C26. Dark Forest (II)

"Over there," Sara's hushed voice sounded a slight distance from me as she hurriedly knelt down behind a thick bush, her hands gripping the wooden staff tightly as she beckoned the rest of us over with a slow hand gesture,

"Giant. Boar." She mouthed, pointing in front of her with caution, then placing a finger in front of her lips. Then slowly moving her fingers as she drew a circle in the air to signal us to get into position.

"Alrighty," Palmer whispered back in reply, to which was responded with a wide-eyed Sara with her finger in front of her lips,

"Shhh. Go." She mouthed once more, after making sure the Boar hadn't heard him.

"Let's go. Let's go." Palmer hurriedly covered his mouth as he looked over at me, and dramatically rolled his eyes,

We quickly retreated a few metres back, Sara still in position, as we slowly surrounded the giant 1.5 metre tall boar; cautious to not alert it in any way.

I quietly lowered my presence behind the tall grass as I glanced over to Sara who as making sure everyone was in position. Her head barely visible as she slowly scanned around, before slowly raising a fist in the air. The signal.

"RAAAAHHH!!" Palmer's scream suddenly echoed through the shrubberies as his figure could be seen charging towards the boar, Elliot and Zeffern also popping up from behind a bush, Elliot swinging his staff as he cast a spell whilst Zeffern sheathed his sword and charged over.

Aligard also silently rushing over, his eyes squinting as he aimed for the Boar's hind leg.

Following the signal, I also charged forward, taking out my sword and jumping forward, my sword coming into contact with the boar's hide.

"Palmer!! What the fuck are you doing?!" Sara suddenly screamed from the distant, her staff held in front of her as she was casting a spell, "Why are you charging??"

"Huh?" Palmer's charge quickly came to a halt as he looked at his staff and the rest of the sword wielders slashing at the boar, "Good question..." He met out a mutter before awkwardly took a step back and pointed his staff forward, instantly casting multiple water spears in the air, all of them immediately charging straight through the though skin of the boar's back.

KRRRAAAAA!! The boar let out an ear-wrenching scream as a mouthful of blood escaped its snout, the blood racing down it's back as it collapsed to the ground in pain.

[Bloodline: +1 Boar]

[Strength: +0.2]

[Skill Learnt: Charge]

"That was close... Did we get it?" Palmer lowered his staff while pretending to wipe his forehead.

"I think so," Zeffern replied, poking the beast with the end of his sheath, after sliding his blade back in.

"Yep." Sara confirmed, looking and showing the rest of the group her card; the number '3' displayed clearly on it, "47 left,"

"Alrighty!" Palmer cheered, while everyone simply let out a weary smile. Everyone but Aligard, who simply wore his poker face expression the entire time.

-----

"Wow, the ground's pretty far down," Sara whistled, placing a hand over her eyes as she took a peek beside her, the trail which we took immediately cutting off and the tops of the trees coming into view.

"Why are we even up here??" Palmer groaned, his entire body hugging the wall of the mountain, not even daring to look down,

"Basilisks, you idiot." Sara replied with a nervous, yet excited grin on her face as she continued to climb up, "One basilisk, and we might even be the first group to finish the exam."

"But why??" Palmer explained, "There's no point being first!!"

"But isn't it exciting? You don't do this everyday." Sara grinned, heaving herself up a stable rock jagged out of the mountain cliff, "It'll also be the first time we see and hunt a basilisk!"

"Yeah. Hunt. If we don't die first!" He retorted, inching slightly forward, accidentally kicking a small pebble in the process, that single pebble, bouncing off the gravel footing and disappearing below them, "We're going to die I tell you!" He let out a fearful whimper.

"Oh my god! Just shuddup and hurry up here! You're going to be fine!" Sara shouted back, finally unable to take the turtle-like pace of Palmer, "Lenso! Do something," She looked over to me as I sat down with the rest of the group, and we wall watched Palmer struggle with amusement.

With a sigh and a glance at the sky, the sun already way past noon.

"Palmer. Close your eyes." I said, standing up and putting my sword beside me.

He did as I said and with a list of a finger, I cast wind magic below him and floated him over.

"Bro! You should have done that earlier!" Palmer explained after feeling his feet touching the ground once more and opening his eyes.

"Waste of mana." I replied, taking my sword, and we all continued to the apex of the mountain, the path wider and a lot safer than before.