Chapter 8: Transmutation

Isz arrives at the orphanage during the day and is greeted by Nurse Nina.

Nina: Hello, Isz. Are you hurt? You look a bit worn out. Isz: I'm fine, Nina. Just a little tired, but thanks for the concern.

Isz gives a small smile, but in reality, he was still thinking about what the witch had said.

Isz (thinking): “Woman in black… What did that witch mean by that, and why did the newspaper editors blame her in our report…?”

Helena: Isz, come here, I have a surprise for you!

Helena runs toward Isz with a smile.

Helena: This is for you. I made this handkerchief with some fabric Alphonse gave me. Your birthday is next week and you’ll already be far away. I hope you like it.

Isz: Thank you, Helena. I’ll wear it all the time from now on and remember you all.

Helena smiles and takes his hand, leading him to the dining hall table where she shows him a cake.

Helena: Baron made it. I know you’re going to like it.

Isz eats the cake along with the orphans at the table, and they look at him in admiration, saying that they also want to become scout knights. Isz gives a small smile and talks with the children.

Baron: Hey, Isz, want to train a little? I want to see how much you’ve improved.

Isz (teasing): Sure, Baron, just don’t regret it later.

Baron: Hahaha, I won’t go easy on you, brat. You’re a knight now, so there’s no reason to hold back.

They head to the training grounds, and Nurse Nina follows them with concern.

Baron: Let’s begin!

Isz moves forward quickly. Baron tries to land a punch, but Isz throws a smoke bomb.

Baron: “So fast… This smoke is getting in my way.” Baron punches the ground and cracks it.

Isz uses the lightning from his spear to paralyze Baron, then prepares to finish the fight, but Baron lands a kick. Isz blocks it with his spear as he’s thrown back.

Isz: I wasn’t expecting that one.

Baron, panting: Yeah, kid… you’re not playing around. But I’m satisfied for today.

They shake hands and end the duel, and Nina feels relieved that no one was seriously hurt during the training.

Isz: Where are Alphonse and the others?

Helena: He went on an escort mission to deliver some materials to an alchemist school. If I remember correctly, your friend Hyogo and Kana Boom went too. They left early this morning. Why?

Isz: I wanted to ask if he knows anything about a woman in black. It seems she has some connection to the Devilhands.

Helena: I’ve heard of her. They say she’s the Voice of Despair, and she was described in Saint Gorb’s Bestiary. Did something happen on your last mission?

Isz: No, it was just curiosity.

Helena looks straight at him and says: You can trust me, Isz. You don’t have to keep everything to yourself.

Isz brushes it off and heads to the dorms to take a bath.

Meanwhile, on Hyogo and the others’ mission, they receive a message saying that the forest is no longer being guarded.

Hyogo: That’s strange. There were supposed to be some royal guards here.

Kana: I think so too. They knew we would be heading to the border and should’ve been here watching the area.

Alphonse: Do you smell that?

Kana: Yeah. Get ready for combat!

The smell of sulfur and blood filled the air. The guards accompanying them prepared for battle and formed up.

Hyogo: Formation Escort 5. I’ll take down the goblins behind the trees. The rest will try to ambush us in this dense forest.

Kana Boom pulls out his weapons, which begin releasing intense sparks.

Kana: Leave it to me. I’ll clear the path myself with my Twins of Destruction.

Kana fires a shot that explodes almost the entire forest, revealing goblins, electric specters, and Whisperers. (Whisperers are birds that mimic the victim after death to confuse allies.)

Alphonse pulls his chain, ripping the beaks off the Whisperers, and casts a spell that makes swamp moss grab the enemies’ feet.

Alphonse: Finish them now!

Kana and Hyogo: Right, let’s end them!

Kana creates such a massive explosion that it could be seen from afar. Hyogo, with perfect precision, shoots the goblins in the eyes,but he notices something strange.

Hyogo: Goblins with purple blood? Could this be a new species?

Kana: No, they were conjured by someone. Goblins have been eradicated from almost the entire continent, and they don’t travel alongside other species, much less metaphysical ones. They were transmuted by someone who understands a very advanced form of magic. This isn’t my field, but I’m pretty sure I’m right. Isn’t that so, Alphonse?

Alphonse: Exactly. And I also noticed traces of necromancy, because the specters’ bodies turned into human skeletons.

After the battle, they reach their destination and meet with the church members who were waiting for the materials.

Alphonse: Where is the scribe? We need to report an unexpected incident we had on the way to the border.

Young alchemist: He’s by the merchants, sir.

Alphonse thanks him, files the report, and they are escorted to the priest council’s dome, where they would spend the night until the next day.