CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36: A FIRE TO BUILD ON

The clash began the moment Rael took a step forward.

The Moltenhide Graver was nothing short of brutal. It towered with thick arms that cracked the earth with each movement. Steam hissed off its hide, and molten drool sizzled where it landed.

Rael struggled from the start. His ice cracked too early, his lightning scattered with no aim, and his footing wavered. He wasn’t slow, but his elements refused to obey like they should. And the Graver didn’t hesitate, it charged through everything he threw at it, shrugging off the strikes like splashes of water.

Still, Arden didn’t step in right away. He watched with a steady expression, arms folded as the ground shook beneath them.

"You’re not supposed to win," he muttered under his breath. "Just fight."

Rael panted, stumbling backward as the beast reared for another strike. His attacks were barely scratching it. Sparks fizzled from his palm while ice coated his arm in uneven layers.

Then the Graver got too close.

Before it could strike, Arden moved. In a blink, he was between them. He raised one hand, coating his arm in a thick layer of life energy that crackled faintly. The storm of lightning and frost surrounded him, but it didn’t faze him as he twisted his frame and drove a clean punch straight into the beast’s chest.

The impact sent the Graver flying back, its massive frame skidding across the dirt, lava-like blood dripping in small splashes.

"Zephyra," Arden called out without speaking.

She heard him. And in a blur, the beast darted forward, leaping onto the Graver before it could recover. No roars, no cries—just calculated motion, as she lunged and circled, drawing its attention, leading it on a wild chase that kept it off balance. She didn’t attack hard, just enough to wear it down.

Arden turned to Rael, who was on one knee, breathing hard.

"Don’t move," he said, already reaching out.

Rael felt the familiar surge a moment later, warmth washing over his core as Arden’s life energy flowed through him. But it didn’t form the bond.

Arden had hoped maybe this would be the moment it locked in permanently, but it didn’t. Still, it calmed the storm enough. The wild sparks died down, and Rael’s breathing steadied.

"That should hold for a while," Arden said, standing. "The rest’s on you."

Then he looked back toward the Graver, now panting, its movements sluggish as Zephyra stepped away.

"Go. Now."

Rael didn’t need to be told twice. He ran forward, not as fast as before, but with more control. This time, his lightning gathered behind his palm without bursting out. His ice didn’t coat the wrong surfaces. It bent to his will, even if just barely.

The fight raged on again, but Arden watched more closely now. Rael still struggled, but he was fighting differently with less panic, and more thought. There was something sharp in the way he timed his strikes, and Arden caught it.

"He’s raw, but he learns fast," Arden murmured.

Nyra stood beside him, eyes flicking across the battle.

"Not bad," she said simply.

Arden raised a brow, and she added, "For someone who just found his footing."

He didn’t reply, though the corner of his mouth lifted slightly. The fight wasn’t going to drag on much longer. Arden had seen and gotten what he needed, and they had to keep moving.

But just as he shifted to move, Nyra stepped forward stopping him.

"I’ll end it."

He paused, then nodded. He knew what she was trying to do.

She walked into the fight without a word. The Graver, distracted by Rael’s assault, barely noticed her until she was already in front of it. Her movement was swift and precise, with nothing wasted, and no flare.

She dodged a molten fist, and spun low, then surged upward with both affinities surging. A piercing blade of ice spiraled fast with the wind around it, and made it’s way into the beast’s neck.

The beast staggered, roared weakly, and then collapsed.

Rael stood frozen, stunned.

He watched her, with his chest still heaving from the earlier struggle, but his eyes held something else now. Understanding and determination. The kind that didn’t come from words, only from what he’d seen.

Arden felt it too.

"That’s how it starts," he said quietly, almost to himself.

Just as the dust settled and the Graver’s body stopped twitching, Arden stepped over the molten ground where the dead beast lay and glanced at Nyra.

"Not bad," he said, a quiet smirk tugging at his lips. "You’ve been getting stronger."

Nyra gave a small nod, not seeking praise. She simply stood there, steady and calm, the fading steam rising behind her.

Then Arden turned to Rael, who was still catching his breath.

"You didn’t kill it, but you made the right calls," he said. "That’s a good start."

Rael looked down at his hands, still faintly crackling. "I could’ve kept going."

"I know," Arden replied. "But you’d burn out before we even reach the halfway mark. And I can’t carry anyone."

Rael nodded reluctantly, understanding the logic but not liking it. The frustration showed on his face.

"You’ll get your chances," Arden added. "The road’s long, and we’re not done yet."

That settled it.

They started moving again, moving with purpose. And this time, Zephyra took the lead, her senses guiding them as the path grew wilder. She moved low and quick, never straying too far but always watching ahead.

Arden gave directions quietly, pointing out energy shifts, signs of beasts nearby, and changes in terrain. He didn’t speak often, but when he did, the group listened.

Training continued as they moved. When the path was quiet, they hunted. Arden would gesture for one of them to step forward, giving only a word or two of guidance. Nyra adapted quickly. Rael still struggled but was learning faster now. His movements became more deliberate, his control more steady.

Arden stepped in only when things turned rough, or when they had to keep moving.

He didn’t coddle anyone, but he didn’t leave them hanging either. His way was firm, and the message was always clear. Survive first, ask questions later.

The forest shifted as they pressed deeper. The energy around them grew, and Arden knew they were close.

The route to the ruin wasn’t far now.

A/N:

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