Chapter 11: Chapter 10: The Road to Solhaven
The Journey Begins
The sun hung high in the sky as Yu and Callen trudged along the dusty road, their bags slung over their shoulders. Solhaven was only a two-day journey, but the duo had already managed to lose their way.
"I told you we should've taken the left path!" Yu exclaimed, pointing accusingly at Callen.
"And I told you that left path led to a dead end!" Callen shot back, his katana bouncing against his side as he walked.
"Dead end? That's what your sense of direction is!"
"Say that again, and I'll—"
Before Callen could finish his threat, a familiar, playful voice interrupted.
"Still bickering, I see."
The two turned to find the small, smoke-like sprite hovering in the air, its glowing eyes sparkling with amusement.
"You again?" Yu said, folding his arms.
The sprite twirled in the air. "Miss me? You seem lost, and lucky for you, I'm feeling generous. Let me guide you to Solhaven."
Callen sighed. "Do we really have a choice?"
"Not unless you want to wander aimlessly for another day," the sprite replied, its voice dripping with smugness.
Reluctantly, the two followed the sprite deeper into the forest. As they walked, they stumbled upon a young man sitting by a stream, sharpening a massive axe. He was tall and muscular, his broad shoulders and confident demeanor making him seem older than he was.
"Hey there!" the boy called out, standing up. "You two heading to Solhaven?"
Yu and Callen exchanged glances before nodding.
"I'm Blaze," the boy introduced himself, slinging the axe over his shoulder. "I'm heading there for the Astro Hunter exam. What about you?"
"Same," Yu replied. "I'm Yu, and this is Callen."
Blaze grinned. "Then I'll see you there. But just so you know, I'm not here to make friends. I'm here to win, defeat Pluto, and break the curse on my tribe."
"Curse?" Callen asked, intrigued.
Blaze's expression darkened, but he quickly shook it off. "Let's just say my tribe's been bound by something for generations. I'll fix it, no matter what."
The trio continued walking together, but the tension between Blaze and Yu was palpable. Their personalities clashed almost immediately, leading to constant arguments over trivial matters.
Their bickering came to an abrupt halt when they stumbled upon an ancient, crumbling structure in the middle of the forest. Vines covered the stone walls, and a faint glow emanated from the entrance.
"What is this place?" Callen asked, stepping closer.
The sprite appeared again, its voice echoing ominously. "The Maze of Trials. Only the worthy can find their way out."
Before they could react, the ground beneath them crumbled, and they fell into the maze.
The air inside was thick and oppressive, the walls twisting and turning in every direction.
"We need to get out of here fast," Blaze said, gripping his axe.
"Agreed," Yu replied, drawing his sword.
As they navigated the maze, their lack of teamwork became glaringly obvious. Yu and Blaze argued over which path to take, while Callen tried to mediate.
"Will you two stop acting like children?" Callen snapped. "We're wasting time!"
Their arguments attracted the attention of beast-type Astrodies lurking in the shadows. The trio was forced to fight off wave after wave of the creatures, their exhaustion growing with each battle.
Despite their differences, they began to rely on each other's strengths. Blaze's brute force, Yu's speed and adaptability, and Callen's precision with his katana slowly turned the tide in their favor.
After what felt like hours, they reached the end of the maze. But their relief was short-lived as a humanoid Astrodie stepped into their path.
It was a peak-level opponent, its aura radiating menace.
"Great," Blaze muttered. "Just what we needed."
The trio attacked, but their lack of coordination made it difficult to land a decisive blow. The Astrodie countered with brutal efficiency, forcing them onto the defensive.
"This isn't working," Callen said, dodging a strike. "We need to work together!"
Yu gritted his teeth. "Fine. Blaze, you take the front. Callen, cover his flanks. I'll aim for its weak spots."
Reluctantly, Blaze nodded, charging forward with his axe. Callen moved with precision, deflecting the Astrodie's attacks, while Yu darted in and out, striking at vulnerable points.
Their teamwork paid off. The Astrodie faltered under their combined assault, and with one final blow from Callen's katana, it collapsed.
As the humanoid Astrodie dissolved into shimmering particles, three glowing eggs appeared on the ground. Each egg pulsed with a unique energy.
"What are these?" Yu asked, picking up one of the eggs.
The sprite reappeared, its voice filled with mischief. "A reward for clearing the Maze of Trials. These eggs will hatch into companions bound to you. Treat them well."
"This is the official version of Prana Chronicles: Sword of the Cosmos]. Published on Webnovel and Royal Road by [System_voice]. Any other versions are unauthorized."
Blaze smirked. "A companion, huh? I could use a little extra help."
The trio each took an egg, their curiosity piqued by the potential of what lay inside.
By the time they emerged from the maze, the sun was setting. The towering gates of Solhaven loomed in the distance, the city bathed in the warm glow of twilight.
"We made it," Callen said, his voice filled with relief.
Blaze smirked. "Not bad, you two. Maybe you're not as useless as I thought."
Yu rolled his eyes. "Coming from the guy who nearly got us killed in the maze."
Despite their banter, there was a newfound respect between the three.
As they entered Solhaven, the bustling streets and towering buildings filled them with a mix of excitement and nervousness. The Astro Hunter exam was only a day away, and their journey was just beginning.