As night descended upon Emberlyn, the mages made their move, transporting Xander in a black carriage from Veremond prison. Inside the carriage, Xander's mind was a whirlwind of plans, his thoughts consumed by the impending confrontation with the lie detecting array."Quit overthinking, you fool. They're going to kill you," Bloodhound's voice echoed within Xander's mind. The carriage rumbled forward along a lengthy path, flanked by two blue-armored soldiers, one at the front and one at the rear."No, you're wrong. The duke is here. They won't dare to do something drastic," Xander countered mentally."You're naive. The mages haven't gained power by playing nice," Bloodhound's growl carried a hint of truth that Xander couldn't ignore.Xander shook his head, trying to distance himself from the deranged personality within him. "Why am I even talking to you like you're a separate entity?" he wondered aloud."Because you're a fool, rejecting the very powers you've been granted. Such power be
After silencing Velrian's agent, Atheria swiftly raised her hand, conjuring a spell that sent a beam of red light piercing through the sky. As her team spotted the signal, they promptly began their retreat.Racing through the forest, Atheria eventually reached Carl, who was huddled behind a tree, his anxiety palpable."What are you doing?" Carl's voice was laced with nervousness.Atheria's response was swift and direct. "Retreating. The mages are unleashing powerful spells, and we can't withstand them.""What about the prince?" Carl's gaze shifted to Xander, who was huddled near the carriage, his head down as he tried to evade the lightning bolts cast by the mage hunters."We've done all we can. It's up to the prince now to use his powers and escape," Atheria explained, her eyes fixed on the torrent of magical attacks surging their way.Carl's apprehension grew as he watched the barrage of spells. Yet, Atheria's next revelation shocked him to the core."And we have assassins among our
With a scornful sneer, Bloodhound effortlessly shattered the chains binding his wrists and legs. The iron links yielded under his brute force, snapping like brittle twigs. The potency of being a blood mage granted Xander an incredible physical prowess and raw strength.To Bloodhound, both the mage hunters and the assassins who feigned rescue were mere prey. The confused mage hunters were torn between targeting Xander and the assassins, whom they mistook for Xander's allies due to the chaos.Under the mounting pressure, their attention shifted to Keeran, who lay dazed against a tree after receiving a blow from Xander's mighty fist."Time to feast," Bloodhound roared, his voice dripping with predatory anticipation. He lunged at the nearest blue-armored soldier, his punch effortlessly piercing through the soldier's metal armor, leaving a gaping wound."What in the world is happening?" The duke's voice trembled with shock and horror as he witnessed Xander's transformation."Did he just...
A shiver coursed down the duke's spine as he saw Xander disappearing from his view, swallowed by the chaos and destruction that surrounded him. Fear took hold of the duke, and he swiftly turned to face his loyal royal guards."Let’s leave," the duke's voice trembled, his fear palpable even in his words."We should have done this sooner, your grace," one of the royal guards couldn't help but express his frustration at the duke's previous decision to remain in the forest, despite the escalating danger.The duke's strong aversion to the mages was the driving force behind his determination to witness their downfall, even if it meant putting himself and his guards in harm's way."Are you questioning my decision, soldier?" The duke's tone turned icy, his authority cutting through the tense air.Before the soldier could respond, another voice cut through the atmosphere, sending a renewed wave of unease through the group. It was a voice that didn't belong to any human, a guttural and otherwor
With the passing of control, Xander's consciousness reclaimed its throne within his own body. As the reality of the gruesome scene before him settled in, a shiver coursed down his spine, accompanied by a profound sense of dread."What in the world have you done?" Xander's voice trembled, his eyes fixed on the bloody tableau that surrounded him, even though he had witnessed it all through his own eyes during Bloodhound's reign.Time was of the essence, and Xander knew it. His blood mage powers were waning, and he had to escape before more pursuers, be they mage hunters or assassins, arrived on the scene."We're in deep trouble," Xander growled, his determination burning bright as he bolted away, his form blurring in his haste.His heart raced as he sprinted through the forest, leaving the site of carnage behind. Yet, amidst his frantic escape, another heartbeat, faint but distinct, reached his ears. Xander's instincts kicked in, and he slowed, his senses attuned to his surroundings."T
Despite the dagger lodged in her back, the elf's movements remained remarkably graceful as she danced and weaved through her assailants. Her agility and elegance were undeniable, even in the face of such dire circumstances. Yet, the assailants seemed to have tapped into an uncanny speed, moving with an almost supernatural quickness that made it increasingly difficult for her to evade their attacks.As Xander's mind grappled with Bloodhound's peculiar concern for the elf, their internal dialogue carried a sense of urgency and tension."Do something before they skewer her," Bloodhound's voice urged, an unusual note of urgency threading through the usually bloodthirsty tone."Why do you care about her, you bloodthirsty fiend?" Xander questioned, skepticism lacing his words."You said I'm a fractured part of you. So the bloodthirsty fiend is you," Bloodhound's response was laced with an unexpected nuance.Pushing aside the baffling exchange, Xander's attention remained focused on the unfo
Exhaustion weighed heavily on Xander as he surveyed the aftermath of the intense battle. His body felt like a sack of lead as he stumbled towards the fallen elf. Gently cradling her head, he tried to rouse her from unconsciousness."Hey...wake up," he whispered, his voice laced with concern.Gently lifting her body, he felt the cold grip of the dagger embedded in her back. A pool of blood had formed beneath her, staining his hands as he tried to assess her condition.Her face, drained of color due to the blood loss, made her appear even more ethereal and fragile. Xander couldn't help but be captivated by her beauty, even in such dire circumstances."She's dying, you idiot. Focus on saving her," Bloodhound's harsh voice broke through Xander's thoughts, reminding him of the urgency of the situation.The elf's eyelids fluttered open, revealing her weakened gaze as she looked up at Xander. He couldn't help but notice her piercing blue eyes, even in her weakened state."Don't die on me," X
Eight months ago, rain poured relentlessly from the darkened sky, creating a curtain of water that shrouded the forest. In the midst of the tempest, Xander sprinted through the mud-soaked ground, his breath ragged, trying to keep up with the old man who led the way. The old man's gray hair and beard were matted against his face, and his black robes clung to his form as he pushed forward, his eyes filled with urgency."Keep up, Xander!" the old man shouted over the thunderous rain, his voice strained with desperation. "The mage hunters are closing in on us!"Xander's voice lashed out, frustration and anger echoing through the rain-soaked air. "Lucious, wait! Why didn't you tell me you were being hunted by the damn mage hunters?"Lucious's gaze flickered toward Xander, his expression a mix of regret and resolve. "If I had told you, you wouldn't have agreed to help me reach Kingdom Alvenor."Xander's jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with a mixture of betrayal and exasperation. "You dragg