EQUINOX || The Catalysts Series, #3

XXI

The company isn't human.

Lena obviously entered this zone on her own, no other students present to be fighting with her for the 'star', but the maze has other things in mind.

The entire arena is alive. And with it, something else.

It's as if Lena's entering of this zone triggered some sort of mechanism that will attempt to inhibit her from getting the 'star'. The glowing object itself stays afloat in the centre of this swamp chasm and does not seem to have any other protection around it, but it's not just all for the grabbing; its surroundings are doing the bodyguard work just fine—the swamp waters churning and slowing Lena down, the vines overhead creating a massive obstruction in Lena's path.

But Lena is prepared. If anything, her abilities work perfectly in this condition, because she has the power to wrap herself in a different area. Besides, this environment setting gives her an idea; she should as well utilise the space and the fake set up.

Lena doesn't waste her glass shards just yet. With a grunt, she pushes up with great effort from the sinking mud, grabbing hold onto a swinging vine dangling low enough for her to reach. Pulling taut, she ensures that the vine isn't going to give that easily, possibly even with her weight. The only way to test it out is to try it. Lena forces her legs out of the mud with no small amount of effort—this isn't normal swamp mud. It's made to deter you, to stop and sink you in almost like quicksand if you aren't fast enough. The muddy stains stay over her virtual armour outlay, clashing with the purple hue. She proceeds to climb the vine she latches on to before finding herself in a perfect position at the wall. Pivoting, Lena kicks against the wall while holding on to the vine, swinging a little forward and closer toward the 'star'.

Her heart races as she does the swing, the irrational thrill of it mixed with still obvious fear. When she reaches the end of the swing, Lena dares to let go, not looking down and reminding herself that it isn't all that high unlike the buildings she's been on top or the Aerotrain and that below is just mere mud waters and she will not die if she falls—

Her gloved hands find purchase on another set of vines, this one thicker and much shorter than the last one. It's looped over the wall so Lena is now suspended in the middle and not swinging, her momentum stopped as her legs dangle just barely inches above the dark swamp waters. Now she's almost level with the 'star'—it only occurs to her now that with its floating position, she'll have to grab it by climbing the vines to reach it, in one way or another.

Lena exhales a breath of relief. That trick certainly worked. For pulling out a stunt like that only known for in books or movies, she gives herself a inner congratulations, feeling smug. Then again, this should be doable and perhaps even considered average for a student of Arcane Academy.

And now, as for the thing that's lurking somewhere with her, the entity that isn't human...

She sees it now, holding her breath. There, from where Lena just emerged from the mud waters not long ago, bubbles unnaturally. And, without warning, a gaping maw of sharp teeth bursts out from the dark waters, snapping at the air. The creature is a shadowy, dark mass of matter. But apart from the rows and rows of cutting flesh teeth, Lena can't make out anything else before it sinks back into the dark waters, lurking and waiting. If its mere mouth is that huge, she doesn't want to think about the rest of its figure.

Lena refrains from screaming, but her heart nearly stops from the proximity of that snap. A few seconds later and she would have been demon food. Her legs have been unconsciously bent since, trying to put as much distance as possible between her body and the waters.

It is undeniably a demon, a creature of another dimension. Even if demons and humans coexist in the City of Leatia, the fact doesn't prepare Lena for this, for facing an aggressive demon that's probably high ranked right in the heart of the academy. It doesn't help that she herself has never faced a demon head on before—perhaps none of the younger students have, because they are prohibited from challenging outside threats until they are of age or an official Catalyst. The most that they've done is the few training sessions with demon simulations that are real enough, but definitely insufficient. However, Years 4 and above do have physical classes focused on taking down demons, and they are often sent on excursions partnered with the official authorities. These are led by professional Catalysts meant for the students to shadow them and learn the ways of demon hunting.