Riven closed his eyes, trying to absorb the sensation he had just experienced. There was something different when Riftmaker cut down that white tiger. Not just a simple swing, but a fleeting understanding that had surfaced within his body. That clarity still lingered, faint yet tangible, like an echo refusing to fade.
But his mind quickly snapped back to reality. A predator of that size was rare. If there was one, there could be more. At once, Melly's face flashed in his thoughts, and his chest tightened.
Then he remembered Ashtoria. As long as that woman stayed near Melly, no threat would be too great. Thinking of that eased Riven's heart, if only slightly. He exhaled, forcing his mind to steady.
He had to return quickly.
Yet before leaving, his gaze fell on the fallen white tiger nearby. Its fur still shimmered under the moonlight, though stained with blood. For a brief moment, pride swelled in his chest.
"I did it… with my own hands." It was the first time he had ever brought down a beast that large.
Then his eyes drifted to the massive boulder beside him, the same one that had frustrated him earlier. And somehow, after felling the white tiger, Riven felt a powerful urge rising inside to try splitting that stone once again.
"Now I can do it."
He stood tall, planting his feet firmly. Both hands raised Riftmaker high above his head. The moonlight spilled across the pale blade.
Riven drew in a long breath, eyes sharp with focus. Then he swung with all his strength.
Clangg!
The sharp clang of impact rang out. The boulder remained whole. Only the faintest scratch marred its surface.
Riven froze. His chest clenched tight.
How could that be…?
The pride he had felt only moments ago collapsed in an instant. His jaw tightened, and he swung again.
Clangg!
Brakk!
Clangg!
Over and over, Riftmaker slammed against the stone. The night air filled with the clash of steel and rock. His breath grew ragged, sweat poured down his face, but he refused to stop.
"Damn rock!" he hissed between swings.
"How can you be harder than that tiger, huh?! Are you mocking me?!
"Stupid rock!"
"Bastard stone!"
The blows kept coming, yet the result was the same. The boulder was covered in shallow gashes, but it would not break.
At last, Riven halted, standing breathless, Riftmaker hanging loosely in his grip. His chest heaved, his face drenched with sweat. He exhaled slowly, trying to quench the fire of his frustration.
His eyes flicked around. The noise he'd made could easily draw other creatures. He scanned the dark trees, the bushes, the distant shadows. Nothing. Only silence.
Riven turned back to the boulder. Thin sword marks scarred its surface, but that was not what he wanted. He had wanted it split in two. All he saw was the trace of his failure.
"Was that earlier just luck?" he thought. "Did I really kill the white tiger by chance alone?"
His gaze shifted to the beast's body. The massive figure that had once shaken his heart now lay still, its fur matted with blood, its eyes dim and lifeless. Riven stared for a long moment, doubt slowly eroding what pride remained.
At last, Riven drew in a deep breath and let it out. Riftmaker dangled weakly at his side. Without another word, he turned away, leaving the stone behind.
.
.
The night passed without further danger. The forest lay quiet, filled only with the chirping of insects. Even so, Riven refused to take chances. He drove the carriage half an hour away from where he had slain the white tiger, only stopping when he finally felt it was safe.
They stopped in a small clearing, damp grass glistening with dew beneath pale moonlight streaming through the branches. Riven, Melly, and Ashtoria stepped down.
Soon after, they lay down to rest. As always, Melly was the first to fall asleep, while Ashtoria lay beside her. The woman's warmth was palpable, even from a short distance. Riven, eyes half-closed, still wondered—why did she disappear so quietly, only to return just as silently? What exactly was she doing?
But exhaustion pressed down on him. He sighed, setting the thought aside for now. Closing his eyes, he began to draw in mana. That gentle warmth seeped through his body, weighing his mind down. Before long, he drifted into a deep sleep.
.
.
Something woke him.
His ears—honed by years of survival—picked up a different sound. Heavy. Deep. A low rumble, like the earth itself shifting under the weight of something massive. Riven's eyes snapped open. His heartbeat quickened.
He turned sharply. From the darkness of the trees, a hulking figure emerged: a black bear, its thick fur glistening with night dew. Its breathing was harsh, like the bellows of a forge, and its eyes gleamed wild under the moonlight.
Riven grabbed Riftmaker at once. His hand instinctively darted toward his sister. Melly still slept soundly, her breath calm, her face peaceful, as though the world were truly safe. But, Ashtoria was gone. Just like the night before.
He had no time to think about her absence. The threat before him was real.
The bear roared, a thunderous sound that shook Riven's chest. Then it lunged forward, its massive frame moving with terrifying speed.
Riven darted aside, snatching up a rock from the ground and hurling it at the beast's head. The stone struck, drawing the creature's gaze fully to him. Just as planned, he needed it away from his sister.
The bear roared again, its charge even fiercer. The ground quaked under its massive claws, each the size of a man's arm. In a blink, it was upon him.
Swhoosh!
A claw slashed sideways. Riven barely reacted in time, ducking low as the strike carved through the air, slicing strands of his hair.
Brakk!
A tree behind him split nearly in half from the blow.
Riven gritted his teeth.
"One hit and I'm finished."
He slashed, Riftmaker flashing. The blade struck the bear's side, sparking with a harsh crrk! like steel scraping against steel. A shallow cut opened, blood seeping, but barely.
The bear lifted its head, roaring in rage, more savage than before. Its hot breath reeked, spattering saliva into the air.
Riven stepped back, leaping aside as the beast charged. Another claw raked downward.
Whrasshh!
The ground tore open, dirt and stone exploding into the air.
Riven rolled back, swinging again, this time at the bear's foreleg. The strike dug deeper, drawing a heavier flow of blood. The beast winced, but its hide was still too thick. The wound was not enough.
Instead, the bear went berserk, roaring like thunder shattering the sky, and rushed again. Riven dove and rolled, nearly losing his grip on Riftmaker.
He glanced quickly at Melly. The girl slept on, utterly unaware of the chaos raging around her. Seeing it, Riven didn't know whether to be grateful or horrified.
His jaw tightened as the bear's shadow loomed once more.
'I have to drag it away from here… no matter what.'