Revik's eyes flickered to Naida for the briefest moment,. Without a word, she gave him a subtle nod, signaling the plan was in motion. He didn't need her to say anything more. They had always worked together like this,
Naida's focus shifted to Taron, the young boy hiding by her side. Without hesitation, Naida gestured for him to move forward. The boy he sprinted toward her. In a swift motion, Naida ushered him inside, slamming the door behind them.
Revik didn't flinch. His mind was already back on the task at hand. The rain lashed against the house. It was as though the storm itself had taken a personal stake in the battle that was about to unfold.
The leader, his face twisted into a cruel smirk, was the first to make a move. The flicker of doubt in his eyes told Revik everything he needed to know—this wasn't just another ordinary confrontation.
The Warden could feel Revik's confidence, could sense the danger in the way he held Stormfang, the legendary blade crackling with raw energy in Revik's hand.
The Tax Warden stepped forward, and with a sharp movement, chains of shadow lashed out from his fingertips. They whipped through the air like serpents on the hunt.
But Revik was ready. His senses were heightened, his body reacting instinctively. He ducked beneath the first strike, His sword flashed, a blinding arc of blue light
The chain shattered on impact, dissipating into nothingness like smoke in the rain.
He didn't stop. Before the Warden could react, Revik twisted his body to the side, narrowly avoiding another strike from a different angle. The second chain lashed at his legs, but Revik's reflexes were as sharp as ever.
He shifted low, feeling the wet ground beneath him as he dropped into a stance that allowed him to move with unparalleled speed.
From the corner of his eye, Revik saw the faintest flicker of movement. He didn't need to turn to know what was coming next. A second Tax Warden, cloaked in shadows, emerged from the darkness. The Umbral Cloak was in full effect, rendering the Warden nearly invisible to the naked eye.
But not to Revik. His enhanced senses, honed over years of training and battle, picked up the faintest shift in the air. Revik turned on his heel, his sword coming up just in time to block the blow aimed at his side.
The shadow chains clanged against the metal of Stormfang with a violent crack, sparks flying from the contact. Revik gritted his teeth, his grip tightening on the hilt of the sword as he pushed back against the force of the attack. The Warden's eyes burned with determination, but Revik had no intention of letting him win.
"Nice try," Revik muttered under his breath.
Before the Warden could try again, Revik ducked beneath a follow-up strike, his body moving in a way that was almost inhuman. As he did, another Warden appeared—this time from behind him, a shadow coalescing from the darkness.
Without a moment's hesitation, Revik took a step forward, driving his elbow into the cloaked figure's chest. The Warden gasped, the air knocked out of him as the blow landed .
Revik didn't give him a chance to recover. With a fluid motion, he spun on his heel, bringing Stormfang down in a powerful arc. The energy crackling from the blade ripped through the air, and the Warden let out a strangled gasp before his form dissipated into the rain, vanishing as if he had never existed.
But the fight was far from over.
More Wardens emerged from the shadows, encircling Revik. The rain continued to pour, washing away the remnants of the battle and obscuring his vision, but Revik's focus remained.
Shadows moved around him, each one preparing to strike. His breathing was calm, despite the adrenaline surging through his veins. This was a dance he had performed countless times before.
Another Warden charged forward, shadow chains snapping through the air like whips. Revik raised Stormfang high, its blue light glowing brighter in the darkness. The chains wrapped around his arms with a force that could have easily pulled him off balance, but Revik wasn't going to let that happen.
With a fierce shout, he thrust Stormfang forward, the sword piercing the chains. The chains snapped, disintegrating into nothingness, and the energy from the strike carried Revik forward. He lunged, his sword slicing through the Warden's defenses in one smooth motion.
The Warden crumpled to the ground, unable to withstand the force of the blow. His form began to fade, dissipating into the rain as his life force was killed.
Revik didn't stop.
His eyes scanned the remaining Wardens, who now hesitated, sensing their comrades' defeat. The storm raged around them, but inside, the battle had already been won.
The last Warden came at him, this time with a more frantic attack. Shadow chains flew from all directions, attempting to overwhelm him, to bind him, but Revik had already seen this play. His movements were efficient—his sword slicing through the air with deadly accuracy.
As the chains wrapped around his arms again, he twisted his body, bringing Stormfang down in a devastating arc. The chains snapped like brittle twigs, and Revik's sword pierced the Warden's side. The Warden let out a strangled cry, but it was too late. He collapsed, his body fading into nothingness as the rain washed away his form.
The battlefield fell silent.
The Tax Wardens who remained—those still conscious—lay scattered across the wet earth. Some of them had vanished entirely, their shadows broken. Others were left unconscious or severely crippled by Revik's relentless assault.
Revik stood in the center of it all. His clothes were soaked through, the fabric clinging to his skin as the rain continued to pour down. His sword, still crackling with residual energy, hummed in his grip.
For a moment, Revik let himself breathe. But he didn't linger long. His eyes turned toward the door, narrowing as he made his way back inside.
His thoughts were already consumed with the task ahead—Lyra was waiting for him. She needed him.
As he entered, the full force of Mother Sarina hit him like a wave. She was being dramatic as usual, but Revik barely acknowledged her. Her hands were already at his wet clothes, pulling them off him as she fussed over him, rubbing his damp hair in an attempt to warm him.
Taron, the boy who had been anxiously waiting for him, came running at him with wide eyes, but Revik barely gave him attention. His mind was elsewhere.
His eyes locked onto Lyra, who was feebly sitting up in bed. Beside her, Naida was feeding her spoonfuls of porridge.
Revik's heart tightened at the sight. Lyra was barely recognizable. At almost sixteen, she was so weak that she seemed like a child, she was a shadow of the vibrant girl she had once been.
Revik moved closer to her, kneeling at her side. He took her cold hand in his, his fingers trembling slightly as he traced the lines of her hand.
She could barely notice him but her lips moved.
"Brother…" she whispered, her voice weak and barely audible.
Revik's chest tightened painfully. He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her cold hand, whispering back, "It's me Revik."
But it was only a fleeting moment before Lyra's strength gave out, her body falling limp again as she lost consciousness.
Naida moved closer to him then, her arms wrapping around him in a tight hug. Her usual sharp-tongued self was gone, replaced with something softer, something more vulnerable. She didn't need to speak for Revik to know how she felt.