31 Stormskin (1/2)

In the dusk of night, the carriage made its way. The journey began quickly as they left the city and entered into a treeline. The world around them disappearing as trees began to fill the entire landscape around them.

The carriage ride became all the more comforting once they had put some distance between themselves and the city. Sev deciding it was safe enough to rest, he laid his feet horizontally beside him and passed out.

Nora patiently sat in the carriage for several hours until she began to nod off. Although no longer necessary, the act of sleeping still held some value as it was one of the most refreshing experiences, the call to sleep continued to grow until the carriage came to a halt and a loud noise startled her awake.

*knock* *knock*

The carriage door opened, revealing Sev's ghoul comrade enshrouded in his black robe. Although he was covered from head to toe, Nora still saw that the ghoul was having a hard time staying still, his actions screaming anxiety.

”Master, there's some trouble up ahead!” rather urgently he called out.

Somehow reaching the borderline asleep Sev, ”Nora would you mind dealing with it?” nonchalantly dismissing the distressed ghoul and his worry.

”I'll go check it out, ghoul, may I know your name?” Nora responded

The ghoul looked to Sev for permission before replying, ”People call me Stormskin, if you wouldn't mind, we've got company.”

Understanding the urgency, Nora hopped off the carriage, ”Why are you called Stormskin?” the rather odd-sounding name confused her. It was a vastly different name from all the others she had met so far.

”Only my contractor may know my real name. The reason people call me Stormskin is due to a gift my master granted me...”

A small surge of blue lightning began to arc around Stormskin's body, before being cut off by Sev, ”Don't do it so close to the carriage!” At that moment, Nora understood Sev's words. The stench of rotting flesh burning made it's way to her. The sudden arrival of the smell nearly causing her to throw up. Only holding back her uncontrollable gagging by sheer willpower.

In the midst of her gagging, she spotted a dozen wolves stumble onto the road. At such a distance she could only see the vague features of the wolves. Their white fur drawing a sharp contrast with the forest around them. As they approached, their sheer size dawned on Nora. These wolves were nearly two meters tall, their large frames showing the faint signs of blood, clearly not their own.

At the sight of these creatures, Nora felt both excited and slighgtly worried. It had been such a long time since she had gotten to properly punch something. To her relief, Stormskin spoke,