In order to progress and become better, it was often necessary to do things you didn't want to do. Ethan knew this well, and now he had to go through it again.
"I can't believe it!" Ethan complained as he made his way through the bushes. "Why the hell did I drag you to my house if we have to go back to the Rotten Forest again?! This place is disgusting!"
"Sorry, but I can't control my spell. If the Blind Voyager pointed us here, then this is where we have to go."
"Agh... By the way, do you want to tell me who those people were and how the hell you survived? You know, I stabbed you right in the heart. Normal people don't survive that!"
Menir touched her chin. "I'm not a normal person, I'm a mage just like you."
"A broken mage! And we have to fix that!"
"Sure. That's our common goal."
Menir nodded, following Ethan. Soon they would reach the site of Ethan and the Crooked Growon's battle.
"I survived because my Circle isn't as broken as yours, and unlike you, I've been a mage for almost a year. The Blind Voyager has already opened two Patterns, while your Catalyst only has one at the moment, right?"
Ethan stopped as he raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
"I can understand that your spell has a protective function, but what do you mean you've been a mage for a year? How old are you?!"
She couldn't be more than 18 because otherwise, her Broken Circle wouldn't be able to change. Ethan knew that.
"A little over 17. Judging by your face, you're older than me."
"WHAT?! You became a mage at 16? Where did you even get the money for the crystal?" Ethan exclaimed, shaking the forest.
Menir looked away.
"Don't be jealous. I inherited a jewelry box from my mother. When she died, I had to sell it to buy the crystal. Thus, I became a Broken Mage at the ceremony."
Ethan scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"I see. So... What about the people?"
"Dark Horn," Menir replied coldly. "They were Dark Horn's people. He hired me when he found out about my spell. The offer was too good to refuse. In the first few weeks, that's what I did, working as a seeker. But... He wanted to find something special."
"And that something special is here, in the Rotten Forest?" Ethan clarified.
"Yes. He doesn't know exactly where, but there's something here that he's looking for. I'm not sure we should get involved with it."
Ethan shrugged. "Well, if his thing can be useful to us, then we'd better use it."
Step. Step. Step.
Step by step, they returned to the field where it all began.
The mercenaries were gone, leaving only bloody footprints behind. The Crooked Growon's carcass still lay at the sharp peaks. The flesh had begun to rot, and the bones were visible as the beasts had torn off a large part of it.
Suddenly, Ethan and Menir stopped.
Next to the carcass were two men in black clothes. They were mercenaries like the ones who had brought Menir to the Rotten Forest, but they were not ordinary people.
"Broken Mages?" Ethan whispered. "Maybe we should just wait until they leave? What do you think?"
Menir shook her head. "We have to move on, beyond the field, but we have to get rid of them. We can't feel safe while they're wandering around."
"Tsk. I'll have to do the fighting. You like giving orders, right?"
With a calm expression, Menir nodded. "I'll help you. Besides, don't you need money? I'm sure those two have something valuable.'
It was true, but that didn't make the situation any easier.
'You're a dangerous woman.' Ethan shook his head as he left the forest grove.
Menir wanted to shout that she was far from being a woman! But she had to remain secretive.
As soon as Ethan's figure appeared, the two men turned around. They became wary when they saw Ethan and his hand resting on the hilt of a dagger that was clearly an artifact.
"Hey, how's it going, guys?" Ethan smiled and waved his hand while maintaining a threatening presence.
The men narrowed their eyes, frowning.
"Who the hell is this?"
"A hunter? No, he's too young... Fuck, could he be another mercenary? This forest is getting more dangerous every day!"
"Silence? Come on, I'm sure we have something to talk about."
Unlike the mercenary, Ethan knew there would be no peaceful outcome. He was going to kill them to move on. They were Black Horn men, a threat to Menir and therefore a threat to him in this situation.
In such a scenario, he did not pity them, nor could he have any.
"Stay where you are." The tall man stepped forward, pulling a long sword from his belt. "We're here on a mission from Black Horn. If you have questions for him, go back to the city and don't interfere with us, or else...!"
Suddenly, a multitude of crimson hands emerged from the ground, carrying bloody chains. The second mercenary managed to avoid capture, but the second was not so quick.
Click.
The sound of gears turned as Ethan stepped forward as a stream of darkness ran along his arm.
Without hesitation, his fist slammed straight into the man's face, blowing his head to pieces and causing the flesh of his neck to begin to rot.
The corpse collapsed at Ethan's feet as he stared at the tall man.
"I'm sorry, but given the circumstances, Black Horn and I are enemies."
The man's eyes darted from side to side. He tried to find where Ethan's ally was hiding, but it was useless. Menir's small frame was invisible among the trees.
"Wait! If you and Black Horn conflict, you can forget about me! I just took the order like the other Broken Mages! You have to understand me!"
It didn't matter that Ethan didn't have much combat experience; it was a 2 vs. 1 fight. The mercenary knew that there was almost no chance of winning.
Ethan shook his head. "This isn't..."
Whoooooosh.
Cutting through the wind, a huge spear-sized arrow struck the man, piercing his chest and sinking halfway into the ground.
All the mercenary saw before he died were pieces of flesh lying on the ground.