Chapter 22: A Forest of Monsters

The three-mile run to reach the turning point on the other side of the apple forest was enough time for Corbin to clear his head of lingering worries about Fallon, the obvious issues with his new unit, and focus on today’s training and the mission ahead. The Guardian slowed to a jog as he reached the lily pond that the running trail curved around. Dragonflies hummed over the mirror-like surface as Corbin moved onto the paved circle of limestone where a previous group of city guards out for their morning run had left behind two of their waterskins.

‘Well, that was a careless waste of resources—And nope! Not my problem, my plate is full.’

Corbin pulled the strap that held his waterskin around his shoulder and took a quick drink. He lowered his hand and turned to nod at Vincent as the Water Mage finished circling the pond to join him.

“You’re pretty fast for a Virtus,” Vincent commented between deep breaths as he took a drink from his leather canteen.

“I could say the same thing about you, Ingenium,” Corbin replied with a relaxed grin.

While certain Nucleus Classes complemented a certain physique, nothing limited an Ingenium Nucleus, which typically produced Mage Classes, from putting on a bit of extra muscle; any more than a Virtus, or Shield Class, was limited from reading a book and gaining additional knowledge and skills. However, the stereotypes existed for a reason. There were plenty of Sentinels and City Guards that relied on such preconceptions as a means to judge others and provide their own excuse for growth.

The Water Mage nodded with what might have been the flicker of a smile as he turned to watch the rest of their unit trail around the pond towards them. Joel was third to reach the turning point. The Ranger looked rather pale beneath his flushed cheeks, but given his poor drinking choices the night before, Corbin had expected as much. He watched unsympathetically as Joel jogged towards the pond, gagged, but managed to hold in the contents of his stomach.

Clara arrived fourth and appeared annoyed, though no one present cared to ask her why. The Duelist stretched her arms and legs with a frustrated sigh and repeatedly glanced at Corbin as if she wanted to say something but didn’t.

Corbin ignored the Duelist as he watched Clive jog around the pond at a steady pace beside Jade, who appeared to have the least endurance and stamina out of all of the team members.

“Wait, where’s the Assassin?” Clara suddenly demanded as she glanced around. “Don’t tell me she’s dead last?”

“No,” Corbin answered without turning as he continued to monitor the Destroyer and Earth Mage’s progress. “Materia Iris and the Consultus Milo took the longer route around.” He gestured to the east past a few scattered trees where another running trail stretched through the field of golden wheat back towards Highguard.

“Six miles was probably too easy for her,” Joel croaked hoarsely and lifted his waterskin for a drink.

“Try not to drool with your mouth open,” Clara muttered as she crossed her arms and moved to the side so Clive and Jade could join the group.

“S-Sorry,” Jade panted as she staggered forward and reached for Vincent’s arm. “I’m really not—good at—running.”

Clive left the Earth Mage with Vincent, who looked less than pleased to be used as a crutch. The Destroyer joined Joel, who shook his head with evident displeasure at Clive’s unphased condition after their late-night drinking and the three-mile run. The only hint of exertion from the Destroyer was the pace at which Clive gulped down his water as if he had run through a desert and not an apple grove.

‘But did Clive hang back and run with Jade to take it easy, or did he do it to encourage her and make sure she was safe,’ Corbin mused as he took another drink.

“While we’re catching our breath,” Vincent said grimly as he shrugged free of Jade’s sweaty grip. “Can I ask the Lieutenant why our unit was chosen to go on this mission?”

The Guardian drew in a quick breath as he turned to face the Water Mage, suddenly wishing Milo hadn’t gone off on a separate run after all.

“It was the Paragon’s call,” Corbin answered honestly.

“But—are we even ready for something that dangerous?” Clara asked doubtfully as she unfolded her arms. “Our unit isn’t even a day old, and they’re assigning us missions away from Highguard?”

“We have two days to get ready,” Corbin replied as he met the Duelist’s gaze. “If I don’t think we can handle it—then I’ll convince the Commander to drop us from the mission.”

“You mean your dad,” Joel snorted with a rueful shake of his head. “I suppose that would work.”

“I knew it!” Clara’s gaze moved sharply between Corbin and Joel as she snapped her fingers. “You’re Corbin Larkin! Ha! No wonder you avoided using last names.” Despite the snark in her tone, the Duelist’s expression shifted to one of curiosity mingled with respect. “So then is it true that your aunt is the infamous Firebrand, Paragon Thea of Steelgrave?”

‘And there’s the question I knew was coming.’ Corbin tightened the seal on his waterskin and then tossed it over his shoulder. “That’s enough rest. Let's head back. Clive and Vincent take the lead; I’ll cover the rear this time.”

Clive grimaced slightly but nodded as he slapped a tired Joel’s shoulder and then moved forward to join Vincent as the pair set off for the return run back.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Clara said with a smirk before she followed behind the Destroyer and Water Mage.

“Oh, merciful Althea,” Jade moaned as she stared after Vincent and jogged forward, holding her chest. Joel followed behind her with a side glance at Corbin, who allowed the Ranger and Mage to gain some distance before he fell in step behind them to match their slow and tedious pace.

“Please tell me you can run faster than this on a normal day, Ranger,” Corbin growled as Joel slowed down further to match Jade’s pace.

“Ahh—yes, Lieutenant.”

“Good, pretend you’re being chased by a Boluard and catch up to the others.”

The Ranger groaned but nodded as he picked up the pace and quickly disappeared down the road.

“Sorry,” Jade panted as Corbin moved along beside her. “I’m not—used to running. Dungeon clearing—doesn’t require—this much exercise.”

“You were a Sentinel?” Corbin raised an eyebrow curiously. “Why switch to the City Guard?”

“Highguard’s—highest dungeon is—C-grade,” Jade answered. “Which creates a bottleneck—for Materia —trying to level—reach B rank.”

‘True. And since either Beatrix or the Paragon chooses which Materia and Consultus get to enter the dungeons for clears, that means a lot of people get stuck at C-rank and have to rely on monster hunting quests outside the city to level up.’

“It worked out—since Vincent also—wanted to join,” Jade added breathlessly.

“Have you known him a while?”

“A little over a year now,” Jade said with a nod of her head. “He was a Sentinel too—for a while. But the Warden wouldn’t let him—keep rare herbs from the dungeon—so he left.”

‘Over herbs?’ Corbin shook his head. “I guess he takes alchemy seriously.”

“The right potions—in a dire situation—the difference between life and death,” Jade replied between strained breaths of air.

‘Let’s hope we don’t face any dire situations on our journey to Dawnskeep,’ Corbin thought as he turned to run backward beside her.

Jade glanced over at him and snorted out a laugh. “Show off.”

“I’m sorry, but my legs were getting tired of keeping your pace,” Corbin replied with a lazy smile.

“Alright,” Jade groaned and leaned her head back to draw in a deep breath. “I can take a hint.”

Corbin turned around and shook his head as he watched the Earth Mage struggle to pump her legs and arms faster.

“This is why—I wanted to be—an Air Mage!” Jade panted with an audible growl of frustration.

The forest of apples soon filled their view as Jade staggered along beside Corbin. The sweaty, pale Earth Mage looked ready to drop at any moment.

“Are you going to be alright?” the Guardian asked, feeling a twinge of sympathy and perhaps guilt.

“If I—pass out—you have to carry me—blaargh—” Jade lurched off the road and caught herself against a tree as she threw up whatever breakfast she had eaten against its roots.

“Oookay,” Corbin said as he slowed to a halt on the road beside her. “I think we’ll try walking the rest of the way.”

“Thank you!” Jade whispered gratefully and then threw up again. “Oh—Gaios Piss! Sorry!” the Earth Mage mumbled as she hastily wiped her lips and chin with a handkerchief.

“It’s fine….” Corbin trailed off as he glanced up and down the road, trying to gauge the distance left between them and the city. “We should be—”

“Oww!” Jade yelped as an apple fell on her head.

The Guardian frowned as the soft thud of falling apples repeated in the forest around them. A distant rumbling noise tickled against Corbin’s ears as a gentle thrum vibrated through his feet and sent a shiver down his spine.

A second and third apple fell from the tree onto the Earth Mage, who quickly scampered back to the road. “Lieutenant!”

Corbin ignored her as he dropped to a knee and pressed a hand against the ground. The tremors he felt, and the steadily growing sound of thunder behind them confirmed the terror written on Jade’s face as the Earth Mage shouted, “It’s a Monster Surge!” She quickly turned and sprinted towards the safety of the city with a lot more enthusiasm.

Monster Surge: An unusually high volume of monsters grade D-B that have become enraged. Their numbers may range anywhere from one hundred to five hundred. A monster surge can overrun any city without defensive walls and shatter an army unprepared to confront this dangerous rampage.

‘Shit!’ Corbin quickly overtook the Earth Mage and dropped to a crouch in front of her as he motioned to his shoulders. Jade jumped onto his offered back without hesitation and wrapped her arms tightly around the Guardian’s neck. Corbin ignored the scent of vomit in her braided hair as he stood and sprinted forward, desperate to put some ground between them and the tide of death stampeding in their direction.

Apples fell from branches that stretched over the road, forcing the Guardian to pay attention to his footing as the added weight of the Earth Mage sent his legs and arms burning.

“Please go faster!” Jade whispered frantically into Corbin’s ears. Her arms clenched tighter around his shoulders and neck.

“What is it? Gromulus?” Corbin asked, dreading the answer with every fiber of his being.

“I’m not an Air Mage or a Ranger,” Jade replied tensely as her voice turned away from his ear, “but if I had to make a guess, I would go with Jabal Boars.”

‘Shit. This far from the Jabal Mountains?’

Corbin didn’t bother to argue as the apples fell like a blurred rainfall onto the ground around them. The sound of falling fruit mingled with the hooves and squeals of monsters gaining on them with every step.

“Maybe we should climb a tree!” Jade suggested frantically.

“Not yet,” Corbin shouted back, barely able to hear her voice over the deluge of apples and hooves. ‘The closer we get to Highguard, the better our chances of being rescued.’ “Can you make a barrier wall strong enough to hold off Jabal Boars?”

“Three or four of them—maybe?” Jade shouted back. “But this many….”

“Got it,” Corbin growled.

“Lieutenant! I can see them!”

‘Fuck!’

“And now they’ve seen us too!”

‘Althea. Euclid—Any god out there listening—please don’t let us die out here.’

Corbin bowed forward and sprinted as fast as he could. The road ahead was covered in treacherous apples that hampered his path and almost made the Guardian lose his fitting once or twice, but leaving the road for the forest would be even more deadly.

Corbin’s throat and back joined his arms and legs in their symphony of burning desperation. He ignored the water skin that banged rhythmically against his chest as the sounds of bloodthirsty squeals closed in. ‘I can’t outrun them forever. I should pick the tallest tree I can find near the road. If Jade can put a barrier around the tree then—’

A war horn blasted through the apple grove, and the Guardian almost stumbled as a surge of hope exploded through his chest. Corbin blinked past his suddenly blurred vision as the scarlet red banner bearing a blackbird with wings of swords fluttered down the road, held up high over the mounted group of forty Sentinels that galloped madly towards them on red, blue, and green Savaldi.

“Jade, build me a ramp to that tree ahead of us!” Corbin shouted as he veered to the far left side of the road.

“Which tree?”

“Doesn’t matter, just make one!”

Jade nodded and stretched out a hand over his shoulder.

Earth Mage Active Skill—Earth Wall II (Tier II) An elemental skill that forms a wall of earth up to 128 square feet, the length, width, and shape of which can be controlled by the mage casting the spell. Wall Durability: 1,000. Note: An Earth Mage can only summon one wall for each Tier in Rank.

A small mound of earth shifted ahead of the pair, then rose sharply in the direction of an overhanging branch. Corbin sprinted at it and jumped, releasing Jade’s legs as he grabbed for the branch that loomed towards them. The limb collided against the Guardian’s chest. Jade smacked against his back and almost lost her grip as Corbin’s body swung around the tree branch.

They danged, suspended in mid-air while below, the mound of earth crumpled and shattered just as the Sentinels surged past. Blasts of air, fire, steel, tusk, and fang crashed into a swirl of chaos behind them as Corbin strained to maintain his grip while Jade’s arm clung to his neck cutting off the Guardian’s airways.

“Corbin!” Consultus Milo appeared below them, still dressed in his exercising leathers, on top of a Silver Ram. “Drop down!”

The rough bark tearing into his hands was already slipping away. Corbin blinked past the dust and tears in his eyes as he tried to position his legs. The Guardian released and dropped forcefully onto the back of the horned mount. Jade lost her grip completely this time and fell onto the road beside them as the Silver Ram bucked in protest beneath the unexpected weight. While Milo calmed the mount and steered it away from the Earth Mage sprawled on the ground, Corbin stretched out his arm towards her. “Jade, give me your hand!”

A savage squeal to their left turned Jade and Corbin’s gaze towards a black boar the size of a giant bear with jagged green tusks and blood-red eyes. The monster squealed again with bloodthirsty rage as it dug a murderous cloven foot through the soft forest earth, then charged towards them. Apples shattered beneath the monster’s thundering feet as it lowered its tucks, aiming for the stranded Earth Mage.

“Hurry!” Milo shouted.

“Don’t just sit there!” Corbin snapped as he calculated the time needed to dismount and grab his teammate. “Use another Wall!”

Jade rose sharply to her knees and swept her hand in the direction of the charging boar. An earth wall erected itself between a line of trees and trembled as the monster on the other side plowed into it. The Earth Mage let out a weak squeal of relief before she rose to her feet and grabbed Corbin’s hand.

“Let’s go!” Corbin shouted as he grabbed her wrist and then threw Jade across the saddle between the Guardian and Duelist. “Go, Milo!”

The Consultus whistled sharply, and the Silver Ram leaped forward with an indignant snort. The D-grade mount quickly gained speed as it charged down the road back towards the Capital. Milo only slowed their pace when the western gate came into view. The gate opened, and the Consultus was forced to guide the Silver Ram off the road as two more Sentinel teams sped past them towards the forest of monsters.

“This is crazy. What the hell is going on?” Corbin shouted as he watched Consultus Fay and her group disappear behind a curtain of dust.

“You know as much as I do!” Milo answered grimly. “Better gear up when we get back. If those Sentinels can’t turn that surge around before it reaches Highguard, all the refugees outside the city wall will be slaughtered.”