Chapter 21. Defeat

Arthur continued methodically hunting down small groups of gnolls, setting up ambushes, and quickly disappearing into the dense forest. Each skirmish added to his experience, helping him better understand gnoll behavior and refine his tactics.

But luck never lasts forever.

One day, when Arthur decided to check one of his usual routes, he walked straight into a trap. He was moving along a familiar path where he had set up ambushes before, but this time, something was different. The moment he reached the middle of a narrow valley, the bushes and trees around him rustled, and gnolls began emerging from the shadows.

There were too many of them—several dozen. They surrounded him in a tight circle, cutting off all escape routes. The gnolls snarled and bared their teeth, their yellow eyes burning with hatred. Some carried spears, others wielded clubs studded with spikes.

"Damn it," Arthur thought, realizing his mistake. The gnolls must have noticed his actions and had started coordinating to put an end to him once and for all.

The first attack came unexpectedly. A gnoll hurled a spear at him, and Arthur barely managed to deflect it with his sword. His body quickly became covered in protective bark, shielding him from the attacks, but the enemies pressed forward.

One gnoll lunged at him with a club, but Arthur countered with a magic-enhanced punch, sending his attacker flying. Two more came at him from behind, but their strikes were absorbed by his bark armor—though not without difficulty.

Spears and clubs rained down on him from all sides. His defensive spell was pushed to its limits, and Arthur could feel his spiritual energy rapidly depleting. The gnolls were not only numerous but also organized. Some distracted him while others attacked from the flanks.

Arthur tried using his traps, but in such a large crowd, they were nearly useless. He couldn't strike multiple enemies at once, and there were just too many of them.

"I need an offensive spell," he thought, deflecting another club strike. "I only have defensive and support magic—that's not enough. I can't fight off this many enemies."

Arthur began to realize that his energy was running out. His spiritual reserves were draining faster than he could afford. Every movement became heavier.

Then he made a decision. Instead of continuing a futile fight, he searched for an escape route.

Casting a spell, Arthur struck the ground hard, causing roots to rise and momentarily entangle the gnolls.

Seizing the opportunity, he ran.

The gnolls didn't give up. They chased after him, hurling spears and roaring loudly. Arthur felt one of the spears graze his side, but he didn't stop. His only goal was to reach the border between his spiritual domain and the gnolls' territory.

After a tense chase, he finally crossed the boundary. The gnolls halted, unwilling to step onto his land. They growled and waved their weapons but did not pursue him further.

Once in safety, Arthur collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air. His body was exhausted, and his spiritual energy was nearly depleted. He closed his eyes, trying to calm himself and process what had happened.

This had been the toughest challenge of his life. He had come dangerously close to death, and only luck had saved him.

"I'm too weak," he whispered to himself. "I can't let this happen again. I need more power. I need to learn offensive magic."

Arthur understood that his current arsenal was insufficient. Defense and support were useful, but without the ability to inflict serious damage, he remained vulnerable.

Once his breathing steadied, he got to his feet. He looked over his spiritual domain, where he felt safe. He now knew that the gnolls wouldn't leave their territory, but that didn't solve the problem.

"I have to grow stronger," he thought. "And to do that, I need to master offensive magic. Without it, I won't survive."

Arthur made up his mind. He would start searching for spells that could help him fight his enemies. He knew it would take time, but there was no other choice.

The next day, despite his exhaustion and the lingering sense of vulnerability, Arthur went to the magical model market to find a spell that could help him in the future. Wandering among merchants and displays, he carefully studied the descriptions of various magical models. His main goal was to find a spell that could effectively counter groups of enemies like the gnolls.

Two spells caught his attention.

The first was called "Stone Spike Veil." This spell summoned several massive spikes from the ground, capable of striking enemies at close range. It was powerful and versatile—it could be used both for attack and as a defensive barrier.

The merchant explained that the spikes emerged at high speed and could pierce even armor. This made the spell extremely useful against groups of enemies, as it could strike multiple targets at once.

However, the spell had a major drawback. It consumed a lot of spiritual energy, and its effectiveness depended on the density of the ground. In sand or loose soil, the spikes would be weaker and less sharp.

The cost of the spell was 70 points, making it expensive for a poor magic apprentice like Arthur.

The second spell he considered was "Magic Bullet." It allowed the user to concentrate magical energy into a sphere that shot forward at high speed, striking enemies.

"Magic Bullet" was simple yet highly effective. It required little energy and could be used at long range. Additionally, the bullets could be infused with different magical elements, adding variety and flexibility in combat.

The merchant noted that this spell was ideal for precision attacks and eliminating single targets, but it was less effective against large groups.

The price of the model was 50 points—more affordable than "Stone Spike Veil," but still more than Arthur had.

Arthur sighed, checking his magical ledger. After receiving a reward for advancing to First-Level Magic Apprentice, he had 50 points. But over the past weeks, he had spent some on transformation magic. Now, he had only 35 points left.

"Well," he muttered to himself, "as much as I want one of these spells, I just don't have enough points."

Arthur pondered his options. He needed to find a way to earn the missing points.

The merchant, noticing Arthur's disappointment, offered a suggestion:

"If you're short on points, kid, there are a few ways to earn them. You can take on academy quests. Or conduct some research and present it to the Council."

Arthur nodded in thanks and left, deep in thought. The first option seemed too time-consuming. The second one felt even less realistic.

Back in his room, Arthur wrote down his ideas. He knew that conducting research would take time and effort, but it was the only viable way for him to earn the missing points.

"I have no choice," he told himself. "If I want to survive and move forward, I need to be stronger. And for that, I must get one of these spells."

After much deliberation, Arthur realized that his quickest option was to ask for help from someone he trusted. The first person that came to mind was Anya. They had known each other for a while, and he was sure she trusted him.

He opened his magical ledger and found her name in his friends list. For a few moments, he hesitated, unsure how to start the conversation. Finally, he typed a short message:

"Hey, Anya. Can we meet? I need your help."

The reply came almost instantly:

"Hey! Of course. Where and when?"

Arthur suggested meeting in the park near the academy, where they sometimes went to talk and relax.

Meeting in the Park

When he arrived, Anya was already waiting, sitting on a bench beneath a large tree. Her bright red hair shimmered in the evening sunlight, and her eyes held a warm, friendly glow.

"Hey, Arthur! What's up?" she asked as he approached.

Arthur sat beside her, slightly hesitant.

"Sorry to bother you… I just have a problem. I need points to buy a new spell. I was hoping you could lend me some."

Anya looked surprised but quickly smiled.

"Of course, I'll help. How much do you need?"

Arthur hesitated, then said:

"I have 35 points, but the spell costs 50. I need 15 more."

Anya thought for a moment before nodding.

"I have 25 points. I can lend you all of it."

"You're serious?" Arthur asked, surprised and grateful.

"Of course! You'd do the same for me, right?"

Arthur nodded, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders.

"Thank you, Anya. I promise I'll pay you back."

"Don't worry about it. Just make sure you get stronger!"

Using their magical cards, Anya transferred 25 points to Arthur. He now had 60 points—enough to purchase the "Magic Bullet" spell and even have some left over.

"Now I can definitely buy the spell," he said with relief.

"Great!" Anya replied. "If you need help learning it, just let me know."

"I definitely will. And thanks again. You really helped me out."

"It's no problem. Just remember—if something doesn't work out, you can always count on me," Anya said warmly.