each other given the chance, keeping these three creatures in check.