The wind blew toward us, sharp and unforgiving, biting through the uniforms into the exposed skin of the soldiers behind me. Snowflakes twisted violently through the air, scattering across frozen terrain and crunching beneath our boots.
Drovin stood ahead, barely visible through the white haze—stone towers coated in white, faint smoke drifting lazily from distant chimneys.
I stopped.
Something felt off.
I felt something.
A pulse. Pulse full of mana and energy .
It moved through the air in slow waves, growing stronger with every second passed. Mana and energy intertwined within it, subtle yet impossible to ignore. It wasn't coming from the city.
It was coming from ahead, far—beyond the big white forest that was in front of us.
"Stay alert," I ordered, raising my right hand in the air.
A pale light swept over us, moving toward Drovin. The squad reacted instantly, spreading out and scanning the terrain.
Four of us were here: two blue color-badged soldiers, a snow guard—and me.
Lucas Aoki.
One of them, a Snow Guard, stepped closer to my side. His uniform different from mine, his white uniform blended seamlessly with the snowy surroundings, with silver lines on both of his side of stomach, made to blend with the whiteish nature all around us. It Clearly denoting his service and status for Nivalis.
I channeled mana into my right palm.
The light responded back, flowing toward me and shaping itself into a sheet of paper marked with some distorted black symbols on it.
As the light kept coming, on the paper formed a letters, forming a message.
"What's that?" the blue-badged female soldier asked behind me.
I didn't answer, focusing at the paper as sentence slowly formed there. Written in ink that smeared all over the paper, it was impossible to read what was written there.
"What does it say there?" the Snow Guard asked.
"I… can't tell yet," I muttered. "He?... tro?... atc?... Ki?... bdg...? The letters keep changing."
"What are you even saying, Lucas?" the female soldier asked again.
Lucas Aoki – POV –
I stared at the paper in my hands. I narrowed my eyes but still, the sentence written there was impossible to understand.
"That's exactly what is written there, Tira," I said, waving the paper at her face.
She took it from me, irritation clear on her face.
"That's enough, you two" the other blue badged soldier said.
"You" he said pointing his finger at me, „take this seriously, and stop making fun of us." And you," he added, turning to Tira, "watch your tone. You are not talking to someone your rank, show some respect"
Tira looked at me, embarrassed of what Marcus said.
While I smiled faintly.
"You heard him."
She sighed. "Forget about this" she said looking at the paper in her hands.
Then she froze, her expression changed, her eyes widened as she read the paper.
"…Sir," she said quietly, handing me the paper back. "Look at this."
The paper was clear, no longer smeared with ink onto there. The letters were not the letters anymore, it was a massage. A call, a call for help.
The message was clear.
We are on Kinuki Bridge, me and my squad are here to guard it, but we dont know what is going to happen. One of the bridge pillars was in ruins – possibly a work done by Naxana Empire, I am not 100% sure, since there are no traces left of mana or energy there, but what i am 100% sure is that no troll can destroy those pillars, nor have they tried before. I request immediate support by any one from higher ranks to interfere, at red color-badge and over it.
— Captain John
The message was short and clear, no more words were needed.
As i read the messange, I started surging energy into my legs.
"Straight to Kinuki Bridge—now!" I shouted, launching into the air.
With my wind element I kept pushing my body and flew across the air to the northeast from where the pulse was coming.
It's about sixty kilometers away from me now, will i come there in time? I asked myself as i flew across Nivalis land.
The frozen air tore at my uniform as I crossed Nivalis. I could barely see the Avenra city smokes from my position right now. Below me stretched an endless snow, and forests all colored in white from the snow that layed on their leaves. silent and untouched.
There was no movement there.
No signs of life.
Only a peaceful white nature.
„Does anyone else lives here other than in the cities" I asked myself.
As I drew closer, the pulse sharpened.
I was around twenty kilometers away from the place where pulse emanated the strongest signal. Beneath me, on the ground there was a path, leading to the Avenra city, and a big white forest which i flew over.
Straight ahead of me the signal came, i coulde sense it. It was coming from one position on the Kinuki Bridge.
I was there, I was couple of minutes away from the Kinuki Bridge, i couldn't see much from the air, except for cracked stone on bridge on some parts, and some red spots in the snow.
I descended slowly to the ground, and I could see those red spots more clearly. Spots made from the human corpses that layed in snow.
There was five soldiers there, some laying dead in the snow and some across the bridge.
I slowly approached towards the bridge, on my right i saw a yellow badged female soldier, laying in the snow, her stomach open, her organs pulled from her body and layed in the snow next to her.
To my left, next to a tree stump another layed another dead soldier covered in snow, with his left arm missing. I couldn't notice any mana or energy coming from him.
I clenched my fists and looked on the ground.
I saw Footprints— some large, some uneven, some small. All leading to one place, a forest.
"Trolls," I whispered.
I examaned the footprints.
„One, this small one two, there's third, fourth and the biggest one so far five."
„Is this it?" i said stepping onto the bridge.
I stepped forward carefully, examining the scene. The marks on the bridge, the damage to the stone—it was clear the fight had been desperate.
To my left, was a soldier, green—badged, all torn apart. His sword layed on the ground next to him. He had bruises all over his body, his left side of stomach was pierced. From the looks he was pierced by claws instead of weapon, or any technique of mana or energy. His body eaten by trolls, bite marks found everywhere on his body, going straight through his uniform.
I turned around, I saw another dead soldier leaned against bridge stone parapet, his whole head was missing. Behind where his head should be was a dent.
"From the look of it, it appears he was slammed against the bridge parapet and then kicked in his head." I whispered to myself.
"Not something that a human would do."
On his chest stood a yellow-badge insignia that i tore with my hands. I turned around the badge and read what was written there.
"Mark Liscar. Was that your name soldier?"
I closed my eyes.
"You did well Mark, from now on i will take matters into my hands. Go and rest now soldier, you deserve it. May Akira bless you and all the other soliders that shed blood for people of Nivalis."
As I moved further across the bridge, the traces of battle were everywhere. Broken stone, spilled blood, and flesh of the dead trolls.
There were troll body parts all over the bridge. Fingers, hands, legs and other parts. There was a huge blood stain to my left, splattered all over the bridge stone parapet, and underneath it, layed a lower part of a human body.
The blood was still fresh, „this happened about couple minutes ago, I'm sure in that" I said.
More troll bodies were here, most of them had their heads decapitated, but one it seems had the same fate as that man on the bridge parapet. His whole upper body was missing, only a large stain of blood, and his lower body were on the ground laying.
Ten trolls in total.
Two yellow colored-badge soldiers, two green color-badged soldiers and this one over here, they didn't stood a chance against them. And also what is this tree doing here? I thought.
Too many.
„Hm" I looked at the paper again,
One of the bridge pillars was in ruins – possibly a work done by Naxana Empire, I am not 100% sure, since there are no traces left of mana or energy there, but what i am 100% sure is that no troll can destroy those pillars, nor have they tried before.
„Hmm, possibly a work done by Naxana Empire?" i said, looking around for any clues that would convince me that the Naxana Empire was somehow involved in all of this."
I focused, closing my eyes channeling my mana, empowering my senses so i can feel any traces of mana or energy around the bridge.
I could feel Five lingering sources.
Four of them come were from mana source, and one of them from energy source.
I opened my eyes, and turned around. Around the lower part of the one soldier missing his upper body mana lingered around. Same thing with the female soldier. This guy next to a tree stump didn't emanated any source, but i could sense some bits of mana around his palms. This green-badged emanated energy, and around Mark's body mana lingered around.
There was no more mana or energy clues around, only those five. I couldn't feel any other mana or energy source besides theirs. It's hard to believe that this could be Naxana Empire doing. But also when i think about it, ten trolls coming at once was never seen before.
As i was lost in my thoughts, i felt mana emanating. I turned towards the source and saw Mark's body shaking violently on the ground. I could feel it, his mana channels were pulsing fast, his mana rushed through his body back and forth at razing speeds. It kept like that for a few seconds before it stopped shaking completely.
Some black symbol formed slowely on his right hand.
„Is this what i think it is?" i said channeling mana into my palms.
"Mark!" I shouted. "Let go of it, i will do it instead of you, go and rest now!"
It didn't stop.
From his body something started appearing. A shadow, it separated itself from his body—shapeless, with no detail being able to see on it. It was fully black, with some weak violet light glowing at it's chest.
It forced itself out from Mark's body, the shadow missing it's head, same as Mark's original body.
It was a curse.
It immediately rushed towards me, It spread It's arms, ready to touch me and apply it's curse.
I dodged instantly, keeping my distance away. The curse itself was not so fast, but it kept continuously attacking me, blow after blow, it didn't stop attacking me.
One touch from that thing and there would be a huge consequences for me.
„Mark!" i shouted.
"Mark! It wasn't me who did this to you!" i shouted at curse as I avoided It's attempts to touch me.
A futile attempt, the curse just went for another attack, not stopping for a single second.
The curse lunged again at me, relentless and unthinking.
"Tch… this isn't going anywhere."
I launched into the air with my wind element, as I bring my look behind, it was already behind me looking for another attempt to grab me.
Before it was able to grab me, I launched huge blow of air at me, pushing myself out of way with it in the process.
I forgot Curses don't need anything to do unlike us. I said to myself, as I slowly descended towards the ground.
The curse went once again for another attack, it just kept attacking desperately trying to touch me.
„Mark! It was the trolls that did this to you! Not me Mark! Listen to me."
The curse stopped for a second, then went for me again, launching It's body my way.
It seems there is no other way. I thought focusing my mana.
From the earth I summoned earth pieces, shaped like a hands. And with them I started blocking curses attacks. I constantly pushed him away, while i kept my distance.
I used the earth again, this time I went for his ankles, trapping them in the process. Stopping It's movement.
It tried to break the earthen hands holding his ankles, but i just kept strenghtening them with my mana.
I slowly approached the curse, I was standing two steps away from it. Carefully watching his movements so i dont get grabbed.
„Listen Mark, I am not your enemy. I am not the one who did this to you or anyone from your group. Go and rest now, Akira is already waiting for you to arrive on the other side, so dont keep him waiting. You already did what you could, judging by the looks of it, anger took control over you. And that's what led you to ended up like this."
I summoned another two earthen hands from the ground, with them i pinned his forearms, slowly pulling them aside.
For a moment—it held, but then it started to tremble furiously.
„What the?" Out of nowhere the earthen hands holding the curse turned into dust, vanishing in the atmosphere freeing the curse.
The curse broke free.
It immediately launch at me not wasting a single second of It's time, going for an attack.
I threw myself back, I used every element that i couldve. I launched many slashes of wind at him, most of them connected but didn't do anything.
I tried using the earth element again, but the moment earth pieces emerged from the ground, they turned into dust, splashing at the ground.
Someone kept disturbing my mana again, It was annoying. With wind element I pushed myself back, keeping my distance away again from the curse.
Then, suddenly, the curse stopped.
His body faced towards me. Even without It's head I could feel it, it was looking directly at me.
It turned around suddenly.
And vanished into the forest.
I followed instinctively—
And struck something invisible that pushed me backwards.
It was a barrier.
"…Again?"
Someone interfered again, stopping me from stopping that curse
I wasn't so scared, beacuse the curses will attack the people who led them to that state, but it attacked me. Someone who had nothing to do with Mark, it made me uneasy.
What if it attacks someone else, someone weaker than me? I asked myself as I kept pressing my hand against the barrier, igniting it with energy. The barrier didn't got stronger no matter how much energy or force i put into it.
Hm, a smart one. It seems the message wasn't lying, someone else is here.
I couldn't tell anything, if it was a woman or man. I couldn't feel any mana or energy within the area.
The barrier is here, but where is he? I asked myself.
I couldn't see or feel any energy or mana coming from him. Even the barrier doesn't emanate any mana or energy. I never saw such a barrier.
I closed my eyes and channeled my mana, empowering my senses trying to locate the Intruder.
"Lucas!" a voice called me out.
„Be careful!" I shouted back, still channeling my mana within me.
They began to channel their mana and energy, even though they should've It just made it harder for me to locate this skilled intruder. Three new sources coming my way, it was impossible to locate anyone else mana or energy besides theirs.
I opened my eyes, looking at them.
My squad arrived moments later.
"To my right, Luka stood—a Snow Guard assigned to me for training."
„Something wrong sir?" he asked. „I can feel you are channeling your mana within your channels."
„A long story short Luka, a curse emerged from Mark's body."
„Who is that?" he asked confusedly.
„It's that dead man over there on that bridge." I answered pointing with my finger at Mark's corpse.
„What happened here?" I overheard Tira talking to Marcus.
„And you say a curse appeared, and you didn't stop it? Why?"
"Who said I didn't tried to stop it" I answered fast.
He stared at me confused.
"Ah… forget it, I said as I put my hand on the barrier. My hand ended up being pushed away again.
"See what I am talking about Luka?"
"A barrier?" Luka asked.
"Yes. Someone put it just as the curse went into the forest. Stopping me from following it."
"Why didn't you tried to force yourself through" Marcus asked.
"I weakened the curse with my earthen element, it won't last for much longer. I tried to find that intruder, but I didn't had any luck."
"Intruder?" he asked gripping his spear shaft
"There is no need for that anymore," I said pointing at his spear. "Whoever did this, his mission is now over."
"What do you mean?" Marcus asked.
I turned around, pointing at the bridge.
"He destroyed some bridge parts, killed five of our soldiers, let five trolls into Nivalis forests and bring a curse to life. He did even more than enough, why would he stay here any longer now that an S and few soldiers came? His job here is done."
"And you didn't killed him?" Tira said as she put white sheets over dead corpses.
"It's not that I didn't kill him Tira, it's more that I couldn't. He blended perfectly with mana and energy around us. Try and see for yourself, try to locate his position within all this mana and energy ravaging all around us." I continued.
"There was also a curse that I had to fight. I can't do three things at the same time. I was so focused on the curse I didn't even notice the barrier forming."
Tira crossed her arms.
"Hah. And you're one of the so-called three S's of Nivalis?"
I met her gaze calmly.
"Not everyone is perfect Tira."
„Just as you are good at Revia technique, so am I in other things. I am not good in locating people by their mana or energy alone. Especially if they blend within everything like now."
"As you try and try more things you will find out that you are better at some things and worse at some, there was never a human capable of doing all that.
"Huh?" Marcus made a sound. "Then what about Akira?"
"It was valid for everyone besides him Marcus. There is no other human capable of achieving what Akira could."
"So than what do we do now?" Luka asked.
"First we got to contact other higher ups, and tell them about the situation on Kinuki Bridge, then we have to stop any more trolls from stepping across the Kinuki Bridge, and then at least we have to get rid of the trolls before they do something bad, there is many villages, not so afar from the bridge. We must ensure their safety."
From my pocket I pulled a scroll and put in on the ground, I filled it with mana and energy until it started glowing. Some blue circle formed, and we waited for others to answer.
As we waited for someone to answer, Luka asked me something.
"How did you know that soldier name Lucas?"
From my other pocket, I pulled Mark's yellow-color badge and hold it in my arm.
"This is how I find out."
Luka shook his head, while the mana circle slowly started to flicker.
"Do this for everyone else as well. We got to deliver their bodies to their home, we cannot let them rot here like this. Also tell me th-Ayo!" - a voice interrupted me coming from the mana circle that arrived from the paper
I glanced over at the mana circle and saw the man, the suit, the afro, it was him Daxel Ronu.
"What's wrong Lucas" Did anything important come up?"
"Yeah Daxel, we have a pretty bad situation over here on Kinuki Bridge," I said. "I request soldiers to come over here Immediately. We have to move."
"I understand sir. I'll tell this people right away.
On the mana circle, his face vanished as he went to tell the others about the situation.
I noticed Tira looking at the mana circle in total shock, her mouth wide open.
„Something wrong Tira?" I asked gently.
"Is that really sir Daxel?"
"Yeah, that is him what did you mean by that."
I looked at her, as she turned around, clutching her head, "Nothing." Was all she said.
"Isn't he your teacher? Luka asked.
"Better if he wasn't." She said, crouching down still clutching her head.
"What did you said?" a voice came from the mana circle, echoing through the air between us.
Tira quickly hide behind Marcus back, looking devastated.
"Who said that?" He asked again, as his image came back to the mana circle.
I glanced at Tira, she was moving her head left-right, I could already tell what she wanted.
"It was Tira." Luka broke the ice.
"Haaaaaaaa!" she screamed.
"Ohoho, You seem to think you've become stronger now that you're current student at one of the S, is it Tira ha? Don't forget that you are coming back to my class after your trial ends with him." Daxel said looking directly at her."
"Anyway sir, I contacted the other higher ups from Velor, Avenra and Drovin city, they are sending soldiers right away. They should arrive there in about ten to twenty minutes."
"Thanks, Daxel" I said.
"Nooooooo-!" Tira whined, punching the snow with her hands.
"No problem sir, always. What's the current situation on the Kinuki Bridge.
"Not good Daxel, five of our soldiers are killed by trolls, there is an intruder within our land, possibly being from Naxana, trolls went into our forests and a curse managed to appear from one of the dead soldiers."
"I am coming right away sir"
"Thanks, Daxel, come with those soldiers and secure the bridge, we don't know if the intruder may try to attack once again. We need to dine defense on that bridge so that things like this could never happen again. Let this be a lesson to us all"
"Yes sir." He said, and with that the mana circle slowly start to fade.
As the circle faded i couldn't not notice Tira shouting at Luka pulling him in the process.
"You ruined everything! I am doomed now! My whole life is ruined now because of you!"
Why did i accepted to work with them? They are hopeless. A thought came to my mind.
I exhaled slowly.
"Come on, forget about that, we have to go, we are wasting a lot of time like this. Marcus will stay here and guard the bridge until Daxel and other soldiers appear. Will you Marcus?"
"Of course sir." He answered quickly.
"Thanks, then let's get going, you two."