It happened so quickly.

  Things were normal. Comparatively. And the next thing Kennon knew that sun at their backs was in front of them.

  The most shocking thing was he recognized it. He had almost expected a human considering how odd it was. But what he saw was even more surprising.

  Sun tiger(boss) - predator - T2

  He had expected more. Much more. They had already taken out a sun tiger. For the mysterious force pursuing them to be one didn’t make much sense.

  Then he saw that it was missing an eye. With a scar the exact shape and size of his wind blade. It was one of the golden tigers they let live. Apparently it didn’t forgive them.

  That explained the attack on their camouflaged camp.

  But its power. The last one was nowhere near this strong. Perhaps the last one was barely T2 and this one was almost T3? Perhaps it had to do with the boss tag? Either way they had to end it. Quickly!

  Kennon drew his dagger to fire a water jet. If a wind blade scared it off before a water jet could kill it easily.

  By the time he drew he was on the ground, the tiger standing over him. He couldn’t feel his left arm. It was hard to breathe, the tiger’s paw pinned his chest to the ground.

  He felt the claws working their way through the cloak. Without it he would have already been dead.

  He noticed he had dropped the dagger. The stored spell streaming harmlessly through the air. He needed to do something, but his mind was fuzzy. There was something he could do, right?

  He felt Bev strike the beast in its flank, and Kennon remembered his spells. Water jet. He could cast that one.

  If only his head didn’t hurt so much. Maybe a nap would help.

  No! Bev was in danger. No resting. They had to kill this thing. He started to cast and he began to breathe normally. The pressure was gone. What a relief. Only it wasn’t. He felt Bev tossed aside like an old rag. Fortunately she had both her aura spells up so she got up quickly enough to get her halberd between her and the next strike.

  Kennon heard it snap in half.

  A bone spear was in her hand in an instant, and in the tiger's mouth the next. It jumped back and stared at her.

  In a blink she was down. Kennon felt its mana draining. It had to be putting all it had into the assault. If they could hold out just a little longer. His spell was almost done.

  He opened his eyes at the base of a tree. The tiger stared at him, its mouth wide as it lunged. Uncaring of the three spears in its side.

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  Then the tiger was gone. And a person was there instead.

  Liquid was poured down his mouth and he started to think clearly.

  Who were these people? Had they saved them?

  Kennon had felt second hand discomfort from Bev when she was healing from the potion. But it seemed their saviours had used a lower grade potion on him. His head had cleared. But his arm was broken. And it had healed just enough to hurt like the void.

  Bev was beside him. Out of her armor and being treated by the healer of the other group.

  “Who are you? How did you find us.” Bev said.

  They didn’t respond.

  “You spoke telepathically.” Kennon said in kind.

  He felt Bev’s embarrassment as she repeated her question out loud.

  “We are the Colville expedition. We come once a week to gather materials. We saw your water flare. What were some kids like you doing out here?”

  Water flare? His missed spell! They must have seen it. But how did they react so quickly?

  “We had to flee our home. We ended up here.” Bev said.

  Kennon instantly recoiled at her saying the truth. They couldn’t let anyone know!

  “Remember the escape plan? Margie told us to tell them.” Bev said in response to Kennon’s irritation.

  She was right. Kennon had almost forgotten. It seemed he wasn’t entirely clear headed yet after all. Margie’s last instructions. Tell the people of the portal realm that they had fled, and show them their necklaces.

  Kennon grabbed at his necklace and pulled it out. The gem in it sat depressingly dark. He didn’t like to think about what it meant. He would probably stash it away for good when they got out of here.

  One of the expedition saw the necklace and rushed over. His eyes wide with fear.

  He looked at it, and cast a spell. Identify Kennon thought. It didn’t say much when he checked it before.

  Purple gem of life detection(deactivated) - necklace - T3

  It was a what it said it was. A gem that detected the life force of the enchanter. And it was dead. Just like Margie.

  The man that cast identify looked in shock. Then he slumped over defeated. He said, “so, you are the ones. Margie told us you would come. I am sorry for your loss.”

  The entire group turned to look at the man. Moving faster than Kennon could see. He wondered what level they were?

  A woman in red leathers with long black hair, a stern face, and daggers strapped to her waist grabbed Kennon by the arm. She moved so fast it was shocking.

  “Is she dead, truely?” she said.

  Kennon nodded his head.

  “So, it is over. We thought the realm would stabilize. But without her.”

  She went quiet. Seemingly lost in thought

  “She told us this day would come. That after she died and stopped draining the realm’s mana that two system favored children would arrive. She told me to ensure you got to Aithgard safely. I always thought that she was being paranoid. But if you, two level ten kids are here. Then it has happened.”

  She looked around at the group and said, “Pack up, this hunting area has gotten too hot for us. Anything you want from here, get it now, we aren’t coming back.”

  Kennon was shocked. Margie had told this lady they were coming. How long ago? He had to know her level. The way she moved. She was so fast he couldn’t keep up.

  Human - ranger - level 11

  Level 11!

  Thank you for sharing my journey. To help me walk it I have a set up. It is 20 chapters ahead and releases at the same time as the Royal Road chapters.

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