Mel and Elowen stepped out of the infirmary, and Mel immediately noticed that night had fallen. The festival lights glowed beautifully, casting a magical ambiance across the campus. "Wow, it's incredible now!" he exclaimed, awestruck by the transformation.
They wandered deeper into the town, where a large group of kids sat around a fire, playing games, laughing, and chatting. The air was filled with the sounds of joy, and everyone seemed to be having the time of their lives. "This is…" Mel's voice trailed off as a tear slipped down his cheek, overwhelmed by the scene before him.
Elowen glanced over at him, concerned. "What's wrong, Mel?" She gently patted his back as he wiped his eyes.
"Nothing, it's just…" Mel began, his voice trembling slightly. "Since I got to this school, I've faced crazy teachers, a dragon guy who's obsessed with fighting, the king of Atlantis, and I just fought my friend. They approached the campfire, where Mel was welcomed by his loyal fish entourage. Nuic, one of his devoted fishmen, stepped forward, holding Mel's neatly folded robe. Mel took it with a nod. "My king, I trust your recovery has gone well," Nuic said with a respectful bow.
Mel raised his hand to stop him, a gentle smile playing on his lips. "No titles today, Nuic. Tonight, I'm just a student." He reached out and affectionately ruffled Nuic's scaly head before turning to the rest of his fishmen. "And all of you," he continued, his voice warm, "are my family."
His words were met with smiles and deep bows from the fishmen, their loyalty evident in their eyes. "Thank you, sir!"
Mel turned and saw Dorian sitting by himself on a log. He walked towards him and sat down but as he did, Dorian stood up and walked away. Mel sighed and looked up at the stars. "We were doing so well before the fight." Mel muttered and looked at the symbols on his wrist. "The nurse said that nobody ever fights in those tournaments so they never got to do it. I'm happy that the man who created the s'more finally got to promote his tournament!" He smiled gracefully, thinking that the mayor created the s'more.
Meanwhile, atop a mountain overlooking the town, three shadowy figures stood in silence. The first, a man with red hair flowing in the wind, sneered with clear disdain. "So, that's all the power the son of Dracula can muster? Color me unimpressed."
The second figure, with black hair, his voice smooth and refined, replied, "Let's not be hasty, dear brother. Remember, Merlin was a force to be reckoned with. It stands to reason his son would be formidable too." He sighed wistfully. "Though, I was hoping to see the daughter of Arthur Pendragon in action."
The third man, his long purple eyes gleaming with a sadistic grin, snapped at them, "Both of you, shut up. If you ruin my fun," he hissed, his tone laced with menace, "I'll kill you both." He let out a dark, chilling laugh that echoed through the night.
The mayor stood behind them, trembling, his face pale with fear as he wiped the sweat from his brow. "I-I did what you asked," he stammered, his voice quivering. "I made them fight, just like you wanted. But they nearly killed each other. Now, pay me what you prom—"
Before the mayor could finish, the red-haired man's hand shot forward, plunging through his chest with ruthless precision, silencing him instantly. "Who are you to give me orders?" he growled, his voice dripping with menace. With a swift pull, he yanked his bloodied hand free, letting the mayor's lifeless body crumple to the ground.
The purple-haired man glanced over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the surroundings. "I've been sensing a strange gaze on us for a while," he muttered, but there was nothing there—only the cold wind sweeping across the mountaintop.
The red-haired man shrugged off the concern, turning to walk down the mountain. "Forget it. We have to get to our destination. If we start a fight here, dealing with Draven will be a real headache. Let's stick to the plan—this is for that man's sake, after all. The fool."
Back at the campfire, the crackling flames cast dancing shadows on the faces of Elowen, Dorian, and the other kids gathered around. The warm glow of the fire created an inviting circle of light amidst the encroaching darkness. Jasper, seated in the center, leaned forward with a mischievous grin as he began his tale.
"Legend has it," Jasper's voice lowered to a conspiratorial whisper, causing the others to lean in, "of the legendary Storm Spider. They say it's as large as a house, with eight legs as thick as tree trunks and eyes that glow like embers in the night."
The fire crackled louder, almost as if responding to his words, and a few of the younger kids exchanged nervous glances. Elowen's eyes widened in curiosity, while Dorian crossed his arms, trying to maintain a skeptical expression.
Jasper continued, his tone growing more intense. "This spider, they say, can summon storms with a single thought, its web woven from the very lightning that it controls. It hunts in silence, and those unlucky enough to cross its path... well, they're never seen again."
A shiver ran through the group, and the wind seemed to pick up, rustling the leaves overhead. Elowen wrapped her arms around herself, feeling a chill despite the warmth of the fire. Dorian, trying to mask his unease, glanced around as if expecting the legendary creature to appear out of the darkness.
But Jasper wasn't done. "But don't worry," he added with a sly smile, "the Storm Spider only comes out during the fiercest storms. And as long as we're near the fire, we're safe... for now."
"Pfft, Storm Spider? That's just a myth," a boy scoffed, drawing the attention of everyone around the fire.
"Dominic Titus, red card?" someone questioned, and the boy, now known as Dominic Titus, stood up with an air of arrogance. "Yeah, that's me. I'm from the Drurin Empire, where we see real monsters like that every day. You think I'm scared of some made-up spider? I'm the bravest red card there is. I could've been a black card if I had magic, just like some people." His eyes narrowed as he gestured toward Jake, who instinctively covered the mark on his eye. Laughter erupted from the group, but it was laced with cruelty.
"That's a low blow, Dominic," Sethanarius said, standing to face him. His voice was calm but carried a hint of warning.
"I'm just being honest," Dominic replied with a dismissive chuckle. "Jake comes from one of the strongest kingdoms. He's not royalty, but being the only one without magic? That's disgraceful."
The taunt hung in the air, and the atmosphere grew tense. But before anyone could respond, a strange sound came from the woods—crunching, followed by a deep, guttural roar. The group froze, their eyes widening in fear as they saw a massive shadow moving toward them. Panic erupted, and everyone scattered, fleeing from the campfire in terror.
But then, Mel emerged from the woods, holding a large roasted leg, his fox perched on his head, also gnawing at the meat. "Hey! I found this huge chicken leg in the forest. Kitsune was hungry, so I cooked it up," he said casually, completely oblivious to the chaos he had caused. He looked around at the fleeing students, puzzled. "What's everyone so scared of?"
The tension broke as a few of the braver students peeked out from their hiding spots, realizing that the 'monster' was nothing more than Mel and his oversized dinner. Nervous laughter began to spread, and soon, the group returned to the fire, sheepishly acknowledging their overreaction.
"Nice one, Mel," Jake said, shaking his head with a grin. "You almost gave us all a heart attack."
Mel shrugged, taking another bite of the leg. "Want some?"
The atmosphere lightened as the group returned to their places around the fire, the earlier tension forgotten. The night continued with renewed energy, the fear replaced by camaraderie and shared laughter.
Elowen wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Ugh, what is that awful smell?" she asked, her voice tinged with irritation. Murmurs spread through the crowd as everyone tried to identify the source.
"It smells like pee! Seriously, what's wrong with you guys? There are like nine different bathrooms," Dorian complained, covering his nose, his jaw still wrapped in bandages.
Standing a bit away from the group, Dominic shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah, let's find out who the culprit is…" he muttered before quickly slipping away into the forest.
Once hidden among the trees, Dominic patted his damp pants, revealing the truth—he was the one who had peed himself. "Why did that damn Melanthius have to show up out of nowhere?! He scared the hell out of me!" he growled, removing his sweater and tying it around his waist to cover the evidence.
Dominic trudged deeper into the forest, searching for a lake where he could soak his pants. "I, Dominic Titus, am not supposed to be here!" he confessed aloud. "I'm from a small town in Drurin and only got accepted into the school because of my intelligence. My town is full of liars and thieves—we survive by stealing from others. My mom told Thaddeus that I'm the lost son of the Drurin king, hoping it would elevate me and help us escape that place. I have to maintain this facade or I'll be expelled. Honestly, the scariest thing I've ever encountered is a cockroach. I can't even hurt a fly."
He finally reached the lake and dipped his pants into the water. "Ah, that feels amazing," he sighed, as the cool water eased his discomfort.
He closed his eyes, relaxing as two hands rested on his shoulders. "Ooh, this must be Sarah," he said with a cocky grin, "you can go a little lower." As two more hands began to rub his body, he chuckled. "More women? I must be lucky tonight."
But then he felt eight hairy legs crawling across his skin, accompanied by a low, menacing growl. His bravado vanished as he cracked open one eye, only to be met with the sight of a massive spider looming over him. His face drained of color. "T-t-t-the legendary Wild Storm Spider!" he stammered, terror freezing him in place.
The spider's glowing red eyes locked onto his, and it hissed, venom dripping from its fangs. Dominic's heart pounded in his chest, the water around him rippling with his fear. He tried to move, to scream, but his body refused to obey, paralyzed by the monstrous sight before him. The spider's legs tightened around him, and Dominic's breath hitched as the realization hit—he was trapped.
The spider swiftly ensnared him in its thick, sticky webs, lifting him effortlessly out of the water. With a guttural roar, the creature summoned a crackling bolt of lightning from the stormy sky, sending it coursing through the web and into his body. His scream echoed through the forest as the searing pain jolted through him, every nerve alight with agony.
He convulsed violently as the electricity surged through him, until finally, the pain overwhelmed him, and he slipped into unconsciousness. The spider, with eerie silence, leaped from tree to tree, its movements fluid despite its size. As it passed through a beam of moonlight, the creature's grotesque form was revealed—seven legs instead of eight, with the stump of a missing limb jagged and torn. What kind of terrifying monster could have ripped off a leg from this nightmarish demon?
"Alright, now that I've eaten, I'm ready to play!" Mel announced, returning to the campfire with a grin. But as he looked around, his excitement faded—only six students remained. Elowen, Dorian, and a few others lingered by the fire. "Uh… where is everybody?" he asked, walking over to Elowen.
"The upperclassmen left earlier, but you're right—there's way fewer people now," she replied, glancing around.
Dorian suddenly stood up and began heading toward the woods. "Dorian, where are you going?!" Mel called after him.
Dorian paused and turned back. "I'm sorry, Mel, but I can't be around you right now. I attacked you—my friend. I hate myself for that, so just let me—"
Before he could finish, a massive shadow swooped down, snatching Dorian up and cutting off his scream.
Mel, unable to see clearly from where he stood, sighed and sat down next to Elowen. "He left…" he murmured. "I didn't want to fight him. He cut my robe, and I lost control—I went back to how I used to be and ended up breaking my friend's jaw."
Elowen patted his back gently. "He was super angry, Mel. I don't blame him. He's constantly teased about being saved by you; he has such an inferiority complex. It must be exhausting for him, always feeling like he's in your shadow, no matter how hard he tries to prove himself." She paused, her voice softening. "But you didn't mean to hurt him. You just… reacted. And deep down, he knows that."
"Elowen, can I tell you something?" As Mel asked this, she raised her eyebrows and leaned in. "I own a book that belonged to Merlin. And there's something in there that explains why I acted like that with Excalibur."
He pulled out the book and opened it, his eyes turning white as his finger traces the empty pages and he looked up. His voice changed as he read:
"A weapon is not merely an extension of your body but an extension of your will. The blade, the staff, the bow—each has its language, its rhythm. To master a weapon is to master oneself. Remember, it is not the sword that cuts, but the mind that wills it."
He continued:
"Many warriors focus on the strength of their arm, but a true master knows that the power lies in the intent behind the strike. Speed, precision, and balance—these are the pillars of weapon mastery. Study each weapon as you would a friend, learn its secrets, its strengths, and its weaknesses. Only then can you wield it with true power."
Finally, Merlin left a crucial piece of wisdom:
"In battle, the greatest weapon is not forged from steel, but from the clarity of purpose. When you raise your weapon, do so with unwavering resolve, for hesitation is the death of mastery. The warrior who knows why he fights can wield even a simple stick with the force of a hurricane. Remember this, my son, and you will never be unarmed."
As Mel finished reading, he closed the book, and his voice and eyes returned to normal. He exhaled heavily, glancing around only to realize Elowen was nowhere to be found. In fact, no one was there. A cold shiver ran up his spine as he stood up, his voice echoing with growing unease. "Elowen?! Where'd you go?! Fish people?! Dorian?!"
He strained to listen, catching the faint sound of distant screams. Heart pounding, he ventured into the dark forest.
Deeper in, Mel spotted Dominic, webbed tightly to a tree. "Oh hey! You're the boy who peed himself!" Mel exclaimed as he hurried over, pulling at the webbing around Dominic's mouth. Dominic gasped for air, tears streaming down his face. "Wait, how did you know?! Whatever, just get us out of here!" Dominic wiggled in desperation.
Mel tugged at the webs but was met with a sharp shock of electricity. "What happened to you?" he asked, eyeing the trembling boy.
"It was the legendary Wild Storm Spider!" Dominic stammered, his voice a mix of fear and urgency. "It saved me for later, probably because of the smell. I heard it usually takes its victims to the Door of the Unholy tomb. I don't know where it is, just please untie me!"
Mel's gaze followed a trail of webbing leading deeper into the forest. "We'll just have to follow that trail then," he decided, grabbing hold of Dominic. Despite the jolts of electricity coursing through Dominic, Mel yanked him free from the tree. "I'll need your help. I'm scared of the dark," Mel admitted, starting to walk.
Dominic grabbed his arm in panic. "Are you crazy?! That thing is the size of three houses and has seven legs! We can't beat it! I even saw it had a fae fox—spiders and fae foxes are natural enemies!"
Mel paused, his fury evident as he turned to Dominic. "It took what?! THAT THING TOOK KITSUNE?!" His voice trembled with rage as he frantically scanned the trees around them, desperate to find his fox.
Dominic, trying to keep his voice steady, replied, "That was your fox? I hate to say it, but you have to let it go! Not even you can fight that thing with your bare hands, especially with your magic suppressed!" He pointed at Mel's wrist, where the mayor's symbol once was. "What happened to the symbol the mayor put on you?!"
Mel ignored the question, continuing to search the tree in front of him, his focus unwavering.
"It's because someone killed the mayor," came a voice from the shadows, followed by the crunching of leaves. Both Mel and Dominic spun around to see Maren—the scaly half-fish boy, son of Triton, god of the sea, and the former king of Atlantis—emerging from the darkness.
Mel leaped down from the tree, storming toward Maren, his anger boiling over. "Whatever you're planning, Maren, I don't have time for it. Back off, or I'll kill you!" His voice was laced with venom, his grief over the loss of his friends and Kitsune fueling his rage.
Maren held his ground, his expression calm. "I'm not here for you, Melanthius, or for my former kingdom. There's a man I must find. Besides, there are three men looking for you," he stated coolly, his eyes locked on Mel's.
"What do you mean, three men? Who are they?" Mel demanded, his voice tense with suspicion. Maren silently reached into his pocket and pulled out a tarot card, holding it up for Mel to see. It was the Fool.
"Have you seen this card before?" Maren asked, his tone serious. Mel's eyes widened in recognition—he had seen that card before. It was the same one Thaddeus carried.
"This is the Jester's card, the one the professor warned you about," Maren continued, his voice low. "I remember when I used to watch you from the shadows—I overheard the professor telling you the story. That man, the Jester, is hunting you down. And he won't stop until he kills you."
"Why does he want to kill me?!" Mel demanded, his voice edged with desperation.
Maren paused briefly before walking past him. "I don't know," he replied, his tone grim. "But it might have something to do with why the spider is here. That creature usually only appears during a storm, yet this is just the calm before it hits. You wish for a normal life, but that ended the moment you were accepted into this school. You're marked, Mel. A curse. Soon enough, every kingdom will come for your head, thanks to the bridges your father burned."
"I'll face those problems when they come," he said, his voice steady but resolute. "But right now, I have to save my friends," he began walking.
"I'm coming with you, but only to find the Unholy tomb." Maren and Melanthius pressed on, leaving Dominic behind in the forest's eerie quiet.
As Maren and Melanthius set off, they left Dominic behind, venturing deeper into the forest. Their steps were cautious but purposeful, each one bringing them closer to their goal—the Unholy tomb. The forest around them grew denser and darker, with twisted trees and thick underbrush making the path ahead difficult to navigate. The air was heavy with a sense of foreboding, as if the very atmosphere knew the significance of their quest.
For the first few minutes, they walked in silence, the only sounds being the crunch of leaves underfoot and the distant rustling of unseen creatures. Maren's expression remained stoic, his mind focused on the trident he had just relinquished to Mel, and the daunting task that lay ahead. Mel, on the other hand, thoughts were racing between the immediate danger of the Wild Storm Spider and the looming threat hinted at by Maren's words.
They arrived at a massive door, its surface covered in intricate symbols woven from spider silk.
As they stood before the massive door, its surface covered in intricate spider-woven symbols, Melanthius frowned, trying to make sense of it.
Maren stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he examined the symbols. "These aren't just ordinary symbols," he explained, his voice low. "They're part of an ancient ritual—one designed to keep the Unholy tomb hidden from unworthy hands."
Melanthius glanced at him. "How do we open it, then?"
Maren traced his fingers over one of the symbols, a faint glow emanating from it as he spoke. "The symbols respond to power—specifically, the power of an elemental force. This door was forged by the Sea Witches, allies of my father, and it requires a combination of both sea and sky. You need to trace the symbols in the correct order. Meanwhile, I'll use my connection to the sea to activate the second layer of the spell."
Melanthius nodded, focusing on the task. "And if we get it wrong?"
Maren's gaze darkened. "If we get it wrong, the door won't just stay closed—it will summon the guardian of the tomb, a creature far worse than the Wild Storm Spider." He took a deep breath and met Melanthius' eyes. "But we won't get it wrong."
As Maren was in the middle of his explanation, a sudden bang echoed through the air, followed by a loud boom. He spun around just in time to see Melanthius, his fist still extended, blood dripping from his knuckles as the massive door crashed to the ground in pieces.
"Sorry, Maren," Mel said, shaking off the pain, his voice unshaken by the injury. "I might've broken your father's property, but I heard my friend's screaming in there."
"H-he broke the Unholy tomb! How did he do that?! He may be the son of Merlin, but Merlin was just a wizard—my father was a god! How is he this strong?" Maren's voice trembled with disbelief, his mind racing to comprehend what he had just witnessed. "This proves it... I'm not weak for losing to Melanthius Shadowbane. I'm strong because I survived that boy." Maren clenched his fist, determination hardening his resolve as he followed Mel into the tomb, his eyes burning with a newfound sense of purpose.
They entered the tomb, their steps echoing through the dark, cold stone. The sound of desperate screams reached their ears, piercing the oppressive silence.
"Help us! Please!"
The pleas were followed by crackling electricity and pained whimpers, sending a chill down their spines as they pressed on, their urgency mounting with each step.
As they ventured deeper into the tomb, the air grew thicker with the scent of damp earth and the faint buzz of electricity. The narrow passage opened into a cavernous chamber, and what they saw made Mel's heart drop.
Everyone was there—webbed to the walls like insects trapped in a spider's web. Each time someone struggled, tendrils of electricity surged through the webs, forcing painful cries from their lips.
"Dorian! Seth! Jake! Elowen! Goda!" Mel shouted, his voice echoing in the cavern as his eyes scanned the room, locking onto each of his friends in turn. Their faces were twisted in pain and fear, their eyes pleading for help. Sparks of electricity crackled through the webs, causing them to wince with every jolt. The sight of his friends in such agony sent a surge of anger and desperation through Mel.
He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. "Hang on! I'm getting you out of here!" He shot a determined glance at Maren, his voice low but firm. "We have to act fast. They can't take much more of this."
"We? I've got what I came for," Maren said, his voice cold and distant as he made his way to the corner of the tomb. There, among a collection of ancient artifacts, his eyes fell on something familiar. He reached out and pulled his trident from the pile, dusting it off with a practiced hand. "The spider must have stolen my trident while I was in hiding." He turned to leave, his focus solely on the exit.
But before he could take more than a few steps, two massive, web-covered figures with glowing green eyes appeared, their movements jerky and unnatural as if controlled by some dark force. "Two unknown variables," Maren muttered under his breath, gripping his trident tightly, the muscles in his arms tensing in preparation.
Suddenly, Mel felt something wet drip onto his head. He looked up, his eyes widening in horror as he saw the Wild Storm Spider clinging to the ceiling, its eyes burning with malevolent intelligence. He screamed and leaped out of the way just as the monstrous spider dropped to the ground with a heavy thud.
"You," the spider hissed, its voice slithering into Mel's mind, each word laced with venomous hatred. "You're the one who took my leg!" Its many eyes focused on him, filled with a murderous fury that made Mel's blood run cold.
"You took its leg?" Maren asked, incredulous. Mel shrugged with a nervous grin. "I swear it looked like a giant chicken while it was sleeping."
The spider's eyes narrowed before it shot webbing at Mel, ensnaring him and pulling him closer. "The son of Merlin—how delightful," she hissed, her voice dripping with malice. "And what a feast we have here: the heir of Dracula, the daughter of Arthur Pendragon, and the demigod son of Triton. This is going to be delicious!" The spider cackled, her fangs gleaming.