Alicia who was just getting used to her eight legged existence was disoriented following Faenas - an already light footed girl - on her recently regained two feet, stumbling intermittently. Technically she would be faster in her Araneae form however she didn’t want to reveal herself to the other rangers who are running with them.

• “Do any of you know what it is?”
• “No captain! We were on patrol when we heard the call.”

While they were racing towards where the sound was heard from, another whistling resonated from  slightly off the direction where they were going to.

‘So they keep whistling to update their position for each other if they move.’

• “We’re getting close, keep up pace.”

‘I noticed this earlier but they keep stealing glances at me. I guess even if I look like them doesn’t change the fact that I’m a stranger. Moreover I’m sticking out like a sore thumb with my all white attire in this sea of green. It’s not like I can synthesize dye…’

>Recommendation. < Compound Synthesis > allows the creation of dye compounds.

‘Huh… Might look into that if there’s more to it…’

• “Uhm, Ma’am? Who’s she?”

Without stopping Faenas looked at Alicia, hoping to figure out how she should answer it.

• ‘It’s your call.’ An answer through telepathy initially startled her to the point of almost tripping over on undergrowth.

• “She’s Alicia, Introductions later. Focus on getting back first!”
• “““Yes!”””

‘I wanna ask my own questions like why are they all female? Although they stopped staring at me… I can still feel their curious gazes lingering on me from time to time.’

< Olfactory > ‘Sulfur, smoke... Fire… and something metallic,  copper…? Blood… smells faint…’ Approaching the place of incident while analyzing the scent in the air, sounds of trouble could be heard from faraway. Following the noise, eventually a scene of messy struggle came into view. Tree branches broken and ablaze. Elven rangers scrambling to get cover, shooting arrows when they can.

Two large chimeric creatures at least 2 meters tall with sandy yellow fur, brown mane and the way they move is reminiscent of a lion. But that’s where the creatures’ similarities to african predators end. Their irises are horizontal and rectangular, horns protruding out of top of their heads upright and curved back. What appeared to be mane is an array of quills coated with runny liquid of malignant green. Long tails of the beasts are covered in scales that would normally be found in reptilians. One of them ends with a spiked ball that looks like a flail; the other one opens up to reveal an opening of a fleshly tube that sprays out a foul scented cloud.

• “Manticore! Two of them. Everyone spread out and keep your distance. Careful of their poison!”

One of the rangers who were here before us called out to Faenas.

• “Captain!”
• “What's the situation?”
• “We’ve tried to lure them away from the village but… they seem determined to reach it. About half of us are injured but we can still fight. One heavily injured was carried away.”

‘Three… six… nine… about fourteen? fifteen not counting us… with us it’s about twenty four?’

• “Good work. Iavea! Droria!”

Girl with short chestnut hair and another with minty green hair, who came with us responded.

• ““Yes!””
• “Split up into groups of five and flank them, don’t let them escape!”

As per instructions they took four each and surrounded the creatures, harassing it from every angle. When surrounded the manticore with the opening tail sprays poison, using their wind magic they blow it away. When it eyes one of them and tries to pounce they go up the trees while others shoot it with arrows from the side. However when they do, in response…

• “Watch out!”

One of them opens their mouth in a roar, flames spewing out.

• “Aaah!”

They jumped away with a high pitched scream but thankfully it managed to miss them hitting only the branch she was on top of. Charred branch kissed by embers loudly sizzled before snapping from where it was torched, falling down unable to support its weight. Their wind magic is ineffective against the fire, as it will only billow more oxygen into it, fuelling the flames.

‘I think it’s horns glowed there for a second… Maybe that was the conductor? Their poison seems to be natural like a skill but the fire is magical… Don’t think I can snap off their horns…

Hm, hm… They seem like they’re in a stalemate but eventually they’ll run out of arrows and the small injuries here and there will mount up. This is only a matter of time before’

As soon as she lands the other manticore pounces at the girl, leaping through the air. Swinging it’s spiked tail at her breaking branches along the way, before it could reach her it was met with hail of arrows. Despite taking numerous hits that wasn’t enough to bring it down but was enough to deter it from recklessly charging their companion, buying her enough time to make some distance. As she avoided its strike, the spiked tail hit the boulder that was behind her, smashing it into fine dust and pebbles. 

• “They’re separated, focus on one of them!”

As she had said there was quite the distance between the pair. Capitalizing on the opportunity pressed one of them. When the manticore was pressured its mane perked up. After raising its head high up standing on hind legs the manticore let loose a hellish cry; a mix of lion’s roar and bleating of a goat that made one want to cover their ears while shooting out poison tipped quills from its neck full circle around itself. Causing the elves to run for cover.

• “Captain!”

‘Seems like Faenas got hit by that poison quill… trying to protect someone? Ah her leg was injured so she couldn’t move out of the way in time, prompting Faenas to push her aside. One to the back of the shoulder and another to the side her guts. This ain’t good, I need her alive to meet that guy ash or what’s his name.

Poison coursing through Faenas’s bloodstream caused weakness in her muscles. Just breathing was becoming difficult.

Others are preoccupied with the one that sprays poison so they should be fine for now. Can’t go for its neck with all that spiky quills. Maybe the hind? First I have to immobilize that spiked tail. I really didn’t want to reveal myself to her friends but I can’t do much without a weapon in humanoid form… Damn didn’t think my human legs would be this short lived.’

The manticore was creeping up the two of them… low rumbling roar building up. She couldn’t run away in her current state, if she could her captain wouldn’t be in this mess either. Both of them couldn’t stand up straight without struggling. Its spiked tail was already raised high ready to crush their heads… She wanted to move out but couldn’t, her captain stood in front, her legs quivering. Even as she was in much worse state with poison coursing through her, Faenas was trying to protect her. But what could she do? In melee range, injured and poisoned. It was hopeless, they were going to die here…

However that deathblow never came. Strange sounds of lines being taut could be heard. She was confused, the manticore was confused. The tail seemed to be tangled up in something not visible to naked eyes. Furiously it was shaking its tail to free it from its unseen prison. In the next moment from who knows where, white… creature with the lower body of a spider was behind the manticore clamping down on its hind quarters.

‘Formed quicker than I expected… When you do nothing but weave with webs for days it can’t be helped that you get fast at it. Especially with the help of magic, tons of time saved if you know the exact structure. Well it wasn’t totally a bore, that girl’s lecture on Magic was quite helpful for my magic studies, though only in theory. Well I did get an earful about not ever using Pyroblast again… What’s that about?’

It tried to face towards the creature while kicking back but it didn’t let go and kept behind it. As much as it tried to swing its mighty tail, it was still stuck in the air and all it was doing was just useless thrashing draining it’s stamina. As it moved branches of the nearby trees were violently shaken, causing loose leaves to fall off. As time went on its strength faded, its movements dulled. Roaring one last time into the sky, before laying listless on the ground. She didn’t notice it then but now as it came closer a familiar person was on top of the creature or so it seemed but looking closely they were one and the same connected to its lower half by her hips.

The spider seemed to glow white before shrinking and appearing to be absorbed by the person captain brought along. 

‘What is she? Her current appearance was similar to an elf. She had an oddly regal atmosphere. Alicia was briskly making her to them and attempted to examine Faenas's injuries. Girl was still astounded and could only make half coherent sounds. She had many questions but it seemed like she won’t be getting answers anytime soon.

• “I’m fine… could you go help the others first-”

She stumbled forwards into Alicia’s arms.

• “Obviously⸮!”
• “Please…”

The intensity in Faenas’s gaze seemed to say that she wouldn’t yield on this.

• “Okay fine you win!”

Bringing her attention to her injured companion.

• “Let’s see, sprained leg? Don’t move, I'll wrap it up with ice.”

‘First water packed it densely…

< Likurgenesis >

then drain its heat…’

< Pyrokinesis >

‘And we have an Ice pack.’

>< Water Aspect > Cryokinesis advancement acquired.

After wrapping up her legs in makeshift elastic bandage made from silk. 

‘Now the other clown kitty.’

• “That should help the pain… Can you still fire an arrow?”

Not expecting to be questioned she was caught off guard. But she quickly recovered answered:

• “Yes! bu-”

Only her legs were injured, her hands and fingers were fine. Hearing her answer Alicia turned back into her hybrid form.

• “Then get on me.”
• “Huh?”
• “Ride on my abdo...- back”
• “Oh… uh… okay!”
• “Your name?”
• “Mirtil, Listen my bow broke on when I fell…”

Girl stood up leaning against a tree.

• “Captain stop you can’t get up!”
• “Here take this…”

Faenas was presenting her bow albeit feebly.

• “This is yours!”
• “Just… go…”
• “You heard her hurry up, quicker we finish this up faster we’ll be back to help her.”

Lowering her abdomen low enough for the elven girl to climb up they turned to the direction of the other manticore.

• “Listen closely now…”

The elves were still struggling with the last manticore. They couldn’t land a critical shot, as their arrows were caught up quills when they shot at its head or neck. And they couldn’t hit vital organs from the side; their arrows couldn’t pierce deep enough and at the rear the scaled tail would flick away any arrows. Though they could somehow deal with the poison spouts, they were helpless against its fire magic. Beast learned this was using its magic much more frequently than before, giving little chance of reprisal or reprieve.

By the time Alicia and Mirtil returned to the site of battle. Rangers were mostly out of commission. Without many arrows they barely hung on. Manticore that was spouting fire everywhere sniffed something in the air before facing Alicia, rage and hostility clear in its eyes.

• “You smell the blood of your friend don’t you? Well I might’ve let him go if they didn’t attack mine.”

Did it understand what she had said? Did it simply react on instinct? Or something else? Whatever it was, as if responding to her words it replied in blood curdling guttural roar. By habit it shot its flame spout at the two. Alicia, ready for it gathered wind around her.

• “!!! Winds won’t work you have dodge th-”
• “Just trust me.”

Alicia met the stream of flame with unusual calmness.

< Air Aspect >

↳ 〔 Atmogenesis 〕

Using a motion of someone dramatically throwing open theatre curtains. She guided the flames and the heat away from her. Just as sensationally to her movements the flames flared away following the movement of the wind. 

Normally the flame would ignite the wind due to the presence of Oxygen in it and punch through most walls of wind. Wind is simply a product of net movement of air molecules moving from areas of high pressure to low pressure. By creating a pocket of non-flammable gas like Carbon Dioxide to suffocate oxygen needed for the fire to burn the flames be quelled easily. That would be the end of the story if that was a normal fire.

Introduction of Magic into natural chemistry changes the dynamics drastically. If there isn't any oxygen, the magical energy within the spell will become the fuel for the magic to materialize, in this case fire. Though this severely bleeds out the force and energy behind it that alone won’t completely block it. Spells are targeted and shot out like a projectile and as with anything in the air, its trajectory can be changed doubly so when it's weakened. Incidentally magical energy used in creating the wind can sway the incoming magic with it sweeping it away without harm. And without oxygen to spread itself the flames are diverted off target successfully.

Though the same could be achieved with extremely forceful winds, if the elves could, they would’ve done so before.

As the flames died off the manticore was clearly confused as to why the flames couldn’t reach her. Again it tried to bellow out fire, but just as it opened its mouth.

< Water Aspect >

↳ 〔 Cryokinesis 〕

After creating a mass of water Alicie quickly condensed it into an Ice spike of half a meter and shot out to its agape mouth piercing deep. Pink fluid soaking the stake, dripping on the ground.

> 〔 Cryokinesis 〕 Frostbolt advancement made.

‘Pink? I mean I guess I can’t say anything. I have blue…’

Agonized monster desperate to drive them away spewed out its poisonous haze opening up its .

• “Now!”

Alicia said to someone as she raised her abdomen and lowered her thorax, revealing an elven girl with pale violet hair. Arrow nocked, bow drawn, ready to let loose at any moment. Mirtil shot the arrow deadcenter at the opening of the beast’s tail. Hitting true, more blood spurted out of its tail. For the first time the manticore felt fear for its life. Light poison cloud did reach the two before Alicia blew it away.

‘Sniff sniff, citrus? Smells fruity actually. Heard it was foul smelling like rotten flesh but I guess I’m perceiving it differently thanks to toxic tolerance. Speaking of which I wondered what would happen if I imbued that skill to my web. Answer is; it makes the world’s shoddiest looking filtration ‘Rag’. It should not be working this well  for the fact it looks like a torn cloth scrap that I would hesitate to wipe my floor with. Still I can’t complain since it works otherwise Mirtil would be on the earth spasming.’

The manticore’s movements were slowing down, it was struggling to just stand. “I’m not the type to wait until your last twitch so…” Breaking line of sight to restore < Stealth > Alicia left Mirtil in cover behind trees and climbed to the treetop canopies. Manticore was frightened at its quarry going missing; in spite of its wounds it roared showering its surroundings with barbed spikes from its mane. None of it hit its target. Anxiously it circled on the spot looking around. She descended from the one place it didn’t account for above. Plummeting down biting down on its back while delivering the second batch of myotoxic venom causing it to seize up and perish.

> < Predator > skill acquired without use of system points.

Unique requirements of < Falling Star > achieved.

↳ Plunge attack effectiveness improved.

‘I have to get back…’

Once she returned to Faenas she was on the ground, her breathing was ragged, shallow and quick. Drifting in and out of consciousness. Drenched in her own sweat, feverish. Turning to her humanoid form, she thought up of a way to help her.

‘Shit what do I do? For starters I’ll have to extract these spines and bandage those wounds. What about the poison…?’

‘I accept. 

> Refining antidote for Ma'te Khora, Giant Viper, Blueskin Frog poison.

I do feel a little lighter, maybe the poison was affecting me should be more careful next time.

> Host blood and Saliva saturated with antidote. Pooling to artificial sacs. Ready for administration.

Wait, now how am I supposed to give her the antidote?

> Oral ingestion advised. Subject unconscious. Assisted feeding recommended.

You’re not telling me to kiss her are you?!

> Affirmative. Mechanical action of kissing can deliver antidote.

Don’t just say something like that in a matter of fact way!’

Aaaah what do I do?

Divergent paths. You may choose the continuation, your choice will not affect the ending of the chapter, only the path you wish to take.

• ‘Not enough time, she’ll die if I delay anymore. This is going to be CPR just like in first aid training drills.’ (You know what’s coming.)

• ‘There has to be another way!’ (Arguably SFW)

‘Tell me… was there another way?’

>Affirmative. Through < Kindred > skill < Toxic Tolerance > could be shared.

‘You better have a good reason for not telling me that first…’

>Kindred connection requires the recipient to be submissive or receptive to the administrator. Unknown variable, incalculable possibility. Must reply in absolutes.

‘Then I’m instructing you to tell me the odds no matter how small…’

>Noted. Will list actions with probability of success.

< Weaver >

Making another cloth with magic Alicia first wiped off her own sweat before tending to Faenas who was sleeping peacefully…