The Return Journey – Day Two, Late AfternoonThey'd been walking for a day and a half.Ethan's ribs ached with each breath. The panther's impact had cracked something—not broken, but damaged enough that movement hurt.Diana limped from the gash on her leg. Blake favored his right leg. Jake stayed close to his brother, ready to support him.Nova clutched the preservation container. His wounded arm was roughly bandaged, blood seeping through. His hands trembled constantly."Four hours to the Academy," Nova said. His voice was hoarse. "Then we're safe."[ALERT: DETECTING ANOMALOUS MOVEMENT PATTERNS. MULTIPLE HUMAN SIGNATURES MAINTAINING CONSISTENT DISTANCE FOR PAST 2.7 KILOMETERS. PATTERN SUGGESTS DELIBERATE TRACKING. PROBABILITY OF HOSTILE INTENT: 82%.]Ethan stopped. "We're being followed."Nova's head snapped up. "How many?""Unknown. They've been tracking us."Diana's hand moved to where Murakami would manifest. "How long?""At least an hour."Blake and Jake drew their swords."Could be Kane," Nova said. His voice was dead. "He knew I was attempting this hunt. I rejected his offer to join my party two weeks ago.""Who's Kane?""Level 3 apprentice. Stuck at bottleneck like me but younger. He wanted the panther's eyes." Nova's hands shook worse. "Smart. Let us do the dangerous work. Take the reward when we're exhausted."[UPDATED ALERT: TRACKING SIGNATURES CONVERGING. DISTANCE REDUCING. ESTIMATED TIME UNTIL CONTACT: 3-5 MINUTES.]"They're closing in."Diana scanned the forest. "Terrain's bad for defense.""Can't outrun them," Jake said. "We're too exhausted.""Then we fight." Nova's trembling stopped. His hands were steady. Not from calm. From fury. "Fifty-three years. I'm not giving it up."They moved into defensive positions—backs together, weapons ready.The forest went silent.Movement. Four figures emerged from the trees ahead.The leader was tall with cold eyes. Level 3 wizard apprentice—Ethan felt the magical pressure."Nova. Congratulations on your successful hunt.""Kane."Kane smiled. "You rejected my generous offer. Now I'm here to collect anyway."Three more figures emerged—surrounding them. Seven total. Four Level 2s, three Level 3s including Kane.Tactical formation. Professional."Hand it over. Walk away alive. Or we take it from your corpses."Nova roared. "FIFTY-THREE YEARS!"His hands rose. Magic gathered—more than should be safe."[INFERNO]!"Massive flames erupted. Raw destructive power.Kane raised a stone wall—cracked but held.The two Level 2s flanking Kane weren't fast enough.One's shield broke—flames consumed him—screams cut short.The other dove aside—too slow—caught fire—fell burning.Nova collapsed to one knee. "That's what fifty-three years buys."Kane's face twisted. "KILL THEM ALL!"Kane launched forward. "[Flame Lance]!"Diana intercepted. Murakami blazed—white blade meeting flame—explosion of light—The impact drove her back five feet.She charged Kane. Great Wizard training showing. Murakami a blur—driving him backward.The two remaining Level 3s flanked her."[Ice Spear]!""[Wind Blade]!"Blake and Jake intercepted with spells—steam and shattered ice—Three Level 2s advanced on Ethan and Nova.Ethan raised his crossbow. Hands shaking from exhaustion.Closest enemy—young woman, water affinity, hands glowing blue.Fifteen feet. Spell forming.He fired.Bolt struck her shoulder. She screamed, staggered—"[Water Whip]!"The magical construct lashed—caught Ethan's leg—Nova stepped forward. "[Flame Stream]!"Fire struck the water mage directly. She fell.Next enemy—earth mage—already attacking. "[Stone Spikes]!"Ground erupted—Ethan dodged—one spike grazed his side—pain—Nova roared. "[Fire Burst]!"Explosion consumed the earth mage.Nova collapsed to one knee, gasping.The third Level 2 saw the opening. Raised hands—Ethan fired—bolt went wide—Blake's Flame Arrow struck from the side. The enemy fell.Diana was in trouble.Ice woman's spell wrapped around her. "[Frozen Chains]!"Kane saw the opening. Fire blade swung toward her throat—Blake dove between them—Impact threw him backward. Hit a tree. Collapsed."BLAKE!" Jake screamed.Wind Blade user attacked. "[Cutting Gale]!"Blades struck Jake's back. Blood sprayed. He fell.Diana ripped free—tearing her own flesh—Murakami blazed. She killed the ice woman. One brutal strike.But Nova was on his knees, nearly spent.Kane preparing another spell.Wind Blade user moving toward the twins.Last Level 2 circling.[URGENT: HOST PARTY DEFEAT PROBABILITY: 89%. RECOMMEND IMMEDIATE TACTICAL SHIFT.][DETECTING MAGICAL SIGNATURE IN TREE CANOPY. BEARING 043 DEGREES, ELEVATION 12 METERS. ANALYSIS: BLAZEWING HIVE. HAND-SIZED AGGRESSIVE INSECTS. COLONY POPULATION: 200+ INDIVIDUALS.]Ethan's eyes snapped to the tree.There—twenty feet up—papery structure the size of a wagon wheel. Glowing with magic.[TACTICAL ASSESSMENT: HIVE DISRUPTION WILL CAUSE INDISCRIMINATE ATTACK. ESTIMATED ESCAPE WINDOW: 15-30 SECONDS.]Nova screamed as Kane's blade cut his arm. Deep. Bleeding.Ethan raised his crossbow. Aimed at the hive."EVERYONE RUN ON MY SIGNAL!"Diana's eyes found his. Saw where he aimed. Understanding flashed."THREE SECONDS!"Hands shaking. Small target.He steadied his breathing. Fired.The bolt struck just off-center. Penetrated.Heartbeat of silence.The hive exploded with buzzing.Blazewings poured out—hand-sized, glowing with fire, mandibles clicking, stingers dripping venom.Two hundred angry insects swarmed.Three attached to Kane's face. He screamed. Staggered.Five swarmed the Wind Blade user. He fell screaming.The last Level 2 went down covered in Blazewings.One caught Ethan's shoulder. Stung. Molten metal poured through his arm.He slapped it off. Another on his leg. Stung. He crushed it."RUN!" Diana grabbed Blake, threw him over her shoulder. Three on her back—stinging—she crashed through them—kept running—Jake forced himself up. Two on his wounded back. Blake tore them off—got stung four times—Ethan grabbed Nova.Blazewing on Nova's face. Stung his cheek. Ethan knocked it away.They ran.Blazewings chasing. Kane screaming behind them.Ethan's vision swam. Venom was fast. Shoulder burning. Leg going numb.Diana stumbled—venom affecting her—kept moving.Twins barely conscious. Supporting each other. Covered in stings.They crashed through undergrowth. Buzzing faded—territorial, wouldn't pursue far.Ethan collapsed. Body on fire. Three stings—shoulder, leg, neck.Diana had five. Pale. Shaking.Blake and Jake unconscious. Eight or nine stings each. Shallow breathing.Nova had three. Combined with exhaustion and sword wound—barely alive."Potions," Diana gasped. Poured them down the twins' throats. "Won't neutralize venom. Just heal wounds."Ethan's hands wouldn't work. Venom shutting down muscles."How long?""Hours. Fever." Diana's eyes unfocused. "We'll live."She collapsed beside the twins.Ethan lay on cold ground. Unable to move. Venom taking full effect.Vision tunneling. Fever starting.Darkness took him.
To the Tower. Up three flights of stairs. Each step harder than the last.To a heavy wooden door. Breakthrough Materials Registry.Nova knocked."Enter."They entered.An old man sat behind a desk. Level 3 wizard apprentice—gray-haired, maybe sixty years old. His eyes swept over them. Took in their injuries, their exhaustion, their determination."Nova," he said. His voice was neutral. "You survived.""I survived." Nova placed the preservation container on his desk. Opened it. Two glowing green eyes rested inside. "Glowing Eye Panther. Killed two days ago. Preserved properly."The man stood. Examined the eyes carefully. Ran magical detection spells over them."Authentic. Fresh. Well-preserved." He looked at Nova. "These are sufficient for a breakthrough attempt. You may proceed to the Advancement Chamber when you're ready."Nova's legs gave out. He sat down hard on the floor."Tomorrow," he whispered. "I'll attempt breakthrough tomorrow.""Confirmed. I'll register your attempt." The man made notes. Then looked at the rest of them. "The escort contract is fulfilled. Payment will be distributed to your accounts within the hour. Now go to Medical Hall before you collapse in my office."They left. Stumbled down the stairs. Across the grounds to Medical Hall.Healers took them immediately. Separate rooms. Antivenom potions. Healing spells for wounds. Treatment for exhaustion.Ethan lay on a medical bed while a healer worked on his injuries."Blazewing stings," the healer said. "Three of them. You're lucky you're not dead.""I know.""Cracked ribs. Deep bruising. Muscle damage." The healer's hands glowed green. Healing magic flowed. "You pushed your body beyond safe limits.""Had to survive.""Well, you did. Barely." The healer finished. "Rest here for four hours. Then you can leave. No strenuous activity for three days."Ethan nodded.The healer left.Ethan lay in silence. Staring at the ceiling.Two days in the Preserve. One panther hunt. One ambush. Seven enemy deaths. Countless injuries. Near-death multiple times.And they'd survived.All of them.He closed his eyes.For the first time in two days, he felt safe enough to truly rest.Sleep took him quickly.