Rowan & Reiji sparred and trained for days until it was over.
Then the night when Rowan finally decided they were ready, he started explaining entities they might encounter in Caledon.
Rowan unstrapped his vambrace and other parts of his leather armor.
"Creatures emerge due to the ambient magic of the area," Rowan started detailing how entities formed. "When there's enough energy, a bud will appear."
Reiji was all ears.
"Once it grows, an Initiate monster will materialize. Thoughtless and aimless monsters. This meat you cooked for us came from an Initiate forest monster called Bul." Rowan broke it down.
Reiji froze mid-chew.
He stared at the chunk in his hand, and he felt his digestive fluid crawling up his throat.
"This is monster meat," he was caught off guard.
He swallowed. "It still tasted good."
Then he shrugged, his appetite beat his common sense.
"Bul is formed by the ambient magic of a forest when there's growth, life, fertility. While Springgan is spawned when there's distress. If it needs protection." Rowan continued.
Reiji nodded his head and mused himself, "Oh, so Bul is mostly good for consumption. That's an interesting ecosystem. This forces them to take care of the land so it spawns more harmless creatures instead of guardians born from chaos."
Rowan couldn't help but notice his facial expressions.
"What is with your reaction, Reiji?" Rowan asked.
"What? No. I'm just liking this meat, don't mind me. Please continue." Reiji answered.
"O-okay." Rowan responded.
Then he went on and said, "The Springgans in the ruins act weird, and the skeletons seem smarter than normal. Then, there's that Catis."
"You called the Springgans initiate creature while you called that Catis emergent, what's the difference?" Reiji asked.
"A lot. Emergent is the first stage of a high entity. A monster that starts to think for itself." Rowan answered.
Reiji tapped his chin contemplatively, "That means it's rare. Much like horses, I guess."
"Remember horses? They're considered emergent mounts, while common drakes are initiates. Got it?"
Reiji chuckled with a look of temptation, like he wanted to try something.
"Got it." he answered.
Their conversation ended and Rowan decided to retire for the night.
"We should rest, we've got a long day tomorrow." Rowan stated.
The two went about their usual routine, and the night wrapped itself in peace.
Then the sun cracked the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the ruined village.
They stood at the outskirts, their eyes fixed on the familiar moss on its structure.
Rowan, feeling a sense of calm determination, said, "I've invested a lot on this, don't get me wrong, it's well spent." referring to the crystals he had to sacrifice to settle what he needed from the village and train with Reiji.
"But if my Rose Quartz breaks here today, please take me down with it." Rowan dramatically stated.
They were about to face head-on a monster within, a suspected emergent entity that lingered inside.
Reiji scanned the village, taking a look at damages in the structures left by Rowan.
"How is that made, anyway? And what's it worth?" Reiji asked, pertaining to Rowan's crystal.
Rowan stared at the crystal, "Bought it for a thousand gold," he said proudly.
Reiji struck a glance at Rowan, in his mind, "That just confirms his high status in their kingdom."
"And it came from a mineral dungeon in Bellatoria. This kind of crystal absorbs magic around it. The ambient magic right now, and even some of the focused energy released when an emergent entity dies." Rowan further explained.
Reiji raised his eyebrow in amusement, taken aback by the crystals' benefit and value.
"That's a solar panel equivalent." He reflected on the comparison.
"I truly look forward to keeping this with me after this battle. I still would like to enjoy the food you prepare too." Rowan remarked.
Reiji stretched his body and pulled out a makeshift quarterstaff and led their advance to Caledon.
"I won't disappoint." Reiji boldly stated.
They entered through the same crooked walls of the village.
They haven't even fully entered, a rugged skeleton already emerged along their path.
"I can take care of this one," Reiji held the staff with both hands firmly but not too tightly.
The skeleton snapped its left arm and held it like a weapon, then charged at Reiji with full strength.
Reiji moved forward, staff perfectly positioned in his hands.
He told himself, "Reach would win this. Long stick, short bone."
He was thinking of a quick impactful strike to its head.
But before he could reach the skeleton, it flung its arm like a thrown boomerang precisely aimed at him.
Reiji braced, slid his hold on his staff and swung it to deflect the flying limb aside.
Bone clacked against his wood.
The skeleton didn't stop and continued to launch a direct attack with its fist targeting his face.
Reiji forced one step forward to change the skeleton's attack angle.
The skeleton instinctively reacted.
He took advantage of the gap and swung his staff low and hard.
The monster's leading limb snapped, and it collapsed to the ground.
Reiji immediately followed with a strike into its skull,
*THLACK!
It cracked satisfyingly.
The skeleton folded, and a tiny bit of energy was released in the air.
"It strategizes, but it's still wild." He thought after the initial shock.
"Reiji! Thanks to your natural instinct, but that was risky! I told you to not underestimate the monsters here, they're smarter than normal." Rowan reiterated to be cautious.
Reiji slightly bowed his head to show apology for his recklessness.
Then something came to his mind. "But that bunny, Bobbin. It's a significantly more intelligent creature."
So he threw a question at the top of his mind, "Rowan, I forgot to ask, do these conscious beings evolve into a more intellectual entity over time?" He inquired with intent.
"Yes, like an emergent dragon turning into a catastrophic elder dragon if not kept in check. They become more dangerous." Rowan answered.
"Or reliable." Reiji whispered.
"What was that?" Rowan asked Reiji to repeat.
Reiji snubbed the question and said, "We gotta move."
Rowan shook his head, puzzled at Reiji's odd excitement.
They cleared the monsters in their path with ease.
Reiji moved smoothly and comfortably with the quarterstaff.
Sweeping, twirling, and flipping it around like it flowed with him in rhythm.
They've almost wiped out the initiate monsters around.
With Rowan barely using any offensive magic, and just focused on supporting Reiji from behind.
After a while, they've finally reached what looked like a dwelling.
The air felt heavy with an eerie silence.
Reiji could tell the shift in the atmosphere.
"There are no monsters around here, this must be where it is." Reiji referred to the emergent being Catis.
"Reiji, let's slow down a little." Rowan commanded.
Reiji nodded in agreement.
Rowan incited, "Ignis meus, fit vis tua. Flame Zeal."
A light orange glow covered them both and Reiji immediately felt energized.
"This will only slightly help with physical fatigue. As our last resort, I'll cast Pyrogenic on both of us if needed." Rowan said.
He looked at Rowan.
Then Rowan said, "That is if my precious crystal is still intact. If not, then we run and rely on our luck."
Reiji paused for a moment to analyze their situation. "Rowan is only able to cast offensive and buff spells due to the stored magic within the crystal. If it breaks, he'll be limited to support type of spells."
"I've got an ace up my sleeve, Rowan. Until I say we're out of options, don't burn yourself out with extra spells." He stated.
Rowan nodded with a hint of approval. Acknowledging Reiji's potential and the confidence he built in such a short amount of time.
As they continued, the entity finally revealed itself.
The creature sat like it owned the place.
A small orange furred feline with white accent on its beard. Its eyes glowed yellow, and a tail that emitted a green hue on its tip.
Around it was a pile of bones, branches, and stones.
"That's why there's no more monsters around. Keep your guard up, Reiji." Rowan cautioned.
Reiji inclined his head, showing approval.
"It seems like this thing prepared for our arrival." He mused.
The creature stayed perfectly still.
Reiji felt a thrill crawl over his skin.
Its yellow eyes locked onto them. Calm, but sharp enough to promise danger.
Reiji and Rowan didn't move. They watched. Measured. Waited.