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
Sam's mind raced. He knew he had to act quickly. Ignoring the risk, he placed his heated palm against the collar, using his demonic fire to snap the coil. The metal glowed red-hot, and with a final effort, Sam broke the collar, freeing Connor. “Get him away!” Sam commanded as he finished the daemon with relentless daemonic punches. The monster form was destroyed and Sam absorbed its essence.Sam looked at Connor. His effort left a burn mark on Connor's neck, but that man was alive, gasping for breath."It's over," Sam said, his voice heavy with relief. "You're free now, Connor."Connor, still dazed and weak, looked up at Sam with a mixture of fear and gratitude. "I... I didn't want to fight you," he said, his voice trembling. "It was the daemon... it took control.""I know," Sam replied, his eyes filled with sorrow. "I'm sorry for what you had to go through. But you also bring this to yourself."Sam looked around for the mysterious man. But that man was gone, vanished without trace.
Lyra sat up and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Do you want to talk about it?"Sam hesitated for a moment but then decided to confide in her. "The nightmare... it was a barren wasteland. There were these tall, curved rocks like a giant ribcage. And so many undead, just lying there, lifeless. Among them was a hooded man with glowing eyes. He was commanding the undead."Lyra's eyes widened slightly. "Do you think it could be related to the Savior? Or maybe one of the spell thieves you’ve been hunting?""I don't know," Sam admitted, his brow furrowed. "It could be either. Or both. But I can’t be sure. It just felt... significant. Like a warning."That morning, Sam and Lyra made their way to the city to meet with Kaelyn. The streets of Aetherion were bustling with activity, the noise and movement a stark contrast to the eerie silence of Sam’s nightmare. As they walked, Sam couldn’t shake the lingering sense of dread.When they reached the designated meeting place, Kaelyn was al