The Beast

Aria and Leon had walked through the forest for days without a sign of nearing Eldrida. It seemed that the place was far and not as they had thought. Sitting down by a tree, Aria asked for water from Leon. Leon gave her a wine skin that he used to carry water with.

"I am afraid that we have ran out of water princess. This is the last we've got," he said handing the wine skin to Aria. Aria took the wineskin from him and drank the contents down in one gulp.

"Stay here princess,"Leon said shading his face with his hands from the strong light,"I will go and find some water." Aria nodded at him and lay there watching the canopy of the trees above her. Meanwhile, Leon took his sword and left to find a water body or anywhere he could some water.

The forest was dense and ominously quiet. It gave off the feeling of imminent danger and one had to be cautious. Leon's grip on his sword tightened as he travelled further deep in the forest. Little did he know that something was watching his every move. Leon halted in his tracks and he had a feeling that he was being watched. Looking behind, he saw some rustling on a nearby bush. He was sure that whatever was watching him was hiding there.

Taking brisk but measured steps, he cautiously approached whatever was there. Unsheathing his sword from its scabbard, he was prepared to face it with all that he got. But it seemed he was too late. The thing had disappeared. He couldn't help but wonder the direction it went. What if it had gone to the princess. Leon's mind raced with possibilities and he knew that he had to check on the princess.

Aria had taken a nap and she had closed her eyes to relax after the long tiresome journey. The air around her suddenly dropped and she started feeling cold allover her body. Opening her eyes slowly, she found an enormous beast staring at her with the intent to kill evident in its crystal blue eyes. The beast lifted its hand showcasing its sharp claws ready to strike. Aria was caught off guard and she could certainly do nothing. She closed her eyes as she anticipated death to come to her. But the next thing she knew, Leon was holding her in midair as they landed a few meters away from where the beast was.

Aria looked at it and she could now have a clear view of it. It was a massive, fearsome creature that stood on four legs, with a thick coat of white fur. It seemed it was adapted to live in snow covered places. But what was it doing here? Its head was large, with sharp, curved horns that protruded from its forehead, and its eyes were a piercing blue that seemed to glow in the dark. Its fangs were long and jagged, covered in icy blue crystals that gave them an otherworldly appearance. Its body was muscular and powerful, with razor-sharp claws that could tear through flesh and bone with ease. As it prowled towards Aria and Leon, its breath billowed out in thick, white clouds, freezing the air around it.

The beast seemed angered by Leon's action and it turned to them gnawing its fangs at them. It growled menacingly as it stood up, ready to attack again. Leon stood in a defensive stance ready to protect the princess. The beast charged madly at them and slapped Leon throwing him a few feet away. Blood oozed from his mouth as he lay there whining in pain.

Aria was now facing the beast alone and she knew she had to do something. She picked Leon's sword that had fallen on the ground and gave out a yell before she attacked the beast madly. She was able to dodge several deathly blows from the beast before she received the same treatment as Leon. She landed not too far from where Leon was but luckily she did not sustain major injuries.

The beast growled while beating its chest. It seemed satisfied by its victory. Crawling towards where Leon was, she shook him lightly waking him up. Leon looked around and saw the beast boasting around before it looked at their direction.

"We have to team up if we have to defeat this thing,"Aria nodded in understanding while helping Leon up,"You attack from top with your magic while I attack from below." Leon took the sword from her and stood up.

The beast was now striding towards them with a killing intent. Leon charged at it carefully this time and he managed to cut through its flesh on its right leg. It growled in pain and grew more angrier now. Meanwhile, Aria was concentrating on her magic while Leon bought her time. She conjured a fire ball as big as the size of a head and sent it towards the beast. It was engrossed with Leon and it didn't see the fire ball coming.

The fire ball hit the beast at its face and it growled louder in pain. It seemed to have lost its sight and it aimlessly threw its claws to Leon. Leon managed to dodge a few but one caught him off guard and sent him flying a few meters away. It seemed he would turn out to be the victim in this fight.

Aria decided to end the beast's madness once and for all. Reaching for her sword, she channeled her fire through it and rose a few meters above the ground. At that time she looked like a goddess ascending to heaven. The beast was still throwing its claws aimlessly to no one in particular. Aiming at its throat, Aria descended on the beast and sliced through its neck. Green fluid oozed out as the beast crumbled down with a thud.

Aria landed softly and run to where Leon was. She was worried that something bad might have happened to him. Crouching low, she helped him sit up on a nearby tree before he coughed out blood.

"It's okay," she said softly hugging him, "you're safe now." Leon felt Aria's heart pounding under her embrace and he felt a warm light envelope his being and the next thing he knew, his pain was gone. Had the princess cast a healing spell on him.

Aria felt Leon move under her embrace and she broke from it eyeing him with worry. Contrary. Leon was smiling at her looking fine as if he had not fought in the first place. Aria eyed him suspiciously with questions written allover her face.

"Did you cast a healing spell on yourself?"Aria could not help but ask. Leon smiled back at her with pride before he said," It was you princess. You cast a healing spell on me."