XX - Revenge of Wyrm (Part II)

Four of them gathered a small yet tight circle around Aria. 

Aria looked down, then tightened her grip on the trembling hatchling, it let out a whimper, burying its small snout into the folds of Aria's cloak.

"It's okay… I got you." Aria whispered softly, stroking its back, its slender tail coiling around her wrist, anchoring itself to her for safety.

Charlotte glanced over her shoulder, staring between Aria and the hatchling before she shifted her gaze from them toward the rest of the party.

"Girls, protect each other—and Aria." she said, stepping back into position behind Aria with a faint smirk play on her lips.

"Keep the hatchling safe."

Aria nodded silently, her own mismatched eyes shining, the juvenile Wyrm let out a low chirp, it poked its small snout while its slitted gaze focused at the glimpse of ember eyes staring at them from the darkness.

Aurora's jaw clenched, her sisterly instinct kicked in—she would protect Aria no matter what, regardless of how difficult this trial burned out to be?

A loud screech echoed in the darkness, followed by the eerie silence…broken only from the sound of five breaths.

The juvenile's nostrils twitched, letting out a small puff of steam.

"W-w-what's happening?" Quincy whispered to Sarah nervously, her eyes wide, knuckle turned pale against her book.

She raised her hand to cast another spell but Aurora grabbed her wrist.

"No."

"No? But why? I-I just need to increase the barrier—"

"I said no." Aurora said calmly, her own mismatched eyes never straying at the massive silhouette in the shadows.

"B-But, Aura I need to use my mana to keep us safe—" she stammered, shrinking slightly under Aurora's steady gaze.

You have to be careful with how you used your magic for Aurora warned, silent authority without saying a word by sending her a message by her own eyes.

Quincy read her gaze easily by using another spell to read someone's mind and body language.

One mistake, it could possibly draw a full breath of flame on us before we're even ready.

I-I understand, Aura. B-But are you sure about this?

Yes, if you cast another one, we perished in this place.

Aurora kept her grip tightened around on Quincy's wrist, lowering the young mage's shaking hand.

"Listen to me. A mana glows like flames in the dark. The moment you use another spell to ignite—that monster might see us—it can also strike before you finish the incantation." Aurora explained, her voice barely above whisper.

Quincy nodded, pulled her wrist, found on her enchanted book, Aurora gave her a silent nod.

Good, now be prepared for the trial.

Sarah swallowed hard, her eyes darting toward the darkness, where the two burning ember eyes loomed.

"…W-w-what do we do?" she asked, her own knuckles turned pale as she tightened her grip around her staff.

"We forced it to make a first move." Charlotte chimed in from the front, sweat beading on her forehead.

Aurora stared at her, her mismatched eyes softened for a fraction.

She reached out as her fingers brushing lightly Charlotte's armored shoulder in silent support.

"Hm?" Charlotte glanced a bit, her brown-golden eyes softened for a brief second.

Aurora…

Charlotte… you're sweating Aurora thought, her heart clenching as she stared at Charlotte's noble posture, and calm command.

Her paladin was just as terrified as the rest of them.

"Don't overextend yourself, Charlotte." Aurora said, her voice dropping into a low quiet tone meant for only her.

"I'm here behind you, okay?"

Charlotte's heart swelled in affection, she shifted her attention back toward the massive silhouette, her softened gaze vanished, replaced in pierce focus.

The massive shadow spread its wings, it took a step forward towards their direction, it didn't blink—it pupils slitted. It let out a low warning growl.

Grrrr…

Aria gulped nervously, clutching the hatchling against the fabric of her cloak, her mismatched eyes wide despite being surrounded by her friends.

The hatchling emerged from its small snout, letting out a whimper.

Charlotte raised her shield higher, despite the protective barrier from Quincy's spell.

"Get prepared… I think it might be going to attack us…" she whispered, her gaze not moving, watching the massive shadow loomed over them, arising from the shadows.

It was the same encounter from the gates of Asahi Academy, but its energy was unusual… and different like it has been possessed by the curse spell, the revenge of the Wyrm has begun.

To test five of them to show their hidden talent with no escape, unless they must fight the beast and get back to their cottage before it's too late.

The trial has begun.

The Wyrm, jerked its head and let out a sudden piercing screech.

GRAAAAHHH!!!

Five of them winced, immediately covering their ears from the sudden sound.

It's trying to break the barrier!

"—Ah! W-w-what's going on?!" Quincy asked, wincing as her enchanted book suddenly slipped from her hands, her pale purple eyes wide as she stared at the barrier began to show a crack like a spider web.

Crack!

Oh no… the barrier is weakening! she thought to herself, her gaze darting between the hatchling on Aria's protective arms and the Wyrm in front of them.

"We need Lancelot II!" She shouted, squeezing her eyes shut.

"What?! L-Lancelot II?! But she wasn't around! She's not here—how are we supposed to fight this thing!" Sarah cried, lifted her head as she could see the massive crack of Quincy's barrier began to weaken.

Charlotte froze, she heard the mention of 'Lancelot' made her heart pound against her chest. L-Lancelot II? I-It's m-m-me, but I don't want to upset them.

The Wyrm slammed its massive tail against the translucent barrier. 

Shattered into thousands of pieces like dust, sending the five of them flying in separate directions.

THUD!

Charlotte let out a sharp exhale. "Gah—!"

The rest of them followed suit. 

Aurora coughed, forcing the air out into her lungs as she pushed herself up.

"Nngh…" she groaned, her vision turned cloudy as she looked at Aria, who remained unharmed from the impact, thanks to the hatchling's power to defend its owner.

Wyrm's piercing gaze didn't leave as it took a step forward toward her.

Aria's eyes were wide in terror, she clutched the hatchling tighter, shielding it from the massive dragon in front of them.

Aurora raising herself, despite the injury from the impact, she refused to give up, both war fans on her other hand.

"A-Aria…" she whispered, raising her hand as she reached her sister, her long dark blue hair with crimson streak pooling behind her, she didn't glance down—her ponytail had been torn apart.

Aria sat slumped against the cold far wall—cornered, there's nowhere to escape in the vengeance of the Wyrm.

"Aria!" Aurora cried, her crimson eyes widened in terror as the massive dragon agape its jaw to unleash the fire breath. 

Then… the crimson streaks in her hair began to glow.

Quincy and Sarah's eyes widened in disbelief, staring at their friend's crimson streaks illuminating in her signature color.

"Guys, look!" Sarah gasped, pointing her finger.

Charlotte's eyes wide as well, she lowered her one knee beside them. She remembered the encounter, the dream, everything… this isn't just a vivid dream anymore—it becomes real.

Woah…the Dawn Wing…no way. My dream… It's all true!

"Aurora has awakened the Dawn Wing for the first time." Quincy explained, her pale purple eyes didn't glaze behind.

"And that's why she's been talking about it since the first day."

Sarah nodded at her words, watching their friend's aura grow more dominant than they thought.

Aurora's hair began to form, fibers fusing together, remodeling into the shape of a wing.

The Dawn Wing became real.

Aurora stood tall. Her wounds dissipate like nothing had touched her, hovered above the ground, Dawn illuminate wings spread wider.

Both war fans now on her hands, the feather-shaped blades glinted in cyan light as her mana reacted to her distress. 

She snapped her eyes open, showing her mismatched eyes, stared at the Wyrm.

"Give me back my sister, you overgrown serpent." Her voice was eerie calm, calm enough to make the massive dragon's wings droop in the presence of the powerful princess in front of it.

The Wyrm jerked its massive head, letting out a loud, piercing roar.

Aurora didn't flinch, she didn't blinked, stood between her sister and the massive dragon, both war fans snapped wide as she bracing its next attack.

No matter how difficult the trial is—she used her mana to rescue her friends, passed the trail and returned to their village safely.