Hidden Pond (2)

[The Whispering Woods]

The Great Spirit Eurus.

It is said that before the shattering of The Tree of Grace, four great spirits were created by an anonymous human during The Golden Age of Magic.

These four spirits embodied elements born of free will, chosen and allowed to roam throughout the ends of Gathlantica without consequence.

The four elements were Wind, Fire, Water, and Earth.

Given names by their creator, they were not bound by contracts and were said to be the originators and creators of the ancient spirits that existed then.

Eurus, the Great Spirit of Wind, is the element with the highest attack output.

A broken record document claims Eurus was capable of severing multiple islands with ease.

However, throughout the centuries that have passed, no mage or swordsman has been capable enough of contracting or awakening Eurus.

Currently, it is widely believed that the great spirits are merely stories told by ancient spirit beasts, meant to inspire humans to seek these ultimate powers and become even more powerful mages than before.

The Great Spirits were only active during times when a perfect vessel for them existed, or in the extreme exception that a power capable of surpassing and disrupting the balance of this world had awakened.

***

Ezekiel hesitated, his heart pounding in his chest. How should he approach this boy? He seemed so...ordinary.

Yet, the way the spirits flocked around him, and Eurus's reaction, suggested there was something extraordinary about him.

He had to be from a well-known family, or at least a descendant of some great hero, to garner such attention.

"Greetings...um, fellow noble,"

Ezekiel began his voice a touch shaky.

"What brings you here to this pond?"

He winced inwardly at his own awkwardness.

He'd spent his life surrounded by adults and tutors, never really having the chance to interact with children his own age.

The boy with crimson red eyes merely furrowed his brow at Ezekiel's greeting. This only amplified his unease.

Had he said something wrong?

Was there some hidden protocol he was unaware of?

"Hurry it up," a voice whispered in Ezekiel's ear, the soft touch of wings brushing his cheek.

Eurus, the Great Wind Spirit, had grown impatient with his hesitation.

Ezekiel flinched, startled by the sudden intrusion.

"...AH-"

In his surprise, he stumbled and tripped, the wind catching his hood and whipping it back, revealing his face to the other boy.

The boy's eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, a flicker of fear danced in their depths.

It was as if he recognized something in Ezekiel's features, something that made him want to bolt.

And in response, Ezekiel felt extremely embarrassed which wasn't fit for a prince of his Kingdom.

whoooosh...

I...I wanna go home... Ezekiel looked to the side with a frown and quickly got up with the help of the wind.

Ehem...

Ezekiel coughed, pretending nothing had happened.

"If you don't mind... could you tell me your name, please?"

Ezekiel looked at the boy before him, who seemed dazed, as if looking at something else.

"...B-Behind you..."

"Behind you?" Ezekiel thought. "Surely that can't be his name, right?"

Then, another voice popped into his ear, this one coming from Eurus.

"Actually, he meant the thing behind you."

Ezekiel then looked at the ground and saw a massive shadow towering over them both.

As he turned around, he witnessed a massive monster with the appearance of a giant boar with menacing tusks.

Right before them, a Low-Class Boss Monster appeared.

Bristleback the Earth Eater.

***

I need to move! Ezekiel's instincts screamed at him to move, to run, to escape the danger before him.

The monstrous boar before him, Bristleback the Earth Eater, radiated an aura of raw power and primal fury that sent chills down his spine.

He had learned about boss monsters in his studies, creatures with sharpened mana and an overwhelming presence that could easily crush lesser beings.

"move."

PUSH!

But before he could react, a surge of energy slammed into him, sending him flying backward.

He tumbled through the air, landing with a thud against the base of a tree. 

GROARRRR!

His vision blurred, and a sharp pain shot through his side.

As he regained his focus, he saw the massive boar slamming its tusks into the ground where he and Julian had just been standing.

BANG!!!

A wave of earth and debris erupted, obscuring his view of the other boy.

Fear twisted in Ezekiel's gut, but it was quickly replaced by a surge of anger and frustration.

He had been saved, but by whom? And at what cost?

He pushed himself to his feet, ignoring the throbbing pain in his side. 

His eyes scanned the chaotic scene, searching for any sign of the boy.

But the clearing was empty, the dust settling to reveal only the trampled earth and the menacing figure of Bristleback.