Master raced through the forest at quite an impressive speed. My children and I, as his designated escorts for the day, were close beside him—as was the Anferfurmi Shuri, though her presence was entirely unnecessary.
“Why are you here?”
“I could ask you the same question,” Shuri replied with an arrogant sniff. I wanted to roll my eyes.
Why do I always end up paired with her?
True, our relationship wasn’t as bad as it used to be, but we certainly couldn’t claim to be “getting along.” We were simply incompatible; everything she did irritated me beyond reasonable understanding.
“It’s because you’re so similar, isn’t it?”
I wasn’t entirely certain what one of my children—whoever it was—had said, but that’s what it had sounded like. Surely one of my own wouldn’t dare to make such a ridiculous statement. I peered over my shoulder, but no one spoke up to claim the statement. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Shuri mirroring my movements, examining her own spawn with suspicion.
How dare she mimic me— No. I must remain composed. Master is nearby.
Although...where is he going? We’re still within the protective barrier, but he usually doesn’t go this far from the house. Perhaps something is wrong— Oh, he’s stopped. But there’s nothing here?
I surveyed our surroundings again. Apart from the slight lack of trees in our current location, nothing stuck out as being particularly out of the ordinary.
“Spider Boss, do you know why he came here?”
“No clue,” I replied, cross. Apparently, Shuri was just as much in the dark as I was—a fact that brought me some relief. With a start, I realized Master was making the gesture that meant he wanted us to distance ourselves.
“Let’s move.”
“Indeed.”
I examined the forest all around us as we retreated to the treeline. It was as far as I was willing to distance myself from him. If anything happened, I needed to be able to reach him in an instant.
“I’ve asked all the others already, but do you have any idea how much mana Master truly has?” asked Shuri, somewhat aloof.
What a ridiculous way to phrase a question... But Master’s mana, huh?
He was powerful enough to constantly maintain the barriers around the forest and around all of us creatures of course. His magic had also penetrated many of the caves, lakes, and groves nearby, keeping them free of the Magic Eye’s control—all of which must demand an incredible, incessant supply of mana. Yet in spite of that, Master threw his mana around on a daily basis like it was infinite, using it for everything from creating golems to filling a large tub of water. I couldn’t even begin to measure his true capacity—I doubted anyone could.
“No clue,” I simply replied.
Hmm?
My eyes narrowed as I felt the tug of Master’s unique magic. What’s he doing—?
Splassssssh.
Confused murmurs sounded from around me, mirroring the sound that had escaped my own throat.
Why would he conjure so much water here of all places?
I looked to Shuri, only to find her looking at me. Our heads tilted in unified confusion.
Ah— Now he’s conjuring light?
“Whatever is he doing?”
How should I know?
I glanced back at my children, who were visibly dazed.
Watching Master has made them let down their guard—and if we cannot guard him, what use are we? I should warn them—
Even as I opened my mouth, a low rumble shook the clearing, as well as those of use who stood around it. I’d never experienced such shaking. I made to rush toward Master but froze in surprise before I could take the first step.
A wall stood before him—a large, earthen wall.
The rumbling and the shaking—was this the cause?
“Is that wall made of dirt? What purpose could it possibly serve?” asked Shuri, her head tilted in confusion once again. Her question was a valid one; however, it pained me to admit it. A dirt wall would serve little use in a fight. Even if it were to be magically reinforced, a half-decent jet of water magic would turn it to mud, and it wouldn’t fare much better against wind magic.
“It’s a fine wall, but still, dirt...” she continued, and I found myself nodding in spite of myself. A dirt wall was probably only good for surprising a foe at best, and only momentarily at that.
Perhaps it’s a diversionary tactic? Wait, what’s he doing now? Throwing a pebble at it? Nothing happened... Now he’s propelling another pebble with magic. That’ll make the wall crumble— Or not. It’s not breaking?
“Why didn’t it crumble?”
“I’m not sure. The stone went right through it...”
So she saw it too.
The wall shone for a split second.
Has he reinforced it, then? At the end of the day, it’s still just dirt, though. It can’t withstand a much more powerful attack—
“Wha— ?!”
The next stone shattered as it hit the wall.
I didn’t think that was possible... What’s he done to the wall?
Whoosh. Flames shot toward the wall.
This’ll be impossible for it to withstand, surely...
I was right.
But even so, how much power did he put behind those flames? I’ve never heard of dirt being reduced to ash.
“Ah! What was that? Those flames?” spluttered Shuri, her voice tinged with worry. I’d managed to restrain the shout of surprise that had threatened to burst from my own lips, but she—and the majority of our children—couldn’t claim the same.
“Pull yourself together. It’s not like he’s going to turn his attacks on us.”
“I’m— I’m not scared of Master or anything! How ridiculous!”
I didn’t try to hide the smirk that arose at her reaction, nor did I care when the giant ant fixed her steely glare on me. It was her own fault for being scared.
Still, I was surprised that the wall hadn’t collapsed entirely. While a large part was now ash, the lower half still stood, albeit unsteadily.
I’m curious... I’ll have to take a closer look. I’ll sneak up quietly, so as to not disturb Master.