Being a Summoner on our Evolved Earth

Interrogation? (27)

While Lucia focused on her crafting in the dark, an unknown creature slowly stalked towards the cave under the cover of the rain. The rhythmic sound of stone hitting stone came from the cave. The creature paused out of sight by the cave entrance as it listened to the sounds inside.

"Stop little sparrow, you'll pull out my hair." Lucia chuckled while the sparrow chirped twice nervously. "My arms are sore from all this crafting, I'm going to take a break." Lucia put all her tools away into her space as she leaned against the cave wall and adjusting herself to face the entrance. She brought out her metal staff and laid it across her lap. She slowed her breathing till it looked like she fell asleep. The bird seemed to calm down and do the same.

The creature outside waited a bit longer before stalking into the cave quietly.  It's yellow eyes pierced the darkness as it stared down its prey. It opened its jaws to reveal sharp canines. Just as it got within six feet of Lucia she jumped up while spinning her staff to smack the wolf's head sideways faster than it could react. The strong blow managed to knock it unconscious. 

"A lone wolf huh? Look at how skinny it is, it must be starving." Lucia glanced at the unconscious wolf with pity. 'It clearly had good ambushing skills, and decent patience, so how come this creature was so thin?' After thinking for a bit, 'I'll just ask it when it wakes up.' 

Lucia had noticed that Aegis and Arthur's fusion had finished and started the summoning. Soon an armored ape with grey fur, black skin, and as tall as a man appeared. The armor wasn't full body anymore, as more fur was visible, probably to allow easier movement. It still covered a significant amount of his body other than the hands and feet. Aegis's eyes were hollow eye sockets filled with icy blue soul flames. Aegis knelt in his familiar salute, but Lucia noticed he was missing his shield and sword.

"I'm happy to see you again, please stand. Could you explain the changes you experienced?" Lucia remembered Arthur's request to see her smile again, so she tried her best to smile.

"Yes my Princess. my sword and shield have returned to being armor, and in exchange I can use either my ice or death magic to conjure a weapon and shield alternately. The ice weapon applies a chilling effect to those who are hit, and the death weapons saps some of their life and stamina away. It works on inanimate as well by stealing mana instead of life. Also, due to the fusion, it seems I have reached the fourth evolution." Aegis explained calmly like his usual self. 

"I see, you have become quite a terrifying opponent for other creatures in close combat. Well, since you've had some rest, I'd like your help with something then." Lucia pointed at the unconscious wolf. "Freeze his feet to the ground so he can't lunge at us when he wakes up."

"Yes." Was all Aegis said as he placed his hands over the wolf's legs and ice crawled up from the ground within half a minute to trap the wolf's legs. Only then did Lucia use [Minor Healing Spring] on it to help it wake up faster. In a couple minutes the wolf woke up slowly at first, till it realized it couldn't move its legs and it snapped awake.

"Hello little wolf, I have some questions for you." Lucia said while leaning against the cave wall and looking down at it. The wolf stopped struggling as it could sense danger from her that it didn't sense earlier. It quickly stopped struggling. 

"What is the situation in this mountain forest?" Lucia was happy to see it listening, but she was worried it wouldn't be smart enough to know the information she wanted since this wolf wasn't even first evolution. It had yet to awaken its control over mana or an element which means it was even less likely to have spiritual wisdom based on game logic.

"Will you kill me when you are done with me?" The wolf asked with surprising eloquence. Lucia didn't even know why she was stunned anymore.

"Sorry, I wasn't expecting you to have unlocked spiritual wisdom even before you awoke to mana. I will give you some food and set you free if you give me the information I am after. I will not blame you for hunting me. I can even give you a contract that will enforce this if you don't believe me. The contract can be signed with blood since you can't use mana." Lucia offered while creating a contract in front of the wolf. It read through the contract and nodded.

"Please release me so I can sign it." The wolf asked. Lucia nodded to Aegis and Aegis snapped his fingers to make the ice vanish. Only then did the wolf notice Aegis who was behind it. It carefully examined Aegis before biting it's front paw to sign the contract. 

"This forest is a mess. Ever since the change, weak creatures suddenly became stronger than those who were already strong and the power balance has been broken. Those with mysterious powers are bullying the original predators and kicking them out of their homes and territories. In fact almost all the herbivores have finished awakening to this mana that you spoke of which makes it all but impossible for us wolves to hunt. As soon as a predator awakens, the herbivores hunt them down before they can break the balance." The wolf looked sad as he thought of his hungry family waiting for him. "This side of the mountain is run by a pair of annoying deer that like to taunt and toy with the predators they find whether they are awakened or not." 

"You mean these two?" Lucia dropped the deer corpses near the cave entrance. The wolf stared wide eyed then sniffed at them.

"Yes it's them. You must be quite strong." The wolf admired Lucia now. Lucia shrugged and put the corpses away before they got soaked by the rain. 

"If the herbivores continue to suppress the predators then they'll grow out of control in the next few years and start destroying the native vegetation before spreading out and doing it again elsewhere." Lucia realized the problem. "But why are the herbivores awakening faster than the predators?"

"It always seems to happen when they are near death or around others who are awakened." The wolf shared his observations. 

"I see. Well let's see if I can awaken you while you're here. I already used a healing spell on you, so we'll wait a day and see. I intend to stay on this mountain for a while, so I'll see what I can do about restoring the power balance." Lucia said which caused the wolf to perk up with joy and hope.

"Please great one, I plead with you to help us learn to use magic!" The wolf bowed his head.