Beast Attack

Aya slowly regained consciousness at the aroma of fresh pastries and the sound of hustling townsfolk.

“Hey, miss,” Crisostomo called, his voice nearer than she remembered. “Can you sit up for a bit?”

“Mhm…”

Opening her eyes, she was met with a town bustling in all corners, from inns and shops lining cobbled streets to lively market squares where merchants bartered spices and wares. The magnificent castle bordered the skyline, its towering spires serving as a beacon of enduring prosperity. This was the royal capital, a vibrant tapestry of culture and ambitions beneath watchful stone towers.

“The nearest clinic is closed. Let’s rest here for a while before we search for another.”

This whole time, Crisostomo had been carrying Aya on his back. He carefully lowered her on a bench at the town’s plaza. Seeing his worn state made her feel guilty, though she's also grateful that he stayed with her. She wanted to say as much but absently stared at the paper bag he’s holding instead.

“This?” He waved it, noticing her curious gaze. “I bought bread. Your stomach kept growling.”

She blushed, embarrassed. “I-I’m sorry…”

He pulled out the pastry and handed it to her. “What for? It’s natural for humans to get hungry.”

“Give a person a fish, and you feed them for a day. Teach a person to fish, and you feed them for a lifetime."

He blinked. “What are you talking about?”

“If you’re hungry, get food. I’ve been taught how to fish, so I shouldn’t depend on others’ catches anymore.”

“You’re sick. How would you…fish, you said? And this is bread, by the way.”

“I'll endure it. No pain, no gain. Besides, you've done more than enough for me.”

“You have an interesting way of talking. Is this normal? Or is it the fever?” He sat beside her, taking a pastry as well. She observed him for a moment before grabbing a bite. “And you have an interesting way of eating, like you learned table etiquette.”

He looked away. “What's your name?”

“...Aya,” she replied despite her hesitation. It's the least she could do in gratitude for his help.

“Where are you from?” he continued to ask.

“Closest town by the sea.”

“Anonas? That's a bit far. It'll take half a day to get there by carriage. What were you doing in the Royal Palace?”

“...What were you doing sneaking around?”

Unamused, he reached out to pinch her cheek. She squeaked in surprise and tried to squirm away.

“Don’t dodge the question by bringing up what the other person does or did, you cheeky girl.”

“Y-You have secrets, too!” she cried, and he finally released her. “I’m thankful for all you've done, but we should probably mind our own businesses and remain as strangers-”

Aya paused, double-taking at her own words.

Usually, she would use any chance she could get to make friends. She'd even resorted to magic last time. This wasn't her at all. She wasn't this avoidant and taciturn.

But with everything that’s happening, it's hard to trust anyone. He was from the palace. If he turned out to be a noble, he could report her. She was only being cautious.

Even then, at least now, he’s the hero who saved her. The kindness he showed her so far may have been enough assurance that he'd listen and understand.

“I'm sorry, Crisostomo.”

“That's not my name.”

“You see, I am-”

“A BEAST!”

‘Huh? I'm no beast!’

“THERE'S A WILD BEAST!”

“A wild beast?!” Aya sputtered, realizing there was an actual beast around.

People were shouting and running in all directions.

Suddenly, the once peaceful town descended into pure chaos. Stone-paved paths shook as if pounded on by two large feet. City soldiers formed ranks across the streets with bows and lances at the ready.

Crisostomo immediately took Aya in his arms, leaving their food behind.

“W-W-What's a beast doing out here?!” she blurted out, panicked.

A beast was a magical creature that possessed supernatural abilities infused with mana. It was not simply a larger version of an animal. It was a distinct species with a biology shaped by magic. Their common traits ranged from unnatural size to incredible strength.

A beast attacking human territory was a wild beast. Its instincts and overwhelming power made it a catastrophic threat, though it's not necessarily acting with conscious malice. It's similar to a stray animal that retaliated due to the loss of its habitat or other environmental disruptions that warranted its protection.

“The royal capital is one of the most heavily guarded places in the kingdom, so the knights should've subjugated it long before it gets this far,” Crisostomo muttered under his breath as they hid behind a building.

Aya beamed, her fever-fueled imagination acting up again. “Unless the Evil Lord of Albania smuggled the beast into town in order to wreak vengeance on those who caused the downfall of his clan one hundred years ago!”

He deadpanned, “I hope you didn't name me after that Evil Lord.”

“‘Course not! In fact, you're the hero who stopped the Evil Lord!” she tittered.

“Well, let's hope a real Crisostomo comes…and soon.”

The royal capital had survived sieges and plagues, yet nothing prepared its citizens for the giant bounding over its walls.

It resembled a rabbit, with long ears that scraped rooftops and a furry body that reached a two-story manor. Every leap shattered cobblestones and overturned wagons. Arrows and lances snapped against it as though striking granite.

“We need the Hunter Order!” a soldier bellowed.

The beastly rabbit twitched its nose before releasing a deafening squeal that rattled doors and windows.

Amidst the uproar, a carriage rolled through the smoke and halted at the front. Its door opened, revealing a debonair-looking man with a cane. Though he seemed to be around sixty, his graying black hair framed a youthful face. With his neatly trimmed beard and courteous smile, he looked more suited to a ballroom than a battlefield.

Everybody stared.

The old man sighed. "It appears someone neglected to inform our oversized guest of proper visiting etiquette."

He tapped his cane, and the sound rippled like thunder. His crimson-red eyes lit up as he pointed a finger forward. He began writing in the air, then lightning burst forth with an explosive crack.

The beast flinched, its ears snapping upright as blinding flashes overwhelmed its keen senses.

“Wow, wow, wow! That grandpa is so cool!” Aya applauded, ecstatic. “Who is he, I wonder?”

“That's Lord Drevazio Gayatri, the former royal knight commander,” Crisostomo stated wryly.

“So, he really is a cool grandpa!”

“Let's go,” he said with a sigh, but she ignored that and asked, “Say, do you know magecraft? Why's he writing in the air?”

“Is this your first time seeing someone wield magic?”

“I once saw it up close just recently, but… Come to think of it, I really don't know much about it. I read all those books, but I'm sure that's not enough. For the most part, I only imagine stuff, and poof! There it is.”

Aya was rambling at this point, nearly delirious because of her fever.

Meanwhile, the old man hit the ground around the beast repeatedly, scattering sparks and brilliant arcs. “Ordinary rabbits depend on hearing and speed to escape danger,” he remarked, implying that he intended to rob it of both. As expected, the creature fled, but another bolt slammed ahead of it, causing it to veer frantically.

Engrossed in the scene, she barely noticed Crisostomo’s bewildered expression.

“Uh, Aya, what you're doing might be dangerous. Have you studied the Magic Language? Or rather, the Divine Language?”

Aya closed her eyes, her mind fuzzy. “Hm, Divine Language… According to myth, the gods did not create the world through raw power, but rather, they wrote it into existence. Every law of reality, from space to the weather, is a sentence in the Divine Language, an infinitely complex grammar spoken only by the gods…”

“O-Oh, you memorized the origin of magic? You don't have to recite it out loud. I was asking if you-”

“...Mortals cannot speak this language directly. Instead, they imitate its grammar to compose temporary instructions that reality may obey, which is called Magic Language. Therefore, casting a spell actually means writing a letter to the universe… Wait, writing a letter?”

Crisostomo nodded and smirked. “And letters require signatures, no? Magic Signature is the trigger that releases a spell. When signing a spell, it can be a request like “May this wish be fulfilled,” or the usual sign-offs like “Sincerely,” or even just literally signing in the air. When the caster does sign in the air, it leaves visible traces of magic. That's what Lord Drevazio is doing.”

Aya never read about that. Crisostomo seemed to know a lot. He went on to explain that, when doing Magic Signature, the caster's magic aura could be sensed.

It's how a mage identified another, much like recognizing someone's handwriting. Because it reflected mana, which was unique for every person, it was distinctive and couldn't be forged. There were people who could distinguish a Magic Signature and clearly describe how it felt, smelled, looked, sounded, or even tasted, though it shouldn't have any of those since magic auras acted like a sixth sense.

Aya inhaled, shaken. “That’s…”

“Interesting? I know,” Crisostomo chuckled softly.

“...Mind-boggling! Why can I use magic without any of that?”

Almost at once, the boy's face hardened.