Sentar's head snapped back on impact, losing control of her flight and letting the prey go. To make matters worse, Arthur snapped his fingers quickly in succession, generating several flashes of light and booms near the Cron's head, making it blind and deaf.
"Damn, I took my sweet time enjoying her screams, and that's what I get in return. I was no Cron, more like a sitting duck. Now I don't even know which direction is up. If I crash land because of a pup, the boss will never let me hear the end of it," Sentar thought while trying to stop her fall.
Arthur would have liked to keep striking the iron while it was still hot, but the black-haired girl was plummeting like a brick. Cursing her recklessness, Arthur swooped down with a swing motion—first down, then up—to avoid breaking her ribs during the catch.
The rescue was successful, but judging from the smell, Arthur understood that she was relieved from fear on several levels.
"What the heck were you doing?" he yelled in her ear, thinking about how ridiculous those romantic moments in action movies were in real life, right after the hero saved the damsel in distress.
Between the smell and the impending danger, there was no space for romance and tender one-liners. The only thing they both wanted was a safe haven and a hot bath.
"Don't you know first magic? Why did you let it drag you around like a sack of potatoes? More importantly, do you know a flight spell?"
She nodded while holding him tight with both arms and legs, like she was trying to get inside his clothes.
"Then go ahead and use it! My spell is not meant for two; I can only glide while carrying you around. Once that thing recovers, we will be doomed. Do something—remember, they are watching us!"
Free from the grip of fear, she realized that the whole staff of the academy had been watching her humiliating performance. The girl became purple from head to toe for a second before letting him go and chanting her flight spell.
"Let's get the others and retreat! In the open, we are at too much of a disadvantage," Arthur said.
They both quickly returned to the ground, pulling the other three back on their feet, and literally kicking their asses to force them to recover from the terror and get them moving.
"Take flight, fast!" Arthur yelled. "We have no hope of shaking them off on foot, but keep close to the ground. The Cron will turn us into mincemeat if we try to fight in its element."
To his teammates, Arthur's words sounded like those of a strong and experienced leader who had full control of the situation. The reality, though, like the Professors could assess while facepalming, was that he was just reminding them of common sense.
Certainly! Here's the revised version with the requested changes:
"I have always fought alone, I know nothing about formations or teamwork. And if I give orders, I can't cast any spells. I think it's better to have a skilled hunter rather than a makeshift leader.
"Anyone among you who has received military training, either as a strategist or a soldier, is much better suited for this than me."
Arthur's teammates began discussing among themselves, honestly evaluating their abilities to determine who could best take charge while setting aside their pride and personal ambitions.
Reluctantly, Arthur interrupted their deliberations.
"Do you mind if I offer some advice?"
Everyone turned toward him again.
"Whoever becomes the leader has a significant problem: we know each other's roles, but not our actual capabilities in a real fight. In life-and-death situations, there's no time for detailed explanations, only quick orders.
"An order is effective only if executed properly. You've seen how easy it is to freeze due to panic. Personally, I tend to let my bloodlust get the better of me. Either way, the result is the same: a ruined plan."
"My suggestion? Skip the leader for now. Let's focus on watching each other's backs. By learning each other's skills and behaviors through experience, this ragtag team might stand a chance of survival."
The group nodded in agreement, setting aside the debate over leadership. Arthur then instructed everyone on how to use basic magic in the wilderness effectively.
"We'll use the darkness spell Concealment to mask our scent and avoid detection. Don't leave the cave on foot—always use Flight or Float to ensure no tracks lead back here."
The team split into smaller groups for hunting. Morgan and Mirna partnered up, with Arthur scouting alone.
Outside, communication was kept to gestures and expressions to maintain stealth. While Morgan stayed vigilant, watching over Mirna, Arthur muttered to himself, frustrated with the situation.
'Babysitting kids. Fantastic.'
The dense forest proved to be a challenge. Even with his training, Arthur struggled to track prey without resorting to advanced magic, which was strictly prohibited during the exercise.
Morgan, meanwhile, grappled with her own insecurities. Coming from a long lineage of Mage Knights, she had grown up confident in her abilities. Yet the academy's challenges—and her recent failures—shattered that confidence.
Mirna, in contrast, appeared unshaken. She had already hit rock bottom in her eyes, so she believed she had nothing left to lose. But her outward confidence belied an inner struggle: she envied Morgan's strength and stature, imagining her as someone admired by all.
"Stop squirming, Morgan. You're making me nervous too!" Mirna whispered.
"Sorry, but I have a bad feeling about this," Morgan replied, her hand gripping her sword tightly.
The forest grew eerily silent. The team regrouped as an unfamiliar chirping sound grew louder, surrounding them. Arthur tensed, realizing the sound wasn't natural—it resembled the rhythmic clicking of joints.
From the trees and hidden holes in the ground, an ambush erupted. Swarms of spiders, their bodies as large as basketballs or even Labradors, descended upon the group.
"Watch out! Those are Clackers!" Mirna shouted, but neither Arthur nor Morgan recognized the name.
Arthur cursed inwardly. Nothing in my studies prepared me for this. I have no idea what these things can do!
The spiders coordinated their attack through clicking noises, leaving no escape routes. Arthur's prepared spells and items were ill-suited for dealing with a swarm. With only basic magic at his disposal, he realized the battle would test their survival skills to the limit.