Chapter 36
A Shimmer Of Hope
image [https://i.ibb.co/nqphgqY/Ch-36-Pic-1.jpg]
Erin could feel her heart beating faster, as she stared at the monstrosity before her. It was a giant spider the size of a truck. Eight long legs carefully moved it’s large body towards its prey, as the numerous eyes observed her. Two large fangs dripping with venom were raised up, as the monstrosity was was getting ready to pounce and devour the redhead.
The monster’s body was so large that it blocked the whole entrance to the cave, making it impossible for Erin to simply run past it. If she wanted to get out of there alive, she would somehow have to fight her way through it.
Cold sweat ran down the redhead’s back, as she tried to think of a way to get out of this situation. She only had one small knife to protect herself with, as she had lost her gun during her encounter with the shadowy figure. Going in for the attack was obviously not an option, as it would just be suicide.
It was then that Erin remembered what the shadowy figure had told her. He had said that she should hold onto the Glow Stone she had gotten from Arkay. The redhead wasn’t sure why he had told her to do so, since she couldn’t use magic at all. The stone wouldn’t give even the faintest of glows no matter how hard she would try.
The spider had finally gotten close to its prey. It was now standing still, ready to pounce at any second. Erin’s body was frozen still in terror, as she stared into the numerous eyes of the beast that was looking to turn her into its meal.
Just as the arachnid monster was about to tackle Erin, she raised up her hand holding the Glow Stone. Upon doing this, a blinding light appeared from the stone. The spider screeched and quickly backed away out of the cave, before tumbling down the cliff the cave was a part of.
Erin looked down at the stone in shock, before running to the cave’s entrance and looking down. The spider seemed to be struggling to get up, most likely from being disoriented by the blinding light it had been subjected to. Realizing that this was her opportunity to make a run for it, the redhead quickly made her way down the cliff and started to run as fast as she could in the hopes of escaping from the spider.
Just as she was starting to think that she had escaped, Erin heard something heavy running after her. She didn’t even need to look behind her to tell that the spider was now chasing after her. The redhead looked at the Glow Stone she was holding, wondering if she could use it to blind the spider again, but that idea was immediately crushed by her only being able to bring out a very dim light.
Erin could hear the sound of the spider coming closer and closer. The beast was much faster than her and would be catching up soon. The redhead tried to desperately run faster, but it was nowhere near enough. The monster was right behind her now.
Suddenly, just as the spider was about to sink its fangs into Erin’s back, a small ball of fire hit the monster right in its mouth. The redhead looked up at the top of a nearby cliff and saw Arkay standing there, smoke rising from the palm of his hand.
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Lexton was there with the cat boy. Once Erin had gotten far enough from the monster, he took a glass bottle out of his jacket and threw it at the spider. There was a bright yellow liquid inside the bottle that turned into yellow smoke once the glass shattered. Whatever it was, the gas caused the spider to screech in agony.
“NOW, RYLE!” Arkay shouted as soon as the spider had gotten out of the cloud of gas.
Just then, said blonde woman jumped down from a cliff and landed on top of the arachnid. Before it could do anything to shake her off, Ryle plunged her fist through one of its numerous eyes and inside its head. The spider let out one last screech before falling to the ground dead.
With the threat dealt with, Erin started to make her way towards her friends, happy to see them. However, unlike her, the three didn’t look all that happy.
“Thanks, you guys!” the redhead said happily as she ran up to her friends. “You really saved me back there. I owe you all.”
“You sure do, but what the hell were you doing here!?” Ryle asked angrily. “I know you needed time alone, but I didn’t think you were gonna make a long-ass journey to the middle of the wasteland!”
“I… I’m sorry,” Erin apologized, somewhat taken aback by the hostility from her blonde companion. “I didn’t realize that things like that could come so close to the city.”
“Erin, we aren’t that close to the city anymore. In fact, it’s these areas that wild beasts like to wander around the most, as they are preying on those leaving the safety of the walls,” Arkay said. “When you took so long to return, we tried to look for you around Lex’s workshop, but couldn’t find you. It was only thanks to Ryle’s tracking abilities that we were able to find you in time.”
“These two were pretty worried about you,” Lexton said as he pointed at Ryle and Arkay. “You should thank them for saving your ass.”
“...I’m truly sorry,” Erin said as she looked down in shame. “I didn’t mean to worry any of or cause harm. I just wanted some time alone.”
“Well, to be fair, you didn’t really cause any harm to us. That wasn’t even close to the biggest thing I’ve face,” Ryle said nonchalantly as she put a comforting hand on the redhead’s shoulder. “Besides, as long as we’re all okay, I’d consider that a win.”
Erin smiled back in response and nodded. It was good to see that her companions weren’t too upset with her.
“Anyways, did you manage to figure out how to use magic?” Lexton asked. “After all, that was the whole reason as to why you decided to walk all the way here.”
“I’m not sure if I can fully use magic yet, but I’d say I’m making some progress,” Erin replied as she showed them the Glow Stone, which had a faint glow in her hand. “It’s not much, but I’d say it’s at least a start.”
“...Hang on a second. You mean to tell me THAT is why you risked your life coming here?” Ryle asked. “I don’t want to be mean or anything, but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen bugs that have a more impressive glow in their asses!”
“I’m not surprised that your few working brain cells can’t seem to comprehend this,” Lexton said with a frustrated sigh. “The problem wasn’t how much magic power Erin could use, but the fact that she couldn’t use any at all. This is a big thing for her, as this shows that she has potential for the use of magic. Even if it isn’t all that much now.”
“Yeah… I know it isn’t really much yet, but with enough work I think I can make it up to a point where I can use it efficiently,” Erin said with a small smile. “Isn’t that right, Lex?”
“Correct. You have a long way ahead of you, but I’d say the biggest and hardest obstacle has been overcome now,” the kobold answered. “No matter how long a journey is, it always begins with a first step. And this is you taking that first step. Now you need to train yourself and you’ll be able to become an able magic user.”
“And I know just the person to help me with that,” the redhead said as she turned her gaze to Arkay, before giving him a small bow. “I’ll be in your care, teacher.”
“Umm… Okay… I’ll be glad to help,” the cat boy said with an awkward blush on his face. “I’ve never done anything like this before, but I’ll do my best for you.”
Just as the group was about to return to Lexton’s workshop, Ryle decided to voice her thoughts.
“Awww! I was hoping to get a chance to teach you all my cool martial arts and ki abilities!” the blonde said. “I know I’m still learning on that latter part, but I’m sure I would have been an awesome teacher! Or a sensei! Or even better! Your grand master!”
None of the others in the group responded to Ryle’s proclamation. They all just let out a sigh before walking away.
“Hey! What was with that reaction!?” the blonde yelled as she ran after her companions. “Hey, wait for me!”