Crestfall: Darkness Unveiled

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Day 2

Arthur sat at the edge of their makeshift camp, sharpening his blade as dawn broke over the swampy forest. The air was cool and damp, and a faint mist still clung to the ground. He kept his gaze fixed ahead, his expression unreadable. Lyra was sprawled out near the fire, lazily poking at the embers, while Elowen knelt a short distance away, organizing her supplies.

As Elowen worked, she glanced up at Arthur, hesitating before speaking. "Arthur," she began softly, her voice almost hesitant, "are you… okay?"

He didn't look at her, his hands continuing their rhythmic movements with the whetstone. "Why wouldn't I be?" he replied curtly, the edge of defensiveness creeping into his tone.

Elowen didn't flinch. Instead, she smiled faintly. "You just seem… tense. More than usual."

Lyra snorted from her spot near the fire. "That's just his default mode, Elowen. Don't waste your breath."

Arthur's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond. Instead, he set his sword down with a deliberate movement and turned toward Elowen. "I don't need anyone worrying about me," he said, his tone clipped.

"I'm not worried," Elowen replied quickly, her voice soft but steady. "I just… noticed, that's all."

Arthur's eyes flicked to her, lingering for a moment longer than usual. Her sincerity once again caught him off guard, and he turned away abruptly, busying himself with his sword again.

Lyra smirked. "Careful, Elowen. If you're too nice to him, he might actually start acting human."

Arthur shot her a glare, but the sharp retort on his tongue died when Elowen let out a small laugh. "That's not such a bad thing," she said, glancing at Arthur again.

For a moment, Arthur said nothing, his shoulders tense as if weighing his response. Then, he sighed quietly and stood, his sword resting at his side. "We should move before more creatures show up," he muttered, his tone less harsh than usual.

Lyra blinked. "Wow, that almost sounded… polite." She grinned and pushed herself to her feet. "Guess miracles do happen."

Elowen didn't respond, but as she packed her supplies, she caught Arthur's gaze for the briefest moment. His expression softened—not much, but enough to show he wasn't entirely immune to her presence.

The group set off again, the morning sun filtering through the trees as they continued deeper into the forest. Though Arthur kept his distance, the cracks in his stoic facade were beginning to show, subtle but undeniable.

Arthur and Lyra searched the bushes within the dense forest. Food was running low, considering no enemies were near, they decided best to gather living supplies.

Lyra happily strolled around, picking unknown berries from the bushes. "These things are pretty juicy. I've never seen them before though." She held it up to her face.

"They're native to the forest." Arthur spoke softly.

Lyra turned, gazing at Arthur for a moment, her eyes trying to read him. "You really read up on this place, huh."

"I wasn't going to fall behind. We're winning this." Arthur didn't turn to look at Lyra, he simply continued to pick berries.

Arthur and Lyra's quiet task was interrupted by a sharp yelp from deeper in the trees. Both turned toward the sound, and Lyra dropped the berries in her hands.

"Elowen," Lyra said, her voice tense.

Arthur was already moving, his hand on his sword as he darted toward the sound, his usual calm stride replaced by something faster, more purposeful.

They broke through the undergrowth to find Elowen pressed against a tree, her staff raised shakily as a creature with jagged fur and glowing yellow eyes lunged at her. It was small, barely the size of a large dog, but its speed and snapping jaws were enough to paralyze her.

Arthur reached the scene first, his sword flashing as he closed the distance. His blade struck true, cutting the beast down in one clean, decisive strike. It crumpled to the ground with a final snarl, its body twitching before going still.

Elowen sank to her knees, her breathing ragged. Her hands trembled as she clutched her staff, wide eyes fixed on the now-dead creature.

"You're fine," Arthur said, his tone flat as he sheathed his sword. He crouched down beside her, his hand brushing the creature's corpse to ensure it wasn't playing dead. When he looked at Elowen, his gaze lingered for just a second longer than necessary, his brow furrowing.

"I-I'm sorry," Elowen stammered, clutching at her staff. "I didn't see it until—"

"Don't apologize," Arthur interrupted, his tone firm but not unkind. "Just… pay more attention next time."

Lyra arrived a second later, her breaths quick. "Elowen, you scared the hell out of me!" She knelt down and placed a hand on Elowen's shoulder. "You okay? That thing didn't get you, did it?"

Elowen shook her head, her hair sticking to her damp forehead. "No… no, I'm fine. Just startled."

"Good." Lyra let out a breath of relief before shooting Arthur a pointed look. "And you could try being a little gentler, you know."

Arthur didn't respond. He stood and glanced around, his shoulders tense as his eyes scanned the shadows of the forest. "Let's get moving. If there's one, there might be more."

Elowen let Lyra help her to her feet, her grip on her staff still tight. "Thank you," she said quietly, glancing up at Arthur.

Arthur gave a short nod, his expression unreadable as he turned and began walking back to their gathering spot. Lyra watched him go, her lips pressing into a thin line.

"He really knows how to make a girl feel appreciated," Lyra muttered under her breath before turning her attention back to Elowen. "Come on, let's catch up before he decides to bark orders again."

Elowen nodded and followed, though her eyes lingered on Arthur's retreating figure.

The group pressed on, leaving the scene of the attack behind. The forest grew darker as they moved deeper, the towering trees blocking out the sun. The sound of distant growls and snapping twigs kept them on edge, but Arthur led the way, his steps confident and deliberate.

Lyra trailed close behind, occasionally glancing at Elowen, who clutched her staff tightly. "I'm telling you," Lyra muttered, "this whole forest feels like it's out to get us. No wonder they stuck us in here for the midterm."

Arthur didn't respond, his eyes scanning the trees. He held up a hand, signaling for them to stop. "There's something ahead."

Elowen froze, her grip tightening on her staff. "What is it?"

"Another monster," Arthur said, his voice low. He pointed to a clearing up ahead where a massive, horned creature prowled through the brush. Its thick hide gleamed faintly in the dim light, and its claws tore at the ground as it sniffed the air.

"That thing looks tough," Lyra whispered, her eyes narrowing.

"It's a mid-tier beast. Should be worth decent points," Arthur said, unsheathing his sword. "Stay back. I'll handle this."

"Here we go again," Lyra muttered, stepping aside but keeping her hands ready to cast.

Arthur moved into the clearing, his sword glinting as he approached the creature. It let out a guttural growl and charged, its heavy body shaking the ground with every step. Arthur met its attack head-on, dodging its swiping claws and striking at its side. His movements were precise, each strike chipping away at the beast's defenses.

Lyra watched for a moment before stepping forward. "He's strong, but he's not invincible," she muttered, raising her hands.

"Wait," Elowen said suddenly, her voice trembling. "There's something else…"

Before Lyra could react, another monster—a smaller, faster one—leaped from the trees toward Arthur's back. Elowen's eyes widened, and without thinking, she stepped forward, her hands trembling as she raised her staff.

"Shield Barrier!" she shouted, the spell forming a shimmering barrier just in time to block the smaller beast's attack.

Arthur turned, his sword slicing through the creature as it rebounded off the shield. He looked at Elowen, his expression briefly unreadable, before turning back to the larger beast.

Lyra wasted no time, firing a burst of fire at the monster's legs, slowing it down just enough for Arthur to land the finishing blow. The beast let out a final roar before collapsing, its body hitting the ground with a heavy thud.

Arthur stood over the creature, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath. He turned back to Elowen, his eyes narrowing. "What were you doing?"

"I… I saw it coming," Elowen said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You could've been killed," Arthur said sharply.

"But I wasn't," Elowen replied, her voice steady despite the tremble in her hands.

Arthur stared at her, his mouth opening as if to argue, but then he stopped. His grip on his sword tightened before he sheathed it, his gaze shifting away. "Fine. Just… don't do anything reckless again."

Lyra raised an eyebrow, looking between the two. "Well, that's about as close to a thank-you as you're gonna get from him."

Arthur shot her a glare but said nothing, instead turning to inspect the fallen beast. Elowen watched him for a moment, her lips pressing together in a faint smile.

"Let's move," Arthur said, his tone quieter than usual. "We need to find another target before nightfall."

As they started forward, Lyra nudged Elowen. "You're braver than I thought."

Elowen didn't respond, but her grip on her staff loosened slightly. For the first time since they'd entered the forest, she felt like she had contributed something important.

The air grew heavier as the group ventured deeper into the forest, the towering trees now draped in a suffocating mist. The faint cries of unseen creatures echoed in the distance, setting all their nerves on edge. Even Arthur seemed tenser than usual, his grip on his sword firm as his eyes scanned their surroundings.

"Something's off," Lyra muttered, her voice unusually low. "The mana in the air feels… wrong."

Arthur nodded slightly. "It's thick. A stronger monster must be nearby."

Elowen's hand trembled as she clutched her staff. "Maybe we should—"

The ground shook violently, cutting her off. A massive shadow emerged from the mist, its presence so overwhelming that even the trees seemed to bow under its weight. A towering creature with jagged, rock-like scales and glowing crimson eyes stepped into view, its guttural growl reverberating through the air.

"That's… a high-tier monster," Lyra whispered, her face pale.

Arthur stepped forward, his usual stoicism replaced by a fierce determination. "Stay back. I'll handle this."

"No way!" Lyra snapped, summoning a crackle of electricity in her hands. "You can't take that thing on alone, and you know it!"

"I can," Arthur said coldly, not sparing her a glance. He charged forward, his sword glowing as he unleashed a powerful spell. "Blade Surge!" The attack struck the monster's chest, but it barely flinched, its scales absorbing most of the impact.

The beast roared and retaliated, swinging a massive claw that Arthur narrowly avoided. He danced around its attacks, landing strikes where he could, but the creature's sheer power and size began to overwhelm him.

Lyra gritted her teeth, raising her hands. "If you're going to be stubborn, fine! Thunderstorm Barrage!" Bolts of lightning rained down on the monster, forcing it to recoil for a moment.

Arthur glanced back at her, irritation flashing in his eyes. "I said stay back!"

"And I said no!" Lyra shot back, her voice fierce.

The monster roared again, slamming its tail into the ground. The force of the impact sent Arthur flying, his body crashing into a nearby tree with a sickening thud. His sword slipped from his grasp as he slumped to the ground, blood trickling down his forehead.

"Arthur!" Elowen screamed, rushing toward him despite the danger.

The monster moved to attack again, its massive claw swinging down toward Arthur. Lyra reacted instantly, her hands glowing as she shouted, "Lightning Shield!" A barrier of electricity formed just in time to block the strike, the impact sending sparks flying.

"Elowen, heal him! I'll hold this thing off!" Lyra yelled, stepping between Arthur and the monster.

Elowen dropped to her knees beside Arthur, her hands glowing as she cast a healing spell. "Mend and restore, Light's Embrace!"

Arthur groaned as the magic began to knit his wounds, his eyes fluttering open. He blinked up at Elowen, his expression unguarded for the first time. "You… saved me," he said, his voice quiet but sincere.

"Of course I did," Elowen said softly, her hands trembling as she continued the spell.

Lyra grunted as she unleashed another volley of lightning at the monster. "Can you two have your heartfelt moment after we're not about to die?"

Arthur slowly sat up, his strength returning. He looked at Lyra, his jaw tightening briefly before he spoke. "It was a good idea to step in."

Lyra paused mid-cast, her eyes widening slightly. She smirked, though her usual edge was softer. "Don't get used to it."

The monster roared again, clearly unfazed by their efforts. It lunged toward Lyra, its massive claws swiping through the air. Arthur forced himself to his feet, grabbing his sword and stepping forward.

"Elowen, stay back!" he commanded, his tone sharper but not dismissive.