Chapter 14: Magic

Desire went back to the village after the fish died. Surprisingly, he didn't feel tired or his life force sucked out. Desire really couldn't get a feel when it comes to his mana.

When he was in the village, he quickly looked for Lyra. The system told him that he has to be one with the water to be able to use his summoning skill but he didn't know how to be one. The first thing that came to his mind when it came to water was Lyra, who previously somehow taught him some magic.

He couldn't call her a teacher but a fellow student who was advising him about a particular lesson though he still felt grateful for it.

After walking for a while, he found Lyra's house at the top. He knocked and waited for a response. He wasn't a Suckus to make the door move on his own so he had to wait for someone to open it.

'I should see Liya too.'

For Desire, this was something that he needed to do. He was worried about Liya and he could ask about how she was doing. It wasn't easy to remove the image of Liya aging in an instant from his memories.

After a while of waiting, the door started to function and it opened to reveal Liya in her usual manner. She was looking down because she knew the only person who would knock was Desire.

"Desire!"

She greeted him with a smile. Of course, she would, he was the benefactor of the village and the one who chased away the humans.

"Liya, how are you doing?"

Desire spoke with worry evident on his face. His voice was shaking a bit and his eyes were focused on her.

Seeing that, Liya couldn't help but smile even wider. She led Desire into her humble home and she took something similar to water. The water was floating above her palm when a cup has appeared on the floor and she spoke as she filled it up.

"I'm alright. Anyways, I haven't thanked you yet for saving the village."

Liya walked in front of Desire and straightened her back. She stood tall as she faced her benefactor. Dignity was flowing out of her and sincerity was expressed through her actions. She lowered her head in front of Desire as she spoke.

"As the village head...no, as a monster living here, thank you."

Desire didn't speak a word to the graceful Liya. To be exact, he couldn't speak a word at this moment.

Only after a while could he mutter out a word to respond. He spoke with a flustered tone as he bowed his head. It wasn't visible as he was but a baby.

"A-ah…no, thank you!"

The words spoken were of thanks and Liya...could not quite get why he was saying thanks so she lifted his head to look at Desire.

"For letting me live here and letting me know your magic, thanks for that."

"Haha. I should be the one thanking you."

The merry atmosphere continued as they talked more and Desire was fed by Liya. He couldn't eat meat or anything solid so he only drank water. Fortunately, the water had some flavor in it and it was tasty enough for Desire.

"Oh yeah, I originally came here to ask Lyra about the system."

"System? What's wrong with it?"

"I have a skill but I can't use it yet. It says that I have to be one with the water so I came here to ask about that."

After Desire leisurely brought up his issue, Liya's eyes widened. She couldn't believe the words coming out of his mouth.

"D-desire… you're a human right?"

"…"

Desire was shaken up by the sudden question. That was the most sensitive issue that he had; being a human. His body started shaking but it soon stopped. After all, the one who asked it was a monster; a being that he loves the most. There's no way he would get angry.

"Yes, I am. Even my status says so…"

There, Liya put her forefinger on her chin as if to indicate that she was thinking. Then, she spoke with a bit of amazement in her voice.

"That's weird…Being one with the water is being one with an element of nature. A human definitely can't do that. Spirits and some monsters are the only ones who could be one with an element of nature. If a human could be one with nature, that being isn't a human."

"W-what did you say?! Is that true, Liya?"

"Y-yes. What's gotten into you so suddenly, Desire?"

Liya was flabbergasted at Desire's reaction. She didn't say anything wrong. She only said the things that came to her mind when she thought about it. That's why she couldn't help but ask.

'Is he angry because I said that he might not be a human…?'

Desire's face was so unreadable right now that Liya thought that he was so angry at the possibility of him not being a human.

'W-well, I guess it's reasonable for him to be angry if someone told him that he's not a human.'

Liya had her fair share of meeting humans. They always talked about how monsters such as her were disgusting and such so she thought that maybe she let her guard down too much around Desire.

So she was about to apologize to Desire when she saw the change of expression on Desire's face. It was a smile so wide that even his baby features didn't help, making him look scary to Liya.

Then he laughed. Desire laughed as he spoke.

"Kukuku. Does this mean my genes have not abandoned me yet?! The system has answered my hopes!"

Desire laughing with his tiny body gave goosebumps to Liya. A shiver went down her spine as she thought about it. Guilt and sadness took over her as she also forced a smile to show to Desire.

"D-don't worry. There's the chance that I just don't know much about it. It isn't a clear indication that you are not human!"

"Eh?"

"That's right!"

Liya crossed her arms and nodded her head vigorously. Desire was making a blank expression on his face but that was Desire's normal face. Looking at him, Liya could feel that she made the right choice of words.

'Whew! I thought he was really angry but…I'm glad.'

Thinking that, she nodded her head once more, oblivious to what Desire was feeling right now…

****

An extravagant house could be seen from afar. It had a backyard and a field that could be called a garden. Guards were stationed outside the house and people were passing through the roads.

The city was entering another day at the same time the sun rose. Cheerful laughter was ringing out here and there as the kids playing was having fun.

In contrast to that bright mood, the inside of the extravagant house had a gloomy atmosphere. The soldiers that were constantly patrolling had dark circles under their eyes and even their equipment was not in order. Hell, it would be not strange if one calls them bandits.

And the one who lords over these people was Baron Ted Tell. The country he serves was small so a Baron house has a considerable amount of wealth and authority.

"We already returned yet no one can give me an explanation about what happened?"

The one listening to the calm voice of Baron Tell was his subordinates who returned with him. Some of them have bandages all over their body and some even missing a limb. Clearly, they haven't rested even once when they returned here.

They all have pale faces when listening to their superior, a man who cannot be reasoned with. Even though they were full of injuries, Baron Tell didn't even have a single scratch on his body.

"S-sir, as we have reported a monster capable of summoning a storm of that level was sleeping in there, and w-we accidentally woke him up."

Baron Tell punched the table with his right fist as he shouted.

"That can't be right! Do you all take me for a fool?! We investigated that place beforehand with a Limiter!"

Limiter.

A Limiter is a device set up by a capable magician that makes them see the mana available in places, people, and items. Even a monster's mana could be computed if they have one.

And the mana that the Limiter informed them of was ridiculously low. They even thought that the Suckus living there were only small fry because of it.

"But sir...If it isn't because of that then that only means that the gods have decided to make the heavens rain."

At those words, Baron Ted Tell faced the pale subordinate. He also turned pale at the thought of something. His shaking voice was heard across the room.

"I-if the gods have decided that...will they punish me?"

Punishment or divine punishment, whatever it is, it seems like it was enough to make the shameless Baron shudder in fear.

Then the man who performed the best in the battle, Mayo spoke.

"If I may be so frank, my lord, I think it is the former case and I believe it best that we subdue that forest. A monster that could instantly crush a fire of that scale...If that monster roams, the people won't be able to survive."

The gloomy mood has become even more gloomy. But...

"T-that's right! W-we have to subdue that!"

An old soldier has shouted out loud. They all turned to him. Even Baron Ted Tell looked at him. He faltered from the pressure but he spoke again.

"We have to gather more men and take that monster down! It is for justice! It is for the people! We must ask the surroundings lords to help us and even the church! We have to save our people!"

Justice, a word that was so vague that it could be taken advantage of at any time.

"M-my family is living near the forest..."

"My sister's family is also near there."

"We must protect those innocent souls and make sure to kill any beasts stemming from that forest!"

The old soldier protested even louder and then...

"Y-yeah!"

A single shout turned to many and soon all of the men were actively thinking of turning the forest upside-down.

Baron Ted Tell was flustered about this change of events and without being able to do anything, he was convinced by his men. An unreasonable man was convinced... Of course, that was due to...

"Fool's been hooked. Mission accomplished!"

Magic.