Grimoire of Cultivation

Chapter 37: The Plan

"I can't just kill them," Darius sighed. The heavy air around him started to thin, while his killing intent slowly receded.

He paced, deep in thought. Lines of concentration etched deeply on his face. 'Why did it have to be this complicated? Couldn't he of just found some she fox and had some fun?! Little shit, had to mess with knights!' In his agitation, he kicked a rock, pulverizing it instantly.

Halting mid-pace, Darius gazed in the direction the knights had taken. "OK, since they can't see my aura, using mana in front of them will definitely raise alarms," he muttered, tapping his forehead in frustration. "Yet, spotting a dud out here in Fang Root might just freak them out more."

"I can't run back for father; they might leave, and there's no telling what that bastard plans for Haku."

"Maybe I could act lost, but my only shot then is trying to buy Haku. Though, chances are slim they'd listen to the Valdene dud."

His veins bulging at his temples, Darius clenched his fists. "Besides killing them, it's my only option. They should, at the very least take me back to the estate. Then father can deal with getting Haku back."

Darius knelt, splashing water on his clothes before grabbing handfuls of dirt to smear across his outfit, hair, and face. He took his dagger, slicing and then tearing at his clothes for a more tattered look. With a few sharp slaps to his cheeks and a solid punch to his own lip, harder than he intended, Darius finished his disguise.

Nursing his now swollen lip, Darius started walking towards the young mage Crelos and the group of knights.

----

Among the myriad creatures of Fang Root, the rare Atlas Crab stands out as a prized delicacy. These land crabs, distinct to this region, and few in number, spend their days masquerading as ordinary rocks, their formidable claws locking them firmly in place. Unnoticed by passersby, they merge perfectly with the forest floor until dusk begins to fall.

As daylight fades and night takes hold, Atlas Crabs awaken from their sleep. This transformation, from inanimate stone to agile forager, marks the beginning of their nightly venture for food. Swift for their kind, they navigate the forest, now even more hard to spot in the darkness of night.

Catching these crabs is an art, best attempted as the sun's last light touches the horizon. It's at this moment, when they're just waking and at their slowest, that they're most vulnerable. For the people who wish to dine on this delicacy, mastering the timing of this daily ritual is the key to securing these elusive crustaceans for their tables.

As the sun over Fang Root began its evening decent, the party hunting these crabs advanced in silence, their movements deliberate and wary. Abruptly, a knight, his gauntlets covered with a yellow manaforged aura, halted. The others paused in unison. His voice, gruff and commanding, broke the silence. "We need to hasten our pace or risk failing our assignment, whatever that was has moved on."

The Earth Knight turned, his stern gaze sweeping over the group before fixing on young Crelos. “You might not have seen what we're up against, but disappointing Sir Ramman ain’t an option.”

The other two knights, one wearing gauntlets of wind and the other fire, tensed at his words, their armor rattling. "Yeah, let’s pick it up," the Wind Knight urged, already propelling forward with quick, scanning glances.

"Let's get this over with," Crelos rolled his eyes as he quickened his pace, following the knights with his wand at the ready.

Not far behind, Darius, leveraging his deep knowledge of Fang Root and the fragments of conversation overheard by the stream, deduced their target location.

Motivated to get there first, he began to cycle his mana. "If I must use mana, better to stick to one element. If they do see me, maybe I could then claim a spell is concealing my aura."

His aura shimmered into a fluid blue, "Need to stay flexible...Ethereal Steps." In an instant, Darius's figure blurred, vanishing into the forest like a wisp of vapor.

A few spots within Fang Root were known for the presence of Atlas Crabs, and one such place lies to the east of where Darius clashed with the Blaze-Cat. The terrain here is marked by rolling hills, with one hill in particular reaching a peak before cleaving into a ravine.

The three knights and Crelos quickly reached the ravine as the sunlight started to fade over Fang Root. The area was a deep cut in the earth, where rocks and old trees lay scattered in a jumble, creating nooks and crannies perfect for hiding. The knights' eyes were alert, and their bodies ready for action.

"Hurry and spread out, but keep it quiet," the knight with the earthy aura instructed, his voice a low growl. "Walk lightly. We don't want those Crabs to know we're here."

Above the ravine, tucked away and unseen, Darius kept a close watch, 'Better wait it out. Don't want to mess up their hunt.' He stayed quiet, making sure they couldn't sense him at all, his presence erased.

In the dwindling light, the crabs began their nightly stir. "Quick, there!" the Wind Knight whispered, a gust of air swirling around him as he dashed from crab to crab. "Got another," grunted the Fire Knight, his hands glowing red as he carefully warmed the rocks, coaxing the crabs out without a scorch, snatching them up.

The Earth Knight, their leader, moved with a quiet authority, his hands enveloped in a gentle earthen glow. "Steady," he advised, using his fists to slightly shift the ground, corralling the crabs towards him for an easy grab. "Don't scare them off."

Crelos crouched, his voice low. "Tene-aill," he whispered, and small flames sprang up, forming tiny barriers. The crabs, avoiding the heat, darted straight into his basket. "Like herding sheep," he grinned, his trick neatly corralling the crabs.

It didn't take long for the hunt to end, "that's the last of them," announced the Earth Knight, satisfaction in his tone as they surveyed their catch. "Well done," he added, nodding to each member, including Crelos, who held up his basket with a triumphant grin.

As the group collected their catches, the wind knight boasted, "Ramman should be happy with this haul."

The fire knight scoffed, "Unless he's in his tent, he's never happy."

Crelos chimed in, "At least we're heading back to the tower now."

Their conversation suddenly stopped as a faint cry sounded from the woods.

The group turned, silent, looking towards the noise. Their faces grew tense as they searched the trees, listening for the voice again.

"You all heard that right?" The Wind Knight asked, sounding nervous.

"Shut up!" The Earth Knight whispered sharply.

Slowly, the knights readied their weapons; The Earth Knight's hand caressed the ground, summoning forth a mace. The Wind Knight, with fluid grace, conjured two sleek daggers into his hands, while the Fire Knight stood ready, unarmed, save for the fire mana crackling around his gauntlets.

"Something is coming," Crelos whispered, his eyes igniting with a sinister red glow. He leaned in, peering into the now shadow-drenched forest.

Approaching the group with a deliberate limp, Darius increased his fake cries. 'This is embarrassing,' he thought, his path meandering and seemingly aimless, until he found himself on the edge of the ravine.

The wails from Darius got closer. The knights stood in line, faces turning grim as they waited.

"Anything that moves, kill it," said the Earth Knight, his mace glowing yellow.

"Wait!" Crelos called out, his eyes narrowing in the dark, "I think it's a child. Eirg-sol." He raised his wand, and instantly, bright orbs of light shot out, quickly surrounding them in a warm glow. The lights moved swiftly, cutting through the darkness.

The group's breath caught. Shadows stretched long as a child, battered and limping, emerged from the dark woods, each step heavy. The faint moonlight traced the outlines of wounds, a haunting silhouette against the night's backdrop.

"Ahhhhh!" Darius yelled, faking shock and fear when the lights came on. He spun around and started to limp, rushing away, "somebody help!"

The Earth Knight moved first, stepping up, "Boy! Stop screaming, we won't hurt you."

Darius froze, then slowly faced the knights, "Please, please help me!" Pushing his acting to the limit, he burst into tears and dashed towards the Earth Knight.

"What is a damn kid doing out here?" The Wind Knight lowered his daggers, puzzled.

"Probably got lost, look at his clothes, kid's been out here for a while." The Fire Knight remarked, his voice filled with concern.

Darius, with a burst of emotion, clung to the Earth Knight, "Please, take me home! I've been lost out here for days!" His cries were punctuated by uneven breaths.

Crelos watched, his surprise briefly visible before his expression hardened, his gaze fixed on Darius.

"What's your name?" The Fire Knight came over, kneeling by Darius.

"Darius. Darius Valdene." The moment he said valdene, the knights' demeanor shifted, warmth fading from their gaze.

"You're the Valdene dud," the Earth Knight flatly said.

The Fire Knight rose, spat on the ground beside Darius, and returned to the Wind Knight's side.

"Crelos. Take the boy; he's your responsibility until we return to camp," the Earth Knight directed, nudging Darius towards Crelos. His eyes locked on Darius, he warned, "Stay with him. Make a sound, and you're mana-beast fodder, understand?"

Darius nodded silently and hobbled to Crelos, thinking, 'So far, so good.'

Crelos gave Darius a pointed look. "Follow me, and keep quiet. He's not kidding," he said, his gaze piercing.

Darius exaggerated his fear, nodding rapidly, "I just wanna go home."

Crelos gave a blunt, "Hmm," then pointed at each knight. He gestured to the Earth Knight, "that's Clemet," nodding towards the Wind Knight, "that's Winch and that's Morgan," indicating the Fire Knight. "And I'm Lord Crelos. Address me as such," he stated, puffing out his chest.

Darius barely kept his eyes from rolling. "Thank you, thank you, Lord Crelos. My father will reward you all for this!"

"Quiet! And let's move. Night is just beginning, and I don't want to be stuck in Fang Root with a crying kid any longer than necessary," Clemet grumbled, his earth gauntlets fading as he set off.

"A reward for a dud? Won't be much, I bet," Morgan scoffed, trailing after Clemet.

"Bet they threw him out here. Might even get mad we brought him back," Winch joked, falling into step with the others.

Darius watched the knights move ahead, his eyes fixed on the ground, shrinking into himself as much as possible.

Seeing Darius's subdued figure, Crelos sighed, "Come on, let's get you to camp, then home." He started off after the knights, leaving Darius momentarily alone.

'Don't kill them, that's a bad idea, Darius, don't kill them,' ran the mantra in Darius's head as he dragged himself after the group, limping and sniffing his way through the underbrush.

It didn't take long for Crelos's curiosity to peak as they trudged through the darkening forest. "How's a dud like you survived out here?" he asked, his tone laced with skepticism. "What were you doing, roaming Fang Root?"

Darius, quick on his feet, just told a half truth. "I was searching for my lost pet and i became lost, he's an ember fox. Raised him from a kit," he said, his voice filled with real concern.

At the mention of an ember fox, a tangible shift occurred within the group. Darius caught the stiffening of their postures, the exchange of glances. None spoke of a fox, yet their silence spoke volumes.

As they continued through the forest, Darius couldn't help but observe Crelos's demeanor closely. The mage was surprisingly casual for someone of his station. Crelos had a tendency to talk incessantly, rarely pausing for a response, his tone laced with genuine warmth and good nature. It struck Darius how the knights seemed indifferent to Crelos's chatter, letting the mage lead their conversation without interruption.

Throughout their trek, Crelos's incessant questions kept Darius on edge, a part of him distracted by something naggingly familiar about the mage. 'Have we met before?' he pondered, casting sidelong glances at Crelos. The mage's face tugged at Darius's memory, a connection just out of reach.

With each evasive answer Darius gave, he scrutinized Crelos, searching for clues in his expressions, his gestures. It was during a lull, a momentary pause in the barrage of questions, that it clicked. 'It's him! The peasant boy from the test, the one who showed tier nine potential. How did I not see it before?'

'All this time, right beside me. This child, of all people.'

"Finally recognized me?" Crelos's voice carried a hint of arrogance as he glanced over.

Pretending humility, Darius replied, "Yeah, we took our assessment tests together."

Crelos's tone dropped to a whisper, a cautious edge to his words. "Keep quiet when we get to camp. Stick close to me. I'll handle the talking."

Darius, maintaining his frightened and weary facade, silently agreed. As torchlight flickered in the distance, a question gnawed at him, 'Why the unease about camp?' He noted the group's growing tension, their pace slowing as the torchlight began to get closer.

The camp eventually loomed into view, the fabric of the tents ghostly under the moon. Two structures stood out: a spire-shaped tent and another, more lavish in its display. But it was the sight of the large cart, loaded with various goods, that sharpened his focus. And there, amidst the chaos of captured spoils, was Haku, motionless within a cage.

Suddenly, admidst the dark calm of Fang Root Forest, surrounded by hidden dangers, Darius's killing intent erupted.