Even though Mira was irked by what the soldier was implying they would do, she replied in a calm demeanor. " Oh it's fine you don't have to apologize but now that I have answered any questions you had, I am going to go look for my brother and Luis."
"oh yes I am sorry for the hold up I hope he didn't get lost"
A few minutes ago when Luis had run out to the forest.
Luis took some cautious steps as he entered the forest away from the sound of the festival. As he went further and further out he suddenly heard the clearest whisper he'd heard before "You're too weak sheltered kid,…. Watch out" dazed by the whisper because he couldn't understand if it came from someone else or from the whispers he heard because they have never been understandable before. He didn't notice the two creatures approaching.
Before he could react sand was flying at his eyes. Just barely closing his eyes after a bit of sand got in his eyes, to not let more in he winced in pain. "Ughh, my eyes sting". As his eyes were closed he suddenly felt scratches that were happening to his legs, having not experienced a lot of pain before he fell to his knees. As he fell down and was in pain he did what his dad had always told him if you need to strengthen a body part to defend or attack make your aura go there.
Following that advice, he sent aura to his legs and eyes which made the pain subside a bit allowing him to open his eyes. What he saw was 2 sand rats, he remembered them because he had studied about them in school as they would show up in the forests near the villages, a reason why there would be adults if kids ever wanted to play in the forest.
Still reeling in pain he remembered about what they did, they had a small aura pool so once every minute they would launch sand from their mouths to blind a target and then attack.
Seeing that there were 2 he realised one did not use the sand attack yet. Luis saw one of them open its mouth he quickly used his hand while on his knees to cover his eyes. He blocked the attack but wasn't able to block the other rat from scratching his arms. However, Luis had moved aura to his arms to fully block the sand which also helped in stopping the rat from scratching him.
As Luis quickly grabbed a stick to try and attack the rat near him, it moved out of the way and before he could try and even follow it the other attacked making him focus on putting aura just for defense. Making it so he was not able to attack them.
A few more seconds after blocking 2 rocks came flying at full speed they crashed into the rats killing them.
Rico who was in the festival having sensed the aura and knowing that the small amount had to be Luis's instantly ran over. After seeing Luis he instantly grabbed 2 rocks channeled aura and threw them.
While Luis was surprised by what just happened he heard Rico's mad but worried voice right beside him.
"Luis are you okay did you get any big injuries"
Luis replied in a hesitant tone because he was not supposed to go into the forest. "Oh no they just scratched my legs but I was able to protect myself with aura."
Rico after confirming Luis did not have any major injuries looked at him angrily. "LUIS why are you in the forest? You said you weren't gonna go to the forest"
Luis in an apologetic tone and not wanting to make eye contact " I saw something shiny so I wanted it to see what it was" The one thing Luis did not want to do was break the promise he made to his parents so he lied about why he went to the forest.
Rico caught off guard stuttered a bit "Wha… what just because you saw something SHINY!!!"
Before he could continue Mira arrived, she arrived by using aura to strengthen her hearing one of her specialties. She had already heard half the conversation on her way to them.
"Rico the one thing I tell you to is to go find Luis and you couldn't even do that fast enough, (clicking her tongue") Never mind that Luis since when did you start doing dumb stuff like this, actually never mind that as well let's treat your wounds first."
"Rico go tell his parents what happened and about why, you and I let that happen okayyyy"
Rico understanding that she meant both the reasons instantly went to inform the elders in the village about what happened.
As Rico was leaving Luis said in an apologetic tone "Sorry Mira I should not have gone to the forest"
Mira stared at him and smiled and said "That's fine, we can discuss that later but first let me treat your wounds"
As Rico left to inform the rest of the Clan members that there was a member of the Black Talons here Maria focused on treating Luis's wounds. The forest was very quiet while she was treating his wounds but after she finished Maria heard a crunch of some leaves. Tensing up because she could not sense anyone nearby she hurriedly looked toward the direction. She saw a tall female figure which oddly resembled her mother. It took her a second to realize it was actually her mother she was just hiding her presence.
"Mom?" she said, following which her mom stepped out of the dark shade of the tree.
"Took you long enough to notice me" Maria's mother, Sera, replied with a blank expression, her green eyes scanning her daughter. " I was watching the entire time I was wondering when you would notice but it seems like all your training was for nothing."
Maria's jaw tightened in disbelief. "You were here this entire time and you didn't help him!?"
"Calm down," Sera said coolly. "Rico handled it just as I came I was also observing other issues at the same time so I just let you two handle the aftermath." In actuality she had been watching the entire time, she came because she sensed an unfamiliar intermediate aura energy. She saw the soldiers approach her kids and saw Luis heading into the forest.
Maria on the other hand understood that the other things that her mother was observing had to be the soldiers. Meaning that she most likely had been here the entire time, for which she gave her mother a sharp glance because she did not help Luis.
Ignoring the glance Sera stepped closer to Luis. "So Luis I know you are not that irresponsible to go in the forest alone was it because you heard the whispers, did they tell you to come here?
Luis went a bit stiff, and while avoiding eye contact. "Y-Yes," he admitted after a pause. "They were telling me to come here but how do you know about them?"
Sera replied after crouching near him and putting a red liquid bottle in his hand. "First drink that, also did your parents not tell you not tell anyone about the whispers? Luis nodded his head with a guilty smile and then drank the drink. "Well in this situation it is fine your parents have told me about them, also Maria and Rico. I'm only telling you because your parents should tell you what these whispers are especially considering what happened here. I do think you're not old enough but it's probably better to tell you now before you start talking about it with other people."
Luis hesitated, then looked up. "What are the whispers I still don't understand are they helpful or not? Also what is this liquid it doesn't hurt anymore I feel energized now"
Sera's eyes narrowed as she started thinking she had felt it a very small presence but it was familiar it was the Phoenix. It did feel like it sensed her as well that might have been the reason it led Luis to the forest cause there was someone strong here. " For your first question, your parents will answer that and for the second one it's a bottle of water made with Phoenix blessing it helps with regeneration and fatigue."
Luis replied in a shocked tone "What? Phoenix's blessing, is this not rare then? I have heard from my classmates anything related to the Phoenix clan is very rare, wait is this not expensive then was it"
Interrupting Luis Sera replied in a relaxed demeanour "It's fine that stuff won't be rare for you soon."
After that Sera turned and looked at Maria saying with a disappointed tone. "And you what daughter doesn't notice their own mother until she steps on some leaves."
Maria quickly replied back without backing down. "What kind of mother uses aura to hide their presence from their own kid"
Ignoring the question she replied, "Well I guess we have to do more training now, anyways let's go back to the village now because my stupid son also did not notice me even though I moved closer to him so he would be running right past me."
Back at the village Luis had met with his parents and Luis's parents informing them of what happened, he was gonna apologize a lot for what happened to Luis but before he could.
Elena replied saying "It's fine your mother was there the entire time I can still sense her aura, she let Luis fight…" with a slightly more annoyed tone "It was probably to let him gain some fighting experience, also she let you guys talk with the soldiers to see how you would react in such a situation, so you can stop worrying" in an even more annoyed and angrier tone "it was all just Sera's fault so you don't have to worry little Ri"