CHAPTER 18
The final blow landed with a thunderous roar, the Draketooth crumbled to the ground, twitching once before falling still. Not far from it, the Teravor Beast's golden mane flickered out, smoke rising from its massive form.
A beat of silence passed, and then cheers erupted across the clearing.
Laughter, gasps of disbelief, and the unmistakable sound of collective relief filled the air. Several of the heirs slumped where they stood, panting and trembling.
Among them, the seven who had led the charge stood or rather, collapsed together.
Sorayael dropped to her knees first, gripping her side as sweat dripped from her brow. Kieran sank beside her with a dry laugh, bow still in hand. Silas, pale but steady, sat cross-legged and tried not to fall backward.
Zarethian exhaled hard, sword still glowing faintly as he sheathed it and flopped onto the grass.
Ravelia, eyes narrowed but visibly spent, leaned back on her palms.
Celene checked her arms for burns, muttering something about her robe being ruined.
Karsen plopped down beside her, still grinning like a lunatic.
Their chests rose and fell rapidly; worn down, mana depleted, but victorious.
The rest of the heirs slowly gathered around them.
Two groups stepped forward, the same ones who'd been cornered by the beasts earlier. Their faces held awe, respect, and guilt.
Another approached Zarethian, his face flushed with shame. "I-I said some pretty stupid things earlier. I'm sorry. You didn't have to help us."
Zarethian lifted a brow, then smirked lazily. "Meh. Whatever. At least you're sincere."
He paused, then added, "But sincerity... kinda needs a gold coin or two, don't you think?"
A few snorts and chuckles followed. The boy blinked, confused, before realizing it was a joke and laughed sheepishly.
'This kid, I said it with seriousness and yet he thought that I am joking?' - Zarethian (???_??)
Sorayael, meanwhile, tried to stand but she winced sharply, her hand flying to her side where the B-rank beast had struck earlier.
One of the healers rushed to her. "Let me try-"
She held up a hand, stopping him.
The healer hesitated first and then bowed and stepped back.
Sorayael sat again, pressing her palm over the wound, and turned her gaze toward the others, those heirs now looking at them not as strangers, but as something closer to comrades.
For the first time, they weren't seven individuals from different noble houses.
They were the seven who took down beasts no one else dared face. And that was something no one could ignore.
After the cheers settled and the groups began to regroup, Sorayael quietly slipped away.
She walked toward a patch of overgrown stone, where the shadows fell thick and the vines curled like coiled serpents.
Making sure no one saw her, she knelt, pressing her hand to the wound on her side.
Mana flared softly at her palm. Her breath hitched as the healing spell began to mend the torn flesh. The pain dulled.
The gash sealed, not perfectly, but enough to keep her going.
She returned to the group.
The heirs were still in clusters, speaking with awe and excitement. Words like "amazing," "incredible coordination," and "those seven are monsters too" floated in the air.
Zarethian caught sight of Sorayael walking back, noting the faint stiffness in her movement. His eyes briefly narrowed toward her side.
'Did they heal her?' he thought. He shrugged, 'nevermind'
'Please say yes..' she thought desperately.
The rest of the six turned toward Sorayael.
She, however, was kneeling slightly, brushing moss off a stone wall while observing the dungeon's oddly structured runes. Her brows were furrowed in focus, oblivious to their attention.
She finally noticed the silence and their expectant stares.
They resumed walking through the dungeon together with the other heirs and moving cautiously while still scanning their surroundings. The dungeon resembled a twisted forest: with massive tree roots embedded into the walls and symbols carved into stone pillars.
As they turned a corner, Karsen paused.
Faint glowing runes.
It read:
Before they could decode more, a shout rang out from their left.
Everyone turned just in time to see a disheveled young master bolting toward them, followed by four panic-stricken heirs.
Behind them, a monstrous figure crashed through the trees, its roar splitting the air. Towering and snarling, a beast surged forward, its eyes glowing a fierce crimson. Its body was cloaked in coarse fur, streaked with jagged mana lines.
They darted forward, pushing through thick roots and low-hanging branches, until they found a crevice in the stone wall just barely wide enough.
One by one, they slipped inside, hearts pounding.
The beast's growl echoed outside, but it didn't follow. It couldn't fit.
Panting, the group huddled in the cramped cave, shadows cast across their tired faces.
For now, they were safe.
'But not for long.' - Sorayael.
Inside the cramped cave, everyone caught their breath. Some slumped against the walls, while others paced restlessly. The atmosphere buzzed with both fear and frustration.
The young master who led the charge scratched his head sheepishly. "We were scouting for a shortcut and.. found a glowing mana trail. We thought it was a hidden path."
That made Sorayael glance over, but she remained silent, arms crossed, leaning on the cave wall.
'so they lied about what they said the beast was a stray, how pathetic.'
Zarethian exhaled. "Now that it knows our scent, we can't stay here long."
Karsen looked up. "We should form a plan.. a real one."
They began discussing ideas, throwing around tactics.
As the voices grew louder and more frantic, Sorayael remained quiet. Observing and listening.
Until the six: Zarethian, Kieran, Ravelia, Silas, Celene, and Karsen, looked at her.
She sighed, straightened, and stepped into the center.
She crouched and drew a rough map on the cave floor with her dagger.
She looked up, her tone sharp and unwavering.
Celene gave a firm nod. "Got it."
Ravelia nodded, already calculating mana output in her head.
Zarethian's eyes glinted. "Finally, some action."
He raised his staff. "On it."
One of the heirs crossed his arms. "Why should we take orders from you?"
Someone questioned her again.
Her smile was sharp and cold.
The air thickened with tension but none of them answered back.
Suddenly, Kieran's eyes flicked to the cave entrance. "It's here."
Weapons were drawn.
Sorayael turned to the heirs she just shut down.
She stepped out first, wounded, low on mana, but unshaken.
The others followed her, some with doubt, others with awe.
Zarethian walked just behind her, fire already crackling faintly in his palm.