Xiao's Birthday

Part 5 (Chapters 11-13)

You know how they say never to trust the 13th episode? Yeah. Enjoy.

Chapter 11

I retreat, running through the trees to get away, trying for higher ground.

Instead, I get turned around and end up running into the clearing in the center of camp.

Rising from the ground to turn and greet me is a Cryo Abyss Mage. He's white, his hooked mask staring down at me as he gathers his spell.

In a moment, I'll be frozen.

I leap out of the way, narrowly avoiding both that and the Lawachurl.

What ungodly being put these two together?

Oh, but what prizes will I get from being able to bring them down?

I dash behind a small hut, hoping it will provide some protection. The Abyss Mage floats up, targeting me. I leap on top of the roof, then run up an ice arch, the same as I had for the ice flower.

I need to take him out first, otherwise I have no chance of defeating the Lawachurl. Getting stuck in place for the giant creature to bear down on me would end in death.

I fire back at the Abyss Mage, striking him.

He's surprisingly hard to hit, easily maneuvering in the air. His floating ability reminds me of Missy's.

I should have asked her if anything makes her fall.

That's when other travelers show up, running into the arena.

They're the ones from before, the ones who turned back to escort the blacksmith.

They must have come up here from the same inn, traveling along the path that Arienne had blocked off.

Then, at the fork in the road, they simply chose the wrong direction.

They have no idea what they're in for.

I'm so distracted I catch an ice chunk directly to the face. It stings, it burns, and blood floods my vision.

The force throws me off the roof, tumbling head over heels on the ground.

When I land, I'm choking, bent over myself. Pain is blooming so rapidly from my face I can't concentrate. I drop my sword, hands gripping myself.

My left eye is closed, and I can't get it to open.

Everything feels wet.

When I pull my hands back, they're covered in layers of blood.

I stand then, shaking, and retrieve the sword. One hand holds my eye to my face, hoping against hope that it's not destroyed. That it's only injured around the organ.

The Abyss Mage is throwing another shot at me, one that roots my feet to the ground.

And the Lawachurl is coming.

I can't try the same tactic, but I do anyway. I freeze him in place, only for a split second. It's only enough to allow the Abyss Mage's magic to wane on me. My feet become unstuck right as the Lawachurl's slowed shield is swinging at my body.

I manage to put up a weak layer of ice over my ribs.

The shield hits, cracking the ice instantly. If my legs were still stuck, I can only imagine. It throws me through the air.

I hear shouting coming from the poor travelers who had distracted me. It's not their fault.

My hands land by my sides, the sword clattered before me.