Chapter Four: Into the Wild
781 Words
First-Person POV (Liora Althain)
If there’s one thing worse than academy politics…
…it’s academy missions.
“Field assignment,” sabi ng instructor namin habang nakatayo kami sa courtyard. “You will be sent beyond the academy wards. Real terrain. Real threats. Real consequences.”
Great.
Finally, something interesting.
“Teams will remain the same.”
I didn’t even bother reacting.
Of course.
“Princess Althain. Prince Veyran—you will proceed to the northern forest. A disturbance has been detected. Investigate and neutralize if necessary.”
I smirked. “Neutralize. I like that word.”
Katabi ko si Kael, tahimik as always, pero ramdam ko yung focus niya.
“Don’t get reckless,” sabi niya.
I glanced at him. “Don’t get boring.”
The moment we crossed the academy gates—
Nagbago agad ang hangin.
Colder. Heavier.
Mas… real.
“This is better,” sabi ko habang naglalakad kami sa forest path. “At least walang nagbubulungan sa likod ko.”
“Give it time,” sagot niya.
The forest wasn’t normal.
Too quiet.
No birds. No wind.
Just… stillness.
“Something’s wrong,” sabi ko.
“Yes,” sagot niya agad. “Stay close.”
I raised a brow. “Concerned?”
“Practical.”
“Sayang. Akala ko you care.”
He didn’t answer.
Pero hindi rin siya lumayo.
We moved deeper into the forest, senses sharp.
And then—
A crack.
Not loud.
But enough.
“Behind—”
Too late.
Something lunged from the shadows.
Fast.
I reacted instinctively—fire flared from my hand, colliding with the creature mid-air. It screeched, twisted, then landed a few meters away.
“Shadow beast,” sabi ni Kael.
“Ugly,” sagot ko.
It attacked again—this time faster.
Kael moved first, shadows wrapping around his arm like a blade, slicing through the creature’s side.
It didn’t fall.
Instead… it split.
Two now.
“Okay,” sabi ko. “That’s new.”
“Corrupted magic,” sabi niya. “Don’t let them multiply.”
“Got it. Kill fast.”
I stepped forward, flames building around me, hotter, sharper.
“Left one’s mine,” sabi ko.
“Then don’t miss.”
“Wow. Encouraging.”
The creature lunged—
I met it head-on.
Fire exploded outward, engulfing it. It shrieked, struggling, trying to reform—
I clenched my fist.
The flames tightened.
Then—
Gone.
Ash.
I exhaled. “One down.”
“Focus,” sabi ni Kael.
Right.
The second one—
Already behind him.
“Kael—!”
He turned just in time, but the creature’s claw grazed his shoulder.
Not deep—but enough.
“Careless,” sabi ko, rushing forward.
“I had it handled,” sagot niya, even as he tightened his grip on his magic.
“Sure you did.”
We moved together again.
No plan.
No discussion.
Just instinct.
I drove the creature forward with bursts of fire—forcing it into position.
Kael stepped in, shadows converging, forming a sharp, precise strike—
And in one clean motion—
He ended it.
Silence returned.
Again.
But this time… mas mabigat.
I glanced at him. “You’re bleeding.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Yeah, sure. That’s why there’s blood.”
He sighed—slightly annoyed. “I’ll handle it.”
I stepped closer anyway. “Stop moving.”
He paused.
I raised my hand—this time, not for attack.
Warm light flickered between my fingers.
Healing magic.
He stilled.
“You can heal?” tanong niya.
“Multi-talented,” sagot ko.
The glow spread across his shoulder, sealing the wound slowly.
Not instantly—but enough.
For a moment…
Tahimik lang kami.
Too close.
Too aware.
“You didn’t have to do that,” sabi niya.
“I know.”
“Then why?”
I shrugged slightly. “You’re more useful alive.”
A beat.
Then—
A faint smirk.
“Of course.”
I stepped back.
“Don’t read into it,” dagdag ko.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Liar.
Suddenly—
The ground beneath us trembled.
Not subtle this time.
Malakas.
Deliberate.
“Okay,” sabi ko, turning toward the deeper part of the forest. “That’s definitely our target.”
Kael nodded, expression sharpening.
“Stay ready,” sabi niya.
“Always."
We moved forward—
Side by side.
Not enemies.
Not allies.
Something in between.
Something… unstable.
And as the shadows deepened ahead of us—
I realized something.
This mission?
It wasn’t just about proving strength.
It was about survival.
And maybe…
About finding out what happens when two enemies stop fighting each other—
…and start fighting everything else.
- Writer
