Chapter 175 – Followed By What?
[This is a brilliant idea.] (Eva)
[I’m glad you are still excited.] (Syrus)
[Trying to ruin the mood?] (Luna)
[Of course not. Who do you take me for?] (Syrus)
[Good. Now celebrate with her.] (Luna)
[What don’t you?] (Syrus)
[My excuse is that I am trying to remember the formula for a Moonlight spell.] (Luna)
[You literally admitted it was an excuse.] (Syrus)
[Just because it is an excuse doesn’t mean it is not valid.] (Luna)
“Woof?” Cobalt turned his head.
“It’s alright, boy.” Syrus patted the dog's ear.
“Syrus…” Ethan whispered, “Are you sure we are being followed?”
Syrus whispered back, “It is likely; the issue is I don’t know if it is a curious animal or something more malicious.”
After Anlesa had their conversation, they eventually told Ethan and Lavender about their suspicion. There was nearly an urge to jump and find whatever this thing or person was, but that was held back for a more strategic plan. Nothing was put into motion immediately, and they kept driving on without issues, but now Ethan and Cobalt were at the front with Syrus.
Lavender called out from the back, “I’m ready to switch whenever.”
Syrus replied, “Yeah, let’s do it now.”
In the moment that the cart slowed so Lavender could move to the front driver seat, Ethan and Syrus moved towards the back of the cart.
“You got it, boy?”
“Woo…” Cobalt quietly huffed.
“He has…” Ethan translated.
Cobalt had been with Sryus at the front with the full purpose of tracking whatever was following them. Syrus helped him get a rough direction of the target, and after a little while, Cobalt had locked on to it.
[I’m glad it was something at least.] (Syrus)
[What else would it be?] (Eva)
[Me going crazy.] (Syrus)
[Thankfully, that hasn’t happened.] (Luna)
“Go.”
“Woof!” Cobalt leapt out of the back of the carriage with Syrus following behind. Ethan stayed back, as they couldn’t leave the carriage with just Lavender in case this was some elaborate distraction.
Speeding through the bushes, Syrus could hear another creature run away.
[At least it is an animal!] (Syrus)
[Is that a good thing???] (Eva)
[Unless someone has the ability to see through it or transform into an animal, or it's a demon, then that means this hasn’t been some tracking attempt.] (Luna)
[Is this another mythic creature?] (Syrus)
[Maybe… It has more than enough mana to not be considered a normal animal, but mythic… it could be a mutant.] (Luna)
[Why wouldn’t it be a mythical?] Eva asked, [It meets the definitions that have been set; the only thing about it which doesn’t seem as grand is size, which in a way is more impressive. It is a small dwarf ox that has a decent amount of mana within it. It also travelled pretty far very quickly, not to mention it was steady and intelligent enough not to be caught.]
[Yeah, yeah, let’s stick with the mythic definition.] Syrus chuckled.
[One curious thing is how old it is.] Eva mumbled, [I haven’t seen a wrinkled cow before, but that could be because no cow lives long enough to develop such features.]
“Let’s bring you back…” Syrus said. There was a risk with what theoretically could be a mythic creature back to the carriage, but Anlesa considered the risks minimal and showing to everyone that they had found their would-be tracker would be a nice confidence boost for everyone.
After the long walk back with Cobalt. “Hey, everyone, we are back,” Syrus called out to the people on the carriage.
“Good, took you long enough,” Lavender complained.
Syrus emerged from the bush line. “Sorry, this little guy is a bit heavy.”
“Woof!” Cobalt barked, and Ethan ran up to pet him. “I know you did a good job, boy.”
His eyes slowly looked up to the animal Syrus was holding. “That… that was what was chasing us?” It was hard to imagine a tiny grown ox was what had Syrus worried.
“Apparently, don’t let his appearance fool you; he was a fast one.” Said Syrus, “Though… Not sure if he can run much at the moment, but he was quite exhausted when I caught him.”
Ethan stared at the ox, and his eyes slid between it and Cobalt. “Is it–”
Syrus said, “He is certainly a special animal.” Silencing Ethan’s question before he said anything unnecessary.
Lavender looked at the animal. “Doesn’t look tasty.”
“We can’t eat it.” Sryus replied, “We would likely get sick if we did.”
Their talking finally made the two who were left in the carriage interested and brave enough to step outside. It was no exaggeration to say both civilians were a little afraid of danger and being hurt, so unless they were camping, if there was a chance of danger, staying in the carriage was preferable.
The moment Mary stepped out of the carriage, the ox wobbled in Syrus's arms.
[Well. I think we have got our answer.] (Syrus)
[The question is, is it positive or negative?] (Luna)
The creature cried out. “Moooo…”
The words escaped her lips. “Beara.”
[Beara…? That’s its name?] (Syrus)
[...Bear-a?] Eva said the name a few more times in their head. [That’s a fascinating name; I wonder what the inspiration and original was.] She was genuinely curious, as the reason for what someone names a child or animal had to be important.
[Maybe they thought it was a bear? And then went, ‘Ah, it's not a bear’.] (Syrus)
[That is the best reason you could think of?] (Luna)
[If I am right, someone owes me a few coins.] (Syrus)
Luna rolled their eyes. [Sure.]
“You know this old man?” Syrus asked. She placed the ox on the ground, with her hand still on top so it couldn’t run away.
Mary couldn’t speak immediately; her hand gently stroked Beara’s old, tired face.
“Moo…” The little cow had a small smile as its eyes sparkled, as it was proud.
“Yes…” Mary finally replied, “I know of him, but I haven’t seen him for a long time.”
“Max”, Mary called out, “Can you come here?”
Max jumped out of the carriage and walked over next to his mum.
Mary pulled on his arm for him to crouch down. “Say hello to Beara.”
At her words, the little ox’s eyes widened as the boy walked up to it, and it wobbled forward, and Syrus let it go.
Mary placed her hand on Max’s back. “Don’t be afraid.”
The ox sniffed him for a moment before it liked his
“Hehe, hey, that tickles.” Max giggled.
“Woo?”
Ethan picked up the pup. “A little later, Cobalt.”
“So, Beara, this guy was following because of you.”
“It seems so… He can track any scent no matter where the person is.”
“That’s convenient…” Syrus said,
“He is a special creature,” Mary said, patting the old ox. “Maca… looked after him for me…”
Lavender said, shocked, “Maca did?”
In a split second, Syrus and Lavender’s eyes connected.
“There was no way to bring Beara into the city, so when I met Maca, and he found out, he promised to make sure Beara was okay.” Mary’s eyes saddened. “He stopped speaking about him entirely after a while, so I had long feared the worst.”
“I see…” Now that information had been placed into the world, there was a question that needed to be asked.
“Beara,” Syrus’ voice was commanding but soft. “Do you know where Maca is?”
The ox raised its head. “Moo.”