Listenia was waiting for me outside of Northwall, talking to one of the guards.
"Have you had any problems recently?" Listenia asked, but the guard shook her head as I slowed down to a stop to join them.
"No, but I think they are having some issues with nomads on the north side of the wall. They keep setting up camps next to the wall, which isn't bad in itself," The guard said.
"Yes, but there is the worry of being so close if an attack comes. Do you know why they are coming so close to the wall? Who is it?" Listenia asked.
"Easterners pushed out by the Peekaan again. I'm not sure why the Northerners aren't doing anything about them, but it's not really my place to talk poorly. I assume that the Easterners are still trying to live on the land that the Peekaan took from them fifty years ago," the guard explained, and Listenia nodded and then turned to me.
"Later, you should talk to Eliza about this problem. Technically, this isn't her problem since it is on the other side of the wall. The Easterners, a group of half-humans, are camping outside the north side wall. They don't like living in cities, but that is because they are harassed. This is a constant problem, but no one wants to deal with it because the Peekaan is not hurting the Easterners," Listenia explained, and I frowned.
"If they are not hurting them, then how are they getting forced out? I feel like I am missing something here," I said, and Listenia nodded.
"Peekaan are dark-skinned humans that live in a very advanced city. They allow the Easterners to live on the city's outskirts, but they don't treat them well. Most people outside the wall will be tired of being chastised for their parent's choices. When a half-blood golden egg is delivered, they are sent directly to the island's half-blood tribe," Listenia explained, and the guard women nodded along.
"Pretty sad, but half-bloods are treated this way, but much worse on the other island. Humans probably treat them the best, but the thing is that even the half-blood race don't like other half-blood races," The guard explained, and I shook my head.
"Well, that is a bit of a problem, but if I can deal with the Undead, then the Easterners staying at the wall should be a problem, right? I asked but then thumbed my chin. "Wait, why are they camping so close to the wall in the first place? Don't they have tons of open land to settle on?"
"Yes, there is, but the further you go north on any island, the stronger the monsters get, but the humans don't hunt them as much as they do, so the monsters on this island are much stronger the some of the other ones, save the small Danger Islands," Listenia explained, but my ears twitched.
"Danger Islands? Now that sounds interesting! Please tell me about them!" I exclaimed, but Listenia shook her head.
"We can talk another time. You have yet to show me how this ward will work; it is already mid-morning. As much as I would love to spend the entire day with you, I do have a shop to run and weapons and armor to build," Listenia told me, and I nodded but tucked that name away to ask about later.
Anything with danger in the name surely piqued my interests!
"Sure, but since it would take half of your Mana, I will set them, but you can watch how I do them. Let's go to the island's far side first," I explained, and Listenia nodded.
"Thank you for letting me know what has been going on, even if it is nothing," Listenia said to the guard, and then the two of us took off at a lightning-fast pace.
By the time we both made it to the far side of the island, both of us were racing at the speed of sound, tearing up the landscape behind us. When we finally slowed down at the mountain range, I had guessed that we had almost cut the time in half of what O'lee and I had taken.
When we stopped, I breathed a bit heavier than Lestenia, but I was still stretching my legs out. While I was about in my twenties, this body was practically brand new, even if it was exceptionally well conditioned.
"You are stronger and faster than me… how?" Listenia asked, narrowing her eyes on me, and I flexed my arm, grabbing my bicep.
"I am, man. Me tough!" I said in a deeper voice that lacked intelligence, and Listenia gave me a look I deserved.
"Did you lose some brain cells from that run?" Listenia asked, and I smirked.
"Quite possibly, but on to more pressing matters!" I declared, and Listenia just stared at me.
I created the image of the seal in my mind and bent down to the ground. Spells were tricky things from what I knew, but very mutable.
"So, when creating a ward like this, you will need a lot of Mana, or there is another way," I said as I pressed my palm filled with Pure Magic converted into Light Magic into the ground.
"Another way?" Listenia asked, now seeming more curious.
"First, can I really trust you? Maybe a better question, do you trust me?" I asked, and Listenia nodded.
"I trust you, but I think that means you are going to ask me for something that I would not normally give so easily," Listenia said, and I nodded with a smile as the Repeating Glyph of Undead Warding burned into the ground.
"One thing I appreciate in you is that I don't have to explain things. Yes, I am going to bind your heart to me, and then I will tell you anything you want to know," I said, and Listenia stepped back with large eyes.
"You can't be serious?! Do you think that I would actually do that?! If I were to go against your words, that would be the end of my life!"
"I am serious. That is the only way to share what I know with you. You don't need to answer now, but I already know what you will choose. You are too smart not to," I said, and Listenia narrowed her eyes.
"I am smart not to even entertain such a stupid idea!" Listenia shouted at me, and I grinned as I stood up.
"You of all people should know to think and observe before making any rash choices or judgments. Look at the glyph that I just placed. This is not the one that you would use, and I can guarantee that no matter how hard you try, you will never replicate what I have done," I said, and Listenia looked down at the ward, her eyes going wide, but there was fury on her face.
"What is that supposed to be?! That isn't even a real spell! There is no way to create a repeating Ward!" Listenia growled, and I shrugged as I pulled a massive amount of Pure Magic into my palm.
"Race you to the other side? I am warmed up now, so I think I can cut loose now!" I laughed, and Listenia gritted her teeth and then burst forward like lightning.
Power surged around me now, and my first stepped cratered and cracked the ground, and I burst forward like a beam of light. Wards burned into the ground as I burst forward, but I was making a mess of the landscape.
I would have to try and limit going all out like this, or I could end up doing more damage than good.
Once I reached the forest, I passed Listenia, a little too close and fast. My vision was slowed as I briefly looked back to see a shocked Listenia flying through the air, only to smash into the ground.
That looked like it might hurt, but if Listenia could handle my punch, I should probably feel worse for whatever she hit. One thing was sure, she would be pissed off at me!
I had to stop about three hundred feet before the eastern mountain, and then I made a deep gouge in the ground as I tried to stop. Unsuccessfully, I might add.
I tripped and smashed into the mountainside, knocking all the air from me but not breaking the rock. I was going to have to work on that.
I needed to be stronger than the things I ran into, or next time I wouldn't get up so quickly. I was not pulling myself up from the ground very fast and still trying to get up when I heard Listenia.
"Galio!" Listenia screamed, flying at me with a pair of daggers in her hands.
*Smack!*
With my open hand, I backhanded the Elf, and my long arm connected with Listenia's face before her daggers could get close to me. The woman slapped into the wall, bounced off it, and then rolled across the ground to cough up some blood.
I had no regrets about how much strength I used. The woman had weapons and came at me like she was going to kill me.
I stood straight and walked over to listen when Listenia was trying to get off the ground. I grabbed her by the hair and dragged her over to a large rock I sat down on as she screamed at me belligerently.
"Looks like you didn't quite understand what I said. When I said I didn't put up with anyone's shit, that included you too!" I growled, grading her skirt with my other hand, and hauled her over my knee as Listenia fought to try to get free, but I was angry and easily overpowered her.
"I am the daughter of Elfina! Unhand me!" Listenia screamed, but I brought my open hand down on her ass cheek like a hammer.
*Smack!*
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