CHAPTER 93 — LOOK IN THE RIGHT PLACE

They woke early.

In truth, no one had really slept.

They had only closed their eyes.

Percy wasn't the first awake.

Marcus was already up.

Standing quietly at the camp entrance.

His shadow spread between the rocks.

Percy joined him.

“How long have you been up?”

Marcus shrugged.

“A while.”

“That's a Galahad answer.”

Marcus looked at him.

“It works.”

Percy laughed.

“What did you see?”

Marcus pointed at the forest.

“Nothing so far.”

Percy nodded.

“Good.”

Marcus raised an eyebrow.

“Seeing nothing is good?”

“Tonight, yes.”

Marcus smiled faintly.

A voice came from behind.

“Any food?”

They both turned.

Arthur was shuffling over, half asleep.

Percy looked at him.

“You're not Nathaniel.”

Arthur rubbed his eyes.

“Thank goodness.”

Charlotte came out of the tent.

Looked at Arthur.

“Your arm?”

Arthur raised his right arm.

“Fine.”

Charlotte raised an eyebrow.

“Liar.”

Arthur sighed.

“Hurts a little.”

“A little.”

Charlotte came over.

Took his arm.

Arthur didn't pull away.

Percy saw it.

Said nothing.

Clara came out of the tent.

Her hair was a mess.

Percy looked at her.

Clara narrowed her eyes.

“Don't say it.”

Percy shut his mouth.

William came out too.

Notebook in hand.

Arthur looked at him.

“Do you write in your sleep too?”

William gave it serious thought.

“No.”

“Not yet.”

Arthur covered his face.

Breakfast was brief.

No one said much.

Two wolves...

Were still on their minds.

Arthur closed his bag.

“We'll do better today.”

Charlotte looked at him.

“We will.”

William unfolded the map.

“We have three possible routes ahead.”

Percy crouched beside him.

“Safest?”

William pointed to the right.

“This way.”

Marcus spoke immediately.

“No.”

William raised his head.

“What?”

Marcus leaned over the map.

“The right side's quiet.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

“Isn't that good?”

Marcus shook his head.

“Too quiet.”

Percy looked at Marcus.

Marcus continued.

“The shadows aren't moving.”

“There's wind.”

“But no small animals.”

William thought for a while.

Then turned the map.

“The left route is longer.”

Marcus nodded.

“But alive.”

Percy stood up.

“Left.”

William didn't object.

Arthur looked at Marcus.

“That's it?”

Percy started walking.

“That's it.”

Then spoke over his shoulder.

“I knew I picked you for a reason.”

Marcus's expression shifted slightly.

Clara noticed.

“That made you happy.”

Marcus answered immediately.

“No.”

Charlotte smiled.

“It did.”

Marcus walked ahead.

“Eyes on the road.”

Percy laughed.

The first hour was quiet.

Too quiet.

This time, no one relaxed.

Arthur was up front.

Percy covered his left.

Clara was on his right.

Charlotte stayed near the center.

William was in the rear.

Marcus kept moving.

Sometimes ahead.

Sometimes beside them.

Sometimes disappearing into a shadow.

Then emerging elsewhere.

At first, Percy kept track of him.

After a while, he stopped.

Marcus knew his own job.

A growl came.

Everyone stopped at once.

Arthur raised his shield.

Percy drew Blaze.

Clara raised her wand.

William pulled back.

Charlotte readied her hands.

Marcus looked down.

“Shadow on the left.”

Percy turned left.

Green eyes opened.

One wolf.

Roughly three meters tall.

As big as yesterday's.

Clara exhaled.

“One.”

Arthur gritted his teeth.

“After yesterday's two...”

Percy spoke immediately.

“Don't finish that sentence.”

Arthur looked at him.

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“Why?”

“The universe is listening.”

William nodded.

“Agreed.”

Arthur rolled his eyes.

The wolf barked.

WOOF!

Its aura spread.

All six expressions changed.

They weren't as surprised as yesterday.

But the fear came again.

Percy's hand tensed slightly.

Marcus noticed.

But the wolf didn't wait.

It attacked.

Arthur stepped in front of it.

An earth shield rose.

The wolf brought its claw down.

BOOM!

Arthur slid back two steps.

But didn't fall.

“BETTER.”

Percy advanced from the left.

Chaos fire wrapped around his arm.

The wolf was looking at Arthur.

Percy attacked.

The wolf turned at the last moment.

Percy pulled back.

A claw swept in front of his face.

Clara came from the right.

“Spear of Light!”

The wolf ducked.

The spear grazed its shoulder.

William sent ice.

“Ice Orbit.”

Shards surrounded the wolf.

The wolf broke one.

Batted the second away with a claw.

Leaped over the third.

Arthur looked up.

“IN THE AIR!”

Percy was ready.

He sent his flames upward.

The wolf twisted in midair.

Fire burned its back.

It landed hard.

Marcus emerged from a shadow.

Directly behind it.

He reached out.

“Shadow Bind.”

The wolf's hind leg was caught.

Clara advanced.

The wolf roared.

Marcus's bind snapped.

Marcus was thrown backward.

Charlotte raised her hand.

“Grace of Life.”

Green energy spread.

Marcus regained his balance.

Percy went on the attack.

But the wolf saw him.

This time, it waited.

Percy stopped too.

They faced each other.

Arthur:

“Percy!”

Percy didn't answer.

The wolf's shoulders shifted.

Its claws pressed into the earth.

It lowered its head a little.

Percy didn't move.

William's eyes widened.

“It's waiting.”

Clara looked at Percy.

“So is he.”

The wolf moved right.

Percy slid left.

The wolf suddenly turned back.

Percy wasn't there.

Chaos fire came from the side.

BOOM!

The wolf staggered.

Arthur attacked.

An earth fist struck its chest.

Clara brought down Resonance of Light.

The wolf fell.

But it was still getting up.

Arthur shouted.

“STILL?!”

Marcus entered a shadow.

The darkness beneath the wolf trembled.

Marcus emerged behind it.

“Shadow Execution.”

A dark line passed through its neck.

The wolf stopped for a moment.

Then collapsed.

Lay still.

No one celebrated.

But no one cried either.

Percy took a deep breath.

Arthur looked at the wolf.

“One.”

William checked the time.

“Seven minutes.”

Charlotte raised her head.

“Better than yesterday.”

Clara smiled.

“Much.”

Marcus looked at the wolf.

“Still long.”

Percy nodded.

“But we were in control.”

William wrote.

“Mostly.”

Percy looked at him.

“Don't kill my joy.”

William kept writing.

“I'm recording facts.”

Arthur approached Percy.

“Can we celebrate now?”

Percy considered it.

“Briefly.”

Arthur raised his fist.

“YEA—”

Percy covered his mouth.

Arthur's eyes widened.

Percy spoke seriously.

“Mine.”

Clara started laughing.

Arthur pushed Percy's hand away.

“All right, damn.”

The wolf part went into the ring.

The mission progress changed.

[GREEN-EYED WOLF: 3/35]

Arthur looked at the number.

“Thirty-two.”

William opened his mouth.

Arthur turned to him.

“Shut up.”

William closed it.

The second wolf appeared in the afternoon.

This time...

They weren't ready.

Because they were eating.

Arthur was chewing a mouthful.

Charlotte was drinking water.

Percy was looking at the map.

Marcus suddenly stood up.

“Right.”

No one asked questions.

Everyone moved.

The wolf burst from the bushes.

Arthur was closest.

He tried to form a shield.

Too late.

The wolf caught his arm directly.

Teeth sank into Arthur's forearm.

Arthur's scream filled the forest.

“AAAAAAAH!”

Charlotte's face went white.

“ARTHUR!”

The wolf shook Arthur.

Arthur hit the ground.

Clara attacked.

“Spear of Light!”

The spear struck the wolf's flank.

The wolf released Arthur.

Blood poured from Arthur's arm.

Too much.

Charlotte ran to him.

Arthur gripped it with his other hand.

“I'M FINE.”

Charlotte shouted.

“SHUT UP!”

Arthur went quiet.

Percy drove the wolf away with fire.

William laid a line of ice.

Marcus vanished into shadow.

Clara looked at Arthur.

Then at his bloody arm.

She was quiet for a second.

“Arthur.”

Arthur was gritting his teeth.

“What?”

Clara tried to look serious.

Failed.

“If you turn into a werewolf...”

Arthur looked at her.

Clara continued.

“...tell us before you tell Charlotte.”

One second of silence.

Arthur's mouth fell open.

Charlotte turned bright red.

“CLARA!”

Percy burst out laughing.

Arthur laughed through the pain.

“YOU BASTARD.”

Clara shrugged.

“I'm boosting morale.”

Charlotte pressed Heal into Arthur's arm.

Arthur flinched in pain.

“WHAT A BOOST.”

The wolf attacked again.

This time, everyone was angry.

And that...

Made them worse.

Percy pushed too far forward.

Clara built an unnecessarily large attack.

Arthur stepped forward despite his injured arm.

William calculated too many things at once.

Charlotte wouldn't leave Arthur.

Marcus saw it.

The wolf passed Percy.

Turned toward Clara.

William shouted.

“LEFT!”

Percy went left.

Marcus suddenly shouted.

“NO!”

Everyone stopped.

Marcus's voice had never been this sharp.

“You're seeing it wrong.”

The wolf was still moving.

Marcus continued.

“Arthur's injured.”

“Charlotte's locked onto him.”

“Percy's angry.”

“Clara's watching Percy.”

“William's calculating everyone.”

Marcus planted his foot.

“The wolf sees it.”

Percy's expression changed.

Marcus pointed at the wolf.

“It's not splitting us up.”

“We're splitting ourselves up.”

Silence.

The wolf growled.

Percy looked at Marcus for a second.

Then laughed.

“I knew I picked you for a reason.”

Marcus raised an eyebrow.

Percy stepped back.

“New formation.”

His voice was calm.

Truly calm this time.

“Arthur, center.”

“Charlotte beside him.”

“William, rear.”

“Clara, right.”

“Marcus, free to move.”

“I'll take left.”

Everyone took their positions.

Marcus watched the wolf.

“Now.”

The wolf attacked Arthur.

Arthur kept his injured arm out of reach.

Formed a shield with his good hand.

BAM!

The wolf stopped.

Clara came from the right.

A light sphere strained its eyes.

Percy sent fire from the left.

The wolf pulled back.

William blocked its escape route with ice.

Marcus entered a shadow.

The wolf turned toward Percy.

Marcus emerged behind it.

But didn't strike.

Only shouted.

“Now!”

Arthur thrust his shield forward.

The wolf staggered back.

Clara brought down Resonance of Light.

The wolf crumpled.

Percy didn't summon Descent of the Fire Angel.

He conserved energy.

Gathered only pure Orin.

Ran.

Punched the wolf in the chest.

BOOM!

The wolf was thrown backward.

William sent his ice lance.

It passed beside the wolf's head.

Arthur looked at him.

“You missed.”

William stayed calm.

“No.”

The lance embedded itself in a tree.

Ice spread.

The space behind the wolf closed off.

Marcus's shadow expanded.

The wolf could no longer escape.

Clara raised her wand.

So did Percy.

Two attacks came together.

Fire and light struck the wolf.

The wolf fell.

Marcus bound its neck with shadow.

Arthur raised the earth with his good hand.

The wolf didn't get up again.

Charlotte turned to Arthur immediately.

“Arm.”

Arthur sat down.

“I'm fine.”

Charlotte looked at him.

Arthur lowered his head.

“Okay.”

Charlotte activated Heal.

Green energy spread into the wound.

The bite marks were deep.

Clara came over.

Arthur looked at her.

“Don't say anything.”

Clara shut her mouth.

Arthur continued.

“Don't you dare.”

Clara nodded.

“Okay.”

One second passed.

Clara couldn't resist.

“Let us know if you howl.”

Arthur closed his eyes.

Percy leaned against a tree.

Holding his stomach as he laughed.

Even Charlotte turned her head.

Her shoulders were shaking.

Arthur looked at all of them.

“What a great team.”

Marcus smiled faintly.

“Eh.”

Arthur turned to him.

“You too?”

Marcus:

“A little.”

The mission progress changed.

[GREEN-EYED WOLF: 4/35]

William recorded the time.

“Five minutes, forty seconds.”

Percy looked at him.

“In the second half.”

William nodded.

“The first half was bad.”

Marcus spoke calmly.

“Because we were looking in the wrong place.”

Percy turned to him.

Marcus continued.

“We were watching the wolf.”

“But the team had fallen apart.”

William stopped his pen.

Clara looked at Marcus.

Arthur nodded slightly.

Percy smiled.

“Go on.”

Marcus looked surprised.

“What?”

“You're doing well.”

Marcus was quiet for a few seconds.

Then spoke.

“Before a monster attacks us...”

“We can't lose each other.”

Percy didn't answer.

But the pride on his face was enough.

The third wolf came in the late afternoon.

This time, its aura came first.

All six stopped at once.

Arthur checked his arm.

Charlotte looked at him.

Arthur nodded.

“It works.”

Clara smiled.

“No fur yet.”

Arthur looked at her.

“Clara.”

“What?”

“Shut up.”

Percy laughed.

Then grew serious.

“This time...”

“No one plays the hero.”

Arthur:

“That one's for you.”

Percy looked at him.

“All of us.”

Marcus moved forward.

Spread his shadow.

“One.”

William folded the map.

Clara raised her wand.

Charlotte prepared her buff.

Arthur formed his shield.

Percy drew Blaze.

The wolf emerged from the darkness.

This one was a little bigger.

Its shoulders were broader.

Its green eyes brighter.

It barked.

Its aura spread.

The fear came again.

But this time...

No one stepped back.

Percy noticed.

Smiled a little.

“We're improving.”

The wolf attacked.

The first minute wasn't bad.

The second was better.

In the third...

The wolf began learning how they fought.

It went around Arthur's shield.

Broke William's ice.

Waited for Clara's light.

Didn't flee Percy's fire.

Sniffed out Marcus's shadow exit.

Targeted Charlotte.

Percy stepped in front of her immediately.

A claw grazed his shoulder.

Charlotte shouted.

“Percy!”

Percy pulled back.

“I'm fine.”

Clara looked at him at once.

Percy continued.

“I'm telling the truth this time.”

Clara checked.

It really was small.

“Okay.”

The wolf attacked again.

William shouted.

“Center!”

Arthur closed off the way with his shield.

Clara sent light to the left.

Percy spread fire from the right.

Marcus vanished into shadow.

But the wolf stopped.

It went toward none of them.

Waited for Charlotte.

Charlotte noticed.

“It's waiting for me.”

Percy:

“Then you wait too.”

Charlotte nodded.

The wolf moved.

So did Charlotte.

Grace of Life activated.

Not for everyone this time.

Only Arthur.

Arthur's arm strengthened.

His movement quickened.

His shield came up instantly.

The wolf collided with it.

Arthur didn't slide back.

“NOW.”

Clara attacked.

The wolf dodged sideways.

Percy was there.

A fist charged with pure Orin struck its chest.

The wolf went backward.

William threw his Ice Lance.

The wolf lowered its head.

The lance landed behind it.

Marcus emerged from a shadow.

“Shadow Bind.”

A leg was caught.

The wolf tried to turn.

Arthur raised the earth.

The wolf rose into the air.

Clara raised her wand.

Percy looked at her.

Clara smiled.

“Together?”

Percy smiled too.

“Together.”

“Resonance of Light!”

“Chaos Fire!”

The two attacks didn't collide.

They struck the same target.

The wolf shuddered in midair.

Fell.

William pinned its neck with ice.

Marcus moved behind it.

Arthur pressed down on its chest.

The wolf growled.

Percy paused.

Then approached.

Placed his hand on its chest.

Gathered pure Orin.

“I'm sorry.”

BOOM.

The wolf's body went limp.

It didn't move.

This time, no one cried.

But no one celebrated either.

Percy took a breath.

Clara came to his side.

Arthur held his arm.

William checked the time.

Marcus checked the wolf.

Charlotte counted everyone's wounds.

Finally, William spoke.

“Four minutes, twelve seconds.”

Arthur raised his head.

“Really?”

William nodded.

Marcus:

“That was better.”

Percy:

“Much.”

Clara looked at the wolf.

“I was still scared.”

Percy looked at her.

“Me too.”

Arthur:

“Me too.”

Charlotte:

“Me too.”

William:

“Me too.”

Marcus spoke last.

“Me too.”

Percy smiled.

“Good.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

“What's good about it?”

Percy shrugged.

“We're scared.”

“But we're working.”

William capped his pen.

“I'm writing that down.”

Percy looked at him.

“I said it.”

“I'll cite my source.”

Percy looked proud.

“Okay.”

The mission progress changed.

[GREEN-EYED WOLF: 5/35]

Arthur looked at the display.

“Thirty.”

William opened his mouth.

Arthur looked at him.

William stayed quiet.

Charlotte laughed.

When they made camp that evening...

Arthur was setting up a tent one-handed.

Charlotte came over.

“Give it here.”

Arthur:

“I can do it.”

Charlotte:

“I know.”

Arthur released the rope he was holding.

Charlotte took it.

Arthur looked at her.

“That's new.”

Charlotte:

“What?”

“You didn't order me.”

Charlotte smiled.

“I'm learning.”

Arthur laughed softly.

“Me too.”

Charlotte checked his arm.

The bite marks were still visible.

But the wound had closed.

Charlotte touched it lightly with a finger.

Arthur flinched.

“That hurts.”

“Good.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

“Good?”

“The nerves are working.”

Arthur considered that.

“Makes sense.”

Charlotte smiled.

“Stone Man.”

Arthur sighed.

“I'm really used to it now.”

Charlotte looked at him.

“A shame.”

Arthur:

“Why?”

Charlotte kept setting up the tent.

“It was funny when you got annoyed.”

Arthur watched for a few seconds.

Then smiled.

“I'll pretend next time.”

Charlotte blushed.

“Idiot.”

Arthur:

“Stone Man.”

Charlotte stopped.

Arthur was grinning.

Charlotte laughed too.

Percy sat a little way off.

Marcus came over.

Sat quietly.

They didn't speak for a while.

Finally, Percy began.

“You were good today.”

Marcus shrugged.

“Eh.”

Percy laughed.

“No.”

“I'm serious.”

Marcus looked at him.

Percy continued.

“In the second fight...”

“We were all watching the wolf.”

“You looked at us.”

Marcus stayed quiet.

Percy tapped his shoulder lightly.

“A Pathfinder...”

“Can't see everything.”

Marcus's expression changed.

Percy continued.

“That's why he builds a team.”

Marcus nodded.

“Understood.”

Percy smiled.

“I knew I picked you for a reason.”

This time, Marcus smiled.

“Fourth time you've said that.”

Percy raised an eyebrow.

“You counted?”

“William's rubbing off on me.”

They both laughed.

Clara watched them from a distance.

William came to her side.

“What are you thinking?”

Clara pointed at Percy.

“He's relaxed.”

William nodded.

“Because of Marcus.”

“Yes.”

Clara smiled faintly.

“Good.”

William looked at her.

Clara continued.

“He doesn't have to see everything himself.”

William adjusted his glasses.

“He's finally learning.”

Percy shouted from a distance.

“I CAN HEAR YOU!”

Clara shouted.

“GOOD!”

Percy:

“DON'T TALK BEHIND MY BACK!”

William:

“WE'RE TALKING IN FRONT OF YOU.”

Percy went quiet.

Arthur burst out laughing.

So did Charlotte.

Marcus shook his head.

When night fell...

They assigned the watches.

Marcus first.

William second.

Percy third.

Clara fourth.

Arthur objected.

“Why am I not on it?”

Charlotte pointed at his arm.

Arthur looked.

“Right.”

Percy stopped on his way to his tent.

Turned back.

Looked at the five of them.

Three real wolves.

Three different battles.

They had been scared in all three.

But in the third...

They had made fewer mistakes.

Percy smiled.

“Guys.”

Everyone looked at him.

Percy thought for a moment.

Then simply said it.

“We were good today.”

Arthur smiled.

Clara nodded.

Charlotte let out a relieved breath.

William smiled a little.

Marcus looked into the darkness.

Then answered.

“Better tomorrow.”

Percy's grin widened.

“That's it.”

The camp fell quiet.

But this time...

The silence didn't frighten them.

Because in the darkness...

Monsters weren't the only ones watching anymore.

Marcus was watching too.

CHAPTER 93 — LOOK IN THE RIGHT PLACE

END