The group split up again, each man going his own way, including Dion. Sam and Lyra followed Dion, hoping for a chance to approach him discreetly.
“How do we approach him?” Sam murmured, glancing nervously at Dion's retreating figure.Lyra shrugged, then suddenly quickened her pace and bumped into Dion from behind, feigning clumsiness. Dion instinctively reached out to steady her, his expression shifting from surprise to recognition as he realized who she was."Lyra!" Dion exclaimed, tightening his grip on her shoulder before pulling her into a warm embrace.Lyra winced, squirming slightly in discomfort. "Stop it, Dion! It's embarrassing!""Embarrassing? What are you talking about? We were worried sick about you!" Dion protested, his concern evident in his voice."Really? Then why didn't you guys send a search party to find me?" Lyra retorted, a hint of sarcasm lacing her words."We did. Father even asked Uncle Gregory. But Klothos"Yeah, he's so stubborn," Dion agreed, a hint of amusement in his voice.Lyra nodded in agreement. "So... would you keep this a secret from him?"“Yes, I will,” Dion replied solemnly.Lyra smiled and wrapped her arms around her brother. “Thank you, Dion!”“Can I join the family hug?” Sam chimed in, a playful grin on his face.Dion sighed. “I really hate him, Lyra,” he muttered, though there was a hint of affection in his voice.Lyra chuckled, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. It seemed that their conflict had been resolved with a newfound understanding from Dion.“So, what are you doing here? Did you and your men come searching for me?” Lyra asked, curiosity piqued.Dion's expression shifted suddenly, a hint of awkwardness creeping into his demeanor. “N-no, it was actually something else,” he said, avoiding her gaze.“What? I went missing, and you weren't looking for me?” Lyra exclaimed, disbelief evident in her voice.Dion cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. “Well, you
The ice warlock tried to save his friend, shooting ice lances at Sam, but Sam was too swift to hit. With each step, Sam's heart pounded with adrenaline, his senses heightened as he focused on the task at hand. He kept dashing forward, his determination unwavering, until he was within striking distance of the tentacle warlock.With a fierce battle cry, Sam unleashed a barrage of demonic punches, each blow fueled by his inner power. The tentacle warlock struggled to defend himself, his regrown tentacles thrashing wildly in a desperate attempt to fend off the relentless assault. But Sam's strikes were relentless, each one finding its mark with deadly force.Meanwhile, Lyra focused her attention on the two warlocks that Dion had crippled earlier. With a steady hand and unwavering aim, she let loose a volley of arrows, each one finding its mark with deadly precision. As her arrows struck true, the darkness spell surrounding the alley began to dissipate, allowing Sam and Dion to see their e
Dion's expression softened, his gaze meeting Sam's with a reassuring smile. "It's exactly to give Lyra a more free life outside of the noble business that I've worked my ass off following in my father's footsteps," he explained. "If only I had more power and influence, I might be able to cancel her arranged marriage too. But this will work too. Being kidnapped by a warlock is a nice excuse for her to be excluded from any royal politics."Lyra listened quietly, her heart swelling with gratitude for her brother's unwavering support. It was in moments like these that she truly realized how much Dion had done for her."Well, my sister has chosen you, and I think she has chosen the right man for herself, after all," Dion said, his voice filled with warmth and affection."I feel honored to be with her," Sam replied, his tone sincere."Still, you're on a dangerous quest, and I know I won't be able to stop her either," Dion continued, his expression serious. "So, I hope you can keep her safe
The cart rumbled along the winding road with Sam and Lyra settled into their seats, eagerly anticipating the adventures that lay ahead. The landscape shifted around them, morphing from the bustling cityscape of the Archmagia to the tranquil countryside that stretched out before them.With each passing mile, they were drawn deeper into the heart of the land, their anticipation mounting with every twist and turn of the road. The journey was not without its challenges, as they encountered rough terrain and inclement weather along the way. But Sam and Lyra faced each obstacle with determination, their spirits buoyed by the promise of what lay ahead.Finally, after days of travel, they arrived at their first destination—a quaint town nestled between the Archmagia and Aethereon. The town bore the name of Whitewood, its cobblestone streets lined with charming cottages and bustling market stalls.Then, they disembarked from the cart. Sam and Lyra were greeted by the friendly faces of the town
Lyra gazed up at the tower in awe. "It's incredible, Sam. Imagine what kind of magic must be housed in there."Sam nodded, his eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings. "It's impressive, but let's not get too close just yet. We don't know what we're dealing with."They decided to explore the city's streets first, curious to see what else this magical hub had to offer. As they walked, they couldn't help but notice the peculiarities of the city. Strange figures with eccentric attire approached them, offering an array of odd items."Charms and potions for sale! Guaranteed to bring luck and fortune!" called out a wiry man with a gleam in his eye.Lyra's curiosity was piqued, but Sam remained cautious. "I wouldn't trust those," he whispered to her. "They might be enchanted or worse."A woman with colorful robes sidled up to them, a mysterious vial in her hand. "Free samples for adventurers like yourselves," she said with a sly grin.Sam shook his head, giving Lyra a pointed look. "Don't t
The commotion drew a growing crowd, whispers spread through the onlookers like a wildfire."What happened?""Who's fighting?""Isn't that Connor the Grim?""Ah, poor adventurers. Just arrived in the city and already fodder for Connor's entertainment."The atmosphere crackled with anticipation, but no one seemed inclined to intervene or call for the city guards. Instead, they formed a loose circle around Sam and Connor, creating a makeshift arena. Their murmurs and excitement heightened the tension, egging on the confrontation about to unfold.Connor, a tall and imposing figure with a haughty demeanor, remained unfazed by Sam's hostility. His smirk deepened as Sam conjured Aegis to intercept the lightning attack."Oh, quick Aegis," Connor taunted, his voice laced with arrogance. His eyes gleamed with challenge as he sized up his opponents.Lyra stepped closer to Sam, her expression a mixture of concern and determination. "Sam, be careful," she urged quietly, her eyes fixed on the unfol
“This sudden burst of power…. You made a pact with a daemon,” Connor said."So what if I do?" he retorted, meeting Connor's smug gaze with steely determination.Connor's laughter rang out, echoing with a sense of arrogance. "You are not the only one with a daemon, fool!" he declared, a wicked glint in his eyes.A sudden surge of energy pulsed through Connor, causing the ground beneath them to tremble. Connor summoned a golem constructed from the very material of the road. The towering humanoid creation had short, thick legs, long arms, and a pair of glowing eyes that bore into Sam with an ominous light.Positioned behind the golem, Connor issued commands, directing the massive construct to attack Sam. The golem moved with unexpected speed and agility, its massive form lunging forward with a powerful punch aimed at Sam's position.Reacting swiftly, Sam evaded the golem's strike, feeling the rush of displaced air as the colossal fist narrowly missed him, impacting the ground with a reso
In the heat of battle, with Connor's dark energy closing in rapidly, Sam found himself on the brink of being overwhelmed. Rafael's voice cut through the chaos in his mind, offering a solution amidst the impending danger."Are you stuck, Sam?" Rafael's voice echoed within him."No time for this, Rafael. We need to dodge," Sam replied urgently."There's no time to dodge either. Trust me, I have a better idea. Let's try my new weapon," Rafael urged.With a surge of inner energy, Sam's right hand became a conduit for Rafael's creation—a glowing red sword materialized, ready to be wielded against the oncoming dark energy orbs.Instinctively, Sam used the sword to slash and deflect the dark orbs, his movements fueled by a sense of urgency and determination.Connor's shock was palpable as Sam deftly countered his barrage of dark energy, refusing to yield ground in the face of overwhelming odds.Sam's focus remained unbroken as he dodged, deflected, and slashed at the homing dark orbs, weavin