I'm an Extra, so What?

"No...no way…" Sylas's hands began to shake as he poured more mana into his flames, but the vines only grew stronger, crawling up his legs and binding him to the ground.

His staff began to flicker, the ruby at its head dimming.

Luka's eyes widened. "He's leeching his magic…"

Arthur cursed. "Damn it. He's draining him dry."

Sylas screamed in frustration, fire erupting around him one last time, but it flickered and died as the vines coiled around his arms, dragging him to his knees.

Eldrin stepped forward, his staff glowing with an emerald radiance.

He knelt slightly, placing a hand on the ground. The vines shimmered, and Sylas slumped forward, his staff clattering to the marble floor.

Eldrin looked down at him, his expression calm.

"You fought with fire… and fire is life. I only borrowed its strength."

He stepped back, and the vines receded, leaving Sylas gasping for breath, his robes scorched and smoking.

The announcer's voice rang out. "Victory goes to Eldrin of the Verdant Gale!"

The crowd erupted, cheers and chants for the elven mage echoing throughout.

Eldrin bowed gracefully before walking back to his side.

Sylas stumbled back toward their group, breathing heavily.

Arthur looked away, lips pursed in frustration.

Luka caught him before he collapsed, helping him sit down. "Hey...you alright?"

Sylas gave a weak chuckle. "Never...underestimate a damn gardener…"

Luka smirked, patting him on the back.

Suddenly…

"Next—an ancient test of teamwork, agility, and wit: The Trial of Coordination!"

The crowd erupted with excitement.

This was a race, but unlike any other—a challenge that demanded every ounce of connection between a Ranger and their Healer.

The platform at the center shimmered and split open, revealing a spiraling staircase descending into darkness.

"Two teams will enter a shifting labyrinth crafted from ancient elven magic. Your goal is to collect three Sacred Wisps scattered throughout the forest and return. But beware, the grove itself resists you. Only those who move as one will succeed."

Four figures stepped forward.

Across from them, Ardyn stepped forward.

Behind him, Nuvian.

"Prepare yourselves!" The announcer's voice rang out.

Then the ground beneath the contestants glowed bright emerald, and in the blink of an eye, they were gone.

The world around warped, then settled.

They all stood in the heart of the forest.

Luka inhaled deeply, the scent of damp earth filling his lungs.

'Let's do this…'

His pulse quickened, but he forced calm into his breathing and glanced at Elara.

She met his gaze with a steady calm that grounded him.

"Ready?" Luka whispered.

Elara nodded.

They began moving.

Soft moss cushioned their steps, winding gently beneath the tall trees.

The moment they reached a narrow clearing, the ground beneath their feet rippled as if it were liquid, then suddenly gave way into a shallow pit tangled with glowing vines.

Elara raised her staff, murmuring a skill.

The vines shuddered and slowly retracted, creating a narrow path for them to pass.

"This forest's magic responds to healing skills," she said quietly.

"I can calm the traps, but only briefly. We need to move fast."

Luka grinned. "Lead the way." They stepped carefully through the pit, keeping pace with the retreating vines.

Ahead, a flicker of blue light shot up through the canopy—the first Sacred Wisp, teasing them like a playful spirit.

Luka's eyes followed it upward.

"Looks like it wants us to climb." He took a running leap, grabbing a low-hanging branch and hauling himself upward.

Elara followed, her staff glowing softly.

The tree branches twisted and tangled above like a natural labyrinth.

Many were marked with faint glowing runes—some pulsing gently, others sharp and jagged.

Luka studied the runes closely.

Some branches bore traps designed to snap shut or release poisonous pollen.

"Elara, which way?" Luka asked quietly.

Elara closed her eyes and reached out with her senses, her staff casting a soft light that illuminated safe branches.

"Left, then a sharp turn right near the glowing rune. Careful—don't touch the ones that flicker red."

They moved carefully but swiftly, stepping only on the branches lit by her skills.

Halfway across, the wisp pulsed brightly and vanished, replaced by the glowing orb nestled among a cluster of leaves.

Luka reached out and plucked it carefully, his heart pounding with the rush of progress.

Down below—

Ardyn and Nuvian ascended a different tree with practiced ease.

Ardyn's movements were precise, each step calculated to avoid traps, while Nuvian cloaked herself in a subtle mist that shielded her from the magic, allowing her to sense hidden dangers.

The second leg of the race led them to a crystalline lake that mirrored the shimmering canopy.

The Sacred Wisp hovered above the water's surface, its light flickering like a beacon.

Luka and Elara approached cautiously, and the moment they stepped onto the lake's edge, the surface shimmered and shifted, forming a puzzle of solid pathways and vanishing platforms.

Elara knelt and whispered to the water, sensing its magical currents.

"This lake's paths shift with the rhythm of the moon, but here the patterns are irregular. We have to time our steps perfectly."

Luka nodded, muscles coiled to spring. "You lead. I'll follow your cue."

With eyes closed, Elara tuned into the magic beneath the water, her staff glowing faintly. She took the first step, the surface solidifying beneath her foot.

Luka mirrored her, stepping where she indicated. The paths shimmered and shifted unpredictably, forcing them to adjust and leap with precision.

Suddenly, a surge rippled through the lake, rocking Luka's footing. He barely caught himself on a floating branch, heart hammering. "Elara, I'm off balance!"

Her hands flared with healing light, stabilizing the water's magic and calming the waves. "Keep moving!"

Together, they crossed the lake, breathless but unharmed. On the far shore, the second Sacred Wisp flickered, waiting for them.

Across the lake—

Ardyn and Nuvian made the crossing with grace—

Aided by Nuvian's healing magic that steadied their balance and eased muscle strain.

Though graceful, they trailed slightly behind Luka and Elara.

The final wisp lay within the Grove's shadowed canyon—a narrow, twisting passage where illusions and enchantments clouded the air.

The forest here felt older, heavier with magic, the trees arching inward as if to trap those who dared enter.

Luka and Elara entered cautiously, the fading light making the twisted branches seem like claws reaching out.

Whispers swirled around them, disorienting their senses with faint echoes of lost travelers.

"Be careful," Elara warned. "It will try to confuse us here."

The path forked repeatedly, each turn more beguiling than the last.

Shadows danced and shifted, painting false trails.

Luka's instincts screamed at him to trust his gut, but the illusions clouded his vision.

"Elara, can you cut through this magic?" he asked.

She closed her eyes and began chanting softly, her staff glowing like a beacon.

Slowly, the illusions peeled away, replaced by the true path glowing faintly with runes.

But the canyon was far from safe.

Jagged stones lined the path, and enchanted vines swung with sudden bursts of flame.

"Watch the timing!" Luka shouted.

They moved carefully, waiting for the fire bursts to pass before dashing forward.

A vine snapped close to Luka's face, but Elara raised a protective shield, the flames harmlessly extinguished by her magic.

They rounded a final corner and saw the third Sacred Wisp, floating atop a pedestal entwined with glowing ivy.

Luka reached out and grasped it just as the canyon rumbled—the walls beginning to shift and close in.

"Run!" Elara urged, pushing Luka forward.

They sprinted through the twisting canyon, dodging falling branches and roots rising to trip them.

Behind them, Ardyn and Nuvian appeared, closing fast.

Luka's breath came in ragged gasps as Elara flattened the path with a skill, holding back the encroaching traps.

Bursting from the canyon, the magic faded, returning them to the clearing where the race began.

With a final surge of speed, Luka crossed the finish line first, the three Sacred Wisps glowing bright in his hands.

Elara collapsed beside him, exhaustion evident but relief shining in her eyes.

Moments later, Ardyn and Nuvian arrived, composed despite their loss.

The announcer's voice rang clear, "The humans have triumphed in the Trial of Coordination!"

Luka looked at Elara, a tired smile spreading across his face.

"We did it."

Suddenly—

Nuvian approached.

Her lips curled into a sly smile:

"Well done, human ranger. I must admit, I didn't expect you to keep up. Perhaps even win."

Luka gave a slight nod, eyes calm and unbothered. "Thanks. We just focused on the task."

Nuvian's smile tightened, voice laced with thin sarcasm.

"Focus? Or sheer luck? The forest is unforgiving to those without finesse. You might have slipped through cracks today, but don't expect that to happen again."

Luka shrugged lightly, indifferent.

"Luck's not part of the equation when you've got someone you trust watching your back."

The corner of Nuvian's mouth twitched, a flicker of annoyance breaking through her usual poise.

"Hmph. Trust is a luxury for the weak."

Luka's gaze didn't waver. "Or a strength the arrogant underestimate."

She stepped back, eyes narrowing. "Watch yourself, human. We will be less forgiving."

Without another word, Nuvian turned sharply.

Luka watched her go, unfazed, then looked down at Elara.

"You okay?" he asked quietly.

Elara smiled softly. "More than okay. You didn't give her the satisfaction."

Luka chuckled. "Not worth it."