The mountains of Gondovir were some of the tallest in all of Enthamere, they were a notoriously treacherous place. Loaded up with supplies before leaving the Blue Tower, Light and Cassian were as prepared as they could possibly be to face the dangers of the mountains. Yet, trudging through snow up to his knees, Cassian was beginning to regret accepting this mission. Light was more comfortable moving through the mountains.

He stalked through the snow gracefully. “I wish I could be you right now, buddy!” Cassian shouted against the icy winds over at Light.

Cassian’s teeth chattered as the snow storm battered against his cloak. He wore a tunic lined with fur but the cold still found a way to penetrate his clothing and take root in his shaking bones. He pulled his hood tight around his face and looked up towards the peak of the mountain. We’re getting closer. Hopefully we’ll come across the manticore soon, though, this damn cold threatens to leave me too exhausted to complete the task. I wonder if we should find a cave to make camp or press on. I could really use a fire and some hot tea.

His pleasant thoughts of campfires, and tea were interrupted by a terrible and beastial howl overhead. Craning his neck, he looked to the sky just in time to see the dark silhouette of a giant winged creature soar by. Cassian squinted his eyes. It was as much about trying to get a better look, as it was a fruitless attempt to keep the snow from getting in his eyes.

That’s when he confirmed that it was definitely the manticore and it was clutching a horse in its talons. The horse whinnied and kicked its legs but there was no escaping the sharp claws of the beast. Poor horse.

The winged beast glided for a moment, cutting through the storm before descending sharply into a crater in the mountain up ahead. Cassian and Light both looked at each other and winced. No need to panic. I can do this. Just sneak in unnoticed, hit him real quick with the syringe, and we’re headed back down the mountain scot-free. Cassian smirked and did a quick nod before petting Light between the ears.

The pair plodded towards the crater. Around them the storm intensified. Cassian felt like some invisible giant was pushing him back while he fought to make forward progress. His boots were lined with fur, but his feet still felt cold and numb as if each step he was stepping on frozen needles. They were high up on the mountain now and the steep drops off the mountainside were a constant reminder that one small misstep could be fatal. If this storm wasn’t making it so bloody hard to see, I bet the view from up here would be spectacular.

After what felt like hours they made it to the edge of the crater in the mountaintop. Cassian and Light hunkered down at the crest of it and peeked over the edge. The horse with the brindle pattern had been ripped to pieces. What remained littered the crater, blood painting the snow red like wine. A steep cliff face dropped down beneath Cassian and the Manticore lay sleeping at the foot of it.

Cassian looked to Light and whispered the plan to him. “I’m going to climb down and inject him with the serum before he can wake up and notice.” Using crude hand signals, Cassian pointed to himself and then down to the manticore, then gestured towards Light and pointed to the ground . “You climb down the less steep side and meet me down there just in case things go upside down.”

Light tilted his head slightly and sneezed. With smiling eyes, Cassian pulled a piece of dried elk meat from his pocket and tossed it to his friend. “I’m going to take that as a yes, I understand the plan.”

With a deep breath, Cassian stepped over the edge of the crater and began climbing down towards the sleeping manticore. The rock face was steep and slick from the ice, Cassian held his breath as he descended. As he placed his right foot on a protruding rock, he shifted his weight clumsily. Crack. The foothold broke away and tumbled down, clattering against the rock. He didn’t have time to panic as cruel gravity claimed him.

His eyes shot down towards the crater floor dizzyingly far below. Throwing out his right hand, Cassian grabbed onto an indent in the cliff. His body jerked and smacked hard into the ridge. Pop. His vision went fuzzy and he felt a sharp pain tingle through his right arm.

Cassian gritted his teeth and closed his eyes. He grimaced against the pain. More than anything, he hoped that the falling rock didn’t wake the manticore. Exhaling slowly, Cassian cursed under his breath before looking down and opening one eye to check. Thank the stars! Fortunately for him, the creature still remained fast asleep far below. That was too close. I need to be more careful. Climbing around the palace was one thing, but the exterior of the palace didn’t crumble when too much weight was applied to it. Cassian took a minute to collect himself and then began climbing down again, this time with more emphasis on dispersing his weight evenly.

Making it safely all the way down the cliff without any more near death experiences, Cassian jumped down off the rockface, he was relieved to be done rock climbing. His feet crashed down into the snow. Crunch. Cassian’s breath caught in his throat. He closed his eyes tight and bit his lip. Upon landing, he smashed hard through a fallen tree branch hiding just beneath the snow. The sound of the tangle of branches snapping echoed through the snow filled crater.

Cassian turned around slowly. When he opened his eyes he was face to face with the manticore. Its hot breath blew over him, the smell reminded him of spoiled meat. The hulking monster snorted then opened its purple eyes. For a brief moment the two stared directly into each other's eyes, frozen like the nearby pond.

The beast's mane flared up and its lion-like face roared, exposing its vicious fangs. Cassian rolled to the manticore's left and pulled the syringe from his belt. As quickly as he could, he lunged forward attempting to jam the syringe into the thick hide of the monster. Fueled by pure rage the manticore was too quick. It whipped it’s around powerfully, smacking Cassian and sending him flying across the crater. He pulled himself to his feet and wiped the soft snow from his face. Message received. She doesn't like to be woken up.

The manticore flapped its leathery wings violently, lifting up into the air before diving towards Cassian. He cursed when he looked down and noticed the syringe was no longer in his hand. With the hulking beast nearly on him, his eyes searched the snow. A flicker of light glinted off the dirty metal of the syringe. Right as the manticore swooped down at him, razor sharp talons outstretched, he dove to the side. The claws ripped his fur coat and he felt a gust of cold air on his back.

Landing awkwardly on a powder covered bush, Cassian rolled into a sprint and made his way towards the syringe sticking up out of the snow. He reached down and scooped up the syringe, twisting around quickly to face the screeching beast. Even through the noise of the blasting winds, the manticore’s beastial cries stung Cassian’s ears. The furious monster stomped its four claws into the snow ferociously before aiming its barbed tail towards Cassian.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

A line from one of the reports played in his mind as time slowed down. When I came out to investigate the commotion, I found one cow missing and five more on the ground crying. They were impaled by one yard spikes and looked like desert cacti…Oh, bloody hell. Cassian’s face drained of color as he bolted for a boulder sticking out of the snow. The terrible barrage of spikes fired from the manticore’s tail. Out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of the projectiles. I’m not going to make it. Cassian planted his feet and launched himself head-first towards the cover.

A sharp blast of pain pulsed from his shoulder as one of the spikes grazed him then buried itself into a pine tree just behind the boulder. Cassian fell into the temporary safety provided by the massive sheet of granite. Gripping his wounded shoulder, he squirmed in the cold snow grimacing. Cassian felt the wind over his head from the rest of the barrage as the bone projectiles exploded through the tree. Drawing back his hand, he felt the warm blood. His blood.

He took a deep breath and peeked up over the top of the boulder. The manticore was stepping menacingly over towards Cassian’s position. It seemed to be in no real hurry to devour prey it didn’t feel threatened by. Cassian looked at the syringe of inky black liquid he held in his hand then down at his sheathed longsword. I can do this without turning to violence.

Gripping the syringe tightly, he waited for just the right moment. His life depended on him getting the timing exactly right. When Cassian could hear the heavy breathing of the beast just on the other side of the granite slab he tried to dash off to his left. Panic gripped him as he realized that his cloak was pinned to the tree by a vicious bone projectile. He thrashed and tried to unsnare himself with no luck. Looking side to side, he cried out, “Light! I need you!” Yet his call for aid went unanswered.

The manticore poked its giant lionesque head up over the top of the boulder and stared down at Cassian with her glowering violet eyes. Baring her fangs, she screeched hideously blowing Cassian’s hood from his head. The unnatural creature lurched towards him, attempting to bite him in half.

Bound to the pine tree at his back Cassian had but a single option. He stood defiantly and stabbed the syringe hard into the beast's neck, plunging the serum into her.

Upon the serum making contact with the manticore it froze in place. The creature remained paralyzed for a split second, gaping maw directly over Cassian. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth, standing there trembling.

Suddenly the monster fell backwards into the snow and began shaking. Foam appeared from its mouth. Cassian went from being sure he would be devoured by this beast, to concerned for its well being in a single moment. Tiptoeing towards the writhing manticore, Cassian inched closer until he was a mere arms length away. He wanted to help but he had no idea what help he might possibly offer. It wasn’t supposed to be like this! I was only here to help you! Sniffling as much from the feeling of helplessness overwhelming him as the freezing cold, tears welled in his eyes.

The strange creature's convulsions halted without warning. She went entirely still, head falling heavily to the snow. A cloud of white powder billowed up around her. Cassian drew his sword and cut himself free. Breathing heavily, he approached the unmoving behemoth. Despite the fact that just moments before it wanted nothing more than to rip him to pieces, he pitied it.

The manticore gasped and her eyes blinked open. Cassian jumped back instinctively. Woah. No way. The once purple eyes of the manticore were now brown. It no longer showed any signs of aggression as it lay in the crater breathing softly. It actually worked! Shifting side to side nervously, Cassian stepped in close and reached out his open hand. Closing its eyes then exhaling a breath of warm air that washed over Cassian, the manticore cooed. Cassian ran his palm across the soft fur of the creature's mane.

His lips curled into a smile. Cassian turned and staggered back to the steep edge of the crater. Looking back at the manticore, he admired her graceful form. “Be well, my friend.” He whispered.

After ascending the granite rock face, Cassian was greeted by Light. The carefree snow leopard was rolling around in the snow cleaning himself. When Light saw Cassian he jumped over to his friend and licked the side of his face. Cassian narrowed his eyes and laughed. “So much for the plan…”

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When Cassian and Light sauntered into Lord Magister Njal’s lab, he was still tinkering with glass vials and scribbling notes. Deja vu. Njal noticed the pair and raised a bushy white eyebrow. “Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in.”

Cassian looked down at Light then back at Njal. “I walked in on my own two feet, thank you very much.”

“You look like you’ve just trudged through a blizzard. Should I ask?”

“Probably best if you don’t.” Cassian smirked, running his hands over his tattered cloak.

Shaking his head slowly, Njal lifted up a glass vial full of thick wheat colored liquid. “Ready to break that curse?”

“Way past ready.”

Cassian laid down on the steel surgical table and Njal strapped him in. After setting up the device to hold his eyelids open, Njal stroked his long beard. “Alright, young prince. Here we go.”

Bracing himself for discomfort, Cassian gripped the sides of the table until his knuckles turned white. Njal carefully placed a few drops in each of Cassian’s eyes. His vision went black and this time the agony was immediate. He writhed in pain as his breathing became labored. It felt like his head was going to explode.

After a few minutes the pain dissipated until it was nothing more than a dull ache behind his eyes. It was as if he was looking through a crystal, cloudy afterimages floated around the room. Weirdly enough his sense of smell had become hijacked by the overpowering aroma of limes. He sniffed at the air curiously wondering if someone was squeezing juice from citrus fruit somewhere in the lab.

When his vision finally returned, Cassian looked up at Njal. The expression on his face told Cassian everything he needed to know. Njal’s face was twisted with frustration and he swiped his arms violently across his cluttered desk. Glass vials of every shape and size, porcelain jars full of ground reagents, and disheveled notes crashed to the floor. Ceramic fragments and glass shards went in every direction and Njal screamed.

Cassian felt his old friend despair reach up from the floorboards and swallow him whole. I guess this curse is really going to be with me forever…

A frantic knock echoed from the doorway. Melliosa stumbled into the lab like a whirlwind. “Lord Magister! A raven just arrived with a message for you from the capital!”

Njal looked up at her, face still gripped by rage. “Not now!”

She looked down at the floor and sighed, voice trembling, “Cloudreach has been taken by the Bohlkovians…”