"Why are we given one tent to share again?" Kaedros asked with a yawn as he looked around the small enclosure.
Taria shifted beside him, still wrapped in a blanket. She squinted at him through one eye, then shut them again as the sunlight filtered into the tent. "They probably thought we were couples," she mumbled.
’..or they want to keep an eye on us..’ Kaedros thought, but he didn’t say it aloud. He shoved the tent flap aside and stepped out into the morning light. "The sun rose quickly today."
They hadn’t dared light a fire the previous night, monsters were too active in the dark, but now a fire crackled between stacked logs. Han, the broad-shouldered warrior, was turning meat over the flames. "I thought you wouldn’t wake up again, newbie. Long night?" he sneered.
Kaedros frowned. What was he talking about? Was he referring to their journey yesterday? He didn’t feel tired. "Rauk said we wouldn’t be moving until the sun came out anyway."
"Good morning, Kael," Rauk called from the far side of the camp, eating from a wooden plate piled with meat. Knight Vexa stood behind him, one hand on her sword.
"Good morning," Kaedros returned the greeting. Then, glancing at the figure behind him, he asked, "Are you tired from last night too?"
Taria froze mid-motion, and when everyone except Kael turned to her with knowing smirks or lifted brows, she flushed. "I’m just tired from all the walking!" she snapped, storming off to the bucket to wash her face. Seriously. Kael didn’t know how to talk sometimes, he could seem... innocent to her.
The White steel gathered around Han for their portion of meat, and Taria quickly collected hers.
"We’ll continue like yesterday. Minimal noise. Stay alert," said Thandor after breakfast. "We’re going deeper today, keep your senses sharp."
They gathered their belongings into one pile. Rauk swept his ring over the gear, and it all vanished into storage.
Their journey resumed. Thandor led, followed by Rauk’s group, with the White steel bringing up the rear.
"The forest is too quiet today," Taria murmured after about an hour, rubbing her hands together and glancing at the spear strapped to her back. "There should be bird calls or rustling... What do you think, Kael?"
Kaedros extended his awareness outward, scanning several paces in every direction. Smaller creatures were hiding. Even the air smelled strange. "You’re right. Something’s off."
"Knight Vexa," Kaedros said in a low voice. "The forest... something’s wrong. Do you feel it?"
The White steel closed ranks, hands near their weapons, eyes sharp.
Vexa’s hand gripped her sword tighter. Her eyes narrowed as she stepped closer to Rauk. "Too silent," she said, her voice flat.
"Oh, nothing to worry about," Thandor said with a casual wave. "We’re probably walking through a high-level monster’s territory."
Then something fast grazed Kaedros’ awareness. He reacted instantly, slamming into a surprised Taria and rolling them out of the way.
A projectile blurred past and shot directly at Rauk.
Kaedros saw it but didn’t make any moves, but Vexa was suddenly there. Her blade flashed invisibly, and the object split. One half thudded into the ground, a pace from its target.
Back when Kaedros had been a Dragon, he used to scoff at human Ascendants, especially ones like Vexa. But as a human, he could now appreciate her strength. He hadn’t even almost seen her move.
"What was that?!" Rauk barked, clearly shaken.
"Looks like part of a half-eaten monster," Thandor muttered, crouched by the thing.
"Something threw that. With terrifying speed." Kaedros helped Taria up. She winced where her spear had jabbed into her back but nodded that she was fine.
"Could it be another Ascendant team?" Taria asked.
"It doesn’t matter. That was an attack." Han drew his axe, muscles flexing. His team snapped into formation, surrounding Marr protectively.
"Relax," Thandor sighed. "It might not be another Ascendant team."
"But it could be a monster," Rauk added. "But I’ve never heard of monsters that could do such things before. Unless they’re at high rank."
Kaedros noted how composed Rauk seemed, which surprised him. He didn’t know much about the young Lord, but this calm was unexpected.
"We should still be cautious. We—"
A deep, guttural roar cut Thandor off, shaking the trees. It sounded like a monkey, only much larger was shouting at them.
"Prepare for battle!" Thandor snapped, teeth clenched.
Trees cracked in the distance as something massive advanced. The team tightened their ranks, weapons drawn, ready for a monster of unknown level to appear. And from the loud crashes they were hearing, it couldn’t be something good.
"Stay close," Kaedros whispered to Taria. "And stay out of everyone’s way. Don’t fight."
"But why?" she hissed. She had planned to prove herself on this raid, not cower in the back like she did in earlier battles.
"Because you’ll only get in the way. You’re not ready for this kind of fight yet."
Taria bit her lip. "And you? Are you fighting?"
Kaedros gave her a look like she’d lost her mind. "Why would I? A stage five, rank one like me is useless here."
She stared at him, stunned, but didn’t have time to reply.
The monster finally burst from the forest, and everyone stared, confused or amused.
Han let out a booming laugh, causing Taria to jump. The massive man stepped forward to examine the creature.
It was tiny. Barely up to Kaedros’ knees. It resembled an ape, covered in black fur, with two stubby horns on its head.
"So you’re the one who threw the monster corpse? Bad kid!" Han scolded.
The little creature opened its mouth and roared. The same deep bellow from before.
Everyone chuckled nervously. Relief swept through the camp as they realized that the monster is the one that scared them earlier.
Everyone, except Kaedros.
Something didn’t add up. That tiny thing couldn’t have devoured or thrown anything. The projectile had come from something big. It should have.
Suddenly, a severed monster leg blasted from the treeline.
It moved so fast no one had time to react, until it tore straight through Marr’s head.
Like a knife through water.