I looked behind me to see Incursik getting dragged by his feet towards me by the silver flames screaming out in defiance as he got thrown into my body 'Cayde the hell are you doing now?!'
"I-i don't know this isn't me." The white flames formed into vicious streams aiming straight for my head, I raised my arms to protect myself but only felt the warm embrace of the flames reminding me of my mother.
I lowered my arms to see the several streams converging in front of me creating star-like stigmata grinding against each other trying to use themselves as material to form something, as they did this the rest of the white flames that engulfed the room had all been sucked into the streams as the last bits of the streams coalesced forming a small silver fire floating in the air as the star stigmata disappeared getting sucked into whatever was being birthed.
Filled with confusion I didn't know what else to do but reached out to grab it. It wasn't searing hot like I expected it to be but rather cold, I pulled the silver flame in my hand to my chest and it formed a glowing white stone with swirling energy trapped inside it "a scintilla!" I stared in shock and happiness at the glowing oval rock as big as my palm, it was something I wanted ever since Dendra told me about them, they're a true amplifier and container for magic that's unparalleled to anything man-made
'I was going to berate you on how you should have killed her... but I guess there's not much I can say now that you've got a scintilla. I'm sorry for being an ass.' I was still mad at Incursik but was grateful for his apology although it was half-assed.
I glanced back at Mary who looked at me in amazement and horror unable to mutter any words for my newly acquired weapon. I continued on my way out dragging the unconscious pink-haired knight along with me so he could get his wounds treated at a hospital, I walked straight out the front door carrying the heavy knight now without his armor on my shoulder and as a last bit of destruction to the place i crushed the gate entrance with corrupted white tentacles.
I then walked over to a street vendor who looked at me more confused than scared with the pink-haired knight hoisted on my shoulder "excuse me mister where is the nearest hospital or chemist?"
He took a moment to respond still processing what he's seeing "the hospital is five blocks down the street with a big blue potion for a sign." I tipped him a few coins as thanks and headed down the street garnering gazes, as a masked child carrying an unconscious man effortlessly would draw some attention.
After an hour I had finally managed to leave him at the hospital with half the money I stole from the manor in hopes he'd use it to get stronger and make us even. I noticed a small army of proper knights heading to the manor as well and finally took off the mask, I also sold the majority of items at a pawn shop but kept the void rings as they had bigger storage space than the ones I left with lupra and then I bought a blue shirt and black trousers as well as proper shoes that fit me.
As I wandered the clothes store I found a white leather trench coat with black padding on the shoulders with a black hood with a golden rim and two loose chains around the waist getting strangely entranced by it "mister how much for this?"
"Ah, you have a good eye, good patron. That's a limited edition battle alchemist coat, very few are available in the world as alchemists tend not to go into the field of battle. It's also imbued with special magic that allows it to grow alongside the wearer, it's only 10,000numa for immediate purchase." I quickly handed him the money and put on the coat which shrank to my size and left the store as he asked me to come again enthusiastically.
"Alright, that's everything needed to be done now. Now I just need to wait for lupra to find me, enlist at the adventurers guild in searig, and search for my mother and father who are hiding somewhere in Searig. Did I miss anything Incursik?"
'No, you got everything on the list.' I started heading for the city exit as he affirmed to me, it is so convenient to have a second opinion on stuff 'Anyways on another note I'm gonna go to sleep now cayde. Make sure not to have any more problems on the way.'
I smirked, "yeah ill try but being the protagonist in my own story I can't make any promises." I waited, expecting a reply from Incursik but heard nothing as I walked out of the city gates "guess I'm alone from now on" I was sad that Incursik was now asleep but knew he'd speak whenever he deemed fit which helped lift my spirits.
I ventured through Bandero heading south following the map I purchased making sure to stay briefly at any towns and villages I came across as bounties to capture the Nigredo had spread all over now.
It seemed like Mary or her father didn't do anything to chase after me as well which confused me, my only hypothesis as to why would be the trauma I induced on their minds wiped away their memories of me which was convenient for me as they were looking for a masked murderer and not a harmless boy with similar hair.
One day as I walked across a dirt road just entering searig's territory one of the many merchant caravans also passing by stopped in front of me, I was wary of it thinking it was some kind of trap donning my sword "easy their kiddo we mean you know harm. You can sheathe your sword."
An elderly man with balding grey hair stepped out from the passenger's compartment of the fancy dark wood caravan "we were wondering if you would perhaps like to join us? We're heading all the way to Elshide and can hasten your journey for you by dropping you off near where yer headed."
I stared dubiously at the old man scanning him for any poison or weapons. The only thing I could sense was three more people on the carriage.
In reality, I was just taking a short break from running, at my full pace I could probably beat them to Elshide by a week. I sheathed my silver sword "it's no problem senior I can protect myself."
A sad look came across his face and he walked back to his carriage taking out a long baguette from the cargo offering it to me.
"You'll need to keep yer strength up if you go by foot. It's not poisoned so don't you worry lad." The elder laughed at his own joke and I politely took the bread and he returned to his carriage and they quickly left getting pulled along by two blue ostriches.
"Been a while since I was offered anything out of kindness. Almost forgot what this feels like." I bit into the baguette and made sure it wasn't poisoned as I chewed which it wasn't, it was just ordinary tasty bread.
I then continued my pace running at breakneck speed along the wide road with my ignited runes on my body from the ashreaver technique after finishing the baguette with my white coat floating in the wind shaking vigorously.
Three hours later In the distance I then spotted the same carriage stopped with several people standing outside it, I assumed a wheel broke but I was in a hurry and didn't wanna bother with helping them but needed to thank them for the bread so I pulled out a gold coin worth 500 numa and planned to drop it in front of them as I ran past.
However, as I got closer I could see that they were actually being attacked by bandits. The old man was kneeling alongside four others who had bags on their heads and were tied up unable to resist "guess I get to repay them in a different way then"
I made my approach apparent as I just continued walking down the road as if I wasn't sprinting with magic earlier. The bandits looked at me confused as I just walked right through them without paying them any mind, "hey kid you want some candy? Give us your belongings and we'll give you some." I stayed silent spreading silver wisps of corruption into the 15 bandits I could see floating through the air while hidden.
Then a bandit with a large hand and scar across their face grabbed my wrist and pulled me up into the air "looks like he doesn't want any candy boys! Let's sell 'em alongside the others!"
I stayed silent but looked around with mana sense to see there weren't any I missed. The man then tossed me back down but I landed on my feet easily surprising him "yo brat!" He stood staring down at me demeaningly "I don't think you understand what's happening do ya?"
I smiled "actually I do I'm just making sure there aren't any I missed. It's a shame but since there are hostages I can't have any fun." he then looked at me confused and aimed to slap me but as I snapped my fingers and the corruption inside them all bursted forth covering their bodies and gear in silver glowing veins.
I then took control of their bodies making them all eat dirt stepping on the head of the previous bandit digging it into the ground, I turned to see the old man completely confused as to what was happening.
I walked up behind him and cut him loose "about that free ride I think it's best I take it if I want to make sure you're safe" the other four men he traveled with all thanked me and tied up the 15 bandits with rope.
It's a good thing I went with them as they know a shortcut they're going through that cuts two weeks off their journey to Elshide going directly to Entrana along the way, they asked many questions like how strong I was? What's it like being a sorcerer? And if I'd take the chance to marry their daughters which I refused regardless of the number of times it was mentioned on the week and a half long journey with them.
They also mentioned how a strange wolf had been seen in Elshide recently said to be traveling north from what the rumors said, I hoped it was lupra as it meant we could reunite once and for all.
As the carriage stopped at the entrance of Entrana I peered out the carriage window to see a large white and grey stone city that would almost resemble one of the old ruined cities from my past life if it was equally as dirty "thanks for the ride old man" I stepped out of the carriage taking in the large sights through the stone gateway "I'm sure I can find the adventurers guild centre on my own so take care and make sure to not run into any more bandits."
"Ha, same goes for you cayde. Make sure to not draw unwanted attention, a lot of people who've been adventurers for years will feel threatened when they see what you can do."
I smiled to challenge his warning as I headed towards the large building with four white stone pillars outside the door holding up the black roof.