It was the chill of morning that brought an urge to move forward, so after dividing the remaining precooked food and sharing what little they had left, they began their way down. Melch, Edwin, Leif and Elissa steeled themselves for what was in store. The night's snowfall had turned the narrow pathways treacherous as they went down and Melch could not help but see a few human skeletons off to the side of the paths, their bones ghostly white against the falling snow.

Melch with his heavy heart. "We should bury them." he said with guilt and sorrow.

"No, no." Leif answered shaking his head. "Melch, mate this isn't the time to be a hero. You stray off the path now and you'll end up just like them. Let's make a vow when one of us is powerful enough, we'll return and do it proper."

There was truth in his voice that forced Melch to nod his head numbly. "Alright." Melch muttered stealing one last look at the skeletons as they continued their journey.

The descent was grueling. Some parts of the path lacked ropes forcing them to rely on the sharpened bones of demonic beasts for balance. Elissa being the less experienced one in such treacherous terrain struggled but kept pace with Leif's constant jokes and assistance. On the other hand, Melch felt the effects of the low oxygen. His head spun and there were moments when his vision darkened. He envied the others, who could circulate mana to stabilize themselves but his own connection to mana was very fragile. Each step had itself become a battle for him.

Finally, there was an overnight resting place before the ropes were started again. Across that loomed their last summit which now they could plainly see it still but so horribly out of reach. They stretched out there for breath and resumed going upwards once more. Before it became dusk time, they stumbled upon a mountain cave.

"It is it for tonight," Melch continued. "The wind picks up fast. We wouldnt want to get caught open here outside."

The cave was dark and unfriendly with a strange heaviness in the air. They moved further in the chill which seemed to deepen and it began an unspoken tension settled over the group. Melch felt something not right, he couldnt even feel his mana. The realization hit him like a punch.

"Is anyone else… unable to feel mana?" he asked hesitantly.

Elissa nodded frowning. "I feel it too. The air is thin but it's more than that. Something's disrupting it."

Before they could investigate further, an arrow whistled through the air aimed directly at Leif. He spun effortlessly letting the arrow strike the enomorus bag on his back. "A rude one" Leif exclaimed though his eyes were keen as they inspected the shadows.

A group of five men came out from the cave depths with their faces covered by rough masks. "At last." one of them said his voice ringing cold. "Someone worth fighting."

Edwin's hand instinctively went to his sword hilt tensing into a ready stance. The attackers were well-equipped with a spearman, two axe-wielders, an archer and a mage holding a strange device that emitted an eerie glow. Melch realized soon that this was no ordinary group. These were killers using the device not only to disrupt mana but also to trap their prey within the cave.

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"We don't want trouble." Edwin said hesitantly though his grip on his sword betrayed his readiness to fight.

"Trouble found you." the spearman taunted.

Before anybody could respond the archer had another arrow in the nocks. Leif brought out a shield and sword from his bag and tossed them to Melch. "Time to show what you learnt, mate." he quipped to the archer as he grasped the bow to enter battle.

The fight erupted in an instant. Edwin charged forward meeting the spearman and one of the axe-wielders head on. His movements were precise with his blade flashing as he danced between their attacks.

Leif kept the archer pinned with a flurry of arrows, his carefree demeanor replaced by sharp focus. “Stay on your left, Melch” he shouted.

The second axe-wielder towered over Melch like a mountain. The man's blows were heavy, making Melch stagger back barely defending himself with his shield. Panic clawed at him as the weight of the fight pressed down. He was not like Edwin or Leif. He had neither the build, skill nor experience.

"Focus, Melch" Edwin shouted parrying a strike and countering with a swift kick to the spearman's chest. "It's just like those beasts before."

Elissa clutched a very defensive shield which was Leif's bag from the sidelines. She dug through the stuff Leif had packed in his bag. Her mind was working. "I can't just sit here." she whispered determination flaring. She started to toss things like a flask, a bundle of rope, even a small pot at their foes, breaking their rhythm.

The cave rang with the clash of metal, the grunts of effort and the heavy breathing of combatants. Melch's opponent growing frustrated lunged recklessly. Melch sidestepped his heart pounding and managed to strike back with his sword. The axe-wielder staggered blood dripping from a shallow wound.

Leif's laughter rang out. "My boy, Melch, Keep him dancing there"

Meanwhile, Edwin's fight became fierce. He took a glancing blow on his shoulder but retaliated with an effective slashing blow that sent one of his opponents crashing down. "One down." he called back with his voice slightly bearing the ringing of his name and triumph.

Leif seized the opportunity landing a well-placed arrow that struck the second axe-wielder in the leg. The man collapsed with a roar, which left Melch to deliver the finishing blow. Melch trembled as his hands shook.

"You have to do it. It's either him or you" Edwin yelled.

Melch's thought that he had never killed before never taken a life. But as the axe-wielder struggled to rise, a dangerous glint in his eyes. Melch's survival instinct kicked in. With a yell, he thrust his sword forward. The man's body went limp and Melch staggered back dropping his weapon as bile rose in his throat.

Leif glanced at him, his face grave. "Breathe, Melch. You did what you had to."

The battle was now turning with one of the axe-wielders down and the other is not an option. Edwin took down the spearman with one strike and Leif's relentless assault on the archer forces him to retreat and Edwin took him down from the behind. Only the mage remained holding the device that had caused them so much trouble.

"Drop it" Edwin commanded with his voice authoritative.

The mage hesitated his eyes looking to the cave's exit. Before he could make a move, Leif's arrow whistled through the air wounding the mage's hand and making him drop the device. "Sorry I have slippery fingers." Leif said with a grin.

Elissa hurried and took the gadget and began examining it. "This... this is what's been causing all the interruptions to our mana." she said her voice trembling with anger. "How many people did you trap and kill with this?"

The mage was silent his defiance clear. Edwin raised his sword but Melch stepped forward his face pale but determined. "We don't need to kill him." he said firmly. "He's our prisoner now. Let the instructors deal with him."

Leif raised an eyebrow. "Look at you, the moral compass of the group. Fine by me. Less mess to clean up."

They used the mana distrubtor and tied the Mage with ropes inside the cave.

As the tension eased, Melch sank to the ground his body trembling with exhaustion. His first kill weighed heavily on him and the reality of their situation settled in like a dark cloud. Elissa knelt beside him placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“You did well.” she said softly. “You saved all of us.”

Melch looked at her, his expression haunted. “I just. I didn’t want to die.”

"And you didn't." Edwin said firmly. "None of us did. That's what matters."

The party subdued the magician and made camp preparing for an arduous night's rest as the climb was to be much worse and so, as the flames of the fire danced across the cave Melch sat lost in his thoughts. He had ended a man's life but deep within he understood that he would carry the burden forever.