Of all, Sera was the most confused by Lyren's sudden outburst. Kaelen seemed to be ultra-annoyed and everyone had only one question.
Where the hell did this kid get the guts to shout at Kaelen? Not even she did it.
And this was what made her rethink the situation and she could tell that something was really wrong.
Either he had hit his head pretty bad and these were the side effects or, something bad was really happening. She looked around and saw the Black -horned gale deer try to stand up once again only for it to crumble.
This creature was clearly in its last legs. The gouging of its eyes was a clear ticket to the other side.
She looked at it this time carefully though as she realized that something was actually wrong and the fact she was catching on right now was another blow to her pride.
The Elyria was getting denser. That could not be a good thing.
She realized that the deer had actually stopped screeching and it had been lying on the ground. What had it been doing?
A forced breakthrough? This thought filled her with dread but it was already too late as the Elyria suddenly started forming a vortex that spanned over twenty meters radius.
They were all engulfed and it appeared they had committed a slip up that was going to cost them their lives.
If the deer advanced, there was no stopping it now and in their current state, they could only barely hurt it. What would happen if it was to advance? They were all going to die!
"Attack!" Sera screamed at the remaining standing team but the vortex created a whirlpool that made it impossible to even move.
She could not help but send a glance at Lyren who was still on the ground hurt. Just how could the young boy be more competent than her.
She should have realized that none of this would have happened if they did not treat Lyren like he was a kid. She should have known this firsthand from their deal...
Was he going to keep a grudge with her? She thought he would speak again but his eyes only met hers for a brief moment before he looked away.
Well, she had disappointed not only him but also herself. But it was just when the vortex was about to reach its apex that it suddenly stopped.
They looked around wondering what had happened and their eyes fell on Lyren once again.
***
"My arrow was deflected. That should have done it. I will have to aim again properly and not get tense." He was about to draw another arrow when the deer suddenly charged and Julia was caught by the horns. He was too scared to move and he just watched paralyzed as the deer trampled on her.
Then it wanted to ram her into the ground and he really felt that he should move but his body did not oblige. Was she going to die on his watch?
Why was he so weak? And then, he saw the kid charging towards the deer on its hind legs and he was screaming inside for him not to go but his voice seemed to have a will of its own.
He watched the change in events and as the kid was sent flying. Lady Sera's scream came to his ears and he was suddenly able to breath.
He had not realized that he was not breathing all along. But even then, he was unable to stand up and he could only stare at Lyren who was thrown the furthest.
Why did the weak have to be given what he wanted? Courage…
Now the kid had sacrificed himself for strangers who had tortured and betrayed him. Why did he have to be so selfless?
He should have been the one who saved her but he was unable to move. Then he saw the three attacking the deer and succeeding.
He felt that gouging the eyes was not enough but since he was unable to attack, he should have remained silent.
He stood up later and looked at the job that had been completed with his only contribution being he was the one responsible for Julia's situation for angering the beast.
He picked his bow and clenched his fist. He was never going to let his comrades suffer as long as he had the bow in his hands.
And then it happened. The words the kid said. There was a sense of urgency that seemed to emanate from the same energy he had when he charged at the deer.
He was telling them to finish it off and Kaelen was actually jesting. Then their eyes met. Those eyes were not of fear but anger. Why was he angry? Because he was made fun of?
That did not make sense. The kid had not shown his anger but only vulnerability and courage throughout. This meant that they were misreading him.
"Fucking do it!" That was not just an ordinary kid speaking.
He was screaming at him to listen to him and he wanted to do something for this kid who had the courage but not the power. He was going to lend him his!
He stood up and faced the deer. He drew an arrow and notched it on the string. He closed one eye and he performed his technique on the arrow.
This time, he was not going to miss. He took longer to aim and he was just about to release when the vortex of Elyria appeared and he was forced to close his eyes.
The beast was advancing. If that happened, they were done for. The kid had once again showed him that he was not only courageous but he also had a deep sense of danger.
Exactly what you would expect from someone who had survived the forest for a whole year on his own without any cultivation. Even he did not know whether he would survive.
He remembered just what he had promised himself. As long as he had the bow in his hand, he was not going to watch a comrade die.
He opened his eyes as he took in a calm deep breath as he adjusted his aim. If he missed, then it was going to be his fault that they died.
And that was why he had been able to improve his mastery of the bow.
He felt that even in this vortex, nothing was going to stop his arrow. Then he released it.
The string vibrated sending a reverb through the bow and his hand.
His fingers had been peeled off of some flesh after releasing the arrow but he was confident that he was not going to miss. He watched as his arow tore through the vortex and reaching the head.
The arrow pierced through the closed eyelids and then tore through the skull and then the brain mashing it.
He heaved a sigh of relief as he watched the vortex start slowing down and the Elyria concentration suddenly slowed. The deer had just stood up in order to advance and it fell sideways no longer breathing.
Maybe it was never going to understand how it had lost its life to them when it was certain of its victory. He looked at the kid who had his head leaning on the tree.
Their eyes met and they were somehow calm. A chilly calm that should not have been there after their lives were in danger.
Well, even he had never felt so calm and confident in his life before. Just what was it about this kid? He might have just changed him forever.
As the vortex died down and the leaves and dust that had been lifted fell, they all looked around to see who it was that had saved them.
Their eyes landed on his straight back and the arrow in the deer's head was clear proof of his success. He raised the hand holding the bow as he let out a roar of victory.
He was the hero of this endeavor and he was claiming this victory for himself from the number one and two students.
Today, the number three student James was going to be taking the spotlight and with that, the number two spot might as well be within his reach…