The wizard is reincarnated last Time

Chapter 25

With every movement the wolf made, the scenery around me shifted dramatically.

Mostly, it was empty hallways and rooms, but sometimes, we’d find ourselves at the edge of a hall filled with demons.

Startled, I’d hold my breath, only to have the scene change again before I could exhale.

The next moment, we were in a quiet, dark courtyard. Hidden in the bushes beside an external corridor.

The wolf flattened himself to the ground.

I inhaled a lungful of cold night air. The leaves tickling my face almost made me sneeze, but I managed to suppress it.

‘Get down.’

I obeyed instantly.

Grivis and his followers were emerging from the corridor to our right.

The man in the black robe, Faigin, and the silver-haired woman, Adrian.

“We’ve lingered here too long. We caused quite a commotion in Prion, as well. How much longer do you intend to stay?”

“We’ll be leaving soon. We’ve more or less achieved our objective.”

Grivis replied casually to Adrian’s question.

They were passing close by.

I covered my mouth, pressing myself against the wolf’s body.

Even holding my breath couldn’t silence the frantic beating of my heart.  Were these bushes really concealing us?

“I thought you were eager for a fight, Grivis.  The Knights are closing in.  And some of them are quite… useful.”

Grivis chuckled at Faigin’s words.

“It would be entertaining, but we have a long way to go.  If we don’t hurry back, the old geezers will start nagging.”

“True. And Prion’s a little too close for a proper brawl… Bringing that brat here has stirred up a hornet’s nest.”

“Scared, Adrian?”

“I’m just saying this isn’t the time for reckless actions. We achieved our objective, so we should retreat.”

Adrian and Faigin’s words sharpened, and Grivis stopped, turning to face them.

“Enough.  If necessary, we can send the rabble we’ve gathered here.  Meanwhile, we’ll continue with our plans.  But… I smell dog.”

I clutched the wolf’s fur tightly. He, too, froze, holding his breath.

As Grivis looked around, Adrian spoke.

“A pack of wild dogs ran through the gardens earlier. I told some of the stragglers to chase them off, but I guess a few are still lingering.”

“I see. We should leave quickly, then.”

Fortunately, Grivis quickly lost interest and turned away.

Neither the wolf nor I moved a muscle until the three of them had disappeared down the opposite corridor.

Only after they had entered the building did I exhale a shaky breath.

My body thrummed with tension.

The wolf cautiously poked his head out of the bushes, surveying the surroundings.

His fur, previously flattened against his body, now stood on end, each strand shimmering with silver mana.

To me, who could see mana, the sight was both strange and beautiful.

‘We have to walk from here to the edge of the manor grounds.’

“Can’t you use that… teleportation method from before?”

‘There’s a limit to how many times I can use it. I can’t anymore. I summoned the pack of dogs to mask your scent, but they’re all dead or gone now.’

“You can do that?”

I stroked the wolf’s silvery fur, fascinated.  I realized I didn’t even know this person’s, or rather, this wolf’s, name.

“What should I call you?”

The wolf looked back at me, his gaze shifting from the surroundings to my face.

He seemed to hesitate, as if unsure whether he should tell me his name.

‘Ash.’

“Ash.”

I repeated his name.

“Why… are you helping me?”

‘Ilan asked me to.’

“Sister Ilan? From Altur’s Tower?”

The image of Ilan, her golden tail swaying playfully, flashed through my mind.

A wave of longing washed over me, and I felt tears prick at my eyes.

“How did Sister Ilan…?”

‘We’ll discuss the details after we get back safely. The forest is teeming with demons.

You’re safe for now, cloaked in my scent, but if you stray too far, they’ll smell you and come after you. So, stay close.’

“Alright.”

We started moving again.  Or rather, Ash, carrying me on his back, started moving.

Clutching the heavy chain and shackles around my neck, I held onto Ash tightly.

He moved cautiously through the undergrowth, from bush to bush, under the cover of shadows, navigating the darkened forest.

Whenever we spotted a demon nearby, he would freeze, melting into the shadows.

Most of the demons wandered aimlessly, oblivious to our presence, while a few, sensing something amiss, glanced around nervously.

But they never found us.

“Ha…”

A feverish sigh escaped my lips.

I quickly covered my mouth, but the sound had already been made.

‘There’s a stream nearby.  Let’s rest for a bit.’

Ash sensed my distress.  Unable to speak, I simply nodded.

Following the scent of water, we reached a dark, quiet stream.

I summoned my mana, creating a few small points of light. Tiny fireflies, barely enough to illuminate our immediate surroundings.

Using the faint light, I washed my face and hands in the cool stream.

Ash kept watch, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.

I would thank him properly once we escaped.  Until then, I just had to endure.

The cold water helped lower my fever, slightly.

My heart continued to race erratically, my body burned with fever, and the weight of the shackles and chain around my neck grew heavier with each passing moment.

I briefly considered using magic to break free, but I quickly dismissed the idea.  I didn’t have the strength; even attempting it might make me lose consciousness.

‘Liveric.  Someone’s coming.’

Ash nudged me with his nose.

Clutching the chain, I quickly scrambled into the nearby bushes.

Ash turned to follow, but ‘someone’ had already spotted him.

“Is that a wild dog? I thought I heard something moving around…”

Ash, remaining outside the bushes, growled at the approaching figure.

“Khan, what are you doing? Something’s happening at the manor. Sir Grivis has summoned everyone.”

Another voice came from above, and I froze, clamping a hand over my mouth to stifle a scream.

“I’ll be there soon.”

The two demons moved away.  Ash stood guard in front of the bushes where I was hiding.

I exhaled a shaky breath.

“That was close, Ash…”

‘Liveric, look out!’

A chill ran down my spine.

Before I could even turn around, a large hand grabbed the chain around my neck.

I was dragged out of the bushes, unable to offer any resistance.

“There you are, little one.”

The large man, Khan, loomed over me, radiating a menacing aura.

I couldn’t even scream, my breath caught in my throat.

“I thought I smelled something besides wild dog. So, Grivis was hiding you…”

Ash snarled and lunged at the man, his teeth sinking into his neck.  Khan roared and punched Ash.

The blow sent me sprawling to the ground.  I gasped for breath and looked up.

Ash, landing on the other side, had the man’s black blood smeared around his mouth.

“You damned mutt…!”

Ash’s eyes glowed red, and he lunged again, aiming for the man’s face.

“Gah!” Khan screamed.

He swung his arm, knocking Ash away, but his face and forehead were already covered in blood.

‘Liveric, get on!’

Ash landed beside me and lowered his body.

Khan, his vision seemingly impaired, cursed and swung his arms wildly.

Without hesitation, I grabbed Ash’s fur and climbed onto his back.

Ash bolted, not looking back.

I heard Khan roaring and chasing after us.

The ground trembled beneath his heavy footsteps.

Cold sweat trickled down my back, and I felt dizzy.

As the world blurred around me, I clung desperately to Ash’s fur.

He was running at full speed now.

*Clank…*

The chain around my neck, not properly secured, began to unravel, the heavy shackles dragging against the ground.

Unable to support the weight, I started to slip.

‘Liveric!’

Ash stopped abruptly, and I tumbled off his back, rolling head over heels.

I choked on dirt and dust, coughing violently.

My body, drained of strength, refused to obey, and I couldn’t get back on my feet.

Khan was suddenly upon me, his rough hand reaching for me, his eyes burning with malice.

“Grrr!”

Ash lunged, sinking his teeth into Khan’s hand.

The man roared and threw Ash aside.

I tried to cry out as Ash flew through the air and disappeared into the bushes, but I couldn’t make a sound.

“I’ll deal with you first, mutt!”

The man’s appearance began to shift.

His skin turned dark red, coarse fur sprouted on his body, his clothes ripped, revealing sharp thorns on his back and shoulders.  His black hair lengthened into a mane, extending from his head down his back.

A malevolent mana intensified around him, radiating a sinister killing intent.

Ash didn’t hesitate. He charged again, aiming for the demon’s vital points.

*Thwack.*

A sickening thud, and the thorny arm sent Ash flying.  He twisted in midair, managing to land on his feet.

His silver fur was stained with black blood, his teeth bared in a snarl.

While Ash fought, I tried to move.  I couldn’t help him, but I couldn’t just lie here, a burden.

As I pushed myself up with trembling arms, Ash, covered in blood, stumbled and stood in front of me, shielding me.

His face and body were covered in wounds, and a deep gash on his leg looked particularly gruesome.

He swayed on his feet, barely able to stand.

“Ash.”

No.  No one should die for me.

I moved towards Ash.

The demon was winding up for another punch, aimed at Ash.

With his injured leg, Ash wouldn’t be able to dodge in time.

At the last moment, I threw my arms around Ash’s neck and closed my eyes.

*Crack!*

A sickening crunch, the sound of something shattering.

‘…Liveric.’

I opened my eyes at the sound of Ash’s voice.

I was still clinging to his neck, unharmed.

“What the… you…!”

The demon stumbled back, clutching his broken arm. Black blood splattered onto the ground.

A massive Loran, wielding a black-bladed axe, stood before him.

Without a word, the Loran raised his axe and charged at the injured demon.

The demon, startled, twisted aside, dodging the blow, then turned sharply towards me.

A chill ran down my spine.

“No!”

The Loran tried to change the direction of his axe, but it was too late.

Just as the demon’s hand reached for me, I cowered, bracing for the inevitable.

*Clatter!*

The demon’s hand froze in midair, inches from my face.

Chains made of pure mana were wrapped tightly around his arm.

At the other end of the chains stood an elderly mage, his face creased with annoyance, holding a staff.

“Don’t get careless, you oaf.”

“Haha, my apologies.”

The mana chains vanished, and the Loran swung his axe with all his might.

*Thump!*

The axe blade slammed into the demon’s chest, sending his massive body flying backward.

He crashed through the trees, spraying black blood, his body rolling into the undergrowth.

Such power…

The demon let out a choked gasp and lay still.

“You old fool!  Don’t just disappear like that! How did you even get here…?”

A familiar voice came from behind the elderly mage.

At the sound of that voice, my vision blurred with tears.

“Ah.”

Luwen.

Teacher Luwen emerged from the bushes.

His face, previously creased with a frown, widened in surprise when he saw me.

“L-Liv?”

“Teacher…”

A wave of relief washed over me, melting the tension that had gripped me for so long.

I let out a deep sigh and then lost consciousness.