The rustling in the underbrush snapped Solis to attention. His hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword—the one Commander Cassandra had entrusted to him. As he climbed down from the tree with measured silence.
Razille nodded, worry flickering in her eyes but trusting him to handle whatever it was.
Solis crept forward, the forest dim under the cloak of night. The moon, though bright, could only pierce so far through the dense canopy. Every step he took was precise, deliberate, and soon enough, he saw the source of the noise.
A cluster of creatures had emerged from the shadows, drawn to their camp by either the scent of life or the promise of easy prey. Fire Salamanders, their bodies glowing with molten veins, slithered among the roots. Two Honey Bears lumbered on all fours, their bulky forms deceptively slow. A pair of Dire Wolves prowled behind them, silent and lethal. But most alarming were the Flows—otherworldly butterfly-like beings, the size of a human head, glowing faintly and crackling with magical energy.
Without hesitation, Solis stepped into the clearing.
The nearest Salamander lunged first, its tail aflame. Solis ducked and slashed upward, severing it clean through. The second tried to coil around him, but he spun, using its momentum to hurl it into a tree. A quick strike followed, ending it.
The Honey Bears charged in unison. Solis sheathed his sword momentarily and used his kinetic absorption to take the brunt of the first one's swipe. His body sponged the impact, glowing orange. He retaliated with a devastating punch to its chest, sending it toppling backward with a crash. The second bear roared and lunged, but Solis used its weight against it, rolling beneath and slashing its legs to bring it down.
The Dire Wolves struck next, swift and coordinated. One lunged for his throat while the other circled to flank him. Solis activated a burst of stored energy, dodging in a flash and cleaving through one wolf's spine mid-leap. The second managed a shallow cut on his arm before he twisted and drove his blade through its chest.
Then the Flows hovered high, wings shimmering. They launched small but potent magic projectiles. Solis deflected the first few with his sword but had to move quickly. He used the trees to his advantage, leaping between branches and drawing them into chase. Then he launched upward and spun mid-air, flinging his blade to sever one Flow before calling it back. A sharp kick sent another spiraling into the trunk, stunned. With a final upward slash, the last fell.
He landed with a thud, breathing heavily.
"No one still has come," he muttered, scanning the dark woods. "What is taking them so long?"
He sprinted back toward the camp, heart racing. But as he broke through the tree line, his eyes widened in horror.
The camp is under siege.
Cloaked and masked figures had surrounded his companions. They moved with eerie coordination, each wielding different forms of magic.
Larielle stood on a small rise, firing arrow after arrow with uncanny precision, picking off enemies from afar. Her eyes were fierce, her aim unshakable.
Vaidya held the center of their defense, wind and ice swirling around him like a storm in human form. He froze weapons mid-air, redirected projectiles, and blocked strikes with glacial barriers.
Ada was pure fury in motion. Her twin swords flashed under the moonlight as she danced between enemies, taking down anyone who got close. Her battle cries were a mixture of frustration and focus.
Vaidya totally draped in sweat, "Ada! It's a really good time to release you aura. Use that damn technique of yours!"
"I can't."
"WHAT?"
"I can't use it."
"But you just used it six months ago."
"That was for one time. I tried to do it again. But never really managed to do it."
"Ungh... for Eloin's sake."
---
Razille, meanwhile, was already darting into the woods, scouting a path. Larielle had likely ordered her to find a way out.
But even with all their strength, they were outnumbered.
Solis readied himself to rush in—only to halt as a figure appeared before him, seemingly from thin air.
"What the—!?" Solis gasped, recognizing the Sage.
"Where did you come from? And why are you stopping me?"
The Sage's face was calm but firm. "Your survival is necessary. If you charge in now, there is a chance you might die. Still, will you go to help them?"
Solis narrowed his eyes. His grip on the sword tightened. "Is that even a question? Of course I would."
The Sage studied him for a moment longer, then stepped aside without another word.
Solis dashed into the fray.
He remembered Tedric's lessons, remembered every word his father had said to him since the beginning. He focused, drawing in a deep breath, and allowed his energy to gather.
His body ignited with the orange glow of stored inner energy, and with a battle cry, he unleashed it all in a wave.
Using the Aura Release technique, he plowed through the nearest cluster of enemies. Mages caught in the path of his blazing aura were thrown aside like leaves in a storm. One tried to summon fire, another shadow magic, but Solis struck them down with the hilt of his sword before the spells could form.
His singular goal: make a path for others to escape.
And he did.
He turned and shouted, "Now! Run!"
Larielle, Ada, and Vaidya recognized the opening. They began to retreat, regrouping toward the trail Razille had found.
But just as Solis reached back to cover their exit, a fireball soared from the side and slammed into Larielle's back.
"Larielle!" Vaidya screamed.
She stumbled, her bow clattering to the ground, her cloak catching fire. She dropped to one knee, smoke rising.
Solis turned, but more enemies were regrouping behind him.
"No... not now," he whispered.
The night roared on around them.