‘Ah… it hurts.’ My vision began to blur and the agonizing pain started to overwhelm me. Through my hazy vision, I saw the impressive spectacle of Elara and Rurik luring the massive bird away. Elara danced through the air with an agile grace, her knives glinting ominously under the torchlight. Rurik, fueled by his raw strength, swung his axes mercilessly, each blow echoing through the chamber. Their combined efforts successfully drew the attention of the beast away from us.
Suddenly, a figure knelt beside me, blocking the ongoing chaos from my sight. It was Finn. His eyes were a blend of concern and determination. Without uttering a word, he carefully lifted me into his arms and hurried away from the central area, leaving the raging battle behind. Once he deemed we were far enough, he set me against a stone wall.
His hands rummaged through his pack. He pulled out a small flask, its contents shimmering with a comforting light. I squinted, trying to recognize what it was, but the pain made it difficult to focus.
Finn uncorked the flask, the scent of it unfamiliar and potent. Before I could protest, he tilted the flash over my mouth. "What are—?" I began to choke as a bitter liquid streamed down my throat, causing me to choke and cough violently. "Are you trying to kill me?" I sputtered through my coughs, eyes watering from the bitter aftertaste.
"It's a health potion," he retorted, the corner of his mouth twitching as if he was suppressing a grin. "A little gratitude would be nice."
Almost immediately, I felt a warmth spread through me. The intense pain that had threatened to overcome me earlier subsided, replaced by a comforting lull. The potion was working, healing my wounds at a visible rate. I could feel the strength returning back to my limbs.
A health potion? That’s what the flask contained? I looked at the now empty flask in surprise. The bottle itself was made of high-quality craftsmanship and glass. Adding to its miraculous effects, it must have been extremely expensive.
“Thank you…" I murmured, more to myself than him, but Finn seemed to hear it anyway. He gave me a nod, helping me to my feet. With the potion's effects bolstering me, the pain was now almost gone. Maybe... just maybe, Finn wasn't as unbearable as I'd previously thought.
"We should go back and help them," Finn said, his gaze set on the ongoing battle. I couldn't help but agree. Elara and Rurik were holding their own, but they needed our support. I was feeling better, stronger, and more than ready to rejoin the fight.
With newfound resolve, we returned to the battlefield. We formed a new plan, Finn and Rurik would work in tandem on the ground, attracting the golem while I ferry Elara and myself onto it. We were betting on my magic at close range or Elara’s mythril, a metal stronger than normal iron or steel, short swords would be somewhat effective.
With our plan set, I focused on boosting my physical abilities with magic once more, feeling the familiar surge of strength, before I took off into the air. This time, I took Elara with me. It was a difficult task, but I just barely managed to maintain a stable flight while carrying her.
Our attempts to land on the bird were met with limited success. We had a few close encounters, narrowly avoiding midair collision with the bird midglide. Several times, we managed to grab its back, but a sudden turn from the thing and we were flung off.
Finally, with a massive effort and a fair amount of luck, we managed to cling to the bird. Elara launched her attacks, her blades slicing through the air, aimed at the joints of the bird, trying whatever she could to try and break something.
Meanwhile, I focused my efforts into directly manipulating the mana around the bird, trying to disrupt its flight and ground it. It had some effect against that magician dude I fought in the exam, so I was hoping it would also work here. I felt my wand heating up, the strain of my continuously increasing magic usage becoming too much for it. The wand was vibrating violently, with the gem at the tip releasing an ominous glow, when it suddenly broke with a loud crack. The resulting suddenly free mana went wild, creating an explosion that threw me into the air. Without my wand to cast flight, I was flailing around to grab onto anything I could to save myself.
Desperately, I clawed at the bird, and my fingers found purchase on the head of the bird. Dazed and in pain, I barely registered my position. With a grunt, I punched the glowing orb-like eyes in frustration. It didn’t do much. In my bit of desperation, I held one of the basketball sized orbs tightly between my palms and funneled my mana directly into it. I could transfer mana like this to rocks and mushrooms, why could I do it to this thing too? If I pour enough, maybe it’ll explode like my wand earlier.
To my surprise, it worked. My magic caused a slight crack which seemed to disrupt its mechanisms, causing it to falter and slowly lose altitude. Encouraged by this, I continued to flood the bird with more and more of my magic, and gradually, it started losing control. The bird began to sway dangerously, and with a deafening crash, it plummeted to the ground. The heavy impact caused a large swarm of dust, followed by a humongous shockwave. Before it crashed, Elara skillfully jumped off, landing safely on the ground. I, however, was slower to react. The impact threw me off, as I once again found myself tumbling through the air. Though it was now grounded, it was still tall enough where a fall from this height would hurt, a lot.
As I fell, I made a subconscious attempt to slow my descent using magic. To my surprise, even without my wand, I found that I could still cast and manipulate magic directly with my hands. Though it felt like the flow of mana was much more severely restricted, it was possible. The realization was a revelation, an inspiration in the midst of chaos. I quickly cast a gust of wind to soften my fall. Shaken, I looked around and found the others. Their faces were a mirror of my shock, but they were alive, at a safe distance from the impact, and that was all that mattered.
‘Was it over?’
Without a doubt, that was the thought at the top of all our minds right now. Just as nothing was happening and we felt a glimmer of hope, the bird twitched. It was a minute movement, barely noticeable, but it was enough to send a chill down our spines. The fight was not yet over.
"Damn it!" Rurik cursed under his breath as the bird stirred, the metallic grinding sound of its body sending a chill down our spines. But this time, the bird didn't take flight. It remained grounded, moving in an awkward, sluggish manner, as if its systems were compromised.
The battle continued, Finn and Rurik relentlessly attacking from the ground while Elara assisted me as I tried to reach the bird’s head once more. We now all knew what to do. WIth it being grounded and its mobility almost completely removed, its only options left were to flail its wings around. This simple and predictable attack pattern made it extremely easy for me to get back on.
This time, I didn’t hesitate. I pressed my palm against the cracked orb-like eye and poured as much mana as I could into it. I pushed harder than I ever had before, for the first time, I could feel the slight effects of exerting too much mana. However, it finally couldn’t resist anymore as the orb finally shattered. Once again, the suddenly freed mana rampaged around, creating an explosion. Thankfully, I was prepared this time, as I had already used the mana flowing within my body to protect myself. Quickly stabilizing myself midair, I spectated the aftermath of the battle.
The last explosion broke the bird apart, with its remnants laying strewn across the chamber floor. As the dust settled, I floated down to join my companions, my heart pounding in my chest. Despite the exhaustion weighing on us, there was a distinct sense of relief. We had survived this seemingly insurmountable challenge, thanks to our determination, resilience, and a lot of luck. Elara, Finn, and Rurik were already on their feet, albeit wobbly. I gave them a weary smile, which they returned with identical expressions of relief and triumph. The tension from before had completely disappeared.
Rurik's axes lay by his feet, Finn's sword was still in his hand, and Elara... Elara just looked like she was ready to collapse at any second.
Wordlessly, we regrouped, taking in the wreckage of the once fearsome golem that lay scattered around us. As the adrenaline began to fade, the reality of our situation set in. We were alive, yes, but we were also wounded, exhausted, and stuck in a labyrinth that seemed to have no end. The treasures that lay before us seemed to mock our predicament, glittering under the dim torchlight. Despite this, there was a newfound hope, a strengthened bond that held us together. We had faced what seemed like an insurmountable obstacle and had come out on top. We had fought, and we had survived. The room fell silent once more, the only sounds being our laboured breathing and the distant echoes of the labyrinth. We knew we couldn't afford to rest too long. We also needed to regroup with the archaeologist, to make sure he was safe. But for now, we relished the calm after the storm, pushing off all future problems for later, and just rested.
‘Ah… it hurts.’ My vision began to blur and the agonizing pain started to overwhelm me. Through my hazy vision, I saw the impressive spectacle of Elara and Rurik luring the massive bird away. Elara danced through the air with an agile grace, her knives glinting ominously under the torchlight. Rurik, fueled by his raw strength, swung his axes mercilessly, each blow echoing through the chamber. Their combined efforts successfully drew the attention of the beast away from us.
Suddenly, a figure knelt beside me, blocking the ongoing chaos from my sight. It was Finn. His eyes were a blend of concern and determination. Without uttering a word, he carefully lifted me into his arms and hurried away from the central area, leaving the raging battle behind. Once he deemed we were far enough, he set me against a stone wall.
His hands rummaged through his pack. He pulled out a small flask, its contents shimmering with a comforting light. I squinted, trying to recognize what it was, but the pain made it difficult to focus.
Finn uncorked the flask, the scent of it unfamiliar and potent. Before I could protest, he tilted the flash over my mouth. "What are—?" I began to choke as a bitter liquid streamed down my throat, causing me to choke and cough violently. "Are you trying to kill me?" I sputtered through my coughs, eyes watering from the bitter aftertaste.
"It's a health potion," he retorted, the corner of his mouth twitching as if he was suppressing a grin. "A little gratitude would be nice."
Almost immediately, I felt a warmth spread through me. The intense pain that had threatened to overcome me earlier subsided, replaced by a comforting lull. The potion was working, healing my wounds at a visible rate. I could feel the strength returning back to my limbs.
A health potion? That’s what the flask contained? I looked at the now empty flask in surprise. The bottle itself was made of high-quality craftsmanship and glass. Adding to its miraculous effects, it must have been extremely expensive.
“Thank you…" I murmured, more to myself than him, but Finn seemed to hear it anyway. He gave me a nod, helping me to my feet. With the potion's effects bolstering me, the pain was now almost gone. Maybe... just maybe, Finn wasn't as unbearable as I'd previously thought.
"We should go back and help them," Finn said, his gaze set on the ongoing battle. I couldn't help but agree. Elara and Rurik were holding their own, but they needed our support. I was feeling better, stronger, and more than ready to rejoin the fight.
With newfound resolve, we returned to the battlefield. We formed a new plan, Finn and Rurik would work in tandem on the ground, attracting the golem while I ferry Elara and myself onto it. We were betting on my magic at close range or Elara’s mythril, a metal stronger than normal iron or steel, short swords would be somewhat effective.
With our plan set, I focused on boosting my physical abilities with magic once more, feeling the familiar surge of strength, before I took off into the air. This time, I took Elara with me. It was a difficult task, but I just barely managed to maintain a stable flight while carrying her.
Our attempts to land on the bird were met with limited success. We had a few close encounters, narrowly avoiding midair collision with the bird midglide. Several times, we managed to grab its back, but a sudden turn from the thing and we were flung off.
Finally, with a massive effort and a fair amount of luck, we managed to cling to the bird. Elara launched her attacks, her blades slicing through the air, aimed at the joints of the bird, trying whatever she could to try and break something.
Meanwhile, I focused my efforts into directly manipulating the mana around the bird, trying to disrupt its flight and ground it. It had some effect against that magician dude I fought in the exam, so I was hoping it would also work here. I felt my wand heating up, the strain of my continuously increasing magic usage becoming too much for it. The wand was vibrating violently, with the gem at the tip releasing an ominous glow, when it suddenly broke with a loud crack. The resulting suddenly free mana went wild, creating an explosion that threw me into the air. Without my wand to cast flight, I was flailing around to grab onto anything I could to save myself.
Desperately, I clawed at the bird, and my fingers found purchase on the head of the bird. Dazed and in pain, I barely registered my position. With a grunt, I punched the glowing orb-like eyes in frustration. It didn’t do much. In my bit of desperation, I held one of the basketball sized orbs tightly between my palms and funneled my mana directly into it. I could transfer mana like this to rocks and mushrooms, why could I do it to this thing too? If I pour enough, maybe it’ll explode like my wand earlier.
To my surprise, it worked. My magic caused a slight crack which seemed to disrupt its mechanisms, causing it to falter and slowly lose altitude. Encouraged by this, I continued to flood the bird with more and more of my magic, and gradually, it started losing control. The bird began to sway dangerously, and with a deafening crash, it plummeted to the ground. The heavy impact caused a large swarm of dust, followed by a humongous shockwave. Before it crashed, Elara skillfully jumped off, landing safely on the ground. I, however, was slower to react. The impact threw me off, as I once again found myself tumbling through the air. Though it was now grounded, it was still tall enough where a fall from this height would hurt, a lot.
As I fell, I made a subconscious attempt to slow my descent using magic. To my surprise, even without my wand, I found that I could still cast and manipulate magic directly with my hands. Though it felt like the flow of mana was much more severely restricted, it was possible. The realization was a revelation, an inspiration in the midst of chaos. I quickly cast a gust of wind to soften my fall. Shaken, I looked around and found the others. Their faces were a mirror of my shock, but they were alive, at a safe distance from the impact, and that was all that mattered.
‘Was it over?’
Without a doubt, that was the thought at the top of all our minds right now. Just as nothing was happening and we felt a glimmer of hope, the bird twitched. It was a minute movement, barely noticeable, but it was enough to send a chill down our spines. The fight was not yet over.
"Damn it!" Rurik cursed under his breath as the bird stirred, the metallic grinding sound of its body sending a chill down our spines. But this time, the bird didn't take flight. It remained grounded, moving in an awkward, sluggish manner, as if its systems were compromised.
The battle continued, Finn and Rurik relentlessly attacking from the ground while Elara assisted me as I tried to reach the bird’s head once more. We now all knew what to do. WIth it being grounded and its mobility almost completely removed, its only options left were to flail its wings around. This simple and predictable attack pattern made it extremely easy for me to get back on.
This time, I didn’t hesitate. I pressed my palm against the cracked orb-like eye and poured as much mana as I could into it. I pushed harder than I ever had before, for the first time, I could feel the slight effects of exerting too much mana. However, it finally couldn’t resist anymore as the orb finally shattered. Once again, the suddenly freed mana rampaged around, creating an explosion. Thankfully, I was prepared this time, as I had already used the mana flowing within my body to protect myself. Quickly stabilizing myself midair, I spectated the aftermath of the battle.
The last explosion broke the bird apart, with its remnants laying strewn across the chamber floor. As the dust settled, I floated down to join my companions, my heart pounding in my chest. Despite the exhaustion weighing on us, there was a distinct sense of relief. We had survived this seemingly insurmountable challenge, thanks to our determination, resilience, and a lot of luck. Elara, Finn, and Rurik were already on their feet, albeit wobbly. I gave them a weary smile, which they returned with identical expressions of relief and triumph. The tension from before had completely disappeared.
Rurik's axes lay by his feet, Finn's sword was still in his hand, and Elara... Elara just looked like she was ready to collapse at any second.
Wordlessly, we regrouped, taking in the wreckage of the once fearsome golem that lay scattered around us. As the adrenaline began to fade, the reality of our situation set in. We were alive, yes, but we were also wounded, exhausted, and stuck in a labyrinth that seemed to have no end. The treasures that lay before us seemed to mock our predicament, glittering under the dim torchlight. Despite this, there was a newfound hope, a strengthened bond that held us together. We had faced what seemed like an insurmountable obstacle and had come out on top. We had fought, and we had survived. The room fell silent once more, the only sounds being our laboured breathing and the distant echoes of the labyrinth. We knew we couldn't afford to rest too long. We also needed to regroup with the archaeologist, to make sure he was safe. But for now, we relished the calm after the storm, pushing off all future problems for later, and just rested.
