In a flash, Larry sprang to the side of the fox king, his pace swift and soundless as if he was being carried by the wind under the dark of night. From behind, he swooped his shield through the air, imbuing it with his water aura.
"Water aura: Aqua Resonance, Shield Maelstrom Barrier (4 circles)." He bludgeoned the fox king with a deafening crash, sending him flying towards Sam like a leaf dancing in the storm.
Sam reacted in an instant, his own water aura springing to life, cascading around his sword like ocean waves. "Water aura: Ocean's Fang (4 circles)." In one smooth motion, he cleaved through the fox king from mouth to tail and reduced it to a cloud of dust-as if it had never existed.
Their legs finally buckled, dropping them to the floor as if relieved from carrying the weight of mountains. With his back to the floor and supported by his right hand, Sam let out a deep sigh. "Drake, we owe you; without your intervention, we might have lost one of our own to that crimson monster," he uttered, his tone full of fatigue.
Drake slumped against the tree, his trembling muscles easing, spoke softly, his words quivering like leaves in a breeze. "I'm the one who should be grateful. If it hadn't been for you all, I'd have fallen to those beasts without a second thought. Thank you for letting me be part of your crew, even if only for a while."
Little Lilly, a spark of nervous energy, fidgeted as she approached Sam. "Let me heal your injury." Sam adjusted himself as Lilly raised her hands above his wounded arm. "Water mana: Water Healing, Protective Dew (2 circles)."
A faint blue circle appeared around her hands, and healing water-soft and gentle as morning dew-trickled over his hand, mending the flesh and halting the bleeding. "Captain, does it… does it still hurt?" she asked, her fingers tapping together nervously. Sam looked to her and smiled softly. "Na need tae fash, Lilly.
It's a'right noo." He reached out, patting her head. Larry, who sat crossed-legged with his shield propped before him, chuckled. "It's nice seeing Lilly's gentler side every once in a while." They laughed, save for Drake, who allowed himself a faint smile.
Her face red, Lilly's fists clenched as she hunched over slightly, her eyes screwing shut. "Would you quit teasing me now? If you're so fine, you can start setting up the tents!
"
Larry looked at her fierce expression and smiled warmly.
"Good to see you back to your usual self. A silent silence befell the group-the kind that follows triumph yet was heavy with thoughts unspoken. Binter finally exhaled, breaking the stillness.
"Luck must've been with us. If that beast had fully stabilized its breakthrough to the third stage, we'd barely have stood a chance." Together, Ben, Drake, and two young ladies began setting up their tents, preparing for a hard-earned rest.
The next day, they continued through the mist-thick forest. They moved as if the fog had seeped into the bones, part of them as the lifeblood running in their veins. A day past, they came to a fork where their ways parted.
"It seems we have come to where our journeys part ways," Drake said, looking at the map in his hands. A solemn hush descended upon them, a tide of melancholy sweeping across their faces.
Drake, catching the slumped shoulders of his comrades, smiled. "I'll miss traveling with all of you. But our roads have to part. Thank you for everything; I've learned so much from you." Sam stepped forward and laid a hand on Drake's shoulder. "It was an honor to have had you with us. You saved us more times than you'll ever know.
I'm sorry I didn't trust you more when all you meant well." Drake shook his head, a gentle smile crossing his face. "It's natural for people to be cautious around new companions."
Lilly approached Drake, a small sack clutched in her hands. "Take this. It's… just a little something for the road. In case you get hungry." Drake accepted it gratefully. "Thank you.
Let's have a meal together someday." Blushing hard, Lilly hastened her pace to return to the others. Sam gave a parting smile. "The journey's long, but our time together felt too short.
I hope fate lets our paths cross again." They waved until only Drake was left watching their figures fade to nothing in the fog.
He was alone, now. He turned into his path, veering into thickening mist and along rocky terrain. Two days later, Drake slept very fitfully and woke to the strange sound.
Trying to make his escape, he saw his path barred by a tall, gaunt figure-a man with white hair cropped close, attired in a whitish-blue robe, spear at his throat, almost touching it. "Who are you, and what brings you here?" he asked as sharp-eyed as a hawk.
Drake stepped back warily, but he was hedged in from behind by more figures, men and a young woman, all of them closing in.
He raised his hands and spoke painstakingly. "My name is Alexandra Drake. I was sent here by the Queen of Kaldris to deliver a message to someone named Maximus." The man's eyes widened and he lowered his weapon. "Did you say… Kaldris?
He found himself clenching Drake's shoulder a bit too hard and released it promptly.
"Please, forgive my rudeness.
I am Maximus, whom you have sought."
One of Maximus's companions bristled at Drake. "How dare you look at our captain like that?" they growled, but Maximus merely raised his hand for silence. Drake cleared his throat. "If I may, I'd appreciate some sort of proof that you are who I'm supposed to meet.
Maximus nodded, tugging out an identity tag from under his garment. Drake took it, confirming the emblem of Kaldris. "Alright. Isabe…" Maximus cut him off with a gesture. "We shall talk more of this in our hideout." He gestured for Drake to follow.
They walked for a little while until they reached a small wooden house concealed among the trees. He then led Drake to a table indoors where an oil lamp glowed softly. Drake tenderly gave the scroll to Maximus; it told of what had been happening in Kaldris during his absence.
As Maximus read, his face fell apart, and tears streamed down his face. "If only I hadn't gone away. His Majesty…" Drake set a reassuring hand on Maximus's shoulder, where words could not offer solace.
Then the door burst open, and one of Maximus's scouts strode in, his face tight with urgency. "Captain, we have trouble. Another wave of Crimson Rot is approaching from the west.