Chapter 26 - The Grate Boar

  The trio moved swiftly through the thick underbrush, their boots muffled against the damp earth. The air was thick with the scent of soil and foliage, but there was something else too--- – the sharp, musky odor of beasts. Kaelin knew they were close. Her fingers twitched, ready to fight at a moment’s notice.

  A rustling sound made them all freeze. Then, from the underbrush, the first boar emerged. It was massive, as tall as a horse, and as wide as a carriage. Its thick hide rippled with muscle. The bristled fur stood on end, and its deep-set eyes gleamed with a dull, stubborn stupidity.

  Unlike the salamanders, the Great Boars weren’t quick, but they were relentless, and their sheer durability made them formidable foes.

  The boar charged.

  Zephyr sidestepped with practiced ease, his dagger flashing as he aimed for its flank. The blade struck true, but barely pierced the hide. Kaelin’s eyes widened. Even with his strength, the weapon had done little more than scratch it.

  The beast let out a snort and whipped its massive head around, forcing Zephyr to leap back. Another charge could be lethal if they weren’t careful.

  "Their hides are too thick!" he called.

  Kaelin reacted instinctively, producing a slowing aura around the boars’ feet to slow its movements. But it barely faltered. The effect was there, but sluggish creatures were naturally resistant to time magic. The beast simply powered through, shaking its head as if shrugging off an annoyance.

  Lena lifted her hand, summoning thick vines to wrap around its legs. The greenery surged up from the earth, coiling around the beast like a net. But the moment it struggled, the vines snapped like brittle twigs.

  "Are you kidding me?!" Lena yelled, frustration clear in her voice.

  Another boar emerged from the brush, then another. Soon, seven of the monstrous creatures were closing in, their hooves pounding the dirt in slow, steady rhythms. They weren’t fast, but they didn’t need to be. They were walls of flesh, moving forward with unstoppable momentum.

  "Blades won’t work unless we go for the weak points!" Kaelin called. She scanned the creatures, looking for any openings. The eyes, the throat, the joints – those were their best bets. "Aim for the eyes!"

  Zephyr reacted first, vanishing in a blur of motion. He reappeared near the nearest boar, driving his dagger toward its eye. The creature grunted, shaking its head violently as the blade connected. The wound wasn’t fatal, but it staggered backward, disoriented.

  Kaelin took her chance. She sprinted forward, vaulting over one of the creatures and landing behind it. Her blade slashed at the softer flesh beneath its jaw, drawing blood. The boar roared in pain, but it was still standing. It swung its head wildly, nearly knocking her off her feet.

  Lena abandoned her vines and instead swung her spear with raw force. The solid wood cracked against a boar’s snout, making it recoil. "They’re tough, but they still feel pain! Keep hitting them!"

  The fight became a brutal contest of endurance. The trio dodged and weaved between the beasts, striking at any weak spots they could find. Even with their combined efforts, every boar took multiple hits to bring down.

  Lena’s thick spear splintered a tusk, but the beast kept coming. Zephyr’s dagger found another eye, yet the creature still thrashed in blind fury. Kaelin twisted time around herself again, dodging a sweeping tusk that would have gutted her.

  A particularly large boar lunged at Zephyr, its powerful charge kicking up dirt and grass. He barely managed to roll away in time, but before he could regain his footing, another boar barrelled toward him from the side.

  Kaelin acted without thinking, pulling at her time threads to slow the second boar just enough for Zephyr to dodge. He landed on his feet, nodding in gratitude before twisting his dagger into the first boar’s exposed throat. The beast let out a strangled gurgle before collapsing.

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  Lena, gritting her teeth, used her vines more strategically – she couldn’t hold the boars down, but she could throw them off balance. She forced roots to burst from the earth, tangling their hooves just long enough to create an opening. Kaelin and Zephyr capitalized on each opportunity, striking at tendons, throats, and eyes.

  The battle raged on. Kaelin felt the strain of constant movement, her body screaming in protest. The boars were strong, but their injuries were accumulating. Zephyr fought with ruthless efficiency, every strike precise and calculated. Lena, though exhausted, never let up, her staff a blur as she landed blow after blow.

  Finally, the beasts began to slow, their powerful bodies growing sluggish from blood loss and pain.

  One by one, they fell, their massive bodies shaking the earth as they collapsed.

  The last two finally hesitated, their wild eyes darting between the three of them. They weren’t mindless – they could tell they were losing. With a final snort, they turned and bolted into the trees.

  Kaelin exhaled, catching her breath. "Cowards."

  Zephyr ran a hand through his hair, surveying the battlefield. Thirteen massive bodies lay sprawled across the clearing, their once-intimidating forms now lifeless beneath the moonlight. The scent of blood and earth filled the air, the remnants of their struggle still fresh.

  Lena let out a weary chuckle, leaning on her staff. "Please tell me that’s enough."

  “It’s gotta be. There’s no way anyone else managed to kill one of each, and still had time to hunt more.” Kaelin replied, still panting.

  As if it had been waiting for them to finish, a loud chime echoed through the air. The test was over.

  Lena groaned before collapsing onto the grass, arms spread out. "Finally."

  Zephyr let out a slow breath, wiping his blade clean against his sleeve. His usual composure was back, but Kaelin could tell he was just as drained as the rest of them.

  Kaelin sat down beside Lena, letting herself relax for the first time in hours. She stared up at the sky, the stars twinkling above them. The test was over. They had survived.

  ***

  The next day, once they had gotten back to the school and the points were tallied up, the first-year students were all gathered in the great hall.

  The trio stood in a cluster of anxious students. The air was thick with anticipation as the instructors prepared to announce the scores, and Kaelin could feel her pulse quickening.

  Her mind raced through the events of the test – how they had fought tooth and nail to bring down the dire wolf, only for the other to run away and how the Great Boars had nearly overwhelmed them, how they had almost been killed by the fire salamander… What had happened in the cave…

  But it was the results that mattered now.

  "Alright, settle down!" Instructor Fennick called out, his voice booming across the hall. He was tall, with a stern face and a perpetual smirk. "I know you all want to know how you did, so I’ll get straight to it."

  He unfurled a scroll, eyes scanning the names.

  "Team 4 – Kaelin, Lena, Zephyr," he called. The trio stepped forward, faces tense.

  Instructor Fennick cleared his throat dramatically, his eyes glinting with mischief.

  "Please come up to the top! Congratulations, you came in first," he said, pausing for a moment to let the news sink in. "You were one of only three groups to manage to beat one of each monster. Quite the feat, I must say."

  A ripple of surprised murmurs spread through the crowd, and Kaelin couldn’t suppress the grin that tugged at her lips. First place. She’d heard the rumours about how difficult everyone else had found the test, and to hear that they had come out on top made the tension of the last few days finally ease from her shoulders.

  "I’d say you all handled that test with grace," Fennick added with a sly smile, glancing around the room before turning back to them. "Those boars were a real hassle, but you grated through them with ease, so be happy!"

  The students around them groaned, some chuckling, while others rolled their eyes. Kaelin shot a look at Fennick, but the man only grinned wider.

  "Alright, alright," Fennick said, shaking his head, clearly enjoying the reactions. "No more jokes. You earned sixty-four points for that impressive showing. You’ve done yourselves proud. Well done."

  Lena let out a soft breath, her expression one of quiet relief. "Sixty-four points. We really did it."

  Zephyr crossed his arms, his usual aloofness replaced with a rare smile. "Guess everyone else missed out by not teaming up with us after all.”

  Kaelin gave a small chuckle, feeling the pride rising in her chest. "Guess so."

  Instructor Fennick raised a hand, gesturing toward the rest of the students. "So, take your rest, Team 4. You’ve earned it. The rest of you – keep pushing, and we’ll see what you’re made of at the ‘End of Year’ exam!

  With that, the trio exchanged relieved glances and began to make their way toward the door.

  "Doesn’t it feel grate to be at the top.” Zephyr muttered with a smirk, nudging Lena.

  Lena shook her head, laughing softly. "You just can’t help yourself, can you?"

  Zephyr grinned, casting a sideways glance at the other students still standing around. "What can I say? We won. Might as well savour it."

  Kaelin smiled as they walked out, feeling the weight of their victory settle in. Whatever came next, she knew they’d face it together – and maybe, just maybe, they'd keep up their streak at the top.