The enraged owlbear stalked toward Casper, each step slow and deliberate, its massive claws digging into the earth.
Casper, still kneeling, couldn't move- his body refused to obey.
His sword remained untouched in its scabbard, but it might as well have been out of reach. His arms, burned and useless, throbbed painfully at his sides. Even if he could draw his blade, what good would it do?
He was spent.
His stamina had already been drained from using a sword art earlier. His body bore the weight of his accumulated injuries from the battle. And finally, casting that last, devastating spell had consumed every bit of essence he had left.
Now, with nothing left to fight back, he could only watch as death closed in on him.
Seth clenched his jaw, his hands trembling as he supported Emily. His heart pounded against his ribs, the instinct to survive screaming at him.
'I should run.'
The thought slithered into his mind like a whisper in the dark.
'If I go now, I can escape with Emily.'
It was true. The owlbear was injured, its movements sluggish from Casper's spell. If he acted now, he and Emily had a real chance to make it out alive.
But… that meant leaving Casper and Jacob behind.
He swallowed hard, his mind racing.
'He would do the same if he were in my position, right?'
'Would he?'
Seth tightened his grip on Emily, his breath shallow.
He could feel the weight of the decision pressing down on him.
As dark thoughts clouded Seth's mind, the owlbear finally closed the distance between itself and the one who had wounded it so grievously. Upon reaching Casper, the creature let out a hateful growl before rearing up on its hind legs, balancing like a bear preparing to strike.
With its talons poised to tear into Casper's skull, the owlbear was intent on crushing its assailant.
But before it could make its move…
A spear whistled past Casper, missing him by mere inches, and struck the beast's exposed chest. The weapon embedded itself deep into the gaping wound, driving further into its flesh.
A piercing, agony-filled screech tore through the air as the owlbear collapsed onto its back, overwhelmed by the sudden pain and further weakened by the burns already ravaging its body.
From the direction the spear had flown, Jacob stood in a throwing stance, his body trembling from the intense pain that surged through him with the sudden movement. Despite his injuries, he had pushed through the agony, executing a precise and powerful throw.
"That… makes… two," he murmured weakly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips before he lost consciousness once more.
Despite the devastating wound caused by the spear, it still wasn't enough to kill the owlbear. The creature thrashed desperately, struggling to dislodge the weapon that was the source of its searing agony.
'If only I could move,' Casper thought bitterly, gritting his teeth as he watched the beast in its most vulnerable state yet.
Just then, a figure charged toward the owlbear at full sprint- or at least, it seemed that way, given the visible effort he put into his run despite his lack of speed.
Reaching the beast, he seized the spear and drove it in deeper, forcing the weapon further into its flesh. The owlbear's agonized screech grew even louder.
"Like hell I'm going to run!" Seth roared, gripping the spear with every ounce of strength he could muster.
The owlbear, in a desperate bid for survival, swiped its massive paws at him. But the length of the spear kept Seth just beyond its reach.
Then, after what felt like an eternity, Seth gave one final, decisive thrust. The spear pierced the creature's heart, and at last, the owlbear fell still- lifeless.
A deafening silence filled the air as the clearing returned to the eerie tranquility it once held before the owlbear's demise. The faint humming vibrations of the lined-up swords planted behind them became audible once more.
Despite knowing the creature was dead, Seth still refused to let go of the spear, his grip tight with lingering fear that the beast might somehow stir back to life.
Just then, a loud blaring sound echoed through the clearing. The abrupt noise, following the brief moment of silence, startled them. But it didn't take long to realize that it wasn't the cry of another dreadful creature- no, it was manmade. The trial had just ended.
As the realization sank in, a wave of relief washed over Seth. At last, he released his grip on the spear, the exhaustion he had been pushing through finally crashing down on him.
Lying on the ground, Seth turned his gaze to Casper, and then to Emily, who had managed to reach them despite her injuries. Seeing them both, a triumphant smile spread across his face.
For three grueling days, they had been tempered by the searing flames of Blackthorn's trial. And now, they were forged in steel.
Recovering slightly from his exhaustion, Seth summoned the strength to rise to his feet once more. His first instinct was to check on Jacob, who remained unconscious. Placing two fingers against the noble boy's neck, he let out a breath of relief upon finding a pulse.
With some effort, Seth hoisted Jacob up and dragged him closer to the others. Despite Jacob's short stature, he was heavier than he looked, making the task more difficult than expected.
'Or maybe it's just me,' Seth thought wryly, feeling the toll of his own exhaustion.
Placing Jacob gently on the ground beside Emily, Seth's gaze landed on the Blackthorn badge embedded in the dead creature's hide. He hesitated for a moment before reaching out and prying it free. The badge had not emerged unscathed from the flames- part of it was scorched, but that hardly mattered. With this, they had earned the right to claim a reward from the clan's treasury.
'Maybe I can get something to cure my force veins,' he thought, a flicker of excitement sparking within him.
Now, all that was left to do was wait.
In hindsight, their current location was the safest place they could be. The sword intent array would keep any lingering creatures at bay, ensuring their protection. With that in mind, they made a unanimous decision to stay put and wait until an instructor arrived to retrieve them.
Feeling a bit left out as Emily tended to Casper's burns with what little first aid she could manage, Seth decided to strike up a conversation.
"Umm… so, Casper, what was that powerful spell you used earlier?" he asked, hesitating at first but pushing the question out anyway.
Casper remained silent for a moment before finally responding.
"It's a spell I came across by chance while searching through a Solaris spellbook for a suitable basic spell. I memorized it out of curiosity, but I never intended to actually use it since it was a bit advanced."
He let out a tired sigh before glancing at his arms, now wrapped in makeshift bandages fashioned from Emily's torn cloth.
"I guess this is what happens when you forcefully use a spell you haven't mastered yet," he said wryly.
Seth was about to remark on the absurdity of casting an advanced spell with near perfection on the first attempt when a distant rustling came from the edge of the clearing.
The trio instantly snapped their attention toward the sound, a mix of excitement and apprehension coursing through them.
Was it a creature- or an instructor?
They would find out soon enough.