Chương 20: Hide and seek

With those words, the trainees scattered into the surrounding forest.

Arin didn't hesitate. With a burst of aura-enhanced speed, she took off, leaping over fallen logs and ducking under low-hanging branches. The forest blurred around her as she ran, her senses hyper-aware of every sound and movement. The soft crunch of leaves beneath her feet, the whisper of wind through the trees, the distant calls of forest creatures – all of it registered in her mind with crystal clarity.

Her eyes darted around, searching for anything that could give her an advantage. The trees loomed above, their branches stretching out like grasping fingers. She could feel Kern's aura in the distance, a formidable presence that seemed to fill the entire forest. It was like a looming thundercloud, powerful and intimidating.

An idea struck her. Gathering her aura, she focused on the ground beneath her feet. With a surge of energy, she leaped upwards, propelling herself high into the branches of a nearby tree. She landed lightly on a sturdy branch, her aura muffling the sound of her impact. The rough bark pressed against her palms as she steadied herself, the scent of sap and wood filling her nostrils.

From her elevated position, Arin had a better view of the surrounding forest. She could sense the auras of her fellow trainees, flickering points of light scattered throughout the woods. Some were moving quickly, darting from cover to cover, while others remained still, likely trying to mask their presence. And there, moving steadily through the trees, was Kern's powerful aura signature.

He's moving fast, Arin realized, watching Kern's aura signature weave through the forest with practiced ease. But he can't catch us all at once.

Arin knew she couldn't stay in the tree forever. Kern's aura was getting closer, and it was only a matter of time before he sensed her presence. She needed a plan to evade him and make it back to the log. Her mind raced, considering and discarding options as quickly as they came to her.

Closing her eyes, Arin reached deep within herself, tapping into the well of power that resided at her core. She began to gather the aura particles around her, drawing them in like a magnet attracting iron filings. The particles swirled around her, a shimmering vortex of silver. She molded them with her will, shaping them into a cloak of energy that settled over her skin like a second layer.

With her aura shrouded, Arin settled into a comfortable position on the branch. She focused on her breathing, trying to calm her racing heart. Time seemed to slow down as she waited, her senses picking up every minute detail of the forest around her.

Arin tracked Kern's movement, sensing him getting further and further away. Her muscles tensed with each close call, ready to flee at a moment's notice. She watched as he passed near other trainees, his aura flaring as he sensed them. Some managed to escape, while others were caught, their disappointment palpable even from a distance.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she stirred. Stretching her limbs to work out the stiffness, she leaped from the branch, landing softly on the forest floor. The loamy earth cushioned her landing, the rich scent of dirt and decaying leaves filling her nostrils.

She paused, reaching out with her senses to ensure the coast was clear. Satisfied, she set off again, moving swiftly but silently through the underbrush. Her feet found purchase on roots and rocks, her body instinctively adapting to the uneven terrain. Suddenly, a familiar aura brushed against her senses. Arin froze, her heart leaping into her throat. But then she recognized it - Kai.

Changing direction, she angled towards where she sensed him. Moving quickly, her feet flying over the uneven ground, she soon spotted him crouched behind a large boulder. The moss-covered stone provided excellent cover, and Arin could see why Kai had chosen this spot.

"Kai," Arin whispered, dropping down beside him. The cool surface of the boulder pressed against her back as she settled into a crouch.

Kai's head snapped up, his eyes widening in surprise. "Arin? How did you...?" He shook his head, a grin spreading across his face. "Never mind. I'm just glad you're here."

"Sorry," she whispered back, her voice tinged with amusement. "I didn't mean to startle you."

Kai rolled his eyes, his grin still in place. "Well, excuse me for not having super-heightened aura senses like some people. Some of us are still working on the basics here."

Arin chuckled softly, careful to keep her voice low. "Fair enough. So, what's your plan? Have you managed to avoid Kern so far?"

Kai's expression sobered slightly, though his eyes still sparkled with mischief. "Barely," he admitted, leaning in closer. His breath tickled her ear as he whispered, "I've had a few close calls. That man is like a bloodhound when he's on the hunt."

He glanced around, making sure no one else was listening, then continued in a hushed tone. "I've been using the others as unwitting decoys. I'll get close to a group, let Kern sense their auras, and then when he moves in to investigate, I double back and head in the opposite direction."

"That's... actually pretty clever," Arin whispered, impressed. She hadn't considered using the other trainees to her advantage like that.

Kai grinned, clearly proud of his strategy. "It's not foolproof, but it's bought me some time. I've been observing his pattern while I'm at it. He's methodical, sweeping the forest in sections. If we can predict where he'll go next, we might be able to slip past him and make it back to the log."

Arin nodded, considering the plan. "That's good thinking. But we'll need to be careful. His aura sensing abilities are far beyond ours. We can't risk getting too close."

Before they could move, another aura brushed against Arin's senses. She tensed, her hand going to her knife, but then she recognized it. A moment later, Lena dropped down beside them, her face flushed with exertion.

"I thought I sensed you two," Lena said, her voice breathless. She wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead, her eyes darting around warily.

Quickly, Arin and Kai filled Lena in on their strategy. As they spoke, Arin could feel Kern's aura growing closer. They were running out of time. The tension in the air was palpable, like the stillness before a storm.

"Alright," Arin said, her voice tight with tension. "Here's what we'll do. Kai and I will make a run for it, trying to draw Kern's attention. Lena, you circle around and try to make it to the log while he's distracted."

Lena nodded, her expression determined. "Got it. Be careful, you two."

With a final shared look, they split up. Arin and Kai took off through the forest, moving as quickly and quietly as they could while still leaving enough of a trail for Kern to follow. It worked. Arin could sense Kern's aura changing direction, moving towards where she and Kai were leading him.

They wove through the trees, ducking under branches and leaping over fallen logs. The forest seemed to blur around them, a green and brown kaleidoscope of motion. Arin's lungs burned, her muscles screaming for rest, but she didn't dare stop. She could hear Kai's labored breathing beside her, matching her pace stride for stride.

Suddenly, they burst out of the underbrush, back into the clearing. The log was right in front of them, just a few steps away. But so was Kern. He stood between them and the log, his aura a solid wall of power. His eyes gleamed with triumph, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"You're the last ones," Kern called out, his voice carrying across the clearing. "Well done on making it this far."

Arin didn't respond. She spun away from him, her aura flaring around her in a blaze of defiance, and sprinted back into the forest. Kai followed close behind, understanding her intent without need for words. They needed to buy more time, to give Lena a chance to reach the log.

They could hear Kern behind them, his footsteps pounding against the earth. Arin ran like the wind, her feet flying over the uneven ground, her lungs burning with each gasping breath. Kai kept pace beside her, his longer legs allowing him to match her aura-enhanced speed.

And then she saw it. A massive tree, its trunk as wide as a house, its branches reaching towards the sky like grasping fingers. An idea formed in Arin's mind, desperate and reckless.

"Kai," she gasped out between breaths. "The tree. Help me."

They leaped towards the tree, their feet slamming into the trunk with a force that shook the earth. Using their aura to propel themselves upwards, they climbed higher and higher, the ground falling away beneath them. The rough bark scraped against their palms, but they ignored the discomfort, focusing only on their ascent.

Reaching the top, Arin balanced precariously on a slender branch. Far below, she could see Kern, his face a mask of determination as he prepared to leap after them. But she was ready for him.

With a final, desperate surge of aura, Arin and Kai grabbed the trunk of the tree and pushed, channeling all of their strength into the motion. The tree shuddered, its roots cracking and splintering under the force of their blow. It began to tilt, slowly at first, then faster and faster, until it was falling like a felled giant.

Kern's eyes widened in surprise as he saw the tree coming down towards him. At the last second, he leaped aside, his aura flaring around him in a protective shield. The ground trembled beneath their feet as the massive tree fell.

The tree slammed into the ground with a thunderous crash, its branches shattering like glass, its trunk splintering into a thousand pieces. The impact sent a shockwave through the forest, causing birds to take flight in alarm and small animals to scurry for cover.

Arin and Kai leaped from the falling tree, using their aura to cushion their landing. They hit the ground running, not wasting a single moment. The forest blurred around them as they sprinted, their hearts pounding in their chests.

They burst back into the clearing, their eyes immediately locking onto the log. Arin's heart soared as she saw Lena there, her hand already on the rough bark, a triumphant grin on her face. Their plan had worked perfectly.

But Kern was right behind them, his aura a storm of power as he closed in. Arin knew they had mere seconds before he caught them. She reached out, her hand stretching towards the log. Time seemed to slow down, each second stretching out into an eternity.

Arin focused, drawing her aura from deep within. She channeled the energy throughout her body, feeling it surge through her muscles. Her tired limbs found new strength, her breathing steadied, and her senses sharpened. The world around her came into crisp focus as her aura enhanced her perception.

Not this time, she thought, and with a final, desperate burst of speed, she dove, her hand outstretched. Her palm slammed into the log, the rough bark scraping against her skin. She felt a surge of triumph, quickly followed by a grunt of pain as Kai, unable to stop his momentum, crashed into her.

They went down in a tangle of limbs, rolling across the ground before coming to a stop. For a moment, Arin just lay there, panting, her heart racing in her chest. Every part of her body ached, muscles trembling with exhaustion. Her aura flickered weakly, nearly depleted from the intense exertion.