Danger in the Mountains

The trees had long since begun to thin. Kieran could still see the distant edge of the woods behind them whenever the winding path opened between the hills. With every step forward, the familiar forest grew smaller below them. The ground beneath their feet had become uneven and rocky, forcing them to carefully pick their way along the narrow trail leading deeper into the mountains.

Tall cliffs rose around them on either side. Sparse patches of grass clung stubbornly to the stone while the occasionally twisted tree grew from cracks where there seemed to be barely enough earth to support it.

“So,” Seraphina began from just behind him, “just so we’re all clear, we’re looking for a Catastrophe-ranked mage.”

Kieran kept his eyes forward, “That’s what the rumors are saying.”

Ahead of him, Luna’s ears drooped as she looked for safe places to place her feet, “The kind that makes mountains explode?”

Kieran didn’t respond as he kept his expression the same.

Luna gulped at the silent answer. “Glad Big Bro is here. I know he can handle this.”

Kieran nearly missed his next step. “I didn’t say that.”

The Wolfkin tilted her head. “Then why are we trying to find her?”

He gritted his teeth before he spoke because he couldn’t stop himself from answering honestly. “To find out if she has anything to do with the monster movements.” He didn’t like the answer either. He regretted it even more as he saw her blue eyes growing wider.

Behind them all, Akane continued walking without so much as looking down. One hand rested near the hilt of her sword as her eyes calmly searched the trail before them.

“If she is the cause of the monsters leaving the mountains,” she said, “then stopping her is necessary.”

Kieran let a held sigh go. He knew very well that necessary didn’t exactly mean easy. As he glanced over his shoulder to her, he saw Akane’s ruby eyes lock with his. She nodded approvingly with a confident smirk over her lips.

Kieran shuddered. He knew what she was thinking. That as her master, he would be the one to fight first. Now he was extra regretting letting her call him that.

Instead, he turned his attention back toward the trail. The rumors they had heard in the Guild Hall had been difficult to ignore. Several hunters had apparently spotted monsters moving farther down the mountains than usual. Creatures that normally remained deep within the rocky peaks had begun appearing closer to the forest below.

And their explanation as to why this was happening was almost as unbelievable. A mage had taken up residency somewhere up in the mountains. And not just any ordinary mage either. A Catastrophe-class.

Even hearing the rank was enough to make Kieran’s stomach twist in knots.

Adventurers were ranked for a reason. They system existed so people knew what kind of threats they were capable of handling. A Rookie didn’t take on a monster meant for veterans unless they were stupid. A veteran didn’t casually challenge something that required an entire party.

And a Lancer who had recently been kicked out of the Hero’s Party definitely shouldn’t have been marching into the mountains to confront a Catastrophe-class mage with his ragtag team of oddballs.

Kieran wiped the sweat beading on his brow despite the cool air. He was nervous. But he wasn’t going to show it outwardly. His party was already worried enough about what they were walking into. If he started panicking, then they would surely panic too.

So Kieran continued walking forward with his spear resting over his shoulder and his expression as calm as he could manage. Internally, however, he was trying to figure out exactly how they were supposed to survive if the mage decided to fight them.

Akane was strong. Seraphina was stronger than she realized. Luna could probably even handle her own until she found an escape if need be.

But himself? He could stab things with his spear. That was useful against goblins. He wasn’t entirely convinced it would be useful against someone capable of leveling the side of a mountain with ease.

Still, the others followed him without hesitation. They trusted him. Kieran gulped. He really hoped he could figure something out before they found her.

Then the trail opened up. Kieran stopped. The others had followed his lead, halting in a semicircle with him.

“There,” Luna pointed out.

Nestled between two large outcroppings of stone was a small clearing. It wasn’t much though. The ground was uneven and covered in loose rocks, while the surrounding mountains rose high enough to block most of the sunlight from reaching it. And sitting directly in the middle of it was a shack.

Kieran stared at it with disbelief. “That’s it?” Luna stepped around his side, her ears standing upright as she studied the small building.

“It’s in the right spot,” Seraphina answered as she looked up from her map, “so I would assume so.”

Kieran, however, wasn’t entirely sure what he had expected. Perhaps a large tower rising from the mountains. Something ancient and imposing with strange symbols carved into its walls. Maybe even an enormous fortress built somewhere near the peak where no ordinary person could reach it.

Instead, they had found what looked like someone had taken a handful of old boards and leaned them against each other. The roof sagged in the middle. Several of the wooden planks making up the walls were cracked, while one of the shutters hung loosely from a single hinge. There wasn’t even a proper door, just a piece of wood propped up against what he was assuming was supposed to be the entrance.

For several long moments, nobody said anything. Akane was the first to break the silence. “This is where a Catastrophe lives?”

“Apparently,” Kieran answered,tightening his grip around his spear.

That answer obviously didn’t sit well with the Samurai as she narrowed her eyes. It was difficult to blame her. Nothing about the place looked particularly threatening. Especially enough to scare fearsome monsters from their natural homes.

If anything, Kieran was beginning to wonder if the two adventurers they had heard this claim from had made it all up. Surely one capable of driving entire populations of monsters from the mountains wouldn’t be living in a shack that looked like it could collapse from the next strong breeze.

Then a distant explosion echoed through the mountains. The ground shook beneath their feet. Luna immediately grabbed onto Kieran’s sleeve and heaved herself up, clinging to his back.

A flock of birds erupted from somewhere farther up the mountain, scattering into the sky as another thunderous boom followed shortly afterward. Seraphina adjusted her grip on her dagger. “That came from higher up.”

Kieran followed her gaze toward the narrow path leading farther into the mountains. “Then maybe she’s not home?”

Another explosion answered him. And this one was closer.

Dust and small pieces of stone tumbled down from one of the cliffs overlooking them, Luna pressed closer into the small of his back while Seraphina stared toward the path with an expression that was growing increasingly uncertain.

Even Akane had become more serious, taking on a defensive stance and ready to draw her blade.

Kieran slowly lowered his spear in front of him. The confidence he had been trying to maintain since leaving the Guild was becoming increasingly difficult to hold onto.

A Catastrophe.

He still couldn’t get past that single word. Whatever title the woman had received, it wasn't something given out because someone was slightly better than the average mage. She had been called a walking disaster for a reason.

And they had come here anyway. Kieran looked back at his party behind him. Seraphina was watching the mountainside. Akane stood ready beside her. Luna still held fast to his back.

All of them were waiting. Waiting for him to decide what they should do next. He drew a slow breath and took a step forward.

The narrow path into the clearing suddenly felt much longer than it had a few moments ago. Every step brought them closer to the rundown building, while the occasional rumble reminded him exactly who they were looking for.

By the time they reached the entrance, Kieran could feel cold sweat dripping down his back. He glanced toward the piece of wood serving as a door. There was no sound coming from inside. No movement at all. Kieran slowly reached out to grab ahold of it.

Then another explosion tore through the mountains. This time, it came from directly behind them. Everyone froze.

A bright flash illuminated the clearing. Kieran’s hand stopped inches from the door as he turned over his shoulder.

For the first time since entering the mountains, he was fairly certain they had found the person they were looking for. And unfortunately for them, it seemed to have found them first.