The Valley of Death lived up to its name from the very moment Harold and his group stepped inside. One after another, A-class monsters emerged from their abyss, forcing them into relentless battles. Wraith-lords, banshees, and chimeras struck with terrifying abilities, leaving no room for rest. Each encounter ended with the group barely clinging to their lives.
Harold leaned heavily on his sword, sweat and dirt streaking his face. His voice was grim as he muttered, "I see why they call it the Valley of Death." His exhaustion was palpable, the weight of every fight pressing on his shoulders.
Maggie adjusted herself, her eyes scanning the treacherous terrain ahead. "Maybe it's time we think of another way to bypass the valley," she suggested, her voice firm. "Waiting for Merle and Trina to catch up might give us better odds."
Harold clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. "I hear you, Maggie, but every minute we waste is a minute closer to losing Ray."
"And rushing ahead will do what, exactly? Get us killed?" Maggie's tone hardened as she met Harold's glare. "You can't save your son if you're dead, Harold. None of us can."
Edward quiet till then, stepped forward. "She's right, Baron. We've been lucky so far, but luck runs out. We need a plan that doesn't involve throwing ourselves at monsters we can't handle."
Harold sighed, the tension in his chest unwinding just enough to let him see reason. "Fine. Two days. We'll wait for Merle and Trina for two days. If they're not back by then, we move. But in the meantime, let's figure out a solution to this mess."
The group nodded, setting up camp on a flat patch of ground, though their rest was restless.
The following morning, the soft crunch of approaching footsteps startled them from their uneasy slumber. Harold looked up to see Merle striding toward them, her violet eyes bright even under the gloomy sky. Relief spread through the group-until they noticed she was alone.
"Where's Trina?" Maggie asked, her voice hinting worry.
Merle hesitated, her expression unreadable. "She's not coming. She had something she needed to take care of." She didn't elaborate, and the group didn't press her, though Harold's frown deepened.
They gathered around the fire, their breakfast of dry rations hardly easing the tension. "We need to decide how to get past the valley," Harold said, his voice rough from the previous day's battles.
"I have an idea," Merle offered, leaning forward, a mischievous glint in her eye. "It's a bit… unconventional."
The group stared at her, waiting.
"What if we fly over it?"
Maggie blinked, breaking the silence. "Fly? Do you see a wyvern in our camp? Maybe I somehow missed it. Or perhaps you have a griffin stashed in your bag?"
Merle smirked, shaking her head. "Not with mounts-with magic. You and I, Maggie, could use wind magic to carry us across."
Edward's forehead crinkled. "You're serious? Carrying four people with wind magic, Have you ever done such a thing? That's not exactly a stroll through the woods I would imagine."
"I know it's risky," Merle admitted, "but the alternative is slogging through this death trap and likely dying before we even see an S-class monster. Wind magic is our best shot at avoiding all of that."
Maggie considered the suggestion, her mind racing through the logistics. "It's insane, but…" she glanced at the dark expanse of the valley, its ominous cliffs and shadows a constant reminder of their grim odds, "…we won't know till we try."
Harold looked between the two mages, his hesitation obvious. "Can you pull it off?"
"It'll drain us," Merle admitted. "But it's doable. And better than fighting through another day of, was it banshees and wraith-lords?"
Harold sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Alright. Let's prepare. If this is going to work, it needs to work perfectly."
With the plan set, the group spent the rest of the day preparing. They secured their belongings, practiced coordinating the magic, and mentally steeled themselves for what was either their salvation-or their doom.
They moved to a much more convenient location- A cliff one of many that stretched across the valley.
The Valley of Death was beneath them, a jagged wound carved into the earth. Its cliffs were sharp and unwelcoming. Monsters prowled in the shadows, growls and wails echoing through the air. Harold stood at the edge, his expression unreadable as he stared into the abyss.
Behind him, Merle and Maggie were deep in discussion, their hands moving in unreadable gestures their voices periodically hummed as they coordinated their spell.
"It's not just about lifting us," Merle said, her voice clear. "We need to stabilize the air currents or the winds will slam us into the cliffs."
Maggie nodded, her emerald hair catching the pale light filtering through the clouds. "I'll handle the flow adjustments. You focus on generating enough lift to get us all up and moving."
Edward tightened the straps of his pack, watching the two mages with a mixture of anxiety and admiration. "How high will we be flying?" he asked, trying to mask his unease.
"High enough to stay out of reach but low enough to conserve mana," Merle replied without looking up.
Harold exhaled slowly, gripping the hilt of his sword. "Let's get this over with. If this works, we owe you both. If it doesn't…" He trailed off, letting it hang in the air.
Maggie shot him a glance. "If it doesn't, we won't be around to owe anyone anything."
With that, Merle raised her arms, summoning her mana. The air around her shimmered faintly as she chanted. A sharp breeze rippled through the group, growing stronger as she pulled the elements to her will.
"Hold onto each other," Merle instructed, her voice a bit strained. "This isn't going to feel natural."
Maggie joined her, her own mana glowing softly. The winds surged, swirling around them in a controlled vortex. Dust and loose debris lifted from the ground, circling like leaves in a whirlwind.
Harold grabbed Edward's arm, bracing himself as the winds coiled tighter. Merle and Maggie moved in unison, their hands weaving invisible threads of air and force. With a final motion, the winds lifted them off the ground.
Harold's stomach lurched as his boots left the earth. The sensation was disorienting-like being caught in an invisible wave. The wind wasn't just carrying them; it was cradling them, each gust calculated to counterbalance their weight.
Edward gripped Harold's arm harder, his eyes wide. "This is insane!" he shouted over the rushing wind.
Merle smirked, though her focus remained unwavering. "Welcome to the world of mages!"
The group began to ascend, the floor dropping away beneath them. From above, the Valley of Death looked even more foreboding. Shadows writhed like living things, and the mist moved unnaturally, as though it had a mind of its own.
Maggie's voice cut through the wind. "We're approaching the cliffs. I'm stabilizing!" Her hands moved gracefully, channeling her mana to smooth out the turbulent currents. The wind around them steadied, carrying them higher.
Merle glanced over at her, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. "Good work. Now let's pick up the pace."
The group glided forward, the winds propelling them with surprising speed. The cliffs loomed closer, their jagged edges seeming to reach for them. Harold tightened his grip on his sword instinctively, though he knew it wouldn't help him here.
Suddenly, a screech pierced the air. From the fog below, a massive winged creature emerged-a harpy with leathery wings and talons glinting like knives. Its eyes full of malice as it locked onto the group.
"Harpy! Three o'clock!" Harold shouted.
Merle cursed under her breath. "Maggie, keep us steady! I'll handle this!"
Without breaking stride, Merle extended her free hand, summoning a fireball. She hurled it at the harpy, forcing the creature to veer off course with a shriek.
"It's not done yet!" Edward warned as the harpy circled back, joined by two others.
"We're sitting ducks up here!" Harold growled, his sword useless against airborne threats.
Maggie's voice was calm despite the chaos. "Harold, Edward, hang on tighter. This is going to get rough."
The winds around them shifted abruptly, whipping into a defensive spiral. Maggie's mana surged, creating barriers of compressed air that deflected the harpies' attacks.
Merle didn't let up, switching to water magic. Jets of pressurized water shot from her palms, striking one of the harpies mid-dive. The creature screeched, spiraling down.
"Two down, one to go!" Edward called out, gripping Harold for dear life.
The last harpy lunged at them, claws extended. Maggie's barrier absorbed the blow, but the impact shook the group, causing the winds to falter.
"I've got it!" Merle shouted. She unleashed a burst of fire and earth magic in succession, creating a flaming shard of rock that pierced the harpy's chest. The creature let out one final cry before plummeting into the mist.
The winds steadied once more, and the group soared over the cliffs, leaving the valley behind. As they touched down on solid ground, Harold dropped to his knees, his breath ragged.
Merle and Maggie sank to the ground, their mana reserves drained. "Well," Merle panted, "that was... exhilarating."
"Exhilarating?" Edward glared at her, his face pale. "That was a nightmare!"
Harold chuckled weakly, his voice with both relief and gratitude. "A nightmare we have survived. Thanks to you both."
Merle leaned back, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face, her expression bright despite her exhaustion. "Can't take all the credit," she said with a grin. "The idea was actually suggested to me by your son."
Harold's eyes widened, his breath catching for a moment. "Ray? That boy... he's truly extraordinary."
Merle's smile deepened. "Always wanted to test the Idea. Glad to see it works-though I wouldn't call it the most relaxing way to travel."
Ahead of them, a new horizon loomed: a towering mountain, its rough peaks cutting sharply into the sky. The faint glimmer of sunlight on its snowy cap seemed almost welcoming.
Harold straightened, brushing the dust off of his body. "Let's head in that direction," he said, his voice hopeful.