Chapter 126: Last Chance

With the help of his guards, Aurelius took the still-recovering Adam to the farmlands. Adam was in no condition to travel back to the academy, and if their luck was good, they would find a healer at the settlement.

"His injuries could have been worse, Aurelius." The village chief said as she watched the healer treat Adam. "Just what did you two encounter during your investigations?"

"Four Third Realm beasts."

"What?!" The village chief snapped her head towards Aurelius, the disbelief in her eyes evident. "And you fought them?!"

"We actually tried to run," Aurelius answered calmly, his hands crossed over his chest. "But that was easier said than done. My partner risked getting burned to get me out of the worst of the attacks."

"..."

The village chief went silent for a moment. "Who would have thought your partner would be the infamous Adam Highstein?"

She glanced at Aurelius.

A small smile appeared on his lips before it quickly disappeared. "Then I needn’t say why he had to hide his identity."

"I understand." The woman nodded.

"We plan on leaving as soon as he recovers enough to travel." Aurelius suddenly said. "But before that, there’s something I still need to take care of."

"You’re leaving?"

"Only for a few hours." Aurelius acknowledged. "The beast that had been causing the raids is still at large. But we have help now."

The village chief looked past Aurelius, staring at the two men who stood there like guards. From what she gathered from her observation, those two were here for Aurelius.

"Okay. I’ll inform your partner once he wakes up." The village chief agreed.

"Thank you."

Aurelius stepped back and motioned for Derek to follow him. "You stay here and watch over Adam."

"Got it."

Aurelius soon left the centre with Derek behind him. When he stepped outside, he looked into the distance. They were in the early hours of the morning, around 3 to 4 a.m. "Remember the mountain I’ve been staring at?"

"Of course, Young Lord."

"Good. Take me there."

"Roger." Derek placed a hand on Aurelius’ shoulder and vanished.

***

"The entrance has been sealed, Young Lord," Derek said, looking over his shoulder. "We’ll have to find another way in."

Aurelius stood at the back with a thoughtful expression. He knew this would happen, but he had still held on to hope. Losing a creature like that would be a massive loss.

"Look around." He ordered.

With a nod, Derek vanished with a whoosh. A couple of minutes later, he returned.

"Anything?"

"There’s another cave on the other side of the mountain."

"Let’s go."

Following the order, Derek stepped close, placed a hand on his shoulder and vanished again.

Aurelius had expected something bigger, but the cave was a lot narrower than he had thought. "So you think you can teleport us inside?"

"It’s possible, Young Lord. But I apologise for my weakness. My spatial senses aren’t that refined." Derek gave a short bow to apologise.

"It’s fine." Aurelius sighed and looked at the entrance again. "Carve a path forward."

"That would be dangerous, Young Lord. The collapse underneath looks recent. I’m afraid any rash actions could make things worse."

"Just do it." Aurelius stepped back.

"Understood."

Derek stepped forward and unsheathed his sword. With a wide stance, he swung his sword in a wide arc. Just as he was about to execute the rest, his head snapped toward the Young Lord.

Right at that moment, a dark silhouette materialised out of thin air, a bestial snarl resounding. Aurelius’ heart skipped a beat, fear rooting him at the spot. A paw was descending onto his head, and he could not move!

"Young Lord!"

Just as the beast’s paw was about cleaving through his head, Derek appeared and pulled him out of the way, vanishing right after. They reappeared atop the branch of a nearby tree.

"Are you alright?"

"I’m... I’m fine." Aurelius forced the words out of his throat, his chest rising and falling. He gripped the branch for dear life, swallowing the lump that formed in his throat.

Snarl...

Below, the beast bared its teeth at them. Aurelius recognised it as one of the beasts that had been guarding the gryphon.

"Wait!"

Aurelius grabbed Derek just as he was about to descend.

"Young Lord?"

"I recognise that beast," Aurelius explained. "But it’s the one it’s guarding that I’m after."

Derek glanced at the boy, realising what this was about. "You wish to tame the other one."

Aurelius nodded, not taking his eyes off the black panther. Just then, the beast vanished in a puff of darkness.

"Follow it, but keep your distance!"

Derek acted promptly, vanishing with Aurelius. He picked up the spatial distortion and followed it. The black panther took to running as soon as it reappeared.

Derek appeared on another branch with Aurelius, quietly following behind the panther. The beast slowed down after a while and looked around. Then it scurried through the bushes and disappeared.

"Do you sense anything?" Aurelius asked.

"Mm. There are two beasts inside. The panther and one other."

With a thought, the two appeared on the ground, right at the spot the panther disappeared into the bushes.

Aurelius could already feel his heart beating out of his chest. If he was right, the gryphon would be hiding in there. This was his last chance.

He looked at Derek and said, his voice serious and stern. "Once we get in there, keep that panther busy. Kill it if you must. But whatever you do, do not interrupt me."

"I understand, Young Lord." Derek agreed without a thought.

Facing the thick bushes, Aurelius pushed through, soon walking into a shaded canopy of vines and creepers.

"Now!"

Before Derek could even take in what he was seeing, Aurelius dashed towards the unmoving mass a few meters away.

The black panther sensed the intruders and angrily growled, taking off with a burst of speed to intercept them. With maws and paws wide, it aimed to tear Aurelius apart.

Clang!

Derek appeared in the beast’s path in a flash, effortlessly blocking its launch. He hurled the beast aside, turning just in time to see the Young Lord press both hands on the creature.

A weak shriek echoed from the creature, but the creature was too broken and injured to move.

Snarl...!

Snapping his attention back to the panther, Derek furrowed his brows and acted, his sword cutting a visible arc in the air. The black panther dropped to the ground with a thud, killed before it could use its ability again.