Shadow Magus - Chapter 2 A Close Call

Freya was originally not able to react appropriately to her situation as she was certain she was done for yet found herself waking up once more. She was then immediately assaulted by great pain and flooded with memories that did not belong to her. All of these made it impossible for her to get a grasp of reality.

As time passed she started to become more and more shocked. She was a scientist and to top it off one of the most knowledgeable about things related to death in the whole world. Despite her priding herself in her medical knowledge she did not understand her current situation. This only made herself feel ashamed at her lack of knowledge but above all it spiked her curiosity.

‘To think that there was so many things I was ignorant of. To think that there were so many things left to discover. To think I would get such an opportunity, even after death!’

Freya could feel a growing conviction in what she could only describe as her soul. It was growing but it felt like there were something missing and that it just needed one last push.

Just as she was thinking to herself someone decided to sit next to her. “Freya how are you doing you look a little pale?” Freya was startled and was brought back from her day dreams. She answered, “I am fine” without hesitation. After all, how was anything good going to come from explaining what had just transpired.

Tacking a glance at the person sitting next to her she noticed it was a girl called Amelia. She had a lot of similarities to herself. She was at the same age, both had black hair, above average looks and both had a height of 170cm. As for her background, out of everyone here she was the only person who lived close enough for her to get a chance of meting before their journey started. She was also talented and of course was also from a small noble family just like her. After all, almost no one who was not either a noble or got plenty of money to spare would be able to become a magus.

Amelia did not probe further but you could clearly see suspicion reflecting in her eyes. Freya looked around and noticed everyone had a look of exhaustion on their faces. Every action they did was slower than they were two months ago. Despite this being the case most people’s eyes where sparkling and where filled with excitement.

“Tomorrow our journey will finally come to an end and we will get the opportunity to choose what academy we want to study at.” Since the silence was getting awkward Amelia changed the subject.

Freya simply nodded in acknowledgment and then turned her gaze to the campfire. It was a peaceful scene with the last light coming from between the trees of the forest. Before finally turning dark, revealing the beautiful night sky filled with stars and two full moons.

‘How peaceful’ thought Freya. For the last few years she had always been stressed has been unable to find any peace, it was a weird feeling having some free time at hand.

Oblivious to her thoughts Amelia continued, “When we get their I will join a prestigious academy and become an official magus. Later I will travel to the central continent where magic is better developed and reach greater heights in magic.” She went on and on about her delusions and dreams but there did not seem to be an end in sight.

Even if one joined an academy and had good talents there was no guarantee that one would become an official magus. Hard work and some luck was also important but Amelia liked to take shortcuts whenever she could and she would find it hard to become someone important among the magus community.

While once again lost in her thoughts she sensed that something was off. Amelia had stopped talking at some point as well. There was an eerie silence that was not there before. Freya quickly looks back at Amelia who was so close she could touch her if she wanted to.

Amelia was still sitting next to her but for some strange reason she could not see her face no matter how hard she tried. Upon closer inspection, it was not just her face she could not see but also around her face as well. It was almost like that space did not exist any longer. ‘That’s strange’ she thought to herself.

Suddenly a pair of red eyes opened where she could previously not see anything. They were filled with hunger and cruelty. They looked just like that of a beast and gave the feeling of a predator steering down its prey. The next moment she could feel its breath on her face, it was filled with a metallic smell.

Freya felt a chill go down her spine and could feel herself getting covered in cold sweat. She did not understand what was going on but she could clearly feel that her life was in danger. Her brain was working faster than it has ever done before. She tried to think of what she should do, ‘should I attack first or do I call for help?’ She quickly crossed out one option after the other, until the only word she could think of was ‘run’.

Her mind was unable to think of anything else at that moment but her body still acted without her giving it any commands. She quickly jumped back surpassing any speed her body has ever moved at before.

Just as Freya landed she could see a ball of fire traveling at an even greater speed then herself, from the corner of her vision. The fire finally brought the light she so desperately needed. In front of her a tall silhouette reveled itself. It was behind Amelia and had swallowed her head in one bit. Its mouth was filled with big and sharp teeth and its fur was darker then the night sky.

The next moment she witnessed it be consumed by fire. All of a sudden, she could her the howling of wolves from all around her. Then it was fallowed with a yell filled with terror “it’s a pack of shadow wolves!”