"Master, you've finally arrived!"
"Master, please save us!"
"Master, those damned demon birds are devouring our moss!"
"Master..."
A cacophony of desperate pleas spilled from the mouths of the underground humans before Sein. Though hunched and reeking of strange odors, Sein knew the eldest among them couldn't be older than forty.
In the city of Mosobra, few ordinary humans lived past forty. The harsh environment and scarce food kept the average lifespan at thirty-five. Hardship had aged these people beyond their years, leaving them bent and withered.
Despite the existence of formidable mages, it was undeniable that, purely in terms of physical resilience, these humans were weaker than the subterranean demi-humans who had adapted over generations—let alone the dark creatures lurking below.
"Enough. Tell me where the Azure-Beaks are," Sein commanded sharply.
His voice wasn't loud, but the humans instantly fell silent, trembling like quails. Only the bravest among them, a burlier man, dared to point into the distance.
"Master, the flock is over there—twenty or thirty of them. They seem to have nested."
Following his gesture, Sein squinted into the gloom. The area was barren, stripped clean of moss. No wonder these humans were desperate.
Beneath his pale mask, his expression remained hidden. The innate fear ordinary humans held for dark mages kept their gazes averted. Only the dire stakes—their families' survival—had driven them to speak so boldly.
The Pale Vale was vast, its moss fields extensive. Most humans had already fled the Azure-Beak infestation. Only these few had stayed, anxiously awaiting aid from the Black Magic Academy.
Had Sein not come, or had no apprentice taken this task, hundreds—perhaps thousands—might have starved this year. Starvation was commonplace in the underground world. The humans of Mosobra fared better than most. When famine struck, subterranean demi-humans resorted to cannibalizing their elders.
"Light torches and place them around the perimeter," Sein ordered. "If any Azure-Beaks try to flee, throw the torches at them."
As the humans scrambled to obey, Sein strode toward the barren patch.
Atop the elevated ground, the chittering cries of the Azure-Beaks reached his ears. Though birdlike in appearance, these subterranean creatures couldn't fly. They moved swiftly on two legs, capable only of brief glides from heights.
His pale mask, a low-tier magical artifact, sharpened his vision in the darkness. A mage apprentice's enhanced perception allowed him to quickly count twenty-six Azure-Beaks below.
Subterranean beasts and dark creatures relied more on smell and senses than sight. Sein's elevated position and the scent-muffling properties of his black robes kept him undetected.
Tch. A flock leader. That explains why they migrated near Mosobra.
But this group can't be too strong—likely a splinter from a larger colony.
Basic Academy lectures had covered Azure-Beaks. Their pack behavior made them ideal for harvesting low-tier magical materials. Some mages even bred them, though none in Mosobra bothered. Low-tier materials suited only apprentices; full-fledged dark mages wouldn't waste time on such trifles.
Certain demi-human tribes, however, had mastered taming Azure-Beaks and their kin.
Twenty-five adult Azure-Beaks, each with the strength of a magical beast, and one leader at low-tier monster level—this was no small threat. The leader, having evolved into a true monster, likely possessed an innate spell. Sein would need caution.
Beyond the adults, faint, shrill cries hinted at juveniles deeper in the moss field. Their combat prowess was negligible. If there were eggs, they'd be a bonus to his Academy mission.
As Sein assessed the field, the humans lit torches along the perimeter. In the eternal dark of the underground, fire was rare—only Mosobra's ceiling of glowstone veins provided dim light elsewhere.
Torches could deter common beasts or low-tier magical creatures, but prolonged use was reckless. Without Mosobra's might, fire was a beacon for stronger monsters or lone dark predators.
But Sein doubted this fight would last long. The torches would herd the Azure-Beaks while minimizing losses to both humans and moss.
At sixteen, Sein still clung to his conscience. A more callous veteran apprentice might have used these humans as bait.
Azure-Beaks were omnivores. Though they ate moss, they craved meat—especially carrion. But their favorite delicacy was the sweet berries Sein had brought from Mosobra, courtesy of Bors.
Holding his breath, Sein crept forward, scattering iron-scale powder in strategic spots and half-burying the precious berries.