Forged By Falcrest

Atlas slumped back against the jagged rocks, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. The sharp chill of the cliffside bit into his skin, but the ache in his muscles and the throbbing in his arms drowned out everything else. Beside him, Marcus sat propped against a boulder, his face pale and twisted in pain. Blood seeped through the makeshift bandages Atlas had wrapped around his leg, the deep gashes from the lynx's claws still fresh and angry.

"Hold still," Atlas muttered, leaning forward to tighten the bandage. His hands were steady despite his exhaustion, but the frigid air made his fingers feel stiff and clumsy. "This'll hold for now. I'm not exactly great at stitching yet, but it should stop the bleeding until we get back to Kara."

Marcus winced as Atlas pulled the fabric taut, but he managed a weak smile. "Well, at least you're good for something," he tried to teased, his voice strained but light.

Atlas chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah. I save your life, and this is the thanks I get. Next time, maybe I'll just let you fall."

Marcus laughed despite himself, the sound rough but genuine. "You'd never let me fall. You're too much of a bleeding heart."

"True," Atlas admitted with a grin, sitting back on his heels. "But don't get used to it. This whole 'saving your ass' thing is a one-time deal."

They both laughed then, the tension of the fight and near-death experience easing just slightly. It wasn't much, but it was enough to remind them that they were still alive. Still breathing.

Atlas pushed himself to his feet, offering Marcus a hand. "Come on. We need to find Kara and get out of here before something else decides we look like lunch."

Marcus groaned but took his hand, leaning heavily on him as they started back into the forest. Their steps were slow, their bodies worn down by the fight and the climb before it. The shadows of the trees stretched long across the snowy ground, the faint light of the fading day filtering through the canopy above.

Atlas kept his eyes sharp, his hand holding onto his sword. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were still being watched, though whether by another predator or just the lingering specter of the lynx they had faced, he couldn't tell.

They hadn't gone far when a sharp, high-pitched sound cut through the quiet. A scream.

Atlas froze, his head snapping toward the direction of the sound. His heart skipped a beat as he exchanged a wide-eyed look with Marcus.

"That was Kara," Marcus said, his voice tight with alarm.

Without another word, they both took off, adrenaline surging through their battered bodies as they pushed through the underbrush. Branches scratched at their arms and faces, the snow crunching loudly beneath their boots. Atlas's mind raced with worst-case scenarios, each more horrific than the last. What if it was another lynx? Or worse?

They broke into a clearing, and Atlas skidded to a halt, his breath coming in short bursts. His eyes darted around, scanning for the source of the scream, expecting to see Kara in danger.

What he saw instead made him blink in confusion.

Kara stood in the middle of the clearing, unharmed and holding the cache of supplies strapped securely to her back. She was crouched low, her black hair falling over her face as she cradled something small and gray in her arms. Her lips were curved into a soft smile, and her usually serious eyes sparkled with something that looked suspiciously like delight.

"Kara?" Marcus called out, his voice laced with confusion and caution as he limped into the clearing beside Atlas. "What… what is that?"

Kara looked up at them, her smile widening slightly. "It's a baby lynx," she said simply, her voice soft and almost tender.

Atlas blinked again, certain he had misheard. "A what?"

She stood slowly, turning to face them fully. In her arms was a small lynx, its sleek silver fur glinting faintly in the light. Its eyes were closed, and its chest rose and fell in the steady rhythm of sleep. It looked impossibly peaceful, entirely at odds with the massive beast they had just fought.

"It must've been nearby when we… when you killed its parent," Kara said, her voice faltering slightly at the end. She looked down at the cub, her fingers gently stroking the soft fur on its head. "I found it crying in the snow. It must've been scared."

Atlas and Marcus stared at her, dumbfounded. Of all the things they had expected to find, this was not it.

"Kara," Marcus started, his tone cautious, "you do realize that's a mana beast, right? A dangerous mana beast."

Kara shrugged, her grip on the cub tightening slightly as though to protect it. "Not right now, it's not. It's just a baby."

Atlas ran a hand through his hair, his golden eyes wide as he tried to process the scene in front of him. "You screamed," he said finally, his voice a mix of disbelief and exasperation. "We thought you were being attacked!"

"I didn't scream," Kara replied, frowning slightly. "I… I might have gasped. It startled me when I found it. But I wasn't in danger."

Atlas let out a long, slow breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Unbelievable. I almost gave myself a heart attack rushing over here, and you're just… cuddling a baby lynx?"

Kara didn't respond immediately. Instead, she looked back down at the cub, her expression softening once more. "It's just a baby," she repeated quietly. "It didn't ask for this."

Marcus groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. "What are you planning to do with it, Kara? You can't just… keep it."

"I wasn't planning to," she said defensively. "I just… I didn't want to leave it out here alone. It wouldn't survive on its own."

Atlas exchanged a glance with Marcus, his lips twitching into a faint, incredulous smile despite himself. "You're something else, Kara," he said, shaking his head.

Kara ignored him, her focus entirely on the cub. She adjusted the supplies on her back and started walking toward them. "Come on. We need to keep moving before it gets dark."

Atlas sighed, falling into step beside her as they made their way back through the forest. The cub didn't stir, its small body nestled comfortably in Kara's arms.

As they walked, Atlas couldn't help but glance at her every so often, his mind still grappling with what had just happened. He didn't understand Kara, not fully, but in that moment, he couldn't help but admire her.

Only she could find a baby mana beast and decide to protect it.

The climb back up the mountain was grueling. Atlas's legs burned with every step, his muscles screaming in protest after the exhausting encounter with the lynx and the near-disastrous cliffside rescue. Marcus, his leg now stitched up by Kara, hobbled along with gritted teeth, his usual swagger subdued by pain. Kara, ever composed, carried the baby lynx in one arm while adjusting the cache of supplies strapped securely to her back with the other.

They hadn't stopped to dig through the supplies. Every second counted in a race like this, and they all agreed silently that reaching the summit before the others was the priority. The thought of being one of the last groups to arrive—injured, battered, and with only a fraction of their energy left—wasn't something any of them wanted to risk.

The sun climbed higher in the sky as they trudged upward, its light doing little to offset the biting cold of the mountain. By the time they neared the peak, the midday sun cast sharp shadows across the snow, and all three of them were running on fumes. Atlas felt his breath rasping in his chest, his scarf damp with sweat and frost as the mountain's summit finally came into view.

They staggered into the clearing, the cabins ahead a welcome sight. Atlas glanced around, his heart sinking slightly when he saw Seth's group standing off to the side, already unpacked and chatting among themselves. Seth caught Atlas's eye and gave him a grin, lifting his hand in a casual wave.

"Second place," Marcus muttered, his voice thick with exhaustion as he dropped his pack unceremoniously onto the snow. "Could've been worse."

"Could've been first," Atlas replied, collapsing onto the ground beside him. He shot a half-hearted glare at Seth, who merely shrugged in amusement before turning back to his group.

Kara knelt a short distance away, lowering the cache to the ground and carefully adjusting the baby lynx in her lap. The creature stirred slightly but didn't wake, its small body curling into the warmth of her arms.

The Nightblade stepped forward from one of the cabins, his voice cutting through the murmur of the gathered students. "Those of you who've arrived, return to your cabins and await further instructions. Go through your supplies, get some rest, and prepare for what's to come. You've earned it."

Atlas didn't need to be told twice. He hauled himself to his feet, groaning as his tired muscles protested the movement. "Come on," he said to Marcus and Kara, jerking his head toward their assigned cabin. "Let's see what we've got."

The three of them shuffled inside, the warmth of the small fire in the hearth immediately easing some of the tension in their bodies. Marcus slumped against the wall, his injured leg stretched out in front of him, while Kara settled cross-legged on the floor, the lynx still cradled in her lap. Atlas dropped down beside her, reaching for the cache.

The bundle was tightly secured with thick rope, the knot stiff from the cold. Atlas worked at it for a moment before finally managing to loosen it, the contents spilling out onto the wooden floor between them. They each stared at the pile in silence for a moment, taking stock.

There were more ration bars than Atlas had expected, along with several small pouches of dried fruit and nuts. A few sealed water skins were included, their surfaces frosted over from the cold. There was also a compact cooking set, a bundle of fire-starting materials, and a handful of basic medical supplies—bandages, a small vial of antiseptic, and even a needle and thread for stitching wounds, also some ointments that Kara said speed up healing effects.

"Not bad," Marcus said, his voice breaking the silence as he reached for one of the ration bars. He unwrapped it and took a bite, grimacing slightly at the taste but chewing it down regardless.

"Better than I thought," Kara agreed, her voice soft as she examined one of the water skins. She set it aside and began organizing the supplies into neat piles, her movements methodical. The lynx stirred in her lap again, letting out a small, sleepy sound that made her smile.

Atlas grabbed one of the ration bars for himself, peeling back the wrapper and taking a bite. The taste was bland and dry, but it was food, and after everything they'd been through, he wasn't about to complain.

"Still can't believe you picked up that thing," Marcus said, nodding toward the lynx as he leaned back against the wall. "You realize it's probably going to grow up and try to eat us one day, right?"

Kara gave him a pointed look, her expression calm but firm. "It's just a baby," she said simply. "It didn't choose to be born into this."

Atlas snorted, shaking his head. "Well, as long as it doesn't claw my face off in the middle of the night, I guess I can live with it."

Kara's lips twitched into a faint smile. "I'll make sure it doesn't."

They fell into a comfortable silence after that, the three of them sorting through the supplies and making quiet observations about what they had and what they might need in the days to come. Despite the exhaustion and the lingering tension from their earlier ordeal, there was a sense of accomplishment in the air—a shared understanding that they had survived, that they had made it through the first challenge together.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the snow outside, Atlas leaned back against the wall, his golden eyes flicking to Kara and the lynx in her lap. The small creature stretched slightly, letting out a tiny yawn before curling back into a ball.

"Think we should name it?" he asked, his tone light but curious.

Kara looked down at the lynx, her expression softening. "Maybe," she said after a moment. "But not yet. Let's see if it decides to stick around first."

Atlas grinned, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "Fair enough."

The sharp knock at the cabin door echoed through the small space, interrupting the quiet hum of conversation. Atlas exchanged a glance with Marcus, who raised an eyebrow but didn't move. Kara, still sitting cross-legged with the baby lynx asleep in her lap, gave a small shrug.

"I'll get it," Atlas muttered, pushing himself to his feet. His body still ached from the climb and the fight, but he ignored the stiffness as he made his way to the door. Pulling it open, he was met by Rea, her blonde hair catching the light of the fading sun behind her. She stood with her arms crossed, her expression composed but firm.

"We're all being called to the peak," she said simply, her voice carrying the clipped efficiency of someone delivering a message. "The Nightblade wants everyone there now."

Atlas nodded awkwardly, his gaze flicking to the side as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Got it. Thanks."

Rea hesitated for a moment, her eyes lingering on him as if she wanted to say more. But instead, she turned and walked away, her boots crunching softly against the snow as she disappeared down the path. Atlas watched her go for a moment before shutting the door.

"Well, you heard her," he said, turning back to Marcus and Kara. "We're being summoned."

Kara sighed, carefully shifting the lynx from her lap onto a makeshift bed of folded blankets in the corner. The small creature stirred but didn't wake, its tiny body curling into a tighter ball. "We should leave it here," she said softly, brushing a strand of dark hair from her face. "It'll be safer."

Marcus grunted as he pushed himself up, favoring his injured leg. "Hope it doesn't tear up the cabin while we're gone," he muttered, grabbing his coat and throwing it over his shoulders.

Atlas chuckled lightly, pulling on his own gear as they stepped out into the cold. The air was sharp, biting at their faces as they trudged up the path toward the peak. The sun was beginning to dip lower, casting long shadows across the snow-covered mountain. Other groups were making their way up as well, their figures dark silhouettes against the golden light.

By the time they reached the top, the entire cohort had gathered, their breath visible in the frigid air as they huddled together for warmth. Atlas scanned the crowd, spotting familiar faces—Seth, standing with his usual grin, Rea beside him looking composed as always, and Aaron further back, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable.

At the center of the gathering stood Striker Thane, his dark cloak billowing slightly in the wind. His sharp features were illuminated by the last rays of sunlight, and his piercing gaze swept over the assembled students with an air of quiet authority.

"Sit," he commanded, his voice cutting through the murmur of voices. The students obeyed, lowering themselves onto the cold ground in a loose semicircle around him. Atlas settled between Marcus and Kara, his golden eyes fixed on the Nightblade.

Thane didn't speak immediately. Instead, he turned toward the edge of the peak, his back to the students as he gestured out toward the horizon. The view was breathtaking—sprawling mountain ranges stretching endlessly into the distance, their snow-capped peaks glowing in the golden light. Beyond them, the land flattened into vast plains, the faint outline of forests and rivers visible even from this height.

"All of this," Thane began, his voice low but steady, "is Draegar. Your nation. Your land." He turned back to face them, his expression unreadable. "This is what you are being forged to protect. To fight for. To die for, if necessary."

The weight of his words settled heavily over the group. Atlas felt a shiver run down his spine that had nothing to do with the cold. He glanced at Marcus, who was staring intently at Thane, his jaw tight. Kara's expression was harder to read, but her dark eyes were fixed on the horizon, a faint furrow in her brow.

"Look at it," Thane continued, his voice growing stronger. "Take it in. This is your home. Your people live down there, in those valleys and plains. They depend on us—on you—to keep them safe. To ensure that their lives can be lived in peace."

He paused, letting the silence stretch as the students stared out at the sprawling expanse of Draegar. The land seemed endless, a reminder of the responsibility they were being trained to shoulder.

"This is not a game," Thane said, his tone sharp as he turned his gaze back to them. "Every lesson, every trial, every hardship you endure here is meant to shape you into what this nation needs. You are not here for yourselves. You are here for Draegar. Remember that."

Atlas swallowed hard, the weight of Thane's words pressing down on him like a physical force. He looked out at the horizon, the vastness of the land both beautiful and intimidating. For a moment, he wondered if he was truly ready for this—if any of them were.

"You will remain here," Thane said finally, his voice softer now. "Sit. Look. Think. Understand why you are here, why you were chosen, and what it means to bear this responsibility. On what it means to be a Blade."

With that, he stepped back, his gaze lingering on the group for a moment longer before he turned and walked away, disappearing down the path without another word.

The students sat in silence, the weight of Thane's message hanging heavily in the cold mountain air. Atlas pulled his scarf higher over his face and covering his burn mark, his golden eyes fixed on the horizon as he tried to process everything.

The planes stretched out below.

I wonder what it's like down there. In the world and out of these mountains