Page 125 of A Blackened Bond

A shiver runs up my back with the thought. What was this creature?

I have never heard of a magical beast with capabilities such as this one: the ability to burst eardrums and form a sludge that drips from its pores, instantly healing its wounds while blowing out a magical flame.

I heighten my hearing and listen to the soft shaking of leaves a few feet behind us. I jump forward, twisting around just as the creature leaps from the trees and lunges toward Verod. It knocks him across the forest and sends him hurdling into the thick trees metres from where we had been standing. The trees shake and crack from the contact and force of it.

Verod hits his head on the thickest tree with a sickening thud ringing around us from the impact. Crimson blood begins to trickle down his forehead as his eyes quickly close. The beast then turns its attention toward me.

I dive toward the ground, grabbing whatever I can as large claws reach out toward me.

The creature quickly follows after me, its elongated limbs scraping across the forest ground as it extends them like sharp knives.

I grip the spike I’ve managed to nab in one hand and the single heel I’ve held onto in my other.

The strange creature stops just mere feet from me, its chest at least four feet wide, as it bobs its head to one side, watching me. Its mangled lips part, its jagged teeth extending into an eerie grin as it takes a step closer.It looks creepier by the second.

It leaps forward as I tighten the grip on the weapons in my hands. Its long limbs quickly lash out in a barrage of physical attacks that I swiftly dodge and dive away from. Just as one clawed limb reaches for me, I duck to one side, avoiding the attack before quickly stabbing the spike in my hand into the centre of its long arm. It stakes it to the ground and holds it inplace as its other hand lashes out toward me. It faintly slices my arm before I catch the long limb in my grasp. Twisting around with it still in my hold, I hear the crack of its bone beneath my fingers before a loud roar leaves its mangled lips.

It opens its jaw, extending it again like a snake, but before it can unleash its unholy screeching attack, I lunge forward and stab the heel in my hand into the spot between its large white eyes. Blood pours from the wound as an ungodly howl pierces the air.

I twist around, throwing my weight into a heavy kick as I aim for the heel lodged between its eyes. The kick connects, pushing the heel deeper inside the beast’s furry head and cutting its howl off instantly.

Its body drops to the ground, falling limply with a heavy thud.

The dark green sludge slowly seeps from its flesh and begins pooling around its corpse like blood, except it turns into a darker, almost black shade.

I slide a weary hand through my hair, brushing it off my face as I look around. The creature was finally dead, but I was utterly exhausted and drained from the night’s events.

I turn to leave, my bed calling me to join it, before I hear another rustling sound from the trees. I move into a defensive stance as the noise continues.

I look up toward the sound and see two dark eyes watching me. A small sigh of relief leaves my lips as my shoulders relax again. A large grey owl spreads its wings and takes flight, surging into the trees beside me.Probably going to hunt some poor little forest squirrel.

I glance toward the academy, taking a few steps before I stop and peer back toward the useless asshole slumped beside the trees a few feet away.

A weary sigh leaves my lips as I make my way over, checking if he is still breathing before taking his hand and pulling him along with me.

Who knows if something else like that creature would appear again. And even though he’s an asshole, I guess he had at least tried to keep me safe.

With a bit of luck, the hit he took from the tree earlier would make him forget whatever happened and save me the trouble of whatever inquisition he would have for me when he woke up.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

MICAI’S POV

Iopen the door to my dorm room and walk toward the bedroom, a strange exhaustion and fever settling over me as I move about the room.

Had the events of the night drained me to this point? Was it the attack in the forest or the incident at the abattoir that’s depleted me to this extent?

I feel the heat creep further up my neck as I approach the bathroom. Maybe some cold water will help.

I open the door, feeling weaker as I reach out and grab the edge of the sink, steadying myself when a dizzy-feeling takes over.

After a minute, I run the tap, my arms feeling weak and shaky as I splash as much cold water on my face and down my neck as I can.

Was this really just exhaustion?

I glance at the shower, wanting to feel its cold spray pouring down on me and put an end to the heat now spreading quickly through my body. Except the room begins to spin as I try to move toward it, and I quickly realise a shower might not be the best option right now.

I slowly turn around and make my way toward the door. But glancing in the mirror, I notice a strange black line dripping down my left arm.

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