Chapter 55 Unique scenario

Chapter 55 Unique scenario

\[Unique scenario : The consequence of victory- Escape the beast ridden forest, with or without all members of the party\]

\[Reward:?\]

Dread had been scribbled all over their faces as the message came into view, eyes wide as they all stared into the distance, each and everyone of them trying to think of a way they could escape this scenario without losing the life of any of their peers but a different thought ruled over Rylan, all he could think about was the question mark that followed the reward.

He took a step back and closed his eyes, trying to focus on the beasts that surrounded them through the hazy blur that was his Arkana control. The task was harrowing, a full minute passed before he finally got a handle on visualizing them and even then the image that formed was hazy but he could still make them out. When he saw that they were all lower level one beast, he almost let out a heavy breath of relief but held himself back, they hadn't moved more than an inch from their earlier position and it didn't seem like they'd be moving anytime soon. He opened his eyes, stood and immediately was met with faces vacant of panic, instead a new emotion ruled over their features, Determination.

“What's going on?”

“We'll charge at them with everything we have.” Maerik stated boldly, tightening his hand into a fist and flexing every muscle in his arm.

“An all out brawl?” Rylan immediately asked, hoping to God that Maerik meant something else but as Maerik turned and he saw the look in those blue eyes he knew, it was exactly what he meant. “That wasn’t an option when we had the element of surprise and our full strength, how is it an option now.”

“It's the only option.”

“It's not.”

“Yes it is!” Maerik's voice raised a bit higher than he'd intended it to. “It is.” He repeated quietly.

“Are you all ok with this?” Rylan turned to the other players but there were already stretching out sore limbs and getting ready for a fight, smiles on their faces and determination in their eyes but Rylan wasn't fooled, he could see it, the steady tremble in Elijah's leg, the way Yennifer's eyes twitched, Dravy's hands that he consistently wiped against his cloth. They were all faking bravado but under the thin surface they were scared, they knew that this, whatever this was, it wasn't a plan, it was suicide.

Rylan gripped tightly onto Maerik's arm and pulled him to the side. “Are you really about to lead your men into the literal belly of the beast?”

“I do not have a choice.”

“There's always a choice.”

“Not in this case, we can't stay here because when we recover we'll just be one giant beacon. This isn't like when we're in the cabin, the beasts out there are actually looking for something and the second we recover they'll come running, we need to attack now that we have the upper hand, no matter how slim the chance is, it's still a chance.”

“Maerik, I'm not particularly attached to these
people but the whole point of this, the whole point of getting all those cores was to create a safer space for them, it will all be for nothing if they all run to their deaths at your word.”

“I know, I will bear the burden of the lives lost.” Maerik said. As Rylan heard those words and saw the look in Maerik's eyes, something clicked.

With wide eyes, Rylan said. “I don't believe you're that kind of man.”

Maerik stepped closer to him, his large body causing an eclipse over Rylan. “Clearly you don't know me well enough.”
They held each other's glare, seconds passed but their eyes remained fixed on each other, Rylan could feel it, they were one wrong word away from turning their violent energy on each other so he took a step back and let out a breath to calm his nerves.

“There's another way.” He said quietly. Maerik didn't seem convinced but listened regardless. “But it boils down to how well I can use the Mothlight.” Rylan continued.

Maerik stared back at the players that were now anxiously awaiting his orders then turned back to Rylan, willing to listen but if the plan in any way had the tiniest chance of hurting one more person than needed, he would dismiss the idea.

“How fast is Dravy?”

“Fast enough.”

“Without sentiment, would you put your life on the line and bet on his speed?”

Without a beat Maerik said. “Yes.”

“Good.” He shifted out of the shadow cast by Maerik and called over Dravy. Dravy stared at him for a few seconds, not wanting to answer until Maerik turned. Reluctantly, he walked to them and Rylan began to explain his plan. Immediately Rylan was done with the explanation Dravy pushed back with a horrified look in his eyes.

You can't be serious.”

“Wouldn't have said it if I wasn't.”

“That’s insane.”

“You were about to charge at them and you're squirmish about doing the opposite?”

“Yes, that way I was at least fighting for my life, this way I'm leaving my life in your hands because you think you can maybe possibly do something with no prior proof or evidence that it can be done.”

“You'll just have to trust me.”

“I don't, I don't know why ‘He’ does, but I don't.”

“It's the only way.”

“No fucking way am I gonna be bait for you!” Dravy shouted loud enough for the other players to hear, they all turned to him which was Maerik's cue to step in.

“What are you scared of?”

“It’s not fear, I don't just trust him.”

Maerik placed a hand on either side of Dravy's shoulder and forced him to stare into his eyes as he asked. “Do you trust me?”

“That's….”

“Do you trust me?” Maerik repeated, his grip softening.

He swallowed as if the words that were about to leave him were heavy. “I do.”

Maerik smiled. “I'm not asking you to trust him, I'm asking you to trust in me, I'm asking you to trust in the fact that I wouldn't put your life in danger if I didn't think it was possible. So I ask again, Do you trust me?”

“I do.”

Before Dravy could properly process what was going on, he was standing before a 7 feet tall beast, with dangling limbs and a gaze that refused to remain steady. His heart was beating so fast that it made breathing a hassle but regardless he stepped forward and stopped concealing himself, its eyes immediately turned to him.

“Fuck.”
It leaned forward, showing off its teeth, it pushed off its heel with enough force to crack the earth beneath and rushed to him.

“Fuck!!!” Dravy shouted as he turned and began to run as fast as he possibly could, thank God, he was fast enough, it couldn't catch u— another burst out of the trees, crashing into the first, they both tumbled off the path but they didn't stay down for long, they rose back and continued the chase, Dravy didn't look back, he could hear nothing but the sound of wind passing by his ears and his own heartbeat.