Chapter 14 - Initiation

Shez leaned against the pillar, arms crossed. He had awoken early for their mission, eager for a good first impression for their new employers. His mother had drilled manners and proper speech into him, telling him that he would never get anywhere in life speaking like a country hick. For better or worse, people judge you on little things like that, and a commoner like him needed every advantage he could get. Some of his comrades asked if he was some runway son of a merchant or a noble's bastard. He laughed and merely told them his ma raised him right. So, he was the first of their detachment to arrive, his back planted on the stable wall.

They had been given a mission briefing by Seteth the day before, so he knew how many people there would be. The mission would be led by Seteth, with Lucas and Shez being their main fighters. Three knights of Seiros, Ser Tyler, Ser Waymar, and Lady Kayla would be accompanying them, acting as rear guard and extra muscle if needed. While it was a test for Shez and Lucas, it was a mission, nonetheless.

"Been waiting long?" Lucas said. Shez jumped. He looked up to see a tired looking Lucas with a weak grin. It was unnerving how Lucas managed to sneak up on people, even without meaning to.

"J-just trying to think about what it could be." Shez said. "I'm hoping they're just bandits. Most of the time, it's always bandits."

Lucas snorted. "That sentence doesn't make sense. That's like saying sixty percent of the time it works every time."

Shez rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean. Still though, if the bodies were screwed up, it's looking more like a monster. And if it's not leaving survivors, that means it needs to eat. Meaning it's big."

"Or it has cubs to feed. Or both." Lucas pointed out. Then, Lucas turned his attention to the hall, where Shez noticed the tell-tale sound of steel plates bouncing. A minute later, Seteth arrived at the stable, flanked by the three knights of Seiros. His expression was stern but to the point of severe. He had an air of confidence and gazed at the two mercenaries before him. He noted their state of readiness and approved.

"Good morning. I am pleased to see you prepared and present. I take it you are ready to depart?" Shez nodded, while Lucas took a moment to think, and noticed the lack of a wagon.

"I believe we are Ser Seteth. Are we bringing a supply train or wagon?"

"Seteth will suffice. While I am the Archbishop' aid, I hold no formal title." He responded. "And no, we are rendezvousing with a scout in a Village along the road. We will use that as a base of operations. Supplies will be waiting for us there; a wagon will only slow us down."

"I think I get it. Faster we move, the less likely our target will ambush us on the road." Shez deduced.

Lucas nodded. "Nothing worse than going from hunter to hunted I suppose."

Seteth gave a small smirk. "Well said. If there is nothing else, we should depart. While I am loath to miss the mock battle, I wll not allow innocent lives to remain in danger. Remember, while this may be a test for you two, lives are at stake."

Shez nodded, a determined look on his face. "We understand Seteth. We aren't strangers to high stakes. Saved people from bandits and monsters before, we aren't amateurs. We won't let you all down."

Seteth gave a stiff nod, and the party mounted their horses. Seteth and Kayla mounted their own winged mounts. Seteth on a fearsome brown Wyvern and Kayla on her gray Pegasus. It would be the first time Lucas and Shez fought alongside flying units. "While this is meant to be an examination of your skills, I must stress the importance of accomplishing this mission. Innocent lives are on the line, as well as the Knights of Seiros's reputation. I do not doubt your combat capabilities, but it takes more than skilled blade to join the knights." He warned, allowing his Wyvern to shoot up into the sky, with Kayla following. Now that Seteth was gone, Lucas's stern expression faded to one of unease. It worried Shez, who rarely saw his brother in arms look so down. The two knights pulled alongside them.

"Don't let Seteth intimidate you. If the Blade Breaker is vouching for you, I'm sure you won't have much to worry about." The knight, Tyler said to Lucas. He wielded a hefty axe and wore large heavy armor. While Shez could not see his face, he imagined a genial smile. Lucas looked at the knight before smiling.

"I appreciate the sentiment. But something else is bugging me, not anything to do with the mission I promise." He assured him.

"It better not." Waymar said, in a condescending voice, hand resting on the pommel of his sword. "We are the knights of Seiros, not a daycare. Keep your focus on the mission, if you can't do that, stay behind, and leave it to us." Shez frowned, wanting to tell the knight off. Lucas put a hand on Shez's shoulder. Waymar gave Shez a mocking grin, before trotting out the gate. He gave a nod to the gatekeeper who saluted the knight with a bright smile.

Tyler for his part rubbed the back of his helmet, slumping slightly. "Don't mind Waymar. He's a good man, I swear. Well, a good man until you beat him at cards a few times. Then he's not"

Lucas huffed out a laugh. "I don't think I've met anyone who doesn't get pissy when they lose at cards. Makes him par for the course." Tyler let out a laugh, and Shez nodded in agreement.

Now that silence had fallen, Shez noted Lucas's appearance. He had slight bags under his eyes, his stubble was untrimmed. He seemed like his mind was elsewhere. His shirt had various stitches and rips, while his jacket was only in slightly better shape. He asked why Lucas hadn't gotten a new set of clothes weeks ago. Lucas just said it reminded him of home. To make things worse, it put Lucas in a poor mood. Not angry, just a perceptible air of sadness. He had known the man for months and had come to learn that these moods came and went. Sometimes he had a reason to be moping, other times, he could or would not explain why.

"You alright?" Shez asked. Lucas said nothing, looking at the front gate where their comrades got further ahead. Wordlessly, he nudged his horse, trotting off to join them. Shez signed, kicking his horse. While the knights would likely learn about his abysmal sense of direction at some point, he'd rather be put off.

Without much fanfare, their mission was underway.

The ride to meet their contact had been without incident and utterly boring. Seteth and Kayla kept to the skies, keeping watch for any bandits or more likely their quarry. Instead, it was the occasional trader or hunter, whom they questioned briefly. As their target was likely a monster of some kind, the questions were brief and to the point.

Lucas had to admit, when he worked as a mercenary, few people gave him the time of day. Even if he was trying to help them. Mercenaries were often looked upon with suspicion, as if they were all cutthroats looking for an excuse to kill and loot. With the knights, he experienced the power of legitimacy. Those they questioned on the road were not afraid, if anything they were relieved and cooperated fully, sharing even benign details to aid the knights.

Tyler continued to chat with them, regaling them with stories of what life was like as a knight. He also told them how sure he was they would succeed. It was flattery and a blatant attempt to give them confidence. It wasn't necessary for Lucas, but he had to admit it still felt good. It was, on the other hand, helpful for Shez. While a competent and skilled fighter, he was still a teenager getting his start in the world. Ego and confidence were tempestuous things at his age, rising and falling for irrational reasons.

The Oghma mountain receded from sight, and the dense forest and fog had taken its place. The fog became so thick, Seteth and Kayla were forced to land and rejoin their comrades on the ground. Out of an excess of caution, Lucas drew his sword and rested it on his lap. With visibility so low, an attacker would be very close by the time they realized something was wrong. The second it would take to draw his sword would prove fatal if they chose to attack Lucas first. Out of the corner of his eye, Waymar did the same, giving a slight nod of approval.

"Maybe he's not such a prick after all?" He said to Prometheus, who did not respond. Lucas sighed. He hadn't responded to him since the night Byleth had told him of Sothis. It was concerning, as Prometheus had become downright talkative since their arrival at Garreg Mach. He had a comment about nearly everything. Now, Prometheus was silent as the grave. Something was wrong, the alarm in Prometheus's voice that night confirmed it. Not to mention his nightmares had returned.

Seteth raised a hand, making the party stop in their tracks. His wyvern was a large and hulking beast, one that Luas estimated weighed over five hundred pounds. He would have loved to ride one, if not for his lack of rapport with animals. He had just gotten horse riding down, but he would never be able to fight on one. "The fog has grown denser. Normally such conditions would blind our foes as well, but I fear that will not be the case. If our quarry is a monster as we suspect, it may possess smell or hearing to compensate for these conditions." The atmosphere grew tense, as the image Seteth painted was a dark one. Lucas and Waymar had recognized the danger earlier, but now Tyler Shez and Kayla also grew wary.

"The trading post we are to meet our scout is close, we should get a move on. I'd rather be a sitting duck with backup and cover than out here." Lucas pointed out. Tyler unhooked his axe while Shez drew his sword and dagger. Kayla and Seteth held their spears tightly while their mounts huffed, sensing their rider's unease. "Seteth, can you or Kayla fly up and see if you can spot the outpost?"

Seteth hummed, looking upwards. "It appears the fog may be surface level. I shall look, one moment." Seteth whistled, and his Wyvern leaped into the air, wings beating furiously. Lucas shared a look with Shez, who sensed something was wrong. Lucas had learned to trust his instincts. Until magic became real to him, he had thought it mere psychology. Stories about people sensing arrows or attacks from behind mere exaggerations or products of anime. Now that he had been through the crucible, he knew that there were kernels of truth. The ruffle of sound, the air from a swing, all sorts of things could explain such phenomena.

A beating of wings caught their attention as Seteth returned, a dark look on his face. "I see smoke up ahead. Too much to be from a campfire. We must hurry." The party knew what that meant, their quarry had struck again. Seteth ordered Kayla to fly ahead, as her Pegasus was faster than his Wyvern. If their target was still there, they would be ready. If it was gone, they would investigate the area. Kayla wordlessly took off while Seteth focused his attention on Shez and Lucas. "Lucas, you are to partner with Waymar, Shez with Tyler. I shall join Kayla in the air. Stay together, and do not hesitate to retreat if necessary."

Lucas and his comrades began to march. Moving fast on their own would increase their chances of getting lost, so Seteth remained in sight as their guide. As they drew closer, the smell of burning wood and flesh filled Lucas's nostrils. The red flakes in his eyes glowed slightly, as he prepared for the worst.

The knights entered the trading post, which had seen better days. The main building had been smashed in, while several bodies were strewn about. Or rather, what was left of said bodies. Lucas did not allow his attention to linger on the bodies for long, the time to inspect the bodies would come after they secured the area. The smoke had been from a hunting lodge, the building was blackened by soot. Waymar stood next to him. "You hear or see it?"

"Not. But whatever did this, it's a predator. No doubt in my mind." Waymar responded, his voice grave. Waymar turned his attention to Tyler and Shez, who were inspecting the bodies. "They're dead, forget them! Focus on making sure we don't join them." He barked. Tyler jolted upright, while Shez leveled a glare at him. While Lucas didn't like his callousness, he agreed with the plan. He raised a hand at Shez, signaling him to let it go.

"Seteth, Kayla, see anything up there?" Lucas said, hoping his voice would not echo. If the creature was still in the area, it would notice. Kayla was the first to break through the low overcast layer. Her helmet blocked her expression, but Lucas could tell she was uneasy.

Kayla descended on her Pegasus, helmet transfixed a hole in the ground. Lucas noted her lack of response and followed her gaze. No, it was not a hole, he realized. It was a giant footprint. Lucas felt a chill go up his spine as he noted the footprint was as large as a horse. "I think we need backup." Kayla said seriously. "Kid, whatever this is, it is beyond whatever we thought. We need a whole friggen squad of knights." It was the first time she had spoken to him, and he noticed she had a drawl more in line with commoners than with nobility. Waymar grunted in agreement, unnerved by the size of the footprint.

Seteth descended next, following their gazes. The normally stoic man frowned, a look of apprehension on his face. He looked around the destroyed campsite, before his emerald eyes narrowed on a body. He marched over to a nearby body. This one was more intact than others. It was mangled, no doubt, but his white breastplate and tattered white clothes identified them as their scout. Seteth knelt next to the body, studying its wounds.

Lucas walked up to the body as well, taking in the wounds. It had taken a large bite out of the torso, the head, left arm, and left leg were missing. Based on the slenderness of the remains, Lucas figured it was a woman. "This our scout?" Lucas asked bluntly. Seteth nodded.

"Evandine. A branch member of house Galatea. She graduated from the Officers Academy four years ago. She was very competent, Shamir herself oversaw her training. 'She knows when to fight, and more importantly when to retreat', she said." He explained.

"Meaning whatever our quarry is, it didn't give her a chance to fight back." Lucas noted her sword was never drawn, while half of a bow was under her back. He also realized that her body was in an isolated spot, whereas the bulk of bodies was around the building. There were a few swords and spears laying around, but not enough for them all to be fighters. Caravan guards were used to smashing skulls and killing thieves, not full blow combat. Meaning… "It killed her first because it sensed she was the most dangerous in the camp. How would it…"

Seteth interjected. "She had a crest. A minor crest of Daphnel to be exact. More powerful monsters have targeted those with crests over other foes. I believe it is because their animal instincts warn them of the danger. That they feel the blessings of the Goddess at a primal level." Lucas raised an eyebrow at the information.

"Who here has a crest?" Lucas asked bluntly, wanting to know who was most at risk.

"Tyler and I do. Waymar did not inherit his family crest and Kayla is a commoner." Seteth answered, looking unfazed by the fact he was in the most danger. "On the subject, we should regroup with the others. No one should be alone, not now." Lucas rose and the Advisor and mercenary made their way to the rest of the party.

Shez sat in the ruins of what used to be an inn. Seteth had forbidden fire or cooking, meaning the group had to snack on dried jerky and cold provisions. None dared to complain, both due to his position and because he was right. Even the biting remarks of Waymar had ceased in the misery.

Shez glanced at a sleeping Lucas who tossed fitfully in his sleep. It was not the first time he had seen his friend stir, but tonight seemed worse. He never asked Lucas how his dreams were, or what they were about. But tonight, he was around strangers who noticed Lucas's unrest.

"Is he alright? Not going to cry out or anything I hope…" Tyler asked. Shez reckoned his concern for Lucas and fear of their quarry was about half and half.

"No, he's never made more than a grunt or whisper." Shez said, looking at his friend. He had met plenty of mercs with nightmares. Some had tortured minds over what they had done, others on what had been done to them. He didn't know which applied to Lucas.

Seteth and Tyler were on watch, while Lucas Kayla and Waymar slept. Seteth's expression was much softer than it had been earlier. "May I ask what happened to him?" Seteth asked. Shez stayed silent, opting to turn his attention back to the woods. The fog had lifted, but the new moon gave little light.

"Dunno… Never had the heart to push him for details. Jeralt and By know but I get the feeling that was because he didn't have a choice. He talks about his home, but I can't tell if it's gone, or he just can't go back."

"He is not from Fodlan, is he?" Seteth reasoned. Shez cocked an eyebrow at the advisor. "His accent is very subtle, different from our own. Not to mention his clothes do not look like any I have seen before." Shez shrugged, not knowing the answer.

Tyler let out a small grunt. "Another outsider to become a knight… wonderful." Seteth's glare came back, fixed solely on Tyler. It seemed the friendly knight wasn't so friendly with foreigners.

"Just… don't mention it to him. He gets into these moods, and I'm not Byleth. She's the only one that can get him out of his funks." Shez pleaded. Seteth gave a small nod of his head.

"I won't be so cruel to bring it up now. But I will speak to him when this mission is over. The knights are part of my responsibilities, which includes their mental health." He told the young man gently. Shez smiled at the advisor, thankful for his understanding. Shez liked the advisor, he reminded him of a less gruff Jeralt. Far kinder than his stern exterior would suggest.

Suddenly, Seteth jumped to his feet, his spear manifesting in a flash of light. Shez and Tyler flinched. Shez's surprise was short-lived when he heard a loud crunch. His blood ran cold, and his sword was raised in the direction of the noise. A hand was placed on his shoulder. He turned his attention to Tyler who had a finger over his lips. He motioned to their sleeping comrades and pointed his fingers upwards. Shez looked over at Seteth who kept his gaze in the woods. Seteth waved his hand at their sleeping comrades, granting them the impetus to wake them.

Shez approached Kayla and Waymar who were huddled close. He grabbed Kayla's shoulders and shook gently. She wore armor which would make noise if shaken too hard. She made a few grunts before her eyes opened. She gave Shez a glare and opened her mouth to protest, only for Shez to cover it. He gave her a pleading look, motioning to the alert Seteth. Kayla tried to slap the hand away only to freeze as her mind processed what he was trying to tell her. Shez released her mouth and went to wake up Waymar, only for a yelp and loud thud to stop him dead in his tracks.

He was exhausted. He sat back against a wall, hand resting on his raised leg. Snow fell gently from the sky, giving the urban ruin an even bleaker look. His lungs burned and muscles ached. He put a hand tentatively on an open wound, which was still bleeding. He reached into his pocket and drew what appeared to be a cylindrical tube. He squeezed the wound shut and ran the bottom of the tube over, pressing a button at the top. He ignored the searing pain and kept dragging it along his severed flesh. Finally, he pulled the cylinder away, assessing his wound. It was now sealed, though the skin was red and irritated. A communicator crackled.

"Status report" the rough voice demanded. He let out an annoyed scoff.

"I got a hole in my side, half the squad is dead, and I've got a dozen Risen on my tail. Not to mention the one I'm really worried about." He raised his hand in a 'what can you do' motion. "I'm doing alright, how about you?" he asked, a wry grin on his face. Not that anyone could tell, helmet and all.

His superior did not appreciate the sass or sarcasm. He was a no-nonsense commander. And not the 'get things done' or 'results are all that matter' kind they could stomach. No, he judged a good soldier on if his uniform was straight and spotless. A moron, they thought. And the nimrod had done nothing but prove him right over the past few hours. Rigid orders, unable to understand just how bad their situation really was. "Cut the crap Prometheus. Secure the package and meet at the rendezvous." Prometheus shook his head.

"Negative, can't risk it. I've sent what's left of the squad ahead of me to the rendezvous, I'm going to deal with the Risen. They were gaining on us; I didn't want to risk damaging our transport." He could tell the officer was about to try to pull rank, berate him, or something equally unhelpful, so he shut off the communicator. He would be chewed out by someone for that later. In the long run, it would be yet another note in his file that would do little harm. He delivered results and few could argue that. Not to mention his name was famous and notorious among friends and enemies alike, the one dubbed the Hero of…

A roar echoed in the distance. "It sounds like she lost her temper". Prometheus laughed, the pain in his side dulling from a pulse of magic. He had to deal with the Risen now. He could hide from her all day and his team was far enough to make it to the rendezvous. If he left the Risen alive, they could find his squad and lead her right to them. He drew his sword, Sever. The red blade glowed slightly as he channeled magic into the blade, preparing for the fight. He shifted to the top of a building, gazing down at his foes. Dozen had been an exaggeration, there were only eight, though Prometheus suspected more were nearby. Prometheus walked forwards, right off the building. As he gained speed, he shifted behind one of the Risen. His fall transformed into a horizontal slide. He swung the magic infused blade, bisecting the creature in two. The rest of the pack turned at the disturbance, but Prometheus didn't give them time to react. He leaped forward into the back of another Risen, driving his sword into one's neck. The white creature let out a growl, the wound more superficial than deadly. Prometheus grunted, twisting his body around the Risen's own dragging his sword with him, severing head from body. The remaining Risen backed up, gauging their new foe. Prometheus allowed the Risen to slump to the ground, standing atop their packmate's corpse.

Prometheus twirled his sword, studying his enemies. Their bodies were made of bone white chitin over a vaguely humanoid frame. Their lipless mouths filled with large teeth, making them appear to be perpetually grinning. Two of them had swordlike appendages whereas the rest had simple claws. Most Risen were about a foot taller than a normal person and possessed surprising cunning. Not unsurprising considering what they used to be. Prometheus was in no rush, after all, he was bait. He cocked back his sword, ready for a fight. The Risen snarled and charged him. Prometheus grinned beneath his helm, eager for the fight. His wound still ached, but the pain was dulled by his adrenaline.

He remembered being afraid of the Risen once. He remembered when he was afraid of battle. When he was their prey. Now he was the hunter. He learned to love the thrill of battle. He jumped forward, sword brimming with magic. He swung, knowing he would take them out in a single strike.

Lucas felt danger, the presence of a dangerous enemy. His eyes shot open, and he saw a dark figure reaching out. He kicked the figure, who gasped and stumbled backwards. Lucas got to his knees and blindly grasped for a sword that was not there. Lucas blinked a few times and saw it was not the white monsters from his dream, but Tyler.

Lucas looked around. Seteth was forced to turn his gaze from the creature and onto Lucas. Seteth's eyes widened in alarm. Finally, Lucas blinked and turned his attention to Tyler whose face was grimacing while he rubbed where he had kicked him. A roar in the distance made the building shake. Waymar leapt out of his cot, looking around in a panic.

He tried to process what just happened. It was far more vived than his normal dreams. On top of that, he was wearing what looked like Prometheus's armor, and the man over the radio called him by his companion's name.

"Lucas, focus! You've got a big fucker coming!" Prometheus yelled, dragging Lucas out of his thoughts. It was the first time he had heard from the man in days. Another roar came, accompanied by the sound of falling trees. Lucas turned his attention, seeing a huge blur getting bigger. Lucas turned his attention back to Tyler, still trying to catch his breath. Lucas extended his hand, which Tyler took with a grunt.

"The element of surprise, it appears, has been lost. It's coming, get into the clearing!" Seteth ordered. The knights and mercenaries rushed into the clearing, ready to for a fight.

Thunderous groans and stomps rang through the forest as trees were trampled and knocked over. The lack of natural light was a problem for the others, but not for Seteth. He whistled to his Wyvern and mounted his beast alongside Kayla. Tyler readied his axe and Waymar and Shez drew their blades. Then, silence. It was like it was stopped in its tracks and died of a heart attack. Lucas preferred the noise, it meant that they had an idea of where the quarry was. "Seteth!" He called out. "Tell me you have eyes on it!"

"It has camouflage! It changed color and is circling around the camp. It looks like it is moving towards our rear!" Lucas cursed; the monster was smarter than they thought. But as smart as it was, it didn't understand words, which meant they could speak freely.

"I'm going to stay in the back and use myself as bait." Lucas began to back up.

"Kayla or I would be the better choice, we would be faster than you." Seteth argued. Normally he would be correct, but not today. When he woke up, he noticed a familiar feeling. Magic was flowing through Lucas again, like liquid fire in his veins. Lucas grinned at Seteth, eyes glowing. He did not smile back, instead unnerved by his grin. It was not a charming grin; it was wolfish and predatory.

Lucas kept stepping backwards until he was far enough from the others. And he waited. Despite the camouflage, Seteth kept track of the creature, updating the others to its position. Fighting in the clearing was safer than the forest, they could keep track of each other. It was getting closer to Lucas, ready to strike. If he waited too long to shift out of the way, he would be eaten. He could shift out of the beast's mouth or stomach. That would only be a last resort, and it relied on it swallowing him whole. Lucas channeled that magic into his sword, just as Prometheus had done in the dream. Lucas shifted behind it, watching it barrel into the building they had been resting in. The others surrounded the creature and began the plan they had agreed upon.

They only had an inkling as to how large it was and agreed the priority would be limiting its mobility. That meant attacking its legs and ankles, or wings if it possessed them. When Seteth mentioned it had camouflage, he figured it must have been something akin to a chameleon. Now Lucas saw that it was exactly that, save for the horns and fangs which gleamed a disgusting yellow. Its skin looked tough and it's color was a dark green, nearly black, matching the forest.

Seteth moved first, his Wyvern diving at the Chameleon's rear leg, driving his spear into one of its rear haunches. It let out a cry of pain before raising a claw to swat Seteth away. But the Wyvern was faster, using its legs to push off the Chameleon, avoiding the attack. While it was distracted, Kayla dove downwards driving her own spear into another of its legs. Now both rear legs were disabled, but the front claws were still a threat.

The Chameleon swatted its tail at Kayla, striking her Pegasus. The two went flying into nearby trees, her Pegasus yelping and Kayla crying out in pain. Waymar unslung his bow, knocking an arrow and firing. The arrow did not prove effective, eliciting not even a flinch from the creature. Waymar cursed, stowing his bow, and drawing his longsword. Tyler circled around looking for an opening.

"Lucas, I'm going to distract it!" Shez called out. Lucas nodded, already deciding on what he would attack. Shez ran at it, calling out. The monster raised a claw into the air, ready to turn Shez into a wet stain. Lucas shifted on top of its head, grabbing onto its horn for leverage. The monster let out a cry, as both eyes were now fixed on him. He raised his sword and drove it into the monster's right eye, further crippling it. The monster roared in pain, flesh sizzling and the familiar stench of burning flesh filled Lucas's veins. Lucas drew his sword out, shifting again to safety below Seteth.

The monster turned its one-eyed gaze to Lucas and Seteth. The monster, driven either by instinct or anger, completely neglected Tyler, who with a great and silent heave drove his axe deep into its tail. The monster roared again and tried to recoil its tail. But Tyler's strike had done enough damage, its nervousness and muscle control in his tail were damaged. Tyler backed up, bracing himself for its revenge. Instead, it leaped forwards into Seteth and Lucas. Lucas was about to shift when Seteth called out to him. His wyvern grabbed Lucas by his shoulders and carried him away from the attack. The monster, carried by momentum, crashed into a tree.

The knights all pulled back to catch their breath. Something their quarry also needed. It was worn down, crippled, and blinded in one eye. Even if it escaped, it would not get far. Its wounds were bleeding profusely, its earlier charge had been reliant purely upon its front claws, its rear legs dragging on the ground. Save for Kayla, the plan had gone well.

The monster picked itself back up and turned to the knights. Then, the color of its scales began to shift to a bright white. Was it losing control of its camouflage? But then the white became brighter. And brighter.

"Lucas, close your eyes!" Prometheus cried. Lucas took his advice and closed his eyes. The other knights cried out, but Lucas kept his shut. Even through shut eyes, he could see the bright light the monster emitted. A moment later, the light faded, and Lucas opened his eyes to see its raised claw bearing down on Waymar. Seteth called out and his Wyvern shot forward like a cannonball.

Lucas's instincts guided him, his magic had turned from a steady flow into a torrent. His sword thrummed his magic, forming a phantom blade, extending nearly twice the length of his sword. Lucas shifted above the giant Chameleon's claw and swung.

Shez rubbed his eyes, trying to regain his vision. The light was utterly disorienting and Shez's heart nearly stopped when he heard Seteth's cry. Then, the all too familiar sound of flesh being cleaved. Then, a loud thud followed by that giant lizards' roar. Shez growled, he needed to know what was happening, that didn't sound like a death cry. The battle wasn't over yet!

Finally, his vision returned. Before him was the monster thrashing in yet more pain. And its severed claw laid next to a bewildered Waymar, cut clean. Then he saw Lucas, panting heavily, his hair loose and covering his face. His sword was in a dismal state. For a moment, Shez wondered when Lucas had time to visit a blacksmith. The sword looked like it had been dipped in molten metal and dragged out. The edge was nonexistent and was glowing a cool amber.

The monster raised his remaining claw and attempted to crush Lucas. Instead of teleporting away, Lucas threw himself to the side. Shez rushed the monster, throwing his dagger into its already ruined eye. The Chameleon only grunted. With little warning, it backhanded the approaching Shez, sending him flying.

Shez slammed against the tree, gasping for air. Probably broke my ribs Shez thought. He tried to keep his eyes open, only to have darkness overtake him.

Was this it? Would all his dreams end here? He knew too many nameless mercs that suffered ignoble ends. Maybe he thought he was special enough to avoid that? Shez mocked himself. Why should he be any different from all those people?

"The cycle of this world… I will not allow it to perish with you." A young man's voice rang out.

Shez felt his broken bones heal, his flesh sealed, and a sudden burst of energy overtook him. He opened his eyes to see his allies trying to deal the final blow. It seemed their foe would not die easily.

Shez opened his left hand, summoning a sword with circuit-like details. It was time to pull his weight. He ran forward, moving at a speed so fast he was practically an orange flash. The monster was facing Lucas with its blind eye facing Shez. Meanwhile, Seteth was high in the sky, diving downwards, spear outstretched. Shez was upon it immediately and drove his new sword into its throat. It made a gurgle, only to go silent when Seteth drove his spear into its brain.

Finally, the monster went limp, collapsing onto the forest floor. Shez let go of his sword, which disappeared in a flash of light. He looked up to see Seteth wide eyed, staring at him.

Author's note

Nabateans have enhanced senses and are superhuman in strength, even in human form. Sothis literally made them powerful and superior to humanity. Seteth could see it from far out, even in poor lighting when the others couldn't.

I also hope I did Shez's awakening justice. Arval mentioned healing Shez from falling, wounds, and other normally life-threatening conditions. I decided to use him nearing death.

Also, Lucas gets a new ability!

I took a moment to look back at my older chapters and laughed at how short the earlier chapters are compared to this one. Now that a good number of people have started following the story, I'm going to do the longer chapters.

I might go back and combine the early chapters into one longer chapter, but that will be when the story is done or nearly done.

I'm going to take a break from action sequences for a bit, I don't want them to get old and lose their impact when it happens.