Magic Life in the Empire-Chapter 96: Search

Cyril hurried to the classroom just as the morning lessons were beginning.

The day passed uneventfully, with Cyril paying just enough attention to keep up while silently talking to Rhamn in his mind about the upcoming trip.

After classes ended, the three students nodded at each other and went to prepare.

Cyril went to grab Morpho and Tigris. Both of them were equally excited about going on an adventure like this.

After making sure he wasn't missing anything, Cyril, dressed in casual clothes, quickly went for the academy gates, where they agreed to meet up.

Rose was already waiting there, a bag filled with all the necessary stationery hanging from her shoulder.

"Hey... Do you know how to draw?" Rose cautiously but optimistically asked and pulled out a sketchbook.

"A little, enough to roughly sketch out a creature." Cyril nodded his head, quickly catching on to her idea.

Rose pumped her fist in excitement. She had been planning many different experiments for today.

Unlike back in the zoo, where she had been caught unprepared, this time Rose thought about this in depth.

The two students began excitedly guessing what they could encounter.

"You are all a bit too optimistic... There is no guarantee that we will even find any magic creature," Rhamn said while shaking her head.

I am confident in Morpho's abilities.

The red butterfly had great scent when it came to anything magic-related, so their chances were high.

"What are the chances the Empire also has a similar ability at their disposal? They still haven't caught some of them..."

Then we'll just spend a nice day out walking.

But I don't think there will be a problem—we have a sort of lucky talisman. Didn't Myra say her luck was pretty good?

Just as he was thinking that, Myra could finally be seen approaching with a sluggish gait.

Her face still had doubts written all over it. It's like she still hasn't made up her mind if she wanted to be here.

She said hello to the others and stood silently nearby, listening to their talks.

Cyril didn't try to cheer her up at this moment. Let her sulk naturally for a bit; then, once they find their victim, her mood will surely improve.

"Impeccable plan"

...

They left the academy grounds completely, arriving at the familiar shopping street.

There they found a less crowded area and gathered in a triangle around Morpho.

The butterfly fluttered her wings at a certain height, carefully feeling what was around them.

"Will this really work? Surely there can't be that many magic creatures..." Myra voiced her skepticism.

Look. She is just like you.

"Don't say that!"

"Actually, this was not a goo-" Just as Myra was about to say something, Morpho started flying in circles, landing on Cyril's shoulder after a few laps.

Rhamn quickly translated the butterfly's findings.

"100 meters to the north," Cyril announced and quickly moved his feet. Morpho on his shoulder is telling him precisely where to go.

Rose energetically moved after him.

Myra could only swallow the words back and follow after her friends.

...

The group moved through the alleys. The people around them became less and less

Cyril moved efficiently, paying close attention to Morpho's guidance.

Whatever things they've discovered, it stayed in place for now, allowing them to track it with no hassle.

Rose walked beside him, her sketchbook already open, a pencil poised in her hand.

"Do you think it's something small? Or maybe something that blends in?" she mused aloud.

"Could be anything," Cyril replied. "We are going to find out soon."

The creature was just ahead in a dark, desolate alley.

Cyril slowed down before entering it.

He still didn't lose his rational thinking; they needed to be careful. Who knew what the creature was capable of?

Rose and Myra similarly got ready, prepared to cast spells at any sign of trouble.

Cyril cautiously advanced, paying attention to his surroundings.

So far the alley seemed completely empty, only a lonesome trash can standing at the far end of it.

"Is it buried in the trash?" Rhamn said with some disgust.

Or it has an ability to hide...

Cyril thought for a second and turned towards Myra. "Do you know any detection spells?"

Myra immediately nodded and walked to the front.

With one hand she cast a spell that made no sound, an invisible shockwave going through everything around.

However, nothing was seemingly discovered.

"Nothing is hiding here, at least..." Myra cautiously said and remained in place.

"Is it actually in the trash can?" said Rose with some reluctance and walked a few steps towards her friends.

Cyril carefully approached the metal can and pulled open the lid as fast as he could, moving back afterwards.

The group's tension raised to the maximum; they all paid attention to what was inside.

Huh?

The good thing is that Rhamn's words were broken quite fast. There was a magic creature there indeed.

It was a small fox with big ears curled up among the broken metal and other pieces of junk, trembling and looking at the group with fear.

Everyone froze upon this, tension being replaced by surprise. Such a pitiful picture was not what they expected.

"It might be pretending. We shouldn't relax just yet." Rhamn, however, didn't have a single drop of pity in her suspicious eyes.

Cyril, under Rhamn's protesting stare, carefully picked up the creature, raising it high in the air.

The fox had a wound on its leg, probably scratched by the junk inside the trash can.

He cast a quick healing spell to try to disinfect the wound.

The fox flinched at magic being activated, closing its eyes.

But soon, feeling the slight relief, it carefully peeked through.

Rose quickly approached, a notebook in her hands.

"What kind of magic creature is this? What abilities does it have?" She asked out loud with stars in her eyes.

Myra slowly walked over with an unsure expression on her face.

Now that he had somewhat dealt with the obvious wound, Cyril took a better look at the fox and discovered, hidden in its fur, a collar.

"Ammy?" He grabbed it and read the name imprinted there.

The fox perked up its ears and looked him in the eyes.

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"Is this cat someone's?" Rose said in surprise upon noticing the collar.

"How could someone throw away a pet like that?" Myra frowned.

So this wasn't an escaped animal from the zoo.

The two students came closer to Cyril, observing the animal at a closer distance.

Cyril also used this opportunity and cast a spell to scan the body of this magic creature.

Ammy narrowed its eyes in comfort, fully enjoying the human touch.

It was becoming less and less scared and soon curiously nibbled on the hand holding her.

Cyril first observed this with a warm feeling; however, he soon began feeling a change.

Startled, he quickly put down the animal and took a step back, avoiding its reach.

The fox clumsily sat on the floor, shooting him a confused and pitiful stare.

"What's wrong?" Myra warily raised her hands.

"It was consuming my mana" Explained himself Cyril.

When the fox nibbled on his hand, he felt a distinct drain on his body. A feeling he disliked quite a bit.

"Interesting! So it can literally eat mana?" Rose crouched in front of the animal, scribbling in her notebook.

Her actions and a passionate stare somewhat scared the fox; it followed after Cyril with its small legs, even ignoring the stares from Tigris and Morpho.

"It took a liking to you..." Noticed Myra, her face no longer as wary.

"More like it took a liking to the taste of your mana" 

Cyril would usually be glad to receive the attention of an animal like that, but its ability made things slightly awkward.

He lowered his body to stare Ammy in the eyes. "Don't consume my mana without permission."

The fox tilted its head, staring at him in confusion.

Does it not understand me?

The animals from the zoo all possessed a very clear level of intelligence, capable of understanding human speech.

But this one felt a little silly.

As a thought like that settled in Cyril's mind, the fox suddenly raised its head, hissing at him.

"Huh? Did it... read your mind just now?" Rhamn narrowed her eyes in further suspicion.

Can you hear me? Nod your head if you do.

Cyril thought with a curious feeling.

The fox stopped hissing but didn't do anything else, staring at him with its clear eyes.

It didn't really look like it understood him.

"In books, foxes are usually depicted as cunning creatures, so we should be careful."