............The first man sighed and straightened up. "We’ll see if you’re telling the truth. Maybe a little persuasion will help jog your memory." He nodded to the silent man, who stepped forward, grabbing Elara by the arm and dragging her to her feet."No, please!" Elara cried, struggling against his grip, but it was no use. They were much stronger than her.They hauled her to a small, dark room at the back of the hideout. It was damp and smelled of mildew. They threw her onto a chair and tied her hands and feet, leaving her feeling even more helpless."We’ll give you some time to think," the first man said, his voice dripping with menace. "Maybe by the time we come back, you’ll be ready to talk."With that, they left the room, the door slamming shut behind them.Elara was alone, the darkness closing in around her. She knew she had to stay strong, but fear was making it hard to think straight. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself. There had to be a way out of this.
............"Yes, My Lord. Are you suspecting this might be their doing?" Pope Aurelius asked, his tone apprehensive, knowing a war was on the horizon."Yes, I am sure. Move immediately and don't waste time; we are unsure of their hidden scheme this time." Aarav's voice was strict and decisive.Pope Aurelius ended the call and immediately followed Aarav's command, ordering priests and bishops to mobilize. Their powerful abilities and extensive networks were put to use in the desperate search.As the minutes ticked by, Aarav's mind raced, filled with worry for Elara. The thought of her in the hands of those cultists was unbearable. He couldn't shake the image of her scared and alone, fueling his resolve to find her, no matter the cost.Aarav himself joined the search, using his skills to scan areas quickly. He moved through the city like a force of nature, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and worry for Elara. He wouldn't rest until she was safe in his arms......In the remote
............The tension in the air made the group of Knights, Bishops, and Priests stand motionless, trying to predict their enemy’s next move amidst the looming danger."We need to reorganize our thoughts and come up with a better defensive and offensive formation to counter this situation," Senior Bishop Mel suggested before warning, "Everyone, stay close and watch your step. We can't afford any more surprises."The group carefully moved into a tighter and better formation, their senses heightened to the maximum. The crystal light carried by the knights filtered through the canopy, providing little illumination, making the forest seem even more treacherous."Listen up," said a Holy Battle Knight named Sir Aldric. "We need to use our shields to probe the ground ahead. If anything seems suspicious, we stop immediately. Understood?"The knights nodded, their faces grim. They proceeded cautiously, shields outstretched, tapping the ground and trees for hidden traps. The priests chanted
............"Hahahaha! What futile attempts, Elandor dogs... this is all you amount to?" The cultist group leader stood there, unaffected by Knight Aldric and Bishop Mel's moves, laughing mockingly."Damn it, he wasn’t taking us seriously from the beginning," Bishop Mel said, backing off with Knight Aldric and gathering with the rest of their men."We're in trouble. We're outmatched and trapped. Senior Mel, you need to get away from here and inform HQ about the situation. They will send reinforcements to deal with these cultists. Otherwise, more of our people will get caught in their trap!" Knight Aldric understood the gravity of their situation. Knowing they had no way to escape alive, he urgently requested Bishop Mel to flee and inform their superiors, as only he was strong enough among them and had the means to escape from the cultists."But how can I run away and leave you all behind, knowing the grim outcome?" Bishop Mel, hearing Knight Aldric's words, understood their situati
............Back in the Verdiara City, The quiet night was shattered by the roar of racing cars and the crack of gunfire on the highway."Vrooom... Vrooom...!""Bang... Bang...!""Screech...!"Black cars and a sports car raced down the highway, weaving through civilian vehicles. The gunfire sent civilians scrambling to the side of the road, ducking down in fear."Damn it... How did that bastard know our location?" In one of the middle black cars, Elara Rossi sat with her hands tied. Her eyes were blank, as if her mind had broken.Beside her was a man with a grotesque, twisted face, as if it had been broken and poorly reset many times. Another man sat nearby, lean but no less intimidating. His gaunt face and sunken eyes gave him a skeletal appearance. His long, bony hands rested on the handles of twin daggers on his lap.These two were Elara Rossi’s kidnappers, fleeing from a madman who had killed dozens of their men after discovering their location."Leader, we have no idea how our
............With a swift motion, he cut her bindings and gently helped her out. He picked her up in a princess carry and brought her to his sports car before calling the men from the organization to take care of the kidnappers."Arghh...!" Elara groaned as Aarav's gentle and warm touch on her cheek started to heal her injuries, seeing the blood on her forehead."Elara...my dear, I am sorry...you had to suffer so much because of me...!" Aarav apologized repeatedly as he saw her condition and blank eyes, his heart feeling like it was being squeezed painfully."I should have been more careful and put you under tight security. My overconfidence led you to suffer this much... I feel regretful seeing you in this state!" Aarav muttered to himself, blaming himself for the mistake he made. He never thought his enemy would be able to reach Elara and harm her.He cast his Healing of Souls spell on her, making sure she wouldn't have any lasting mental scars. Otherwise, he would never be able to
............On the border mountains, at the secret hideout, "Haaaa...did you say you lost that rat and let him escape with the intelligence, you useless fools!" The hideous-looking man, his robe torn to reveal an unrecognizable, fear-inducing face, shouted at his men, who knelt on the ground with their heads hung low.They were a group of cultists chasing after Bishop Mel but failed to capture and eliminate him. Despite being gravely injured, Bishop Mel managed to escape their tightly laid traps in the forest."We apologize for our mistake. Please give us a chance to correct it...let us raid that border city and kill every dog of Elandor to make them terrified of our very presence." The underlings pressed their heads to the rocky ground, apologizing to their leader while suggesting a plan that the cultists' leader, pondered over."What about the secret mission I gave that useless man? He still hasn't contacted us!" The group leader asked, suddenly remembering something important an
............The guards nodded and quickly set out to follow his orders. Amar watched them leave, feeling the weight of the coming battle in his heart. He couldn't let his fear show.Within minutes, Mordan returned with the fighters and a small chest of divine tools. The tools glowed with a faint, otherworldly light, offering a glimmer of hope in the looming darkness."We're ready, City Leader," Mordan said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.Amar nodded and addressed the gathered fighters. "Today, we face a great darkness. But we are the light that will push it back. We may be few, but we are strong. Fight with honor, fight with courage, and know that we fight for our home, for our people."The fighters gripped their weapons tightly, their eyes reflecting the same determination that burned in Amar's heart.As the cultists approached, the first wave of attackers burst from the trees, their bloodlust evident. The defenders braced themselves, their nerves taut."For Ivory