After finishing their first meal in a day, Leo and Vietra continued to discuss the best path to continue on.
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Sitting on a misshapen rock, Vietra spoke. "It's currently early morning, so we have time." Looking at the morning sun, she confirmed it.
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Leo's face calmed as he was thinking. "If it is early, we should move soon. Preferably deeper into the forest." After some time, he sighed and offered his thoughts.
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"...So north? Yeah, that seems like a good path. We met the pack of wolves near the edge of the forest, probably because of the influx of students." Vietra nodded in agreement.
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Leo stood up with a sigh before starting to check his condition.
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'...I've mostly healed. The effects of the backlash have faded, other than some dull ache in my body.'
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By now, his body was in almost peak ability.
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'...Yesterday was terrible. I forgot all the teachings instilled in me. I was impatient and reckless. I was too sure of my strength and talent.' He sighed internally, remembering his training.
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'I should observe the situation before attempting anything. Well, at least now I have Vietra with me.' His face broke into a smile thinking of his new companion.
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Vietra looked at the chuckling Leo before focusing on explaining the rules.
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"Leo, we have three days in the forest. The first was a disaster, to say the least. The objective is to last the longest without leaving the forest or getting killed." She began explaining the rules to Leo.
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"In our case, while we were helped by the professor, your form would have killed the alpha wolf at the price of burning down the forest. So, you weren't exactly saved."
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"...So survive. Meaning we should be on our guard from beasts and humans alike," he muttered quietly.
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His voice picked up as he said, "Then let's be careful not to leave tracks and cover them. We are already heading in deeper, which should be a more dangerous part of the forest, but it saves us from the trouble of other students." He began covering their tracks, dusting over them.
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Vietra followed behind him.
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After some time, they both left the rock formation, their pace slowed by the uneven terrain, slippery wet mud, and low-hanging branches.
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While they walked, Leo took out his retrieved sword, dusting up their tracks and leaving tiny X-shaped marks on the thick trees in case they got lost.
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Seeing Vietra about to touch a poisonous plant, he spoke to warn her.
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"Be careful. That plant is poisonous. Anything with three leaves should be avoided." His voice was full of calm as he warned her.
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Vietra's hands stopped in their place as she looked at Leo. "I thought you were a spoiled noble scion. How do you know about plants?" she asked, her face contorted in exaggerated surprise.
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"I study a lot... about everything." Leo avoided a clear answer.
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'I can't tell her I was the King of Mercenaries back on Earth, after all.'
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She rolled her eyes at the fake answer. "Whatever you say..." she responded before looking back at the cluster of three leaves.
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Leo almost smiled.
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They continued forward.
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After nearly an hour, Leo slowed to a stop.
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Vietra felt it immediately and halted as well.
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The air ahead was wrong. Not cold, not hot. Heavy.
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Leo crouched and pressed his palm to the ground. The soil here was darker and the plants were thicker.
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Leaves near the center of the clearing were wilted, their edges blackened.
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"Miasma," he said quietly.
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Vietra swallowed. "Poison gas."
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"It's a low concentration," Leo replied. "But enough to cause dizziness if we walk through it."
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The patch stretched too wide and too long to simply go around without losing time and direction.
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They examined it in silence.
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"Can you dispel it?" Leo asked.
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Vietra shook her head. "It wouldn't be safe, and I'd waste a lot of mana."
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"...Then we go around the edge," Leo sighed and decided. "We're going to move slow. No running."
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They moved carefully, keeping their distance and watching their step.
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Leo picked up a small stone lying around and tossed it into the center. It landed with a dull thud. The air above it rippled faintly.
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One mistake here would mean getting injured.
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Following Leo's lead, both he and Vietra made it through without incident.
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Ten minutes later, Leo stopped again.
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This time it was the silence. The forest had gone quiet too quickly.
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Gone was the sound of the animals and wind, as if the air itself stood still.
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He raised his fist. Vietra froze. He had taught her what this meant as they walked.
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A low sound drifted through the trees. Sniffing. Soft paws against the mud.
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Wolves.
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Not a full pack. Two, maybe three.
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Leo slowly reached into his pouch and scattered crushed leaves across the ground, masking their scent. It was something he had prepared to throw off pursuers.
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He gestured for Vietra to move behind a fallen tree.
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They crouched together, barely breathing.
⠀
A wolf emerged between the trees. It was smaller than the alpha from yesterday. Lean, its nose pressed into the ground as it circled.
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Another shape followed behind it.
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Leo tightened his grip on his sword but did not draw it.
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He knew combat would leave significant traces.
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Instead, he grabbed a pebble and flicked it into the bush far to their left.
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The sound echoed in the silent forest.
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The wolf lifted its head, ears twitching. It hesitated, then turned toward the noise.
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Moments later, the second wolf followed, barking.
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They waited long after the sounds faded into the bushes.
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Only when the birds singing slowly returned did Leo's heart calm and he exhaled.
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Vietra let out a breath she had been holding and looked him dead in the eyes, her eyes wide. "You didn't fight."
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"There was no reason to engage," Leo said.
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They moved again, slower now. Even more careful than before.
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Eventually, they reached a narrow ridge overlooking a deeper section of the forest.
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Leo studied the ground, a confused look on his face.
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Large footprints. Deep impressions were printed into the ground. Something, or someone, was heavy.
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"That is not a wolf," Vietra said softly.
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"No, it isn't," Leo agreed without hesitation.
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The trees ahead were broken, bark taken off the trunks. Mana residue hung faintly in the air.
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Whatever lived deeper inside the forest had been active recently.
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Leo straightened his back.
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"We stop here," he said. "Let's take a brief rest. Then we move carefully."
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Vietra nodded, her expression serious.
⠀
From far within the forest, a guttural, low roar echoed.
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It was not close.
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But it was coming.