The Primal Hunter

Due to the suddenness of the attack, many of those behind it still remained within Haven. They believed they could simply lie low and hide, acting like normal citizens until their side came out on top. It had worked for a time… but only because Miranda had been distracted.

Every action carried intent, and this intent followed you like a dark fog. Not to normal people… but to Miranda, there were traces left behind at the broken teleportation circle for her to track. Creatures that existed only in the minds and dreams had seen what they had done. It did not take her long to locate those who had been behind the destruction of the teleporters.

They were just mostly normal people, some not even D-grade. Miranda could admit that the security around their teleporters had been shit. No one expected an attack, and she still found any potential explanation for the attack nonsensical. Haven had done all it could to stay neutral, so why the hell target them?

Annoyed but pressed for time, Miranda did not have time to interrogate them. Considering their goal of escape, she would not have time to either as she made the call.

The man hid his face as he walked through the busy panicked streets. Everyone were confused as they had only heard that the Viper’s Chosen had returned to Earth and engaged the alien invader. This confusion turned to something akin to panic when the fight stopped, and a barrier encompassed the entire city.

None of it was his concern. The citizens were safe; they were never the targets. He saw them as victims, the lot of them.

People sought their homes, and so did the man. He got inside and quickly closed the door, and activated what defensive measures each house was equipped with. After taking off his cloak, he headed toward his living room.

Plopping down on the couch, he let out a sigh of relief. He and the others had not been discovered yet, and considering the lack of response, he doubted they would. All he had to do was wait now.

Feeling relatively safe, he got up again and went to grab a bottle from his fridge. Well, it was just a box with a magic circle to cool it down, but it worked as a fridge.

He walked over and opened it just as he heard a knock on his door. The door to his bedroom. His eyes opened wide as he whipped his head towards the door, with his hand still reaching for the bottle stashed in the back of the fridge. Yet rather than a bottle, he felt his hand meet something soft.

The man barely had time to turn his head before two hands grasped his wrist and dragged him into the fridge, slamming the door behind him. A faint sound was emitted from within before the door opened again – the only thing remaining a severed hand clutching a bottle.

Miranda quickly eliminated all of them after summoning the Drowned Swamp Maidens, using one of her more efficient rituals to kill those significantly weaker than herself and within her domain. How the skill worked exactly wasn’t something Miranda entirely knew. What she did know was that it called upon the spirits of the Drowned Swamp Maidens, which were more conceptual apparitions than anything truly real. They were living ideas.

Getting rid of the terrorists – because that is what they were – had only taken her around a minute. In that time, Ell’hakan and his two followers had not rushed over but simply walked up to the edge of the barrier at a leisurely pace.

She observed as the man stopped in front of the barrier. He raised his hand and touched it for a faint moment and waited five or so seconds before speaking. “Ms. Wells, I believe you should be able to hear me, am I correct?”

Miranda briefly opened her eyes and saw Neil was still hard at work, having even put his party members to work placing down materials in the circle. Closing them again, she decided to buy time. At that moment, when she felt his hand touch the barrier, she felt a pulse go into it, making her tremble. She did not know what it was and decided that if the guy wanted to talk… she would talk. Well, shewouldn’t talk.

it. Placing it in the middle of the circle, she said an incantation and

existence. A human-sized doll looking quite a bit like Miranda appeared, looking more than a little scary with its oversized buttons for eyes and amateur craftsmanship. Miranda

skill expected

such as this to make you come out for a talk. Ah, on that, I would advise you to not rely too much on the Pylon for city defenses. As a noble with a significantly higher rank and a profession that allows it, I possess skills to combat it quite effectively. Instead, I would work on making your own skills the

Ell’Hakan could influence her through the puppet. But she quickly ruled that out simply by how she assumed it worked. If his ability was to influence emotions, he had to influence the soul, and the puppet she had sent did not contain anything to

are you telling

good icebreaker that shows my intent. I want to make an educated guess and say you are currently working on a method of escape or some kind of counterattack. Probably escape, considering I just defeated the Chosen of the

not defeat him; you just delayed him and pissed him off,” Miranda countered in a curt

time for an actual fight,” the man nodded in recognition. “I will just lay the cards out on the table. I have no interest in causing you any harm, Ms. Wells, but I have made a deal with the United

you really going with the “it’s not personal” line?”

the United Cities Alliance will try to take you down. From

and not break in here and now,” Miranda answered. She briefly disconnected from her doll,

an unnecessary risk. The Verdant Witches are notorious for their mysticism, and you are none the

going to do, but she had to at least act like the man didn’t

claim on anything here today. Someone from the United Cities Alliance will come and take charge for now. No one has any interest in killing the citizens, so rest easy,” Ell’Hakan assured

someone who is all about bullshit

speak the truth, as no story matters if there are none to remember and tell it,” Ell’Hakan simply

accomplish? Ruin our reputations? Even if you succeed in doing that, how will it matter? Can you truly call that an actual victory?” Miranda asked.

of the guy. Maybe make him temporarily lose his cool and overshare. She had confidence that even if he wanted to attack now, she could hold him off long enough for

truly aware of our brief battle here today? A few dozen? Add on a few bored gods gazing upon events they truly don’t care about, and it is little more than a handful. My words of the battle will echo more true than anyone else. All they know is that a fight took

you try to define

“I have enjoyed our brief conversation, even if it was rather one-sided. I would advise you to leave now or show your hand as I can delay no longer before my partners get dissatisfied with my

her small doll had now turned to ashes. She only had time

“How long?” Miranda asked.

just waiting for you,”

as she hurried over to the teleportation circle. Just before stepping on it, she briefly spoke a final spell before

spoken by a not-that-wise man long ago: It’s coarse, rough, irritating, and gets everywhere. And that was normal sand. Magical sand was even worse. Not because it was finer and somehow more everywhere, but because it sure as hell was coarser and rougher