Chapter 20 - One Week to Lillinberg (Day 5)

The new plan was much like the old plan. Find a dire deer, corner it with fire and kill it. It had worked well the first time, the lynchpin was just the killing blow. Ever the pragmatist, this was the element Clint decided to address. It was a simple theory; If time was the only possible way to limit Luna’s magical output, why not give her as little time as possible?

Luna leaned against a tree, lying in wait. Her part was simple, but even more crucial than before. At the last second, she was to leap out in the path of the charging monster and strike it down with a blast of magic. Not too dissimilar to their first attempt, but the stakes were raised; This time there were no second chances. She’d have mere moments to gather her mana and act. No incantations or preparation this time. It would come down to pure unbridled instinct.

She damned herself under her breath. This plan was far riskier than she would typically be comfortable with, but she was desperate to make up for her prior failure. “You wouldn’t have to do this if you didn’t mess it up the first time.” her inner voice chided.

In the distance she could hear the flames begin to roar, quickly joined by the stomping of hooves. She had to battle all her instincts to look. Visual stimuli could trigger an early reaction, the earlier the reaction the more time her mana would be flowing, the more mana flowing, the stronger the spell.

Luna closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She just had to wait for Clint’s signal.

So she waited.

And waited.

And the hoofsteps grew louder and closer, clattering like hail against the forest floor as they approached.

Her neck twitched, desperate to turn and see, but she held fast. She figured her lack of vision was making her paranoid, that’s all there was to it. The hooves came closer still, arrhythmic and fast. Its heavy breath could be heard now, laboured as it rushed to escape the rising wall of flame.

Luna took a deep breath of her own. A sense of calm washing over her. Though it was dangerous, a dire deer was a creature far weaker than many she had faced before. Next to the Hellhound or the Slime Queen, it would be nothing. Even if its mighty horns were to, goddess forbid, pierce her in her vital points, she was unlikely to die. She wasn’t so fragile, though that was easily forgotten when she was compared to her mighty brother.

Confidence began to build within her. After all, she was blessed with spellcasting prowess greater than most in the kingdom. Even with such a short amount of time, she’d easily be able to repel a simple charge from a basic monster. Hell, it wasn’t even going to be consciously attacking her, just mindlessly charging forward. That’d give her even more time. The creature would need a moment to react to her presence, slowing its charge. Yes. She’d have plenty of time.

It was right behind her. She could hear it. There were tiny thunderclaps every time the animal’s hooves collided with the ground. Its snorting and huffing was resonating in her ears. She could practically feel its breath on her neck. Still, she waited for Clint’s signal. She would sooner deny her own ears than jump the gun and spoil her only chance at redemption.

A moment passed. Hoofsteps grew louder.

Another moment. Louder still.

Her confidence began wavering, it seemed as if his voice would never come until…

“Now!”

The signal came. Luna leapt from her hiding spot, prepared to face the creature.

Sure enough, she was facing it. It was inches away from her and coming with momentum, horns directed straight at her gut, ready to gouge her stomach open. She had seconds, if not less to react. There was no time for thought, her mind worked fast but in the moment it was stunned. Only her body could be relied upon.

Electricity jolted through her nerves, forcing an unconscious reaction. Her mind wasn’t consulted, her brain only used as a means to dictate to her muscles what her instincts desired.

A strike. Not a spell. Her mana stayed static and untapped, as frozen as her mind was. Instead, her arm moved automatically. Her elbow was made a weapon, fiercely and decisively crashing into the beast’s neck. The force was impressive, but the true beauty was in her precision; She struck to kill, hitting the atlas vertebra directly and severing the beast’s skull from its spine. It died instantly, muscles going limp as it took one final step. Its head dropped, horns carving the earth around Luna like a plough. It was as if it was digging its own grave.

Luna panted, blue eyes wild like whirlpools. Her shoulders raised and fell with short, rapid breaths. She was angry.

The minute Clint was in her sight she was on him, moving fast enough to shock him. She grabbed him by the collar, shoving her rage-boiled face into his ice cold one. “You utter fool!” She spat. “You nearly got me killed!”

Clint pulled back, only to find himself held in place. He looked at Luna’s hands; They didn’t even seem strained, easily keeping him there. He reckoned he’d be able to escape if he really tried, but he was comfortable enough for now. It wasn’t the first time a woman was this mad at him.

“Sorry. I was late. I lost sight of it.” Clint spoke plainly, eyes not daring to shift from Luna’s face.

“Don’t lie to me!” She gripped tighter, so much so that Clint started to doubt his ability to flee. “You wouldn’t make a mistake like that! You’d never!”

Sol came running over, a hand on Luna’s shoulder. “Hey, hey! Come on!” He tugged at her, finding himself surprised at just how strong she was all of a sudden. “It was just a mistake. It happens to everyone!” He pleaded.

Luna glared straight through Clint. She knew he was lying. He knew it was an obvious lie. Their eyes met in mutual understanding. They were both a step or two ahead of Sol now, who still tried to reason with his sister. “Come on, it all worked out in the end, right?” he begged.

“What if it didn’t? That deer could’ve ripped my stomach open!” She directed her complaint more at Clint than Sol.

“It couldn’t’ve.” Clint replied firmly.

“Its horns were inches away from me! What the hell do you mean?” Luna growled.

Clint finally decided to shake himself free of Luna’s grip, which had loosened slightly already. As he did he took a large step back, just in case distance was required. “The minute that thing got close to you, it was dead.”

“You couldn’t have known that!” Luna yelled.

“You’re right.” Clint confessed, hat hanging over his head, shading his face in darkness. “It was a gamble.” His yellow eyes sparked from the shadows. “I just liked your odds.”

Luna stomped toward him, speed once again impressive. Clint thanked himself for making that distance, as it gave Sol just enough time to grab his sister and hold her back.

“You risked my life? For what? To see if I could fight without magic?” She had long figured out his intentions, but seeing the reaction on his face confirmed it. “That’s all? You just wanted to see if I could hit it hard enough?”

Clint’s head raised, yellow stare like an arrow that pierced Luna to her core. “Give up on magic.” He said. “You’re wastin’ your real talent.”

Luna deftly manoeuvred herself from Sol’s grip, once again lunging toward Clint.

She stopped just short of him, glaring at him. “Magic is my real talent! I am Princess Luna Dragoneart of Gallia, inheritor of King Terra’s divine magical prowess! Don’t treat me like I’m a fool with no understanding of her own strength!” Her body crackled with power, said magical prowess manifesting at its own mention. It was intentional, of course, Luna wasn’t one to assert herself without evidence.

“If that’s the case…” Clint began. “Why was your first instinct to hit me?”

Luna froze. He was right. Grabbing him was her second choice when her fit of rage began. Initially she was just going to swing at him. Her anger flared up once more, but it was colder, more controlled now, the fresh wound of her near-death experience scabbing over. “Well…” she muttered, taking a step back.

“Would you rather I have done this?” She spun, blasting a bolt of Glacia straight toward Clint.

He didn’t flinch. The bolt flew straight past him, striking a tree. It froze its trunk to the core instantly.

The two stared at each other, tensions still high even as temperaments cooled. Sol felt powerless to interrupt. Their silent battle of wills only came to a stop when Marrie arrived from the brush. “What’s going on? I heard shouting.” She asked, concern all over her face.

“‘S fine.” Clint shrugged, turning to exit. “Deer’s dead, that’s all that matters.”

Venison roulade. As promised, Marrie had cooked a meal fit for a king. There was so much meat to spare on the dire deer’s body that she was free to go over the top with the portions, something she did enthusiastically. Each person had a fat cylinder of venison, seasoned on the inside with a swirl of foraged herbs and pine nuts. It was a treat for the eyes as well as the mouth, pink meat contrasted by the green seasoning. She took the rest of the deer and carved it as the others ate, neglecting her own portion for the time being in favour of preparing further rations.

The party ate peacefully, it was hard to keep the tension up with such delicious food before them. They were all enamoured by their meals, eating slowly and savouring each bite. It was a luxury the likes of which they hadn’t had in a long time, and likely wouldn’t have again for a longer time than that.

They ate so slowly and luxuriously that Marrie had time to finish her work and join them, though she didn’t head straight for her own plate, instead flittering about and fretting over the three. “How is it?” She asked Clint, level with him for the first time now that he was sitting.

“‘S good.” Clint said plainly, earning a concerned expression from the Auf. “It’s real good.” he clarified, causing the woman to light up.

“And yours?” She hopped over to Sol.

“Honestly, it’s one of the best things I've ever eaten.” He said with a grin.

“Oh no, I’m sure it’s nothing compared to what you get at the palace.” Marrie blushed, holding her hands up in a feeble attempt to deflect the praise.

“I’m serious! The castle chefs are so boring, all the finest ingredients, truffles and fish eggs and blah blah blah.” He waved a hand dismissively. “But this is something special, something only you could make, of course it tastes amazing! Honestly, your husband is a lucky man.” Sol beamed.

Marrie’s blushing face grew redder and redder, but ceased at the mention of a husband. She bowed slightly to Sol as an acknowledgement of his praise, before finally making her way to Luna. “And yours, Princess Luna?” she asked.

“It’s very good.” She said, smiling softly at the woman.

With her rounds made Marrie took her own meal, sitting herself next to Luna. She continually glanced at the girl as she ate, before eventually speaking quietly. “Your magic is very impressive.”

“Ah, yes, thank you.” Luna picked at the last few bites of her own meal.

“I mean it. I may not look it, but I do know magic quite well.” Marrie smiled. “And yours is truly something.”

Luna glanced at her, eyes settling on her hands as she cut a slice of venison and shoved it into her mouth. Despite her maturity, Marrie ate quite sloppily.

“I’ll be honest.” She whispered after she swallowed. “I overheard what your friend there said.” Another big bite. “I thought it was a horrible thing to say.” Though she was sloppy she at least finished chewing before speaking again.

The princess leaned back, now looking skyward. “I don’t think so.” she sighed. “He’s a lot of things… But he’s definitely not cruel.”

“You don’t think he was right, do you?” Marrie’s voice dropped even lower, wary of Clint or Sol overhearing.

“I can only hope not.” Luna replied, putting down her plate before rising and disappearing for her nightly training.

Current Party: Clint Morgans, Sol Dragoneart, Luna Dragoneart, Marrie Gauld



Bullets Remaining: 5