The Edge of Survival

Chapter 11: The Edge of Survival

By the time Lucian and Elowen reached the hidden cave, the boy's face had gone deathly pale, and his body shook with uncontrollable tremors.

Every step seemed to send jolts of agony through him, yet he pressed on, his determination etched into his features.

Elowen trailed behind him, her expression a mix of confusion and growing concern.

She couldn't understand what was happening to him. She had watched him from the tree, marveling at how he rained arrows down on the beasts with deadly precision, never once coming close to their claws even she never noticed him until he chose to reveal himself after killing so many beasts and sending the rest packing with their tails tucked between their legs. And yet, as they had made their way back through the forest, she noticed his condition deteriorating rapidly.

His skin grew clammy, his breathing ragged, and the confident warrior who had saved her life now seemed on the verge of collapse.

"Are you alright?" Elowen asked for the third time, her voice tinged with worry.

Lucian shot her a wary glance, his eyes narrowing. "Stay back," he warned, his tone leaving no room for argument. Each time she tried to get closer, he rebuffed her with the same cold command, keeping her at least three feet away.

Elowen's heart pounded with uncertainty, but she obeyed, not wanting to provoke him further. She wasn't sure what he was dealing with, but the severity of his condition was becoming all too clear and she was unsure of how long he could continue on.

Finally, Lucian led them to a secluded cave, one so well-hidden that Elowen marveled at how he had even found it. The entrance was concealed behind thick underbrush, a narrow opening that would have been impossible to spot unless you knew exactly where to look.

She wondered how he managed to find something so hidden cause she herself was certain she could have passed this spot a hundred times without ever noticing it.

As they entered the cave, Lucian abruptly turned to face her, his eyes flashing with a sharp intensity. "Stay by the entrance," he ordered, his voice laced with warning. "And watch the door. Don't come any closer." His posture was threatening as he gave the warning unfortunately he looked far less threatening that he'd hoped in Elowen's eye with is figure in such corruption state.

Elowen still nodded though, sensing the gravity of his command. Without a word, she moved to the edge of the cave, keeping her distance as he had asked. She leaned against the cool stone wall, her gaze fixed on the darkened entrance. Despite her fear, she felt a strange sense of duty—she would do as he asked, protect him, which she attributed to her feeling of gratitude fir saving her life before.

Lucian watched her for a moment, ensuring she would follow his instructions. Satisfied that she posed no immediate threat, he retreated to the far end of the cave and collapsed into a cross-legged position. His hands fumbled for the bottle of Potion X tucked into his tunic, his fingers trembling as he brought it to his lips.

He had pushed himself too far this time. The poison that Old Man Asher had so graciously injected into his system was acting up, wreaking havoc on his insides. The antidote was the only thing that could save him, but as much as he would have loved to he couldn't take it outside the cave—it would have been a sucidal decision cause his body would be too weakened afterward, and the beasts outside wouldn't hesitate to tear him apart.

Lucian's hand shook as he uncorked the bottle and downed its contents in one swift motion. Almost immediately, a violent reaction surged through his body. His muscles seized up, and he let out a strangled cry, unable to suppress the pain any longer.

Elowen glanced over at him, her eyes wide with alarm as she watched his body contort in agony. She didn't move from her spot, but she couldn't tear her gaze away from the spectacle before her.

Lucian felt as if his insides were being torn apart, every cell in his body twisting and writhing under the effects of the potion. His vision blurred as waves of searing heat surged through his veins, burning away the poison that had been slowly killing him. It was a torture unlike anything he had ever experienced, and for a moment, he thought he might lose consciousness.

But then, just as quickly as the pain had come, a familiar yet strange sense of relief began to wash over him. The burning heat receded, leaving behind a revitalized strength that coursed through his body. His muscles, once weak and trembling, now felt firm and powerful, his senses sharpening to a razor's edge.

The excruciating agony was replaced by a blissful euphoria, and despite himself, Lucian felt a small smile tug at the corners of his lips.

This was a feeling he had felt several times before after taking the potion X , it was the ultimate jackpots of side effect, his body was becoming more healthier, faster and stronger during all this near death moments like a Phoenix rising from the ashes.

And his transformation was becoming more profound with each passing day and with every new potion of potion X he took,

Right now he was sure no mortal in lor could dare claim they had a more chiseled and firmer body that he did, although he dared not compare himself to Mythbounds his body was now something he who was once a overweight fatty could not help but be proud of.

Elowen continued to watch in stunned silence, her eyes widening as she noticed the color returning to Lucian's face, his skin no longer pale and sickly. Whatever was in that bottle, it seemed to have done its job—he looked almost...renewed.

Twenty minutes passed before Lucian finally opened his eyes and took a deep breath, expelling a long-held tension from his body. He slowly got to his feet, steadying himself as he adjusted to the newfound strength coursing through his limbs.

Seeing him stand, Elowen couldn't hold back her question any longer. "What was that? Are you feeling better now?" she asked, her voice tinged with both relief and curiosity.

Lucian flashed her a brief smile, his eyes regaining some of their former warmth.

"Yeah," he replied, nodding. "I'm fine now."

Elowen exhaled deeply, her worry easing as she watched him regain his composure. Whatever trials he had endured, it was clear that he was a survivor, someone who could face death and come out on the other side stronger.

Still, as she looked at him, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was much more to this boy than met the eye.