A few hours later.
{ Task 4 completed. Rewards will be distributed when the quest is completed. }
{ Task 5: Enter and claim the final shard. }
Axis slumped against a nearby tree, groaning in exhaustion. "Seriously, it's finally the last task. I'm so tired! Please, Lyra, tell me this one is going to be easy!"
His voice carried a note of desperation as he recalled the previous trials: the second task, where he nearly died free-falling into a raging river; the third, which had him swimming through some kind of quicksand that reeked so horribly it took hours to get the smell off; and the fourth, where he had to dodge arrows that came at him like a relentless storm.
Just the thought of those trials sent a chill down his spine.
He shuddered, muttering, "Who designs these things? A sadist?"
Lyra perched on a low branch, preening her feathers with an air of indifference. She paused, tilting her head to glance at him with glowing eyes.
"Krr… kee… rrr… eek." [These were easy to begin with.]
Axis shot her a disbelieving look, his jaw dropping.
"EASY? Are you serious right now? Nearly drowning, smelling like death, and dodging a barrage of death arrows are easy?"
Lyra puffed out her feathers smugly, letting out a soft trill that sounded suspiciously like a laugh.
"Easy for you maybe," Axis grumbled, getting to his feet. "You've just been flying around, watching me suffer. What's next, a wrestling match with a bear?"
Lyra chirped, hopping onto his shoulder. "Kree… kr." [Could be.]
Axis froze, narrowing his eyes at her. "That was a joke. You better not be serious."
She simply ruffled her feathers, glowing faintly in amusement.
{ Ding! }
{ Task 5 details: The final shard lies in the heart of the forest, guarded by its ancient protector. To earn the shard, prove your worth by overcoming the protector's trial. }
Axis stared at the screen, his shoulders slumping further. "Of course, there's a protector. Why wouldn't there be? It's not like I've been through enough already."
He glanced at Lyra, who chirped innocently. "I swear, if this 'protector' is another beast that wants to eat me, we're going to have words."
"Krr." Lyra tilted her head. [Don't worry. You'll be fine.]
"Yeah, you're totally reassuring," Axis muttered sarcastically as he adjusted his bag. "Alright, lead the way, Lyra. Let's get this over with."
lyra fluttered ahead, her soft glow lighting up the dense forest as the two made their way toward the heart of the woods, where the final challenge awaited.
A stone Altar surrounded by stone flooring seemed like an arena with a white silhouette sleeping there.
The branches parted as Axis and Lyra stepped onto the stone platform. The air felt heavy, charged with a sense of ancient power.
Lyra flew ahead, chirping insistently as she approached the sleeping figure.
"Kree… [Wake up!]
"Krree… kreec… krrr… [Wake up, it's time!]
The beast stirred, its massive silhouette shifting as it raised its head. Two glowing, ethereal eyes opened, their gaze first settling on Lyra, then moving to Axis.
The creature let out a low, rumbling roar—a sound that, surprisingly, carried an almost casual tone. It was as if the roar meant, "Okay, okay, I'm waking up."
Axis took a cautious step forward, his hand instinctively hovering near his side. His eyes stayed fixed on the enormous creature before him. "That's the protector, isn't it?" he asked, his voice tinged with both awe and unease.
Lyra nodded, her shimmering feathers glowing faintly as she perched confidently on the altar beside the beast. "Kree… kree." [Yes, he is one of the older residents of the forest.]
"Don't tell me I have to fight it," Axis muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. He shuddered, his gaze fixed on the beast's massive form. Just its size alone could crush him to paste without effort.
Lyra's chirping grew louder, almost like a chuckle. "Kree… krr… ree… errr… rarrr… [Ha ha, no! No! I doubt anyone in the forest can defeat this old…]"
Before she could finish, the beast snorted, cutting her off. Its deep, rumbling voice filled the clearing, perfectly clear and unmistakably human in its cadence. "And who are you calling old, young bird?"
Axis's eyes widened as his heart skipped a beat. The beast wasn't just some mindless guardian; it was intelligent, far more so than Lyra.
"Wait… you can talk?" Axis blurted, his cautious stance now mixed with shock.
The beast's glowing eyes narrowed slightly in amusement. "I do more than talk, boy. But your surprise is… entertaining."
'System, Insight!' Axis thought quickly.
{ Failed. }
The message appeared before him, and the beast rumbled again, its voice carrying a knowing tone. "Do not attempt to probe me, child. Your attempts will yield nothing."
Axis stiffened, feeling both humbled and exposed. " You should have told me earlier, you big cat! I wasted my efforts.. "Axis shrugged as it was clearly not a big deal.