the beginning after the end perfect duo

FIRST AND LAST RAID

Lilia's POV

"Oof!" I hit the ground hard, the impact jarring my whole body. Dust coated my clothes, clinging to the fabric like a second skin. I brushed it off, then stared into the yawning darkness of the tunnel. It stretched before me, a cold, damp maw promising an unknown journey. The air hung heavy, thick with the smell of damp earth and something else... old paper, maybe? Like that musty basement I got lost in once.

Where were Tom and the others? Were they even alive? This raid started disastrously. More importantly, would I make it out alive? My mana throbbed erratically, a wild thing I could barely contain.

Jasmine's gaze darted around, restless and unfocused, like a trapped hummingbird. She seemed to be searching for something only she could see. I broke the silence, my voice a thin tremor against the oppressive chill.

"Where... where are we?" My body shivered, the cold seeping into my bones. My teeth chattered, making it hard to speak.

"A tunnel," she replied, her voice brisk and clipped. Without hesitation, she chose a direction and started walking, offering no further explanation.

Each footfall sent a crunch echoing through the confined space, the sound amplified by the tunnel's cold, unforgiving walls. They were rough, like the bricks in the playground, but covered in a slimy, moss-like growth. I shuddered, the damp chill seeping into my fingers as I touched the wall.

My breath hitched. "Jasmine... do you think Tom and the others are safe?" The question caught in my throat, a desperate plea in the vast silence.

"They're strong," she said, her voice flat, still avoiding my eyes. Her answers were always so brief, so dismissive. She was never good at this, was she?

Doubt gnawed at me. Was this truly wise? Venturing into the unknown with two one-man armies, while I could barely control my own magic? It felt reckless, foolish. But I wanted to be with them, to be like them, strong and capable.

Jasmine's voice cut through my thoughts. "Lilia, be ready. At a moment's notice," she said, her gaze firm, unwavering. Her words were a sharp reminder: my survival should be my priority. The others could wait.

We walked on and on. Each breath felt labored, insufficient. The tunnel seemed to press in on me, closing in on all sides. My shoulders ached, my feet dragged. Even the echo of my own footsteps seemed to mock my exhaustion. There was no end in sight. A desperate hope flickered—a light at the end of this tunnel. But what if there wasn't one?

"Jasmine," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "What makes you so sure this is the right way?" The words were punctuated by shallow, ragged breaths. The cold and the endless darkness were beginning to crush me.

"I can use wind mana, right Lilia?" she asked me, as she swiftly looked in my direction, moving her lips upwards slowly, curling into an awkward smile she's not so used to putting on her face.

Quickly pulling back from our quick moment, she continued her steps forward, her pace even quicker, and I couldn't help but notice the eerie silence building up in the place. It was as if we were the only ones down here, which is probably way better than the truth. I am more than sure that we'll encounter some form of a beast sooner or later, I thought, the echo of my steps sending shivers down my spine.

And I couldn't help but notice how Jasmine's shadow blended with the darkness of the cavern. It kept getting colder and scarier the further we advanced. The very rhythmic pattern of my breathing seemed to know what's coming, as it got faster and faster, almost as if trying to escape before I do, but I had Jasmine, and I could rely on her, I thought, trying to stop the ever-stopping sensation.

A subtle change in the air could be felt. Jasmine stopped frozen in her place. She regarded my position first, then quickly scanned the rest of the cavern, and this time I could only see her usual blank face as a sigh escaped her lips, mirroring the profound weariness etched in her features.

"We're not alone anymore," Jasmine's voice rang into my ear, a yell in lowercase. What does that mean!? I stared for a few milliseconds at Jasmine's daggers as I barely had time to wear the artifact Tom gave me back in training. Jasmine quickly readied herself.

This is it, Lilia, this is your first raid. Make it out of here, I yelled at myself, as a surge of adrenaline flowed through my body like quick-spreading fire. My fists clenched, and my breath caught.

A whole pack of those dark, huge wolves came out, blocking our tunnel, their claws sharper than ever. I prepared for their incoming charge, and so did Jasmine.

The leader of the pack rushed, as his size made him unmistakable. Jasmine's silver dagger launched to attack as a silver trail was left behind. Her speed was enhanced by her wind spells as she clashed. A roaring sound spread into the tunnel when her dagger met the claw. Both of them were sent back a few meters, but what am I doing here still observing? Tom would have helped already, and so should I.

I enhanced my physical abilities as much as I could, using as much mana as my artifact could gather, launching forward, covering Jasmine's blind spots. I punched a hole through one of them, as his blood stayed on the front of my hand. An iron-filled smell came in contact with my nostrils, and an urge of disgust accompanied it.

This is it, my first attack. I was happy I could help, but knowing that I killed a being wasn't the easiest of memories to have.

But I felt powerful. I felt stronger now.

Locked down into my place, a sudden change in temperature spread into my surroundings.

"Lilia, watch out!" Jasmine yelled from behind, and I barely had time to react, as the wolvish claw came in contact with my hair. I dived down, seeing the wolf take pieces of my hair with him as he flew by. I gathered my strength and threw it to the wall.

"Not yet!" she yelled again, snapping me back to reality. Her tone high-pitched, her eyes wide, locked into mine. The sparkle in them fading away as the second and third wolf jumped at me. My heart raced, my blood freezing against my skin, my eyes darting around.

Only when all hope was lost, when I remembered my mother's last words to me—never being able to be with my own brothers anymore—did Jasmine jump, standing between me and my certain death, as I yelled out loud,

"Jasmine, no!!" I yelled my breaths out, Watching the person who promised my safety sacrifice her life for my sake.