Chapter 6 THE GRASSLANDS AHEAD
"We're close now," said Magnus with a smile as he made his way across the field with Xyra in tow. They had left quite a while ago, and between that town and the city of Drester, there was nothing but a wide-open grassy plain with a small forest to the south. The grasslands weren't some of the safest places to travel through, seeing how there was nothing to hide behind in case of an attack, but luckily it was a short trip. If they kept going at this pace, they'd reach the city by sunset and most likely avoid interaction with any demons.
As he walked, Magnus seemed oblivious to the fact that Xyra was having trouble keeping up with him. His strides were a bit bigger than hers, and he walked as if he knew exactly where he was going. Her steps were far less certain, seeing how she wasn't sure what to expect. Traveling was dangerous. There were demons everywhere, although not many attacked in broad daylight. It made them easier to see, and against a hunter, that meant certain death. Hunters like Magnus were especially dangerous. If a sorcerer was good enough, magic had the potential to be quite effective against demons.
Xyra felt her stomach rumble, realizing just how hungry she was. She hadn't eaten anything since that morning, and her breakfast hadn't been much. She was also starting to get tired. Walking long distances wasn't something she was used to. Apparently, this was like second nature to Magnus though, since he showed no signs of stopping or slowing down. Unfortunately for him, she needed to rest.
"Magnus?" she called out, causing him to pause and glance back. She had stopped walking, preparing to sit down. "Can we take a break, please?"
"But we have to reach Drester by nightfall," he told her, a small frown present on his face. "We really can't afford to be caught out here after dark. Besides, we're almost there."
"Just a small break?" she pleaded, sitting down. "I'm tired."
Magnus sighed before walking over to Xyra. He took a seat next to her and then proceeded to lie down on the soft grass. Truth be told, he was a bit tired as well and a little hungry. However, he hadn't brought anything with this time. The trip to Drester wasn't a long one, so he knew he could survive until he reached it. He had made trips like this several times, and he always managed to get by. Water was all he really needed, and it was one of the few things he always carried with him. He was used to getting by on just the bare necessities. He had forgotten, however, that he wasn't alone this time, and from the looks of it, Xyra wasn't used to traveling.
"We'll take a very short break," he told her before closing his eyes and relaxing. He couldn't let himself fall asleep though. They would have to get moving again fairly soon, or they would never reach Drester by sunset. They'd be fresh pickings for the demons in the surrounding area. The night was definitely a dangerous time for travelers.
Magnus sighed a bit and began listening to the surrounding sounds. This was one aspect of his travels that he really loved. There were so many soft sounds on a sunny day like this. It was incredibly soothing. Slowly he could feel his entire body relaxing into the grass beneath him, and his mind began to wander. He wasn't even aware that any of this was happening, and before he could stop himself, he fell into a gentle, light sleep.
He had not a care in the world as he lost track of time. Everything was so tranquil and beautiful, and his tired body was happy to be able to rest in such a place as that. The day was perfect. Not a cloud was in the sky, and the breeze was so gentle that it tickled his face. The air was even starting to cool down. Everything was so serene…until something hard slammed into his head.
Magnus sat up abruptly, his hand shooting up to nurse the bruise that was already forming on his forehead. He wasn't sure what was going on, but he knew that something or someone had just hit him…hard. Seeing how there was only one person who possibly could have done this, he turned and gave Xyra an accusatory glare. She looked a little worried, but when she saw the glare on his face, she quickly returned it.
"Don't look at me like that," she told him. "It's your fault I had to hit you. You wouldn't wake up."
"What…?" he began to ask, but he cut himself off as he noticed his surroundings. The sky was no longer blue but an assortment of warm colors that were slowly fading to black. In the distance he could see the sun setting. A sense of panic washed over him. How long was I asleep?
Magnus quickly got to his feet and began walking, not even waiting for Xyra to stand up. She had to run to catch up with him, stumbling along the way. She was still glaring but for a very different reason. He had nearly left her behind.
"What's the rush?" she asked. "We're close, aren't we?"
"It's getting dark," he told her sternly. "You should've woken me sooner."
"I don't see what the problem is…"
A shriek echoed across the field as the sun finally fell beyond the horizon. Magnus stopped dead in his tracks at the sound, as did Xyra. She was glancing around frantically, looking for what had made that dreadful noise. It was equivalent to the screams heard in nightmares. What kind of monster could possibly sound like that?
Another bloodcurdling shriek spread over the area. They couldn't waste any more time. Magnus grabbed Xyra by the wrist and began running. She was forced to keep his pace, her legs moving faster than they ever had before. He was a fast runner, something that was surprising considering his weapon of choice. For a sorcerer, he seemed to be in good shape, which was indeed a rarity. Most sorcerers relied solely on their magic and were weak when it came to physical strength.
"Keep moving," he told her, noticing that she was starting to drag her feet. "We have to reach Drester, unless you'd rather be eaten by demons."
That quickly got her moving faster. The idea of becoming a meal was far from appealing. However, with the way things were shaping up, Magnus began to worry that that might actually be their fate. I should've paid more attention. We never should've taken that break! I'm not usually so careless…
They kept running across the field, the grass rustling with every step. However, the sound of their footsteps soon doubled. Compared to how fast Magnus was moving, these second sets were twice as swift. He and Xyra were going to be caught if they didn't do something.
A soft curse escaped Magnus's lips before he suddenly stopped, shoving Xyra to the ground.
"Stay down!" he commanded. It was then that two large demons leapt forward. They were both doglike, their muscled legs and feet harboring sharp, deadly claws. Their eyes were a bloodthirsty red, and they snapped their mouths ravenously, baring razor-sharp teeth. The canines wasted no time in staring down their prey and charged forward.
Magnus stood his ground for a moment, moving his lips voicelessly. He showed absolutely no intention of dodging the attack. Behind him, Xyra was starting to panic. Didn't he understand that two rather large demons were coming? We're both going to die!
When the demons were only a few feet away, Magnus finally moved. His motion was so quick that a prolonged, fearful blink had caused Xyra to miss it. All she could see now was a pillar of fire erupting right where the two demons had been. Their pained yelps eventually died down as their bodies completely burned away. Only ash was left in the wake of the flames.
Xyra's eyes strayed towards Magnus, watching him in both shock and curiosity. He was down on one knee, his hand pressed firmly to the ground. In only a few seconds, he had managed to obliterate the two demons with a single spell. Even though she couldn't use magic, she knew enough about it to understand that this wasn't considered normal. There's no way he's just some average sorcerer.
"Come on!" Magnus commanded as he bent down and grabbed her wrist. He pulled her to her feet and began running again. "More are probably coming."
"Why are there so many demons?" she asked, not fully understanding why they were being attacked like this. Most demons dwelled in forests, not grasslands. Sure, she had expected a few, but from the sounds all around them—the rustling grass, the inhuman shrieks—that indeed wasn't the case. This field was full of monstrosities.
"Because there are a lot of travelers that pass through here," he explained a bit frantically, trying to keep focused on the problem at hand. "Demons usually dwell in forests since it's easier to ambush travelers that way, but more have been gathering out here lately because more people are trying to get to and from Drester."
"If you knew that, then why didn't you wait a day and head out early in the morning?"
"Because I knew I could make it before nightfall. This isn't the first time I've done this."