Kassie, Ervan and Torren sat down at the small, rickety table, her plate of food in front of her. It was a modest array of roasted vegetables with corn dripping with butter.
Mrs. Potts bustled around the room, her gentle hands cradling Little Jo in a soft cloth. Despite the chaos outside, she exuded a quiet sense of reassurance.
The opposite was true for her son though, Pykes who was looking at the plate of food with dread "Is this our last meal?"
"Get your act together, sonny! Little Jo's got more backbone than you!" Mrs. Potts scolded with a grin, flicking her son, Pyke, on the back of the head with a wooden spoon.
He glanced nervously at the ceiling as if expecting the roof to cave in at any moment. "It's hard to swallow mom!"
"What do you want me to do chew it for you?" Mrs. Potts shook her hear. Then changed her tone, speaking more warmly to Kassie "Ignore my son, I'm sure we'll be alright. Thank you again for rescuing Little Baby Jo."
"It wasn't all me. It was these two who rescued him, they're the real heroes here," Kassie replied, gesturing to Ervan and Torren.
Ervan blushed at the sudden compliment. "It's what anyone would've done. Just... next time, don't leave your baby in an abandoned carriage."
Just then, Grant, the woodsman who'd pulled them to safety, came back from his perimeter check, wiping sweat from his brow.
"It looks like they're gone for now," Grant reported, his gruff voice heavy with exhaustion.
"So, what now?" Torren asked, his voice grumbling as he took a hearty bite from his own portion. "We can't stay holed up here forever."
Kassie paused, considering their options. "Rootlings will slow down when it gets dark. We need to make a move then. Once night falls, it'll be our best shot."
Ervan frowned. "But how are we supposed to get out of here without getting caught? It's not like we can just run for it."
Pyke crossed his arms, looking anxious. "I can't leave my tavern. Adventurers will come through soon. Imagine all the business I'll lose if I leave this place, not to mention all my inventory will be looted." He then casually remarked, "By the way those are five gold coins per plate."
"Five gold?!" Torren nearly choked on his bite. "You can't be serious?"
Mrs. Potts smacked Pyke again, "All you care about is money. If you're not leaving, are you planning to feed those monsters outside too?"
"But mom!" Pyke protested. "This tavern is all I have left of Dad. I can't just abandon it."
"You idiot!" Mrs. Potts shot back. "This tavern's just a building. Money can be earned again, but your life? You've only got one. Now listen to these folks and leave while you still can."
Pyke bit his lip, staring at the floor. "But what about you, Mom? What will happen to you?"
"I'm staying right here no way my old bones can outrun those things" Mrs. Potts said with finality.
"No mom you can't!" Pyke looked at her pleading.
"Mrs. Potts you don't have to stay behind. I can carry you" Hank offered.
Mrs. Potts sighed deeply, her smile gentle despite the weight of her words. " I'll only slow you down. Your chances of survival are better without me. I can handle myself. I've got mana absorption, remember?" She patted Little Jo's sleepy head, her tone soft. "This little one, though, he needs to get out of here as soon as possible."
The room fell silent understanding the weight of her words. Torren and Ervan looked at each other uncertain on what to say.
Kassie raised her hand, an idea suddenly sparking. "I think there's no need for anyone to stay behind. We've got the perfect solution." She gestured toward the barrel of alcohol inside the tavern. "If only we had a carriage..."
Mrs. Potts looked outside, "How about a wagon?"
Outside, the sun dipped lower behind the trees, casting long shadows across the ground. Slowly, the Rootlings began to stir, their movements sluggish as the darkness crept in.
Inside the tavern, voices echoed through the walls.
"Alright, is everyone ready?" Kassie whispered after recapping the escape plan.
Pyke grumbled. "Do we really need to was all of this?"
A loud thud was heard and Mrs. Potts 'gentle' reprimand, "Stop whining about money!"
In unison the group started to count down "Ready? One... two... three!"
The sound of wooden wheels creaking at high speed against cobblestone broke through the air.
Torren, with a shield from Kassie, charged ahead like a bull in front of the wagon, knocking Rootlings out of the way with his brute strength.
Grant and Pyke worked together, pulling the wagon with all their might, the wheels rattling across the uneven ground. Mrs. Potts was at the helm, Little Jo cradled safely in her arms.
"Make a right!" Mrs. Potts called, her voice full of confidence. "We'll pass the apothecary and head straight for the east exit!"
With a large barrel of alcohol between them, Kassie and Ervan braced themselves on either side of the rickety wagon, their eyes fixed on the road behind.
Behind them, the Rootlings quickly recovered from the initial shock of Torren's shield. Shaking their tiny heads, leaves falling in all directions, they refocused, their eyes locking onto the fleeing wagon.
"They're coming!" Ervan shouted, his voice high with urgency.
"Quick! Open it!" Kassie ordered, struggling with the cork of the alcohol barrel.
"It's stuck!" Ervan growled, prying at the cork with the tip of an arrow.
A Rootling, its claws scraping along the cobblestones, was a few meters away from the wagon.
"I'll buy you some time!" Kassie yelled, grabbing an oil lamp from the tavern. She muttered an incantation "Sindi" her hand lighting the wick in a flash of fire. Without thinking, she hurled the lamp at the Rootling.
The fire hit the Rootling square in the face, and the creature screeched, its bark sizzling and smoking. It flailed, trying to put out the fire, but it only made things worse.
"Are you a mage?" Ervan shouted, eyes wide. "Can you use a stronger spell?"
Kassie, barely keeping up with the chaos, yelled back, "I wish I could!"
She lit a few more lamps and hurled it to the Rootlings one after the other. The fire from the lamps was enough to slow them down, but not stop them.
The alcohol barrel finally opened, spilling its contents across the ground. The smell of strong liquor mixed with the musty air of the night, filling the space with a heady, intoxicating aroma.
The first Rootling, its twisted body stumbling forward, was caught in the downpour. Its limbs froze mid-step, and it paused, looking down at its now-soaked bark-like skin. For a split second, the creature seemed... confused. It sniffed the air, the sharp scent of alcohol invading its senses. Hesitantly, it extended its tongue, licking the ground where the liquid pooled. Its eyes widened as it tasted the fiery liquid, a strange mix of surprise and... enjoyment flickering across its ugly face.
But then remembering they had a prey up ahead, it growled low in its throat - and resumed its charge after the wagon, more enraged than before.
Ervan shouted, "They're gaining on us! We need to go faster!"
Mrs. Potts, her face set in determination, called to her son, "Run faster you slow pokes!
"Come on Pyke! Put your back into it! If we get out of here alive, I'll rebuild your tavern for you!" Grant said pushing past his limits.
Pyke gritted his teeth and, with renewed urgency, urged the wagon faster. "You better keep your promise, old man!"
Kassie steadied herself as the wagon gained momentum. "Alright, this is a good distance. Ervan, your arrow!"
He pulled an arrow from his quiver and, without missing a beat, dipped the tip into the flowing liquid, letting it soak up the fiery contents.
"Here!" Ervan shouted, his voice tight with urgency, as he extended the arrow towards Kassie.
"Sindi" She quickly lit the tip of his arrow. "Make sure to aim for the middle one.
Smugly he said "Don't worry I never miss"
With a fluid motion, he pulled the bowstring back, his muscles coiling like a spring. His balance and form undeniably that of a master. Then, with a swift release, the arrow flew, a streak of flame arcing through the air.
SWOOSH! THUD!
The fiery arrow struck the middle Rootling square in the chest. The impact sent a violent shockwave through its brittle body, and for a brief moment, the creature froze, eyes wide with panic. Then the flames ignited, rapidly spreading across its bark-like skin, turning it into a blazing inferno.
The other Rootlings, still in hot pursuit, barely had time to react. One by one, the fire spread through the group, their bodies catching alight with an audible crackle. The horde seemed to shudder with the intensity of the blaze, the air thick with smoke and the stench of burning vegetation.
The once-silent horde erupted into chaos, the flaming Rootlings staggering, their bodies writhing as they tried to put out the flames. The others, too, shrieked in terror, leaping away from the fire and stumbling over one another in a frantic attempt to escape the inferno.
But it was too late. The fire spread like wildfire, and in the span of a few heartbeats, the front line of the Rootlings had been reduced to nothing but smoldering husks, their limbs twitching as they succumbed to the flames.
"You did it!!" Kassie shouted raising her hands to Ervan for a high five.
Ervan's face flushed as there hands connected "I - We - you touched me!" He quickly pulled away.
Just then, a massive root shot up from the ground, sending the wagon airborne. For a moment, time seemed to freeze. The passengers lifted from their seats, Kassie losing her grip on the wagon's edge. In a flash, she was falling backward, the world spinning around her.
"No!" Ervan shouted, stretching his arms toward her, but at that exact moment, a cauldron sign from a nearby stall came crashing down on him.
THWACK! The signed smacked Ervan in the face with a satisfying "thud."
"Ugh!" he groaned, his eyes crossing for a split second before he slumped back into the wagon, utterly dazed. His arms flopped limply at his sides, and he was left staring at the sign that now hung awkwardly across his head like a helmet.
Kassie continued to fall, bracing herself for the impact. But just as the ground neared, a figure surged past the wagon in a blur of motion, diving through the air and catching her mid-fall—like a baseball player snagging a flyball just before it hit the ground.
Isaac, torch in hand, slid to the ground with a graceful skid, his expression a mix of concern and amusement. He grinned as he looked down at Kassie. "What are you doing now, flying out of carriages?"
Kassie blinked in shock, a breath of relief escaping her lips as she saw Isaac's familiar face. "Isaac!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him in a grateful hug.
Isaac let out a breath of relief, glad to see Kassie safe in his arms.
"We've got company," he said, his gaze shifting toward the growing line of burning Rootlings heading their way.
"Can you run?" Kassie urged, her voice urgent as she grabbed his arm to pull him along.
The chaos around them made it hard to think. With Ervan unconscious and Pyke and Grant unaware that someone had been thrown overboard. The wagon was now far ahead, leaving them behind in the turmoil.
The Rootlings, shaken from the wagon's collision, regrouped. They split into two factions: one heading straight for the wagon, the other now barreling toward Isaac and Kassie who were more vulnerable.
"We're trapped!" Kassie said, eyes wide as she saw the narrow alley ahead blocked by a wall of Rootlings. In front of them, the dazed creatures from the wagon were charging, their movements slow but furious. Behind them, the burning Rootlings were gaining ground, their pace sluggish but steady. They had nowhere to go.
"Can you get up there?" Isaac pointed to the apothecary shop's second floor window. He pulled her towards the shop but stepped on a massive root.
The root shot out from the ground, trying to coil around Isaac's feet. He raised his torch in defense, swiping at the root with desperation. For a moment, it held back, but the relentless vine soon grabbed the torch, snuffing it out.
The smaller Rootlings saw the opportunity. They screeched, advancing toward him.
"Get behind me!" Isaac shouted to Kassie, trying to shield her.
But Kassie was already clinging to his side. "Isaac, there are more on the other side!" She pulled him away, fear thick in her voice.
Isaac barely had time to react before one of the Rootlings lunged forward. A massive spike shot through his midsection, piercing him with terrifying speed and force.
"Isaac, no!" Kassie screamed, her heart sinking as she watched him crumple to the ground.
Desperation took hold. Kassie's hands shook as she frantically opened her system inventory. "FLAME LASH! FLAME LASH!" she shouted.
But the flashing screen showed:
Intelligence Requirement: +1
Current Intelligence: -9
"Damn it! stupid system bug!" She shouted at the screen and looked through her inventory and grabbed bottles of Health potion but before she could make Isaac drink it.
The small Rootlings were swarming over Isaac's body, biting and clawing at his unmoving form. Kassie's heart pounded as she grabbed one of them by the arm, shoving it away. She threw herself in front of Isaac, trying to shield him with her own body.
Isaac's trembling hand stopped her, his weak grip barely able to hold her back. "Sindi," she whispered, summoning a faint light that flickered on her index finger. Keeping the Rootlings at bay, but just barely.
Isaac, with a strained effort, dipped his sword into a nearby puddle of alcohol, then grabbed her small, lit finger. The flame on her finger transferred, igniting his sword. He swung it weakly, pushing the Rootlings back, though the pain was evident in his eyes. "Go! Run without me!" His voice was hoarse but filled with determination, wanting to buy her time.
"No, Isaac. I can't leave you here," she cried, her voice breaking.
"Stop being so stubborn!" Isaac gritted through his teeth, swinging his sword to knock another Rootling away before collapsing again, his body unable to hold up any longer.
Kassie immediately reached for the sword, but when she touched the hilt, the heat from the blade burned through her ungloved hand. She gasped in pain and quickly dropped it, cursing under her breath.
"Damn it! What else do I have in here that's useful?" she muttered, desperately opening her system inventory. Her eyes scanned the items, landing on something she'd completely forgotten about.
A wand, its faint golden light swirling within its core. She grasped it tightly, feeling the warmth of the magic pulse through her fingers.
Isaac, barely conscious, lifted his head, eyes widening as he saw the wand in her hand. The Rootlings were closing in, and Kassie was now encircled. Isaac wanted to call out, to warn her, but his words caught in his throat, the pain on his midsection was toogreat.
Kassie took a deep breath, her heart racing as she steadied herself. She closed her eyes, her mind clearing, and she repeated the incantation in her mind. Sindi, sindi, sindi.
A surge of power coursed through her, and with all her strength from her diaphragm, she shouted with conviction. "SINDI!"
In that moment, everything went silent. A blinding flash of white light exploded from Kassie, and the Rootlings were thrown backward, as if a wave of force had struck them. The air rippled with energy, and before Isaac could fully process what was happening, the Rootlings were engulfed by brilliant blue flames.
The fire blazed around her, crackling as it consumed the creatures, leaving nothing but ash in its wake.
Kassie dropped to Isaac's side, her breathing labored from the exertion. "Drink this," she said with shaking hands, holding out a vial of red liquid.
Isaac wanted to protest. He didn't like the bitter taste of health potions—they always felt like they were burning him from the inside. However his body was too weak to move. He couldn't lift his hands to stop her.
But when the liquid touched his lips, something was different. It wasn't bitter at all. To his surprise, the liquid was sweet, smooth like honey, slipping down his throat with a comforting warmth.
As the pain from his midsection slowly faded, so did his surroundings. Isaac could barely keep his eyes open. The world around him was slipping away, but through the haze, he saw her—Kassie, still kneeling beside him.
Her voice broke through the fog of his fading consciousness, soft but full of desperation. "Don't leave me."
Her face was pale, her expression strained as though fighting the same battle for consciousness.
Then, before he could even fully grasp what had happened, she too collapsed beside him, her words lingering in the air as her body fell limp.
Isaac felt a tightness in his chest, he wanted to lift her up, but his vision blurred, the darkness closing in.
From a distant there was a sound of heavy boots on the ground, the clang of armor. "I think there are survivors here!"
Isaac wanted to desperately shout, "Over here! She's over here! We're Over here! Help her! Here!"
"Here!" Isaac shot up, his surroundings completely unfamiliar—a modern classroom with sleek desks, fluorescent lights, and posters on the walls.
"Yes? Thank you, Isaac. Now, could you please stay awake for the rest of the class?" the teacher remarked dryly.
A few students snickered, and Isaac furrowed his brow. Was this an illusion spell? He scanned the room and his eyes landed on the one familiar face—Kassie.
Kassie was wearing the same clothes he'd seen her in the first time they met. White blouse, blazer with a ribbon and a checkered skirt. her attention focused on a glowing box as she clicked through it.
Kassie noticed he was staring at him desperately told him "Shhh!"
"Kassie no phones in class! Come get this after school!" The teacher snatched her phone away.