Chapter 13
Kaila released her hold on Servan's other arm and scooted over so that she sat between the two of them. "Mister Servan," she said. Her voice was hoarse from not being used after a long stretch of crying. "What did you mean when you said danger beast?"
It was Alistar who answered, despite his tears. "You know this, Kaila. Danger beasts. They're giant animals."
Servan burst out laughing. "Giant animals, he says."
"That's not right?"
"A danger beast is a creature that has naturally absorbed high amounts of magical energy. They eventually undergo a slight transformation, like changing colour or growing larger, so I guess you're half right." He scratched at the side of his head. "There are two ways that a creature might make such a transformation. The first occurs in species with natural longevity, like the broad turtles of the eastern sea that live for hundreds of years. Over long periods of time, they'd naturally absorb more natural energy than, say, a wolf that lives for twenty years. If they take in more than a certain amount, it forces a change.
"The second method happens when a creature finds itself in an area with high concentrations of natural magical energy. If they remain there for too long, then they'll also undergo a transformation, a more violent sort than the ones that happen over time."
"What sorts of places have high concentrations of natural magical energy?" Alistar asked, carefully sounding out the words.
"Usually around natural land formations." When Alistar responded with a look of confusion, Servan continued. "Places like mountains and certain areas within canyons. Hmm... Try seeing it this way, what do you think would've gathered more natural energy throughout its lifetime, a single tree, or a single mountain? The mountain, of course, as it's been around since the beginning of time, and is incomparably larger than any tree you'll find out there.
"For tens of thousands of years, mountains have been absorbing natural energy. All the while, that concentrated energy has been slowly sinking inward, drawn toward the mountain's heart. When natural energy accumulates faster than it sinks, magic crystals form as a means of expelling excess energy. Think of it as nature's way to avoid magical discharges that could lead to natural disasters. I had a good friend that once owned a mine, and he taught me all about it."