Jasmim and Luther left the camp and headed into the forest, because they were in a region close to the sea, they shivered every time the breeze coming from the direction of the sea passed through them.

The positive side of this was that the discomfort helped to keep the two emissaries on their toes as they searched for any sign of enemies or any wild creature roaming the woods, or hiding in one of the trees that reached up to a hundred meters in height.

"Luther, I smell something strange coming from the east!", said Jasmim.

“People?!”, Luther said.

"I can't tell, the odor is a bit confusing. It's still quite a ways off, so we can just ignore it if you want and head back to camp.”

"We better make sure these aren't the people we're looking for. I don't want to wake up with a gun to my neck again.”

Jasmim checked the surroundings after hearing a suspicious sound and said:

“Yes, you are right. Luther stay close.”

"I was about to say the same to you", Luther said.

Although Luther did not have the keen senses of akitsune, he noticed that, after they had walked for a while, they had not come across any animals. A fact that in regions close to larger cities was normal, however as the port city they were going to was smaller compared to other cities and still far from where they were, the absence of animals ended up signaling that something could be wrong.

The feeling the emissary had at that moment was like he was walking down a dark alley, listening to his subconscious saying that the chance of something bad happening was high.

We're getting too far away from the camp, I think it would be better if I went back with Jasmim, Luther thought with his hand approaching the hilt of his sword.

“Luther!”, shouted Jasmim when she saw a woman shooting an arrow at the emissary.

Without enough time to say the incantation, Luther channeled his magic and used it to manipulate the wind around him to move quickly to avoid the arrow.

This was a common ability of wind magic users, known as wind steps. However, using magic without enchantment came at a high cost for a magic user. Because of this, it was something done cautiously by emissaries. While enchantments told what their caster would do, they had a lower cost and in most cases greater effectiveness.

After a brief respite from the first arrow, others came.

How did I not feel their approach?, thought Jasmim, looking perplexed at the other people who were appearing and shooting in her direction, It's not easy to hide your scent from a kitsune!.

Removing his sword from its scabbard, Luther blocked the arrows coming towards him and Jasmim did the same using the wind steps to increase your speed.

“They are Elite Hunters, avoid using wind steps!”, said Jasmim.

Jasmim, upon hearing Luther's words, noticed the costumes that the shooters were wearing.

All of them wore clothes with dark and rustic colors with furs of magical creatures. But what confirmed the identity of her attackers was the basilisk pendant with horns like a goat that detected a magical signature. This creature was known as Akuq: one of the most ruthless predators.

Understanding who her enemies were, Jasmim was able to comprehend the fact that they managed to camouflage their scent so well and approached undetected.

The Elite Hunters were an organization originally created by people without magic with the intention of fighting magical threats and keeping the balance of power balanced in an age when magical beings seemed to reign supreme in the world.

In their heyday hunters were seen as great warriors. Unfortunately, over time the organization ended up losing its way. Many have abandoned their post from defenders to aggressors.

But no matter how far they had strayed from their origins, the Elite Hunters were still formidable enemies and the most experienced of the order were able to take down the powerful magic users as if they were just an ordinary civilian.

Jasmim and Luther, finding themselves surrounded, stood against each other's backs to get a good field of view of their enemies. The escape routes at that moment were not good and even if they managed to withdraw from where they were, it was obvious that their enemies would go after them.

"We'll have to force them to retreat!", said Jasmim.

“Well, we're two against… twelve. I think we can make it happen”, Luther said.

"Aren't you going to try to run away?", said one of the hunters.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but we're not interested in running!", Luther said.

"Too bad, that would make things more fun!", said another hunter.

After the hunter said that full of disdain, the other hunters rushed towards the two emissaries.

Though they weren't restricted to that, Windbringers often focus on fluidity and speed in their training. With this they became exceptional in dodging, but at the cost of greater brute strength.

Luther and Jasmim managed to handle the first wave of attacks well, showing a strong defense.

Unfortunately, they weren't able to counterattack so well, as the enemies used assorted weapons like axes, swords and daggers, making it difficult for the two to maintain a fixed approach to combat.

There was still the problem that even if they were faster than most hunters, the reaction time they had was too short for a more potent counterattack.

The emissaries spun while maintaining formation, Luther managed to rip off the arm of one of the hunters, but another hit him with a dagger in his left arm that luckily was not what he used to fight with his sword.

"Luther, we're going to have to give in and use magic!", said Jasmim.

Jasmim used thewind steps to increase his speed and ripped off the hunter's fingers that hit Luther.

"Okay, let's finish them off soon, the others must be getting worried about our delay", Luther said.

Although the two emissaries were too busy to see, one of the hunters smiled in satisfaction to see that finally his opponents were using magic and thinking aloud, he said:

"In the end, they're as predictable as he said they would be! Those emissaries should never have approached this place!”

The hunter advanced with his companions, aware that all he needed to do for their plan to work was to keep pressing until the emissaries were exhausted.