Mystic Quest

Chapter 11

The minotaur let out a rough roar. It was the only thing that warned Lyria before it charged straight at her. The demonic dogs, for their parts, hurled themselves toward the others.

Lyria blanched and took out her whip. She threw herself to the side and rolled as she felt the minotaur's axe brushing her head. She gave a blow behind with her whip, and was satisfied to hear the demon howling in pain. A glance behind told her she managed to wound it on the face.

Noriran wanted to stay at Lyria's side; but a dog jumped on his back. Noriran whined then growled in anger. He shook himself while the other canine bit his neck. The white wolf howled before the wind picked up around him. The dog only had the time to understand before finding itself flung into the air. Noriran bared his teeth as others dogs surrounded him already.

Yuna pressed his heels in the ground when he saw the dogs charging him. With a violent horizontal blow of his sword, he injured the first line. He spun around to dodge others dogs. His sword danced around in circles and hurt some dogs. He saw a dog leap at him; but his reflexes were fast. He plunged his sword into the dog's belly and threw it behind him, knocking out two or three of the demonic creatures this way.

Solarys didn't loose time. Barely after the canine looked into her direction, an arrow stuck itself between the two eyes of one of them. They growled in anger and sprang toward her. Never moving from her position, Solarys fired arrow after arrow, never missing her target. When she saw the survivors were close, she dodged those who leaped at her. She made another arrow appear and plunged it into the stomach of one of them before firing it on another. She stepped back and started again her rain of arrows.

Emerys joined his hands as he dug his feet into the ground. A fire ball formed between his hands. When he saw the demonic animals closing by, he put his hands in front of him. The fire ball became a blast, like a dragon breathing fire. From the corner of his eyes, the magician saw some had managed to avoid. He stopped his attack and hit suddenly the ground with the palm of his hand. The ground shook as peaks of stones spurted from the earth and impaled them.

A cry attracted the eyes of all. Lyria had just received a violent blow from the horns into her side and flew before hitting a tree and falling. Noriran went into panic and hurried up toward her, thunderbolts falling on dogs that barred his path. But already the minotaur raised his axe.

Solarys fired an arrow in its direction, but it broke on its massive body. Yuna took a dangerous decision and threw out his sword with all his strength. It spun into the air before stabbing the demon's arm. Yuna let out a yell of joy. However, soon he noticed the minotaur continued the fall of its axe.

“Lyria!”

The young woman looked toward Emerys, and saw a beam of magic bursting out of his body and plunging into her own. Her breath hitched while the world seemed to slow down. A determined look appeared on her face. She raised her eyes and looked the minotaur right into its eyes. For anyone who would have paid attention; they would have seen the fear darting into the eyes of the superior demon.

A white glow enveloped Lyria. The axe broke and vanished at its contact with the glow. The minotaur stepped back as Lyria stood up. Her whip shone like the sun. Lyria raised her arm and started spinning her whip. Waves of light spread and rooted to the spot all demons. Instinctively sensing what would happen, her friends moved as far away as possible.

Finally, with a war cry, Lyria whipped straight in front of her. The minotaur howled in pain when the whip pierced him like a spear. As it vanished, Lyria made a circular move. The whip swept the whole area. Her friends shuddered; yet noted that the whip passed through them without damages. The demonic dogs didn't have the same fate. As soon as they were touched by the whip, they vanished.

Lyria made her whip disappear. The group watched the area some seconds. They couldn't believe their eyes. Yuna in particular frowned. He had a hard time believing only the magic and soul combined of Emerys and Lyria had allowed this feat. Either one of these two possessed more powers that they let on, or a third person helped. His gaze trailed to Solarys at his last thought.

Solarys didn't notice. She only rushed when she saw Lyria fell to her knees. She knelt at her side, worried. Lyria offered a faint smile.

“Nothing broken. I just need rest.”

Solarys smiled in return. The boys came closer, glad to hear that. It was then that they noted a certain something the adrenalin of the fight had hidden until now. Emerys and Yuna rounded and put their back to the girls, their face rivalling with ripped tomatoes.

Lyria raised an eyebrow while Solarys spotted the problem. She sought quickly her bag, thrown in the bushes at the start of the fight; and took out a cover. She wrapped Lyria in it; and the young whip user finally realized the consequence of her fight with the minotaur. Her clothes had been cut.

“Ah the brat! Pervert! I'm going to revive you and kill you again!”

Her friends let out a laugh at hearing the grumbles of Lyria. However, the boys stopped very soon at the glare she threw them.

“You saw nothing, understood?”

Yuna and Emerys nodded. Solarys laughed in front of their scared faces. The archer became more serious when she saw the shivers of Lyria. She was wounded and needed rest.

“We have to find a place to sleep.”

After this announcement, Solarys helped Lyria on her feet. She felt the young woman leaning heavily on her shoulder. She understood then that Lyria hid how much she was ready to collapse.

Noriran rubbed against Lyria's leg, worried. Lyria smiled and whispered to him to find a place to sleep. He waggled his tail then lead the small troop. His keen ears had picked up sounds of a river.

They only took some minutes to find the river. No longer after they arrived did Lyria fainted. Yuna and Emerys made a move toward her; but Solarys managed to put her down without trouble with Noriran's help.

Noriran put himself under Lyria's head, like a pillow. Solarys rearranged the cover before helping Yuna and Emerys in taking out the other covers and things to make food.

The area was gorgeous; and after the fight that happened, they thought they could use this opportunity and spend the afternoon here. A light lunch was made; but they let Lyria sleep, keeping her share.

Noriran stayed close to his mistress, his muzzle against her hairs. Sometimes, he nuzzled her face. His tail waggled when hours later, Lyria opened her eyes when he nuzzled her once again.

Lyria smiled and stroke the head of her companion. The movement attracted the gaze of her friends who up until then had been lying on the ground and sunbathing from the few rays passing through the trees. They stood up and went to see her.

“So? How do you feel?” Asked Emerys.

“As if a minotaur ran on me... Oh wait, that's almost what happened!”

Her three friends laughed. Lyria hadn't lost her humour. She started again more seriously.

“It still hurt a bit; but no serious damages. I should be able to heal myself soon.”

Emerys raised an eyebrow. “Only the best healers can heal themselves.”

Lyria grinned. “I am a great healer. And I'm hungry!”

This made her friends laugh. Solarys gave Lyria her share they had kept. Lyria thanked them and ate with appetite. Her three companions laid back again, relieved all was fine now.

A good night of rest; and the group would leave again tomorrow.

To be continued...