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16 – Agony

“We are leaving now! Formation 2, Kain you stay inside circle!” Vurm said. We dispatched instantly without losing another moment. One of the foot soldiers that was on post, who knew area well enough, came with us as guide. Supposedly lake was more or less 10 kilometers within the forest.

I was standing in middle, while Vurm was leading the group from front. He was the only 7th rank warrior in our squad. After him came Valery, who was 6th rank warrior. Rest was 4th and 5th rank warriors. Jimmy and Muramir, excluding me, were only magicians present in squad. Muramir was a healer with lots of experience, while Jimmy was a newbie in comparison to rest.

Alpine Cypress Groove’s reputation was not betraying its name. After first 100 meters of walk, my vision got dimmed; rays of sun were barely escaping through leaves of trees to light the path. Outer part of forest bordering Lunaris consisted of massive oak tree. Although after passing them natural habitat changed drastically. “Jungle” I whispered under my lips. Vines slithered down from tall trees like snakes, seeking the pool of tepid water below.

I heard few of warriors who were besides Vurm, including him, using some kind of spell called “Vision of Gods”. We had walked nonstop for few hours. The sounds of jungle began to ebb more as nightfall descended. Growls, grunts, hisses and shrieks of different animals were lost as night fell upon this part of world.

I could hear heavy breathing of warriors around me. Size of my body was smaller in comparison to rest of squad. I was able to move easier than others. Branches were crackling as body of warriors hit the small tree while passing through.

I almost had a heart attack when cold water ran over my boots as I passed a small creak. For a moment, I though a snake bit me.

As darkness covered everything, Muramir cast a spell that lighted 10 meters around us, clearing our vision. I look at him with astonishment, and smiling he said to me “Do not worry, animals such as snakes, rats, bugs and lizards will stay away from us”.

Most probably we had walked more than 4 kilometers when Vurm hand gestured to stop. He talked with foot soldier and nodding to him we began to walk again. After half an hour of walk, we exited jungle going back to normal forest conditions again. Location of tree from each other was long enough for us to walk easily, additionally increasing our agility in case of face off with Basilisk and Lichen.

Nevertheless we camped overnight to sleep and rest. Two of us were guarding rest at all times during the night. I was selected to protect the squad member in same shift with Valery.

Sleeping pumped up and cleared my mind. We left towards the lake before the sunrise. It took us another 7 hours of walk until we reached our destination.

Looking straight I could see part of lake on left, although on right there was big rocks on top of each other. “Kain, you climb the rock and watch. Today your job will be to scout for us. Just tell us if there is anything near the lake. Even if there is and we battle it, stay out of it..”, he said. I saw determined eyes of my comrades looking at me. I walked towards the rock, trying not step on fallen branches. It took me around 15-20 minutes to reach the top. There was enough space for me to hide at top.

Raising my head slowly over the rock in front of me, I stopped at distance where my eyes could see all around the lake. Sun was shining brightly and water of lake was reflecting it lights. After walking in dark environment for long, it took me few minutes for my eyes to adjust to natural light.

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Because of the wind, emerging waves were lapping over the shoreline. Skimming through the shore, first thing that caught my attention was a person fully covered matte black armor from head to toe. His butt resting on rock, both arms were raised up in air. Hands touching each other, he was sitting motionless. Armor was not reflecting sunlight so detecting him was easy. Although I didn’t see his body, face or hands. It was more like a sitting statue.

As I was turning back to sign to Vurm; unintentionally and luckily I saw the monster swimming in lake. It was a serpent with body of snake and head of a dragon. It was around 3-4 meters long. It dived into deep.

I turned back towards Vurm and with my right hand using middle and index finger I made sign of number two. With my left hands index finger I showed them number one. I used my right arm to imitate a snake’s crawling. Vurm nodded. Later on, using both hands I clapped together and put in front of my face and closed my eyes for a moment. Opening my eyes, I saw him nodding again.

Vurm made some hand gestures, and everyone began to scatter around the lake hiding behind the trees. Last one to depart was Jimmy. I turned back to watch armored person. To my surprise he had disappeared.

I tried to let Vurm and rest now about it but it was too late. “Argh”, screams of agony came from left. I looked at direction from where noise was coming.  Jimmy’s body was cut in half. Blood was spurting out of his body. Lichen was standing behind Jimmy’s body. It kicked bottom part of Jimmy’s body and it fell down. Matte black armor was covered in blood. In a blind of eye, it disappeared.

Few more screams were heard meaning death of other comrades. “Kain get down towards us!” Vurm shouted. Because of adrenaline rush, I do not remember how I got down so fast but in matter of minute or less I was running towards Vurm and squad. They were standing close to each other on shore.

“It’s too fast” I screamed as soon as I reached them. They were not focusing on me. I got into middle and began to look at lake. None of them realized but slowly basilisk was swimming towards us. Including me, seven of us were left.

I had been in life and death situations before so I was accustomed to it. But this time fear had struck me. It took me second to realize danger swimming towards us. I concentrated for a moment and whispered “Blizzard”.

Instantly, combined with cold, biting wind a flurry of snowflakes poured down obscuring the surroundings. Muramir chanted something; on top of others and me a small light circle appeared helping rest of squad not to freeze. After two minutes of idling, I whispered “Void, Blizzard”. Snowstorm stopped and our vision cleared.

Top part of basilisk body was frozen standing in front of us. Most probably it had tried to use blizzard as a chance to attack us but got frozen within water.

Striking his sword in basilisk’s direction, Vurm screamed “Strike of Six Streams”. Arrows made out of water came out from tip of his sword one by one in fast manner and hit the basilisk. After third strike, its body broke down to pieces. Chunks of basilisk’s broken body fall down to frozen water on top of lake.

“Ar-r-r-r-gh” sounds of painful scream came from other side of the lake. Lichen was holding his massive black colored sword in his hand, screaming in agony.

P.S: double release today

Next: 17 - Race against time!