Chapter 18: Chapter 18: The Cave of the Predators
The first rays of dawn broke over the village, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. Shin stood by the grazing cows, his palm hovering over their hides. A faint green light emanated from his hand as he marked each cow with a glowing sigil. Intricate patterns of magical energy flowed into the animals, leaving faint green symbols that shimmered before fading from view.
Miko and Kuro approached, curious about Shin's activities. The village elder followed behind, intrigued.
Miko tilted his head. "Shin, what are you doing?"
"Placing tracing magic," Shin replied with a small smile, not looking up from his task. "This way, if the cows get taken, I'll know exactly where they're being taken to."
Miko's eyes widened in admiration. "Wow, how many spells did that merchant teach you? It feels like you know everything!"
Shin chuckled as he finished marking the last cow. "Not too many," he said modestly. "But enough to make life easier."
The elder watched in awe. "Such magic... It's remarkable to see someone so young with such mastery."
Shin merely smiled, dusted his hands, and turned toward the village.
Walking through the village, Shin noticed the children peeking at him from behind fences and walls, their faces full of fear and uncertainty. They quickly darted back when he glanced their way.
"They're scared," Miko whispered.
"I can see that," Shin said thoughtfully.
He paused and crouched low, picking up a stick and drawing a funny face in the dirt—a caricature of Kuro with exaggerated paws and a goofy grin. When the children peeked again, he pretended not to notice but made silly sound effects as he added to the drawing.
Kuro, catching on, puffed his chest and struck a ridiculous pose that had Miko stifling a laugh. Slowly, the children began to giggle, their fear melting away.
One brave child stepped forward. "Is that your friend, the big tiger?"
Shin nodded with a warm smile. "That's Kuro. He's here to protect you all."
The children gathered closer, curiosity replacing their fear. Soon, they were laughing and asking questions, their spirits lifted.
Later, Shin, Kuro, and Miko crouched in the bushes at the edge of the forest, watching as two hulking beasts emerged from the cave. The snake, black as night, slithered with a menacing grace, its scales shimmering like polished obsidian. Beside it lumbered a massive boar, its tusks curved and sharp, its eyes glowing red with malevolent intelligence.
Both creatures moved toward the grazing cows.
Miko trembled beside Shin, his legs shaking uncontrollably. Shin glanced at him.
"Miko," he whispered, "are you scared?"
Miko swallowed hard and tried to steady his voice. "Just... a little bit."
Shin smirked. "It's okay to be scared. Courage isn't about not being scared; it's about acting despite your fear."
Miko nodded, though his hands still shook as he gripped his weapon.
The beasts took hold of a cow each and began dragging them back toward the cave.
"Follow them," Shin ordered, his voice steady.
The trio crept through the forest, careful to stay hidden. As they moved, Shin's eyes glowed green, and his vision changed. The world around him became a haze of energy, with vivid red auras outlining the snake and the boar ahead.
When Miko started to lag behind, Shin grabbed his arm and hoisted him forward without breaking stride.
They reached the entrance of the cave. Inside, darkness enveloped them, but Kuro stepped forward confidently.
"Don't worry," Kuro said, his deep voice echoing. His body began to glow with a soft orange light, illuminating the cavern walls.
Shin gave an approving nod. "That's impressive, Kuro."
Deeper inside, the air turned damp and heavy. The trio moved cautiously, their steps muffled on the stone floor.
The faint sound of bones crunching reached their ears. They stopped, peering around a corner into a vast chamber illuminated by flickering firelight. At the center, the snake and the boar were feasting on the cows.
Shin raised a hand, signaling them to stop.
"Wait here," he whispered.
From his storage, Shin summoned a lump of clay and began shaping it with swift, precise movements. Within moments, it took the form of a humanoid figure. He whispered a spell, and the figure sprang to life, its movements fluid and lifelike.
The puppet shimmered, becoming cloaked in invisibility, and started moving toward the beasts.
The snake's slitted eyes snapped toward the puppet's direction. It stopped eating, its body tensing.
"Oh?" the snake hissed, its voice dripping with malice. "An invisible intruder? Do you think I can't see you?"
The snake lunged forward, striking with lightning speed. Its fangs sank into the puppet, and with a sickening crunch, it flung the figure against the cave wall, shattering it into pieces.
The snake recoiled, its tongue flicking in confusion. "What? A puppet?"
Shin, hidden in the shadows, smirked. "So, your senses are sharp. Let's see how you handle what comes next."