Master Of None

”Sister and I will be going our own way from here to scout. It is best that you all stay within groups of three.” Onyx was sure that the group of mages and dragonkin warriors that had come with them on their patrol group would be more than enough to drop a small sweep of the nearby beach and overgrown bush area.

”Wait, I will go too.” What Onyx and Midnight did not expect though, was that Alice would push her way through and jump on the same boat to shore with them. Now she was here and joining both of them in their group to patrol.

”Sister Alice, we will be going in to the bushes there to patrol, are you alright with that?” Onyx had to be polite. He saw Alice as family just like the others. Especially family that was closer to Walker. This made him wary and want to send her back, if he didn’t know about her surprising battle prowess with light elemental songs, he would have done just that to protect her.

The direction that the groups split off in to when the boat had made it to the beach ahead of Walker’s group was simple. One took the tidal pools nearby the river mouth, another took the sands that had gathered up at the edge of the river, and the other took the bushes and trees that had grown wildly around the river mouth. This division would speed up their patrols while also getting the most results at once.

Since Onyx had already told midnight that he wanted to go in to the bushes and tree, she did not hesitate to begin running that way as soon as they could. Alice had changed from her normal healer’s robes in to a closer fitting set of white armor. The leather and thin metal layers were perfectly made for her to maintain her movement while also protecting her more. Neither Onyx nor Midnight had seen this armor before and wondered if it was new. Especially since Alice had other clothing and armor from Walker to wear.

The area that they found themselves in was not too unique. There were some high sea grasses that grew to Alice’s waist, perfect for Midnight and Onyx to hide in. The bushes that grew were mostly thorny but here and there Alice could make out a few herb bushes that she could harvest to bring back to the alchemists aboard the ship. The trees that grew were not too tall since they were constantly bombarded by saltwater. This left them gnarled and wild.

What struck them all was the sudden peace around them. The breeze rustled the grasses and the leaves on the gnarled tree branches. It was a soft and welcoming ocean scent that made it feel like there was no such thing as a monster that could live here. However, the sharp growl of Midnight proved to be the warning that onyx and Alice need.

Without hesitation, Alice’s song of swords started. The sharp upper pitches and undicernable words made it seem that she was somehow speaking with a powerful sword intent. The light blades that formed were around her for protection but also aimed at the rustling bushes that Midnight had begun to circle.

Without hesitation, Onyx grew in size to be able to intimidate anything that came up against them. His real size seemed to have grown yet again making him even closer to being the ancient abyssal serpent that he had seen drawn on the walls of ancient ruins. But that also did not stop him from using his brain. He had not been a fool to forget that Alice had a satchel with her.

”If you have an all around appraisal magic scroll, you are the only one that can take it out to use it.” Alice’s swords of light wavered as she took a scroll out to use. She was able to sing and use such items easily. All she needed was a little mana to release the skill within the magic scroll. That was the joy of having them and also why they were so incredibly expensive compared to other things.

’Sand jack

This is a monster known to live in sandy burrows within any beach or some deserts. They can eat a variety of foods including natural fruits and meats. They often avoid attacking other monsters because of their smaller size but can use sharp claws to fight if backed in to a corner.

The sand jack’s fur is very valuable since it is incredibly fine. This is because it needs to be able to protect it from the cold winter salt winds of the ocean because it does not go dormant in the colder months. It is distantly related to the horned rabbits but in species only.

The best method to capture one is to not allow it to dig itself in to the sand. By the time that they have done so, they will have dug themselves deep enough to cause anyone a lot of trouble to find them again. They should be caught with speed and decisiveness.’

The mental communication that Onyx had played a perfect part in helping him read this from Alice’s mind. He was able to understand her even though she was still singing and passed the information to Midnight.

Upon hearing that the sandy brownish yellow ears she saw was a monster that had exceptional fur and was related to a monster she already thought tasted good, there was no stopping Midnight’s pounce.

She had leaped in to the air and into the thorny bush without hesitation. The suffering squeak that followed was enough to tell that she had managed to get her claws on her prey before she revealed herself. The thorns hadn’t even been able to make her scales dirty, let alone scratch them.

”Sister, that is something you will need to carry until we return.” Onyx knew that Alice was already reaching her hands out to take and carry the sand jack. She was too kind but this was Midnight’s problem.

”Snacks for later.” If anyone couldn’t feel it, Onyx was rolling his eyes mentally at Midnight. But when Alice stopped her singing to take the sand jack she responded as well.

”We can roast this well for snacks.” The agreement made Midnight realize that by handing over the sand jack to Alice, that she had agreed to share it. This made her unhappy but it was a problem of her own making. She vowed to hold on to her own prey in the future so that she could get the most out of it as possible.

”Don’t move, we have company.” Onyx curled up around Alice as a defensive stance against what he had just caught out of the corner of his eyes moving. The seven moving monsters resembled dogs but they had larger heads and nacks for biting. They also seemed to have a rough sand colored fury that would easily let sand shake off from it. ”They must have heard the rabbit’s squeak as it was beaten by sister.”

Onyx had moved to protect Alice so that she could attack without worry. He had tougher scales so it made more sense that he was defensive. However, he had not remembered that she had trained with Walker. And, that she had trained to be able to make a new song using swords of light and shields of light. Two songs becoming one in a simpler term.

The three light swords that formed were paired with two light shields. The shields floated idly around Alice as the three swords of light broke through the air. The result was astounding, two of the monsters had been directly sliced in half while the song Alice sand was shrill and deterring. Her son was one of defense and attack to protect those around her. It was made to show the battle for life when one stood to defend those they cared for.

The simple fact that Alice had just taken the lead in a battle wounded Midnight’s pride. She could only take a deep breath in before condensing the ambient water elemental mana all around them. Their location close to the ocean and river helped her create the frost breath that she released upon the remaining five monsters that had come to see what they could win.

Instead of the weaker frost breath she had used once before, Midnight showed her growth clearly. Ice formed on the five dog like monsters stopping them in their tracks. None would be able to easily move with this sort of attack.

All that was left was for Onyx to snap out of his surprised daze and raise his large tail. The slam that came down was unavoidable, it crushed the five with blunt force before retracting back toward the coil Onyx still sat in. The sound of this slam echoed back to the beach drawing the attention of some familiar faces who had also been out scouting.

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