Novels by Stale Raptor

Corren and his group rode with great haste. Dust trailed behind their horses like smoke from a battlefield.“…And after that, the explosion happened, and all I saw was the head of Mancer flying toward me. I knew it would be chaos, so I ran ahead while shooting arrows to make it seem that I was being chased. Vallenhal would be able to see it and follow me,” Vem explained breathlessly.“So that’s why you are making us shoot at the ground,” Corren replied, his voice flat but curious.“Yes. We have to hurry. The Dukedom will panic if Estelle arrives with the news. We must make preparations. I did not know the Dovan family was one of us! And truth be told, my actions would enrage them. But I still work for the Earl on the secret mission of acquiring the staff. The Duke himself wants this matter resolved. They will protect me for my mission’s success,” Vem answered quickly.The rest of the riders kept silent, uneasy with his confidence. The sound of hooves and the hiss of wind through the v

The sun was at its high noon by the time Flay finally emerged from the forest.His beasts followed quietly behind him: the Night Mare, Cerberus, and Judah.Estelle and the others were already gathered near the broken carriages. Smoke curled upward where the battle had been. The smell of burnt wood and mana still clung to the air.Vallenhal looked up first.“Master Flay… I trust battling the Expert left you with a few problems.”“You could say that. Judah ate his body, though. The battle gave him a couple of wounds since he tanked the attack.”“I wonder how he tanked it… That lightning mage is quite dangerous.” Jeggs gave a suspicious stare at Judah.He could see the cinder and wounds on the lion, but none were on Flay.Ephesus stepped forward.“The field is secured. Relos and Danespark managed to form a distance link with the capital. Riders will come by dawn to retrieve the bodies and investigate the identity of these traitors. Well, at least those that we can identify and didn’t get

“Mercy! Mercy!” a panicking mage cried out, stumbling backward as he raised a trembling hand. But a shadow flickered in front of him, faster than his eyes could follow. A single, clean slash split the air. His throat opened in a crimson line, and the man fell lifeless to the ground.The forest went silent except for the faint crackle of burning foliage and the dripping of blood on charred soil.“Was that the last of them?” Estelle asked, her voice steady but low, scanning the clearing.Vallenhal did not answer her at once. His gaze was fixed on something deeper within the forest, his brow furrowed. He seemed almost distracted, as though the battle itself was not what troubled him.Estelle frowned slightly and followed his line of sight. Then she felt it too. A strange fluctuation of power deep in the forest.Ephesus turned his head in the same direction, his eyes wide with unease.“By the Eos…” he whispered, his voice trembling.Among them, only Vem seemed to notice the same thing. He

Flay’s entrance caught the Expert off guard.“A boy? I didn’t sense him!” the Expert thought, narrowing his eyes as the shadows parted to reveal the youth.Next to Flay was a black wolf, its eyes glowing with a predatory gleam.The wolf was unlike any creature that the expert had seen.The beast stood silent but poised, every muscle taut as if it could spring forward at any moment.The Expert frowned at the boy and was instantly cautious. His fingers twitched, and he commanded the magic of the air. Winds gathered, forming a subtle barrier as he sought to read the newcomer’s essence.The energy wrapped around him, and his perception sharpened, covering Flay and casting the gauge magic to discern Flay’s stats.“A Rookie-8?!” The Expert cursed aloud.Flay simply smirked.“Brat! You’re a beast master, aren’t you?!”“Actually, I’m a tamer. And don’t worry. I’ll prove to be a challenge. An expert of your speed and strength would be perfect for me to practice my quickdraw and aim.”“Quickdra

As they approached the ambush area, Flay began to issue his commands.Cerberus rushed ahead and Flay was ready to mount him. Over the past days, Cerberus began to grow in size and surpassed the other Alphas. He was close to the size of a lion!“Let’s not get careless. That Expert. He seems strong.” Flay chuckled.To ambush those who would ambush them would slay a great amount of Adepts and even an Expert on the enemies side!Through the bond of the Taming Jewel, the two beasts responded, their thoughts resonating directly within his soul.“Ready, master!” Judah replied, the voice in Flay’s mind deep and resonant, laced with eagerness.“Master, I think I can bring Judah and warp close enough for Judah to attack the Expert!” Stryder excitedly reported.“Wait for my commands. These Expert Mages here have more explosive attacks. We could get seriously injured.”“You sense it too, master? That dense magic is quite thick.” Kairo answered.“If Brother Kairo senses it, then it must be dangero

A day had passed since the revelation. Many of the nobles remained in the kingdom, but as there was an urgent need to cleanse the kingdom, Flay and his allies began their journey to the South.The dusty road stretched ahead beneath a pale morning sky, the caravan moving steadily south through the narrow path that cut between twisted marshlands and gnarled trees.Flay sat near the front of the lead wagon, his dark cloak pulled low over his face as he surveyed the thick mist that clung to the swampy edges of the road. Princess Estelle rode close by, her fingers wrapped tightly around the Staff of Orvendus, which shimmered faintly in the muted light.Alongside them were Vallenhal and Ephesus, their eyes sharp and alert, watching the surrounding marsh. The caravan had thirty-one wolves at the forefront and two lions. These beasts marched in disciplined formation, their eyes alert, nostrils flaring at the foreign scents clinging to the marsh wind. The lions, regal and calm, moved with the