They hadn't gone far before Reika plopped down onto the ground, clutching her injured leg and gritting her teeth through the pain. She'd thought she could push through, but now the ache was turning into an all-consuming throb. Her body wasn't letting her forget it.
Isla was quick with her usual icy logic. "Reika, you're in terrible shape. This isn't the place to be nursing an injury. We need to retreat. The night is dangerous, and so are the spirit beasts."
Hearing this, Zephyr frowned, taking a quick look at her leg. Without a second thought, he crouched down and gave his back a couple of inviting pats. "Hop on, I'll carry you."
Reika blinked, catching sight of his cheerful, almost boyish grin. Of course, she had to object. "I can walk on my own. I don't need to inconvenience you."
"Inconvenience?" Zephyr scoffed, tossing a playful look her way. "Trust me, letting you walk would be the real inconvenience. You'd trip, fall, and then I'd have to pick you up anyway. See? More work for me."
Reika glared, but the teasing look on his face made it hard to stay annoyed. Fine, she thought. Pushing herself up, she managed a couple of steps before her knee gave out, and—whump!—she plopped right back down, looking more winded and embarrassed than before.
Zephyr sighed, but there was nothing but amusement in his voice. Without another word, he turned, swung her onto his back, and stood. "There we go. You're lucky, Reika. Today, you've unlocked my exclusive 'VIP Back-Cushion Service.' "
"VIP, huh?" Reika muttered, settling onto his back with a playful huff. "Bet I'm not the first to experience this."
Zephyr chuckled, his voice warm with laughter. "You're not wrong. The last person I carried was Uncle Faron, and before that, it was my mom. She'd just learned sword-flying, and—well, let's just say she didn't stay up there long. I had to carry her home."
Reika let out a snort. "Well, aren't you the perfect filial son."
"That's me!" Zephyr said, practically glowing with pride. "But don't worry; you're way lighter than my mom."
Reika wanted to keep up the banter, but something about his easy laughter made her feel…oddly comforted. As much as she hated to admit it, being carried didn't feel so bad.
"You're impossible," she muttered, her voice softening despite herself.
"Oh, I know," he said, lightheartedly. "Once you're healed, we'll go get that Night's Glow plant. I promise I won't let you trip this time."
"Big talk," Reika grumbled, a small smile playing on her lips. Even with the pain in her leg, she couldn't help feeling a little bit safer.
Watching them from a few steps back, Sylas and Isla exchanged glances, both barely holding back laughter. Isla raised an eyebrow and muttered, "We should really find shelter. The spirit energy here is far from stable. Nightfall only makes it worse."
"Agreed." Sylas clutched his precious books to his chest, clutching them like a mother hen with her chicks.
After a bit of wandering, they finally found a small cave hidden by thick vines. It was dark and narrow, but at least it was dry. Zephyr gently set Reika down against a cool, smooth patch of the cave wall before taking his place beside her, his eyes alert and watching the entrance.
"Finally, a place to breathe," he said, stretching his arms, though he kept glancing outside, alert as ever.
The forest beyond the cave was swallowed by shadows, and the spirit energy around them grew stranger, more unsettling, as the sky darkened. Everyone sat quietly, feeling a strange, creeping presence growing outside.
"Something's wrong with the energy out there," Isla whispered, her hand clenched tightly around her flute. "I think there's a powerful spirit beast nearby."
Reika chewed her lip, trying to settle the messy energy coursing through her. But the harder she tried, the more unruly it became, leaving her forehead slick with cold sweat.
Zephyr noticed her pale face, frowning. He leaned over, a gentle hand on her shoulder. "What's going on? You don't look so good. Are you sure your spirit energy's alright?"
"I think it's…backfiring?" Reika said with a wince, feeling her own spirit energy clashing with the forest's strange aura. "It feels like my own spirit energy is trying to punch me from the inside."
"Then don't force it. Let it settle on its own," Zephyr said, his voice gentle, his hand on her shoulder, grounding.
"It's the forest's energy," Isla said sharply. "We shouldn't stay here. Reika's spirit energy isn't responding well."
Just then, a low growl echoed from outside the cave. The ground seemed to shiver beneath them as something big—and angry—made its way toward them.
"Another spirit beast?" Sylas yelped, going pale as he clutched his book as if it could somehow protect him. "This one sounds way scarier than the last!"
"Whatever it is, we need to move—now!" Isla was already on her feet, flute at the ready.
Zephyr didn't hesitate. He swung Reika onto his back again, giving her a reassuring grin. "Alright, part two of your VIP service. Just sit back and enjoy the ride."
"Ha! As if I planned on enjoying this!" Reika shot back, even though she secretly appreciated how calm he was keeping her.
As the beast's growls grew louder, they moved quickly. Zephyr kept his steps steady and sure, seeming to carry her with ease, and for a moment, Reika felt a strange sense of security.
Then, suddenly, a massive shadow loomed at the cave entrance, followed by an earth-shattering roar that shook the ground and made everyone's hearts skip a beat. The spirit beast was right there.
"We need to run!"
***
The four of them huddled inside the cave, each of them on edge. The low growl from outside was getting louder, pressing in on their nerves like a tightened rope ready to snap. No one dared breathe too loudly, as if one wrong move would summon whatever lurking creature was out there.
"What… what's with that heavy breathing?" Sylas clutched his book tightly, pale as a sheet. "That sounds way too big to be anything… friendly, right?"
Reika sat half-upright, gritting her teeth against the pain in her leg. She tried to look calm, but her racing heartbeat betrayed her. "It sounds like… something huge." She glanced nervously at the shadow creeping closer to the cave entrance, her spine tingling.
Zephyr's voice was steady, though he kept his hand near his sword. "Whatever it is, we need to be ready. Stay alert."
Isla gripped her flute with deadly calm. "No rushing, wait and see."
Reika, on the other hand, was lying back and trying not to focus on her throbbing leg, or the feeling that the air itself was closing in on her. Zephyr sent her a reassuring look, but his eyes held a tension that betrayed his concern.
Just then, a hulking shadow appeared at the cave's entrance. In the flickering firelight, it looked absolutely enormous, like a massive beast moving closer, making the air thick with dread. Everyone held their breath, bracing for the worst.
"Get ready, everyone! It's a spirit beast!" Zephyr's voice was low and urgent, his hand already on his sword.
Sylas's face went a shade paler, his teeth chattering. "That… that shadow's bigger than the last spirit beast we saw! This thing is scarier than the Ghost Talon Roc!"
Reika forced herself to sit up, cold sweat dotting her forehead. She couldn't help imagining the worst – giant, fanged, and very hungry beasts straight out of her nightmares.
But as the massive shadow inched closer and they all prepared for the worst, the "enormous beast" finally made its grand entrance, stepping delicately into the cave—a little spirit rabbit. It flicked its fluffy ears, round eyes blinking curiously as it looked at them.
The four of them froze, staring in stunned silence for a few seconds. Then the tension broke, and laughter echoed through the cave.
"Wait… what?!" Reika's eyes went wide before she burst out laughing. "It was just a rabbit? I thought it was something big and mean!"
Sylas, visibly relieved, nearly collapsed. "That bunny was scarier than the roc!"
Zephyr bent down, scratching the little rabbit's ears with a grin. "Well, congrats, buddy—you almost became the final boss of our little adventure."
Reika looked at the rabbit, both relieved and exasperated. "If you hadn't come in so fast, I would've been tempted to turn you into dinner!"
Isla, as calm as ever, cast the rabbit a brief glance. "Crisis averted, then. Now we can focus on what we need to do next."
Zephyr chuckled, giving the rabbit's ears another pat. "Maybe our little friend here could help us find that spirit plant. He seems way more at home here than we are."
Reika laughed too, and just like that, the heavy tension lightened, and everyone felt a little more relaxed.
But just as the mood softened, Zephyr's eyes turned back to Reika's leg wound. Standing, he spoke with a familiar warmth in his voice, "I'll go check nearby for spirit herbs or water to help with your injury. Don't worry. With me here, you're practically a VIP."
Reika gave a mock sigh, tapping her leg. "It's just a small wound; no need to fuss. What, are you planning on carrying me forever or something?"
Zephyr knelt down, his gaze warm and gentle. "If that's what you want. Although, I'd like to keep the honor of carrying my mom, too!"
Reika rolled her eyes, laughing. "So I owe your mom for warming up your back for me, huh?"
Sylas muttered from the sidelines, "Can we save the mushy talk? Some of us are single and just trying to survive this trip," he grumbled, clutching his book with a "why me" expression.
Venturing deeper into the cave, Zephyr spotted some strange markings. He crouched, examining them closely and realizing with a start that they were shards of obsidian crystals, a material the Voidclaw Brotherhood commonly used to craft dark weapons and forbidden potions. "What is this doing here?" he wondered, a prickle of unease creeping up his spine. He straightened, hiding his concern for now.
"Seems like this forest has a lot more going on than we thought," he thought, putting away the crystal shards. Whoever had tried to stop him from getting word to Oakwood City clearly had connections. And whoever it was, they weren't playing fair.
When Zephyr rejoined the group, dawn was starting to break, its light filtering faintly into the cave. He looked at the others. "Daylight's here. Let's get Reika back to Blossom Valley so she can heal up properly before we move on."
Sylas and Isla both nodded. Though Reika didn't like feeling like a burden, she knew she'd slow them down if she kept going with her injury, so she gave a reluctant nod.
As they were about to leave the cave, Reika suddenly spotted something near the entrance and gasped, pointing. "Wait! Is that… Night's Glow?"
A soft ray of dawn light fell on the plant growing quietly by the cave's entrance. Its translucent leaves shimmered faintly, absorbing the lingering spirit energy of the night and casting a gentle glow.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Reika's face split into a grin, both surprised and delighted.
Zephyr shook his head with a laugh, his tone wry. "We searched all over for this, and it was right here waiting for us at the entrance?"
Sylas stared in amazement, rubbing his eyes like he couldn't believe it. "Is that rabbit working for someone? It's as if it actually led us here on purpose."
Isla smirked, her expression barely changing. "Well, at least we can head back with a little peace of mind."
Reika looked at the plant, feeling as if the night's aches and close calls were worth it after all. She couldn't help but chuckle, "Seems like luck is finally on our side."
With their spirits lifted, the four finally set off back toward Blossom Valley, the weight of the night lifting as they began their journey home.