Chapter 48: Towards The Clinic
"Reinhard, ignore them and run to the clinic!" Marie shouted. "We’ll handle these!"
Joseph nodded in agreement, already positioning himself to intercept the nearest Werefang, and then he saw. "Anasha might be in danger, you need to hurry!"
Reinhard frowned but didn’t argue. He rushed forward as a Werefang’s claw swept toward his head. He slid beneath the strike, his momentum carrying him under the creature’s reach before it could adjust its attack.
Black spikes erupted from the ground ahead as one of the spiked bears slammed its paws down.
The projectiles shot upward like a forest of black spears, forcing Reinhard to twist mid-stride and launch himself toward a ruined building’s wall. His boots landed on the damaged stone, and he used the momentum to leap from building to building.
Below Reinhard, the bears roared and swiped upward, their claws tearing chunks from the walls but missing his moving form. He then aimed for the ground after leaping from the walls of a building, as he needed to turn.
As he landed on the ground, two spiked bears burst through a burnt building’s wall from both sides, their arms spread wide to catch him in a crushing embrace.
But then time began slowing down.
Drasil Step.
A ripple flowed through the ground as the bears’ movements became extremely slow and their roaring mouths frozen mid-bellow. Reinhard rushed calmly between their outstretched arms and continued forward as three seconds passed.
Time then returned to normal.
Behind him, the bears crashed into each other with ear-splitting force. But he didn’t care as he continued rushing through the burned district and then leaping over the barricades.
Reinhard left the restricted section and plunged into the streets of Mensis Town. He moved through alleyways where darkness provided cover, his hearing picking up roars and growls echoing from multiple directions.
Phineas had definitely released some of these creatures into the populated areas.
The town guards would have to handle the broader threat, as Reinhard’s priority was reaching the clinic. He navigated through back passages and service alleys, avoiding main streets where he heard crashing sounds.
Finally, the clinic’s familiar building appeared ahead.
Reinhard forced the door open, then closed it quickly behind him and rushed toward where Ven’s room had been. The door stood wide open, revealing an empty bed with sheets thrown aside and no sign of the kids.
Reinhard gritted his teeth and began searching through the halls, listening intently for any sound that might guide him. But while moving through, he saw claw marks on the walls in several places.
They were deep gouges that could only have been made by Werefang claws dragging across plaster and wood.
Damn it.
Reinhard picked up his pace as he rushed through the hallway before he saw them ahead.
Anasha’s small form was being dragged by a familiar Werefang. Shadowy wrappings coiled around its mouth, limbs, and waist. It was the same Werefang he’d fought before. And the beast was most likely Ven, leading Reinhard to grit his teeth.
Drasil Step.
Time began slowing down before Reinhard rushed forward towards the Werefang, and as he reached it. His fist smashed into the Werefang’s side and sent the Phantasm Beast flying into the wall.
Time returned to normal as the beast crashed into the wall with bits of stone scattered around.
The Werefang glared at him before retreating down a side corridor. Reinhard let it go with a sigh and knelt down beside Anasha’s unconscious form. He picked her up carefully and began carrying her toward Ven’s room while trying to wake her. Her small body was limp in his arms, showing no signs of consciousness.
As they neared the room, Anasha’s eyes slowly opened. But her expression was blank, and she was staring at the ceiling with no reaction.
"Are you okay?" Reinhard asked with a slight worried look. "Did the Werefang hurt you?"
Anasha stared at him for several seconds without responding, then shook her head slowly.
Relief flooded through him, but unease followed immediately. Why was she looking at him like that? Has she seen Ven transform? Was she in shock from witnessing her brother become a Phantasm Beast?
Anasha smiled suddenly.
Then her hand flashed upward, a dagger appearing from somewhere and thrusting toward his chest.
Reinhard activated Drasil Step on pure reflex. In the slowed world, he saw the blade inches from his uniform jacket and knew it would have pierced him if he hadn’t reacted in time. He stepped backward while letting go of Anasha and creating distance.
Where did she get a knife? Was she planning to stab the Werefang with it? Reinhard’s mind raced through possible explanations. He sighed to himself before moving forward, and then he struck her at the back of her neck.
Then time returned to normal, but to his surprise, Anasha’s blue eyes remained open. Then once more, the knife swept out again, but Reinhard quickly moved a hand to catch Anasha’s wrist. But then Anasha only moved her head to bite on his arm, leading him to groan.
Reinhard released her and stepped back with a frown. He didn’t care that shit bit him, but he was confused about why she wasn’t knocked out from the neck chop. While there wasn’t a lot of force, it was more than enough to render a child like Anasha unconscious.
Something strange is going on...
Reinhard summoned Mimir, who materialized on his shoulder. "Is something controlling Anasha? Or is she under an illusion?"
Mimir tilted his head, studying the girl with golden eyes. "She is being controlled by invisible strings."
Phineas! Damn him. Reinhard’s teeth ground together in anger as he quickly understood that The Stage Maker had turned Anasha into his puppet.
"Help me see where the strings are," Reinhard commanded.
Mimir nodded as Anasha rushed forward with the knife raised. Her movements were jerky and unnatural, like a marionette pulled by inexpert hands.
Reinhard easily evaded her wild swings and knocked the dagger from her grip, leading to the weapon bouncing across the floor.
"The strings are directly in front of her," Mimir directed. "Swing your sword."
Zenuken materialized in Reinhard’s hand before he slashed out with the blade through the air, where Mimir indicated. The sword met resistance for a fraction of a second before cutting through invisible threads.
Anasha’s body went limp immediately, falling forward. Reinhard caught her before she could hit the ground and quickly checked her pulse before sighing in relief as she was fine. Then he heard a groan echoing from the corridor and saw the Werefang was returning.
Reinhard’s eyes narrowed as he summoned Zenuken again, positioning himself between the Phantasm Beast and Anasha’s unconscious form. But then he heard another sound, a weak groan from the girl in his arms.
Anasha’s eyes fluttered open just as the Werefang approached. But then the beast had stopped advancing as it brought a clawed hand to its head and began trembling violently.
A strange sound emerged from behind the shadowy wrappings around its mouth. Then the Werefang began changing as Reinhard watched in amazement as the transformation reversed.
Fur retracted beneath skin, claws shortened to human nails, the bestial snout compressed back into a human face. Within moments, Ven stood before him in his black shorts, shirt, and shoes, looking completely human and utterly confused.
The boy blinked, looking around the corridor as if seeing it for the first time, and then his gaze settled on Reinhard.
"Reinhard... You’re here? What happened?" Ven said in confusion, and then he paused as he stared at Anasha. "Did I pass out when I was carrying Anasha?"