"This isn't so hard," Kael murmured as he adjusted himself on the back of the first horse in the caravan. The morning breeze tousled his hair as he kept a firm posture, the reins held tightly in his hands. The stableman, who had initially instructed him on the basics, watched from a distance with a mix of surprise and approval.
"You learn fast, kid," the older man comnted, walking alongside the horse. "Most people take days to find balance on a horse, but you're already comfortable up there like it's second nature."
Kael shrugged. "I guess it helps to have worked on controlling my own body," he replied, trying to sound casual, but secretly pleased with the complint.
"Just don't get too cocky," the stableman warned with a smile. "Horses don't like overly confident people. Treat it with respect."
Kael nodded in understanding, gently stroking the horse's neck. The animal seed calm under his guidance, moving with ease. He took a mont to look around. The caravan was moving slowly along a narrow trail, flanked by a landscape that alternated between open fields and sparse woods. The weather was pleasant, and the rhythmic sound of hooves on the ground mixed with the murmurs of the travelers and the distant songs of birds.
Adalric rode further back, watching Kael with a discerning look. The man seed pleased to see him progressing so quickly in sothing as basic as horseback riding. He didn't say anything, but Kael knew those keen eyes weren't missing a thing. Irelia, on the other hand, was galloping ahead, moving with the familiarity of soone born for it. Her occasional laughter echoed down the trail, showing how at ease she was.
"So, how's it going, mage?" Irelia teased, slowing down to approach Kael. She cast a curious glance at the horse and then at him. "Aren't you scared of falling?"
"Not at all," Kael replied, his voice calm. He t her gaze for a mont before smiling slightly. "Maybe you should worry about not falling while trying to impress everyone else."
"Impress? Please," she laughed, leaning forward in her saddle. "I was born riding. You barely managed to get up there without help."
Kael just shook his head, realizing it wasn't worth arguing. He knew Irelia loved to tease him, and any response would just fuel it. Still, he felt a small spark of competitiveness ignite inside him. After all, he wasn't the type to accept being underestimated.
Their conversation was interrupted when Adalric approached. "Alright, you two," he called, his voice laced with authority. "We're about to enter the last part of our journey. From here on, the trail gets trickier, and we need to stay alert. Kael, consider this another part of your training."
"Trickier?" Kael repeated, raising an eyebrow.
Adalric pointed to the horizon, where the landscape began to change. The open plains were giving way to rolling hills and dense clusters of trees. The trail seed to disappear amid the rugged terrain, promising challenges ahead.
"We'll be crossing an area known to be infested with magical beasts and... other dangers," Adalric explained, his expression serious. "And, as we discussed, you'll be the first to face anything that appears."
Kael swallowed but nodded. He knew this was part of his learning process, part of proving himself. And, though he wouldn't admit it out loud, a part of him was eager for the challenge.
"Understood," he said, tightening the reins.
Irelia looked at Kael with a mix of curiosity and concern. "If you need help, I'll be nearby," she said, her voice softer than usual.
Kael smiled at her, appreciating the gesture. "Thanks, but I think I can handle this."
Adalric watched the interaction with a discreet smile before commanding the group to move forward.
The group continued forward, the horses advancing carefully along the narrow trail. The terrain had beco trickier, with the path winding around the mountain. The landscape alternated between steep descents and sharp ascents, making the journey tense for everyone. To the right, a jagged rock wall lood, threatening, while to the left, a deep ravine opened up, revealing an impressive yet perilous view of the valley below.
The travelers were alert, knowing that any mistake could be fatal. A stone rolling from the slope on the right would be enough to destabilize the carriage or spook the horses, sending them directly into the abyss. Adalric rode at the front, leading the group confidently, but his eyes remained sharp, taking in every detail around them.
"Make sure the horses keep their pace," he ordered the carriage driver, his voice firm. "And stay alert for any sounds coming from the rocks."
Kael, mounted on his horse, nervously gazed at the ravine. Though he was starting to get more comfortable on the animal, the unstable ground and intimidating height left him uneasy. He couldn't help but imagine what would happen if he lost his balance or if the horse got spooked.
"Are you scared, mage?" Irelia's voice sounded beside him, with that usual teasing tone.
Kael shot her a look, but the girl seed genuinely relaxed, as if she weren't crossing one of the most dangerous parts of the journey. "I'm just being cautious," he replied. "And stop calling Mage. I've already apologized for lying to you! Just Kael, please."
Irelia let out a short laugh. "Cautious? Doesn't seem like it. You're holding those reins like you're trying to crush sothing. And I'll call you whatever I want, MAGE."
Kael realized his hands were tense and slowly relaxed his fingers. "It's easy for you to say," he murmured. "You don't seem to worry about anything."
"Because I've been this way before," she replied with a smile. "And honestly, if sothing goes wrong, I'm sure you'll find a way."
Before Kael could respond, a distinct sound echoed through the trail – the sound of shifting stones above them. He imdiately looked up, feeling his heart race. High on the right slope, rocks began to tumble, rolling with alarming speed toward the group.
"Rocks!" shouted one of the soldiers, and chaos ensued.
Adalric acted swiftly. "Get off the horses! Protect the carriage!" he ordered, his voice cutting through the turmoil like a blade.
Kael jumped off his horse, pulling the reins to steer it away from the path. The rocks kept tumbling, so large enough to crush a man. He looked up, trying to locate the source, and felt a chill run down his spine when he saw shadows moving on the slope. This wasn't just a natural landslide – they were being attacked.
"Magical beasts," murmured Adalric, eyes fixed on the shadows. "Kael, get ready. This is your battle."
Without hesitation, Kael focused his energy, feeling the power build inside him. He glanced at Adalric, who gave a small nod, signaling him to move forward. Kael took a deep breath and began climbing the slope, dodging the falling rocks with surprising agility.
"Irelia, protect the convoy," Adalric ordered, but she hesitated, looking at Kael.
"I should go with him!" she protested, but Adalric was firm. "No, this is his trial. Stay here."
Kael reached a plateau on the slope, where the creatures finally revealed themselves. They were stone beasts, large and imposing, with bodies covered in armor that glistened like minerals in the sunlight. Their red eyes glead with primal ferocity, and their movents made the ground tremble. There were at least three of them, and all of them were focused on Kael.
[Stone Golem, Rank D]
"Perfect," Kael murmured, raising his hand and invoking his magic. The wind around him began to swirl, forming an invisible barrier as he assessed his opponents. He knew this battle would be more than just a test of strength – it would be a test of control.
The beasts charged, their heavy paws breaking rocks under the impact. Kael waited, holding his position until the last mont, before releasing a gust of wind that hit the first creature with enough force to knock it down. Its shell resisted the impact, but Kael wasn't surprised. He knew he would need sothing more precise to defeat them.
The second beast attacked from the side, and Kael spun through the air, dodging with an almost superhuman grace. He landed behind it and, with a swift motion, channeled his magic to form blades of wind around his hands. With a precise strike, he severed one of the creature's hind legs, causing it to collapse with an ear-splitting roar.
"Control, Kael," he murmured to himself, repeating Adalric's words. "I need precision, not brute force. And use a sword! Stop making Magic Swords!"
The third beast attacked, but this ti Kael was ready. He focused his magic into a single point, creating a sharp lance of wind. With a fluid motion, he hurled it directly into the creature's shell, shattering it with a loud crack. The beast collapsed, motionless.
Kael took a deep breath, looking at the defeated beasts. His heart raced, but there was a strange sense of accomplishnt in his chest. He then grabbed a random steel sword that had been handed to him. Just as he did, he saw four more beasts appear.
'I've already killed three, and now four more have appeared... six Rank D souls... this is going to give a lot of power...' Kael thought, smiling.
The beasts moved slowly, as if studying Kael. Their red eyes were intimidating, but Kael didn't flinch. He positioned himself, gripping the sword firmly as his aura began to flow. This ti, he didn't intend to use magic imdiately – he wanted to experience the weight of physical combat, to test how far he could go with skill and strategy.
The first beast charged, its heavy paws kicking up dust as it advanced. Kael waited until the last mont, spinning to the side and dodging the attack. With a precise movent, he swung the sword and struck the side of the creature. The blow caused a crack in its shell, but it wasn't enough to bring it down.
"I need to be faster," Kael murmured, adjusting his stance as the creature turned to face him again.
Before he could strike, another beast lunged at him. Kael leaped backward, feeling the impact of the attack on the ground where he had been. He gripped the sword with both hands, channeling so of his physical strength. With a quick and controlled strike, he hit the front leg of the second beast, breaking it in a clean motion. The creature fell, roaring in pain, but Kael was already moving toward the next target.
"Don't be led by instinct!" Adalric's voice echoed from below, reminding him to maintain control. "Plan each strike!"
Kael nodded to himself. He knew he couldn't just react – he needed to think, anticipate the movents of his enemies. He focused on the third creature, which moved more cautiously, as if learning from the mistakes of the others. Kael narrowed his eyes and waited, observing how it moved its paws. When the creature attacked, Kael spun in a fluid motion, sliding past the side of the beast and striking a vulnerable point on its shell. The sword pierced easily, and the creature collapsed without resistance.
The system flashed in his mind:
[Stone Golem – Rank D defeated]
Kael felt the familiar surge of energy course through his body. It was subtle, but invigorating, like a fire warming him from the inside out. He looked at the remaining two beasts, now hesitating. They seed to be assessing the situation, but Kael didn't give them ti to react.
"It's my turn," he said, advancing with determination.
With quick and precise movents, Kael eliminated the fourth beast, slicing through its shell with the sword. The last creature tried to retreat, but Kael didn't hesitate. He raised the blade and launched it with precision, striking the creature's core. The beast fell, motionless.
[Stone Golem – Rank D defeated]
The sound of the defeated beasts echoed in the air, followed by the heavy silence of the mountain. Kael stood at the center of the slope, the sword still firm in his hand, as his breath steadied. He felt the power of the souls accumulated within him, each one adding sothing more to his strength.
"It wasn't perfect, but it was impressive," Adalric comnted, appearing at the base of the slope with a satisfied smile.
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Kael descended the slope slowly, feeling the fatigue in his muscles, but also the satisfaction of a battle won. Irelia was further down, arms crossed and a mocking smile on her face.
'Six Rank D souls... considering the characteristics, I'll probably just receive Strength and Endurance,' Kael thought.
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