Chapter 12: Magical Beast
"Wow! An Artifact! My sister told me about these so many times!"
Raven's eyes sparkled with awe. Although he couldn't discern the artifact's rank, the moment he grasped the weight of the spear in his hand, he instinctively understood its value.
Without wasting a second, he took out the vial of transparent liquid he'd retrieved earlier and examined it with curiosity.
…
[Item: Elixir of Ice]
Type: Affinity Potion
Rank: Sunset-tier
Description: Brewed by a Master Alchemist, this rare potion enhances the drinker's Ice Elemental Affinity to the level of a 'Genius'.
Note: For optimal results, consume during sunset. The setting sun amplifies the potion's effects.
…
"An... Affinity Potion?" Raven muttered, eyes wide, hands trembling.
[Yes. But don't consume it yet, lad. The potion's intense ice essence could damage your soul further in its current state. Wait until your soul is at least 50% healed.]
Zera's voice echoed in his mind, calm yet firm.
No affinity... That's what my sister and aunt always told me. They said I was born without any elemental gift. They told me to work harder, to compensate for what I lacked...
And now—this vial. This chance.
A glimmer of hope bloomed in Raven's eyes. A real way forward.
"I-I understand," he said, trying to steady his voice. But despite his efforts, tears silently streamed down his cheeks.
Wiping his eyes, Raven suddenly remembered something.
"You said earlier—you had a gift for my sister. What is it, Zera?"
[Ah, yes. It's a book. Not a physical one—but one like those in the Memory Library. You won't be able to take it out, but you can memorize its contents and copy them into a new book.]
That immediately got Raven's attention.
[But one condition—you must never tell her you wrote it. Let it remain anonymous.]
"What? But… how will she know it's from me?"
Zera paused for a moment, then sighed internally.
[That's what makes it cooler, child. A good deed loses its magic if you boast about it.]
"Cooler…?" Raven frowned slightly, then slowly nodded. "Alright. I won't tell."
If he were any older, Zera thought with a faint sigh, this would've been a harder sell.
[First, learn the 'Instant Memorize' skill. After that, we'll find a way to give your sister her surprise.]
At that moment, a cheerful voice rang out from the kitchen.
"Raven! Dinner's ready!"
"Coming!"
He jumped to his feet and dashed out of the room.
In the kitchen, Athena was setting dishes on the dining table—plates, bowls, tumblers, all arranged with practiced hands.
"When will Aunt Shirley return?" Raven asked, stepping into the warm-lit room.
As if in answer, a loud knock echoed from the front door.
"I'm home, Athena. Open up!"
"Oh! She's right on time. Raven, can you open the door? I'll finish setting the table," Athena said, reaching for the last few dishes.
Raven raced to the living room, pulled open the wooden door, and beamed.
Before Shirley could even step inside, he threw his arms around her legs in a tight hug.
Chuckling warmly, she bent down, set her leather bag on the floor, and scooped him up.
"Have you two eaten already?" she asked, pinching Raven's cheeks playfully.
Raven shook his head and then eyed the leather bag curiously.
"What's in there, Aunt Shirley?"
Instead of answering, she glanced toward the kitchen where Athena was still busy.
"It's a ball gown. And a few birthday gifts for Athena," she whispered, lowering her voice. "Before she notices, can you hide this under your bed?"
Raven nodded with a conspiratorial grin. "Okay!"
Grabbing the bag with both hands, he hurried away.
"Athena, I want to freshen up before dinner. Could you boil some hot water for me?" Shirley called as she removed her boots and set them neatly by the door.
"Give me ten minutes, Aunt."
Athena placed the final bowl—crispy fried beef—on the table, then turned to light the hearth.
Once the water was ready, she brought the steaming vessel to the bathroom.
By the time Shirley returned, the food was neatly laid out, and the small family gathered around the table.
Dinner that night was simple but full of warmth. The aroma of spices filled the air. The clink of utensils mixed with soft conversation. Despite life's challenges, this place was their sanctuary.
While they ate, Athena glanced up and asked, "So, how did the mission go, Aunt? No danger, right?"
Shirley chewed a piece of meat thoughtfully, then said with a more serious tone, "No danger. But... we found tracks. Large footprints—far too big to be human."
"Orcs?" Athena's face darkened.
Shirley nodded grimly. "Yes. If Orcs are wandering the outer woods, it likely means a new settlement's forming—probably within 10 to 15 kilometers of here. While there's no immediate danger, it could escalate. Lord Alexander suspects a monster wave could hit within a year or two."
"No wonder he's been visiting the town so often lately."
Just then, Raven piped up. "Aunt, what's a Magical Beast? Are Orcs Magical Beasts too?"
Shirley blinked in surprise. "Where'd you hear that term?"
"Magical Beast?" Athena echoed, confused. "I've never heard of that."
Caught in their gaze, Raven made up a quick excuse.
"I heard Teacher Elizabeth talking to Teacher Maxwell about it."
"Haa... What are they thinking, talking about that in front of kids?" Shirley muttered and massaged her forehead. Then, she gave a nod and spoke more seriously.
"Alright, I'll explain. You've heard of goblins, kobolds, trolls, orcs—right? We call those 'monsters'. Like humans, they reproduce, often at an alarming rate. A single goblin female can give birth to ten or more young at once. That's why their numbers never seem to dwindle. They're always searching for new land and food. And to them, we're nothing more than livestock."
"But goblins are weak, right?" Athena frowned. "Why say they are the predators?"
"That's a common mistake." Shirley's voice turned stern. "Goblins rarely travel alone. They move in groups. They may be wicked, bloodthirsty things—but they're not brainless. They wield weapons, set traps, and follow orders. Among them, there's always a leader."
She paused, her eyes darkening.
"Some goblins mutate—gain strange powers. They grow stronger, smarter. We call those 'Magical Beasts'. Unlike normal goblins, these can match the strength of Elite Knights and even use strange magical skills."
She glanced at Raven, then continued.
"There was one such goblin twenty years ago. It attacked the town of Azmar using Bloodline Magic—wiped out thousands. The Spade Family eventually defeated it, and its body is still preserved in the city museum."
"Bloodline Magic?" Raven asked, captivated.
"I don't know much about it," Shirley admitted. "But that goblin was powerful—stronger than most knights. It took two Radiant Knights and an Official Wizard to bring it down. Creatures like that... those are Magical Beasts. They exist in different ranks, though normal folk like us rarely see the higher ones."
She trailed off as she noticed Raven yawning mid-bite.
"If I keep going, our little knight might fall asleep before finishing dinner," she chuckled.
"He still has homework to do, Aunt," Athena added with a sidelong glance.
"Y-Yes!" Raven sat up, instantly more alert, and resumed eating with haste.
After dinner, Athena helped Raven with his homework, patiently guiding him through each problem. Though he focused on his lessons, part of his mind wandered—to the elixir, the book, the mysterious skills waiting in the Memory Library.
Once the work was done, Athena pulled out a worn storybook from their small collection and suggested a bedtime story. Raven hesitated for only a moment before nodding.
He curled up beside her as she read the tale of a gallant knight on a distant journey. Her voice was soft and steady.
But before she could finish, Raven had already fallen asleep in her lap—peaceful and smiling.