Three figures leapt onto the cliff's edge, each carrying an air of quiet capability.
The first was a swordsman in a white kimono, a straw hat shadowing his face. The second followed close behind, a girl in a pink kimono, glasses perched neatly on her nose, carrying a calm & respectful presence despite her youth. The last to emerge was a towering brute of a man, his massive, muscle-bound body radiating raw strength.
In a flash of speed greater than his own, the girl in the pink kimono yanked Julian backward, forcing him to stop clenching his stomach. Blood spilled free for a brief moment before she acted.
"Healing Magic: Aura of Healing."
A soft glow spread from her hands, warm and steady, wrapping around Julian's wound as the torn flesh began to knit itself back together. The pain slowly began dulling, replaced by a faint, tingling heat.
"Don't move too much," she said calmly, adjusting her grip as the spell continued its work. "It'll slow the healing process."
The swordsman dashed forward at a similar speed to the girl while precisely unsheathing his katana.
"Art of the Katana: Dual Dividing Slash."
The swordsman precisely cut through the weak points of the parasites, killing them and returning control of the bodies back to the spikey-eared man and Isabella.
Julian was surprised by how efficient these mysterious people were. "Who are you people?" He said as he looked down at his wound, which had already healed from the spell.
The muscular man looked down at Julian. "We are part of a squad that deals with magical beasts such as the parasite you just fought. We've been with each other since we all woke up near each other a month ago." He cracked his knuckles.
The girl from earlier continues the explanation after adjusting her glasses. "My name is Tara, the muscle brain over there is Zephiron, and the swordsman is Eamon." She looks upon Julian's four arms and his bright red hair.
"You're not exactly human, are you?" She looks at the unconscious man with spiked ears and continues. "He's clearly an elf, but I have no idea what you are."
Julian isn't surprised at this line of questioning. "I'm not sure what I am either." He stretches his sore muscles.
Eamon looks at Julian's arms as well. "You can use mana, can't you?" His keen senses clearly sense the lingering presence of aura on Julian's arms.
"Is that what it's called? I had no idea." Julian continues. "I first witnessed it from this beautiful white animal that had a large horn on its forehead and a rainbow mane."
Zephiron laughs at Julian's explanation. "If you can use aura after seeing it once, you must be pretty strong! We should fight!"
"Shut up, you nitwit," she scolds the muscle-brained idiot. "He just had to fight a parasite for the first time while using aura without training! He cannot handle a second fight today."
"Let's head out; it's getting dark, and the forests are never safe at night. Zephiron carries four arms, I'll carry the elf, and Tara will carry the girl." Eamon instructs the group, and to stop any potential obstruction from who he calls "four-arms," he hits a pressure point on his body, paralyzing him temporarily.
Julian, Isabella, and the Elf are carried to Eamon's camp where they are provided with food, and a place to sleep...