An hour ago...
The deeper they traveled, the narrower the passage became, with rocks protruding from the walls on either side like sharp teeth.
Despite the rocky terrain and looming shadows, Sera and Mira walked quickly, leading the group of nobles through the gorge's winding mouth.
Their gazes stayed sharp and their feet never wavered.
Kael was still behind battling the forgotten royal. Although they wanted to help out, going back wasn't possible. Not with the royals in tow.
Sera's jaw tightened. She had faith in Kael. He was capable of taking care of himself. Getting these folks out alive was her task for the time being.
At last, a clearing emerged from the rocky gorge. It was large but sparse trees provided a little shade beyond the opening. Long, untamed grass brushed up against their ankles. For the first time in hours, the air didn't feel like a trap that was about to snap shut.
However, as Sera motioned for Mira to lead the others to the edge of the trees—
"What do we have here…?"
The voice was smooth and lazy. Like someone commenting on the weather.
Sera's heart dropped.
She spun around.
At the entrance to the clearing stood fifteen figures.
The one who had spoken was a young man with golden eyes and a too-confident smile who stood in the front. His posture screamed control, amusement, and something sinister beneath it.
Sera didn't need to know his name to know trouble had arrived.
"Dorian Valcroft."
Her gaze flicked to Mira and the same worry flickered in their eyes.
A subtle nod passed between them. Sera lifted one arm and motioned slightly behind her. A silent command for them to retreat.
The royals began backing away.
But Dorian caught the movement. His smirk widened.
"Get me my prize," he said, voice rich with amusement.
"Yes, Young Master!" came the quick response.
Five of his ten followers surged forward without hesitation.
Sera turned sharply. "Run!" she yelled.
The royals bolted toward the trees. Sera and Mira didn't follow. They stood their ground, hoping to buy some time.
The pursuers were fast as they moved quickly. They were trained mercenaries, well-armored and confident.
But so were they.
Mira was the first to clash.
Mira didn't slow down. Her eyes flashed with blue light as she extended her right hand, crackling arcs of lightning dancing across her skin.
The first enemy was a towering Storm Mancer cloaked in black and silver robes. He raised his arms, summoning a swirling wind to knock her back.
But he was too slow.
Mira ducked under the gust and slid forward. Lightning surged through her staff. She sprang upward with a spinning kick that slammed into his chest, discharging a bolt that sent him skidding across the grass.
Another came at her with his blade raised.
He was a Hexblade Swordmaster. Curses shimmered along the edge of his sword, and dark runes glowed faintly.
Mira brought up her staff, parried once, twice, then stepped in and elbowed him in the throat. The man choked, breath caught in his throat but he didn't fall. His sword hummed with dark energy, swinging wide.
She ducked and spun, and her lightning-infused staff found his side. The shock dropped him. Not dead, but out cold.
A wall of flame erupted to her left.
A Fire Mage. His arms were outstretched with fingers splayed. A trail of fire curled toward her.
Mira twisted her wrist, drawing in the surrounding static. Electricity surged through her body, and she raised her hand.
Boom.
A crackling sphere of lightning burst forward and collided with the fire head-on. The force canceled out the flame, steam hissing in the aftermath.
She wasn't alone. To her right, Sera moved.
The archer's twin blades gleamed silver under the afternoon sun. She weaved between two enemies—a Frost Mancer and the Shadow Swordmaster.
The frost mage conjured spears of ice, throwing them in rapid succession.
Sera dodged low, rolled through the grass, and flung one of her blades. It embedded itself in the mage's thigh. She collapsed with a grunt, frost forming along her wound.
Sera didn't stop there. She leaped, reclaimed her blade mid-air, and turned to the Shadow Swordmaster.
He vanished, appearing behind—
She turned just in time, steel meeting shadow.
The man's blade shimmered with dark energy as it came down. She blocked the strike with both knives, the force jolting through her arms. He was fast, faster than the others.
But she was lighter.
Sera ducked under the next swing and kicked his knee. He faltered, staggering backwards. She stabbed forward—not to kill, but to slow him down. The blade dug into his shoulder. He hissed and vanished again.
Behind her, Mira was holding off three of them now.
The Storm Mancer had recovered from his spasm. The Flame Mage circled around. A Stone Mancer joined them in advancing, the ground rumbling beneath his boots.
"Company!" Mira called.
Sera turned, saw the trio, and cursed under her breath. "Fall back to the trees!"
Mira didn't argue.
They ran—not in retreat, but to reposition.
The grass parted as they moved. Sera reached over her shoulder, grabbed her bow, and nocked an arrow. She slid to a stop and loosed it in one breath.
Thwip!
The arrow struck the Fire Mage's shoulder. He staggered, fire flaring uncontrolled before dying out.
Another arrow shot forward. This time toward the Stone Mancer.
But he raised a hand. The ground rose in front of him and a wall of earth blocked her shot.
Mira struck next.
Lightning arced along the ground, slamming into the Stone Mancer's feet. He stumbled but didn't fall. His body hardened, stone crawling up his skin like armor.
Sera narrowed her eyes.
She shot again, this time an explosive arrow.
It struck the base of the wall.
BOOM!
The earth shattered, dust and smoke billowing outward.
Mira rushed through the haze.
The Stone Mancer barely had time to raise a defense before Mira's fist which was crackling with power, struck his defenseless chest.
The electricity surged through his stone armor. Cracks spidered across it, and he collapsed with a groan.
That left the Storm Mancer.
He spun into view with his arms raised high. The wind howled, and lightning coiled around him like a living thing.
Mira's eyes narrowed.
"Your trick," she muttered, "my domain."
She raised both hands.
Blue-white lightning surged from her core, climbing into the sky and matching the storm swirling above. The two waves clashed above. His lightning was wild and untamed whilst hers was sharp and focused.
With a scream, Mira pushed forward.
Her lightning snapped through his and struck him square in the chest.
The Storm Mancer dropped, twitching like a broken puppet whose strings had been suddenly cut.
For a moment, all was still.
Sera exhaled slowly, blood running down her arms.
Mira stood panting, shoulders heaving. A deep bleeding cut ran across her side but she hadn't noticed yet. Adrenaline was still high and surging in waves.
But it wasn't over.
The grass behind them shifted and a new figure emerged.