Galtier shook his head slowly “I’m… not sure what happened."

Adrian took a half-step back, his eyes never leaving the knight’s darkened form. “That doesn’t matter. Tell us what you do know."

A low creak echoed as Galtier shifted his weight, one arm bracing against the ground to steady himself. “We shouldn’t stay here."

“We’re not leaving until you answer our questions. No more deflections.”

A heavy grunt escaped the knight as he pushed himself upright, each movement laborious and strained. When he stood, he loomed over them like a shadow come to life. “I won’t be threatened by a couple of brats."

“Shut up. I’m the one who wounded you. The one who burned away whatever madness had you in its grip. And let’s be honest, you’d struggle to touch Kael, even on your best day.”

Kael’s lips curled into a smug grin. “Deep down, you know he’s right.”

An oppressive silence pressed down on them, the tension thick and suffocating. Galtier’s hand shifted ever so slightly, creeping toward the hilt of his sword.

Not this time. Without hesitation, Adrian unleashed a torrent of bluish flames. Fire erupted from his palm, crackling and roaring with a raw ferocity that blazed against the knight's gauntlet. The metal hissed and warped under the intense heat, smoke spiraling into the air.

A strangled cry tore free from behind Galtier’s helm as he dropped to his knees, the acrid scent of scorched metal filling the air. Good. He deserves this.

Adrian’s hands blazed brighter, the flames around them growing, swirling into a larger, more menacing fireball. Heat rippled from it, casting harsh light across his determined expression. “This is your last chance. Talk, or you’re done.”

Slowly, Galtier lifted his head. “I… you win.”

“Then start talking.”

“My… armor is cursed. But that’s only part of it. My sister carries a curse too, and I need the dawnshade herbs to acquire a cure.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed. He doesn't seem to be lying, but I doubt he's telling the whole truth either. Choosing to say he needs dawnshade to "acquire" a cure tells me that he's actually planning on trading the herbs for this supposed cure rather than making one himself. It's nothing I can really act upon immediately though, at least, not now.

“Next question, why did you turn into that abomination when we first encountered the Crimson Vipers?"

“My curse worsens with bloodlust. When it’s… provoked, I lose myself. The Crimson Vipers, did something unforgivable to me and my sister long ago. Seeing them brought out the worst.”

“The Crimson Vipers aren’t just some random gang, are they?”

“They’re a large organization, what you saw was likely just a small unit."

Adrian nodded, digesting the information. He then turned to Kael. “Do you have any questions?”

Kael tilted his head. “Just one. What are we gonna do with him now?”

Galtier’s gauntleted hands fell to his side. He lifted his head, meeting Adrian’s eyes with a hollow stare. “If it’s what you want, you can take my life here."

Adrian’s lips curled in a humorless scoff. “Your life is already in my hands, Galtier. Offering it means nothing. You know that.”

“Then what do you want me to do?”

“Part of me thinks it would be better to be rid of you. You’re a liability I can’t afford. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t recognize your strength. You’re useful enough, which is why I want you to swear an oath of loyalty to me. Swear that if you ever try to harm me or anyone I care about again, whether you intend to or not, then your life is forfeit."

Galtier was silent, his armored chest rising and falling as he absorbed Adrian’s words. After a long pause, he nodded slowly. “I accept.”

Kael’s eyes widened slightly, and he let out a low whistle. “Didn’t think you’d go for that, bucket-head.”

“He didn’t have a choice.” Adrian said. Galtier might not care about his own life, but for his sister, he’ll likely endure almost anything.

Slowly, Galtier lowered himself onto one knee, bowing his head. “I swear my loyalty to you, Adrian. If I ever turn against you or bring harm to those you care for, you may end me without mercy.”

“Rise,” Adrian commanded. The act felt oddly natural, as if this was a role he’d been preparing for without knowing.

Galtier stood, then regarded Adrian with a newfound respect “I misjudged you. It's clear you’re no ordinary boy.”

Kael stepped forward and gestured to himself “And what about me? Aren't you going to swear an oath to me too?"

“And you’re still just a brat.”

“Aaand that's more like what I expected."

***

“Keep a lookout for any signs of dawnshade,” Adrian said. We've been walking around for hours, surely we should be getting close to those damn herbs sooner than later.

Kael nodded, looking over a patch of moss-covered rocks with a keen attentiveness that belied his casual demeanor. He dropped to his knees, sweeping aside leaves and dirt. “Nothing here. Figures."

Adrian crouched beside him, his gaze thoughtful. “Maybe it’s still a good sign. The soil here smells… strange to say the least.”

Galtier’s low, gravelly voice broke in from a few paces ahead. “You’re onto something. dawnshade thrives where life and death intersect."

"Ah, then we might be close after all."

Adrian pressed onward, looking over the forest floor as they walked. The undergrowth was thick, tangled roots weaving through the earth like the veins of some ancient creature. Too quiet.

Kael moved with the ease of someone used to navigating treacherous terrain, careful despite his laid-back demeanor. He paused again, this time bending to inspect a mound of moss-covered stones, brushing away layers of leaves and dirt with swift motions. “Nothing here either. Figures."

Adrian crouched next to him, sifting the earth between his fingers. “The scent’s getting stronger,” he said quietly. Something’s here.

“You’re not wrong, dawnshade flourishes where decay feeds new life.” Galtier said.

“Then we’re close,” Adrian murmured. We have to be.

The three pressed deeper into the thickening woods. Kael stepped carefully, testing the ground beneath his feet before placing his weight down. He was just about to remark on the eerie silence when his foot caught on something unseen. With a startled yelp, he tumbled forward, sprawling face-first into the dirt.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Adrian grabbed his friend by the arm and hauled him back to his feet. “Are you all right?”

Kael dusted himself off with a disgruntled snort. “Yeah, I'm okay."

He scowled at the root that had tripped him. an unusually thick mass protruding from the ground. “What even is this?”

Adrian’s gaze narrowed. “That’s not just a root, look.”

He knelt, tracing the line of it as it wound its way beneath the soil. The root led into a clearing where the trees parted, revealing a grove bathed in a brilliant glow. Beneath their feet, patches of vibrant blue-green leaves unfurled, shimmering with a soft light.

“This… it must be dawnshade." Adrian said.

“By the spirits… I never imagined so much dawnshade could grow in one place.” Galtier muttered.

The three of them moved in unison and started to harvest the herbs. Adrian crouched low, fingers brushing the soft leaves with practiced care before twisting gently at the stems.

Galtier worked with a surprising deftness and precision as they picked through the foliage, selecting only the ripest specimens. Each time he placed the herb into a nearby pile, stacking it high.

On the other side, Kael crouched down, his headband slipping slightly as he leaned forward. Despite his blindness, his hands knew the touch and feel of each valuable sprig. His fingers danced across the leaves, pausing briefly before extracting the herbs with a light tug.

“Got another batch,” Kael said, carefully tucking the herbs into a small pouch secured to his sash.

But suddenly, the ground beneath their feet quivered. Adrian stopped, the dawnshade slipping from his grasp. “Do any of you feel—?”

A low rumble shook the grove, like the groan of ancient wood straining under pressure. The ground cracked and heaved, roots writhing and twisting as if stirred from a deep slumber. From the heart of the clearing, a massive shape tore free of the earth, rising with a deafening roar.

Vines coiled and thickened, merging into serpentine necks crowned with gaping maws. A monstrous hydra, formed entirely of plant roots, leaves, and thorny tendrils, loomed above them. Its eyes, glowing with a fierce green light.

“Grove Hydra!” Galtier shouted, drawing his weapon.

The knight charged at the monstrous hydra, blade held high. Galtier quickly closed the distance, slicing through the writhing mass of roots and vines that lashed out to meet him. His strike severed one of the hydra’s tendrils with a spray of sap-like fluid.

But the creature barely faltered. Two more heads snapped toward him, jaws lined with serrated thorns. Galtier ducked, rolling away, but a powerful root lashed out, slamming into his armored side with bone-rattling force.

He crashed into a nearby tree, the impact shaking loose a flurry of leaves and splintering bark. Groaning, Galtier struggled to his feet, bracing himself with his sword.

Kael, who had taken several cautious steps back, turned wide eyes to Adrian. “Tell me we don’t actually have to fight this thing.”

Adrian sighed. “We still need the dawnshade. We’re not leaving empty-handed.”

Kael shook his head, a half-smile tugging at the corner of his lips despite the chaos. “Figures. Fine. You want me to distract it?”

“Keep it busy,” Adrian replied, blue flames already flickering to life. “I’ll find a way to hit it where it hurts.”

Kael let out a resigned chuckle. “Run really fast and not get hit? Got it.”

He took a deep breath and sprinted toward the hydra, weaving between the snapping vines and roots with surprising agility. “Hey, overgrown weed monster! Look here!"

The hydra’s attention shifted from the battered knight. Its glowing eyes locked onto Kael, and it roared, the sound splitting the air like a storm. Vines whipped and crashed around him, carving deep furrows in the earth as he darted away, just barely staying ahead of its wrath.

Good, it's distracted. Adrian thought, channeling every ounce of his energy into the magic coursing through him.

Adrian steadied his breath, summoning a fiery bow that blazed to life in his grip, each ember flickering like the pulse of his own heartbeat. An arrow of pure fire materialized, burning with crackling intensity and pulsing heat. Adrian exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the moment settle over him. This has to count.

He drew the string back, taking careful aim at one of the hydra’s writhing, serpentine heads. Now.

Adrian released the arrow. It sliced through the air, a streak of searing blue fire that hissed with raw, unbridled energy.

When the arrow struck its mark, it embedded deep into the base of the creature’s neck. All was quiet for a split second, before the arrow erupted, detonating in a blinding flash of heat and light.

The hydra’s head exploded with violent force, splinters of wood and tendrils of vine scattering like shrapnel across the grove. Adrian felt a wave of relief surge through him, his breath catching. One down.

But that relief was fleeting. The air around the severed stump shimmered with unnatural energy, and twisting roots began to coil and weave together, forming a new head from the splintered remains. Within moments, the hydra stood whole once more, its roar splitting the air with renewed fury.

Adrian’s eyes narrowed as he took in the monstrous form of the Grove Hydra, its many heads thrashing and writhing. He forced himself to steady his breathing, to focus. This thing is regenerating faster than I can destroy it. I'll need to figure out a different approach to actually kill it.

He scanned the hydra for any sign of weakness, soon catching sight of the creature’s tail: a mass of thick, intertwined roots and vines that moved with surprising speed. Even as Galtier charged forward again, the tail lashed out and coiled around the knight’s sword arm and wrenching the weapon away before slamming into him with crushing force.

The tail is different. More controlled. Almost like it’s guiding the whole beast. Adrian thought.

The boy drew another fiery arrow, bowstring crackling with energy as he pulled it taut. He aimed at the hydra’s tail, narrowing his focus. If this is its weakness, I need to test it.

The arrow shot forward, a streak of blue fire slicing through the air. Just as it was about to strike, one of the hydra’s heads moved to intercept the attack. The fire burst against the creature’s maw, scattering embers and ash, but the tail remained untouched.

Adrian’s eyes widened in surprise. The hydra protected the tail with its head of all things, which means the tail has to be important.

“Kael! Keep it distracted!” Adrian yelled.

“Still working on that!” Kael shouted back, narrowly avoiding another snapping head.

Adrian gritted his teeth, shifting his attention back to the hydra’s tail. The creature’s heads moved in unison, guarding it with relentless precision. Each head twisted and snapped, forming a barrier of fangs and vines that shielded its vulnerable point. If it’s this protective, then it’s definitely more than just a limb. Maybe it’s the core.

He conjured another fire arrow, the heat radiating from it intense enough to singe the air around him. “Galtier! Attack its heads! All of them!”

Galtier nodded grimly, raising his blade as he stood back up. He charged towards the monster, cutting through its body rapidly. The hydra roared, all of its heads turning to counter the assault, leaving it temporarily exposed.

Seizing the moment, Adrian loosed his arrow, aiming for the tail. This time, there was no head fast enough to intercept. The arrow struck true, embedding itself in the mass of roots and vines that formed the tail’s base.

The arrow buried itself deep into the tail’s writhing mass. The hydra let out a roar of agony that echoed through the grove, a primal sound that vibrated deep in their bones. Flames erupted from the tail, spreading along the creature’s roots. It thrashed wildly, its heads flailing as it tried in vain to douse the inferno consuming it.

Adrian stumbled, exhaustion crashing over him like a wave. He fell to one knee, breathing hard. It’s working, the tail really did contain its core.

The flames ate away at the hydra’s core, weakening it further with every passing second. He forced himself to stand, ready to act if it somehow recovered.

But the hydra’s movements grew sluggish by the second. Finally, with one last shudder, the massive form collapsed, roots and vines withering into ash.

For a long moment, silence reigned. Adrian looked at the remnants of the hydra and wondered. It's a bit unfortunate that I had to destroy the grove hydra's core. But oh well, at least everyone got off relatively easy.

Kael dropped to the ground, panting heavily. “Tell me that’s it."

Adrian nodded. “I think… it’s over.”

Galtier staggered forward, his armor dented and scorched. “Well done."

The three of them stood in the aftermath of the battle, the grove silent except for the crackle of fading embers. Adrian let out a slow, shaky breath, feeling the tension seep out of him like water from a cracked vessel.

Kael dropped heavily onto a patch of relatively undamaged ground, running a hand through his sweat-soaked hair. “I don’t know about you two, but I’m done with plants for a while."

He pulled out a canteen, taking a long, grateful swig before passing it to Adrian. "Also, you might want this."

"Thanks." Adrian accepted it, hands trembling as he lifted it to his lips. The water was cool and refreshing, cutting through the dryness of his throat.

He lowered the canteen, catching Kael’s eye. “Not exactly what we signed up for, was it?”

Kael barked out a laugh,. “You think? I was hoping for a few herbs, maybe some nasty bugs. Not a murderous weed-monster.”

Galtier moved with a heavy gait before slumping against a fallen tree. “If you two are finished complaining, we're now free to take what we came for.”

Adrian nodded, looking around at the grove. Patches of glowing dawnshade still covered the ground, untouched by the battle’s chaos. The plants shimmered softly, as if unaware of the carnage that had just transpired. This was almost too much for us. But at least it’s worth it.

Kael followed his gaze and let out a low whistle. “Even after that fight, there's still so much that we can bring back."

“This much dawnshade is rare. More than enough for what we need." Galtier said.