Chapter 6: The Grind Begins.

The beautiful and tranquil forest was a serene spot that could have been an ideal space for a picnic or a spot to relax if it wasn't already occupied by a skirmish between Diacrao's party and a small band of three gnolls, outnumbered by the party in a 2 to 1 situation, but it seemed like the party was outmatched by the gnoll's natural strength and prowess in combat, and the disastrous battle shows the party's weakness at its finest.

"Quick! Conrad! make a quick stab behind its back- Argh!!" Aitana hurled her commands as she was quickly interrupted by a gnoll's strike with its crude bastard sword, only for her to block it with her staff, but it sent her back from her knees. "Guys I think we might've have a serious skill issue right here...." Aitana said as she huffed and puffed as she take this time to recollect her breath from the gnoll's attack.

"Yeah, no shit! One week of training and you expected us to take on elites!?!" Conrad yelled as he and Diacrao come face-to-face against a gnoll that was twice their height, armed with a mace and a shield. The menacing beast is fairly armored, and striking its vitals seems to be an impossible attack to execute. The giant beast roared before it slammed the ground with its mace. Conrad and Diacrao made a hasty attempt at dodging, narrowly escaping the fatal strike.

While Conrad was able to get up on his knees quickly, Diacrao was still on the ground, stunned by the strike from the said beast, which now has its eyes set on the male. Conrad, seeing that this is his opportunity, launched himself with his dagger at quick speed, hoping to strike it from its exposed back.

It was a success, he was able to plunge his dagger into the beast's back, albeit, it was on its leather armor, and the dagger was not strong enough to land any sort of damage. This captured the gnoll's attention, who promptly swung its hand behind, bashing Conrad as it sent him flying into the distance, before landing as he winced in pain.

"Conrad!" Diacrao shouted as he got on his knees with his short sword, sidestepping backward as he steered clear of the beast's vicinity. "Conrad, are you alright?" Diacrao asked again as he stood guard against the beast, but the beast seemed unfazed at its strike, rather, it smirked and even laughed at his petty demeanor. Diacrao was shocked, not that we were mocked, but a beast was able to display some sort of emotion other than violence.

"Urgh, where is OUR big guy!?! isn't he supposed to take this meat bag here!?!" Conrad yelled as he spat blood on the ground, wiping off the remaining blood from his mouth as he stood up with his dagger. Kadungon was locked in single combat with another gnoll that was about his size, but it seemed like a one-sided battle, at best, as his slow strikes from his spear led his opponent to dodge and strike quickly, to which the male had blocked, and it seems to be draining his stamina. At this point, his strikes were becoming sloppy, and the beast would overpower him at that point.

The gnoll, seeing his opponent growing sloppy, hurled a quick strike with its crude blade, slashing his cheeks, to which he winced at that pain, but still stood his ground. As the gnoll attempted to launch another strike, it was promptly disrupted by a weak arcane missile that hit its back. The gnoll snarled and turned its back.

In the distance, it was Chiasoka who launched the arcane missile at the gnoll, but now she was startled at the sight of the beast who has its eyes locked on her, and it seemed like it is about to rush in her direction. She hastily tried to cast out a few words and form a pattern, but it was too late as the beast was already rushing in her direction. However, the beast was distracted by an arrow shot that was flown in front of its face, but it was quickly blasted back by another weak arcane missile that was cast by the fledgling mage, to which angered the gnoll.

"Don't stand there alone Soka! you need to get back here quick!" Zemfina said as she drew another arrow from her bow hastily, in which a few arrows have dropped hastily. However, she was quickly alarmed by Aitana's scream who was nearby her, as she tries to parry and dodge a gnoll's frantic array of slashes in which she fell to her knees, but the gnoll wasn't able to draw a decisive blow as it was interrupted by Zemfina's slash from her hunter's dagger, to which it inflicted a flesh wound to the gnoll.

"We don't stand a chance like this....we need to fall back while we can," Diacrao said as he huffed and puffed, visibly exhausted from the battle with the beast. The same could be said for everyone, who has been worn down by the battle, it seemed like they would not stand a chance against the gnolls. It looks like they are gonna be sent to the graves, but a streak of luck appeared. The big gnoll let out a giant howl, and in an instant, its two lackeys rushed to its side, and the band of three ran away into a different direction of the woods.

"What.....what the hell just happened?" Conrad asked as he was puzzled by the scene that unfolded, to which he bent and placed his hands on his knees, to which he panted over and over again. "What the hell was that coordination!?! we could have been hyena chow!!" Conrad complained as he tried so hard to recollect his breath again.

"At least we can rest knowing we are not some beast's dinner, or trophy, or whatever they do to us," Zemfina mentioned as she sat down below a tree, tired as well, but she was much more composed in conveying her tired expression in contrast to Conrad. She took a leather canteen and opened its cap, before gulping down the water. As she was done, she offered it to Chiasoka who was heading to her direction, to which she accepted as she sat down beside Zemfina. "Thank you....for the water, and for saving my life back then.", she said, as she drank the water, to which Zemfina smiled and replied; "No problem."

"You did pretty good yourself Soka, but you're a mage, and you can't be by yourself. You should stick close to us." the huntress shared her advice with the mage who finished taking a few gulps from her canteen. "You are right...I should be more careful next time, once again, thank you."

"Alright, we better get out of this place. We don't know if they would be coming back with reinforcements or not." Aitana had said as she scanned around the horizon, checking on her comrade's well-being and keeping an eye for oncoming enemies. While everyone was exhausted, she took notice of Kadungon's wounded cheeks, which were rather deep. "Kadungon, come closer, and kneel down, this would not hurt."

The big guy was confused, but he did what she said, and he kneeled in front of her. She placed out her hands and closed her eyes, as she muttered the words; "Bless be Kamaria's mending towards thou's wounds."; in which spawned a green magic streak that mended Kadungon's wounds. It was quick, and painful, and surprised by this magical ability, to which he held on to his formerly wounded spot and marveled by her ability. "Thank you...", he replied softly.

"That was great, it didn't seem to hurt. But I assume you could only heal flesh wounds for now?" Diacrao asked as he was curious about the magic that he had witnessed. "Correct, I am able to heal flesh wounds, and large cuts too, but it would take time and too much energy. I am still fledgling." Aitana replied. "Understood, we will try to minimize our damages." Diacrao said to which Aitana gave a friendly nod.

"Alright, everyone's ready? let's get moving!" Aitana said as everyone got up from their state of rest before they exited. "I can't believe we didn't get anything today....." Conrad said disappointingly as they made their way. "Live on and fight another day, Conrad." to which Diacrao responded.