Spirit Taming

Chapter 513: Other Paths

While hearing this was not what anyone wanted, they knew that it made more sense that someone would be behind the odd events. It was already clear that it was not normal for there to be two beasts fighting and creating a storm that went a different way than normal. It was not normal that it just happened to be the perfect way to cause issues in three regions that were so close to one another.

The coincidences were fine, but if that was all it was, then why were there also reports in Solar academy city of odd spy activity that didn't make any sense? It was very clear that this was all about forcing security within the city to become much more strict than it was normally.

By doing so, it took guards away from dungeons and other places within the territory. It also stopped the intervention of a nearby city that would benefit from sending anyone to take over a dungeon. There was an ideal opening for trouble to take place. Too perfect of an opening.

"So, you're saying that we are going to head to a dungeon to get materials while it's pretty clear that the cult that causes everyone trouble is planning to go there too?" Isa glared at Clark. It was easy to feel the pressure of her gaze compared to the tone of her voice.

"It's just a perfect chance to get killed. Why not go there?" Isa didn't stop though. She was clearly hearing that the group would be facing worse opponents than they had ever faced.

"But we can make a killing if we beat them there and back. Especially if we can get any chance to meet the elves and reach out a hand. A marchant group that trades with elves is considered one of the best of the best. They can have materials we can't get. They even sell forest spirit beasts. It will be great."

"And we lost Isa to her merchant greed." Maria sighed heavily before she looked at Clark, "What do you think we should do here?" She trusted that Clark would not send them toward their deaths for no reason. There had to be something worthwhile here overall.

"I think we should head there. Solar city doesn't have any intention of letting us do as we wish. If we head to the dungeon and get in, we should be able to grab some materials for Isa's flame sprite and maybe Crim. If we meet anyone, that could be good. Otherwise, we pull out and let the guards there handle things."

"We don't have any proof that the Blood moon cult is actually here yet. Just rumors that seem to add up to trouble." Clark also added the last little bit as a reason for them to potentially succeed more easily. If the people behind the trouble have not made a move yet, they might still be setting up their plans to be able to get what they want. That meant time for the group.

"I will head there alone if you can't make the decision. I want the metals in there. My partner needs better food and elven metal has unique properties. Since that's a separate space connected to a few different places, I should be able to grab whatever I want." Ralph's bluntness was exactly what everyone needed to snap them out of their problems.

"Then I will be supporting everyone. I will have some of my beasts scout things out along the path. You will handle beasts that come to bother you, and weaker opponents. If there is real trouble, I will be taking everyone away at any sacrifice necessary." From the way that professor Wright spoke, it was clear that she was going to be using the proper survival methods needed to make sure they lived.

She did not care what everyone thought. She was the one with experience here.

"That's fine by me. I have a bit more strength than before but we can't expect we will be facing opponents at the same level as us." Reese looked down at his hip. His spirit steel sword seemed to vibrate in agreement and anticipation. Both of them wanted to fight and refine their edge, but not at the cost of death.

Before anyone could say anything else, Grace and Ralph had already started walking ahead. Clark had no choice but to push to the frost and begin showing them the pathway that the merchant had given them.

It was a lot to put on everyone's minds but it was enough to prove that they could handle themselves in the wilderness. They could make these decisions the same as any older traveler would make. They were not going to sit back and let themselves act weaker when they were not weaker. They were ahead of their age and they could prove it easily. Not that proving it was on their minds.

They were just acting their strength.

As they moved through the nearby paths, they noticed the changes in the areas they moved. The pathways that were clearly well traveled had a flatter appearance from beasts moving over it. When the lava rocks split and the group was able to notice the changes, they were forced to wonder how someone would know of these paths.

The stones that were broken and forced up by the magma moving underneath perfectly concealed the pathways they traveled. Yet, it also presented a clear disadvantage. They were essentially forced to travel closer to one another. This meant that they would have a harder time fighting when they found a beast. The perfect trap for an ambush predator.

"That merchant is sneaky. Taking this path must have been risky at first. They had the right beast though." isa was sure that she could somewhat sense the solid stone beneath them while also sensing the high fire and earth energies moving to signal magma. Her flame sprite and crystal golem allowed her these senses.

"I would say there have to be plenty of scouts that go out searching for places like this. I would hate that job though." Brad grumbled slightly as he realized that scouting would be a risky and boring job. He wouldn't be able to train at all because he would be forced to be silent and hidden the entire time.

"No, it would be perfect. If you have the right beast you can move safety over all the hardened lava rocks without ever risking falling through. If it's an even better beast, they might be able to tell you when the magma currents change and you can sell the plan right away.

The best scout for the area could be famous." Jerold quickly opposed Brad's view enough that it made everyone think of either side.

"It's all about what position you excel at. I would never be out here doing this with my partner. We hate this suffocating heat. It's better in the forge than here." Grace chimed in and stuck closer to Ralph. Because of Ralph's molten boar that had come from the taming space, the air and the heat was mitigated slightly.

His boar was trying to absorb the fire energies and also keeping many fumes at bay with its unique skills.

"We should remain more vigilant. We are a decent way from any possible patrols. Especially with the current alerts that they have. I doubt that we are not being followed, but that does not mean we will be helped if we are in trouble. Professor Wright already warned us that she is only here for emergencies. But she is not an omnipotent god.

She can be hurt too." there was a sobering truth in Ella's words. She made sure that everyone realized just what dangers that they were in.

"We should be more vigilant. Especially since that rock just moved up ahead. I would say that it isn't really a rock but a beast that pretends to be one." Clark spoke casually. As if he was talking about the weather. The perfect way to cover any stress that would alert a beast in hiding that the group knew it was there.

It made certain that the beast would not be running when Clark and the others were prepared to fight.

"What is it?" Ella seemed to be in the unknown for once. From what Clark could see, she had not delved enough in to the specifics of fire type beasts around Solar city yet. That was unfortunate because he was sure that if Solarn academy had let them in easily, they would have been able to get to a library and she could get more specific information that would help her and all of them.

"I can see some of it and I can tell what it is." Clark continued to speak comfortably before he started to prepare his spear. He also started to tell the group what the beast was and exactly how they were going to trick it in to opening itself up for them to easily beat it on one clean move.