As they continued through the corridors, Kai couldn't help but notice the shift between them.
The whole thing with the direwolf had left everyone, mostly the girls, rattled but also brimming with a new sense of camaraderie.
That camaraderie, however, quickly turned to admiration—at least from the ladies.
"I still can't believe you two took down a direwolf." Miria said, her voice tinged with awe. "It was incredible."
"Just doing our part." Kai replied with his best grin, brushing off the compliment. If only they knew just how much he was enjoying the attention.
Arlo, walking beside him, stretched lazily. "Yeah, we're pretty amazing. You can thank us later."
Phoebe rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the smirk on her lips. "You're milking this for all it's worth, aren't you?"
Kai tilted his head, feigning innocence. "Milking? Me? Never."
As they continued down the corridor, the conversation grew more relaxed and Kai drifted closer to Phoebe.
"So, Phoebe." He said casually, "Do you have any plans after this test?"
She shot him a sidelong glance, her eyes narrowing. "Why? Planning something, Velroth?"
Kai grinned. "Maybe. You see, I got hurt while on the job. Won't it be a shame if I'm left all on my lonesome?"
"Think you'd be up for a visit to my suite? It's only fair, considering I saved your life back there."
Phoebe laughed, the sound bright and sharp. "Saved my life? Please, I wasn't even in danger."
"Could've fooled me." Kai said, smirking. "So, is that a yes?"
Phoebe rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress her amused smile. "Fine. One visit. But only if you stop acting like you're the greatest thing to happen to this academy."
"Deal." Kai replied, offering his hand.
He grinned as she shook it, knowing that he'd just secured his golden opportunity. He and Phoebe alone in his room? He just needed to make the magic happen.
The group's pace slowed as they kept walking through the corridors, choosing from different branches and following the scones of light on the walls.
"We'll need to find healers once this is over." Kai said as they walked, adjusting his stance to favor his injured leg. "No way we're making it through another fight like that without some help."
He'd gone through Kai's memories and realized that this world had healers, who were able to heal in a few seconds with just a touch and a spell.
"Healers use Earth and Water affinities together, right?" Miria asked, her soft voice tinged with curiosity. "I'd like to learn that someday."
Kai nodded. "You'd make a great healer, Miria. Gentle touch, calm demeanor. You've got the whole package."
She blushed slightly at the compliment but didn't reply.
Instead, Seraphina spoke up. "Healing's fine, but it's not for me. All I care about is mastering flying spells. Once I can fly, nothing else will matter."
"Why flying?" Kai asked, genuinely curious.
Seraphina's silver eyes sparkled with a rare hint of excitement. "Because it's freedom. The ability to go wherever I want, whenever I want. No one can control you when you're in the sky."
Kai smiled at her passion but couldn't help noticing Phoebe's expression darken slightly. "What about you, Phoebe? What's your goal?"
She hesitated, her smile fading. "It doesn't matter what I want. My future's already decided. I'll be married off to strengthen our family's alliances. That's how it works."
The group fell silent, reminded by her words, the reality that they were in. They weren't commoners who married for love but nobles whose every action must strengthen their families.
"Well," Kai said brightly, drawing the attention of the group, "I guess we'll just have to have our fun in Mythreach." He said with a grin.
The group brightened and just as Phoebe opened her mouth to respond, a faint scrabbling sound reached their ears.
"More goblins." Arlo muttered, his voice low.
The group crept forward, peering around the next bend.
Sure enough, another pack of goblins milled about, their beady eyes darting around as they grunted and chattered to each other. This time, there were only three.
"Let us handle this." Kai began, but Phoebe cut him off.
"No." she said firmly. "We're not princesses waiting to be rescued. We can fight too."
Seraphina nodded, drawing her bow. "It's time we showed you what we can do."
Miria followed suit, her hands steady as she notched an arrow. "We might've been scared of the direwolf, but that doesn't mean we're always like that."
Kai and Arlo exchanged glances, a mix of amusement and respect passing between them.
"All right." Kai said, stepping back. "Show us what you've got."
The girls moved with the ease of practice.
Phoebe and Seraphina took up positions at the edge of the corridor, their bows trained on the goblins. Miria stayed slightly behind them, her own bow ready but her demeanor more cautious.
Phoebe loosed the first arrow, the shaft whistling through the air before striking a goblin square in the chest. It let out a strangled cry before collapsing.
Seraphina followed up, her shot piercing another goblin's throat. The final goblin turned to flee, but Miria's arrow found its mark, embedding itself in the creature's back.
In less than a minute, it was over.
"Nice work." Kai said, genuinely impressed. "Maybe we should let you handle all the fights from now on."
"Maybe you should." Phoebe shot back, smirking. "We're not helpless, you know."
"Duly noted." Kai replied, raising his hands in mock surrender.
As they continued through the corridors, a few hours passed.
The conversation picked up, light and easy as they shared small stories and banter.
They faced different monsters, mostly goblins and kobolds, torchlight growing dimmer as they walked.
Finally, the group emerged into a smaller hall.
The chamber was circular, with a raised stage at its center.
The walls were decorated with faded tapestries, and the floor was made of polished stone that reflected the faint light from the ceiling.
"What is this place?" Seraphina asked, her voice echoing slightly in the stillness.
"No idea." Arlo said, stepping onto the stage and looking around. "Looks important, though."
Kai followed, his eyes scanning the room for anything unusual. "Be on your guard. Something feels off."
Before anyone could respond, a voice broke the silence.
"Kai Velroth?"