An explosion of holy light shook the foundation. With every ripple, the ground became hotter, until it was impossible to walk on. A massive circle adorned with ancient elven runes enveloped Dakath’s back, sending forth an even denser heatwave.
Ren had already closed his eyes waiting for it to boil him alive. After all, he couldn’t move with the dead harpy laying on his back. But, the pain never came. Instead, a soothing texture had wrapped around his body as well as for those around him. Kana’s watery embrace had lifted everyone off the floor, high enough to dodge the attack. Then, another wave came forth. Although it didn’t ignite the area, it forced Kana’s brow to twitch a little. She expected the elf to cast that spell. But, not now. It was too soon.
Just when Yakeru tightened his grip around the scythe to jump into battle, screams came from the harpies behind. Most crouched in agony. That pain could also be seen in Kana’s eyes. I
In the dim light that flows through the cracks in the walls, a shadow came crashing down. Kana fell, blood oozing from every section of her body. On each arm, there were massive purple welts that would only worsen with time. She looked so beaten up as if she was fighting a monster twice her size. All those wounds forced the adventurer out of her magical watery form. The sorceress sucked in a deep breath. She sighed and pushed herself off the ground. Lara just stood there, patiently watching her struggle. A creepy smile stretching across her face. Despite the few broken ribs, Kana managed to stand up again.-“Why did you make me wait for so long? We could have ended things back then, remember? But, no… You decided to run away like the coward you are. I thought I made you better than this.”-“I did…what I thought was…right.”
To everyone, the world looked like never-ending brightness. If they were to close their eyes and focus on the silence, they would be forgiven for everything they’ve done in one lifetime. It was that sense of serenity that made this place feel confusing. For when they looked into the eyes of the figure that controlled Aiko’s body, one could only see a thirst to kill. It was her own twin, yet the two looked nothing alike. Their auras radiated a different glow. From Aiko, it felt like spring, bustling with natural and beautiful energy. The figure, on the other hand, was depraved. Facing her, felt like battling a foe they couldn’t beat. After all, they had lost their bodies and turned to spheres made of light. Both enemies and allies alike. Only their consciousness lingered. No matter how much power they yielded, with the material world gone, their potential went down with it. They looked like newborns, seeing everything with brand new eyes. One of the spheres near Ren s
The coastline was rugged with the kiss of the ocean blue. It welcomed the rays of the sun and summer breeze, forming a covenant of stunning beauty. Today, there wasn’t even a single cloud in sight, casting the seagulls into dark shadows against the sky of blue. Above, floating rocks tipped the ocean, creating a pathway for the numerous waterfalls to pass through. Over a dozen magical beasts complemented the place, providing the area with a unique vibe. This secluded island felt like paradise. Nestled at the center of the island, lavish, yet petite, was a mansion made of the purest white stones. Quite normal materials used for someone of elven descent. But, compared to the other estates across the kingdom, this one was left unguarded. As if such actions would be a waste of time and effort. Not far from the estate came a song, a green lullaby that softened the hues of the beach. A short lady held her shoes in her arms while walking barefoot on the white sand. Her eyes
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