《Leaf Me Alone, I'm Too Small: A Progression Fantasy LitRPG》 Chapter 0 - Growing Pains It was a monster in the skin of a flower, unaware of its true nature; still and dormant, it looked normal like any other plant that grew in the dungeon. The flower was no taller than thirty centimeters, with vibrant red petals that glowed faintly in soft pinks and purples. It stood silently still like a pillar in a great forgotten castle. Similar-hued flowers were scattered among the tall grass far from this place, where solitude was the only fitting word to describe it. The small clearing was situated a few hundred feet from the dungeon wall, and the sleeping monster was the tallest thing around. Patches of small fungi were present, some with round white-dotted caps on a yellow foundation, some arrowhead-shaped and many others¡ªmost of them emitting a soft glow that attracted nearby bugs©¥illuminated the ground a few meters around their stem. A colony of black ants carried leaves and sticks along the ground and over a lone root sticking out like a knee. The constant tip-tapping of the small insects would be almost lost to other creatures'' senses, but a jittery tremor traveled like a wave from the flower¡¯s root, deep and down underground, where multiple roots had spread in different directions. From there, the tremor extended along the root system, up towards the stem, and finally to the flower head. This might have been the only thing that came close to tickling, as the plant was rudely awakened from its dreamless sleep, waving slightly as if caught by an autumn breeze. No memories seemed present in its head, as the flower had nothing close to a brain. Even as a monster, it still kept the anatomy of a plant, with small exceptions. Only a deep urge to grow, as ancient and true as the ground where it had sunk its roots, was present. This urge came not from the monstrous side, but carried over from before the mana seeped into every corner of its being¡ªwhen it was still a normal plant on the inside, as much as it was on the outside. And yet, it was stuck in the same place for days, maybe months, while the mana transmuted its being into a different organism, capable of gaining skills if enough of it was available to form a core.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Occasionally, a monster would pass by the lone flower, giving it a cursory glance. The ripples that passed through the ground conveyed that the creature was too large¡ªso not food. Nevertheless, as a monkey with white fur made its way towards the other side of the clearing, where tall twisted trees marked the beginning of a thick forest, it tripped on a root and fell face-first into an anthill. What came after was a cacophony of grunts and roars as the monkey ran around, desperately scratching its face and torso to shake off the ants biting it with abandon. In a blind panic, it tripped again on the same root, falling on its ass. It didn''t even register it as it rolled once, jumped straight on its feet, and ran back the way it had come¡ªdisappearing through the foliage and giant glowing fungi. ¡¼ Through a special action, you have unlocked the following attribute: Luck.¡½ ¡¼ Luck is now +1.¡½ Words started to flow in a space that would be called awareness or mind if the recipient had such things. Unfortunately, this flower had none, so all those times it had gained an attribute in the past were wasted. ¡¼ Due to incompatibility, the following attribute has been removed: Luck.¡½ Large black birds took to the dark second-stratum sky as the monkey passed under the canopy of trees and glowing mushrooms¡ªcrashing into one or two in its way. ¡¼ Through a special action, you have unlocked the following title: Prankster.¡½ ¡¼ Prankster - Description: You gain a 10% chance to startle, trip, or disrupt the otherwise calm atmosphere through indirect actions in a 10-meter radius.¡½ ¡¼ Note: May your road be ever-slippery!¡½ ¡¼ Due to incompatibility, the following title has been removed: Prankster.¡½ For some unknown reason, the air around the flower felt... positive; it was different, yet brimming with potential. The glow around its petals intensified for a second, then returned to normal. The flower drifted again into a deep slumber, closer to hibernation, unaware of the buildup of changes in body and mind that it was going to experience sooner or later. Chapter 1 - Leaf Me Alone, Part One Part one Venira walked cautiously through the damp darkness of an underground passage, trying to ignore the pain in her legs and back. A twinge of regret passed through her mind for taking this mildly suspicious job, mildly speaking. The passage looked as if it had been made by drunken dwarves, if the low ceiling, sharp turns, and muddy, treacherous ground were anything to go by. A strong, damp, earthy smell of mold sapped at her patience as she used a hand on the cold stone of the walls for balance. She had been walking for what felt like hours, yet there was no sign of a large opening ahead¡ªnot that she could see or hear too far. The best torches wouldn¡¯t illuminate more than a few meters ahead, and they didn¡¯t have the best torches. Venira sighed. She was a striking woman¡ªher long blonde hair and the way her red robes hugged her figure in the dim light were a delight to anyone with eyes. As a level sixteen mage, it was hard to find well-paid jobs, so she couldn¡¯t deny that her appearance might have played a role in getting hired with this lot. She glanced at the two young swordsmen murmuring behind her¡ªLuke was the taller of the two, with a strong looking build. He was wearing a smirk every time he made eye contact with Venira. Behind him, Daryl was fidgeting. He was a scrawny-looking man in an oversized cloak that brushed against the ground. He was holding a torch in his left hand; the light on his visage and flickering shadows on the uneven walls was scary at best. They look like thugs. What have I gotten myself into? She tightened her grip on her long wooden staff as her foot slipped on a wet rock. It wasn''t the first time she almost fell, and she knew it wouldn''t be the last. Though after the second time, she was getting more frustrated at her ¡®work colleagues¡¯ for some reason. "Careful princess, or you might break those little feet of yours!" Luke teased, chuckling. His thin-lipped smile showed little intention to help. Venira flushed. Her irritation at this whole situation was fighting against her self-consciousness, and the shame was winning. Not only was the tall fighter behind her, Luke¡ªwith an impressive build but questionable intellect¡ªnot-so-subtle in trying to hit on her, but she was also aware of how na?ve she had been to accept the first well-paid job she was presented with in her new adventuring career. She had been so na?ve that she had agreed to go delving with no fewer than three male strangers, without signing a contract and without prior information about what exactly she was required to do. The promise of a lucrative job which would likely set the stage for her growth and the gold offered had clouded her judgement. But now, It was too late to turn back. Descending deeper; past what must have been the dungeon''s first stratum, she began to feel a pressure emanating from the dark walls, as if the tunnel was trying to squeeze the air out of her. Oh god, I¡¯m so stupid, she cursed herself. ? Congratulations, you have increased the following attribute: Wisdom? ? ? Wisdom is now: 19 (+1)? ? The system¡¯s soft, feminine voice echoed in her mind. Her eyebrows rose, inquisitively. She swallowed the words that came to her mind considered blasphemous by probably all known and unknown gods. Instead, she rolled her eyes. Which considering where she was at the moment; Thud¡ª her foot got caught between two jagged rocks and she sprawled onto the uneven ground. Her mage hat flew several meters away. The staff went down clattering noisily on the slightly inclined corridor, past the man at the front and only stopping some dozens of meters ahead. She groaned, trying to get back up using her scrapped arms. The staff was a simple wooden one, but durable, so she had no worries about dropping it. Her hat was already burnt in a few dozen places due to misfired magic so it wasn¡¯t much of a problem falling on the ground. However, the robe was purchased two days ago from the coins she got in advance of this job, so basically new. The same robe which now was full of dust, muddy and with a fist size hole next to her left knee. As much as the current state of Venira proved that she was a clumsy person; she wasn¡¯t usually like this. Or, maybe she was? No. It couldn¡¯t be¡ªthere was something else at play. She smashed her fist into the ground next to her, ¡°Ahhhh¡±. That fucking low luck again! I swear I¡¯m going to find the person who invented this and¡ª The fighter behind Luke snorted, and spoke as Venira¡¯s internal cursing was making her magic exit through her pores in a soft misty glow, dispersing in the air a few inches from her skin. Lucky for Venira, Daryl was quiet¡ªmost of the time.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. He gestured smugly at her, "You know, there¡¯s a s-spell ca-called Light? It has a short i-incantation. S-s-surely you know i-it." and sneezed, wiping his nose with his free hand, losing his balance for a moment.¡±Every mage knows it.¡± Luke jumped forward, startled, as an intense heat brushed against his head. "Hey, watch out, dumb-ass," he snapped, almost stepping on Venira¡¯s hand; even though she was glowing in the dark like an improvised ghost. He checked his back for any signs of burn. He sighed in relief as he realized that the round shield tucked on his back would¡¯ve protected him from that, but there was a burn smell in the air. Venira looked in the general direction of their mysterious employer, muttering incredulously, "Great! And I have to trust those two to guard my back?" She steadied herself and tried to ignore them. Some strands of hair came off as Luke checked his ponytail. His jaw clenched. "Shut it, Venira! You¡¯d better¡ª" The third man in front of Venira turned to them and shouted in an imperious tone, "Enough," getting their attention. Venira watched him as he tucked the map into a leather pouch at his waist. "There should be a break to the second stratum in one or two miles if this map is accurate." He was the man employing them for this highly secretive, highly paid job. From what she could tell, none of them knew this man¡¯s name, or where he came from. Even though this man didn¡¯t look more than four or five years older than her, he wasn''t wearing any visible enchanted gear. Still, his metal armor, patched with strong treated leather, seemed like a clumsy attempt to blend in with newbie adventurers who had no backing. Anyone with a bit of smarts could see the craftsmanship that went into it. "When I give the signal, we''ll move in and get into position.¡± ¡°You!" He nodded at Daryl. "You''ll take the left flank, I''ll handle the right. Luke, you cover the middle, and Venira, rear." the man instructed, and they all nodded in agreement. One thing was clear: he had to be the son of someone important¡ªmaybe a hero, a noble, or a member of a big merchant family. In Enna, a hero was typically someone chosen by a god to carry out their will in the mortal world. These individuals were revered but also had plenty of enemies, whether from political figures, high-level adventurers from various guilds, or even other heroes. For some reason, she couldn''t imagine this person being a hero''s son, she thought as they moved forward and the ever-present moldy smell started to fade. ** Daryl wasn''t feeling great. The awful smell had triggered some kind of allergy ever since they descended through the maze of corridors up to this point, making it hard for him to breathe. He checked his status effects again to see if the debuff had lifted, and a timid adolescent spoke the status aloud as he focused on the path ahead. ? Status effects ? ?Morbus Fungalis? ?Debuff Details: Due to an unknown physical nature, you have an immediate reaction to mold smell and will be in a state of sickness until you clear the zone or a nature type skill ¡®Cleanse¡¯ is applied.? ?Mold Exposure First Stage: -3 Endurance, -10% HP recovery. ? ?Mold Exposure Second Stage: The state of sickness increases by 0.2% every 8 seconds.? ?One hour and 6 minutes remaining until the next stage.? Heh, matters not, he looked over Luke¡¯s shoulder at Venira, then his eyes shifted on his employer. Though he said this, in truth he hated the debuff more than he would acknowledge. His breath felt hot and heavy, coming out in shallow gasps and making it hard to speak and keep the pace with the others. But there was no way he would let that oaf, Luke, see him wheeze. He stole a glance again towards the man at the front. Something felt¡­ curious about him. Not that it matters, he told himself again, more for his peace of mind than anything else. What mattered was that soon, he would end this torture and then¡­ maybe then the risks he was willing to take will pay off in the end. That map that the man has been staring at for the last two hours is probably worth our entire group weight in gold if it gets us there¡­ to the second stratum. All he needed to do was to make himself look meek. Why settle just for the money when he¡­ no, they could ensure the wench and that man had a subtle but common accident in the dungeon then split the profit after he and Luke use this new expanse to skyrocket their levels. Let them put their guard down around me and¡ª ?Morbus Fungalis? ?The following debuff is now lifted: Mold Exposure Second Stage.? ?You might still feel some effects of this debuff for a short time, as your breathing pathways are cleared.? A current of fresh air washed over his face allowing Daryl to take the first full breath of air in hours. ?Morbus Fungalis? ?The following debuff is now lifted: Mold Exposure First Stage.? ?+3 Endurance, +10% HP recovery.? He would¡¯ve jumped in happiness if he wasn¡¯t worried about attracting the wrong kind of attention. The only problem at the moment, he realized, as they grew close to an exit, was that the thing kept pouring out of his nose without showing any sign of stopping. Part Two

Part Two

Venira was so focused on putting one foot in front of the other without making another scene that she was surprised when a dim phosphorescent light broke through the darkness not far ahead. She readied herself, and as per their plan, they jumped into action. All of them unsheathed their swords and moved forward. Luke took the front middle position, wielding a medium shield he had been carrying on his back until now. Daryl moved to the left flank, and the other man covered the right. As Venira stepped through the opening and took her place between them, forming a rough arrowhead formation, she prepared to cast a quick incantation. The cavern was small¡ªmaybe less than a mile wide¡ªframed by patches of glowing greenery, large bushes, and two ornate entrances at the far end. They waited. And waited... and waited. Nothing. Not even a goblin lurked in the shadows. They lowered their swords and relaxed, though the unnatural stillness made the hairs on the back of Venira¡¯s neck stand up. Luke eyed their surroundings skeptically. ¡°This can¡¯t be the second stratum. It¡¯s supposed to be twice as big as the first one.¡± ¡°T-that¡¯s true. It¡¯s too small,¡± Daryl added, coughing. ¡°The map stops here, so one of those entrances must be it,¡± said their employer, eyeing the left passage. Luke huffed. ¡°So, what now?¡± ¡°We split up. Venira, you¡¯re with me,¡± the employer said, tossing a dark stone to the remaining pair. Daryl caught it awkwardly, his hands smearing it with mucus. The gem seemed suspicious to Venira¡ªshe had never seen one like it before. She snapped her gaze to the employer. ¡°Wait, we can¡¯t do that. It¡¯s too dangerous! What if we encounter a tough monster or a pack of them? We¡¯re too low-level to survive in small groups, especially when we don¡¯t even know what to expect.¡± He turned to her, his expression cold. ¡°As I mentioned when I recruited you, I need to explore a part of the dungeon. What I didn¡¯t mention is that it¡¯s the second stratum.¡± He checked his knives and the straps holding them in place. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to continue this mission I paid you so handsomely for, you¡¯re free to return the money right now. I¡¯ll let you either go back or wait for us here.¡± She was speechless. She had spent most of the upfront payment on her new robe, and she knew he knew this. No one hired low-level adventurers for high-paying jobs, and the only work she had been able to get before now was far from what she¡¯d imagined adventuring to be. Helping farmers plow fields, searching for lost pets, and assisting woodcutters barely kept her fed and under a roof. They all looked at her with varying degrees of smugness. She was cornered, the perfect pawn to use as an example of what happened to those who backed out now. He stared her down, his gaze piercing. ¡°So, what¡¯s it going to be?¡± She avoided his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ continue the mission,¡± she murmured. ¡°In that case, keep your mouth shut and do as you¡¯re told!¡± he snapped, glaring at her. His demeanor shifted, becoming almost military. With his arms clasped behind his back, he paced, making eye contact with all of them but glaring especially at her. His boots made muffled noises on the ground, softened by patches of grass growing between flat rocks and dry earth. ¡°We have eight hours until the dungeon guards start getting suspicious. Do you know what happens to anyone caught using an unregistered passage? Do you?¡± He chuckled darkly as Venira paled. Yes, Venira, they¡¯d strip you of your clothing and chain you in the darkest cell. Wouldn¡¯t that be nice? He turned away, collecting himself. ¡°Pour a bit of mana into the dark stone after you exit. If it vibrates, keep it close to your ear. It¡¯s imbued for distance communication,¡± he said, looking over his shoulder at the others. As Venira and the man disappeared down the left tunnel, the other two exchanged glances. ¡°Of course he takes the female mage,¡± muttered Luke, glancing at Daryl¡¯s outstretched hand, now smeared with mucus and holding the dark stone. ¡°Keep it!¡± he said, looking defeated. ¡°And if the stone doesn¡¯t work?¡± he shouted after the employer. ¡°Then we¡¯ll meet back here in two hours,¡± the man¡¯s voice echoed back, losing itself as if coming from a faraway place. ** Edan was pissed. He was supposed to be the heir of his family but ended up on the sidelines due to the pettiness of a noble of a higher rank than his father. It wasn¡¯t his fault. Who could¡¯ve known that the stupid pumpkin wouldn¡¯t just fall, he clenched his fists thinking of it. The ball was a known routine¡ªall kinds of nobles came to pay their respects, make connections or subtly measure their enemy¡¯s political and financial strength. When the dancing started, Eaden tried to dance with the celebrated girl, Cecill, but Guso took her from under his nose. So of course he would try to humiliate the fool. Who wouldn¡¯t do so as well in his shoes? So he did. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. He tripped the fool during a fast-paced dance, and he bumped into one¡ª two¡ªthree couples until he finally fell. Edan was happy with that outcome. What he wasn''t happy with was the 3rd couple falling on top of a group of three servers carrying a very large, very full chocolate vase meant for the chocolate fountain. With the floor suddenly covered in a carpet of liquid chocolate, every participant slipped and fell on each other like in a chocolate wrestling¡ªhands and feet wiggling for purchase. Edan was the only one standing and he didn¡¯t know who was more mouth agape¡ªhe or the other 300 guests. Father was a fool in listening to their petty demands, he told himself again as he and Venira moved forward slowly. It wasn¡¯t good. Every time he remembered that cursed day, his grip over his anger slipped¡ªthe company didn¡¯t help either. If I had known these three would be such a pain in the ass, I would¡¯ve¡ªNo¡­ it wouldn¡¯t work. Throughout the trip, he had to listen to the bickering of the three morons. One suddenly got sick 200 meters down through the hidden passage, made a lot of disgusting noises and couldn¡¯t finish a sentence without sneezing. The second, taller one was dumb as a rock and kept trying to hit on the mage by insulting her. And finally, the mage woman. What the fuck is wrong with this woman? She seemed the normal one, up until she started to trip, slide, hit her head or catch her obviously new robe in rocks which he could swear weren''t there when he passed by. The only thing holding him back from killing all of them then and there was the slight chance that one of them might get lucky and hurt him, or take the chance to run and who knows what their commoner mouths would spill out to the guards. This is too important. After all, I can deal with them later, he mused silently as they advanced in the dark, the only light coming from the torch he held. He had no trouble seeing in the dark. Thanks to his magic ring¡ªone of his few magic possessions, he was able to sense his location in space due to a rare passive skill the ring got during its creation. A power that saved his skin more times than he felt good acknowledging. However, he decided not to use it so openly. The actual power of the ring was Analyze which he didn¡¯t shy from using. He was caught in his own thoughts as the gargantuan cave swallowed them¡ªif it could still be called a cave. ** Venira stopped just outside the cave, next to her new shitlisted employer¡ªmeaning, listed on her ¡®¡®kick in the balls first and ask questions later¡¯¡¯ list. The vast bioluminescent field stretched endlessly, broken only by tall, twisted trees and human-sized mushrooms scattered throughout. No monsters in sight, yet. There was no air circulation present, but the air felt fresh and slightly warm even though she was a few miles underground. Her knees wobble slightly, seeing the majesty that was presented before her ¡°This is¡­¡±. ¡°The Expanse of Second Stratum. Yes.¡± he said, taking out the map again. She sat down, mesmerized. She could almost hear strange noises coming from far ahead, monsters, she thought. The ceiling was so high that the only way she was able to see it was due to the glowing mushrooms growing upside down. Then she looked at him. He was scribbling notes on that strange map of his. She wasn¡¯t sure if to be mad, scared or grateful for brimming her here. It¡¯s not what she was expecting to see in the second stratum and without being level 30 and with a group of 5 there would be no chance for her to come to this place. That is, not through legal means. ¡°Ah, fuck¡ª¡± Startled, she asked ¡°Is everything ok,¡± already rising up and dusting off the remaining pieces of rags that was her robe. A part of her mind was already making scenes in which they were attacked by monsters or worse, got caught by some high levelled delvers and dragged to the tower guards to be left for who knows how many years. He was learning as she approached. Grabbing something he had dropped, probably, she thought. In his left hand he was holding a dark stone which she recognised immediately. It was similar to the other one, with a small difference. While the first stone was pure black with some jagged edges as if sculpted, this one had a streak of gold letters on it. ¡°Keep an eye out for any monsters, will you? I need to focus on something.¡± he said, staring intensely at the stone. She tripped over her feet hearing that. He almost said please. Maybe there is something good in him after all. She decided that giving him some space would probably be for the best. Sincerely, she was looking forward to getting back home, filling a large bathtub and soaking in it until her skin rivaled her old granny. All that would come sooner if she helped him out a bit and they finished fast whatever they were doing there. And I¡¯d probably need another robe. Hopefully he will pay the other half when we return to the surface. With that in mind, she decided to get a bit closer to the edge of the clearing. Not too close as to get in danger, but close enough so she can have a better sight of anything trying to approach them. She was confident in her skills as a mage, even if she didn¡¯t know many spells. Not for the first time she found herself mesmerised by all kinds of shrubs and patches of glowing mushrooms. Her gaze followed this light to something she was wondering how she could have missed it so far. Eighty feet or so to her right, a lone flower was glowing. Her eyes widened. ¡°Could that be a Rose,¡± she asked herself, approaching it cautiously. She wasn¡¯t very knowledgeable in alchemy, but every adventurer was given a crash course in survival and material gathering as they were the most important information a newbie needed to know to stay alive outside the walls. From her studies, she remembered something about the plants that grew in the wild, and most importantly in the dungeon. While most plants that grow in a dungeon can have magic properties and be the base ingredient for certain low grade potions or just as an additional ingredient to lower or grow a specific effect of a potion, one should be aware of the rare plants. These usually exhibit a special trait or magic propriety which can vary from the partial transmutation of the plant into an monster eg. a mandrake, to a soft glow, overgrowing, growing in inhabitable places or attracting monsters as some plants are edible for some species. An Expertise in Potion Ingredients and Where to Find Them by Neigh Shabbat, Senior Researcher and Herbalist of the Great Hall She leaned forward but ended up crouching, feeling a twinge in her back from the earlier trek. The flower was unique, delicate yet vibrant¡ªits red petals glowed faintly in soft pinks and purples. Venira didn¡¯t know she liked flowers. A sweet lemon-like smell was lingering in the air, accentuated by an earthy wood tone. You¡¯re certainly an interesting one, aren¡¯t you, she smiled fondly. She rarely had time for herself, and until now, she never stood in one place and took time to just¡­ look at one. Her eyes moisturized as some memories from her childhood came back to her¡ª Part Three

Part three Boom! An explosion shook her from her reverie. Large, dark shapes burst skyward far to the right, above the canopy. She staggered, struggling to regain her senses, when a shadow loomed over her. She reacted instinctively, grabbing a handful of sandy ground and flinging it blindly at her assailant. Without waiting to see if it hit, she rolled away, trying to avoid the fast-approaching sword. Her desperate attempt worked; he snarled, stumbling as he lost control of his blade, but not before it grazed her shoulder. The sharp pain made her cry out as she hit the ground. Clutching her injury, Venira tried to make sense of what was happening. Why is he attacking me? She glanced around for her staff, spotting it just a few feet away. It wasn¡¯t far, but it might as well have been miles with the way her body felt frozen in place. Eidan wiped furiously at his eyes, growling low in his throat. Whatever was in the sand had clearly irritated them, slowing him down. ¡°You¡¯re going to regret this,¡± he spat, advancing toward her with heavy, deliberate steps. Venira gritted her teeth, forcing herself to move despite the pain. Her breaths came in sharp, ragged gasps as she crawled forward, reaching for her staff. Its weight felt comforting in her hand, grounding her. There was no time to think. ¡°Lux stellarum!¡± she shouted, raising the staff. A blinding light flared at its tip, forcing Eidan to shield his eyes. Seizing the chance, she rolled to her knees, barely avoiding another swing of his sword. The blade struck the ground just inches from her, sending chunks of dirt flying into the air. She staggered to her feet, her eyes darting around desperately for an escape. Running back to the tunnel wasn¡¯t an option¡ªshe¡¯d be an easy target in the confined space. ¡°Stay put, damn it!¡± Eidan roared, his voice filled with frustration. ¡°There¡¯s nowhere to run.¡± He shifted to block her path toward the exit to the upper stratum, unwittingly giving her the opening she needed. Venira had already decided to make for the opposite direction. Sweat streamed down both their faces, though Eidan seemed far less affected. ¡°You wish!¡± she shouted over her shoulder, though her voice trembled. ¡°I might be a lower level than you, but I¡¯ve got my tricks!¡± The two circled each other in a slow, tense arc. Venira ended up with her back to the flower and the wilderness of the expanse, while Eidan stood with his back to the tunnel. She inwardly cringed at how obvious her bluff sounded. The number of spells she could cast could be counted on one hand¡ªwith a missing finger . ¡°We¡¯ll see about that,¡± he sneered. Before he finished speaking, Venira had already turned and bolted toward the dense forest. Eidan followed, his speed increasing. She barely made it a few strides before her foot caught on a root protruding from the soil. She fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes¡ª¡°Uff¡±¡ª taking the air out of her for a second. The hat which was on her head up until a moment before fell silently, perfectly positioned on her rear. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. A chuckle escaped Eidan as he slowed his approach. ¡°Pathetic,¡± he muttered, amused at her apparent clumsiness. Venira rolled onto her back, her staff raised and mana already gathering at its tip. Her breath came in short gasps, and her voice wavered as she began chanting. ¡°Saltare in margine ferri...¡± Eidan¡¯s grin vanished. Realizing her intent, he dashed toward her, his face twisting with murderous intent. Her voice grew stronger, her hand trembling as the spell charged. The light at the staff¡¯s tip throbbed like a heartbeat, growing brighter with every word. ¡°Sculpere omnia quae ante me stant...¡± He was closing in fast¡ªtoo fast. Panic threatened to overwhelm her as she pushed through the final words. However, the spell was timed perfectly. She saw the moment realization dawned in his eyes as he shifted his sword into a defensive stance, bracing himself. ¡°Ex mandato venti, feri vere¡ªVentus Gladius!¡± The blade of wind erupted from her staff, slicing through the air with a deafening roar. Eidan raised his sword, angling it downward to deflect the spell. The wind blade struck with the force of a hammer, slamming into him and carving twin furrows in the soil as he skidded backward. Seeing this, Venira tried to get up. Her body was feeling numb due to the adrenaline coursing through her veins and was breathing rapidly as if she just finished a twenty mile marathon. She was panicking when she saw in her mind¡¯s eye that a third of her mana went in that one spell due to poor focus. When the spell didn¡¯t show any signs of dispersing, he plunged his sword into the ground before him with all his strength and braced against the force. The wind blade was cut in two and passed harmlessly by him, however the gush of wind that came with it made it impossible to look forward. His feet were swiped off the ground, threatening to fly away for two seconds. Then he abandoned his sword, lunging toward her with another burst of speed. She didn¡¯t have time to react. They collided, Eidan pinning her to the ground. His hand clamped onto her injured shoulder, making her cry out in pain. ¡°You¡¯ve been a thorn in my side for too long,¡± he growled, his fist slamming into her face. The first blow left her dazed. The second sent stars dancing in her vision. Blood trickled from her nose as she weakly clawed at the ground, searching for anything she could use to fight back. ¡°Why?¡± she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Why are you doing this?¡± Venira¡¯s good hand skittered around her, trying to find the sandy ground she had used previously, but it was hard and unyielding. Where did I get that sand from? She tried to cast another spell but couldn''t focus due to the throbbing pain in her head. The wooden staff was out of her reach as well. "You see, I can¡¯t let any of you leave alive." He swallowed. Her body was getting weaker with each passing moment, lingering on the verge of unconsciousness. "Now that I know this map is not a fake, I can¡¯t let any of you live knowing this. Ah, and don¡¯t worry about the other two. The stone I gave them It¡¯s just an overcharged magic stone. Surely you heard it. It was quite an explosion." He unhooked a knife from his back. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s time to end this.¡± His blade was gaining a red sheen to it by the second. With her last strength, she tried to escape from under him, but it was hopeless. He was more heavy than he looked and casters were weak to close physical attacks; she knew this. She closed her eyes, afraid to even look at Eidan''s murderous face as he raised the knife, poised to stab her hearth.