Chapter 18. Journey Home.

Modez and his squad were not in a hurry to get home, despite being home sick for an entire month in the wilderness.

Their journey back home was ridden with more danger than they expected, the forest now was covered in mud, due to heavy rains, it has started weeks after their decision to get back home.

Their new found prowers came to hand in this journey, Dorci managed to tame an eagle, Joles made sure they are not cold during their rest, with his improved mana density and skills, Modez could moderate the temperature when it gets too hot, Germin and Marci were the vanguard's of the squad, with their strength despite being just below Modez, they were greater in battle, Germin was a full fredged tank while, Marci now could really be called a berserker, despite scouting Jender the most reliable now in the squad, with the bad weather. He was the only one that can bend shadows so in the night he seeks for animals for food and provides it to the whole squad.

In this return journey, everyone could see the importance of the other, no one was best at everything, they came to appreciate each other's strength and skills.

The journey was very hard not due to lack of skills but the weather, it was gloomy all day, no sunlight could be seen for half a month in the wilderness, they also gained more experience than they could ever get, their skills improved a lot, Dorci now could communicate with nature, she could understand most insects and animals.

They tried to change diet as the moved, while Jender provided meat, Dorci could seek for edible vegetables and fruits, this managed to provide the squad, with all the essentials that the body needed.

They have ran into multiple beasts in this whole month, still one day almost became a tragedy to them.

They came across a komodo lizard, it was not just massive but it's strength was eminence, it wrecked havoc whenever it passes, it was coming directly on their way, going around it might have taken maybe a week or two, they surely didn't have that at hand.

They decided to take it down so as to lighten their load of travel, a plan was drawn and right after finishing up they went into formation.

Joles knew the weaknesses of this subspecies of dragons, were their eyes and reverse scales on their back, so as each and everyone distracted the lizard's attention, each one should attack when the scales are directed to them.

Joles was positioned across the battle filed, he was the main distraction of the squad, Joles did not complain after laying his eyes on the giant and massive lizard.

"I'll go and be the best distraction, you have ever gotten in the entire universe" Joles said.

Everyone could see the shock he was in, as what he has read in books, and what he met today, was no more than an astonishing, this was absolutely, a new creature apart from the ones in books.

Joles went to the back of the squad, despite his barrier magic, he stood there looking at his squad members, getting into formation.

The battle began with a tremendous fireball spell, Joles had begun the distraction tactic. From a far the Komodo lizard did not falter, but before it gain it's momentum, Jender appeared behind it cutting its tail clean, these lizards are known for their dangerous tail attacks, when a komodo lizard attacks you with its tail it's either you have enough physique to withstand the blow or you have good armor luck does not count in the survival.

Marci landed a follow-up attack on its head, all the while Dorci could hear it cursing in anger as these insects dared to fight it, injury it was an insult in it's head.

Modez was standing the same place, where he stood before the battle, never moved a muscle, Dorci nocked her arrows on the bowstring, aiming at the lizard's eyes.

The lizard rumbling hisses were so loud as to distract many squad members Germin raised his shield and rammed into the lizard's body. The force from the collision sent the lizard ten steps back, two arrows went straight into its eyes blinding it.

Enraged as it was it started ramming into the trees, fireballs hit it's belly sending it another ten steps, without stopping Marci chopped it's legs, kicking it up. Before it could fall a sharp spike made of ice, appeared right down it's head, piercing it through dying on the spot freezing.

"Is it dead!," Joles asked while hiding behind a tree.

"It's dead already come on," Dorci replied.

The took it's skin and meat, deciding to rest at the nearby stream, Joles used water magic to remove the moisture from the skin and made a fire and dried the skin more while camping, the fire was so big, acting as both protection and drying the skin.

They roasted the meat on the camp fire, and everyone went to sleep after arranging the guarding duty, Modez was going first allowing others to rest, Joles too could not sleep so he said he will accompany Modez.

"What is it that you are thinking!, it makes you even loose a little focus at time?," Joles asked.

Modez was not into explaining the clan issues but he decided to soothe his friends heart.

"It's just some clan issues, but don't worry about them, it will be okay in no time," Modez answered.

Joles knew that Modez didn't want to explain things in details so he didn't pry no more.

The night was uneventful as it passed without any disturbance, as Modez and Joles went to sleep much later than the agreed time for the shift.

Waking up Marci and the Germin to take over the shift, but four of the woken up together, it was already approaching into sunrise.

Greeting each other Modez slopped down on one of the beasts skins and slept , so had Joles.

When the sun had risen everyone was awake, the journey continued as it was now a five days walk to reach their village.