"I think something is wrong. I just felt a fluctuation in cosmic energy nearby. We should check on the others." Apphira said, already heading towards the entrance.
Alvan was conflicted internally as well because he could feel his powers waiting for him to harness them. Whenever the ability to use his powers, whether ethereal or cosmic, comes to him, he always feels a surge in his body. And he is already used to such feelings. That was why when Apphira stopped abruptly and said what she said, he had to ask:
"What sort of fluctuations? What exactly can cause fluctuations in the nearby cosmic energy?" He was afraid that she might have sensed fluctuations in cosmic energy because his powers, especially his ability to tap into cosmic energy, had just returned to him. This was a secret known only to the High Priest, his mother, and himself in all of Etheloria, and he wouldn't want Apphira to find out now.
However, the answer he received from her calmed his nerves and also alerted him.
Apphira replied, "Aura is one of the factors that can lead to fluctuations in cosmic energy. And only Drake can use it to the extent that I could feel it from wherever he was. For Drake to use it this way, it means that they might be in danger."
When she finished speaking, the three of them stormed out of the camp to search for both Drake and Kael, as well as Lyra and Thorne. Even though Emelda wanted to ask Apphira what kind of danger she was speaking about, she didn't. She just followed them. She was alert, ready to use her elemental abilities if needed, just like Alvan and Apphira.
***
Meanwhile, the fluctuation Apphira felt occurred when Drake used his Aura Scan for the second time, delving deeper into their surroundings to locate his target.
After a thorough search, he finally found the two other identities that his Aura Scan had detected, but he has yet to recognize them.
When he arrived at the location, he discovered the dying and battered beast next to a boulder. It bared its fangs at a figure that was approaching it bravely. That was when he wielded his spear, made of his Aura, between the two. An attempt to separate the beast from the human.
"Drake!?" That was what he heard coming from a familiar voice dressed in the same attire as him.
"Lyra, is that you?" Kael, who was behind Drake, asked.
Lyra called out Drake's name after narrowly dodging his spear, which she recognized immediately as it was made of pure aura. She was able to discern this fact because she is attuned to enchantment abilities, making it easy for her to recognize and decipher various types of energy and their applications. But upon hearing her name being called by someone else, she now knew for sure that it was Drake and Kael who had left the camp to scout for fruits.
"Yes… Kael! Drake!..." However, before she completed her sentence, she was interrupted by the growl of the beast lying an arm's length away from her. The vulnerable and battered beast was trying to stand as its instincts had informed it of these intruders.
Staggeringly, the beast managed to stand on all fours.
It was huge, almost half the height of an average human, and its size and shape were almost like that of a lion. However, the similarities between it and a lion ended with just the body shape, as its head was the differing factor. It was shaped like that of an owl's, with a set of carnivorous fangs and a snout. A spiraled horn was sticking out from its forehead. At the end of its limbs were dangling claws, resembling a werewolf's but longer, sharper, and shaped more like a mini-scythe. Also, it has no tail.
It was strange...
To their surprise, the beast let out another growl that sounded like a faint roar, looking directly at Lyra with its fiery eyes. But just as it was about to make a move with its weak limbs, it fell back to the ground like a heap of rags.
"It is an elemental beast." A voice announced, perhaps from the air as the source was nowhere to be seen.
Lyra, Drake, and Kael heard it immediately after the beast had fallen back with no strength left in its weak body.
Lyra turned her head towards the direction from which the familiar voice that said those words seemed to have come from. It was Thorne...
She was perplexed. She can't imagine how he got there. Before she could say anything to him, Kael asked Thorne a question as he emerged from his hideout.
"What do you mean by that statement?"
"I sensed it. When it readied itself for an attack against Lyra, it somehow was able to manipulate the earth beneath. Just that its control was so weak that you guys did not sense it at all. But since I am attuned to earth elemental magic, I have better perceptions when it comes to earth manipulation," replied Thorne.
"He is right," said Drake. "This beast is actually called a Terraclaw. Its dangling claws are deadly and can also manipulate earth for an attack."
"But... it was wounded. It has little or no intelligence like us. It might have acted on instincts, thinking that we want to compound more to its injury..." Before Lyra could finish what she was saying, Drake was already on the move with another aura spear.
"A beast is a beast. They are never compassionate, whether in good shape or not," he flung the spear once more at the beast.
However, the spear failed its mission. Before it touched the beast, it had disintegrated into particles of aura once more. Causing Drake to roll his eyes at Lyra, who was already standing in front of the beast with her hands spread wide.
An act to announce her desire to protect the dying beast from her teammates' assaults.
The spear was easily disintegrated by her before it reached its target because it was just conjured out of aura. While Lyra, with her keen connection to enchantment, can effortlessly counter aura attacks using her spiritual, invisible energy attacks.
"Why protect it? In its strongest form, do you think it will hesitate to devour you?" Drake spoke with an agitated voice that felt like he was reprimanding her.
This was the first time they had seen him like this, different from his usual reserved self. It came as a surprise to both Lyra and Thorne.
Lyra, at that moment, didn't even know why she acted to protect the beast she had just stumbled upon. She did not know about it or its kinds before, so why?
The truth was that the beast made her do it. She recollected how she felt the creature communicating with her in her mind. Somewhat asking for her help. However, she couldn't quite describe how the link was established between the two of them. Was it because she was an enchantment mage? Or is it a unique ability only she possesses to understand the emotions of beasts?
She didn't know...
As she opened her mouth to explain her actions to Drake, she felt it again. Some sort of consciousness was nudging her. It has to be the beast. She didn't know when she uttered, "Wait!"
It surprised the other three guys because, after uttering that word, she turned to the beast as if she wanted to attend to it.
The beast in question had already lost too much dark blue blood and was on the verge of dying. However, due to the compassion this human had shown by standing up for it and protecting it from an attack. It decided to gift her with something most precious to it.
The terraclaw bared its mouth at Lyra once again, but this time it was different. From its innards, a spherical lump rose to its mouth. Revealing its core, a core that drifted towards Lyra.
This scene was strange, leaving the witnesses' mouths wide open in awe. They all just witnessed a beast offering its own core to Lyra. A core bathed in a dark metallic, yet austere luster. It was not only Drake, Kael, and Thorne who witnessed this. Apphira, Alvan, and Emelda, who had just arrived at that moment, also saw it. The beast slumped down, a lifeless carcass after the sacrifice.
Lyra's emotions were stirred up by this sudden turn of events. She grabbed the beast's core and rushed towards it. Tears streaked down her face as she caressed its battered body as if it were her pet. Her hands were tainted with the beast's dark blue blood.
When Thorne approached her to comfort her, as he always does. She requested that he help her bury the beast's carcass. He did so with relative ease, thanks to his ability to manipulate the earth element.