EMRYSA

Chapter Four

At the end of the cave, there was a sinkhole that prevented the Wilddeorens from pursuing them further. Sage pushed Ciara and ran ahead, Ciara slipped on a stalagmite, injuring her foot. Arc, hearing her cry of pain, quickly turned back and scooped her up in his arms.

The Wilddeorens were closing in, and Ciara whispered to Arc, "We're not going to make it."

Arc's determination shone through as he replied firmly, "We're going to make it." With a burst of strength, he leaped over the sinkhole, carrying Ciara with him. As they landed on the other side, they teetered dangerously close to falling back into the sinkhole. Prudy reached out and grabbed Arc's arm, pulling them to safety. The pursuing Wilddeorens plummeted into the sinkhole.

Breathing heavily, Sage sighed with relief. "That was close."

They glared at her with disapproval, shooting her a dirty look. Sage stood her ground and defended herself, "What? I will not apologize for saving my best friend. Not that I will ever apologize."

"You pushed her back purposefully. Let me warn you, Princess Sage," Prudy, still staring at Sage intently, picked up a rock, "If you pull off something like that ever again," she crushed it into sand with a menacing expression.

Feeling fearful, Sage instinctively moved back. Trying to diffuse the tension, Arc spoke up, "How far is the sea?" His question aimed at redirecting their attention.

"Not far. We should reach there by nightfall," Morgana answered.

Ciara, still being carried by Arc, spoke up. "You can drop me now, I can walk." Her request was met with skepticism as Arc gently put her down. She attempted to stand but immediately realized she couldn't bear weight on her injured foot. "I thought as much," Arc said with a hint of understanding. He bent down and offered, "Get on my back."

However, Ciara resisted. "No, no, no, Prudy will carry me," she glanced to her right, only to realize that the others had left them behind, including Prudy. Feeling abandoned, Ciara muttered to herself, "First she stood up for me, then she abandoned me."

A few hours later, Sage complained, "I absolutely cannot go any farther." Buttercup added, "No, I cannot either. We are not going any further."

Ciara, seizing the opportunity, decided to frighten them, saying, "Sure, we'll be happy to leave you here. But wait, did I tell you two about flesh-eating serkets the size of your ego that will keep you company?"

Prudy groaned in frustration, "Ugh, it's like everything here is out to get us." Morgana chimed in, stating matter-of-factly, "That's because they are."

As Ciara and the others prepared to leave Sage and Buttercup behind, Sage and Buttercup finally realized they were being abandoned. Panicking, Sage shouted, "Wait! We've decided, on our own, to keep going! Come, Buttercup, hurry. I command you all to wait for us!" They sprinted to catch up with the rest of the group.

The journey continued for hours, with Sage and Buttercup causing frequent delays. When night fell, they took turns keeping watch while the others slept.

With the sunrise, Ciara decided to test her foot injury by taking a short walk. Arc offered his support, helping her along the way. They stumbled upon what appeared to be an orchard, with trees arranged in a peculiar yet deliberate pattern. However, the trees bore no fruits. Ciara found a spot to rest under one of the trees.

Taking in the scenery, Ciara asked, "Beautiful, isn't it?" Arc smiled and nodded, settling down beside her.

Arc began to share a story, "This reminds me of Azaar, well probably not your grandfather. This Azaar was a powerful wizard who hasn't been seen for centuries. People say he created an orchard in this valley when he passed through."