Every time that Nick stopped to look behind him, the bog was serene and unthreatening. The birds were chirping, and the bugs were buzzing, their music vibrant and energizing. But when he began walking once more, he felt a vague sense of unease.
The sensation rapidly grew stronger, becoming a premonition of impending danger. He didn’t feel anything when he tried sizing up the glade, but Nick was learning to rely on his instincts every bit as much as his skills. Besides, size up wasn’t as effective when he didn’t know what he was looking for.
The local landscape was dominated by lush teal grass that topped off a few inches below his knees. Their blades were so soft that they felt like velvet sliding across his fingertips. While it made for pleasant hiking, the verdant groundcover provided a perfect hiding place for anything smaller than Nick himself.
Gearing up for a fight, he reached behind his shoulder to open the flap of his bag, drawing his sword without missing a beat. A motion that had begun to feel natural with repetition, although it would never be described as graceful.
Instead of turning around again, Nick held the blade before his eyes, using its edge as a mirror so that he could look behind him without giving his intentions away. I doubt that any animal or beast will catch on to this trick.
Sure enough, he could see three patches of grass bending as they gave way, yielding before a trio of creatures that were otherwise invisible to his gaze. At the moment, two were ranging out to the sides, while the last was coming straight for his back.
By this point, he was certain that he was being stalked by some of the bog’s resident predators, which appeared to be some manner of pack hunters if he was reading the signs correctly. His heart began to race, and while Nick was undeniably afraid, part of him was tingling with excitement as well.
It was finally time to find out what his Kineticist class was capable of. To see what his brand-new spell, piercing ray, could do. He shifted his sword into a one-handed grip, changing his route to head toward the closest hillock, meandering like he didn’t have a care in the world.
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He was certain that the creatures would strike before he left the concealing grass. While he had no idea what he was up against just yet, Nick could use the creatures’ predatory natures to predict how they would react. At least to some extent. Having caught wind of their ambush ahead of time would help him take control over the flow of the battle to come, allowing him to make his first move before the melee began.
Sure enough, as soon as he changed direction, the trails in the grass began converging on his position. The hunters abandoning their attempt to encircle him in favor of the presumed advantage of a stealthy assault.
Nerves alight with adrenaline and the visceral thrill that arises from putting one’s life on the line, Nick conjured two mana darts into existence.
As he had observed back in the safe room, the pair of silver lances were bigger and brighter than they had been before changing classes. A gift of the Force Adept trait that came with picking Kineticist. The magical missiles left streaking trails of chrome around his head like an oversized halo, ready to fire on his command.
The tension grew thicker by the heartbeat, as his assailants closed the distance like a noose tightening around his neck. He fought the urge to turn around and assume a battle stance, keeping his footsteps steady and natural.
Forcing himself not to telegraph that he had seen through the hunters’ ruse, he waited for the creatures to enter the range of his wand. A distance that Nick could now perceive clearly, like he had been fitted with an AR overlay. A sense that had appeared over time as he continued to raise his wand skill.
Just before the disturbed patch of grass behind him slid into range, he set down his sword, bending forward like he was tightening the laces on his boots. To his hidden observers, Nick appeared to be momentarily disarmed, his posture open and unguarded. You couldn’t ask for a better chance to jump me.
Sure enough, half a heartbeat later, he heard a surge of motion behind his back. A skittering rustle as something darted through the lush aquamarine groundcover. As he had been hoping, his concealed adversaries were only too happy to take advantage of what seemed like a perfect opportunity to ambush their prey.
A bare instant later, Nick burst into action. He spun on his heels, reversing his facing while rising to his full height. In a single motion, he took aim for the depressed patch of grass and then pressed the trigger on his wand.