Edrin had never been more afraid in his life.
Which, unfortunately, meant he was doing very well.
"This is the worst I've ever felt!" he shouted as he twisted sideways, narrowly avoiding a strike that shattered the ground beside him.
"Good!" Ronan replied. "That means you're useful!"
"I don't like that logic!"
The creature surged forward again—faster, sharper, its movements no longer hesitant.
It had adapted.
Partially.
But not completely.
Edrin could see it now.
"…It's trying to predict me," he said, breath uneven.
"It is," Lyra confirmed. "But it can't fully."
"Because I don't know what I'm doing!" Edrin yelled.
"Exactly!" Ronan said.
Edrin blinked mid-dodge. "…That's somehow encouraging."
The creature lunged—
Edrin stepped back—
Too far—
His foot slipped—
And instead of falling—
He twisted.
Turned.
Redirected.
The attack missed completely.
Edrin froze for half a second.
"…I did that on purpose," he whispered.
"You're improving," Kael said.
"I don't trust that statement."
The creature paused again.
Its head tilted—
Not in curiosity this time—
But calculation.
Edrin's stomach dropped.
"…It's getting closer to understanding," he said.
"Yes," Lyra replied. "We don't have much time."
Ronan grinned. "Then we finish it."
"I like that plan," Edrin said. "Short and simple."
Kael stepped forward. "We strike together."
Edrin raised a hand. "I support the 'together' part."
The creature moved first.
Of course it did.
This time—
It split its focus.
A feint toward Kael—
A real strike toward Edrin.
"…It's targeting me again!" Edrin shouted.
"Move!" Lyra called.
"I am moving!"
He stumbled forward—
Too close—
Far too close—
The creature adjusted instantly—
Its strike shifting mid-motion—
Edrin's eyes widened.
"…That's not fair!"
He dropped—
Again—
But this time, it wasn't panic.
Not entirely.
He angled his fall.
Let momentum carry him forward—
Sliding beneath the creature's reach.
"…I'm under it!" he yelled.
"That's not safe!" Ronan replied.
"I'm aware!"
But Edrin didn't stop.
He twisted—
Clumsy—
Unbalanced—
But intentional—
And drove his blade upward.
It hit.
Not perfectly.
But enough.
The creature recoiled sharply.
Its form flickering—
Unstable.
Lyra reacted instantly—
A focused burst of magic struck its core—
Ronan followed—
A heavy strike forcing it back—
Kael stepped in—
Precise—
Controlled—
Final.
His blade cut cleanly through the center.
For a moment—
Everything stopped.
The creature stood still.
Then—
It cracked.
Light fractured through its form—
Breaking—
Shattering—
Until it collapsed into nothing.
Silence filled the pass.
Edrin remained on the ground.
"…Did we win?" he asked.
"Yes," Lyra said.
Edrin didn't move.
"…I don't want to get up in case it changes its mind."
"It's gone," Kael said.
Edrin slowly sat up.
"…That was worse than usual."
"Yes," Ronan replied. "But you did well."
Edrin blinked. "…That's four people saying that now."
"You earned it," Lyra said.
Edrin hesitated.
"…I'm not used to that."
Kael stepped closer, looking down at him.
"You disrupted it," he said.
Edrin frowned. "I confused it."
"You broke its pattern," Kael corrected.
Edrin paused.
"…That sounds more impressive."
"It is."
Edrin slowly stood, brushing dust off himself.
"…I almost died."
"You always almost die," Ronan said.
"That's not comforting."
Lyra glanced ahead, her expression serious again. "That wasn't the main threat."
Edrin's shoulders dropped.
"…Of course it wasn't."
Kael nodded. "It was a test."
Edrin blinked. "…A test?"
"Yes."
Edrin looked back at where the creature had been.
"…So something sent it."
"Yes."
"And watched."
"Yes."
Edrin sighed.
"…I really don't like being studied."
"No one does," Lyra said.
Ronan grinned. "At least you're interesting."
"I don't want to be interesting!"
Kael turned toward the deeper path.
"We move," he said.
Edrin hesitated.
Then looked down at his hands.
Still shaking.
But steady enough.
"…I didn't fall at the end," he said quietly.
Lyra glanced at him.
"No," she said. "You didn't."
Edrin nodded slowly.
"…That's new."
Ronan smirked. "Don't get used to it."
"I won't."
But as they continued deeper into the pass—
Edrin walked forward.
Not steady.
Not confident.
But not stopping.
And for the first time—
When he stumbled—
He didn't panic.
He adjusted.