That ain't a boulder 🙀 - chapter 2
The dirt path wound through jagged hills, shadows from the setting sun stretching like claws across the ground. Ethan's shoulders loosened slightly—they were close. He could almost feel the camp's safety.
"Another hour and we're home," Enlight said, keeping his bow low. "No monsters, no trouble. I might actually—"
The "boulder" in the middle of the road twitched.
Ethan frowned. "Hey… was that rock… breathing?"
The "rock" rose, dust cascading like a small avalanche. Two enormous hands—each bigger than Ethan's torso—slammed into the dirt, and a single yellow eye blinked open in the center of its forehead.
"Oh… that's not landscaping," Ethan muttered.
The Cyclops roared, a sound that rattled his ribs. It charged like a freight train, tearing up the earth beneath its massive feet.
"Scatter!" Enlight shouted.
Ethan dove left, but the creature was faster than it looked. A colossal hand swatted him mid-roll, sending him tumbling like a ragdoll. His sword clattered away.
---
Ethan lunged for his sword as the Cyclops stomped forward. He swung upward—metal met skin with a clang—but it was like trying to cut a tree trunk. The blow only made the Cyclops grin.
"Uh… Clarita? Little help here!" Ethan shouted.
"Eyes, Ethan! Always aim for the eyes!" Clarita yelled back, already nocking an arrow.
"You know the arrows aren't free!" Enlight added. "Clarita, stop missing!"
The Cyclops lunged again. Ethan tried to meet the charge—but his wrist snapped under the weight of its massive hand, pain shooting up his arm.
"AGH—!"
The Cyclops tackled him into the dirt, crushing the air from his lungs. For a moment, fear froze him—but Clarita moved with precision born of memory and instinct, striking swiftly to save him.
An arrow whistled—thwip!—striking the beast's lone eye. It bellowed, clawing at its face.
"Move! I'll blind him, you cut the knees!" Enlight shouted.
Ethan scrambled up, switching his sword to his left hand, legs trembling. The Cyclops flailed blindly, smashing boulders into dust. Its foot slammed inches from Enlight, who rolled aside just in time, saved again by Clarita's quick reflexes.
"You're welcome!" she snapped, loosing another arrow. "I'm convinced this is the mark of Athena."
Enlight nodded. "I thought it was just a rumor."
"What's the mark of Athena, exactly?" Ethan asked, still panting.
Clarita's eyes narrowed. "Stupid rumors. Students of Athena disappear… a lot of them vanish without a trace. But here's the thing—"
"Clarita—cut it," Enlight interrupted. "Athena didn't train her. That's… nice."
"What's nice about that, idiot?" Clarita hit him lightly. "If the mark won't kill us, that big buffoon will!"
The Cyclops hit the ground with a thunderous crash, shattering the dirt beneath its feet. Clarita's leg was trapped in a fissure.
"Clarita! No!" Ethan shouted.
Before he could move, a figure stepped from the trees. Pale skin. Black coat fluttering in the wind. A sword so dark it seemed to drink in the light.
Marco del Vale.
Without a word, he darted low, his blade carving a deep cut across the Cyclops' ankle. Black ichor oozed.
"Who—" Ethan started.
"Less talking, more stabbing," Marco said flatly.
The Cyclops faltered, unbalanced. Marco hooked his foot around Ethan's and shoved him forward. "Go."
Ethan's sword plunged into the beast's knee. Enlight's final arrow slammed into its ruined eye. The Cyclops let out a pitiful roar before collapsing like a felled tree.
Dust settled.
Ethan leaned on his sword, breathing hard. "Woah… that thing was strong."
Marco glanced at him, expression unreadable. "If that was strong… wait till you meet the dude at camp. Wouldn't surprise me if he eats Cyclopes for breakfast." enlight and Clarita obviously know who he meant
Ethan blinked. "…That's… reassuring?"
"Not really," Enlight muttered, slinging his bow over his shoulder.
Marco started walking. "You'll see soon enough. Just… try not to make him mad."
"How did you even think that was a boulder?" Clarita asked.
Ethan shrugged. "For my defense, it looked like one in the dark."
Enlight chuckled. "Yup. My fault too—should've used my light magic."
Ethan then asked. "is it magic or elemental resonance" as the group expressed they honestly don't know
Then
They found a small clearing and set up a camp: a bonfire, a tent—Clarita had brought it knowing the mission would be long, anticipating days like this. The camp was close enough for safety, but far from the chaos behind them.
The three of them watched the sun rise, exhausted but alive, knowing the real challenge was only just beginning.