AUTHOR'S POV
Eventually, Stellan gained the upperhand with his body still intact. The paladin power wrecks from his skin to his insides. Enduring the unexplainable aches, he continued to use the magic through the staff… amplifying it amidst the protest of the paladin power. He then spiraled the wind into a vortex, setting off several flowing electric currents keeping the dark healer in place. His great powers spur across the field. At this rate the dark healer could only release a piercing cry. A sight to behold for every knight who sees it.
With his emotions running high, Jac delightfully cheered watching Stellan single handedly fight against the dark healer. "Fuck yea!!! Helena got this!!".
Watching by the boulders, Atrius was totally gripped seeing Helena's masterful execution of her celestial powers. From being a novice in Brandenburg to a knight of Hesam, Helena remarkably grew as a great warrior of courage and valor. As he take cover, Atrius gasped when he heard a strange crunching noise nearby. He looked around, and saw nothing… thinking that it might only be the blares of Helena's magic.
He heard it again.
Curiouser, Atrius laid his hand on the ground, and felt the earth mildly tremble. Then, he heard a rhythmic rasping and more scrunching. Once more, he looked around and set his eyes on the linear burrow swiftly moving towards Jac. "Jac!", he called. However, Jacomus was too fascinated watching Stellan, that he didn't hear Atrius. "Jac watch out!".
A grayish brown monster with an elongated body like a scorpion with six extending scythe-like curling appendages erupted out from the dirt. It snarled showing its hideously sharp teeth, black hollow eyes and nose, and four cylindrical red horns.
It tackled Jacomus, dragging him away, losing his bow and sword as he get pulled. Like an impulse, Atrius drew his sword and unwittingly stabbed the creature by its tail, pinning it in place. It squirmed, yet it continued to grapple Jacomus, as if it doesn't define pain.
The creature seized hold of Jac, trying to devour it through the mouth on its stomach. With a set of teeth equally as sharp as claws, the monster pushes its body towards Jacomus who uses all his strength not to be eaten.
Stellan was stuck in a dilemma between finishing what he came for, and backing up Jac and Atrius. There were no knights close enough for immediate help. Stellan cursed in the wind. Seeing how bad Jac and Atrius' situation is, he ceased thinking twice. Without taking it further, he inexorably chose to drive the dark healer away with a strong blast of the wind, far flung from the prairie and help his friends.
A grave decision that has to be done.
The winds have stopped, and gradually, the grasses calmed. The only disturbance that's shaking the prairie is the presence of an esurient beast. Stellan turned to his friends, who were inch away to becoming a meal to a ravenous crawler. Jac was fighting for his life underneath the monster, and Atrius was slashing his sword by the monster's tail. Both in desperate and distressed positions.
Stellan raised his staff towards the crawler, which blinded it orb holes by its gleaming light. Then, he fettered the creature on every appendage attached to its body, using multiple blades of grass. Hurriedly, Jac go on all fours as get away. He then was able to reach for his sword.
At Stellan's surprise, the crawler was able to break free. Inevitably, the crawler was right on Jac's tail again, strapping its limb around his leg. "Jac..", he weakly uttered. Apparently, Stellan's powers weakened from being used excessively earlier. Down on his knees, Stellan panted as he lift his heavy eyes… and helplessly watch his friends turn to a main course.
"Jac!!! Do something!!", Atrius yelled as he lunge his blade towards the steel-like skin of the monster. After with one lucky thrust, he hit a tender spot. The crawler shrieked, arching its back with its outstretching extremities. It gave Jac a chance to escape the monster's dinner plate. The crawler violently waved its tail from more tickling jabs… until Atrius get struck by its tail.
Desperately, Jac ducked and dived until he narrowly escaped the clutches of the two-mouthed monster. He swiftly dodged its every lunge, and landed hits on its arms. One more time, Stellan garnered his celestial magic through his staff. Notwithstanding the pain and frailty coming over him, he waved his magic to summon the blades of grass to wrap the crawler's body… however not once answered to his command. "J-ac!", he gruffed.
As Jac attacks the crawler, he missed no second. Then, he climbed on teh crawler's back… clinging tightly on its body. Then, Jacomus have surged his paladin powers through his blade, and cut up the crawler right in the middle. He jumped down, and rolled out in style. "Tada!!", he stood up with a proud smirk. As he flaunt his sword beaming in florid glow, a dark slimey goo splattered right on Jac's face. "Eek!", he spewed some that got into his mouth, dropping his weapon that have extinguished its aura.
"Nice going, paladin", Stellan sighed at Jac's triumphant battle, shuddering to get up.
Quickly, Jac propped out the weakened comrade and grinned. "I learned from the best", Jacomus said. "Atrius, let's go!", he called.
"Imma…Imma stay here. You guys go", Atrius held onto a boulder, as he carry himself up.
"You sure?", Stellan furrowed his brows and gave Atrius a quick glance.
"Absolutely. Now, go! The dark healer might have gone too far", Atrius insisted, signaling Jac and Helena to go with a wave of a hand. "I'll stay here, just in case there are more crawlers would come in".
"Be safe", Stellan nodded. They both went ahead arm in arm, in hurried limps… leaving Atrius behind. Jac looked back and smiled. Atrius replied with a nod and a trembling smile as he watch the two disappear in the grass. He suspired shakily… as he press his hand on his midriff. Groaning lowly, blood started to ooze from his shirt. "Helena", he softly uttered.