Upon hearing about the elimination of our comrades, Ilarion spoke in a hushed voice:
"Did you hear that sound too?"
Both nodded in agreement, prompting him to continue:
"Alright, we need to pick up the pace. Ston, I agree—we should deal with the Ice Orc and return to the castle. We have no idea what might happen next."
Ilarion turned to him. "Fine, I'll go speak with the prince. Get everything ready while I do."
Prince Fabian stood by a small stream, filling his water flask when I approached him.
"Greetings, Ilarion. I saw you talking to your companions."
"Yes," Ilarion replied. "We need to hurry. This has already taken too long, and our food supplies are running low. We can’t keep surviving on monster meat. We have to move, defeat the Ice Orc, and return."
Fabian hesitated briefly before responding, "What about the rest of the soldiers? They won't be able to keep up with us."
"They won’t be coming with us," Ilarion stated.
The prince’s expression darkened with concern. "It will be dangerous for them to return alone."
A small smile formed on Ilarion’s lips. "You have a point. Give them the remaining horses. The knights and archers should ride back together—it’ll be safer that way."
After a moment’s thought, Fabian nodded. "Alright. I’ll speak to them. Go back to your friends and prepare."
Thaid and Ston had finished packing. A bit of food and water remained, but something caught my attention in Thaid’s hands—a small green flask with intricate wooden engravings.
Curious, Ilarion asked, "Thaid, why do you have such a small flask? That thing will run out in just a few sips!"
Thaid chuckled. "My friend, this is no ordinary flask. It can store up to twenty liters of water."
Ilarion’s eyes widened in shock. Thaid smirked mischievously at his reaction.
"Ahem... well, that’s certainly useful," Ilarion muttered, trying to regain his composure. "I usually just carry several medium-sized metal canisters. They’re made of aluminum, to keep the water warm and solve the problem of running out too soon."
Thaid scoffed playfully. "Oh, really? Well, there’s also a small, handy box that does the same thing—for food."
Ilarion’s expression soured. "Why am I only learning about these things now? Have I been living in a cave?!"
Before Thaid could respond, Fabian’s voice interrupted them.
"Alright, let’s move out."
There were only two horses left. I took the reins of one while Ston climbed on behind me. Fabian rode the other, with Thaid seated behind him.
Having Thaid ride with the prince made me uneasy. Who knew what nonsense he’d fill the young royal’s head with?
I signaled for Fabian to take the lead since he was familiar with the route to our destination.
Ston, sitting behind me, was clearly unhappy about not being in control of the horse, his expression sullen.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
As we rode, the landscape shifted—from frost-covered trees to charred ones. A frozen river snaked alongside the path, a thin layer of snow covering the ground.
The silence was unsettling.
I gestured to Fabian to ride alongside me. "This quiet doesn’t sit well with me."
"There’s nothing to be afraid of," Thaid declared confidently.
"Shut up!" Ston snapped. "You’ll attract monsters with that loud mouth of yours!"
Ilarion sighed internally. "Ston, you’re yelling too."
"My voice isn’t that loud! And stop overreacting!"
Before he could finish his rant, a low buzzing sound reached our ears.
Turning back, I spotted them—an entire swarm of grotesque creatures. Their bodies were long and thin, covered in polished black armor inscribed with glowing crimson runes. Those weren’t just protective plating; they were a source of their magic.
Description of the creatures:
- Two translucent wings, shimmering like enchanted glass, pulsed with an eerie, shifting glow.
- Eyes like molten embers burned with fury and malice.
- A serrated lower jaw, filled with dagger-like teeth.
- A sleek, whip-like tail ending in a venomous, glowing stinger—capable of spewing deadly acid that could dissolve anything in seconds.
Fabian’s voice rang out, sharp with urgency.
"Ilarion, everyone—these creatures are called 'Wings of Death.' Their venom paralyzes and melts flesh and bone. We must avoid them at all costs!"
Ilarion barked orders. "Thaid, Ston—hold them off or slow them down however you can!"
Ston turned, summoning jagged spheres of stone. Thaid balanced himself on his horse, conjuring a bow of fire, its arrows ablaze with magical energy.
Both launched their attacks simultaneously. Ston’s projectiles smashed through the exoskeletons, creating sickening cracks. Thaid’s arrows, upon impact, detonated in fiery bursts, sending shattered remains flying.
But we had no time to celebrate.
The creatures retaliated viciously, spewing acid from their tails. I watched in horror as a branch melted into sizzling embers.
"Prince!" I called out. "What are their weaknesses?!"
Weaknesses of the Wings of Death:
- Sensitivity to bright light: Their magic weakens under intense illumination, making them more vulnerable.
- Extreme heat: Fire disrupts their magical structure, softening their armor and, in some cases, causing them to explode due to their volatile venom.
Ilarion grinned. "If that’s the case, we can wipe them out completely!"
But things weren’t going well. Ston had one of the creatures latched onto his arm. Had he not reinforced it with stone, it would have been torn clean off.
He struggled, barely able to keep his balance.
"I need help here!" he shouted.
Thaid was also in trouble. The swarm was adapting to his fire arrows, and their numbers were increasing instead of dwindling.
I turned forward—and my heart sank.
Another wave of Wings of Death was blocking our path.
Hopelessness crept in. How were we supposed to deal with this?
Then, a pulse of magic erupted from my right.
Fabian stood tall, palm extended. The air around him crackled with raw energy, turning razor-sharp with intensity.
Slowly, he clenched his fingers.
Pillars of radiant light burst forth, tearing through the creatures with merciless precision. They shrieked as they disintegrated into ash and shards of chitin.
Thaid whooped in excitement.
"Fabian! Why didn’t you tell us you were this powerful?!"
Even Ston, panting from exertion, grumbled,
"I almost feel sorry for those things. They got incinerated, then exploded."
Still in shock, we turned to the prince.
Ston smirked. "I never would’ve guessed you had that kind of power."
Fabian grinned.
"What did you expect? I’m a prince, trained since childhood. My mana reserves are no joke."
"Not to mention," he added, drawing his sword, "thanks to 'Moonblade,' my primary ability halves my mana consumption. And every enemy I kill restores a portion of it."
Ston’s jaw dropped. "That’s cheating!"
Fabian chuckled. "It was made specifically for me, after all."
Ilarion dismounted and turned to Thaid. "Give me your storage flask."
Thaid handed it over, confused. "Why?"
Ilarion knelt beside one of the fallen creatures. "I’m collecting their venom—it might be useful later."
Thaid smirked. "No point. This venom is too strong. Your flask will dissolve within hours."
Ilarion sighed. "Then I hope we’ll need it soon."
Thaid rummaged through his bag and grinned slyly. "Don’t worry—I have an alternative."
He produced several vials, each containing deadly-looking substances.
Pointing to one, he smirked.
"This one only affects monsters. It makes them drunk, slows their movements, and best of all… makes them unable to distinguish friend from foe."