Chapter 45: Faliure
The journey to find the elusive iron ores continued through the rugged terrain, with Garnt and his companions trudging through the wilderness. The air was filled with tension, not just from the pursuit of precious minerals, but from the unspoken rivalry between two of their own – Kara and Unami.
As they walked along a narrow path, Kara shot a sidelong glance at Unami. "You know, Unami, we've been at this for weeks now. I think it's time we address the real problem."
Unami, her fiery eyes narrowed, retorted, "What are you talking about, Kara?"
"Garnt," Kara replied, her voice dripping with emotion. "We both know he's the reason we're here. We can't keep pretending we're just on a mission to find iron ores."
Unami's gaze hardened. "And what would you suggest we do about it? I want to find these Iron ores too, but just like you I'm here so I can seduce him during this journey."
After the incident that put their lives in danger and seeing how much they loved each other as childhood friends, Kara and Unami both came to the conclusion that, they would fight fair and square to win Garnt's love, so they were rather polite, unlike last time.
"Talk to him, perhaps? He is too absorbed in the forest." Kara suggested a hint of exasperation in her voice. "We can't just keep silently battling for his attention like this. It's driving me crazy."
Even though hesitant, Kara knew she had to add her next words to the context, so Unami would realize how dire the situation was. "I'm not too sure about this, but I think my mother is trying to seduce Garnt too. You saw today right? How he kissed her despite all of us seeing."
"Yeah, and he is the same person who taught us about a kiss being something you share with your life partner," Unami agreed with Kara.
"That's why we don't have time. Before we become his kids, we need to make our position in his life as his women," Kara despite being younger than most of the girls. acted like an adult woman, when it came to her love life.
Unami took a deep breath, her resolve hardening. "Fine, we'll talk to him. But not now. We need to find those ores first.
There's no time for distractions, after all, we need to make sure Garnt's dream comes true."
Meanwhile, a few paces ahead, Garnt swung his bone sword with relentless determination, focused entirely on the task at hand. He had been oblivious to the tension brewing behind him, lost in the quest for iron. Baktou and the other boys, following closely behind, couldn't help but roll their eyes.
A random boy leaned in toward the others and muttered, "Those two are at it again, aren't they? When will they realize we're on a mission?"
Baktou chuckled feeling rather embrassed by her sister. "Who knows, maybe this whole journey is just an elaborate setup for their romantic drama."
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But suddenly, Garnt and Baktou shared a quick glance, their eyes widening with alarm as they felt a strange presence nearby. They exchanged silent signals, and with swift, practised movements, they signalled the group to hide. Everyone obeyed, crouching low in the underbrush, their hearts pounding.
The massive bobcat prowled closer, its sleek fur rippling with each step. Its golden eyes scanned the area, sensing something amiss. Unami and Kara held their breath, their eyes locked on the majestic yet dangerous creature. They knew that any sudden movement could provoke it.
The bobcat was twice as big as the animal in Eva's era, so it was a rather challenging activity for humans to fight with them, especially with their ability to rip off anyone into pieces.
Just when it seemed like the bobcat might move away, a piercing cry of pain shattered the silence. The group turned their attention to a boy who had hidden in the bushes, clutching his leg in agony. A snakebite had struck him, and the venom was coursing through his veins.
The bobcat's head snapped in the direction of Unami and Kara. It had sensed the disturbance and now regarded them as potential threats. Its muscles tensed, ready to pounce, its tail flicking nervously.
Garnt and Baktou exchanged another look, their faces etched with concern. They knew that the situation had escalated dangerously. Unami and Kara needed help, and fast.
Garnt whispered urgently to Baktou, "We need to distract the bobcat and get it away from them. You go for the injured boy. I'll handle the cat. Make sure to suck out the poison and spit it out."
Baktou nodded, and without wasting a second, he quietly made his way toward the injured boy, who was still writhing in pain. Garnt stepped forward cautiously, keeping his eyes locked on the bobcat, his sword, which is made up of a huge bone ready.
The bobcat crouched low, its powerful legs coiled, ready to strike. Its growl was a low, menacing rumble.
[Be careful! Not your strongest opponent, but a slight mistake will cause bigger problems.]
"I know," Garnt accepted Eva's words without showing any hesitation.
But just as the tension reached its peak, Unami and Kara rushed to Garnt's side, brandishing their spears with newfound determination.
Their eyes met his, and at that moment, there was an unspoken understanding that they were in this together, and they would do whatever it took to protect their group.
Garnt's smile broke through the tension, a mixture of pride and relief. "I'm glad to have you both with me," he whispered, his voice filled with gratitude.
Unami and Kara exchanged a quick, guilty glance, realizing that they hadn't taken the journey as seriously as they should have. But there was no time for regret now. They were in the midst of an epic battle, and their focus shifted entirely to the task at hand.
With a coordinated effort, the three of them moved as one, trying to outmanoeuvre the bobcat. Garnt swung his sword with precision, while Unami and Kara jabbed their spears at the beast, trying to keep it at bay.
The bobcat was a formidable opponent, its claws and teeth flashing dangerously, but the trio fought with unwavering resolve.
Their movements were fluid, a dance of survival in the dense forest. The bobcat roared in frustration, lashing out with deadly accuracy, and it was a mistake on the bobcat's part to fully ignore the two girls since they looked less dangerous.
Suddenly, the spear which was supposed to be weak pierced through its neck. Garnt's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected such a precise strike from Unami. In that split second of astonishment, he seized the opportunity.
With lightning speed, he lunged forward, wielding his sword like an extension of his arm, and brought it down with incredible force, crushing the bobcat's head before it could react.
"That was weirdly easy," Garnt thought, looking at the dead bobcat, that he knew the reason he was able to kill it like that was none other than the help of Unami and Kara.
Just as they thought the danger was over, a rustling in the nearby bushes caught their attention. Before anyone could react, another bobcat leapt out, jaws agape, targeting Unami's throat. It happened so fast that Unami had no time to defend herself.
"Nooo!" Kara shouted as she looked terrified.
In that dire moment, Garnt's instincts kicked into overdrive. Without hesitation, he hurled himself between Unami and the pouncing bobcat. The ferocious creature's teeth sank into Garnt's outstretched hand, causing him to grit his teeth in pain.
"Garnt!" Unami felt Garnt's blood getting on her face and that was enough for her to have a mini panic attack.
Kara and Unami both cried out in shock and fear, their hearts pounding in their chests. Blood trickled from Garnt's hand, but he refused to let go of the situation. With a herculean effort, he wrestled the bobcat, holding it at arm's length as it thrashed and snarled, trying to tear him apart.
"I won't allow a dumb cat to harm my girls," Garnt shouted trying to hide the pain he felt. "If you want to play with someone, come play with me,"
Summoning every ounce of his strength, Garnt used his free hand to grab the bobcat's head, twisting it with a sudden, brutal motion. The sickening crack of the bobcat's neck echoed through the forest as he ended its life.
His chest heaved with exhaustion and adrenaline, and his injured hand throbbed with pain, but he had saved Unami from a certain death.
Kara and Unami, trembling with gratitude and fear, rushed to Garnt's side. They knew that in this epic battle, they owed their lives to his bravery and unwavering resolve.
"I'm glad you two are safe, but it looks like this journey is a failure for now," he said as he tried to cover the wound to prevent his blood from flowing out.
Unami had tears in her eyes, so she quickly tore her clothes and decided to wrap them around her love.
'I can't—why do you keep doing this to me? Why do you keep making me fall in love with you even more than I already am? Garnt, I will surely make you mine one day, even if it means I have to give up my friendship,' Unami thought as she applied for her medicine.
Meanwhile, Baktou also came with some slight wounds, showing that he had his own battle to fight.