[2k+ words!]
***
The serpent's strike was faster than anything Zane had ever seen. He barely managed to throw himself to the side, rolling across the moss-covered ground. The serpent's head crashed into the spot where he'd been standing, leaving a crater in the earth.
"Run!" Zane shouted at Eliza.
"I'm not leaving you!" she yelled back, but she did move away from the serpent, circling around to the side.
Smart girl. At least she wasn't going to get in the way.
The serpent turned its massive head toward Zane, those burning eyes fixed on his position. It opened its mouth, revealing rows of needle-like teeth, and hissed. The sound made his bones vibrate.
Zane channeled Aura into his legs and sprinted to the left. The serpent struck again, its head shooting forward like an arrow. He dove behind one of the thick tree roots, and the serpent's fangs sank into the wood instead of his flesh.
The root exploded into splinters.
This thing was strong. Way too strong. Level 8 wasn't just a number, it was a wall he couldn't climb.
But he didn't need to beat it. He just needed to survive long enough to get the Infinite Seed.
"Young Master!" Eliza shouted. "It's distracted!"
Zane glanced over and saw her waving her arms, trying to draw the serpent's attention. The serpent's head swiveled toward her, and his heart stopped.
"Eliza, no!"
But she was already moving, darting between the trees. The serpent lunged at her, and she barely dodged, rolling under a low-hanging branch. The serpent's body crashed through the branch, sending leaves and wood raining down.
She was giving him an opening.
Zane ran toward the white tree in the center of the grove. The Infinite Seed hung there, just within reach. If he could just grab it and run—
The serpent's tail whipped around, catching him in the chest. He flew backward, slamming into a tree trunk. Pain exploded through his ribs, and he tasted blood.
[WARNING: Health at 45%]
Damn it. One hit had taken more than half his health.
He struggled to his feet, coughing. The serpent was already turning back toward him, ignoring Eliza now. It knew he was the real threat.
Or maybe it just knew he was after the seed.
The serpent coiled its body, preparing to strike again. Zane raised his sword, knowing it wouldn't be enough. He was too slow, too weak.
Then Eliza appeared on top of one of the thick roots above the serpent. She had something in her hand, a rock, maybe twice the size of her fist.
"Hey, ugly!" she screamed, and threw the rock directly at the serpent's eye.
The rock hit true. The serpent recoiled, hissing in pain and fury. Its head thrashed wildly, and for just a moment, its body unwound from its defensive coil.
That was his chance.
Zane channeled every bit of Aura he had left into his legs and ran. Not toward the serpent, but past it, heading straight for the white tree. His ribs screamed with every step, but he didn't stop.
The serpent saw him, then it lunged at him, jaws wide open.
He wasn't going to make it.
"Young Master!" Eliza jumped from the root, landing on the serpent's head. She drove her dagger into its skull with both hands.
The blade didn't pierce deep, the scales were too thick, but it was enough to make the serpent miss. Its jaws snapped shut inches from Zane's back as he reached the tree.
He grabbed the Infinite Seed and yanked it from the branch. The moment it came free, the fruit pulsed with warmth in his hand.
[QUEST COMPLETE: THE INFINITE SEED]
REWARDS EARNED:
- Infinite Seed (Consumable)
- 500 EXP
- Title: "The One Who Steals Fate"
The serpent threw Eliza off its head. She hit the ground hard and didn't get up.
"Eliza!" Zane shouted.
The serpent turned toward her, and he saw the killing intent in its eyes. It was going to finish her.
Zane didn't think. He just moved.
He ran at the serpent, channeling Aura into his sword arm. The blade glowed faintly as he swung with everything he had, striking the serpent's side.
The sword bounced off the scales, barely leaving a scratch.
But it got the serpent's attention.
It turned back to him, and Zane saw his death in those burning eyes.
Then something strange happened. The white tree behind him began to glow. Bright, golden light poured from its branches, and the serpent recoiled as if burned.
The light grew brighter and brighter, forcing the serpent back. It hissed and thrashed, but it couldn't approach. Finally, with one last furious hiss, it slithered away into the shadows of the forest.
The light faded, and Zane collapsed to his knees. His whole body hurt, and he could barely breathe. But he was alive.
And he had the Infinite Seed.
"Young Master!" Eliza limped over to him, holding her side. Blood dripped from a cut on her forehead, but she was conscious. "Are you okay?"
"I should be asking you that," Zane said, his voice hoarse. "That was reckless."
"You're one to talk." She sat down heavily beside him. "What was that thing?"
"A guardian. Something that protects treasures like this." He held up the Infinite Seed, which still glowed faintly in his palm.
"And that's what we came for?" Eliza stared at the fruit. "It better be worth it."
"It will be." Zane carefully tucked the seed into his bag. He wasn't going to eat it here. If there were side effects, he needed to be somewhere safe.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, catching their breath. Zane pulled out one of the Basic Recovery Potions from his inventory and handed it to Eliza.
"Drink this," he said.
She took it without arguing and downed it in one gulp. The cut on her forehead stopped bleeding, and some color returned to her face.
"That's better," she said. "You should drink one too."
Zane pulled out another potion and drank it. The pain in his ribs dulled, though it didn't disappear completely. The potion could only do so much.
[Health restored to 70%]
"Can you walk?" Zane asked.
"Yeah. Slowly, but yeah." Eliza stood up and offered him a hand.
He took it and pulled himself to his feet. Every muscle in his body protested, but he forced himself to move.
"Let's get out of here before that thing comes back," he said.
They made their way out of the Sunken Grove, moving as quickly as their injuries allowed. The forest seemed darker now, more hostile. Every shadow looked like it might hide another monster.
But Zane's [Danger Sense] remained quiet. Whatever that light from the white tree had been, it seemed to have scared off the nearby creatures.
They walked until nightfall, finally stopping to make camp in a small clearing. Zane gathered some dry wood while Eliza kept watch, and soon they had a small fire going.
"We'll rest here for the night," Zane said. "Tomorrow we head back to the village."
"And then home?" Eliza asked hopefully.
"And then home."
She leaned back against a tree and closed her eyes. "Good. I've had enough adventure for one lifetime."
Zane couldn't help but smile slightly. Despite everything, despite the danger and the pain, Eliza had stayed with him. She'd risked her life to help him get the seed.
"Thank you," he said quietly. "For what you did back there."
Eliza opened one eye and looked at him. "You're my master. It's my job to help you."
"That's not in a maid's job description."
"Maybe not." She closed her eye again. "But you're not like the others in your family. You actually treat me like a person. So yeah, I'll risk my neck for you if I have to."
Zane didn't know what to say to that, so he said nothing. He just added another log to the fire and settled in for the night.
Tomorrow they would start the journey home. And once he was safe in his room, he would consume the Infinite Seed and begin his real transformation.
The story was changing. And he was the one changing it.
---
The next morning, they packed up camp and began the long walk back. Zane's ribs still hurt, and Eliza was limping slightly, but they pushed on.
The Shadow Forest seemed less threatening in daylight. They retraced their steps, following the same paths they'd taken on the way in. Zane kept his [Danger Sense] active, but they didn't encounter any Shadow Wolves.
By midday, they'd reached the forest's edge. The sight of open sky and farmland beyond was a relief.
"Finally," Eliza muttered. "I never want to see another tree again."
They continued along the road toward Millbrook Village. The sun was warm, and the breeze carried the scent of growing wheat. It felt surreal after the darkness of the Shadow Forest.
They were about an hour from the village when Zane's [Danger Sense] flared again.
He stopped walking and held up a hand. Eliza stopped too, her hand moving to her dagger.
"What is it?" she whispered.
"Someone's blocking the road ahead," Zane said quietly.
They moved forward cautiously, and soon enough, Zane saw them. Five men stood across the road, all armed with swords or clubs. They wore mismatched leather armor and had the look of bandits.
The leader, a tall man with a scar across his face, grinned when he saw them approach.
"Well, well," he said. "What do we have here? A young noble and his pretty maid, all alone on the road."
Zane's hand went to his sword. "We don't want trouble."
"Too bad." The leader's grin widened. "Because trouble's what you're getting. Hand over your valuables, and maybe we'll let you live."
Zane counted them quickly. Five bandits, all looking like they were around Novice IV or V. He was still hurt from the fight with the serpent, and Eliza wasn't in much better shape.
But he had the Infinite Seed in his bag. He couldn't let them take it.
"Last chance," the leader said, drawing his sword. "Cooperate, or die."
Zane drew his own sword. His ribs screamed in protest, but he ignored the pain.
"Eliza," he said quietly. "Stay behind me."
"You can't fight them all," she hissed. "You're still injured!"
"I don't have a choice."
The bandits spread out, surrounding them. The leader laughed.
"Brave, but stupid. Boys, teach them a lesson."
The bandits charged.
Zane met the first one head-on, his sword clashing against the bandit's club. The impact sent pain shooting through his ribs, but he gritted his teeth and pushed back.
He channeled Aura into his arms and struck again, faster this time. His blade cut across the bandit's shoulder, drawing blood. The man stumbled back with a curse.
Two more bandits came at him from the sides. Zane barely managed to block one attack, but the other got through, a club slamming into his back.
He fell to one knee, gasping.
"Young Master!" Eliza jumped in, her dagger flashing. She slashed at the bandit who'd hit Zane, forcing him back.
Zane struggled to his feet. Three bandits down, two still standing. The leader hadn't even moved yet.
This wasn't going well.
One of the bandits grabbed Eliza from behind, pinning her arms. She struggled, but he was too strong.
"Let her go!" Zane shouted.
"Drop your sword first," the leader said calmly.
Zane's mind raced. If he dropped his weapon, they were dead. But if he didn't, Eliza would be hurt.
Then he remembered something. He had [Danger Sense] now. The skill that warned him of threats.
He focused on it, letting his awareness expand. And suddenly, he could feel them, the positions of all five bandits, their intentions, their movements before they even made them.
The bandit holding Eliza was about to pull out a knife.
Zane moved.
He threw his sword. Not at the leader, but at the bandit holding Eliza. The blade spun through the air and embedded itself in the man's shoulder. He screamed and released Eliza.
She didn't waste the opportunity. She spun around and drove her dagger into his leg.
The man collapsed.
"You little—" The leader charged at Zane, sword raised.
Zane had no weapon now. But he had Aura.
He channeled it into his fist and punched forward just as the leader swung his sword. His Aura-enhanced punch caught the man's wrist, and bones crunched. The sword fell from the leader's hand.
Before the leader could react, Zane grabbed the fallen sword and pressed it against the man's throat.
"Tell your men to back off," Zane said coldly. "Or you die."
The leader's eyes widened. He hadn't expected this. None of them had.
"Back off!" the leader shouted. "All of you, back off!"
The remaining bandits hesitated, then slowly retreated.
"Good," Zane said. "Now run. And if I ever see you on this road again, I won't be so merciful."
The leader nodded quickly. Zane stepped back and lowered the sword.
The bandits grabbed their injured companions and fled, disappearing into the fields beside the road.
Zane let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. His whole body was shaking now, adrenaline fading.
"Young Master!" Eliza ran over to him. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." He retrieved his own sword and sheathed it. "Are you hurt?"
"Just some bruises. Nothing serious." She looked at him with wide eyes. "That was amazing. I didn't know you could fight like that."
"Neither did I," Zane admitted. The [Danger Sense] skill had made all the difference. Without it, they would have lost.
They continued toward Millbrook Village without any further incidents. By the time they reached the inn, the sun was setting.
The same innkeeper greeted them, though she raised an eyebrow at their disheveled appearance.
"Rough journey?" she asked.
"You could say that," Zane replied. "Two rooms again, please."
She handed over the keys, and they went upstairs. Zane collapsed onto his bed, every muscle screaming in protest.
But he'd done it. He'd gotten the Infinite Seed. And tomorrow, they'd return home.
---
The journey back to the mansion took another full day. By the time they arrived, Zane was exhausted but relieved. The familiar sight of the neglected grounds was almost comforting.
Martha greeted them at the entrance, her eyes widening when she saw their condition.
"Young Master! What happened to you?"
"Training accident," Zane said. "Nothing serious. Could you draw me a bath?"
"Of course, right away."
He went to his room and locked the door. Finally, he was alone. He pulled the Infinite Seed from his bag and held it up to the light.
The fruit still glowed faintly, its surface shimmering between gold and silver. Just holding it made him feel stronger.
But he wouldn't consume it yet. He needed to rest first, to make sure there were no lingering injuries. Tomorrow morning, when he was fresh, he would eat it and see what happened.
He tucked the seed into a drawer and collapsed onto his bed.
Sleep came quickly.
---
The next morning, Zane woke to a knock on his door.
"Young Master?" Martha's voice called. "Lady Seraphina is here to see you."
Zane sat up, groaning. His body was still sore, but better than yesterday.
"Tell her I'll be down shortly," he said.
He dressed quickly and made his way to the drawing room. Seraphina was already there, sitting on the same sofa as before. When she saw him, her expression shifted from calm to concerned.
"Zane," she said, standing up. "You look terrible. What happened?"
"I went on a training trip," Zane said, sitting down across from her. "It was more difficult than I expected."
She moved closer, her eyes scanning his face. "You're hurt. Did you see a healer?"
"I'm fine, Sera. Just some bruises."
"Just bruises?" She didn't look convinced. "Where did you go?"
"The Shadow Forest."
Her eyes widened. "The Shadow Forest? Zane, that place is dangerous! Why would you go there alone?"
"I wasn't alone. Eliza came with me."
That didn't seem to reassure her. She sat down beside him, closer than before.
"You could have been killed," she said quietly. "Why didn't you tell me you were planning this?"
"I didn't want to worry you."
"Well, I'm worried now." She reached out and gently touched his cheek. "Please, Zane. Don't do something like that again without telling me. I... I care about what happens to you."
Her touch was warm, and her expression was genuinely concerned. Not possessive or controlling. Just worried.
"I'm sorry," Zane said. "I should have told you."
She smiled slightly. "Yes, you should have. But you're safe now, and that's what matters."
She pulled her hand back and settled into a more comfortable position. "So, did your training trip work? Did you get stronger?"
"I did," Zane said. "Much stronger."
"Good. You'll need it for the academy." She paused. "I heard your siblings have been spreading rumors about you. Saying you'll fail within the first month."
Zane wasn't surprised. Damian and Celeste loved to make him look bad.
"Let them talk," he said. "I'll prove them wrong."
Seraphina's smile widened. "That's the spirit. I knew you had it in you."
They talked for a while longer, about the academy, about her family, about nothing in particular. It was comfortable, easy. And for once, Zane didn't feel the weight of expectations pressing down on him.
When Seraphina finally left, promising to visit again before the academy term started, Zane returned to his room.
He pulled the Infinite Seed from the drawer and held it in his palm.
It was time.
He took a deep breath and bit into the fruit.