Chapter 10: The Lightning Beast
Liora's quest had gone relatively smoothly so far. For several days, her group trekked through forests and hills, dispatching the occasional low-rank monster without much trouble. The attacks from beasts like goblins, wild boars, and giant rats were little more than a nuisance, and no one in the party had been seriously injured. Spirits were high, and they were confident they'd complete the quest on schedule.
It was late afternoon when they reached the final stretch of their journey—a dense part of the forest that led to a mountain pass, the location of the herbs they were tasked with gathering. The air was thick with the smell of pine, and the path became more narrow and rugged as they moved forward. Liora, leading the group, kept her senses sharp, her eyes scanning the dense foliage around them.
That's when it happened.
A sudden crackling sound filled the air, followed by a flash of light. Liora's instincts screamed danger, and before she could react, a bolt of lightning shot out from the trees, narrowly missing her. She felt the heat of it as it crackled past, singeing the ground at her feet.
"Get back!" she shouted, leaping to the side as another lightning strike hit where she had just been standing.
From the shadows of the forest, the creature emerged—a massive, sleek, panther-like beast, its fur glowing with an eerie blue light. Arcs of electricity danced across its body, and its eyes were locked on Liora with predatory intent. This wasn't like the other monsters they'd faced. This was something far more dangerous.
"It's a lightning beast!" Eira yelled, her voice edged with fear. "Everyone, spread out! Don't get too close!"
The adventurers scrambled to form a defensive circle, weapons drawn, but the beast moved with terrifying speed. It lunged at Liora, its claws crackling with electricity, and she barely managed to dodge to the side. Without the heavy wrist and ankle weights she had been training with, her movements were faster, but even with her improved agility, the beast's attacks came close—too close.
Liora's heart pounded in her chest as she narrowly avoided another strike. The beast was relentless, its movements fluid and precise, as if it were toying with her. She could feel the static in the air, the electricity buzzing around her, making her hair stand on end.
"We need to take it down, now!" Darius shouted, launching a fire spell toward the beast.
The flames hit the creature's side, but the lightning absorbed most of the blow, dispersing the fire before it could do any real damage. The beast growled in response, its eyes glowing brighter as it turned toward Darius, preparing to strike.
Liora knew they couldn't take much more of this. If the beast hit anyone directly, the result would be fatal. She had to come up with a plan, fast. She glanced down at her sword, which Reyn had enchanted with wind magic. Maybe that could give her the edge she needed.
Taking a deep breath, Liora tightened her grip on the hilt of the sword and called out to the others. "Distract it! I'll go in for the strike!"
Eira and Selene nodded, launching a volley of ice and earth spells at the beast. The attacks weren't strong enough to injure it significantly, but they were enough to throw off its focus. The creature hissed in frustration, its gaze darting between the adventurers as it tried to anticipate the next attack.
That was her chance.
With a burst of speed, Liora charged forward, her sword humming with wind energy. She dodged left, then right, avoiding the lightning strikes that the beast sent her way. Her body moved on instinct, every muscle and reflex honed from years of practice—and now, without the weights holding her back, she felt almost weightless.
She slid under one final lightning strike, coming up beneath the beast's exposed flank. With a swift, powerful swing, she slashed her sword along the creature's side. The wind enchantment enhanced the blow, sending a shockwave through the beast's body. The lightning crackled violently for a moment before the energy began to disperse, the creature letting out a guttural growl as it staggered back.
But the beast wasn't finished.
It let out a final, desperate roar, and electricity surged outward in all directions. Liora barely managed to dive out of the way as the shockwave hit, knocking the other adventurers off their feet. The beast swayed on its paws, clearly weakened, but still dangerous.
Panting and covered in sweat, Liora scrambled to her feet. She glanced at the others—they were all alive, but several of them were on the ground, stunned from the shock. She couldn't let this creature get another chance to attack.
"Eira! Darius! Hit it now, while it's weak!" she called out.
Eira, recovering quickly, sent an ice spike flying toward the beast, hitting it square in the chest. At the same time, Darius unleashed another fireball, this time aiming for its head. The combined force of the two spells was enough to bring the lightning beast down. It collapsed to the ground with a final crackle of electricity, the glow fading from its fur.
Silence fell over the forest.
Liora stood still for a moment, her breath heavy as she took in the scene. The beast was dead, and they had won. But it had been a close call—far too close for comfort.
Eira approached her, clapping a hand on her shoulder. "Nice work, Liora. That was some fast thinking back there."
Liora smiled weakly, still catching her breath. "Thanks. I couldn't have done it without you guys distracting it."
The group gathered around the fallen beast, inspecting it carefully. Darius knelt down, examining the glowing core embedded in its chest. "A lightning core," he murmured. "This thing's worth a fortune."
Liora nodded, but her mind was already elsewhere. They had survived the encounter, but it was clear to her now—if they were going to succeed as adventurers, they'd need to be prepared for far worse than this.
Liora and her group were exhausted, but a wave of relief washed over them as they finally finished their quest. The rare herbs they had been tasked to gather were safely stored in their bags, and though the journey had been tough—especially with the lightning beast encounter—they had succeeded without losing anyone. As they rested in a small clearing, preparing for the journey back home, there was a sense of accomplishment among the group.
Liora sat beside the others, catching her breath while admiring the lightning core that now rested in her hands. The small crystal-like orb still glowed faintly with the energy of the beast they had defeated. It was a valuable prize, one that could be sold for a considerable amount or used to forge powerful weapons or enchantments. She felt a mixture of pride and disbelief as the others agreed to give it to her.
"You earned it, Liora," Eira said with a grin, nudging her playfully. "Without your quick thinking, that thing would've fried us all."
Darius nodded in agreement. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. Use it well."
Liora smiled, though her thoughts were already on how she would use the core—and how Reyn might react when she showed it to him. She imagined the excitement in his eyes, the ideas that would immediately come to him for forging something incredible with it. But more than anything, she wanted to use the core as a symbol of her growth. It represented her first real step toward becoming a true adventurer.
The group packed up and began their journey back to the city. The mood was lighter now, with everyone joking and talking about their plans for the future. As they walked, Liora found herself glancing at the lightning core again, feeling its faint hum in her hands.
Meanwhile, back in the city, Reyn was deeply engrossed in his studies. He sat at one of the large tables in the academy library, surrounded by old tomes and scrolls that detailed the nature of spirits and their connection to magic. His fascination with magical spirits had only grown as he read deeper into the subject, and he was determined to find a way to incorporate their power into his craft.
He was so focused on the text in front of him that he didn't notice Alistor's approach until his friend clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Reyn! I've got some great news," Alistor said, practically buzzing with excitement.
Reyn looked up, surprised but curious. "What is it?"
"I just got a letter from my father," Alistor said, sliding into the chair across from him. "He's approved our business plan. He loved the idea and thinks it's brilliant. Not only that, but he's already spoken with his partners, and they're ready to start production!"
Reyn's eyes widened. "Already? That's fast."
Alistor grinned. "When my father's interested in something, he doesn't waste time. He's already got men lined up to reproduce the tools and lamps you designed. They'll be making them in bulk and selling them in his stores and to merchants across the region."
Reyn leaned back in his chair, letting the news sink in. He hadn't expected things to move this quickly. For months, he had been so focused on his studies and his forging that he hadn't even considered expanding his creations into a full-fledged business. The idea had only crossed his mind recently, but now it was becoming a reality.
"This could change everything," Reyn muttered, almost to himself.
"It will," Alistor said confidently. "Once the sales start rolling in, you'll have more than enough money for your academy fees, materials for forging, and even bigger projects. I told my father to keep your identity a secret, by the way. He understands the importance of discretion, especially with the nobles being as nosy as they are."
Reyn nodded in appreciation. "Thank you, Alistor. I'd rather keep my head down for now."
"No worries," Alistor said. "Oh, and don't forget—we're also adding that chess game you made to the list of items. My father thinks it could be a huge hit, especially among the nobles and merchants. They love anything that makes them look smarter."
Reyn chuckled. "Chess, huh? I didn't think much of it when I came up with it, but if it sells…"
"It will," Alistor assured him. "Trust me."
Reyn's mind began to race with possibilities. With the business moving forward, he could focus more on his magical research and his forging. The money from the sales would allow him to experiment with rare materials—like the ones he saw in the shops with his father—and maybe even delve into forging weapons with spirits or monster cores.
Alistor stood up, looking down at Reyn with a satisfied smile. "I'll keep you updated as things progress. For now, just keep doing what you do best."
As Alistor left, Reyn sat there for a moment, processing everything. His life was about to change in ways he hadn't imagined. A business, magical research, and the academy—all of it was falling into place. But despite the whirlwind of events, he remained calm, focused.
The path ahead was clear, and he was ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.