[QUEST COMPLETE.]
That was the notification the biological supercomputer gave the young man as the flight away from the Thaid, the bear-like Thaid, ended.
As Ava and Marcus made their way through the snow-covered landscape, the woman kept Marcus' drooping body close to hers and wrapped her arm securely around his waist.
She could proceed forward thanks to her brain crystal power, which enabled her to slide over any terrain as if it were an icy surface, which it was in this case, and her feet barely left a trace as she moved.
The wind, which ruffled their hair into a tangled mess and tore at the exposed areas of their skin, was a fierce and relentless force that assaulted them. Despite this, they continued onward, propelled forward by the adrenaline coursing through their veins and the awareness of what lay in wait for them.
Erik took the lead in the retreat, keeping his eyes fixed on the menacing shadows cast by the forest they had just escaped from behind them the entire time.
He took long and deliberate strides, and with each heavy step, the worn soles of his boots crunched into the deep layer of snow that covered the ground. His breath was choppy, and the sound of it reverberated eerily through the desolate winter landscape.
Occasionally, he would glance in the direction of Ava and Marcus, and his heart would pound in his chest as he watched them slide and stumble forward.
It was evident that Marcus was in poor condition. In contrast to the bright crimson of his blood soaking through the torn fabric of his clothes, his skin had a deathly white appearance.
As Ava concentrated on moving forward, she had a look on her face that conveyed both resolve and anxiety. Her lips were pursed into a thin line.
As they slogged through the snow, the minutes seemed like hours, and the hours seemed like an eternity.
They were now a safe distance from the beast, and the roars it let out were now nothing more than far-off echoes carried by the wind.
They had made it out, but not without paying a price. Marcus was in serious condition, and they had traveled significantly far from where they planned to go.
With an authoritative tone cutting through the crisp, cold air, Erik announced, "We can stop. We're safe now. The beast won't reach us here." His breath plumed in white, vaporous clouds, dissipating quickly into the winter air.
As soon as they heard his words, the group, on the verge of collapsing right there and then, slumped on the ground, their bodies trembling from the effects of the exhaustion and the cold.
Ava held up Marcus as he slid to the ground and winced upon making contact with the icy, brittle ground below him. Ava, too, gave in to the urge to collapse onto the snowy ground.
Garrett and Alexia were utterly spent but accepted the rest with gratitude. The time they spent running had left their muscles sore and on fire, and the rest provided them with the much-needed relief they required.
They were out of breath and had to lie in the snow to catch their breath.
Erik watched his friends while his heart was filled with worry and relief. The crushing exhaustion holding each of them captive had replaced the anxiety their pursuit had caused.
Although the Ursus Glacialis threat was far off, they still had a long way to go before arriving at their destination, and it was unclear what challenges they would encounter along the way.
Nevertheless, at that very instant, they were safe, and Erik let out a tad of relief before allowing himself to sigh. It had been a long and trying day, putting their willpower and physical capabilities to the test.
But the fact that they had made it through the ordeal together provided Erik with some measure of comfort. He lowered himself onto the icy snow and allowed himself to be overcome by exhaustion as he took a moment to rest alongside his companions.
Alexia moved slowly across the snow to get to Ava, her gaze eventually landing on Marcus as he lay unconscious. She inquired, "How is he?" while worry etched tiny lines into the normally calm appearance of her face.
Ava furrowed her brow and frowned as she ran her fingers lightly across Marcus's forehead. "He needs first aid and rest," she said.
Her usual vivacious energy was nowhere to be found in her voice; instead, it was subdued. After that, the two of them got to work tending to Marcus's wounds, and even though they were both exhausted, their movements were quick and effective.
In the meantime, Erik made his way over to Garrett while clenching the map they had obtained from the Frantian soldiers. Garrett was confused.
The two men were stooping over the parchment with their heads bowed as they attempted to trace their journey. Erik's brows furrowed as he contemplated the situation, and his fingers hovered over a specific location on the map.
"We're close," he murmured, looking up at Garrett, a glimmer of hope flickering in his tired eyes. "We're close to the Lumisgrove."
His words hung in the air as they pulled away from the map. Garrett gave a firm nod, the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Let's rest for tonight; we will see what to do tomorrow," he said, rising to his feet and gathering wood for a fire.
Erik, too, mustered the strength to push through his exhaustion and complete the task. To construct their home, he channeled his mana and once more called upon the resources of his Brain Crystal Power. A verdant dome composed of intertwined vines and leaves started to take shape.
After getting the dome ready and the fire going Ava and Alexia brought Marcus inside the makeshift wooden shelter they had constructed.
Despite the highly precarious circumstances, the group regained some sense of normalcy as the shelter took shape and the reassuring crackle of Garrett's fire filled the air.
They were exhausted and battered, but they maintained their resolve, and now that they could see their goal, they were prepared to face whatever challenges lay in store for them.
The atmosphere in the makeshift shelter was tense as Ava and Alexia busied themselves with tending to Marcus while he lay on the ground.
Their concern for the man hung heavily in the dome, and their hearts leaped to their throats every time he winced or stirred while unconscious.
Even the stoic Erik was worried because Marcus hadn't woken up yet. It was cause for concern because their travel would be delayed if it took too long. Besides, he wasn't even sure he would wake up.
In the fire's flickering light, Marcus's pale face appeared even more colorless than it already was. As Ava dressed his wound, she moved her hands with methodical precision, and her expression became increasingly strained.
Alexia sat by his side, her fingers tightening their grip on the bandages they applied to him. They all looked at each other with concern as their thoughts became consumed with unease regarding their injured companion.
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