The Path of the Adventurer

Chapter 22

The sky was a dim grey; the clouds from the other side of the country seemed to come quickly. Looking up at the light grey, one could spot smears and smudges from other clouds condensed together. As such, the water was gloomy, nothing but uneven waves of grey and charcoal hues.

It was Saturday; Erion waited by the gates of Pelagia Town for his friends. Magon's going to be impressed when he hears what I have in store! Thought Erion excitedly.

Soon, Tikana, Huffey, Magon, and Norder arrived through the gates.

"Greetings, Erion." Said Magon. "I thought you would still be at the academy right now."

"Magon, Serra told me something about the monster. It sounds like it's way stronger than what we had thought."

"Serra is prone to rumors, Erion. Although she might be bright and fun to be around, her words may not always be necessarily true."

"I don't know about this, many of the other mages said the exact same thing." Replied Erion. "Apparently, the monster is some magical bear same Shipwrecker, alongside its massive strength and its ability to run on water, it is also immune to any injury, no matter how devastating."

"Immune to everything?!" Norder replied, confused. "What?!"

"Like I said, Erion. Don't listen to rumors, all they will do is worry yourselves." Magon stated seriously.

"He's right!" Said Huffey. "I once heard a rumor that King Bhalthran was going to outlaw jokes, before I learned that it was only my neighbor trying to get back at me after I had accidentally pulled down his trousers when we were mining. He had me worried for about two days."

Erion took out a fish that he had been carrying in a bag across his shoulder. "I'm not worried at all. Serra and I performed alchemy on a fish to make it kill Shipwrecker upon digestion. Either way, we've got this."

"Serra knows better than doing dangerous alchemy because of rumors." Stated Magon. "In fact, I doubt that there's any creature or any enchantment that is immune to every possible injury."

"You have to believe me, Magon!" Insisted Erion. "Everyone at the academy also said it was true."

"Rumors spread fairly quickly there. I know that from my very own experience as a student."

"Yeah, maybe that's what happens when you have your head in a book all day." Added Tikana.

"Tikana, you must believe me!" Said Erion. "I've talked to people who have seen this beast with their very own eyes!"

"Those rumors probably came from interpretation, so we can't be sure if this is true or not. Also, Erion, it would do you well to make sure that salmon doesn't make you ill."

"It's not making me ill. We made sure to do the procedures the book told us to do." Replied Erion.

Magon looked at Erion, with uncertainty and suspicion in his face. "I'll trust your claims for now. But I seriously doubt that this beast is immune to everything."

"Aye. Seriously, a bear who runs on water? Immune to being injured?" Huffey guffawed. "Erion, lad; ye' crack me up!"

"Maybe you guys are right after all." Replied Erion. "But I am keeping this fish just in case."

The ocean breeze suddenly became strong. Accompanying this was an uncommon rumbling in the ocean. From far away, people could be heard crying and shouting for help.

"That sound is not natural in the slightest." Norder acknowledged.

"I think it's here..." Said Erion.