The prison that was once boiling with mighty magical energy now felt chilly. In this heat, they were all, actually shaking. The roof that sheltered so many became painted in vibrant light. The brightness scorched the ground. But, instead of ashes and fire, there was a virescent mosaic above and below. It felt strange. They all wanted to fight. But, their bodies wouldn’t move. They all wanted to speak. But, their words wouldn’t come out. Everything came to a standstill. Their arms and legs should hurt from holding still for so long. Their clenched fists should stop the blood flow. That didn’t happen, though. Whatever this was, it wasn’t natural.
- “This is a nightmare…of sorts.” – Ren thought to himself.
The strings became weak. They wobbled, turning thin. Suddenly, something snapped. Then, the girl felt her gentle touch. While the figure hovered, her hand landed on her unguarded shoulder, as if she was trying to welcome
Beneath the dust was a collection of dark particles that could only ever be brought together by a broken heart. It spun through the air in blurs that reflected her soul. As every particle soared, Nora and Yakeru tried to catch up to it. But, even their speed wasn’t enough to block its path. Instead, the magic went right for Ren’s unguarded eyes, mouth, nose, and ears. For a moment there, Ren forgot how to scream. He sensed an unfamiliar substance coursing through his veins. The way it made him feel was such a bizarre combination of adrenaline and dread. Paired with lulls of dull pain. It stung. The longer it stayed inside, the bigger the pressure became. Eventually forcing the creature to curl and shake in agony. -“Ren?” – Aiko’s hands shook with worry. Ren’s tiny tympanic heartbeat lost its steady rhythm. Soon, loud thumping engulfed the prison, with a pulse so profound, it forced Aiko to take a few steps back.
-“Wait! I told you to wait! Ugh…Why don’t you listen?” -“Paige, stop! This place is wrecked. That fight from earlier… Someone could still be here.” -“I can’t just leave this kid alone.” -“But… Sometimes, that’s the smart thing to do. If you want to survive.” -“I can’t! I can’t do that!!!” -“The enemies here are on a whole new level! Do you want us to die for this kid’s sake?! You promised me, remember? That we will run when the time comes.” -“But… You…don’t understand! I know what it means to die. This kid… It can’t die…without even getting a chance to live.” -&n
Fireflies flew above and around the campfire as if they were carried by an invisible current. They danced under the luminous star-studded sky. The forest was quiet tonight. The only thing they could hear was the wind that howled in the night. Nora stood watch on one of the branches, carefully hidden in the shadows of the forest. Cohnal stood there, broken, tending to the figure’s needs. Whatever she needed, he would get it done. Whether that was to feed her or keep her warm. It was as if that elf lost all pride and dignity that made him whole. Aiko rested her back on one of the trees nearby. She was observing her newfound power and juggling the light in her arms. It felt surreal. That mana that surged inside her... that power that used to feel so distant, was now so easy to control. All it took was a little focus and it would merge out of thin air. -“But why?” – she thought to herself. “I was focused then too. Whenever
Darkness fell like heavy velvet curtains in an empty theatre. A divine artwork of time and water merged into a stunning subterranean cathedral. These caverns felt both comforting and overbearing. As if something powerful controlled the air inside. Making it difficult to breathe. The purple miasma gathered in her hands, morphing into strong rays of light. Then came a white glow. A woman walked down the path, focused and resolute. She conjured the light not to see, but to announce she was there. After all, over a dozen heat sources of various shapes and sizes were already visible to her. They inhabited this vast space. Some growled. Others decided to blend in with the light and hide their presence. With every step she took, the sound of her sharp heels and heavy tail dragging across the surface echoed in the distance. Although the space was narrow, she quickly cleared a path with her massive wings. What used to look like gentle bat wings was now repainted in dragon sca
The entire group was turfed out to run a race most people would avoid. Halfway up the hill of soggy mud and stabby grass, they all focused and bolted forward. What used to be a forest was mostly burned to the ground. Kana recalled crossing a small wooden bridge nearby. But, that too was gone.Compared to everyone else there, Paige didn’t rely on her legs to carry her all the way. No. Her lungs would heave like the air was acidic if she tried it. She didn’t have the energy nor stamina to handle that. In times like these, she would let souls propel her forward. These souls. They all carried a warm aura. As if they were grateful to this young girl and would try their best to repay her with kindness.Before reaching the place, Aiko noticed a couple of familiar faces. She immediately stopped. Sweat laid on her gentle skin like a newly melted crystal. Kana too recognized these people. But, her glare wasn’t as welcoming as Aiko’s soft stare.-&n
An endless stream of projectiles warped the ground, rearranging the scenery. Unsteady waves of magnetic energy launched everyone into the air, making it impossible for them to land on safe ground. The earth would churn everywhere they land, crippling them in a way they never thought was possible. Then, she unleashed a seismic wave, making them bleed from every section of their body. They screamed in pain. William, Baro, and James were heavily wounded. Ending up with broken feet and a few twisted fingers. Nora was equally affected. Stone shards had found their way deep inside her palms, forcing her to drop her daggers. A dust storm came forth, paired with stone shards and a cone of gravel. The attacks came without end. It was impossible for them to defend, let alone return a single blow. -“What is up with this woman?!” The figure was infuriated. Her anger was like a ghostly cord that dangled over
In the light of the vast space, the mirror made art from all those uncanny powers that hurled back and forth. Showing in its reflective motion the bloody battle that ensued. This plane, it was unusual, to say the least. As transient as a dream and as cold as ice.As time went on, everyone there heard the sound of breaking glass, yet it was only the world around them that developed deep scars. Wounds not of blood, but of magic. Valerie watched as the plane around them shrunk into shards and withered into gem-like pebbles.They were running out of time.Both guilds were bent on defeating their foe. But, the phoenix put up quite the fight. Valerie knew that if she were to make them hurry, the adventurers would scatter faster than shards and die trying. Caught between the sands of time and the mortal plane, Valerie had no other choice but to join the fight.Her magic was profound. A mix between old dwarven mysticism and the ways of the old world. She wi
The two chosen ones became calm as a spring breeze. Their sense of peace anchored in their well-earned self-confidence. Their voices remained warm, their heartbeat, steady. Aiko could see the phoenix’s fiery temper subside. She could sense an earthly aroma seeping out of its unusual body. A fragrance of tranquility. The moment the adventurers left this plane, a wet rain washed the cracks away, providing the chosen ones with a clear path ahead. It curled upward as aurora lights and green rivers. While the open sky resonated with their souls. Like a canyon of hope. Not a single word was exchanged. Aiko and the phoenix were but strangers in a foreign land. That’s when an electric-neon light came between them, and the radiating magic forced them to take a couple of steps back. The two staggered. Suddenly, the figure came out of Aiko’s body and moved her hands across the lingering essence of the strange light. -&nb