Thornspire (2)

The dire rat was dead, but Seth struggled to comprehend the sheer magnitude of his luck. That is, until the putrid stench of the creature's blood on his face reached his nostrils.

Gagging, he recoiled from the foul odor before doubling over and emptying the contents of his stomach. The reality of what had just happened hit him like a wave- he had survived, but only by the slimmest margin. The thought of how close he had come to death sent a shiver down his spine.

 "The dire rat was supposed to be a simple beast… but I nearly died," he muttered, his voice grimy with exhaustion. It was a sobering thought, especially considering he had only just entered the forest.

Shaking off the grim thoughts, Seth glanced down at his trembling palm.

'Good thing I mastered that spell,' he mused.

[Umbra: Repel] was a low-rank spell he had spent the final days before the trials perfecting. Unlike his peers, who had focused on mastering an elemental spell or two, Seth had taken a different approach, dedicating himself to a basic utility spell accessible to all affinities.

His reasoning had been simple- rather than following the same path as everyone else, he had chosen a different approach. Given how little was known about darkness magic, Seth needed something he could learn and master quickly while still being practical in combat.

Reflecting on his near-deadly encounter, he realized just how much he was lacking. Most of his weaknesses stemmed from his physical limitations- something he had no control over due to his frail body. However, what frustrated him the most was his inefficiency under pressure. Of course, considering this was his first real battle against a beast, it was only natural.

Wasting no time, he quickly retrieved the arrows he had fired before fleeing the scene. He didn't need to be an expert to know that the scent of blood would attract unwanted attention- something that could easily prove fatal.

As he ran through the wilderness, Seth navigated the dense forest with relative ease, his instincts sharpened by adrenaline. He kept an arrow nocked, ready to fire at a moment's notice.

Once he judged that he had put enough distance between himself and the scene, Seth finally stopped to catch his breath. He wasn't exactly built for physical exertion.

'I wonder where Emily is…' he thought, still panting from his run. The disorienting sensation lingered, leaving him without any sense of direction- not that it would have helped in this situation.

The real problem was that if he didn't find her soon, things could turn dire. Neither of them had expected to be separated so abruptly, and most of their supplies were with Emily. What had once seemed like a minor inconvenience was quickly becoming a serious issue- he was already parched from fighting and running, and hunger would follow soon enough.

Finally regaining his breath, he picked a random direction and started walking, hoping for the best.

*****

Several hours had passed since Seth entered the Thornspire Forest, and in that short time, he had come closer to death than ever before.

As Sir Vince had mentioned, most of the truly overwhelming creatures in the trial area had already been dealt with. Seth had noticed that the variety of creatures in the forest seemed limited- all the ones he had encountered so far were dire rats. However, he knew there were other beasts lurking in the depths, their distant cries forming a chaotic symphony that echoed through the trees.

That didn't make things any easier. If anything, it only meant that people like him wouldn't die too quickly. At least, that was what he thought- until he stumbled upon a pack of dire rats. Five of them.

Fortunately, Seth spotted them first and immediately took precautions. He couldn't afford to flee too quickly; any sudden movement or sound would draw their attention. Dire rats had excellent hearing, and one wrong step could spell disaster.

But it wasn't their numbers that filled him with dread- it was what they were doing.

The creatures were feasting on something. No, someone.

The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. Seth stared in horror as the beasts devoured the remains of an unfortunate trainee, their sharp teeth tearing into flesh with sickening ease. Some dragged severed limbs away, as if unwilling to share their spoils.

Slowly, he began to back away, careful not to make a sound. He even held his breath, terrified that the slightest noise might alert them. Fortunately, the thick, metallic stench of blood seemed to mask his presence, dulling the creatures' senses.

Once he was far enough, Seth didn't hesitate. He turned and ran with everything he had. Compared to others, he might have been slow- but right now, none of that mattered.

He was terrified, hungry, and exhausted.

And judging by the dimming sunlight filtering through the dense canopy, nightfall was approaching fast.

He needed to find shelter- now.

Sitting in a small clearing he had stumbled upon after his failed attempt to find shelter, Seth huddled close to the campfire he had built not long ago. With how little sunlight penetrated the forest, it was no surprise that the temperature leaned toward the colder side. But the subtle daytime chill was nothing compared to the biting cold of night.

To make matters worse, Seth was half-reptilian. He wasn't entirely cold-blooded, but just enough that his tolerance for low temperatures was noticeably weaker.

So, despite knowing it might attract unwanted attention, he had made a fire.

If some dreadful creature found and devoured him, so be it- but freezing to death? That was too pathetic, even for him.

Basking in the warm bliss of the bonfire, Seth gazed up at the cloudy sky, where the two moons barely peeked through the thick veil above.

He wasn't in great shape, and the days ahead looked anything but promising. Yet, despite everything, a flicker of pride stirred within him. Against all odds, he was going to survive his first day in this dreadful place- something most had believed impossible.

'If only I could find Emily…' he thought, a hint of worry glimmering in his eyes.

Lost in his thoughts, he failed to notice the figure creeping up behind him- until it reached for him.