“Yes.” Reaching into the proto-realm, I retrieve a book on mythical beasts. It’a thick tome containing thousands of species, some endemic to Horan Forest, while others endemic to other parts of Tartareia.
I scan the index, find the Horan Forest section, and open the book to the first mythical beast: theWilka.
“Here.” I hand it to her.
She starts reading aloud.
“Wilka, Genus:Welkorum coeur. The Wilka is a rare, horned predatory beast native to Horan Forest. It possesses a lean, elongated, wolf-like body adapted for extreme speed and agility, with long limbs and a narrow torso that allows for rapid acceleration across uneven terrain. A single horn emerges from the center of its forehead, typically curved forward and composed of dense, bone-like material. This structure is lightly veined and may exhibit a faint luminescence, particularly in mature specimens.”
“That sounds quite cute. I wish they had an illustration to go with it,” Moe says jokingly.
“Me too. It says it has a wolf-like body but it doesn’t really say the size. I wonder if it’s the same as a regular sized wolf or bigger,” I muse aloud.
Moe nods as she continues reading.
“The most distinctive feature of the Wilka is the visible glow emanating from its thoracic cavity. This phenomenon is attributed to its heart, which contains a highly concentrated form of energy. In low-light conditions, this glow can be observed through the creature’s thin, tightly bound dermallayer, often described as a hybrid between fine fur and reinforced hide. The coloration of the Wilka ranges from ash grey to deep charcoal, with subtle variations depending on age. Its eyes are typically amber or pale silver and display a high level of environmental awareness, suggesting above-average cognitive function.”
“The Wilka is an opportunistic carnivore, preying primarily on medium-sized fauna?—”
“Does it saywhattype of fauna?”
Moe shakes her head. “Just medium sized.”
I sigh. “Now I’m imagining a giant wolf,” I complain under my breath.
“Maybe it’s just strong and not that big.”
“If luck’s on our side.”
Moe purses her lips as she reads,
“It rarely engages in prolonged chases, instead relying on ambush tactics and terrain advantage. Evidence suggests that the Wilka may also be drawn to sources of concentrated energy.”
She wrinkles her nose. “It sounds quite intelligent.”
“Mythical beasts typically are as smart if not smarter than anthropomorphic beings. They’ve survived for so long and thrivedbecausethey are both smart and strong. It makes me wonder who studied them so closely in order to write all this information.”
“It must be a Son of Tenebreis. Probably a high level, no?”
I bite my lip, deep in thought. “Perhaps someone assigned by one of the Royal Houses. Mythical beasts are highly prized.”
“Yes, I was getting to that part. Stop interrupting me so much,” she grumbles and swats me playfully.
“All parts of the Wilka are considered valuable. Its hide can be processed into durable, adaptive armor; its bones and horn are used in the crafting of weapons and ritual instruments; and its blood and organs serve as key ingredients in alchemicalpreparations associated with healing and longevity. The heart, however, is the most prized component. When consumed by mortals, it is said to significantly enhance physical endurance, extend lifespan, and increase agility. When consumed by immortals, it can aid in a breakthrough to the next level.”
“Wait!” I call out. I’d skimmed the book before but I’d been more focused on gettingtothe forest at that time so I didn’t exactly pay attention to everything. “The heart can help immortals make a breakthrough? Damn! I wonder why not more people try to hunt it, regardless of the danger.”
“Perhaps they do,” Moe points out. “They don’t tell anyone about their plans and go in its search. When they go missing, it’s not attributed to the forest.”
“That might be right. Or perhaps those who do succeed, don’t tell anyone.”
Her brows go up as she smiles in understanding. “Maintain the myth of the disappearances so no one else dares to go there.”
“Yes. That could be it. Based on what you just read, the Wilka alone is far too valuable tonottry to hunt it. And we’re talkingonlyabout cultivation. The market price for each of the items you listed can easily be several hundred kaths. It would make someone rich overnight.”
“You’re right. But wouldn’t you have heard about someone selling those items?”
“That is where I have two theories. Although the place I frequent seems selective enough, there are other black markets that are far more exclusive. They could be sold there.Or, the people who do successfully hunt them do so because they use all the body parts for themselves.”
