Time seemed to stretch endlessly as Cillian knelt beside Luxana, watching the girl's movements with a mixture of helplessness and disbelief. Her delicate fingers guided the knife with eerie grace, positioning it against her throat as though it were a sacred ritual. The radiant smile on her face was haunting—too bright, too serene for what was about to unfold. It wasn't the smile of fear or hesitation; it was the smile of someone who had already made peace with their fate.
One swift motion.
The blade drove into her neck, slicing through flesh with brutal precision. Blood spilled instantly, deep crimson rivulets cascading down her pale skin like rivers of life draining away. The smile on her face didn't falter; if anything, it grew wider, almost triumphant, as her body began to collapse.
She fell sideways onto the crystalline floor inside the cage, her lifeless form crumpling like a broken doll. The knife clattered softly against the ground beside her, its cold steel stained with her final act.
The room fell silent once more—an oppressive stillness that swallowed even the faint hum of magic lingering in the air.
Cillian stared at the scene before him, his mind racing to make sense of what had just happened. His sharp gaze flicked between Luxana—still kneeling with blood-stained hands—and the girl lying dead inside the cage. The pang in his head hit him like a hammer, sharp and unrelenting, as if his thoughts were trying to claw their way out of his skull.
Cillian let out a low sigh that carried more weight than words could express. He rose slowly to his feet, his movements deliberate as he steadied himself against the fractured platform beneath him.
He exhaled sharply and raised a hand to his face, sliding it upward across his features as he tried to steady himself. His fingers ruffled through his hair, tugging slightly at the strands in frustration before he let his hand drop back to his side. His eyes remained closed for a moment longer, shutting out the sight before him, willing himself to think clearly.
But when he opened them again, Luxana collapsed sideways.
His heart lurched in his chest as his sharp instincts kicked in. "LUXANA!" he barked, his voice echoing through the crystalline room. In an instant, he slid down to her side, crouching as he pulled her limp form into his arms. Her head lolled against his chest, her usually vibrant zircon-blue eyes now closed.
That's when he felt it—extreme heat radiating from her body.
"Damn it," Cillian muttered under his breath, panic flickering across his face for a split second before being replaced by frustration. His mind raced as he assessed her condition. Her skin was burning hot to the touch, like flames were coursing just beneath the surface. He could feel the heat searing through his gloves.
Why the hell is she so weak? he thought bitterly, gritting his teeth as he looked down at her unconscious face. I just used some of her flames—and she's already on the brink of death? Bruh. Such a pathetic weakling.
Despite the disgust that flashed across his features, there was an edge of desperation in his movements as he adjusted her in his arms. Her body temperature was rising second by second, and beads of sweat began forming on her pale skin.
"AHHHHHH," Cillian groaned internally, clenching his jaw as he tried to think of a solution. What the hell am I supposed to do? His mind raced with possibilities, each one more impractical than the last. I can't carry her back to the circus—it's probably in its highest state of chaos right now. He shook his head violently at the thought. And I can't give her my mana either—I won't be able to fight if something happens.
His frustration mounted as he thrust his head sideways several times, trying to shake loose an idea—any idea—that could work. He glanced down at Luxana's flushed face again, her breathing shallow but steady.
"She won't die anyway," Cillian muttered under his breath, trying to convince himself. But doubt crept into his mind like a shadow. Or will she? His eyes narrowed as uncertainty gnawed at him. AHHHHHHH! He screamed internally again, clenching and unclenching his fists as if trying to physically wrestle with the situation.
And then it hit him—a thought striking like lightning through the chaos of his mind.
He looked at Luxana's weak, overheated body and narrowed his eyes with determination. "Wait a minute," he murmured under his breath.
His voice grew louder as he straightened slightly, still cradling Luxana in one arm while raising the other into the air. "Nemorion," Cillian exclaimed sharply.
In an instant, shadows coalesced in front of him, swirling together into a dark figure that materialized with an ominous presence. Nemorion stood tall and imposing—a demon with sharp features and glowing crimson eyes that burned like embers in the dim light of the crystal room.
"You called?" Nemorion asked smoothly, tilting its head slightly as it regarded Cillian with mild curiosity.
Cillian didn't waste time on pleasantries or explanations. "Take care of her while I'm out," he ordered curtly, gesturing toward Luxana's limp form in his arms.
Nemorion's glowing eyes flicked down to Luxana and then back up to Cillian's face. There was a flicker of amusement in its expression as it replied dryly, "You want me—a demon—to babysit your fragile little lock?"
"Just do it!" Cillian snapped impatiently, shifting Luxana slightly in his arms as if daring Nemorion to argue further.
The demon let out a low chuckle but stepped forward obediently nonetheless. "As you wish," Nemorion said smoothly, reaching out its clawed hands toward Luxana.
Cillian hesitated for a split second before carefully transferring Luxana into Nemorion's arms. The demon held her effortlessly, its claws surprisingly gentle despite their menacing appearance.
"She's overheating," Cillian said tersely, standing up and brushing off his coat. "Keep her stable until I get back."
"And where exactly are you going?" Nemorion asked lazily, tilting its head again as it cradled Luxana's unconscious form like she weighed nothing.
"To fix this mess," Cillian replied shortly without elaborating further. His sharp gaze lingered on Luxana for a moment longer before turning toward the exit of the crystal room.
"Don't screw this up," he added over his shoulder as he strode away with purpose.
Nemorion watched him go with a faint smirk before glancing down at Luxana in its arms. "Well then," it murmured softly, its crimson eyes gleaming with intrigue. "Let's see what makes you so special."
Cillian emerged from the tent, his boots crunching against the dirt as he pushed aside the heavy cloth flap. The cold night air hit him like a slap, but it wasn't the chill that made him stop in his tracks—it was the chaos unfolding before him.
The once-lively circus grounds had devolved into utter pandemonium. Stalls were overturned, their colorful banners torn and scattered across the ground. Villagers screamed as they ran in every direction, dodging bursts of stray magic that lit up the night like fireworks. The acrid smell of burning wood and something darker—magic gone wild—hung heavy in the air.
In the center of it all, his friends were locked in battle.
Theon and Soren were circling one of the Joker's accomplices—a wiry boy with a shock of silver hair who moved with unnerving speed. The boy darted between them like a shadow, his movements so quick they were nearly impossible to track. Soren lunged forward with a spell crackling in his palm, but the boy twisted mid-air, evading the attack with ease.
Not far from them, Dylan and Kryll were engaged with another target—a girl who couldn't have been older than twelve but wielded magic with terrifying precision. She stood atop an overturned wagon, her hands glowing with an eerie green light as she hurled bolts of energy toward them. Kryll deflected one with a shield spell, but the force sent him stumbling backward, while Dylan cursed under his breath and tried to flank her.
And then there was Aaron.
Cillian's eyes narrowed as he spotted him at the center of the chaos, his sword drawn and gleaming under the flickering light of lanterns. Aaron was facing none other than the Joker himself—a tall, gaunt figure dressed in tattered finery, his painted face twisted into a maniacal grin. The Joker's laughter echoed through the night as he dodged Aaron's strikes with infuriating ease, his movements almost playful.
"Is this all you've got?" the Joker taunted, his voice high-pitched and mocking as he leapt onto a nearby platform. "I expected more from Elmir's finest!"
Aaron growled in frustration, swinging his blade upward in a wide arc that barely missed its mark. "You won't be laughing for long," he spat through gritted teeth.
The once-organized circus grounds were now a battlefield. Stalls were overturned, their colorful banners shredded and scattered across the ground like fallen leaves. Lanterns flickered weakly, some shattered entirely, casting uneven light on the scene. The air was thick with the acrid smell of burning wood and magic, mingled with the metallic tang of blood.
Screams filled the night as villagers ran in all directions, dodging stray bursts of magic that lit up the darkness like fireworks. The sound of clashing spells and shouts of anger echoed across the grounds, blending into a cacophony of chaos.
Cillian scanned the scene quickly, assessing the situation. His friends were holding their own—for now—but it was clear they were outmatched. The Joker's accomplices weren't just skilled; they were ruthless, their attacks aimed to maim rather than subdue.
Near an overturned wagon, Diana and Luca—the Joker's accomplices—were holding their ground against Soren and Theon. Diana, a girl no older than ten, stood atop the wagon with her hands glowing an eerie pale yellow. Her magic lashed out like whips, slicing through the air with terrifying precision. Soren raised a shield spell to deflect one of her attacks, but the force sent him stumbling backward.
"Hold still!" Diana shouted gleefully as she sent another burst of energy toward him.
Theon darted around her flank, his movements quick and calculated as he tried to close the distance between them. "Little brat's fast," he muttered under his breath before lunging forward with his blade aimed at her legs.
But Luca was there to intercept him. The wiry boy moved like a shadow, his silver hair gleaming under the dim light as he darted between Theon and Diana. With a swift kick, he knocked Theon's blade aside before countering with a dagger aimed at Theon's chest.
Theon barely managed to dodge in time, rolling to the side as Luca pressed forward with relentless speed. "You're gonna regret that," Theon growled as he scrambled back to his feet.
Meanwhile, Kryll and Dylan were trying to corner Diana from the other side. Dylan hurled a fireball toward her perch on the wagon, but she deflected it effortlessly with a wave of her hand.
"Is that all you've got?" she taunted, her voice high-pitched and mocking.
Kryll gritted his teeth as he summoned a binding spell, ropes of glowing energy shooting toward her. But Diana leapt off the wagon at the last second, landing gracefully on the ground beside Luca.
"Nice try!" she said with a smirk before sending another blast of green energy toward Kryll.
In the center of it all was Aaron, facing off against the Joker himself. The tall, gaunt figure moved with unsettling agility, his painted face twisted into a maniacal grin as he dodged Aaron's strikes with infuriating ease.
"You're slowing down," the Joker taunted as he leapt onto a nearby platform. "Getting tired already? I expected more from you."
Aaron growled in frustration, swinging his blade upward in a wide arc that barely missed its mark. "You won't be laughing for long," he spat through gritted teeth.
The Joker laughed—a high-pitched cackle that sent chills down Aaron's spine. "Oh, but I will," he said mockingly before hurling a burst of dark magic toward him.
Aaron raised his sword just in time to deflect the attack, but the force sent him stumbling backward. He steadied himself quickly, his eyes blazing with determination as he charged forward again.
Cillian's gaze flicked back to Aaron and the Joker before flicking briefly to Diana and Luca. His friends were holding their own—for now—but it was clear they were being pushed to their limits. Everyone were locked in a deadly dance, their movements fast and brutal. Aaron lunged forward again, but the Joker sidestepped effortlessly, his grin widening as he retaliated with a burst of dark magic that sent Aaron sprawling to the ground.
Cillian clenched his fists tightly at his sides as black lightning began to crackle faintly around him. He took a step forward, his sharp eyes narrowing as he prepared to join the fray.
"Time to end this," he muttered under his breath before leaping into action.
To be Continued...