Being a Summoner on our Evolved Earth

Pursuit (28)

'Learn to use magic huh...' Lucia thought about that crude man with the powers of a medic. 'He had mentioned having magic used on him and then he was able to use it later.'

"I have a theory to test in regards to that, but if it fails we'll probably need to test other things. It will go fasted with multiple creatures to test with. If you want, you can go get other creatures willing to be tested, but please make sure they are aware there is a possibility of death from the unknown." Lucia explained to the wolf.

"I see, I will call some of the older ones then as we won't have long left anyways. If we can carve a path forward for the young then that would be for the best." The wolf said. Lucia could swear she saw him smiling.

"The old are always sacrificing themselves for the young..." Lucia sighed as unpleasant memories from the past flooded her head. Especially the scene of her Mother going to work day in and day out while popping pills just to keep going through the pain and exhaustion. When the world restarted, her Mother didn't have the medicine she needed and fell ill the second day. Then in the middle of the night, she disappeared into the forest to die where she couldn't be found.

'I searched for her for two days before running into the people who were building the village. They had already found and buried Mother's body.' Lucia started to feel depressed again so she turned away from the wolf.

"You can go find the others when the rain lets up. You've already had magic cast on you, which is part of my theory. So we'll go with you so we can watch for any changes." 

"I understand. Many thanks human." The wolf spoke gratefully.

"My name is Lucia," She then pointed to Aegis, "He is Aegis. I also have a large lizard named Vicki.

"Names are not often used amongst our family, so I have no name to give I'm afraid." The wolf explained. 

"I see, well if it comes to it I can try to name you all myself, but for now I don't know if that will effect testing so I will refrain temporarily. There was an old tale that words and names have power. I don't know if it is true or not." Lucia shrugged. 

"Alright, I understand." After the wolf spoke an awkward silence fell in the cave. 

"I'm going to rest." Lucia sighed and took out the blanket to wrap around herself to lay against the cold cave wall.

"Rest well Princess." Aegis said then stood between her and the old wolf. 

"Rest well." The wolf said as he curled up a distance away from them. The rain continued to pour through the night.

In the morning when the rain broke and the sun was rising into the sky; around where Lucia sealed the fog worm, a door of fog suddenly appeared and Xantos walked out. He looked at the traces of battle for a bit before following the only tracks leading away towards the mountain. 

He let out a sigh as he walked, "First saving a camp of people, now I'm hunting down a murderer?" After walking for a bit he came across a man who was walking while looking over his shoulder constantly. Xantos was about to call out when he noticed the man was talking to himself.

"The ghost really isn't following me? Did that woman pay for my freedom?" 

"Excuse me." Xantos thought about the man's words before calling out to him.

The man yelled out in surprise until he noticed the person talking to him was a man in leather armor. "Sorry, you surprised me." The man scratched his head embarrassedly.

"It's fine, have you seen a woman with wavy brown hair and the ability to talk to animals pass through here?" Xantos asked.

"Uh, it was dark but I think so. I was running from a ghost when I stumbled upon her campsite. She had an armored guy and a large lizard with her and she was talking to the ghost. I couldn't understand what the ghost said at all though, all I heard was it hissing." The man explained while remembering that night.

"She wasn't hostile to you?" Xantos was surprised. 'The fog window that showed her acting like a psycho while killing all those men doesn't sound like the same person.' 

"Uh, she was a bit. She didn't want me to get close to her, but she didn't take the initiative to attack me until I entered her space and caused her to get hit by the ghost's spell that it was trying to throw at me. Even then she didn't kill me or the ghost, instead she used me as a test subject for curses until I passed out. When I woke up, the ghost was gone and they left me food and healed all my injuries. I was surprised that I lived and now even the ghost isn't following me!" The man laughed heartily. He was the type to quickly get over hardships.

'There is something the dungeon fog isn't telling me about this person... Perhaps the men she killed had deeply hurt her or something and she only just got the strength to fight back? The spell she used though, looked a lot like Lucia's mana slash. Could she be a summoner too?' Xantos thought a lot but couldn't rush his decision. 

"Thanks, so where was the campsite?" Xantos asked.

"Oh back that way. Just follow the river to the lake and it's in a small clearing." The man explained then suddenly asked, "Why are you looking for her?"

"Well, I'm curious about her I guess." Xantos made up the excuse on the spot. 

"Oh, I see. Ah youth! Good luck in your pursuits young man! She's a temperamental one." The man gave his good wishes and continued on his way.

Xantos continued on while thinking, 'I wonder how Lucia is doing?'