The cool air of the lakefront offered little comfort as Leon ventured away from his makeshift camp. His encounter with the phantom Lady Ellie had left him shaken, but also strangely invigorated. He had faced his deepest fears and insecurities, and emerged with a newfound resolve. He was now determined to find Simon and complete the trial; to prove to himself and to everyone else that he was worthy of attending the Warden Academy.

As he pushed through the dense foliage, a sudden rustle in the nearby bushes sent a jolt of apprehension through him. Was it another spectral illusion, another test of his mental fortitude? Or perhaps another clone of Ser Merrick, ready to challenge his combat skills once again? He cautiously approached the sound, with his sword drawn and his senses on full alert.

To his relief, it was neither a phantom nor a clone, but Simon, who stumbled out of the thicket, his face pale and drawn, his clothes torn and muddied. "Leon!" Simon gasped, his voice hoarse with exhaustion. "I've been searching for you everywhere!"

"Simon!" Leon rushed to his brother's side, relief flooding through him. "I've been looking for you too! What happened to you?"

"Merrick," Simon panted, leaning heavily against a tree trunk. "He's been chasing me for days. I barely managed to escape."

Leon's brow crinkled as he looked at his brother, recalling his own encounter. "It must have been a clone," he said. "I fought one too. Barely managed to defeat it."

Simon stared at him, a mixture of awe and envy in his eyes. The fact that Leon had bested a clone of their fearsome master-at-arms while he had been forced to run and was relentlessly pursued filled him with a strange mix of pride and jealousy.

"We should stick together," Leon suggested. "Let's go back to my camp by the lake. We can pack up, and head towards the edge of the Emberwood. We can wait out the rest of the trial together."

Simon readily agreed. The prospect of facing another Merrick clone with Leon by his side was far more appealing than attempting to brave the dangers of the forest alone.

They returned to the lake, gathered Leon's meager belongings, and set off through the dense undergrowth, their senses heightened and their weapons at the ready.

"So how did you manage to defeat the clone?" Simon asked as they navigated the treacherous terrain.

"It wasn't easy," Leon admitted. "To be honest, I almost lost. But I managed to catch him off guard and attack with everything I had."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

He then recounted his encounter with the Lady Ellie illusion. He omitted her identity and the intimate details of her cruel taunts. He simply described it as a spectral vision, a manifestation of the Emberwood's mystical properties.

Simon's orange eyes widened. "Visions?" he whispered, a shiver running down his spine. "I knew the Emberwood was strange, but I never imagined..."

They continued their journey, the silence of the forest punctuated by the occasional snap of a twig or the rustle of leaves. Suddenly, a crashing sound from the thick undergrowth ahead brought them to a halt. They instinctively drew their weapons, anticipating another encounter with a Merrick clone.

"Be ready," Leon whispered, his gaze fixed on the shifting foliage. "This time, we face him together."

A low growl, guttural and menacing, echoed through the trees. Leon exchanged a worried glance with Simon. This was no Merrick clone, he thought. This was something else, something far more primal and dangerous.

"We need to run," Leon said, his instincts screaming at him. "This isn't Merrick."

Simon hesitated. "Are you sure? Maybe it's just another illusion."

But Leon was certain. This was no illusion. This was a real threat, and they were ill-equipped to face it.

Before they could react, a monstrous figure burst from the undergrowth, its towering form casting a long shadow over them. It stood at least ten feet tall, its dark gray skin stretched tightly over a hulking frame. Atop its thick neck sat a bull's head, its jagged horns curving downwards, its eyes burning with a malevolent red glow. It let out a deafening roar that shook the very ground beneath their feet.

"Minotaur!" Leon's warning cry echoed through the trees as the monstrous creature emerged, its powerful form radiating an aura of primal rage. He knew they had no chance against such a beast, but escape seemed impossible.

The minotaur, with a speed that defied its size, swung a massive arm, catching Simon off guard. Simon managed to raise his sword in a de sperate parry, but the force of the blow sent him flying through the air, crashing into the undergrowth with a sickening thud.

A guttural roar erupted from the minotaur as it turned its attention to Leon. Leon barely had time to react, leaping aside as the creature charged, its horns narrowly missing him. The minotaur slammed into the tree behind Leon with a bone-jarring impact. The trunk splintered and collapsed from the sheer force. The beast stumbled, momentarily stunned.

Leon seized the opportunity. He sprinted towards Simon, hoping to reach his brother and drag him away from the enraged creature. But the minotaur recovered with astonishing speed, leaping in front of Leon, cutting off his escape. It lowered its head, its blood-red eyes fixed on Leon, a low growl rumbling in its chest.

Leon's heart pounded against his ribs. He had no desire to face this monstrous creature, but there was no escape. He raised his sword, his grip tightening on the hilt. He had faced Merrick's clone, a spectral Lady Ellie, and now this. The Emberwood was relentless in its trials.

The minotaur pawed the ground, its massive muscles tensing, preparing to charge. Leon steeled himself, his mind racing, desperately trying to formulate a plan. He was outmatched in strength and size…

The minotaur charged, its horns lowered, its roar echoing through the forest. Leon braced himself. This was a fight for survival, a test of his courage and his will. He would not back down. He would not be defeated.