Chapter 27: A Blade, A Moment
A scent of damp earth was mixing with the coppery tang of blood. The battle raged on, but the two young fighters were barely holding their ground against the relentless Vaelith Bears.
The boy gritted his teeth, tightening his grip on the spear. His arms trembled with exhaustion as he lunged, aiming for the beast's throat. The spearhead struck true—but the bear barely flinched, absorbing the blow with its thick hide. With a deafening roar, it swiped its massive paw, sending him staggering backward.
The girl, undeterred, raised her staff. Arcane energy crackled at her fingertips before bursting forth in a streak of violet light, striking the second bear square in the chest. But the beast only growled in irritation, shaking off the attack as if it were nothing more than an insect's bite.
Hidden behind the thick underbrush, Velren clenched his fists. He knew this creature well. The Vaelith Bear wasn't just any beast—it was a monster of resilience. Blades barely cut through its hide, and even magic struggled to break its defenses. He had witnessed it before. Their attacks weren't working.
'They're not aiming for the right spot...'
Velren's mind raced as he recalled what he had learned from the wolves. The Vaelith Bear was not invincible—it had weaknesses, but brute force alone wouldn't expose them.
His fingers brushed against the hilt of his knife. His muscles tensed, ready to spring into action. But just as he prepared to move, Gramps' voice cut through the tension.
"Patience."
Velren turned to see the old man, still poised in his stance. Still locking his eyes on the battle ahead. His grip on the katana was firm but unmoving, its like his whole presence was steady as a mountain.
'You think I didn't know that?!'
Velren's instincts screamed at him to move, to help, to do something. Yet, he couldn't ignore the words that had been drilled into him over the years. The wolves didn't strike recklessly. They waited, watched, and attacked only when the moment was right.