The dawn of the third day of their patrol mission broke over the horizon, casting a pale light over the grim campsite. Mortis Nacht, ever vigilant, was the first to awaken. He silently rose from his place, his eyes scanning the surroundings with precision. The events of the previous days had taken a toll on his companions, but Morits remained as focused as ever.
Kael, Garrick and Jareth woke up soon after, their faces etched with weariness and sorrow. The group moved with a solemn purpose as they gathered around Lena's lifeless body, a stark reminder of the dangers that lurked in the shadows.
"We should bury her," Mortis said, his voice cold and detached. "We can't leave her out here to lure monsters towards us."
The others nodded silently, their expressions grim. Together, they began to dig a shallow grave, the earth yielding reluctantly to their efforts. The ground was hard and unforgiving, much like the world they inhabited. Mortis, ever practical, did not linger on sentiment. He worked quickly, ensuring the grave was deep enough to conceal Lena's body from any wandering beasts.
With the grave complete, they lowered Lena's body into the earth. Each of them took a moment to say their silent farewells. Mortis's eyes, however, remained focused on the task at hand. He covered the grave swiftly, ensuring it was well-concealed.
Turning his attention to Jareth, Mortis's eyes flicked over his wounds, calculating their severity and the time it would take for him to recover. "Jareth, you stay here and rest," Mortis commanded. "Kael, Garrick, we'll patrol the perimeter around the camp."
The group set out, leaving Jareth to rest. Mortis led them through the dense forest, his senses alert to any signs of danger. The underbrush was thick, the air heavy with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. They moved silently, each step deliberate and cautious.
For three days, they maintained this routine. Mortis's sharp eyes and keen senses kept them safe from the various dangers that lurked in the forest. They encountered only minor threats—wild beasts and weak creatures that posed little challenge to their combined might. Each confrontation was swift and decisive, Mortis's magic and the others' prowess ensuring their survival.
On the evening of the sixth day, as they prepared to conclude their patrol and return to the camp, Mortis's heightened senses detected a disturbance. He signaled for the others to halt, his eyes narrowing as he listened intently.
"The wolves," he muttered, his voice low. "They're close."
Kael and Garrick readied their weapons, their faces tense. Mortis's mind raced as he considered their options. He knew the wolves would not be easily discouraged, especially if they had tracked them for this long.
Emerging from the shadows, a pack of massive, menacing wolves—Mordrakes, as they were known in these parts—circled the camp. Their eyes glowed with a sinister light, and their growls sent shivers down the spines of the group. Mortis quickly counted their numbers—twenty-five in total. Though each individual wolf was not particularly strong, their coordinated attacks made them a formidable threat.
The three of them engaged the Mordrakes, casting spells with all their might. Mortis joined the fray initially, using his magic to fend off the encroaching wolves. Shadow Tendrils lashed out from the ground, ensnaring two wolves and immobilizing them. Garrick and Kael fought with relentless fury, using their spells to do devastating effects. Kael's Inferno Blast incinerated several wolves, while Garrick's Earth Spikes impaled others, and his Darkness Veil provided them with brief moments of concealment.
Despite their efforts, the sheer number of Mordrakes began to wear them down. Mortis's mind raced as he observed the battlefield, realizing that their current strategy was unsustainable. The Mordrakes, though weak individually, were overwhelming them through coordinated attacks. Mortis knew they couldn't defeat them.
"Kael, Garrick," Mortis shouted over the noise of battle, "keep them occupied! I need to get something from the camp."
Without waiting for a response, Mortis broke away from the fight, sprinting towards the camp. His original intention was to escape right away, but as he darted through the trees, he realized he was being pursued by a small group of Mordrakes—five of them had broken off from the main pack to chase him down.
Mortis's mind worked frantically as he ran, realizing he couldn't outrun them. Changing his course, he headed straight for the camp. He burst into the tent where Jareth was resting, the young man jolting awake at his sudden entrance.
"Jareth, wake up! We need to fight!" Mortis roared. "Five wolves are chasing me, and we have to take them down."
Jareth, still groggy and confused, quickly readied his spells. "What about Garrick and Kael?" he asked.
"There's no time to explain! We have to deal with these wolves first!" Mortis snapped, positioning himself at the entrance of the tent.
The first Mordrake lunged through the tent opening, and Mortis met it with a blast of Inferno Spark, a concentrated burst of fire that ignited the wolf's fur and sent it howling back in pain. Jareth, emboldened by Mortis's display of power, cast Wind Blades, slicing through another wolf with razor-sharp gusts of air. The battle within the confined space was fierce and chaotic. Mortis and Jareth managed to kill two of the wolves, but the remaining three were more coordinated, their attacks becoming more frenzied.
"Jareth, hold them off for a moment!" Mortis commanded, his mind calculating their next move.
As Jareth engaged the wolves, Mortis quickly dragged one of the dead Mordrakes aside and began carving into its belly. The stench of burning flesh filled the air as Mortis used Inferno Spark to incinerate the creature's organs, creating a hollow space within the body.
Mortis quickly crawled inside the wolf's body, creating a cramped but secure hiding spot. He then reached out, grabbing Jareth by the arm and pulling him inside after him. Jareth's eyes widened in shock and confusion as Mortis pulled him into the hollowed wolf's body, using him as a human shield. The wolves outside, unable to see their prey, began to tear into the wolf's body and ripped Jareth apart with it in their frenzy. His screams of agony filled the air as Mortis held him in place, ensuring the wolves couldn't reach him.
Mortis watched with cold detachment as Jareth was torn to pieces, using the moment to plan his next move. Meanwhile, the wolves, satisfied with killing Jareth and ultimate inability to find Mortis, eventually moved away and rejoined the main pack to continue their attack on Kael and Garrick.
Once the sounds of the wolves receded, Mortis cautiously pushed aside Jareth's dead body, peeking out to ensure the surroundings were clear. Seeing no immediate threat, he cautiously emerged from the wolf's dead body, carefully verifying that the wolves were nowhere nearby. Satisfied that he was safe for the moment, he quickly made his way into the forest, running as fast as he could. He moved with speed, putting as much distance as possible between himself and the Mordrakes.
After several minutes of running, Mortis slowed his pace, his eyes scanning for a place to hide. But he found nothing suitable, so he continued running through the forest, knowing he needed to put more distance between himself and the Mordrakes.
The forest was dense, a labyrinth of trees and underbrush, providing ample cover. Mortis invoked Darkness Veil. The spell cloaked him in an ethereal shroud, blending him into the darkness. The shadows seemed to embrace him, making his movements almost invisible to the creatures of the night.
As he moved, Mortis encountered a variety of monsters. At one point, he narrowly avoided a pack of Night Stalkers—hulking beasts with sinewy limbs and eyes that glowed with an eerie blue light. Their senses were keen, but Mortis's concealment spell kept him hidden. He held his breath as they passed, their growls vibrating through the air, their massive forms barely a few feet away.
Further ahead, Mortis spotted a group of Shadow Hounds prowling the underbrush. These creatures were known for their heightened sense of smell and pack tactics. Mortis took a deep breath, focusing his magic to strengthen the Darkness Veil around him. He moved slowly, each step calculated to avoid detection. The hounds sniffed the air, their heads swiveling as if sensing something amiss, but they eventually moved on, missing their quarry by mere inches.
As he continued through the forest, Mortis encountered other dangers. A monstrous Spider Fiend dangled from the canopy, its venomous fangs dripping with anticipation. Mortis sneaked along the forest floor, his movements deliberate and silent. The Spider Fiend remained unaware of his presence, distracted by the rustling of a small animal nearby.
Mortis's heart pounded as he narrowly avoided a Lurker Beast, a massive creature with scales like iron and claws sharp enough to rend steel. The Lurker Beast snooped near a stream, its glowing eyes scanning the surroundings. Mortis froze, blending into the shadows cast by the moonlight. He waited until the beast moved away, its heavy footsteps fading into the distance.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Mortis found himself deeper in the forest, far from the immediate threats. Exhausted and with his mana nearly depleted, he continued to search for a safe place to rest. As he pushed through the dense underbrush, he spotted a cave entrance partially obscured by foliage. The cave seemed like a potential shelter, but with his current mana reserves so low, Mortis decided against entering it immediately.
He climbed a nearby tree instead, finding a sturdy branch high enough to provide a vantage point and some semblance of safety. Perched on the branch, Mortis allowed himself a moment to catch his breath. The forest around him was alive with the sounds of nocturnal creatures, but he felt relatively secure in his elevated position.
High in the tree, hidden from sight, Mortis watched the cave entrance from a distance. He planned to investigate it further once he had regained some of his strength. For now, he was content to remain a shadow in the wilderness, waiting for his mana to replenish.
As the first rays of sunlight pierced the canopy, Mortis allowed himself to relax slightly. He had evaded the Mordrakes and other predators, but he still needed to last one more day before he could return to the academy.