Sam turned towards the sound, seeing the daemon guide materialize nearby as the familiar glowing orb. "Impressive, huh?" Sam's tone was casual, but a hint of pride tinged his words.The daemon guide glowed responsively. "Indeed, very impressive, Sam. You've not only defeated Ba'ar but also managed to become an archmage through multiple pathways. It's been ages since someone achieved such a feat."Sam shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah, well, I had some help," he said, glancing towards Kaelyn, approaching him, eyeing Ba’ar with contempt.The daemon guide chuckled. "Ah yes, Kaelyn. A valuable companion, no doubt about it."Then Sam's expression brightened because he remembered something. "Ah! Where's my reward? I went through all those trials!""But Sam, I already granted you a pass in the twelfth trial, did I not? And let you replenish your energy for the second time in the ley line vortex."Sam's shoulders sagged slightly, realizing the daemon's point. "Yeah, I guess you did. So you won't g
Sam took a deep breath, steeling himself for the difficult conversation ahead. "I... I went on a little journey, Lyra. A journey that I thought would make me stronger… and I lost track of time."Lyra's expression softened slightly, but her eyes still bore traces of hurt. "You left without a word, Sam. I was worried sick."Sam nodded, his gaze earnest. "I know, and I'm truly sorry. But I promise, I'll never leave you like that again."Lyra crossed her arms, her tone tinged with concern. "Tell me everything, Sam. What journey was this? And what happened?"Sam took a seat beside her, his mind racing to find the right words. "I was in a tower, facing more trials."Lyra's brow furrowed. "More trials? But I thought you completed your trials already.""Do you remember that night when I was being followed?" Sam asked, recalling the harrowing encounter. "It was an assassin's attack. I managed to defeat… the assassin, but in the process, I stumbled upon a clue about the spell thief. Turns out,
After their meal, Sam cautiously broached the topic of his recent encounter with the archmage. He spoke in circles, carefully avoiding the heart of the matter, but Lyra's good mood quickly shifted when he mentioned seeking help beyond the treasure."What do you mean, Sam?" Lyra's eyes bore into his.Sam sighed heavily, realizing there was no way to evade the truth any longer. He explained about the assassin attack, revealing that it was Kaelyn from the Moonflower Tribe, sent by Ba'ar to kill him. To his surprise, Kaelyn had ended up joining forces with him, and together they defeated Ba'ar, allowing Sam to reclaim the stolen spells."You sought help from someone who tried to kill you? Instead of coming to me?" Lyra's voice rose, drawing the attention of everyone in the tavern."Please, Lyra, calm down," Sam pleaded, attempting to temper her rising anger. He elaborated on Kaelyn's coerced involvement by Ba'ar. "I didn't know the true story of Kaelyn until now. She promised to explain e
Silence settled over them like a heavy fog, the gravity of Kaelyn's words echoing in the air. Sam and Lyra exchanged uneasy glances, their minds grappling with the implications of Kaelyn's request."Tell us more," Sam urged, his voice a mixture of curiosity and concern.Kaelyn took a deep breath, her gaze drifting back to the orphanage. "His name is Felix. He’s about fifteen years old. He's been restless for the past few months, and nobody's sure what happened. I was away during that time, doing odd jobs to earn money for the orphanage.""Doesn't the orphanage receive funding from the church?" Lyra asked, her tone skeptical."We do, but it’s not enough," Kaelyn explained. "The number of orphans we have far exceeds our capacity.""But with the war having ended more than ten years ago, how can there still be so many orphans?" Sam questioned, trying to make sense of the situation.Kaelyn sighed, the weight of her experiences evident in her expression. "The war might have ended ten years
Lyra and Kaelyn exchanged worried glances, but Sam's confidence was unwavering. He stood tall, ready to face the warlocks and show Felix that the Hellhound's power was nothing compared to what true determination and strength could achieve.The warlocks gathered, their eyes filled with a mixture of amusement and rage. Sam's grin only grew wider. He could feel the heat of his own magic coursing through him, ready to be unleashed."Let's get this over with. Who's first?"A tall warlock with a sneer etched across his face stepped forward, his eyes glinting with malice. "You'll regret that," he spat, lifting his hands. The air around him crackled as he summoned a gust of wind, sending it hurtling towards Sam.Sam simply smiled and sidestepped, the wind missing him by inches. He felt the familiar rush of adrenaline as he activated his Wind Steps, his movements becoming a blur of speed and grace. Before the warlock could react, Sam was in front of him, delivering a swift Demonic Punch to his
Felix started to float, the burst of crimson energy lifting him off the ground. Some kind of energy also seemed to sap from the unconscious Connor. It became clear that Connor’s power increase was also from an infernal daemon, masked by another daemon Connor had."If only I knew that, I would have absorbed it first!" Sam said to himself.The air around them started to heat up, causing everyone to sweat profusely. The Hellhound warlocks scurried away from the intense heat, dragging their unconscious comrades with them.“Kaelyn, Lyra, step back. I’ll handle this,” Sam said, not really affected by the heat as he had mastery over the fire element himself.“Don’t hurt him, Sam!” Kaelyn pleaded.“I can’t promise that,” Sam replied, being realistic.“Then I won’t leave!” Kaelyn insisted.“Go away! You’re just going to hold me down!” Sam snapped.Felix unleashed a barrage of fire at Sam, which he managed to control and redirect back at Felix with little effort.“Felix, stop this!” Kaelyn shou
The hunt for the infernal daemon was on. Sam, Lyra, and Kaelyn set out with a clear purpose: to hunt down the infernal daemons and uncover the Hellhound's true intentions. They moved swiftly through the alleys and winding streets of Aetherion. The urgency of their mission cast a darker shadow over their hearts.Kaelyn's shadow power proved invaluable in tracking their elusive prey. She melded into the shadows, moving silently and tracking the Hellhound's movements with precision."They're moving," Kaelyn said, her voice calm but tense. “They’re heading out of the city, towards the forest.”Sam nodded. “Let’s keep moving. We can’t let them get away.”They followed Kaelyn’s lead, tracking the Hellhound members with a grim determination. As they approached the outskirts of the city, the buildings gave way to dense trees and rugged terrain. The forest loomed ahead, its shadows deepening as they ventured further from the safety of Aetherion’s streets.“There they are,” Kaelyn said softly,
Sam squared his shoulders as he faced the monstrous hybrid, its terrifying form a grotesque fusion of many different forms. The beast towered above him, its scaly skin glistening with an unnatural sheen, small wing-like spikes on its back beating the air with a demonic rhythm. Its horns curved menacingly, and its tail lashed out like a whip. The ground trembled with each step it took, and the forest seemed to recoil from its presence."Stay back!" Sam shouted to Lyra and Kaelyn. "This thing is dangerous."The infernal daemon let out a roar that echoed through the forest, shaking the trees and sending birds flying in panic. Sam's eyes narrowed, his fists igniting with demonic fire. He could feel the raw power coursing through him, the culmination of his training and trials. But he could also sense something else—Connor's presence, buried deep within the beast, tormented and suffering.The monster lunged at Sam with incredible speed, its claws tearing through the air. Sam dodged to the