Chương 29: Chapter 29: Upstream

I made it back to the bridge over the river and I began to follow the stream. The river itself looked like it stretched on for a few hundred metres at maximum.

I doubt it is that long though. I now need to follow it upstream to check if my hypothesis regarding the illness itself is true.

I began to walk along the path next to the river. I could see that the water looked sort of...murky?

It wasn't the clear, blue-ish hue that it is supposed to be. Even an idiot could tell that much... probably.

I kept on walking down the small dirt path next to the river. After a few minutes of walking, I began to hear footsteps hastily making there way to me from behind.

These big ears are at least useful when trying to easily discern which direction it's coming from.

Did someone see me and try to warn me about something? Or is it a monster that snuck behind me but kept their distance?

I'll let it get closer and then apprehend whoever or whatever it may be with the element of surprise.

The footsteps got closer, and closer. "There you are!" Someone yelled at me from behind.

I turned around to see none other than Aliyah, out of breath, standing a few feet away.

I asked, "What are you doing here? Did you also think about the river?"

Aliyah was trying to catch her breath.

She then answered, "Yeah. I found someone over there that said that they take care of all things water in this town. He said that the water was starting to get polluted and murky right before the illness struck."

Huh. She had it convenient when it came down to getting information. I had to ask a bunch of things to only come to the conclusion I had hypothesised earlier on.

Well, there is nothing I can do about that inconvenience. I should probably just keep walking up the stream and check if the idea we have is true or not.

That's all that matters right now. The sooner we finish what we said we would here, the faster Aliyah and I can continue our journey.

Hell, I could have just skipped this place and kept on going, but, I'm too nice, I guess.

Now, after getting this far, I want to help these people. Most of them seem to be earnest and nice.

A few of them, well, just aren't. Just like that drunk guy that we first asked about the illness.

Sure, he was drunk. But he was still kind of an asshole.

I should maybe focus more on what lies ahead of us...

Aliyah was just walking next to me, looking at our surroundings. I can't really tell if she's trying to look for any hiding monsters, or just looking at the scenery.

I mean, sure, the scenery of the trees and everything looks great, but we should focus on finding out what the hell is up with the water.

I asked, "Uhm. I couldn't really tell, so I'll ask you. Are you looking for any possible dangers? Or looking at the scenery?"

Aliyah answered, "Well, I'm doing a little bit of both. I'm looking out for monsters and the such, yes. But at the same time, I'm looking at the scenery."

Oh, okay. That makes sense, I guess. Well, as a pass-time activity besides looking out for danger, what should I do?

Or, more likely, what should I ask? I mean, there is still probably a ton of things that I don't know about Aliyah.

Well, I could maybe ask one question, at least.

I looked over at Aliyah to see her moving her hand over to her sword, slowly as if not to disturb someone with the sound.

I looked ahead and I saw it. An ogre's corpse laying in the water. Well, our hypothesis was right.

I walked towards the corpse. Aliyah held me back and took the lead. We steadily walked over there prepared to fight anything.

Aliyah fully had drawn her sword and was about to strike the ogre to check if it was truly, and fully, killed.

She swung her sword down onto the ogres neck and cut it cleanly in two. It stunk a bit, though.

Aliyah then picked up the head and threw it to the side. She then said, "Could you try to use some wind magic to help move the ogre?"

Oh. I answered, "Yes. I can try, at least."

And so, Aliyah and I moved the corpse out of the shallow water and pulled it to the side so I could set it ablaze to get rid of it.

-[5 Minutes Later]-

I set the ogre on fire. Why? It's so the corpse couldn't get back into the water if it were to be moved.

The river's stream started to clear up around this area, as well.

That wasn't too hard now, was it?

*rustling*

I heard some leaves and bushes shift about in a suspicious manner. I got my wand and short sword ready.

Aliyah had maybe heard it, too. She started to drawn her weapon, as well. Or, maybe she just noticed me drawing my weapons.

The sound of rustling got closer, and closer. It was coming from the area behind where I burned the corpse.

Is whatever it is attracted to the smell of the burning, rotted, smell of ogre meat?

A rather large looking hand poked out from the pushes. And then a leg. It... didn't look human.

Finally, a head poked out. Dark eyes... tusks from the mouth... a humanoid looking face.

[Notice. That is an Ogre. It's hostility is being directed to both of you at... 92% power. It's ready to kill both of you.]

I shouted over at Aliyah, saying, "It's giving off a lot of killing intent! Get ready to kill this thing!"

Aliyah nodded her head and drew her blade fully. I already had mine in my hand.

I think I should maybe use my wind propulsion to start it off. Yeah... I'll also encase myself in a shell of air to try and not get damaged as much.

The ogre clutched it's weapon, which looks like a wooden club with some bumps here and there.

So... it's just as I remember from all of those old RPG games! No, stay focused. For now, I'll set Nova back about twenty feet from us.

I used my wind propulsion to set me back about twenty feet and took Nova off of my head. I then said, "Stay here. I don't want you getting killed."

I then began to ready my feet with wind propulsion at double the output from the first set.

I readied my feet and fixed wind magic to propel me upwards, and then at the ogre. I then yelled, "Let's go!"

I used the wind magic to propel me up about 15 feet in the air, and then I used the second set to fire me at the ogre.

The ogre looked ready to fight, but looked surprised at my approach. Aliyah was running towards its right leg to try and immobilize it.

She was successful, sort of. She got it cut pretty nicely, but had to dodge an incoming swing from the ogre.

I readied my sword in the second I had left before impact and was ready to stab this thing at full speed.

It looked back at me and blocked my attack with its club. I was sent flying into the ground about 15 feet away.

It hurt like hell! Aliyah yelled out to me, "Pearl! Are you okay? Stay there! I'll finish this guy off!"

Without a secondary distraction such as myself, the ogre was able to display it's full attention and strength on Aliyah.

Aliyah was getting pushed back in my direction.

I tried to stand up, but my legs wouldn't move. Are they... broken? Shit, not now! I should try to at least heal them as much as I can with Healing magic.

I then heard Nova speaking to me using telepathy. He said, "Are you okay?! I'll come over and try to help you guys!"

I then responded, with telepathy, saying, "I don't want you to die, Nova!"

Nova kept on running towards the Ogre. He doesn't listen... I'll have to punish him later.

I began to use what little of healing magic I knew at the time, on my legs. It helped slightly.

It healed all of the cuts and bruises, but not the fractures and broken bones.

I can still use wind propulsion... Yeah! I can still fight!

I readied wind propulsion on my entire lower body. This is going to hurt, a lot. But, I can't let them both die like this.

I sent myself flying into the air, my legs flapping about due to the bones being almost destroyed.

I then devised a two idea plan. First idea, send myself flying into the ogre to stab or slash at it. And then pull back with air propulsion and use a new spell I've been secretly working on.

I executed the plan. Aliyah was starting to get tired from dodging and attacking endlessly.

Nova was trying to get closer, but the ogre kept swatting at him. I yelled out, "Aliyah! Nova! Use some form of attack magic! Pull back!"

Aliyah and Nova did so. Aliyah readied a beginner fireball spell, and Nova readied a set of four fire spears, each about 15cm long.

I used my second set of wind propulsion to send me flying at the ogre. It's distracted with Aliyah! Now's the perfect chance to attack!

The ogre saw me and tried to block my attack, but, he was too late. I slashed across his chest, making him bleed like a mother fucker.

I then used my third set of wind propulsion and threw myself back about 15 feet.

I landed on the ground, back first. My consciousness was slightly fading but I couldn't worry about that now.

The ogre, clutching it's chest, was trying to leave. Aliyah and Nova unleashed the fire spells, keeping it from getting away.

I then readied a [Stone Bullet Barrage]. It consists of 10 stone bullets at full speed and sharpness.

I began to conjure them up and began making them sharper, and spin faster. After a few more seconds, I was ready.

I sent the barrage at the ogres chest, making it completely be torn to shreds and having holes all throughout its body.

What was left of him just stood there. It then fell over onto its face and looked dead enough.

Just to be safe, I sent one more stone bullet at full speed, into its head.

The head blew open and apart like a pumpkin versus a 12 gauge. Pretty damn cool...

Huh? My consciousness... did I expend too much mana?

[Notice. Mana levels are extremely low.]

Ah. Yeah. I used too much mana. But hey, we won.

I tried to speak, but nothing came out.

My vision started to blacken out as I watched Aliyah rush over to me. Nova was following behind her.

Aliyah said, "Pearl, don't worry! We're going to get you some help back at the town! Jiro has to know healing magic... right?"

Aliyah looked like she was also in some pain. She was crying, as well. Nova just... looked at me. He seemed upset.

I tried to move my hand, but nothing moved. And at that moment, my consciousness faded out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Aliyah POV)

The ogre is dead. And Pearl... Pearl isn't doing good. She's lost quite the amount of blood and both of her legs are completely broken.

It's a miracle she used that wind magic to send herself all over.

Suddenly, I heard a voice. No, it was more like it was relayed into my head...

The voice said, "[Notice. The one known as Pearl is going through evolution. I will hold off on proceeding the evolution until she is in a safe place.]"

Okay! I need to get her back to Jiro, now!

And, one thing I didn't know, is that Nova can use healing magic. He healed me... Is he some kind of sentient fox? I'll ask Pearl if she knows, later.

And so, I picked up Pearl and Nova, and ran back towards Jiro's.