As the afternoon sun blazed high in the sky, its intense heat was relentless, roasting the earth beneath their feet.
The cold winds that continued to howl through the mountains clashed oddly with the scorching rays, but the mix only worsened the discomfort for Borne, Haywood, and Victor.
Sweat trickled down their temples, mixing with the dust carried by the wind, leaving a gritty layer on their skin.
Each step they took was heavy, and the fatigue from hours of searching weighed on them as they led their horses along the outer perimeter of the Celestoria Mountains.
Their eyes remained alert, scanning for any signs of beast activity.
They looked for everything: footprints, broken branches, and the remains of gnawed bones.
Every small detail could potentially provide the crucial information they needed.
"We've circled the perimeter once already, but still no substantial clues," Haywood muttered as he wiped the sweat from his brow, his gaze still fixated on the distant horizon.
Victor glanced up at the sun, now sinking toward the west, an uneasy feeling stirring in his chest.
"We'll keep going a bit further, but remember, our job is to investigate the outskirts. We can't risk going any deeper into the mountains. There are deadly beasts in there," he warned.
Borne nodded in agreement.
They all knew the boundaries of their mission—scout the perimeter of the Celestoria Mountains for signs of beast activity, not venture into its treacherous interior.
The risks were far too high, with both powerful magical beasts and the dangerous terrain lying in wait.
Still, Borne couldn't help but steal occasional glances at the towering mountains looming in the distance.
The Celestoria Range stretched out like a colossal wall before them, its steep cliffs and cloud-wrapped peaks radiating an aura of danger and mystery.
Even from where they stood, far from the heart of the range, Borne could feel an almost palpable sense of pressure.
The ground remained littered with evidence of beast activity—deep gouges from flying creatures' talons, and hoof prints from larger beasts embedded into the dirt, further reminding them of the lurking threats.
It was evident that the magic beasts' activity had spread from the inner parts of the mountains to the outskirts.
"Our mission is clear.
There's no need to venture deep into the mountains.
Record these tracks and movements, then we'll head back," Haywood said calmly, his gaze fixed on the silhouette of the mountains ahead.
"Exactly. Let's continue forward a little, confirm the situation at the perimeter, and then return," Borne nodded slowly, his eyes still sharp.
The three of them led their warhorses onward, heading toward the far side of the Celestoria Mountain Range.
The air was a strange mix of heat and cold winds, making both them and their horses uneasy.
"Shh, did you hear that?"
After walking for a while, Victor's ears twitched.
He suddenly stopped and whispered to Borne and Haywood.
Upon hearing his warning, Borne and Haywood immediately halted their steps.
The air grew eerily still, and only the faint rustling of the wind through the grass could be heard.
They exchanged glances, their brows furrowing, as they realized danger might be lurking nearby.
Borne quickly crouched down, swiftly pressing his right ear to the ground in an attempt to gather more information.
In the next moment, his pupils contracted sharply.
"Get on your horses!"
Borne sprang up, his voice carrying a sense of urgency.
He grabbed the reins of his horse, which had already sensed the impending danger and had become restless.
Borne vaulted onto the horse in one fluid motion.
Despite the horse's jittery movements, he settled firmly in the saddle, gripping the reins tightly.
"Move, now!"
He barked at the other two.
Victor and Haywood wasted no time.
They sprinted toward their respective horses, swiftly placing their feet in the stirrups and leaping onto their saddles with practiced ease.
Just as the three mounted, the ground began to tremble slightly, and a deep rumbling sound echoed from afar.
The noise grew louder and closer, as if something massive was rapidly approaching them.
"They're magic beasts! A whole horde of them!" Borne shouted, his voice barely cutting through the howling wind.
There was no time to think, no time to look back and confirm what exactly was behind them.
Their only option was to urge their warhorses forward at full speed, racing toward safety.
The wind roared in their ears, and the thunder of hooves kicked up clouds of dust as they galloped across the rough terrain.
The three of them clung tightly to their horses' backs, pushing the animals to their limits.
Reins whipped through their hands, legs squeezed hard against the horses' sides.
Every muscle in their bodies was focused on one thing: escaping the rapidly approaching threat.
Their hearts pounded in their chests, each beat so fierce it felt like it might burst out.
The wind, sharp and biting like a blade, cut into their faces, leaving a stinging sensation on every inch of exposed skin.
They were drenched in sweat, mixed with dust and sand, but they didn't care.
Right now, their lives were on the line.
Every second counted, and every stride the horses took brought them either closer to safety or closer to death.
"Don't stop! Keep running!"
Haywood shouted, his voice barely audible over the wind but still reaching Borne and Victor.
Behind them, the thunderous rumbling grew louder, the ground shaking more violently with each passing moment.
It felt like a stampede of titanic beasts was charging after them.
Each tremor made their hearts leap into their throats.
Victor gritted his teeth, his grip on the reins so tight it threatened to tear the leather.
"Faster! We need to go faster!"
Borne risked a glance over his shoulder, and what he saw sent a jolt of fear through him.
In the distance, enormous dark figures were quickly closing the gap.
It was a swarm of magic beasts, kicking up a cloud of dust behind them like a black, unstoppable tide.
"They're gaining on us!"
Borne growled, his voice tinged with desperation.
He spurred his horse harder, his heels digging into its flanks.
The horse let out a wild neigh, its hooves pounding the ground even harder as it surged forward with renewed speed.
Dust swirled into the air, the wind screamed in their ears, and the chase turned into a deadly race for survival.
At that moment, Haywood, the leader of the mission, realized that staying together would make them an easier target.
Without hesitation, he shouted with commanding decisiveness, "Split up! It's our only chance!"
His voice was filled with urgency and determination.
He knew that if they continued running as a group, they'd all be doomed.
The only way to survive was to scatter and hope to escape the magic beasts' pursuit individually.
Victor didn't hesitate. As soon as he heard the command, he jerked the reins to the right.
His warhorse let out a sharp whinny and veered toward the nearby hillside, galloping over the rough terrain.
The sudden turn caused sparks to fly from the hooves as they scraped across the loose rocks.
Victor's body lurched with the momentum, but he clung tightly to the reins, his body moving fluidly with the horse as he quickly regained his balance.
Borne gritted his teeth, understanding immediately that Haywood's decision was the only option left.
With a sharp pull on his reins, he steered his horse left, breaking off in the opposite direction.
His warhorse responded instantly, dashing toward the open plains to the left.
Borne pressed his body low against the horse's neck, reducing wind resistance as dust billowed up behind him, obscuring his trail.
Meanwhile, Haywood chose a more concealed route, heading straight toward a cluster of large boulders in the distance.
The rocky terrain would provide temporary cover, potentially confusing the magic beasts and diverting their attention away from him.
"Hold on, we can make it out of this!" Haywood shouted to himself, the hope of survival fueling his resolve.
The three of them raced through the dangerous terrain, each hoping that their individual paths would lead them to safety.