The morning light filtered through the dense canopy of the Wildscourge, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor. Eragon stood in the clearing, his knife in one hand and a faint glow of Etherion shimmering around the other. Across from him, Lunara watched with an approving smile.
"Not bad," she said as Eragon extinguished the energy with a flick of his wrist. "You're getting faster."
"I had a good teacher," Eragon replied, a hint of pride in his voice.
Lunara rolled her eyes, though her smile lingered. "Don't get cocky. You've made progress, but this forest isn't going to go easy on you just because you can form a glowing orb."
Eragon chuckled, wiping the sweat from his brow. It had been a long morning, but for once, the effort felt rewarding. He could feel the Etherion within him more clearly now, its flow less erratic and more responsive to his commands.
"Ready for the next challenge?" Lunara asked, her tone teasing.
Eragon grinned. "Bring it on."
The duo ventured deeper into the forest, where the terrain grew wilder and the Etherion denser. The air seemed to hum with energy, each step accompanied by the faint crackle of power.
"Stay alert," Lunara warned. "The beasts here are more aggressive, and they won't hesitate to attack if they sense weakness."
As if on cue, a low growl echoed through the trees. Eragon spun around, his senses heightened. A pair of Feral Stalkers emerged from the shadows, their sleek forms moving with predatory grace.
"Two this time," Eragon muttered, gripping his knife.
"Think of it as a warm-up," Lunara said with a smirk.
The Stalkers charged, their claws glinting in the light. Eragon stepped forward, his movements fluid as he channeled Etherion into his limbs. He dodged the first beast's attack and countered with a swift slash, his blade slicing through its flank.
The second Stalker lunged from the side, but Eragon was ready. He sidestepped and struck with a burst of Etherion, the energy propelling his knife into the creature's chest.
Within moments, both beasts lay motionless on the ground.
"Efficient," Lunara remarked as she approached. "You're starting to think like a Beastbinder."
Eragon nodded, his breathing steady despite the exertion. "It's getting easier. The energy... it feels more natural now."
"Good," Lunara said, her expression serious. "Because the Wildscourge isn't going to wait for you to catch up. Keep this up, and you might just survive."
As they harvested the Stalkers, Lunara's demeanor softened. She handed Eragon a bundle of claws, her gaze lingering on him for a moment longer than usual.
"You've come a long way," she said quietly.
Eragon glanced at her, surprised by the rare note of warmth in her voice. "Thanks. I couldn't have done it without you."
Lunara smirked, though there was a hint of genuine affection in her expression. "Don't get too sentimental on me. We've still got work to do."
Still, the moment lingered, a subtle shift in their dynamic. The sharp edges of their earlier interactions were giving way to something softer, something unspoken.
Later in the day, they encountered another Scaled Ravager, this one larger and more aggressive than the first. Its iridescent scales shimmered in the sunlight, and its barbed tail lashed out with terrifying speed.
"Watch the tail," Lunara warned, her stance shifting into a defensive posture.
Eragon nodded, his confidence bolstered by his earlier victories. He activated his Etherion, the energy crackling around his knife as he faced the beast.
The Ravager struck, its tail whipping toward him like a serpent. Eragon dodged to the side and countered with a slash to its flank. The beast roared, spinning to face him with its jaws snapping.
Lunara moved to flank the creature, her Etherion-infused claws glowing as she slashed at its legs. The Ravager stumbled, its movements growing erratic.
"Finish it!" Lunara shouted.
Eragon surged forward, his Etherion flowing into his blade. With a powerful strike, he drove the knife into the Ravager's neck, the energy exploding on impact. The beast collapsed with a final, guttural cry.
As they stood over the Ravager's corpse, Eragon felt a surge of pride. The mark on his chest pulsed, and the system interface appeared:
[Quest Complete: The Path to Strength]
Objective: Survive in the Wildscourge for 48 hours.
Reward: +100 SP, Beginner Etherion Manual.
Eragon grinned as the rewards materialized in his inventory. He opened the manual, its glowing pages filled with techniques and insights into Etherion manipulation.
"You're officially not useless anymore," Lunara teased, though her tone was light.
"Thanks for the glowing endorsement," Eragon replied, his grin widening.
They spent the rest of the day cleaning the Ravager's remains and preparing for the trek back to their campsite. The work was hard, but Eragon found himself enjoying Lunara's company more and more.
As they sat by the fire that evening, Lunara handed him a piece of cooked meat. "You've earned this," she said.
Eragon accepted it with a nod. "Thanks. For everything."
Lunara tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "Don't mention it. Just... don't get yourself killed out here, alright?"
Eragon chuckled. "I'll try."
The firelight danced in her eyes, and for a moment, the Wildscourge seemed far away.