Chapter 199: The Descent
Lara woke up to another glorious dawn, a luxury she had not experienced in her old life, when her early mornings would be greeted with smog and the high-rise buildings surrounding the suburb where her father’s mansion was.
As dawn broke, a serene calm enveloped the peak, and everyone basked in the embrace of the cold mist. Even Bener, who often battled the restless demons of insomnia, found solace in his dreams. He drifted through the night wrapped in warmth, cradled by the gentle lull of tranquility. Upon waking, he felt a wave of freshness wash over him, invigorating his spirit and lighting a spark of energy that he hadn’t felt in ages. The morning greeted him like an old friend, promising a day filled with promise.
They descended the peak, and while it was faster, the boys found out that it was more taxing. On steep inclines, they had to be very careful as one wrong move could lead to a fall, which might not be fatal but could cause serious injuries.
As they plunged deeper into the jungle, shadows flitted between the trees, revealing the presence of wild animals.
The creatures, with keen eyes that glistened like polished stones, watched the humans intently from their hiding places. Silence hung in the air, heavy with tension; the beasts, sensing the powerful aura that radiated from the four Norse siblings, chose discretion over aggression. Deep-rooted instincts whispered to them—survival depended on letting these formidable enemies pass unchallenged.
Even as predators, they recognized the law of nature. The strong were to be feared. They understood that within this wild tapestry of life, the powerful stood as figures to be both admired and dreaded.
It was lunchtime, and they needed two more hours to reach the plateau. They decided to camp on a clearing under an ancient tree whose trunk was so large that even the six of them, holding hands, would not be able to encircle it.
While they were preparing to cook their lunch, Percival challenged Lara to a friendly duel to pass the time. They used the blunt side of the sword to avoid an accidental wounding of either one of them.
On the first two moves, Percival was disarmed. He cursed as he picked up his sword. He has not even straightened his back when a kick landed at his butt.