《Windweaver》


 Chapter One: Blood Moon

    He was no longer a man.


    Dark magic can do that, you know.


    It corrupts the soul until there is only a shell of what it once was.


    This beast was no different. A fallen elf who needed to be put down, just like that god during the third and final Dark War. Retractable claws that could slice through rock dug into the ground, leaving gashes longer than her hand as it prowled along the edge of the forest. Its muscles rippled with menace each time it moved closer to the deer. Hunched over on all four, the beast sprang, jaw clamping down over the deer¡¯s head, and thrashed back and forth until the corpse fell to the ground. Blood pooled around the deer, mirroring the blood moon high in the sky.


    To her surprise, it pushed off the ground and roared into the night sky. Pain or anger, she could not tell. The wind shifted, flooding her nose with the taste of blood, sweat and a magical residue only an elf could detect.


    Her husband stood to her left; his ever-vigilant gaze was quite evident.


    He asked, ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    She grasped his hand, and their eyes met.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got this.¡±


    _________


    He was no longer a friend.


    Betrayal can do that, you know.


    It erodes the heart until there is only a shell of what it once was.


    This elf was the worst. A dark mage who needed to be put down just like his god in the third Dark War. Cunning silver eyes that could cut through a man¡¯s soul, exposing their deepest, darkest secrets. Waves of dark energy rippled through the air from his fingertips. His laughter dripped with menace. Her father, the training instructor for the expedition, slammed into the ground from silver eyes surprise attack. Blood pooled around her father¡¯s body, mirroring the blood moon high in the sky.


    To her astonishment, silver eyes pushed off the ground into the trees and roared into the night sky. The wind shifted, flooding her nose with her father¡¯s blood mixed with the sweat and magical residue only an elf could detect.


    Her best friend stood to her left; his ever-vigilant gaze burning with rage.


    She gripped his shoulder and shook her head.


    He asked, ¡°Are you certain?¡±


    She let go and smiled.


    ¡°I can handle it.¡±


    _______


    The forest had been sparse, with only a handful of wildlife that called its wooden borders¡¯ home. But she wasn¡¯t out here for the deer grazing or the rabbit speeding from bush to bush dodging a world that wanted to kill and eat it.


    Walking into the clearing, she stared at the monster¡¯s den. A pit of bones carved into the earth. A place where death came to play. She thought, I danced with death before, but I didn¡¯t have a choice. The question was, who would play the last tune this time?


    Black and twisted trees warped over the den, creating a canopy. Bones snapped under its weight as it dragged the deer deeper inside. She reached down and placed her hand over the footprint, sinking her fingers into the holes left by its extended claws. How long were they? She knew what it could do if she didn¡¯t keep her distance.


    O, if only she had its strength.


    If she had, it wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.


    She wanted it to know fear when the monster took its last breath.


    Her training and instincts drove her forward one step at a time. Her breath became heavier, anticipation mixed with fear. A butterfly flew past her, landing on a red flower. Was that blood or its true color? Hand stretched out, the butterfly flew over and landed on her finger. When it flew away, specks of blood remained. It roared from deep within, bringing her to her knees.


    ¡°I can do this. I must do this.¡±


    Sighing, she stood up and grasped the necklace he gave her on their wedding day. Hand shaking, she held it tight. With a force of effort, her feet moved. Power swelled all around her. Her magic or the monsters, she could no longer tell the difference.


    The desire to kill was unbearable. Hands crackling with raw energy transformed into a ball of wind begging to be released. With a final breath of air, she exhaled and stepped into the monster¡¯s den.


    She¡¯d never been so afraid.


    Never once in the last seventy years.


    ¡°Well shit¡­,¡± she breathed.


    ___________


    The forest erupted into chaos, the younger trainees doing their best to dodge the attacks from the recruits the dark mage converted. But she didn''t focus her attention on those weaklings. Her best friend ranked second in the class would handle them.


    Walking onto the battlefield, she stared at the two forces. Bones snapped from concussive blasts of energy. She reached out and deflected fireballs and spears of ice with a flick of her wrist. Another charged in, dagger in hand, and she strengthened her fingers before sinking them through his chest, ignoring the blade and crushing his heart. Dagger forgotten; his body fell to the ground. Why do they even bother? She had no doubts about the outcome of any who stood in her way.


    O, if only they had strength.


    If they had, they might have lasted longer.


    She wanted them to live long enough to fear her before breathing their last.


    Her best friend weaved around her, opening a clear path forward. His breath became heavier, sadness mixed with loyalty. He hated violence, and she loved him for it. Was she a monster? Hand stretched out, she let out a torrent of flames, clearing a path toward the dark mage.


    ¡°I can do this. I must do this.¡±


    Sighing, she walked through the burning debris from her spell. Hand shaking, the dark mage held his amulet and stepped forward. Power swelled all around her. Her magic or the dark mage, she could no longer tell the difference.


    His desire for death was palpable. Dark energy crackled with the desire for release. With a final breath of air, she exhaled and slammed her foot into the ground, sending a shockwave that knocked him on his ass.


    She¡¯d never seen a man so afraid.


    Never once in the last seventy years.


    ¡°Well shit¡­,¡± he breathed.


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    ________


    Without warning, she fired off her ball of deadly wind toward the monster preoccupied with its meal, or so she thought. It leaped up, dodging the attack that impacted the dead deer, showering the den in blood and pieces of bone. If only that was her only concern. The monster landed in front of her and swiped. A shield of concentrated air erected in haste; the force of the blow sent her flying back.


    Dazed, she drew breath and there was pain. This beast just might be the death of her. The monster stalked closer, black tongue hanging out. Hands outstretched together, she let out a torrent of flame when it was too close to dodge. ¡°Burn and return to the dark with your dead master!¡± It screamed, backing away from the pain and the heat.


    Was this how it would end?


    Was this the best it could do?


    A black force erupted from the monster, sending a concussive blast out from it which caused her to fly backward, peppered with debris from the den that was no longer there.


    ¡°Get up and finish this!¡±


    But she was so tired, weak from the continuous flow of magic and the dark energy blast. She gasped, chest sending bolts of pain as she took a breath. No one would be there to save her, and she wanted no one to. One of them would die tonight and she had a family to return to.


    She stood up and held out her hand, a ball of water stretching out into the form of a sword, freezing solid. Her remaining energy went to her feet, increasing her agility. The monster charged, claws raking the air where her head had been a moment before. What she lacked in physical prowess, she made up for in pure ingenuity. Flowing between its attacks, she noticed a slight limp in its left leg. She risked it all and slid between it and sliced into the injured leg from behind, forcing the creature down on all fours.


    She leaped on its back and sunk her ice blade into its neck to the hilt. It collapsed, and she let the ice melt back into the water, amazed at the transformation as the beast became an elf once more. If you can still call it an elf. Let the elders worry about such idle thoughts.


    ¡°Kill me.¡±


    She said nothing. Staring at the dying monster in an elf¡¯s body.


    ¡°Please.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re already dead.¡±


    She walked away; confident it would soon die.


    _______


    The traitor gritted his teeth and stood up. Eyes blazing with hatred. Her hands shot out and pelted the area with shards of ice. He leaped out of the way and sent a ball of dark energy blasting into her air shield, knocking her to the ground. He took his time as he stalked closer.


    ¡°You always had to be the best. Year after year. Decade after decade. I¡¯m tired of being in your shadow. It¡¯s time for you to enter mine.¡±


    She reached out with both hands and forced the surrounding air until a cloud of debris closed them off from the outside. A smirk on her face, she stood up and thrust all the debris aimed at the dark mage from all sides. The fool curled into a ball and whimpered.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make you pay for killing my father, you traitor.¡±


    Was this how it would end?


    Was this the best he could do?


    Dark flames exploded from the curled-up mage, sending her flying back much further than before, disrupting her spell. Her best friend, bloody from protecting her, offered his hand, and said, ¡°Get up and finish this.¡± Holding her side, she took his hand and swayed on her feet. He wouldn¡¯t save her; she wouldn¡¯t let him. Death would embrace one more elf this night.


    But who?


    Two balls of water transformed into twin curved blades and froze to a razor-sharp edge. What little energy she had left diverted toward enhancing her speed. Balls of black death were hurled toward her from the desperate man. She danced between the devastating spells, slicing through them with her ice swords just to prove she could. He raised his hands for another large spell. What she lacked in physical prowess, she made up for in pure ingenuity.


    She hurled one of her ice swords at his chest and charged. It cracked his shield, lodged in place, but did not break through. She jumped and slammed her foot into the pummel, shattering his barrier and impaled him. The force sent him backward till he was stuck up against a tree. The blade melted and the dark mage slumped to the ground.


    ¡°Kill me.¡±


    She said nothing to the former third rank, now a traitor.


    ¡°Please.¡±


    She kneeled and grinned, stabbing two ice daggers through his kneecaps, and walked away, listening to him scream. Her best friend shook his head and asked, ¡°Is that necessary?¡± Turning around with an ice spear, she aimed for the mage''s left eye and threw it with all her might.


    ¡°Happy?¡±


    ______


    Her hands shook, from her nerves or excessive use of magic, she couldn¡¯t tell. The wet gritty, metallic taste in her mouth was the least of her worries after she looked down at the mess the battle did to her outfit. Was this from the deer or the beast? A shiver went down her spine at the thought.


    ¡°If it¡¯s one thing I have learned since becoming a mother, it¡¯s how to clean dirty boys. That child is always finding new ways to make my life difficult and I know his father is only encouraging him.¡±


    After recovering from her overuse of magic during the fight, she held out her hands and generated a ball of swirling air and water, combined them, added heat for comfort, and stepped into it after enlarging the area of effect. Finished attacking all the blood, dirt, and pieces of bone she stepped out and let the spell fade. A cocoon of warm air enveloped her until she felt dry.


    Staring up at the blood moon, she said, ¡°Someone always dies when the moon turns red.¡±


    ¡°Someone always dies, regardless. I took care of the elf, by the way. You shouldn¡¯t leave their kind alive. The darkness thrives off the suffering of others.¡±


    Ice daggers formed in her hands as she whipped around toward the sound of the mysterious woman in the shadow of a tree.


    ¡°Are you one of them? You here to kill me? I won¡¯t go down without a fight.¡±


    She feared more for her family than herself, but she had to try. She defeated death once already that night. What was one more?


    ¡°Why would I? The blood moon already claimed its victim. You took care of it before I could.¡±


    The stranger''s actions ripped her attention away from him and back toward the direction of her home. In response, she let the ice dagger fly, piercing a rabbit mid-flight. She turned back, but the woman was gone. Her curiosity had died along with the rabbit. Satisfied that her family would be safe, she followed her footsteps back home.


    -----_______


    ¡°Are you?¡±


    She looked at her best friend, and asked, ¡°Am I what? Happy that he killed my father? Are you serious!?¡±


    The surviving members of their training expedition huddled near the tree where her father landed and talked frantically to themselves. One of them turned to her and shouted, ¡°He¡¯s alive!¡±


    What have I done? I spent all that time making that traitor pay instead of checking to see if my father was still alive. Am I becoming a monster? Her best friend grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to look into his eyes.


    ¡°Whatever you''re thinking right now, you''re wrong. I believe in you, and so does everyone else. Now go, your father needs you.¡±


    Clearing a path with a controlled gust of wind, she hurried to his side. She found him lying on the ground, his head resting on the lap of a fellow trainee. Falling on one knee into the blood-soaked earth, she held his hand. His chest rose and fell to the rhythm of a wounded deer with an arrow through its lung. What could she do¡­what could any of them do for him?


    He squeezed her hand, bringing her back into the moment. She stared into those knowing eyes that could see through to her very being, shattering any hope of hiding what she truly felt.


    ¡°Father?¡±


    ¡°Lyra, my dear. You made me so proud today. No, not just today. Ever since you began your training five decades ago, you have proven why our family represents the future.¡± His fingers dug into her palm as he coughed up blood. ¡°It¡¯s up to you to protect them now.¡± He looked up at his daughter''s best friend. ¡°Keep Lyra safe, Ryo. That¡¯s an order.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    A bolt of dark energy thundered toward Lyra from up in the tree canopy. She let go of her father''s hand and deflected the attack with a shield of condensed air. Lyra stood, envisioning a bow made of pure energy, and pulled back the light string aimed at the traitor hidden in the trees. It launched into the air, a bolt of pure white light slicing through the darkness, piercing the heart that turned against them.


    Her heart fell with the body when she noticed her father¡¯s chest no longer moved. Ryo held her from behind and she cried. After Lyra had ensured that there were no more enemies and she had secured her father''s body, she followed her footsteps back home.


    _______


    She left the shelter of the forest and stared out at the open expanse filled with tall grass, flowers, and soft rolling hills. A gentle breeze carried an alluring lavender scent that made her smile. Bending over, she picked one and held it in her hand. After reaching the last hill before her home came into view, she found her husband sitting next to their son, looking up at the blood moon. On closer inspection, it was clear her son was leaning against his father''s sleeping.


    ¡°I¡¯m home.¡± She smiled and sat next to her son, laying his head down on her lap.


    ¡°Welcome back, Lyra.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Ryo. Did Airdan enjoy himself while I was away?¡± Lyra brushed a stray hair behind his ear and grinned at Ryo.


    ¡°He did. Fell asleep asking when you would come home.¡± Ryo cupped her cheek with his hand and pulled Lyra in for a kiss. ¡°I missed you too, my love.¡±


    Lyra¡¯s expression went cold before she asked, ¡°Do you remember the last words my father, Daylor, said to you?¡±


    Ryo nodded and looked back up at the night sky. ¡°How could I not? I respected your father, just like everyone else under his instruction.¡± Glancing back at Lyra, he asked, ¡°What made you think of that night?¡±


    With a deep breath, Lyra met her husband¡¯s eyes and said, ¡°I couldn¡¯t help but think about the night he died. It¡¯s a blood moon, after all. Someone always dies during a blood moon. I had to make sure it wouldn¡¯t be us.¡±


    Ryo stood up and took their son into his arms. ¡°I never had any doubts. It¡¯s getting late and I need to get Airdan off to bed. Are you coming?¡±


    Shaking her head, Lyra let her gaze roam back to the blood moon. She could hear Ryo¡¯s footsteps as he walked through the grass back towards their home.


    ¡°Ryo, I have a question for you.¡±


    He stopped and tilted his head back toward Lyra. ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°What if death wasn¡¯t the end?¡±

 Chapter Two: Happiness

    Small magical butterflies flew all around Airdan. His soft white hair curled around his long-pointed ears. The wool shirt and leather trousers she had made for him would need to be replaced soon. If his father wasn''t letting him get into mischief, Airdan was surprising her with how fast he grew.


    Lyra picked flowers that morning so she could use them for a new spell. The petal butterflies swarmed her son, scattering out of the way when he reached out for them, giggling with joy. These were the moments she lived for.


    Airdan flapped his arms as he tried to fly himself. "Mommy!"


    She lifted her arm up, bringing a spiral of wind beneath Airdan that lifted him off the ground. His laughter was contagious. Lyra let the warmth she felt bubble up into her smile.


    "Let me go higher. I want to chase the butterflies."


    Lyra reached out for Airdan, the butterflies swirling around him as he made his way into her arms. "That''s enough for today. Go fetch your father from the house. We need to decide what''s for supper tonight."


    He pouted. "But mom-"


    "Do I have to repeat myself?"


    The youngster ran off toward the house, leaving Lyra alone with her thoughts. She watched him go, admiring her home. Ryo had been persistent the day they had agreed to settle here, that he would be the one to build their home without magic. She never understood his logic, but she respected his desire to provide for his family. Lyra knew he would never admit it, but a part of him must feel restless not being the strong alpha male that protected his family.


    Ryo was still one of the best during their time training, but she would always come out on top when it came to magical ability. Maybe that''s why her mother and the rest of the village turned their back on her when she told them she was leaving. They didn''t understand. The increase in magical beast attacks on large settlements didn''t sit well with her. Not with her own child to protect now. Ryo and Airdan were her world. Nothing else mattered.


    "But father-"


    "I already told you, son, it''s up to your mother."


    Lyra turned around, shaking her head. The edges of her mouth curled up. Ryo held Airdan in his arms, her son up to no good again. "What would I do without you two keeping me on my toes?"


    "But mother, wouldn''t it hurt to stand on your toes?"


    Ryo ruffled his son¡¯s hair and waited for Lyra to speak. It''s not that she didn''t value his opinion, but it was a fact her word had more weight to it. He respected her power and the responsibility that came with it.


    Hand resting on her hip, eyebrow raised with her knowing smile, Lyra leaned in toward Airdan. "What kind of mischief have you thought up this time?"


    Airdan grinned and said, "I want to help catch a rabbit for supper."


    Lyra met Ryo''s gaze, flames lighting up behind her eyes. Ryo shook his head, dissuading any involvement in their child¡¯s proposition. Softening her expression, Lyra shook her head. "We went over this before, Airdan. You¡¯re not old enough yet."


    "But mother-"


    Flames licking from her fingertips, Lyra spoke in a whisper. "If I hear another but from you, mister. Your butt will be the one on fire. I''m responsible for your safety. Do not argue this with me."


    Airdan buried his face in Ryo''s chest and cried. His father did his best to soothe his son. "It''s going to be alright. Your mother only wants to keep you safe. Why don''t you help me get everything ready for when she gets back?"


    A familiar presence stepped into Lyra''s awareness and, by the scowl on her husband¡¯s face, so did he. She slapped Ryo on the shoulder and said, "Cheer up. When is the last time your brother came to visit?"


    He opened his mouth but bit his lip and shook his head. Lyra raised an eyebrow, enticing him to finish his thought. He didn''t. She laughed, waving him off so she could greet Nasir.


    Taller than his brother, Nasir wore an elaborate green with gold finish armor, metal vambrace, and shoulder pad. He always favored close combat enhanced with magic during their years of training together. The time spent as a ranger seemed to have been kind to him. His aura oozed with confidence and an iron will.


    "I can still beat you in a fight. You know that, right?"


    Nasir laughed. "I doubt that, Lyra. You have spent too long away from the action hidden away from the world. I''ve faced monsters that would be your nightmare''s worst nightmare. Why don''t you join me as a ranger and show everyone why you were the best? Let my brother take care of Airdan."


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    Lyra stared at Nasir until his eye twitched. She knew all his tells when he was uneasy or frustrated. She winked and stretched her arms. "I need to hunt for supper. Care to join me and see for yourself if I have lost my edge?"


    A mischievous grin rose along with his sword. Hand outstretched, Nasir waited for Lyra to lead the way. She guided him away from the beast¡¯s den that she had slain the night before, hoping to find a deer.


    Every creature has a magical aura, but it''s difficult to detect, especially in the wild. Lyra closed her eyes, thanking the light god for its sacrifice, granting her people access to their magical potential. Focused, she reached out with her senses and located a potential target. Nasir here let his eyes wander away from her, but she didn''t pay it any mind.


    Three deer grazing came into view, halting their progress. Holding her hand up, she shook her head when he lifted his blade. Lyra pulled out a hunting blade and imbued it with flames after enhancing her speed and reflexes. Reversing her grip, she raced toward her target.


    Five meters away, they looked up even though she made no sound. Dashing away, Lyra increased her speed, closing in on the weakest. In a last burst of speed, Lyra stepped in front, spinning her body. Her blade sliced across its throat as it passed her, collapsing after a few strides.


    ¡°Impressive. For a housewife, that is." Nasir¡¯s jab didn''t bother her. He was never one to compliment someone without adding a bit of his attitude.


    "If you thought that was impressive, you should have seen me kill that magical beast during last night¡¯s blood moon." The shocked look on his face made her giggle with amusement. "Being a mother is precisely why I¡¯m able to fight the way I do. My father always taught us to fight with purpose. He expected that to be the protection of our village, but after what happened." Lyra shook her head. Blade sheathed, she lifted the dear over her head and let it rest on her shoulders. "Ryo and Airdan are my life and purpose now."


    They returned in silence. Ryo took the deer from Lyra, which freed her arms for Airdan, who wasted no time filling the void. After Ryo finished preparing the meal, the three adults let Airdan talk with his mouth full, excited at having his uncle''s visit on full display.


    "Airdan, honey. Can you go inside so Ryo and I can talk with your uncle?" Anticipating his reaction, Lyra raised her eyebrow, daring the boy who questioned her. Airdan''s bottom lip trembled, but it vanished in an instant.


    "Son."


    When they were alone, Ryo poured a glass of berry wine for each of them.


    Nasir took a sip, and said, " I met up with Adjor, the new instructor who took over after your father died."


    Fist clenched, Ryo said, " We aren¡¯t talking about that night."


    His brother shrugged, and said, "It wasn''t all bad. We spent five decades training together to join the patrol unit for our village."


    Lyra chuckled to herself. Some things never change. "I hardly spoke to either of you before enlisting."


    Both brothers shivered. Ryo said, "Your father terrified me."


    "Your father scared everyone, especially when it came to his precious daughter," Nasir said with a grimace.


    She looked at both men and shook her head. "My father may have been strict, but he was fair, and we were all better for it."


    Glass in hand, Nasir stood up and said, "I still remember that speech he gave on our first day." He knocked back the rest of his glass and began.


    "Listen well, you young foolish cubs. Our god may have sacrificed themselves to gift us with magic to end the third Dark War, but that does not mean all our enemies have disappeared." He drew out his sword and raised it high. "Magical foul beasts now pray upon the land, and it is our job to stop them from harming our loved ones." Nasir pointed the tip of his sword at Ryo and Lyra as he said, "Some of you will not survive these next fifty years, but those that do will be stronger for it." He returned his weapon and offered Ryo his empty cup, who refilled it and set the bottle back down.


    Nasir struck a pose, trying to imitate her father, and said, " We are the first and last line of defense for our village. If you don''t want to be another face in the mud, follow my orders and surpass your limits. There is no room for the weak under my command." He sat down and crossed his arms, a smug look of satisfaction on his face.


    "My father did that speech for every new batch of recruits." He always knew how to rile them up and inspire confidence in those who had the courage to stand up against the darkness. His enthusiasm was contagious. A pang of guilt pulsed in her heart, but Lyra didn''t let it show.


    She met her husband''s eyes, soaking in his admiration. Ryo said, "You were his star pupil. What you lacked in brute force, you made up in wit and pure magical power that outclassed everyone."


    Nasir chucked to himself, and said," It¡¯s almost like you were blessed by a god, but that''s not possible. The gods are all dead if you believe they existed."


    Are they dead? The magic that flowed from the god now flowed through them. Instead of dying, what if they merely transformed? No longer what it was, but something new. Lyra placed her hand over the necklace hidden under her shirt. It hummed with power. She let her hand fall to her lap and said, "You''re just jealous that I have always been better than you."


    Nasir laughed, contempt dripping from his lips. "You¡¯re still just a housewife while I''m a Ranger now. I kill the magical beasts that terrorize our people instead of running away into the forest and abandoning our people."


    Ryo rushed toward his brother, punching him in the jaw and sending him sprawling on his back. The door to the house creaked open. Airdan leaned out, eyes wide with confusion.


    "Father?"


    Still shocked at his outburst, Lyra watched her husband''s glare shift to their son. Ryo said, "Go back to your room, son." Fists clenched; his ire returned to Nasir. "You¡¯re leaving."


    Fed up with her husband''s behavior, Lyra stood up and placed a firm grip on Ryo''s shoulder. She moved closer and blew into his ear. Cheeks flushed red, Ryo stood back and let his muscles relax. Satisfied, Lyra offered Nasir a hand and helped him rise.


    Searching for the right words, Lyra said, "If I didn''t have my family to protect, I might have. It''s getting late and you should get going. It would be poor taste to offer you my home after that display."


    Lyra conjured a dozen tiny ice blades, stared at Ryo, and said, "As for you, dear, you''re going to so apologize to my son before I kick you out of the home with your brother and send these blades after you."


    Nasir dusted himself off, nodded to both, and left. Ryo gulped, eyes on those blades, and made his escape back into the house, leaving Lyra alone with the stars.


    "Would I join the Rangers?"

 Chapter Three: The Fall

    Lyra felt at peace on the hill watching her family below. Her thoughts drifted to the night before and the conversation with her brother-in-law. She pulled out her necklace hidden in her shirt and squeezed it.


    Calling out to the night sky, she said, ¡°Did I make the right choice leaving my village? I know larger settlements are prone to attacks. It''s the reason I left in the first place, but I can¡¯t help but have my doubts.¡±


    A pang of sorrow gripped her chest at the thought of that night. The reason she abandoned her people. Losing her father and the betrayal hurt, but the feeling of helplessness after what happened later broke her spirit.


    Because of her choices, Airdan would never get the chance to be around kids his age. Would he forgive or grow to resent her? Lyra shook her head, letting the doubts slip away as she placed her necklace back under her shirt.


    Energy swirled within and throughout her limbs, empowering them until near bursting. Wind spiraled from her palms, down her legs, and into the earth, creating a vortex. Breathing in, Lyra initiated a series of flat-handed chops sending wind-blade strikes out at imaginary foes. Foot pressed firmly into the ground; Lyra leaped into the air, kicking out in quick succession before landing on a cushion of air.


    Hand sinking into the ground, Lyra expelled the excess energy while drawing out the moisture. She formed two short blades, freezing them instantly. Ryo and Airdan came into view from down below, lifting her spirits and her blades into a frenzy of motion until they were nothing but a blur. Deep into the rhythm of her training, a lost conversation with her father surfaced at the edge of her mind.


    ¡°Doubt is a troublesome creature, my child. Patient in its task wiggling deeper as it corrupts sound judgment. Any elf facing the darkness of this world must act resolutely in the face of doubt. I could spend five years and train competent swordsman but put them up against a magical beast, killing their loved ones right in front of their eyes, and they would falter.¡±


    He went to his knee and placed a hand on Lyra¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I understand that you have your doubts about entering the training program next year. Being my daughter has placed a heavy burden of expectation on your shoulders. Instead of letting that doubt bring you down, use the next five decades to train and crush it under your heel. When the time comes and you have your own family who needs protection, act. Do not let doubt find a purchase.¡±


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    Lyra stood stiffly, staring into her father¡¯s eyes with determination and conviction. She never put words to the oath, but that was the day she vowed to be the best and prove her worth in the face of doubt.


    A blast of negative energy pulsed in Lyra¡¯s mental senses, pulling her out of the memory. A motion from the tree line behind the house caught her attention right before a giant magical beast burst forward, charging for the house. Her house.


    ¡°No!¡±


    Lyra poured every ounce of strength into racing down the hill. She felt like her feet were sinking in mud. No matter how fast Lyra ran, she would never make it in time to save them. Tears of despair raced down her cheeks, yet those were no match for the speed of the beast charging toward her son and husband.


    Ryo felt the disturbance and instinct kicked in when he turned to face death in the face. He grabbed his sword resting against the house and stepped in front, deflecting the claws that swiped at his face. Ryo¡¯s follow-up strike threw him off balance as the beast vanished, only to reappear behind him and slam Ryo against the home, forcing Airdan back, helpless and terrified.


    Mouth open in a silent scream, Ryo coughed up blood onto the beast before it sunk its claws into his chest. Airdan screamed at the sight of his father being lifted into the air and slammed into the wall of their home repeatedly until Lyra could hear a crack. Was it the wall or her husband¡¯s back? She couldn¡¯t tell.


    Despite watching the love of her life slump lifeless hanging from the monster''s claws, she yelled, ¡°Airdan sweety, run to mommy!¡±


    The beast noticed the boy''s frantic scramble, tossed Ryo¡¯s body to the side, and teleported behind the boy. Its mouth fell over the boy, swallowing Airdan in one bite before teleporting back toward the tree line away from Lyra.


    No matter how fast she moved, it was never enough. By the time she reached the forest, the magical beast had vanished, leaving her alone with a broken heart. Airdan vanished inside the monster¡¯s maw and Ryo now lays lifeless and broken on the ground.


    Where did that leave Lyra? The home they built. The freedom from the pain and sorrow that she ran away from and promised to defend against. And what became of all her plans? Only death, sorrow, and despair. Would she ever be free from this world and the darkness that permeates it?


    Lyra made her way back to Ryo, fell to her knees, laid her head on his chest, and cried. Numb from the pain of her loss, covered in his blood, she picked him up and laid him in their bed. After grabbing her essentials for traveling, she stepped out of her home and gathered the surrounding mana. In a moment of rage, she thrust out her hands and screamed as torrents of flames burst from her palms. The intensity of the heat burned away the protection spell Ryo placed over their home, setting it on fire.


    There was nothing left for her here.


    Lyra turned her back to the flames and walked away.

 Chapter Four: Betrayer and the Hunter

    Nasir


    His footsteps sent ripples of energy pulsing out each time he contacted the ground, the sound muffled by the magic imbued into his shoes from his spell. Lyra and his brother Ryo may have performed better than him during their time together training, according to her father, but not anymore. Soon he would surpass them all. He thought back to the time he stumbled into Kiressin for the first time after getting separated.


    Nasir had been out on patrol with a group of fellow Rangers hunting monsters for a nearby village. Shrouded in black robes, face hidden in darkness, Kiressin asked one simple question.


    ¡°What do you seek most?¡±


    His face scrunched up in confusion, only to be compounded by the bizarre nature of the figure standing before him. He countered with his own, and asked, ¡°What are you doing out here alone? Monsters are hunting in this forest.¡±


    He could feel the glee oozing from the darkness under the hood when Kiressin said, ¡°I know. Aren¡¯t they lovely? My babies show promise. Thanks to you and your Rangers, I only grow closer to reaching true perfection.¡±


    Shaken to his core, Nasir reacted on instinct, reaching out to cast a spell when Kiressin surged forward, slamming him into the ground. Darkness clung to his wrists and ankles, holding him in place. Black smoke flowed from the dark mage''s robe to the ranger pinned to the ground beneath him. ¡°You¡¯re one of them, aren''t you?¡± Kiressin had to be in the same cult that infiltrated and attacked Lyra¡¯s father.


    ¡°Let me ask you again, young Ranger. What do you seek the most?¡±


    The feeling of despair he loathed to his core bubbled up to the surface, staring at this affront to nature. Nasir gritted his teeth and hissed, ¡°Power! I seek the strength to prove once and for all that I am better than my brother.¡±


    Kiressin grabbed Nasir by the throat and lifted him till his feet dangled in the air. ¡°If you want more power, boy. All you must do is offer me a suitable sacrifice. Your brother would do nicely. What do you say? How far would you go for your desires?¡±


    ¡°But he¡¯s my bro-¡±


    Nasir wheezed in pain from the grip around his throat, cutting his reply off.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you are in a position to make excuses. You seek power. I need a suitable sacrifice. Now choose. You or your brother?¡±


    The dark power radiating from this abomination drank in his fear. They both knew what the outcome would be. Nasir nodded and pointed toward where Ryo, Lyra, and their child Airdan lived.


    Nasir collapsed to the ground, no longer a concern for the dark mage. Struggling, he said, ¡°Leave the woman for me. You can take the child. I don¡¯t care but leave her. She¡¯s mine.¡±


    Kiressin laughed. ¡°The child will make a suitable host for my next experiment. The woman is all yours.¡±


    His steps brought him in front of the dark mage once more. Ever imposing clouded in shadow so black that light could never reach. Kiressin directed the Ranger¡¯s attention to his left at the enormous magical beast sitting on its haunches, holding his nephew in its jaws. There could be no going back now. He betrayed his family for power and unrequited love.


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    Lingering doubts warred with his desire for more. Nasir glanced at Airdan, helpless and undeserving of such fate. How could he betray his people for power?


    Darkness slammed into Nasir, engulfing him in pure nothingness. It clung to his skin, and seeped into his eyes, mouth, and nose. Any passage available for it to travel was utilized leaving him writhing in pain.


    ¡°This is true power, boy! Take it in and unleash your true desires on the world. It is yours for the taking. That woman is yours to devour. You are mine now, Nasir. I task you with leading your Rangers against my experiments and present me with a full report so that I may improve until I create my masterpiece.¡±


    whispered in his mind, Kiressin said, ¡°If you betray me, I will rip out your insides and feed them to that woman you care so much about.¡±


    He could only nod, muscles still spasming from the pain as the darkness consumed him from the inside.


    ¡°Good. I shall be in touch soon.¡±


    Kiressin lifted a finger and flung Nasir into a tree before vanishing into the darkness with his pet holding Airdan¡¯s limp form.


    Nasir struggled to his feet and made his way to the edge of the forest that led to Lyra¡¯s home.


    Towering flames billowing from the structure greeted him. Smoke rose to meet the storm that would cleanse the ground of his betrayal. He lifted his leg to move closer and search for any sign of Lyra when a magical presence, an anathema to his dark powers, brushed up against his senses. He reversed course and fled back deeper into the woods.


    ¡°Not yet. I need more time before I can show them who the truly powerful are. Wait for me a little longer, my true love.¡±


    Tinesi


    Flashes of red leather came in and out of view between the trees. After she killed the dying magical beast felled by that lone woman, Tinesi continued searching for her true prey. The magical talisman around her neck could track dark magical residue if it were strong enough and hadn¡¯t dissipated yet. Perfect for tracking high-value targets.


    This beast could teleport short distances and blend in with the shadows. By the tracks it left, its claws must be long enough to kill most adventurers in a single blow. There¡¯s no way it hadn¡¯t noticed her trailing behind, yet it didn¡¯t attack.


    ¡°Who controls such a wild beast? Rather, what evil has your dark master tasked you with this time?¡±


    Her curiosity got the better of her, and within moments, her prey vanished along with its magical signature. ¡°Shit! Not again.¡±


    It took her twice as long to locate its physical tracks between teleport shifts, but by the time she saw the smoke rising from the burning building where that woman and her family had lived, Tinesi knew it was too late to save them. The tracks led toward the home then back into the forest away from her.


    Using the mental connection spell with Kindroth, her unit leader within the organization, she reported the status of her target.


    ¡°Sir, the target escaped again. I tracked it to a home near the edge of the forest. It must have attacked and fled back into the woods.¡±


    ¡°Understood. Hold your position.¡±


    She saw Kindroth up high in the tree canopies gliding across the branches. He landed softly on a cushion of air next to Tinesi, his amulet beginning to lose its glow. Tinesi didn¡¯t fail to notice. She knew he could detect weaker signals than hers.


    Tinesi met his gaze, eyebrow raised in question. He chuckled, pointing out back toward the forest, and said, ¡°I felt a weak presence. It must be from a mage receiving his powers from the dark mage we have been tracking.¡± He looked out at the flames and sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not uncommon for new dark mages to betray the ones closest to them for their powers.¡±


    Kindroth gripped her shoulders and said, ¡°I will keep searching for the dark mage and his pet. I charge you with hunting down this new fledgling. If they knew the family that lived here like I believe they did, then you will find them somewhere nearby.¡±


    Resolute in her trust and duty to the organization and her leader, she nodded. ¡°What about Kailu?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t concern yourself with him. He has his orders, and so do you. It¡¯s going to rain soon. We should find shelter.¡±


    She stood there alone, watching the flames as the rain descended, snuffing them out. How many more lives would the darkness take away? Would she be enough to save them?


    Water splashed from the force of the slap across her cheek. Tinesi stared at her hand, then squeezed it, reaffirming her resolve, and turned to find shelter from the storm.


    ¡°I will not fail.¡±

 Chapter Five: Renna鈥檚 Tavern

    Teardrops from the sky trailed down Lyra''s cheeks, for she had none left to give. They vanished into the ashes of her home, along with her desire to live. But that didn''t mean she couldn''t use her strength to save others from the pain she felt before she joined her husband and baby boy.


    ¡°Ryo, my love, can you wait a little longer before we meet again?¡±


    The path from her home, or what little remained of the structure after she burned it down, started as game tracks that her people used while hunting. Lyra moved with little conscious effort, relying on instinct and muscle memory to guide her to the closest town several hours away. Her mind sank further into the mud, dragging along the dark thoughts she had to scrape off with her resolve to make a difference with the time she had left.


    Two guards stood watch at the entrance of the forest village. Lyra stopped when the one on the left held up a hand and said, ¡°Where are you coming from so late at night? You know, there has been an increase in magical beasts around these parts.¡±


    Face blank, eyes burning with a desire for violence at the ignorant fool, Lyra glanced over at the other guard and raised her eyebrow. The step back combined with the shock on his face was answer enough. Ignoring them both, she continued to walk toward the entrance.


    The fool reacted by reaching for his weapon. An ice dagger formed in her right hand, but she halted when the other yelled, ¡°Stop Gantar, that''s Lyra! She could kill both of us before that blade ever left your scabbard.¡±


    Gantar stood hand trembling over his sword, eyes looking between his friend and Lyra. She let the ice melt and nodded as she passed between the pair. Without looking back, she imagined the ground under Gantar would turn into ice and push mana into the spell. She cracked a smile for when the fool fell on his ass and the truth of her life pulled it back under.


    Enclosed with stakes from the forest, the village held a few shops, a tavern that doubled as an inn, and the resident¡¯s homes. Anyone she encountered outside in the pouring rain steered clear of her. She pushed the door open to the tavern and stood there dripping wet. Conversations died after everyone saw her standing there. The blood had washed away, but she was still a wet mess.


    ¡°Don''t just stand there dripping on my floor, Lyra. Dry up and get over here. I''ll grab you a drink and something warm to eat.¡± The elf at the bar vanished in the back, leaving her the center of attention.


    Whispers of her name or late husband floated around, all ignored. Lyra tapped into the warm air in the room and circulated it around her body, causing her hair to rise. No longer wet, she stepped up to the bar and placed her pack on the ground. No one attempted to start up a conversation, and she preferred it that way.


    Lyra looked up when the tavern owner returned holding a drink and a bowl of stew and placed it in front of her, then leaned against the bar. It may not look it, but the woman used to be friends with Lyra''s father before she was born.


    ¡°Hello, Renna. Thanks for the food.¡±


    Renna''s eyes narrowed at Lyra¡¯s flat response. She gripped Lyra''s hand, leaned in, and asked, ¡°What happened Lyra? Why aren¡¯t you at home with Ryo and Airdan?¡±


    Lyra placed the spoon back in the bowl, stared at Renna, and said, ¡°They¡¯re dead.¡± Her grip loosened, Lyra picked the spoon back up and started eating. The hushed conversations turned back to her and what could have happened. All were irrelevant. Nothing could bring them back, not even her magic.


    ¡°Lyra, my dear, what do you mean they¡¯re dead? What happened? Who did this?¡± The concern from Renna warmed her heart but could not break through the ice.


    Between mouthfuls, Lyra said with no emotion, ¡°Giant magical beast. Short-range teleportation. Skewered Ryo and smashed him against the house till his back broke before swallowing Airdan in a single bite. Didn¡¯t even care about me, just ran back into the forest.¡±


    The entire room fell quiet. Renna trembled, tears dripping on the counter. Panic spread, but none of it mattered to her. Lyra stood up and said, ¡°Thanks for the meal, Renna. Can I have a room for the night?¡±


    Renna nodded, hands wiping at her face, and said, ¡°Upstairs, third door on the left.¡±


    Lyra faced the crowd, face still impassive, and asked, ¡°Does anyone require protection?¡± She focused on anyone who would meet her gaze before moving on to the next. A woman huddled in the corner whispered, ¡°I do miss.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± said Lyra, moving through the crowd towards the stairs. ¡°Meet me here in the morning.¡± Halfway up to the second floor, she heard, ¡°Of course, miss.¡± She sighed when hurried footsteps caught up to her on the second floor.


    ¡°So, you''re single-"


    In mere moments, she turned around, rushed forward, and gripped him by the face. Lyra slammed his head into the wall and let go. Unconscious, he crumpled to the ground, head bouncing on impact. Uncaring about his fate, Lyra turned back and entered her room. She could hear murmuring nearby when they came to investigate but ignored them all. Curled up in a ball on the bed, Lyra wished for the nightmare to end, knowing full well if she fell asleep, it would only continue.


    A voice that could only be her son, yet not, invaded her dreams and said, ¡°Mother, why did you abandon me? You let father die. How could you forsake your vow to protect us? You couldn¡¯t protect your father. What made you think you could do any better now? I wish you weren¡¯t my mom. Dad deserved better than you.¡± Darkness gripped her and squeezed, forcing her to relive the moment that monster killed her husband and swallowed her baby boy. The Terror was amplified by the stillness of each passing visage.


    Sweat-covered sheets clung to her skin when she woke the next day. The rain subsided during the night. Sitting with her head in her hands, Lyra thought about her options. I have nowhere to call home. I could go back to my village, but I don''t think I could face my mother or Ryo''s parents. Not after I failed to protect my family, as I promised, the day Ryo and I left. What other option do I have but to offer my services for a bed and a warm meal?


    Satisfied with her rationale, she rose when someone knocked on her door. A soft feminine voice asked, ¡°Lyra, may I come in? I brought you a bucket of warm water and a cloth to wipe yourself with.¡±


    Unused to this level of service from Renna¡¯s Tavern, Lyra sat back down and said, ¡°Come in.¡±


    A beautiful woman opened the door and walked in, setting the bucket down with the cloth, and surprised Lyra by bowing deeply. ¡°I apologize for my brother''s actions last night. Thank you for not killing him. One of his friends dared him to talk to you, and the fool agreed.¡±


    More intrigued by the elf than the apology, Lyra stood up, and said, ¡°If he tries again, I won''t be so gentle next time.¡± Her response caused the woman to flinch. ¡°Stand straight and tell me your name.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Lyra. My name is Alea.¡± Alea stood straight and smiled. Long, golden-brown locks obscured her eyes. Lyra moved closer and tucked Alea''s hair behind her ears. The young woman blushed, unable to meet Lyra''s gaze.


    ¡°Look me in the eye, Alea.¡± Alea complied, a smile edging her lips. ¡°You have a beautiful heart, Alea. Don''t let that kindness go to waste stuck around that fool of a brother. When you find someone, do everything you can to protect them. Don''t end up like me.¡± She felt the tears rolling down her face when she finished her plea. Alea closed the distance and held Lyra as she wept for the first time since her husband died. After Alea helped clean her up, they both made their way downstairs.


    Lyra met the gaze of the woman from the night before and nodded.


    Renna shouted from the back, ¡°Is that you, Lyra? Let me feed you before you run off and do something foolish.¡±


    The room erupted in laughter. ¡°The only fool was that idiot Saleh who stuck his hand in a bear''s maw and got his head bashed for the effort.¡± That only increased the mirth bubbling in the room. Alea scowled at the speaker and said, ¡°You¡¯re the fool who dared my brother to do it. You might be next for a lesson if you¡¯re not careful, Taegen.¡± Taegen only laughed harder at Alea, so Lyra let mana flow, conjuring a belt of solid air she wrapped around Taegen''s throat and squeezed till the fool choked and let the spell fade.


    Lyra stared down at Taegen and said, ¡°If you value your ability to procreate, I suggest you learn to treat us with respect. If I ever find out you disrespected a woman, I will come back and-"


    ¡°Lyra! Stop threatening Taegen and eat while it¡¯s still hot. He and his friends may be young and ignorant, but they don¡¯t mean any harm.¡±


    She waved at the young female elf to follow and shook her head in frustration at the idiocy. The patrons resumed their morning conversations, leaving Lyra alone with her meal next to the stranger twitching nervously next to her. Between bites, Lyra asked, ¡°You got a name, or shall I make one up?¡±


    Fumbling with her words at the sudden attention, the woman replied, ¡°You can call me Ves.¡± Finger twirling around a lock of hair, Ves looked down, shoulders slumped. Lyra could tell something troubled the young elf but didn¡¯t know how to direct the conversation without letting her troubles get in the way.


    Renna arrived with more food and placed a hand on Ves¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You can trust Lyra, my dear. Believe it or not, she ranked top of her class under her father, Adjor.¡± The tavern owner smiled at both and left.


    Resolve replaced the nervousness and Ves met Lyra¡¯s gaze and said, ¡°I need help to get back to my village to the northeast. My husband is caring for our baby boy. He got sick and the medicine I need requires a plant that only grows around here. I asked the only gifted healer in town if they could help. They were only confident in treating basic wounds and injuries. Thankfully, they were proficient in medicinal herbs and knew of a remedy.¡±


    Taking a sip of her drink, Ves said, ¡°With the growing number of magical beasts, my village couldn¡¯t risk sending anyone to escort me. A group of travelers agreed to let me tag along, but I doubt they want to help me get back now. They can handle a bear or wolf, not a magical beast like the one you described.¡±


    The mention of the child struck a nerve that Lyra quickly stamped down, but not quickly enough. Ves panicked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t. You have every right to be worried about your child. Showing pity is the quickest way to get on my bad side. So, just don¡¯t.¡±


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    Needing to divert the conversation to anything else, Lyra said, ¡°Did you get the ingredient for the medicine?¡±


    Quick to grab the obvious lifeline, Ves said, ¡°Yes! I had help yesterday shortly after arriving with the merchants."


    The desire to leave and escape the eyes and judgment pushed Lyra up, pack in hand. She met Renna¡¯s eyes and said, ¡°Can you let his parents know for me?¡±


    Deflated, the tavern owner sighed and said, ¡°They deserve to hear it from you.¡±


    Nothing could make the image of his dead body lying on the ground go away. Burned into her brain. A reminder of her failures forever tormenting, a burden no one could take away.


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand, Renna. The only reason they agreed to let us move was because I promised I would be strong enough to protect them from anything.¡±


    Lyra''s outburst drew everyone¡¯s attention, but she didn¡¯t care. She continued and said, ¡°I have no right to see them ever again. My body should be the one buried in the ashes of my home, not his. The only reason I still draw breath is thanks to my father. He taught me to use my gifts for others and that¡¯s what I plan to do until it kills me.¡±


    Door closing behind her, Lyra left the tavern and stood by the village exit until Ves left to join her.


    Back to acting meek and nervous, Lyra couldn¡¯t blame the young elf after hearing her protector wanted to die. It was understandable. Wanting to ease Ves''s concerns, she said, ¡°My word may not mean much, but I promise to do all I can so you can see your family again.


    After a moment of hesitation, Ves said, ¡°I trust Renna, and she believes in you. The stories told about your father are famous, so if he taught you, that¡¯s good enough for me.¡±


    ¡°Our destination is northeast of here. That must be the Sobi settlement, correct?¡±


    ¡°You know about my home?¡±


    A smile crept across Lyra''s face as she said, ¡°Of course. I spent my youth patrolling across the region as I trained under my father. He always said, ¡®Listen up, Lyra. We aren¡¯t responsible for just our village. A true protector will help anyone in need.¡¯ He enjoyed taking the most promising defenders training under him out on longer excursions so they could learn where every village was and let them see beyond the scope of what they were familiar with.¡±


    Lost in thought, reminiscing about her days before losing her father, Lyra missed Ves as she moved around to stare at her face. When she did, Lyra scowled, which caused Ves to chuckle.


    ¡°I apologize, Miss Lyra. You looked different, smiling. I couldn¡¯t help but stare.¡±


    Trying to brush off her embarrassment, she pushed past Ves and began walking down the path that would lead them toward the Sobi settlement. ¡°let¡¯s go. Your family needs you. Don¡¯t call me miss. Lyra is fine.¡±


    ¡°As you wish, Lyra. I¡¯m right behind you.¡±


    Spreading out her senses to cover a wide area, Lyra began tracking all the surrounding wildlife. A trained hunter could detect the magical aura that every living creature possessed. The smaller they were, the harder it became to detect. On the flip side, an elf who became proficient at controlling their aura could mask it until they became a blind spot to any trying to find them. That¡¯s why she heightened her hearing to catch movement, including a beating heart. Of course, some thought they were clever by manipulating the surrounding air to hide their presence but most failed if up against a halfway decent tracker. Why? Because the active spell itself can be detectable, and if not, the void itself would be a dead giveaway. At least to someone of Lyra''s caliber.


    She tagged all the deer, rabbits, and other small wild animals, then discarded their presence. The creatures that posed a threat would be the female bears with cubs or wolves hunting in groups. Lyra couldn¡¯t imagine having to rely solely on skill with a sword or bow alone to defend herself. If the stories are to be believed, there used to be a time before magic only existed as blessings from a god.


    A pack of wolves chasing after a deer entered her field of magical vision. Leading Ves off the trail to give them a wide berth, her companion said, ¡°Is there a problem?¡±


    Still focused on the potential threat, Lyra shook her head and said, ¡°No.¡±


    That is when they heard the pack howl after taking down their prey. This caused Ves''s heart to race. She knew if Ves panicked, it would be harder to protect her, so Lyra turned around, placed a hand on Ves''s shoulder, and said, ¡°I am aware of their presence. They are only hunting deer, not us. Trust me to do my job.¡±


    Hand over her chest, Ves took a few deep breaths, smiled, and said, ¡°You¡¯re right. Lead on.¡±


    They continued to give the pack space. Lyra was about to dismiss the threat when three wolves who had picked up their scent started running in their direction. Forming three ice daggers close to her chest, she waited. When the three predators came into view, Lyra lifted her three projectiles into the air and sent them flying. Each wolf crashed into the ground, an ice dagger sticking out of their eye.


    Stunned, the elf just looked back and forth between Lyra and the three dead wolves. Lyra grabbed Ves and pushed her forward as she said, ¡°We should keep going before the rest of the pack investigates.¡±


    It wasn¡¯t long before they were back on the trail toward Sobi. The closer they got; the more Lyra became concerned about the lack of wildlife. Curious, she said, ¡°Does your settlement have any problems finding animals to hunt for food?¡±


    Ves took a moment to think before she said, ¡°Yes. Something had been scaring them away, but no one had figured out what. It¡¯s one reason no one could afford to escort me to the other town. Why do you ask?¡±


    Not mincing her words, Lyra said, ¡°Because I can barely detect anything. Let''s hurry. We are getting close to Sobi.¡±


    Thoughts of her father''s many lessons fluttered through her mind until she settled on one. He enjoyed taking her out to train one on one on his days off.


    Lifting his arms up, he used his mastery over the wind to lift several wooden practice blades and circle them around Lyra. As he prepared the exercise, he said, ¡°If you ever find yourself outnumbered, remember to keep moving and maximize your attacks while minimizing the effort required.¡±


    By this point, Lyra had formed two ice daggers, her preferred weapon, and began moving about, always finding the right angle to deflect a blow or maneuver around a strike.


    ¡°Remember, daughter, the environment can either help or hinder your movement. So take advantage and move yourself accordingly.¡±


    There was a patch of trees nearby that Lyra moved into, which hindered her father''s ability to make large arcing swings. Limiting his ability to fight gave her the advantage of her shorter reach and high mobility.


    Covered in sweat, Lyra smiled up at her father, every practice blade lying on the ground in splinters. Patting her on the back despite her protests, he said, ¡°Well done, but remember this: when you face an intelligent foe, they will try to use those same tactics against you.¡±


    Looking up at him, she said, ¡°If I am quicker and more cunning than them, it won¡¯t matter.¡±


    He laughed, hand messing up her already mangled mess of hair, and said, ¡°I love your enthusiasm, but don¡¯t confuse arrogance with confidence. Underestimating any foe can be a warrior''s downfall.¡±


    Hearing the seriousness in his voice, Lyra replied, ¡°Yes, sir!¡±


    Shaken from her memory, Lyra looked back at Ves and her frightened expression.


    ¡°What''s wrong?¡±


    Pointing toward Sobi, Ves said, ¡°Can¡¯t you hear it? Something is attacking my village. Please help them!¡±


    Lyra took stock of the situation, her former training taking over, allowing her to move before she realized it. Drawing on the residual energy around her so she could fuel her power source, Lyra looked over her shoulder and said, ¡°Stay hidden.¡±


    Light on her feet with the wind at her back, Lyra emerged into the clearing where the settlement stood, skidding to a stop. Mayhem greeted Lyra as she viewed the ongoing battle between the defenders and a variety of forest animals. Deer, rabbits, squirrels, wolves, and even birds were throwing themselves at the residence with no consideration for their well-being. On closer inspection, something was off about the attackers. The energy radiating off them felt off. Wrong. Dark.


    Someone used perverse magic to control these creatures, but why and for what purpose? A question to answer after she saved them. She could see children huddled down while their protectors were being pecked, clawed, and bitten. No single strike was strong enough to be fatal. The trained defenders were busy fending off the rabid deer and wolves with swords covered in flames. They couldn¡¯t cast anything more than that without endangering their homes. Focusing on mastering just the fire element when you lived in wooden structures never made sense to Lyra.


    Hands outstretched, Lyra created a ball of water on her left and a swirl of frigid air on her right. Thrusting her hands together, she sent a blast of tiny ice shards into the air, shredding the birds that were hovering over Sobi. Before the first bird ever hit the ground, Lyra was already dashing toward the nearest group of children, wrapped them and the adults curled up over them in a protective layer of ice and rotating air as she slammed a fireball down over them.


    The retreating rodents revealed their true nature. Her flames exposed the bones and muscles, leaving no doubt in her mind. They were undead.


    The children looked up at their assailants and cried out in terror. The adults were fearful but could see she was trying to help.


    Stepping in next to the children, she sent another blast of ice shards out and said, ¡°You all need to get inside now!¡±


    ¡°Thank you, miss.¡±


    Forcing the undead back, Lyra said, ¡°I¡¯m going to freeze the door shut behind you,¡± as she ushered the small group to safety and closed the door behind them. She could tell the tide of battle shifting when more undead wolves entered the fray, and to her dismay, a shadow-covered mutation led them.


    ¡°Damn. Did this mage turn the entire pack into undead?¡±


    There was no way the few defenders they had could handle the rest of the pack, let alone the beast that led them.


    ¡°Well, shit. I guess it¡¯s up to me.¡±


    Feet now covered in flames, along with a protective layer of wind, Lyra raced to intercept the wolves. Lyra punted away any undead rodent that tried to bite her ankles during her mad dash.


    As the wolves approached the settlement boundary, Lyra coated the ground in front of them in ice, causing the beasts to slide into the fireball she cast immediately after. If she had a knack for earth magic, she would have used it to isolate them from the others or send spikes of hardened dirt into their bellies, but she couldn¡¯t. Her strength came from air and water as her primary elements, with fire as a secondary skill.


    Just because she criticized others for relying on fire didn¡¯t mean it didn¡¯t have its uses. Lyra knew how to control her spells. Worse case, she could put out any fire that got out of control.


    Not wasting any time, Lyra formed her trusty ice daggers and dove into the pack, perfectly balanced sliding on the ice. She dug her blades into them with abandon. Lyra avoided the shadow mutation, instead focusing on the normal undead vicious wolves trying to bite and claw at her to death.


    Preoccupying the enemy''s reinforcements attention seemed to work until the defender broke away in a foolhardy attempt at being a hero and assisting her, and she made sure he knew it.


    ¡°What the fuck do you think you¡¯re doing?¡±


    Sword piercing into the mouth of a wolf who had lunged at him, the elf hit the ground after being tackled. Outraged, Lyra left herself wide open in her haste to reach them in time. The shadow beast leaped into the air, paw arcing down toward her head.


    Forced to defend or lose her head, Lyra wrapped her arm in a cushion of air and deflected the strike enough to slip by and reach the elf despite the loud crack she felt vibrate down her arm causing her excruciating pain. Unable to fight with it in its current state, she froze her right arm to her chest and continued.


    Lyra kicked the wolf off the elf placed her one good hand over the deep laceration on his arm and burned it closed with a fire spell to stop the bleeding. She jerked him up, shoved the defender back toward his team, and said, ¡°Forget about me. Now go!¡±


    Flames still lingering in her palm, Lyra charged the spell as she drew more ambient mana from the surrounding air. Swiveling around on her right foot, left palm outstretched, Lyra let loose the flames point blank in the beast''s face while leaping backward, colliding with the elf she had shoved away.


    Eyes bleary from the backlash of hitting her head against the defenders, Lyra glimpsed the true form of the beast behind the shadows when the dark magic swallowed the undead wolf''s visage back up. Lyra Shoved herself back on her feet and charged forward, ice dagger back in her grip.


    Channeling her next spell in her foot, she slammed it into the ground, leaving another layer of ice causing the wolves to flounder once more. Frustrated with herself, she hurled her dagger into the eye of the closest wolf and put all her mental focus into crafting a weapon she had been pondering for decades, but never thought she would ever need to try it out.


    Changed to accommodate her limited mobility, a long haft solidified in ice with a curved blade forming out the side at the very end, giving her reach and the chance of finishing this fight once and for all. Hefting her new weapon, Lyra growled and started darting around the ice-covered ground, cutting the heads off the wolves in one fell swoop until she was alone with the shadow beast. Enhancing the ice blade with a layer of rotating air, she ran toward her foe, leaped to the side at the last second, letting her weapon hook under its chin, and yanked it as she twisted her body.


    Frustrated, Lyra said, ¡°Just die already!¡±


    The undead wolf sat there with its neck barely attached to the rest of its body. Eyes glowing a new eerie red, an unknown voice spoke into her mind.


    How dare you harm my wolf pack! You¡¯re going to pay for that.


    Lyra cut its head off with one last swing and leaned on her weapon for support.


    ¡°Not if I make you pay first.¡±


    A roar from deep within the forest answered her challenge.


    Lyra laughed at herself, and said, ¡°Not trying to repeat myself, but I guess it¡¯s up to me.¡±

 Chapter Six: Hunters Intuition

    The rain had passed by during the night. The stillness woke Tinesi up. She returned to the burned remains of the home and used the limited light from the moon to search in which direction they might have gone. An expert tracker with decades of experience, it took her moments to find the trail despite the rain washing most of it away.


    ¡°If I recall, the closest settlement nearby is in this direction. Better hurry so I can reach it by sunrise.¡±


    Kindroth ordered her to track down the new dark mage who might have a connection to the elf who just lost her family to a magical beast. The elf knew how to fight and could hold her own, but Tinesi doubted they would last long with that kind of mental instability. Which made it even more important to learn quickly what she could from the elf.


    On top of this, she still needed to track down the beast itself and the dark mage responsible for causing so much havoc in this region. Her organization had entrusted her team to handle the situation. Kindroth led the unit, which comprised her and Kailu. To avoid attention, they rarely spent time together, instead blending into the background or vanishing from sight. Some enjoyed infiltrating to eliminate their target, but not her. Tinesi preferred wandering the wilderness, hunting the dark mages that hid in the shadows.


    The first rays of light began peaking over the horizon when she saw the settlement come into view. There were two guards at the gate struggling to stay awake, leaning against the wall for support. Walking up to the gate, one of them perked up. Hand up to stop her, he said, ¡°You¡¯re up early, miss. What brings you to our village?¡±


    Casting a silent spell, Tinesi laced her words with a mental compulsion as she said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I was never here.¡± She looked over at the other guard regarding her and said, ¡°Isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    She continued forward, leaving the two guards behind staring at each other. Few knew mental magic existed. It was one of many secrets her organization protected for the greater good. The biggest reason was that those who knew were less susceptible to it.


    Tinesi walked up to an elf cutting logs with an age next to a small home and said, ¡°Hello, sir. Anything interesting happen recently?¡±


    Sharing gossip was a favorite pastime most enjoyed and Tinesi relied on it to get what she wanted. The stranger looked up from his work, shrugged, and said, ¡°Not much. I heard a famous elf named Lyra showed up last night, and when the guards tried to stop her, she made a fool out of one.¡± Lowering their voice, they whispered, "You didn''t hear this from me, but the rumor is that her family died because of a magical beast."


    She waved goodbye, and the elf returned to their work. That is when the one she inquired about exited one of the larger structures in the settlement. Not long after, another elf exited and joined who she now came to know was Lyra. Tinesi listened in to their conversation and picked up on their destination.


    ¡°Is she helping them travel to Sobi? Why would she bother with something so mundane the day after her son and husband died?


    Hearing Lyra talk about her father, she could respect the honor and duty he instilled in his daughter. Her opinion improved when Lyra mentioned her companion had a family that needed her. Destination secured, Tinesi had what she needed to decide. She reached out with her mental connection to Kindroth to report.


    ¡°Lyra is the elf I met earlier. She is supposed to be popular in the area. Her next destination is the Sobi settlement, escorting a mother returning home. I plan to scout ahead of them for dark mage activity and find an opportunity to speak with her again.¡±


    ¡°Proceed. Update when you know more.¡±


    An aspect of her stealth training required her to mask the aura that her body produced. An amateur might try to eliminate it, but that never worked against a skilled tracker. Instead, she reined it in until it resembled the surrounding wildlife. With her mana masked, Tinesi set off around her target and then tracked down any dark mage or the magical atrocities they had left behind.


    There were two main types of magical beasts being crafted by the dark arts. Corrupting an animal by infusing it with dark energy until it mutated, or they did it to an elf. Some individuals changed unwillingly, while others embraced it. Tinesi believed the elf she killed under the blood moon after its fight against Lyra had been a victim. The wildlife could consume the flesh of mana-rich creatures, including elves, and evolve to possess magical abilities themselves, but those instances were rare.


    A dark muddy feeling brushed up against her senses that sent a chill down her spine.


    ¡°Bingo. Looks like we have another roaming these woods. I should have enough time to take care of them and meet up with Lyra in Sobi.¡±


    Veering off course, Tinesi began tracking the dark mage. The stench of their magic made her want to puke. Being sensitive to magical auras had its downsides. The area lacked any other noticeable animal presence. They avoided the perverse magical residue that dark mages left behind when performing their craft. That also made it harder to keep herself hidden.


    Fortunately for her, this mage stood in front of an altar to his dark lord, preoccupied. The body of an elf lying still. Blood flowing freely. Taking out her short sword, she studied the runes etched in the blade, another magical art hidden away from the world. An elf skilled in a specific type of magic could imbue a specific spell or effect into a rune that anyone could use by pushing their energy into it. Some of the more destructive runes destroyed the weapon, turning them into last-resort options. This weapon could light up in flames and repel dark magic, which was useful for slicing into the enemy''s favorite attack, a pure, dark energy ball that either exploded on impact or punched through with enough force.


    Climbing up a tree, Tinesi got into position over her prey and dropped on them, both hands holding her short sword, ready to stab down.


    The elf noticed her quicker than she wanted, giving him enough time to lift an arm, a spell already forming in his palm. Tinesi altered her target, stabbing their hand and disrupting the spell. She triggered the flame rune before landing and ripping her blade free. To her surprise, instead of facing her, the coward ran, leaving a wall of dark flames blocking her path.


    With a sigh of resignation, Tinesi cast a wind speed spell on her legs and began the chase. The injured dark mage tossed explosive balls of dark energy at her with the only working hand he had left. She either dodged them completely or sliced them in two, dissipating the spell.


    This game of wolf and deer annoyed the veteran hunter who specialized in eliminating their kind. Frustrated, she said, ¡°Stop running away and face your death, you coward.¡±


    He growled in response, turned around, and said, ¡°My master warned me against your organization. I''m going to kill you even if I must go out with you.¡± Now running toward her, a manic grin plastered on his face, Tinesi could only guess one outcome.


    He planned to rupture his core, releasing all his energy in a single destructive blast. There wasn¡¯t enough time to escape. Acting swiftly, Tinesi reached behind her back for a special dagger and hurled it at the dark mage''s chest, magical runes lighting up.


    Sinking into his chest, the runes triggered, releasing a torrent of swirling blades of air that caused the blade to explode as the spell sliced apart the mage. Tinesi tossed up a quick wind barrier to keep the worst of it from splattering all over her.


    Mission accomplished; she did her best to burn up the body to prevent anything from eating the corrupted flesh. After retracing her steps, Tinesi offered the dead elf her sympathy as she destroyed the altar and set the body on fire. With a heavy heart, she turned toward the Sobi settlement and ran.


    ¡°I''ve got a bad feeling about this.¡±


    ¡­


    The problem with intuition and bad feelings are the consequences of being right and Tinesi had the irritating pleasure of being right too many times for her liking. A frantic nervous elf hiding behind a tree, head peaking around toward the sounds of pitched battle, greeted her when she reached her destination. On closer inspection, she identified the elf as the mother Lyra had been escorting. Reaching out with her senses, Tinesi shivered at the slimy residue left behind by the dark mage responsible for the current fiasco.


    The unaware elf fell back, arms flailing for support when she said, ¡°Hello,¡± while a beast roared in the distance.


    Scrambling backward, Tinesi wove compulsion into her words and said, ¡°I''m not your enemy. Lyra is an acquaintance of mine. I want to help.¡± Part of her thoughts were concerned about the obvious bear¡¯s challenge, but that could wait.


    ¡°You know Lyra? She told me to stay here while she went to help the defenders.¡± Her body relaxed. ¡°My name is Ves. I need to get to my family. Can you help?¡±


    Offering a hand to Ves, she said, ¡°It should be safe enough to get you home.¡± Pulling her up, Tinesi led the woman into Sobi. The corpses of the wildlife that had assaulted the settlement littered the ground. On closer inspection, she noticed the state of their bodies.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    ¡°Undead. Looks like we have a necromancer nearby.¡±


    ¡°What was that?¡±


    Hand placed on Ves''s shoulder, Tinesi said, ¡°Relax. Where is your home?¡±


    Finger pointed to a nondescript structure among a group close to the defenders still finishing the surviving undead animals, Ves said, ¡°Over there.¡±


    The trick with the undead was using pure light magic, the antithesis of dark magic. Tinesi was privy to the old stories about the last Dark War and the undead army that fought around twenty-five thousand years ago. It wasn¡¯t a well-known fact since necromancy wasn¡¯t popular even among the dark mages since it was hard keeping a horde of undead hidden long enough to grow into a serious threat, but healing magic, if strong enough to overpower, could undo the spell animating the dead. Otherwise, the best you could hope for was to weaken it.


    Healing wasn¡¯t her strongest skill, but she had a few tricks in her repertoire for situations like this. Right hand outstretched, she concentrated pure healing mana until it became dense enough to see, then fused it with a simple wind spell she had mastered decades ago. Tinesi sent a gentle wave of healing wind over every defender and undead fighting nearby. The smallest critters fell to the ground while the rest staggered from the effects of the spell. Slightly rejuvenated from the healing properties, the defenders leaped into action, cutting down the rest of the undead in short order.


    She grabbed Ves''s hand and tugged the elf along toward the woman¡¯s home while navigating around the undead lying on the ground. A few defenders noticed them, a nod of recognition in Ves''s direction. One of them said, ¡°Get inside Ves. Lysanthir is inside watching over Jassin.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Ascal.¡±


    When they reached the front door, Ves ran up and said, ¡°Lysanthir, it¡¯s me, I''m back.¡± A moment later, the door swung open and revealed a disheveled elf. He wrapped his wife in a hug and pulled her inside.


    When he noticed Tinesi, she said, ¡°Stay inside until you¡¯re told it''s safe. I need to go.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, miss.¡±


    After scanning the battlefield, Tinesi''s eyes gravitated toward the wolf corpses scattered across the ice-covered ground. ¡°Lyra sure is one creative fighter. It would be a shame to lose such a gifted magic user.¡± The corpse of the mutated alpha wolf caught her attention. The lingering dark mana coming from it reminded her of the beast that killed Lyra''s husband and child. ¡°So, he had a hand in this too.¡±


    Following Lyra¡¯s trail into the forest, the dark mage hunter could tell it was leading her in the necromancer¡¯s direction, which was in the same area where the roar had come from earlier. It didn¡¯t take a genius to put two and two together.


    The mage had at least one undead bear under his command.


    Speed boost placed on her legs, Tinesi ran toward the dark mage like a silent ghost. The predator was back on the hunt. An assassin specialized in ridding the land of the dark filth who was polluting the world with hatred and misery.


    Scaling up a tree, Tinesi began hopping between the branches, just like Kindroth had done the last time they met up. The trick was using the wind to lighten your footsteps and keep moving, never staying in any one spot for very long. When she found her prey, they were facing off against Lyra. The elf hadn¡¯t come unscathed from her fight against that mutated alpha wolf back in Sobi. There was a layer of ice holding her right arm to her chest.


    Curious about how this would play out, Tinesi watched from her perch off to the side. The necromancer stood next to a large bear and her cub, both now undead. Finger pointed at Lyra, the dark mage said, ¡°You will pay for killing my best minion. My master helped craft it for me personally.¡±


    Unimpressed, Lyra replied with a fury of wind strikes with her ice dagger that the dark mage avoided by ordering the bear to intercept it. Claws swiping at the magical attack, a black smoky trail followed the path of its claws as the bear dispelled the wind by sheer force and the magic-infused in its paws.


    ¡°Elf, there is nothing you can do to me. The dark god himself has blessed me, and his power courses through my veins.¡±


    Eyebrow raised in curious amusement, Tinesi watched to see how Lyra would handle the mage in her current state. She could always step in to keep the elf alive. Not that she would make it a habit of babysitting.


    Lyra had no desire to banter with the zealous dark mage. Instead, she tossed a fireball into the ground in front of the bear, obscuring the mage''s view. Rushing forward, the elf formed an ice weapon comprising a long shaft with a curved blade sticking out at the end.


    The unknown weapon''s design piqued Tinesi''s interest. It provided reach, but how strong was the connection from the shaft to the blade? The mage ordered the bear to rush through the explosion, forcing Lyra to leap to the side to avoid the paw swiping at her face.


    Lyra pushed off back in the bear''s direction, her ice weapon arcing across to intercept the paw aimed at her head. True to her prowess, the elf sliced into the nearest wrist, but her weapon got stuck in the reinforced bone underneath. Forced to let go of her weapon, she abandoned it; the ice exploding when she was far enough away, a replacement already forming in her hand.


    On this occasion, the blade was twice as thick, and Tinesi noticed a buzzing layer of air running along the blade''s edge. Tinesi grinned in excitement, watching Lyra rush back in and swing her new weapon at the same spot, cleaving it off with one mighty blow that caused it to shatter from the force.


    Untroubled by anything meaningless like pain or fear, the undead bear stood up on its hind legs and battered the elf away with its remaining paw. Lyra threw up a wind barrier in time to keep the claws from cutting too deep, but from the blood dripping off its claws, the bear had cut through her magic and into her arm.


    Slower than she had been before, Tinesi knew it was time to intervene. She already used her one emergency exploding dagger, so she had to make sure she ended this quickly. Tree by tree, Tinesi moved around until she was behind the dark mage.


    She considered using an enhanced spell, but she knew it would attract attention, so she grabbed her trusty short sword, propelled herself into the air, and dove. Air magic excelling her descent, Tinesi tucked her arms in and began spinning.


    At the last possible moment, she twisted her body to reposition it before she held on with both hands and plunged the blade through the defensive barrier and into the mage''s shoulder with enough force to sever the arm before tucking in and rolling to dissipate the impact against the ground.


    Back on her feet, Tinesi met Lyra''s gaze. Her face scrunched in clear pain. The newest ice weapon was red from the blood flowing from her arm. Ignoring the dark mage who cried out, a hand pressed to the stump where his arm used to be, Tinesi said, ¡°As I said before, you shouldn¡¯t leave their kind alive.¡±


    Growing out her response, Lyra said, ¡°I was working on it.¡±


    Releasing the energy she had gathered while interacting with Lyra, Tinesi sliced her sword in the air, sending a super-charged wind strike toward the undead bear cub bisecting them down the middle, showering the ground in their remains.


    No longer bleeding out. The shock of her sudden entrance faded away, leaving a furious, one-armed dark mage pointing at her.


    ¡°How dare you interfere!¡±


    He noticed the bear cub''s remains, which infuriated him even more.


    ¡°Do you know how long it took me to train an undead bear cub? How dare you destroy all that effort! After I kill you and your friend over there, I¡¯m going to turn you into my newest minion.¡±


    Already racing toward the bear, weapon raised to strike, Lyra said, ¡°We aren¡¯t friends. I''m just good at killing and you¡¯re due for some dying.¡±


    The dark elf roared in rage as he pointed at Lyra and said, ¡°Kill her already,¡± as the undead bear roared along with its master.


    The two collided, leaving the dark mage for Tinesi.


    ¡°If you are waiting for your buddy at the altar to show up, I must disappoint you. He died without landing a single strike on me. The coward ran instead. Will you do any better?¡±


    Reaching down to pick up his arm off the ground, the mage encased it in black mist and pumped it full of dark energy until it came back into view. A bone longsword with a finger bone cross guard.


    ¡°I never thought I would ever fight a dark mage who would try killing me with a sword made out on his arm that I cut off. You have my regard for your creativity. Enjoy it while you can.¡±


    Exchanging blows with the mage, Tinesi glanced at Lyra, struggling to keep the bear away from her. The beast showed signs of several gashes, but none were lethal to the undead.


    Back to her fight, Tinesi activated the flame rune on her sword, distracting the mage long enough to miss parrying her next strike that pierced his throat. Twisting the blade with a smile, she pulled her weapon free.


    Their eyes rolled back, orbs turning the darkest shade of black Tinesi had ever seen. An unknown voice spoke through the mage, although it should have been impossible after she stabbed him in the throat.


    ¡°You are known to me, Shadow-"


    Her sword sliced the mage''s head off, cutting the message off mid-sentence. For good measure, she reinforced her boot with a layer of air and crushed the skull and jaw until it shattered.


    Satisfied, she looked over at Lyra, who was in the process of cutting the bear''s head off with an enlarged version of her weapon. No longer fighting for her life, the elf collapsed.


    ¡°I did come to her aid to keep her alive. Wouldn¡¯t want to go back on my word now.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care why you came. I promised myself I would fight back till it killed me and I haven¡¯t changed my mind.¡±


    Tinesi laughed at the stupidity before she said, ¡°So you don¡¯t want me to heal you?¡±


    ¡°We both know my answer doesn¡¯t matter. Do what you came to do and piss off.¡±


    Doing just that, Tinesi sat beside the elf and placed her hands on Lyra''s arm where the bear struck her and the other which was frozen to her chest where the wolf had previously broken it if she had to guess. Lyra had enough sense to melt the ice around her arm so she could receive treatment.


    Stabilized, Lyra sat up and said, ¡°Tell me why you needed me alive?¡±


    Divulging only what she could, Tinesi said, ¡°I am hunting the dark mage responsible for killing your family, and before you ask, no, not for you. Did anyone visit your home before the incident?¡±


    The compulsion lacing her last question sneaked inside, compelling Lyra, who said, ¡°My brother-in-law. He recently joined the Rangers and wanted me to do the same. My husband got upset with him, so I told him to leave. They never had the best relationship growing up. Why does that matter?¡±


    Knowing this would upset Lyra, she said, ¡°It¡¯s not uncommon for dark mages to ask recruits to sacrifice someone close to them to prove their loyalty. You said it yourself. The two didn¡¯t get along.¡±


    As she predicted, Lyra glared at her, energy building up around her.


    ¡°How dare you blame him for killing my husband and child! If that were true, why didn¡¯t I die? Why let me live?¡±


    Shrugging, Tinesi got up and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know. Why not ask him the next time you meet?¡±


    Leaving the distraught woman behind, Tinesi contacted her leader.


    I have a report, sir.


    Go ahead.


    The new dark mage may be the brother-in-law who is a ranger. They are the ones most likely to hunt the magical beasts created by the ones we hunt.


    Try to locate this ranger. Anything else?


    Yes, sir. After killing a necromancer, I believe the dark lord himself spoke through the dead mage.


    Understood. Focus on finding this ranger and why a dark mage would help kill the work of his new master.


    Understood.


    Tinesi realized she never asked the ranger''s name, but doubted her compulsion would work after she upset the elf. That changed nothing, though. She would hunt down the new dark mage and kill them after discovering what they were up to. It was what she was good at, after all.

 Chapter Seven: Timberwood

    Tinesi hated leaving anything left undone. She always tried to follow any trail left behind after eliminating a dark mage. This included locating their camp. Truth be told, Tinesi had lost a few friends within the organization because they weren¡¯t thorough in their investigation. Killing was only part of their responsibility.


    Familiar with the traces of magic left behind by the necromancer, Tinesi began backtracking where they had come from. She smelled it before reaching the highest concentration of magic, where she saw piles of bodies strewn about the small campsite. An altar stood prominently in the center, equally covered in blood as the prior one. There were two spots on the ground where the mages slept.


    ¡°So, they were working together. Well, maybe not, but collaborating to some extent.¡±


    Refusing to let her preconception cloud her judgment, she bent low and focused on the traces of magic until she determined only two sources. The very ones she killed that day.


    With her investigation satisfied, Tinesi prepared to hunt for that mystery Ranger.


    The Rangers were a joint venture put together through a collaboration among the various clans. In the beginning, the core founding members were the survivors of a magical beast stampede that tore into several villages.


    Unknown to the community, the fight between her people and the dark mages had become fierce. After her organization cornered the leader, the dark mage caused their mana core to explode, killing most of his pursuers while setting off a cascade of dark energy that forced all his followers linked to him to mutate. The sudden violent change fracturing of their personality, leaving behind a wild beast. Many perished quelling the rampaging beasts.


    Forced to admit the average village defender wasn¡¯t enough to face a threat this severe, the survivors rallied those of similar prowess and called themselves Rangers. The survivors rebuilt one of the smaller villages and turned it into the base of operations for the Rangers.


    From then on, whenever there was a dangerous foe that threatened the community, the Rangers would be the ones sent to put it down. Plenty of would-be heroes tried joining, only to be turned away. Unless a current member in good standing recommended them, they would find it difficult finding their way into the elite force.


    Because of their work, her organization followed the Rangers'' movements to help track the dark mages, creating the monsters. This area wasn¡¯t close to their base, but there was a friendly village nearby that offered the Rangers a place to rest and deploy their forces in the immediate area and recruit.


    If her mystery new dark mage had joined the Rangers, then Timberwood village would be her destination. Tinesi had a contact in the village. Someone from the organization that was stationed there to relay information from the Rangers.


    Against her better judgment, Tinesi circled back toward Sobi, despite having no reason to. Hidden up in a tree, her aura compressed to that of a small animal, she observed.


    ¡°Check again. I want to make sure we rounded up all the animals and burned them. No, I don¡¯t know where that elf who brought Ves in went."


    The two defenders nearby said, ¡°Yes, sir,¡± then ran off.


    ¡°What do you mean, someone escorted Ves to her home? I was still out in the forest fighting.¡±


    Lyra stepped into view with her head crooked at an angle in confusion. ¡°I''m the one who escorted Ves from the other town. I left her safe nearby in the forest during the fight. Who was this other elf?¡±


    The elf left behind said, ¡°We appreciate the help. I don¡¯t know who the other elf was. She ran off into the forest after helping us get the upper hand on the final few animals.¡±


    Eyes darting around trying to find something, Lyra said, ¡°I see. Thank you.¡±


    When Lyra''s gaze turned in her direction, Tinesi melted back into the forest. Of course, she could sense the aura and recognize that the area should be devoid of most wildlife. She has faced dark mages and their creations before, even if she doesn¡¯t understand the true scope of the situation.


    ¡°I got to admit it, she would have made an excellent member of my organization,¡± Tinesi mused. Her thoughts drifted toward what-ifs, but she crushed them immediately.


    Leave recruitment to your betters. It¡¯s none of your concern. Focus on the dark mage who helped kill his family, not some prodigy who chose the quiet life and lost everything, leaving a broken woman.


    On the third day of travel, Tinesi came across a merchant traveling with a few guards. On closer inspection, they had an armband with the Ranger insignia on them. About to move on unnoticed, she froze. Warning signals blaring in her head. A dark menacing aura was coming toward the merchant and there wasn¡¯t much time left.


    Leaping down in front of the merchant''s cart, she held up her hand and said, ¡°I''m not your enemy Rangers. Can¡¯t you feel its presence? A magical beast will be here soon, and you¡¯re its target,¡± she exclaimed urgently.


    Weaving compulsion into her words, she said, ¡°I''m helping you take it down.¡± Not waiting for a reply, she looked at the merchant and pointed.


    ¡°Move your cart over there and stay hidden. Let us handle it.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    The ground trembled, trees vibrating from the passing of the beast charging their way. Tinesi couldn''t understand how such a deadly threat got so close to a settlement housing Rangers, but that was a problem to be dealt with later.


    ¡°This is Paeral and I''m his sister, Keya. We have been fighting together since we could hold a stick. Keep Orist safe and let us do our job.¡±


    Nodding, she pulled her sword and braced for battle.


    Guess my compulsion wasn¡¯t strong enough to break past their conviction. It doesn¡¯t matter. They didn¡¯t tell me not to help, so I will take it.


    What crashed through the forest, uprooting a tree, was an enlarged deer multiple times bigger than it should be. If its twelve-point antlers could uproot a tree, what could it do to a person?


    Snapping out of her musing, Tinesi powered up a wind strike and released it at the front leg of the beast, cutting deep into its joint and causing it to crash headfirst into the ground before the other two could act first.


    Keya used a buff spell to light her brother''s twin blades aflame, then pulled her bow off her shoulder and reached for an arrow. Tinesi offered her a buff, increasing Paeral''s movement with a wind spell.


    Adjusting quickly to his increased speed, the Ranger leaped up in the air past the antlers, both flaming blades slashing across the back of the beast''s neck, pushing off in time to avoid being skewered as they thrashed about trying to get back up.


    Keya knocked an arrow, set the tip ablaze with a flame, and let it loose with a wind spell behind it. True to her aim, her shot pierced the creature''s left eye, the tail feathers the only part now visible. Roaring in pain, a single blood-red eye stared down at the elves.


    The siblings didn¡¯t stay idle. As the brother darted around the bucking creature, avoiding its antlers, the other would pepper it with arrows. This allowed Tinesi to scale a tree and align herself above, waiting for her time to strike.


    She had to admit, the pair could have handled the creature on their own, but who knows if the merchant would have survived the initial encounter? Either way, she had made her choice.


    Head stuck between two trees after its latest attempt at impaling Paeral, Tinesi dove.


    Closing in, she landed on its back and rolled forward, avoiding the antlers, and drove her sword deep into its neck where the Ranger had previously slashed it and set the flame rune off while she twisted the blade and yanked it out. Leaping backward, she pushed away from the dying creature.


    Two flame-lit swords thrust up under its jaw, holding it still long enough for Keya''s arrow to split the one embedded in the monster''s eye down the middle, driving both further in. No longer resisting, the two Rangers backed away, letting the beast collapse, and checked in on the merchant.


    ¡°You there, Orist? It¡¯s over now.¡±


    Crawling out from under his cart, the elf stood up, dusted himself off, and said, ¡°Thank you. We should get moving and report this to the others.¡±


    The siblings glanced over at Tinesi and nodded.


    Keya said, ¡°Thanks for the support. If you are headed toward Timberwood, you can join us.¡±


    Shaking her head, Tinesi said, ¡°I am, but I plan on disposing of the magical beast first. If you leave it alone, other animals will eat it and absorb the magic that turned it into a monster.¡±


    ¡°Try not to burn down the forest when you do,¡± Paeral teased, a mischievous grin plastered on his face.


    Unable to stop laughing, Tinesi shook her head.


    ¡°I won¡¯t. I can promise you that, Paeral. Oh, Keya, can you let Elora, the village liaison for the Rangers, know I want to see her when I get to town? We are old acquaintances, and I wanted to ketch up with her.¡±


    ¡°Your friends with the wife of Timberwood''s captain?¡±


    Hand whipping to smack the back of her brother''s head, Keya glared at Paeral and said, ¡°I apologize. He doesn¡¯t know when to keep quiet. I will let her know.¡±


    Watching the merchant and the sibling Rangers leave, Tinesi gathered her power before using her wind magic to clear away the foliage and fallen trees around the corpse. Taking advantage of the flame rune on her sword, she burned it. Careful to keep any stray embers away from the brush with her magic. Nothing she hadn¡¯t done before.


    Satisfied, she cut the antlers off and used a wind spell to lift them off the ground and carry them next to her. It will prove to be a great trophy for the Rangers.


    The village of Timberwood was unique. When they rebuilt it after the stampede, they divided it into two sections, allowing everyone to evacuate behind the inner wall if the outer defense had failed. Both walls circled the village with three staggered entry points each.


    Captain Reptar and his defenders handled the village security, which included maintaining who had access to the inner circle where Teriani, the head of Timberwood lived and worked along with the main headquarters for the Rangers where Kellam, and his second-in-command Gorre, maintained the branches operations. Everyone else important enough had a home inside this area. This is also where she would find Elora. Tinesi never actually met her in town, but from their previous conversations, she knew enough about the village.


    Tinesi made her way towards one of the entry points into Timberwood, the floating antlers from the magical beast beside her. She could see the Ranger facility built nearby. When the town had grown, they provided the Rangers with a place to rest and train without interfering with Timberwood''s citizens. Haera oversaw the testing and training along with leading the newest of their order on their first magical beast hunt.


    If she couldn¡¯t get any answers from Elora, she might try visiting Haera, but that was difficult since they rarely ever allowed anyone in who wasn¡¯t a Ranger or approved to test. Perhaps Elora could get her a pass. For now, though, she would stick with her original plan. Meet up with her contact and present the Rangers with the trophy.


    Two guards blocked her way to the gate. Eyes looking between her and the floating antlers.


    ¡°What brings you to Timberwood, and why do you have that?¡±


    ¡°Hello. I am here to meet up with my friend, Elora. As for the antlers, it came from a magical beast I helped take down with two Rangers. I wanted to present this as a trophy,¡± Tinesi responded. Her posture relaxed with a smile to ease the two guards.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    The guard turned to his partner and said, ¡°Nindrol, contact Gorre and ask what he wants to do with her gift.¡± Looking back at her, he said, ¡°You must be the elf that Orist mentioned when he arrived earlier. Thank you. As for your other business, you will need to talk to the guards inside for that.¡±


    Nindrol returned and reported, ¡°Gorre was busy talking to Elora. His assistant requested Haera hold on to it until someone could verify that it wouldn''t endanger the citizens.


    Turning toward the Ranger facility, Tinesi said, ¡°I will be back.¡±


    The Ranger stationed at the entrance eyed her suspiciously. He had watched her progress, walking toward the village before turning toward him. Interrupted before he could address her, his head snapped behind him at the sudden outburst.


    ¡°It''s you! Is that the antlers from the beast we killed? Wait, you didn¡¯t burn the forest down, right?¡±


    The guard looked back and forth between Tinesi and Paeral. Shaking his head with an exasperated sigh, he pointed at her and said, ¡°You can vouch for this one?¡±


    ¡°Of course. She can hold her own. She detected the magical beast before either my sister or I could and warned us.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Paeral. Since you¡¯re here. Go inform Haera about our guest.¡±


    Before he added to his request, Paeral said, ¡°You can count on me,¡± already running toward the main building.


    Tinesi smiled, amused by the elves'' antics. She told the guard, ¡°These antlers are a gift for Kellem.


    ¡°Makes sense. You can tell that to Haera when she arrives.¡±


    ¡°Tell me what, exactly, Luthais.¡±


    Shock and fear quickly vanished as he stood at attention. The guard saluted Haera and said, ¡°This elf was the one who aided the Rangers who were escorting the merchant, Orist. She is here to drop off this gift for the boss.¡±


    ¡°That was quick,¡± Tinesi said, with a hint of curiosity behind her words.


    Haera looked at Tinesi; her aura and natural presence were forces to be reckoned with. The elf knew how to handle the powerful warriors placed in her care if the Ranger at the gate was anything to go by.


    Ignoring Tinesi¡¯s unasked question, the elf said, ¡°Gift for Kellam? I¡¯m sure he would appreciate mounting such a prize on the wall. Though Gorre would be a bit more obtuse about it being inside the town. He takes his job and the security of Timberwood seriously.¡±


    After a moment of studying the antlers, Haera said, ¡°You can leave them here and I will get someone to bring them in.¡±


    Without another word, Haera vanished. Only now did Tinesi sense the magic.


    Following the request, Tinesi lowered the antlers to the ground near the entrance so no one would accidentally poke themselves.


    Luthais said, ¡°Thank you. You should go before Paeral comes back. He doesn¡¯t know how to stop talking once he gets started.¡±


    For the third time that day, she got to watch the guard react, surprised to someone walking up behind him.


    How can a Ranger be so oblivious to his surroundings? Is this why he is stuck guarding the entrance?


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about my brother, Luthais. Haera put him to work on the training field after he barged in on her conversation with me.¡±


    Shifting over to Tinesi, she said, ¡°I have a report to deliver. Do you mind if I join you? I¡¯m sure it will speed up the process. Plus, I don¡¯t know if Elora received the message yet. I hear she has been busy.¡±


    The contrast between Keya and her brother was like night and day. How the two could work so well together impressed Tinesi. At ease around Keya, she wouldn¡¯t turn down an escort.


    ¡°You may.¡±


    The two began walking toward the village gate.


    ¡°Hey Tinesi, can I ask a question?¡±


    Curious about what she wanted to know, Tinesi said, ¡°I can¡¯t promise I will answer, but sure.¡±


    ¡°You seem to know a lot about Timberwood and who runs it. If your old acquaintances, then how?¡± Keya asked, her posture relaxed.


    Tinesi¡¯s mind raced, trying to come up with a plausible answer that wouldn¡¯t reveal her true occupation.


    ¡°I grew up with Elora before she moved to Timberwood. We have kept in touch, even if our work meant we couldn¡¯t meet in person.¡±


    ¡°What kind of work?¡± Keya started, but Tinesi interrupted, her magic compulsion amplifying every word. ¡°Please help me find Elora.¡±


    Caught off-guard, Keya¡¯s eyes glazed over temporarily before focusing again and nodded.


    ¡°Of course, follow me.¡±


    They continued into Timberwood, past the guards, without further issue. Her previous encounter and her Ranger escort guaranteed that. There were merchants lined up against the outer wall next to their wagons selling different wares. Tinesi met Orist¡¯s gaze, already set up by his cart. He waved at her, and she replied with a nod. Keya waved back at the joyful elf.


    ¡°Thanks again for helping us out back in the forest. How were you able to detect that creature before us?¡±


    Biting her lip, she sighed and said, ¡°Like you, I specialize in hunting. One of my skills is detecting the aura that living beings give off.¡± Seeing Keya¡¯s expression, she paused and asked, ¡°You know about aura, right?¡±


    Shaking her head, Keya said, ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t? Then how do you track the creatures you hunt?¡± she asked the Ranger, worry etched in her voice.


    ¡°Most of the time, my team uses standard tracking methods and reports from survivors. Our training emphasizes saving our magic for the fight. So, how do you sense an aura?¡± Eyes focused on Tinesi; Keya waited for her answer.


    Pulling the ranger over to the side, she stood in front of Keya and said, ¡°It would be easier to show you.¡±


    Gathering more mana from around her, Tinesi condensed it and channeled the magic into her aura, directing it toward Keya, who squirmed. When the Ranger backed away, Tinesi let the extra mana dissipate back into the air and relaxed her control over her aura.


    Sweat rolling down Keya¡¯s face, the Ranger said, ¡°That was intense. I rarely felt that scared unless I was up against a powerful beast on a hunt. How did you do that?¡±


    ¡°If you can control your aura, it becomes harder for others who know how to sense it to find you. That includes increasing its presence and directing it. I rarely use it to intimidate, but it''s possible.¡±


    Pointing toward the inner gate nearby, Keya got the hint, and they continued walking. Calmed down, Keya said, ¡°I wonder why this wasn¡¯t something they would train us in to hunt more efficiently.¡±


    The leaders of my organization must have had a hand in this.


    ¡°If I had to guess since the Rangers recruit new members who are already strong enough to face magical beasts, they focus on refining the skills you already have,¡± Tinesi said, offering Keya a safe answer instead of her true thoughts.


    Eyes already looking around the crowded street, Keya said, ¡°I guess so,¡± with no conviction behind her words. A young elf ran up to the Ranger, arms outstretched, squeezing with glee. Keya kneeled and hugged the little girl.


    Her previous cheerful personality back, she said, ¡°Irma! How are you doing?¡±


    Keya''s chest muffled the girl''s answer. Another elf nearby eyed Tinesi with mild suspicion.


    Tinesi tapped on Keya''s shoulder and looked at her expectantly. When the Ranger didn¡¯t react, Tinesi sighed, and said, ¡°Are you helping me or not?¡±


    Back on her feet, Keya rubbed Irma''s hair and then waved at the other elf nearby. ¡°Sorry, I promised my new friend here that I would help her meet an old acquaintance.¡±


    Irma scrunched her eyebrows in clear irritation, but she ran back to the other elf without further complaint.


    ¡°If you rather,¡± began Tinesi, only to be interrupted by Keya.


    ¡°No, you were right to remind me. I made you a promise and I have that report to deliver. Gorre can be a stickler if he knows you took your time delivering reports." She leaned in close and said, ¡°And if you thought his reprimand was scary, once Haera learns about it.¡± She shuttered, her words trailing off left unsaid.


    The two reached the inner gate with no other interference, though plenty waved or said hello to Keya as she passed them by. Keya approached the guard and said, ¡°Goren, I have a report to deliver.¡± Pointing in Tinesi''s direction, she continued, ¡°And she would like to speak with Elora. I can vouch for her. She helped me fight a magical beast on our way back to Timberwood.¡±


    A smile crept up Tinesi''s face when two elves approached the gate from the other side. One was a welcome sight while the other placed a hand on the guard''s shoulder and said, ¡°I will take care of this. Stand down.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±


    Stepping back, the guard left enough room for the mystery elf and her friend Elora to walk through. Meanwhile, Keya saluted to the elf.


    ¡°Ranger Keya reporting in, sir.¡±


    Focused on the Ranger, he let his gaze linger before addressing Tinesi, hand out for a handshake.


    ¡°My name is Gorre. You are acquainted with Keya. Can I assume you are the mystery elf I have been hearing about ever since Orist got back?¡±


    Tinesi took his hand and shook it, grip held firm. She wouldn¡¯t back down from the obvious challenge.


    ¡°I care not what rumors you may have heard. You have no authority over me.¡± Keya and the guard nearby gasped at her proclamation. Elora chuckled softly in the background. ¡°Did I assist your Rangers? Yes. Did I bring its antlers as a gift? True. Other than that, is of no concern to me. I¡¯m here to catch up with my friend, not play power games with you.¡±


    The strength of Gorre¡¯s grip increased clear anger at the disregard of his station in Timberwood. Before anyone could do something uncouth, Elora stepped forward and placed a gentle hand on Gorre''s shoulder.


    ¡°I apologize on behalf of my friend. That¡¯s just who she is. Let it go.¡±


    Tinesi could sense the magic lacing her words. The compulsion refined to a point. While Elora may not be deployed in the thick of things, Tinesi''s training was also given to her before she was sent to Timberwood.


    She stepped away from Gorre and shrugged. ¡°If you want to know more about me, I''m sure the report Keya has for you will be enlightening.¡±


    Attention back on the Ranger, Tinesi scooted over to her friend and hugged Elora. Face up against her ear, she said, ¡°I''m seeking a new shadow who fancies himself a Ranger.¡±


    Message received, Elora took her hand and began leading her away from the gate and the Rangers. Her friend led her to a sturdy two-story building built up against the inner wall. A steady stream of elves was coming and going from the establishment. The aroma wafting from the entrance was a clear giveaway that they provided meals there.


    I believe people were calling them taverns. They offer food and a place to eat and socialize on the first floor and offer rooms for guests to sleep at night.


    They walked in and Elora led her into the back corner, away from the crowd where they could have their conversation. An elf came by and offered them a drink and two meals. Soup with chunks of meat in it and an assortment of fruit on the side. Left alone, they ate, Tinesi taking breaks to share her report.


    ¡°The elf has lost a few fingers but has found new ones.¡±


    ¡°The newest finger offered his own as tribute.¡±


    Elora focused on her meal, nodding to Tinesi as if their conversation was anything but a report from a hidden organization fighting the darkness out of the spotlight.


    ¡°The elf sent a new pet but left one alone as a witness.¡±


    ¡°A shadow hunts, but for who and for what?¡±


    Utensil placed down on the table, Elora said, ¡°Do you have a name?¡±


    ¡°Lyra witnessed the shadow''s betrayal. If I had to guess, they want to recruit her.¡±


    They finished the meal in silence. Elora stood up and said, ¡°I should have an answer by tomorrow.¡±


    An elf entered the tavern, silencing the crowd for a moment before they returned to their conversations. When he saw Elora, he turned toward her and the two embraced.


    Right. She is married to Captain Reptar.


    Turning toward her, Reptar looked her over with a discerning eye and said, ¡°I don¡¯t think we are acquainted. How do you know my wife?¡±


    ¡°You could say we are childhood friends. The last time we met in person was before she moved here.¡±


    Still looking at her skeptically, he said, ¡°If you say so.¡± Turning back to Elora, his voice softened. ¡°Will your friend be staying long?¡±


    ¡°Yes. You won¡¯t object to her sleeping at our place tonight. Right?¡± Her compulsion once more snuck into her conversation at the right moment to lead the person in the right direction. A needle to Tinesi''s hammer.


    ¡°Of course she can. Teriani wants to have a meeting to discuss the recent magical beast attack so close to Timberwood. I came to get you.¡±


    Standing up herself, Tinesi hugged Elora and said, ¡°I will enjoy the sights and meet up with you later.¡±


    Tinesi watched the two leave, her mind pondering all she had witnessed so far, when Kindroth reached out.


    Change of plans. You are to meet me outside of Timberwood. Be swift.


    Yes, sir. On my way now.


    There was no reason to be more specific. She could find his magical signature in her sleep if he wanted her to. As promised, she made her way out of Timberwood without any of the fanfare from before.


    What surprised her was another aura next to Kindroth. Kailu had returned from his assignment.


    He was an elf of little words and even less in his desire to speak to anyone but Kindroth. Covered head to toe in black, leaving only his eyes and hands visible, he excelled in stealth and reconnaissance. Do not let his appearance fool you, though. Kailua was a master of the twin-blade fighting style that would put Paeral to shame. He could imbue his swords with fire and ice interchangeably without the use of a rune.


    Kindroth looked at Kailu when she arrived and said, ¡°Bring it out.¡±


    Following his orders, her silent comrade brought out an item wrapped in cloth and held it out to Tinesi.


    ¡°One of the less than questionable experiments our brethren back at headquarters have been working on has shown promising results at great cost. A pregnant mother about to lose her baby offered her child to the cause, her own life the fuel to perform the spell.¡±


    Unwrapping it enough to reveal its contents, Tinesi looked at a dagger with a few runes etched on it. Kindroth pointed them out.


    ¡°There are three different runes here. Metal-shaping allows the user to change the shape of the blade, while the wood-shaping rune does the same to the shaft or handle. That leaves the rune of absorption attuned to life energy.¡±


    Shocked at the depths her people would take to gain power, she said, ¡°That means¡­¡± trailing off into silence.


    ¡°Yes, that means the unborn child¡¯s life energy is the source powering the runes, allowing it to take any shape the wielder can imagine.¡±


    Hearing an undertone that there was more to it, she said, ¡°But?¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s incomplete. To reach true sentience, the weapon requires a willing sacrifice. The elf you have been trailing lost her family and is now on a self-destructive path that will lead to her death, even if it¡¯s in the defense of others.¡±


    Knowing where this was headed, she asked, ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°I need you to convince her to join our cause and present the weapon to her. I won¡¯t ask you to lie to her. We aren¡¯t like them. If she agrees, explain that we are hunting those who killed her family. Offer her a chance to face the dark mage responsible. We only ask for her eternal cooperation facing the darkness so that she can help prevent a tragedy like the one she went through far into the future.¡±


    Kindroth signaled Kailu, who quickly wrapped the weapon and handed it over to her. Silent as ever.


    ¡°Do not touch it unless you are willing to take her place. The child¡¯s life energy will tether to the next person who wields it.¡± His grip on her shoulder amplified his words. ¡°Get her to join our cause and stay by her side. You will be her partner. Watch over her and if the experiment fails, retrieve the weapon. It can¡¯t find its way into the hands of our enemy. If they knew what we have done, they would take it and force others to become weapons of war.¡±


    The weight of his words followed her back to Timberwood. The guards let her through with a wave of their hand. Elora found her in the tavern tucked in the corner, the weapon lying on the table.


    Breaking the silence, Elora held out her hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s getting late. Follow me back home.¡±


    Grabbing her burden, Tinesi took her friend''s hand and let Elora guide her into the village''s inner sanctum. Reptar greeted them at the door, letting Tinesi enter. The three had a quiet meal that ended with Elora asking her husband to give the two of them space so they could talk.


    ¡°Talk about what?¡±


    Hand on her hip, Elora gave him a look that shut the elf down without a fight. When they were alone, Elora said, ¡°I have a lead on our new shadow, but I need more time to be sure. What about you?¡±


    Hand placed on top of the wrapped magical weapon, Tinesi was blunt and said, ¡°They want me to turn Lyra into a living weapon.¡±


    Tinesi expressed what she could not say the best she could before curling up around the bundle on the floor and falling asleep.


    That day, she faced a test of her faith in the cause. Conviction unbroken, she would not falter. Kindroth wished to turn Lyra into a sentient weapon, and it was up to her to make it happen.


    Silvertree, forgive me for what I am about to do.

 Chapter Eight: Peacefully Lilly

    All the past events that had transpired since that fateful day ran through Lyra''s mind.


    Reality had faced Lyra yet again. Leaving what remained of her home, only to spend the night at Renna''s tavern. Refusing to bow down to the hopelessness she felt after the magical beast destroyed any hope of happiness.


    I must honor my father and do what is right.


    Resolved to spend her remaining days helping others, she began with Ves, a mother who needed to bring medicinal herbs back to Sobi. Under assault by undead animals, Lyra put her life on the line to protect the residents of Sobi. Wounded in the attempt, Lyra walked toward the danger.


    That elf was foolish trying to help me. Did he not realize how outmatched he was?


    The one controlling the undead stood before her with a mother bear and its cub. Both are long dead. She would never admit it out loud, but that elf who ran into her the night she killed that magical beast under the blood moon jumped into the fight, saving her life.


    It couldn¡¯t be a coincidence that she showed up where I was again. Was she following me?


    Blaming Nasir for killing her family tarnished whatever good graces they had earned, which was outrageous. Yes, Ryo and Nasir didn¡¯t get along.


    I appreciated when Ryo stood up for me when Nasir teased me about being a housewife, but it didn¡¯t bother me. I didn¡¯t need his approval to live my life, and I made my choice the day I left my home and village to live alone with Ryo and Airdan.


    They had called them a dark mage. Between her father and his mother, they taught her all they knew about the history of magic that survived over the years, including the existence of gods. She had the impression her grandmother knew more than she let on, but Lyra never pressed her.


    Whether the gods were alive, dead or something else entirely was up for debate. The dark mage must be using powers that the force who challenged the light god so long ago gave to them.


    It doesn¡¯t matter from who or how they gained their power. Any elf who turned against their kind was a threat that needed to be eliminated. If that included my family, could I still do it?


    Lyra couldn¡¯t handle facing Renna again, and with that other elf lurking about, she moved on. Choosing a direction randomly, she began walking.


    Her inner contemplations that preoccupied her thoughts ended the morning of the fourth day after leaving Sobi. Someone cried out, ¡°It''s a bear, stand behind the cart, Aurora!¡±


    ¡°But darling, we don¡¯t have any weapons and neither of us can wield offensive magic.¡±


    She heard the bear roar, then a cry of pain. Rushing to the scene, Lyra saw a bear standing over an elf it had knocked to the ground with a cart behind him with what she could only assume was his wife hiding behind it.


    ¡°Taegen, no!¡±


    Feet already moving, two ice daggers flew from her hands, impaling the bear from the side and grabbing its attention. The wounded elf scrambled back, avoiding another claw that swiped toward him.


    Forming her new ice weapon with its long haft and curved blade at the end, she held on with both hands and deflected the bear¡¯s first attack. Off-balance, Lyra swung up under its jaw and into the beast¡¯s skull, where it got stuck.


    She let her magic fade when the bear collapsed. Lyra turned to the couple next to the cart and said, ¡°It¡¯s dead.¡±


    Aurora, who was tending to Taegen''s wounds, said, ¡°Thank you. We can usually scare off most animals that get too close. If I knew there were bears nearby, I would have insisted on finding a guard.


    ¡°I thought I could handle it. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Ruffling Taegen''s hair, Aurora said, ¡°Instead of apologizing to me, you should be thanking our savior.¡±


    Head bowing in her direction, Taegen said, ¡°Thank you for rescuing us. If you don¡¯t mind, I would like to invite you to our home to rest and recover. It is the least we could do for your timely aid.¡±


    Lyra moved closer to the couple and nodded.


    ¡°I would appreciate that. Do you think I could find more work to do in your village?¡±


    The couple looked at each other and grinned. ¡°Those who excel in offensive magic are rare where we live. I doubt many would turn your help away,¡± said Aurora, her work tending to Taegen done.


    Curious, Lyra asked, ¡°Why is that?¡±


    Back on his feet, Taegen said, ¡°Our village leader doesn¡¯t trust magic. They prefer the old ways when our people relied on our natural abilities and the weapons we crafted. Most talented individuals leave because they just tolerate nonaggressive magic.


    ¡°Why would I be welcome if that were the case?¡± Lyra''s doubts over the prospect of going near this settlement growing.


    The couple looked at each other in silence, then nodded. Aurora said, ¡°After the last capable fighter left, the unrest brewing came to a head. There are enough of us now that want things to change.¡±


    Taegen continued where Aurora left off, and said, ¡°The last few we need to convince to side with us need to see the difference magic can have when wielded properly. With your help, it¡¯s possible.¡±


    With nothing better to do, she agreed. It didn¡¯t take them long to reach what she would learn was called Peaceful Lilly. The residents were happy to see Aurora and Taegen. The hesitancy at welcoming her mostly vanished when the couple shared how she had saved them from a bear attack. When they mentioned how she did it, the oldest in the crowd scoffed and walked away. Two hunters were interested in the dead bear and rushed off to retrieve it. A few others stepped in to handle the cart and take care of the cargo stashed inside.


    That is how she ended up in Aurora and Taegen¡¯s home eating supper with them and their child, Salarel. The rambunctious elf was being watched over by a neighbor while her parents were gone.


    ¡°Miss, tell me the story of how you saved my ma and pa from the bear again, please!¡±


    The cheerful curiosity bubbling from the child reminded her of Airdan and the memory of their time together playing with the petal butterflies she created. Tears threatened to break past her defenses, but she pushed the emotions down and said, ¡°When I heard your father yell to your mom to get back, then cry out in pain, my legs were already moving. I threw two ice daggers I created myself into its side to draw its attention before finishing it in one blow.¡±


    Salarel''s rambling ended with a single stern look from her mother. ¡°That is enough, darling. Go clean up and head to bed.¡±


    The child¡¯s shoulders slumped in defeat, smiled at Lyra and said, ¡°Thanks again for saving my parents. Goodnight,¡± then scampered off.


    Now that the three of them were alone, Aurora said, ¡°I would like you to meet Edwyrd tomorrow. He is the one responsible for organizing the defense of Peaceful Lilly. His hopes of having his oldest take over his responsibilities one day ended when Jaonos argued with the elder over their views on magic, which led to him being exiled.¡±


    Aurora finished cleaning off the table and sat back down. ¡°Ever since then, Edwyrd has been on our side regarding the elder. He is the one who suggested we get a majority of the residents to agree before confronting the elder.¡±


    Lyra took a moment to absorb what she heard, then said, ¡°I have no interest in forcing change here. If my abilities can be useful otherwise, I¡¯m willing.¡±


    The next morning, two small hands shook Lyra¡¯s shoulder, waking her up. Tears wet on her cheeks, she cried out, ¡°Airdan, come back!¡±


    Salarel stumbled back up against the wall, lip quivering. In a frightful whisper, Salarel asked, ¡°Why were you crying? Who is Airdan?¡±


    Ashamed of being so vulnerable around a stranger, Lyra wiped her cheeks and sat up in bed.


    ¡°He was my son. The two of you would have gotten along. I¡¯m sure of it.¡±


    The little girl stood silent, knowing eyes beginning to well up. Her mother poked her head in and said, ¡°I told you to wake up our guest. What¡¯s taking so long?¡±


    Noticing Salarel''s demeanor, she frowned. ¡°What''s up, sweetie?¡±


    ¡°Momma, did you know she used to have a child named Airdan?¡±


    Entering the room fully, Aurora ruffled her daughter¡¯s hair, ushered her out of the room, and said, ¡°Breakfast is ready. Go eat.¡±


    Alone with Aurora, Lyra sighed and said, ¡°Magical beast. I lost everything. That¡¯s why I became a nomad helping others.¡±


    Silence wrapped Lyra around, which comforted her until Aurora stepped up and said, ¡°We better go before my daughter eats all the food.¡±


    Appreciating the effort the woman was making; Lyra took the offered hand and joined the rest of the family. Taegen gave his wife a curious look when he came back inside and joined them at the table, but his wife shook her head.


    After dropping Salarel off with the neighbor, all three made their way out of town to meet up with Edwyrd. When Lyra questioned it, Taegen explained how he had reached out that morning while Lyra was still asleep.


    A rough, haggard, well-armed elf leaning against a tree looked up at the three approaching elves. Lyra could tell he had a dense well of power to tap into. That would explain how his child inherited a strong power. Edwyrd took one look at Lyra and raised an eyebrow with his hand placed over the hilt of the sword strapped to his hip.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    ¡°Are you expecting me to believe this stranger is going to help our village? I need more assurance than just your word.¡±


    His bluntness felt refreshing to Lyra. The way he held himself reminded Lyra of her father. Feeling the need to let loose, she grinned and said, ¡°You want to see me in action, I get it. Relying solely on their words would have put me off. What do you have in mind?¡±


    Lip curling up in a smile, Edwyrd said, ¡°Good. First, show me what you fight with. Taegen mentioned an ice weapon this morning.¡±


    Concentrating mana in her palm, Lyra created a ball of water, shaped it into her new weapon''s design with only one blade, and froze it in one smooth motion. Weaving a wind spell, she lifted a leaf into the air and sliced it in half. Planting her ice weapon on the ground, Lyra smirked at Edwyrd and said, ¡°It¡¯s a new design I created myself.¡±


    He eyed it skeptically, clearly unconvinced.


    Growing irritated, Lyra reached out with her senses, noticed a rabbit hiding in a bush nearby, crafted an ice dagger in her free hand, and launched it with explosive precision, amplified by a wind spell leaving behind an after-image blur as it disappeared. She smirked at the elf as she walked over and lifted the dead rabbit.


    Clapping broke the stalemate stare between the two, causing them to look at Taegen and Aurora, both impressed by the demonstration. Taegen said, ¡°See what I mean, Edwyrd? Lyra is the real deal."


    ¡°Fine. You can join me and my group today. We plan on investigating the forest where the bear appeared. Something must have driven it away from its normal hunting grounds.¡±


    Satisfied with the plan of action, Lyra walked back to the couple and handed off the rabbit. ¡°This is for you. Thanks for letting me sleep in your home last night.¡±


    A chorus of, ¡°Thank you,¡± followed by, ¡°We owe you our lives, this was the least we could do,¡± from Taegen who smiled before Aurora said, ¡°If your son was here, he would have been so proud of his mother.¡±


    She gripped the woman by the shoulder and nodded. Not wanting to drag this on any longer, Lyra turned toward Edwyrd and said, Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Huffing in agreement, the elf turned and walked. Quickly stepping in line with him as she dispelled the ice weapon, Lyra let the silence linger in the air.


    Three other elves greeted them near the village, swords at their hips, and a bow hung over their arms with a single quiver. They saluted their leader in unison, eyes shifting back and forth between him and her.


    Edwyrd pointed at Lyra and said, ¡°This is the elf who killed the bear yesterday. She agreed to help us today.¡± He looked back at her and said, ¡°This is Jaonos, Paeris, and Lixiss. They will offer ranged support while the two of us face any threat we encounter. Any problem taking orders from me?¡±


    Mimicking the salute, she said, ¡°No, sir.¡±


    Falling in line next to Lixiss, the group made their way to the spot where Lyra had killed the beast. From there, they traced the path of destruction. The sun was at its peak before anything occurred.


    Senses stretched to their limit; Lyra picked up an abnormal signature closing in on their location. Forming her ice weapon caused everyone to halt.


    Confused, Edwyrd opened his mouth to speak when his head swiveled toward the noise, getting louder, and said, ¡°You three get into position, Lyra, with me. Time to show me what you''re worth.¡±


    Her senses were triggered again in the opposite direction, and they were closing fast. ¡°No can do, sir. Our rear is about to be hit. I will intercept. This one is all yours.¡±


    Not liking the turn of events, he huffed and said, ¡°Go.¡±


    As she passed by the three elves, she said, ¡°Keep him alive. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡±


    Unlike the wolves she faced in the other village, this was a black panther. Worse, it could teleport between shadows. The only saving grace was the limited distance it could travel. Regardless, this would be a tricky fight. She could only hope the others could handle their fight long enough for her to finish the magical beast off.


    She focused on what she felt when it teleported and could catch the briefest of something a moment before it shifted to a new location. A plan formed in her mind.


    This will have to do. Let¡¯s get this over with.


    Lyra started hurling ice daggers at the panther, forcing it to use the shadows to avoid her attacks. Its pattern of movement became obvious, so she adjusted and began throwing another dagger in the most likely spot, getting lucky with her third attempt.


    The ice dagger sunk into the beast¡¯s shoulder, leading to a mighty roar of defiance as it finally closed the distance. Gripping her weapon with both hands, Lyra blocked and maneuvered around to avoid the panther.


    Reminded of her fight against the wolves, she stamped the butt end of her weapon on the ground and covered the area around in a sheet of ice. Her prey reappeared and immediately lost footing, sliding onto its side. Before it could recover, she hurled another ice dagger piercing its eye. Closing the distance, Lyra swung her weapon down, taking its head off in one blow.


    To their credit, the other four elves were holding their own against the other panther, smaller but no less dangerous. Edwyrd focused its attacks on him while the others used their bows to keep it pinned in limiting its movements.


    Relying solely on skill, there was only so much they could do. Edwyrd held so much potential inside him. It was a shame and a waste to ignore it for the sake of an old fool who had a prejudice against magic. Taking a cue from the elf that helped her take out the corrupted mage raising the undead, she dropped her weapon, cast a wind spell on herself, climbed up a tree, and hopped between the branches. Gathering the mana from the forest, Lyra powered up a wind blast spell and aimed it at the panther cub.


    When it had created some distance from Edwyrd, Lyra released her spell, slamming the creature into the ground with bone-crushing force.


    Whimpering in pain, it tried to move. The elf glanced up at Lyra for a moment, then turned back to the wounded creature and pierced its heart, ending it swiftly.


    She made her way back down, joining the group. Saluting, Lyra said, ¡°Sir, I have eliminated the other beast."


    Huffing in acknowledgment, Edwyrd walked over to check in on his team. Jaonos and Paeris offered to carry the two beasts back to town. She convinced them to let her burn the adult and bring back the cub instead. In the past, she wouldn¡¯t have cared, but lately, she was feeling differently. The sun had long vanished by the time they returned.


    Edwyrd surprised her with a handshake. Lyra grinned as she accepted his hand and made her way toward her temporary residence. Knocking on the door, she waited till the door opened. Taegen greeted her with a warm smile and let her in.


    A small body crashed into Lyra¡¯s leg. Salarel hugged her fiercely.


    ¡°You¡¯re alive! You made it back.¡±


    Aurora pulled her daughter off and directed her toward her room. ¡°I let you stay up till she came back, but it¡¯s time for you to head to bed. No arguments.¡±


    Lyra said, ¡°We encountered two magical beasts half a day out. I doubt that will be the last that show from that direction.¡±


    Returning from her daughter¡¯s room, Aurora motioned for Lyra to follow her. She left Taegen behind, joining his wife. Back in the spare room she had used the night before, Aurora helped Lyra change into fresh clothes. Lyra wanted to object, but the elf gave her that look any mother perfected ending any objection.


    Alone in bed, Lyra let the exhaustion drag her to sleep.


    Shortly after sunrise, Lyra went for a walk alone outside of Peaceful Lilly. Salarel clung to her pant leg, begging her to stay. Only letting go when Taegen picked her up. Some residents greeted her warmly, while the elder and his closest allies wore their hostility on their shoulders.


    The defenders under Edwyrd¡¯s command kept praising Lyra for her contribution against the magical beast. Word got around quickly.


    That would explain the hostility from the elder.


    What she needed was fresh air away from everyone.


    The memories.


    Judgement.


    Expectations.


    First my father.


    Then that night that caused me to lose all hope of feeling safe in my hometown.


    Now I have nothing left worth protecting.


    Not even myself.


    Yet despite all these thoughts, Lyra refused to let go of her promise to protect others until her dying breath. That meant she couldn¡¯t ignore her training, either. Some routines were harder to ignore than others.


    Centering herself, Lyra let the mana around her flow in and out of her body. Wind magic lessened the stress on her body, allowing her to dance between each step with ease. Sweat dripping off her brow, she switched from hand-to-hand combat into parries and thrusts with her ice daggers.


    Warmed up, she let the daggers melt and reform into her new double-bladed weapon. Lyra let go of all her troubles and embraced the song of death. Her weapon sliced through the morning air as the melody dripped off her tongue.


    When the flow of mana became disturbed, Lyra came out of her trance. The same unpleasant sensation she felt around the undead and magical beasts.


    And it was coming from the direction of Peaceful Lilly.


    ¡°Oh no. Not now. Not them. Please let me be wrong.¡±


    Again, she would run towards danger.


    But did any of it matter? What could she possibly do?


    ¡°I don¡¯t care if my efforts are for not. I have to try.¡±


    The village was in disarray. Bandits ran rampant, the defenders struggling to gain the upper hand. Lyra could not tell who they were behind the pieces of cloth covering their faces. Villagers lay dead sprawled along the ground. Screams were echoing from inside one of the homes.


    What depravity will they reduce themselves to?


    The injustice burned deep within her very being. Rushing forward, Lyra summoned ice daggers one after another, throwing them with deadly precision. Shouts of alarm turned their attention over to her.


    ¡°She can use magic! Hurry and kill her.¡±


    Lyra held her ground. The long ice shaft formed with a single curved ice blade on each end. She tapped into the wind, deflecting the arrows coming g at her from all sides. While the bandits were focused on her, Lyra observed Edwyrd''s attempt to rally the survivors. Their eyes met for a moment.


    Lyra grinned as she slammed the ground with her foot covering it in ice. So furious was her rage. The ice swept up the elves¡¯ legs to their knees, trapping them. Free to move amongst the group, she took her time cutting them down, no longer caring how swiftly they died. They would suffer for their transgressions.


    Still in her battle haze, she only now realized that the screaming had come from Aurora''s home. An elf held Salarel by the hair, a knife to the little girl¡¯s throat. Grinning at Lyra, he cut from ear to ear.


    He dropped the knife, hands grasping for the ice dagger protruding from his eye. The next four daggers slammed into his chest, pushing him back into the home where he fell dead.


    Down on her knees, Lyra held Salarel to her chest. Rocking back and forth as she said, ¡°No, no, no, no,¡± repeatedly. She heard someone groaning inside. Laying the still child down, Lyra walked inside and into the bedroom. Taegen lay in a pool of blood. Aurora was curled up on the bed. Her clothes were ripped and scattered all around her.


    When she touched the woman¡¯s shoulder, Aurora looked at her, jumped out of bed, and asked, ¡°Where is Salarel? Where is my daughter?¡± The elf followed Lyra''s gaze toward the front and ran.


    Crying out in pain and sorrow, Aurora held her daughter''s body. Standing back up, Salarel still clutched to her chest, she turned on Lyra, anger replacing the sadness.


    ¡°How could you let this happen? You know how to use magic. Why didn¡¯t you stop them from doing this to us?¡±


    Lyra fumbled for the right words and said, ¡°I wasn¡¯t in town. I told you I went out to train. I rushed back when I learned what was happening.¡± Pointing at all the dead bandits, she continued, ¡°I killed them all.¡±


    Pointing toward the forest, Aurora yelled, ¡°Get out! You let my family die. You couldn¡¯t save your family. Why did I ever believe you could protect mine? Now go before I kill you myself!¡±


    Stunned, she turned to Edwyrd, who shook his head and offered a sympathetic smile. He helped guide Lyra out, and when they were far enough away, he said, ¡°I''m sorry she took her anger out at you. I know you did what you could to help. The elder and most of his followers all died in the attack. I plan on taking over with a new policy, allowing magic so we can protect ourselves.¡±


    Left without a place to sleep, Lyra picked a direction and started walking. Her anger at the injustice against Peaceful Lilly and herself fueled into her mana, a ball of flames growing in her palm. When Lyra could no longer hold it any longer, she hurled it at a tree.


    The impact caused the tree to explode, wood and splinters flying everywhere, knocking her back into another tree. Still, anger swelled within her. The flames of retribution were desperate for something to burn.


    The necklace she wore burned her skin. Crying out in pain, she ripped it off her neck and held it up. The pendant was red hot. Cracks beginning to form. The pendant, swelling with mana, exploded and peppered her with debris.


    When Lyra could see again, a fox-shaped flame began walking around the forest, drawing in all the mana from the fire she had set previously, which smothered the flames. The fox transformed, leaving their tail a flame while the rest appeared normal, fur and all.


    The flame animal scampered around her legs, fur brushing up against Lyra. Eyes looking up expectantly. Relenting to the fox''s demands, she sat down on the ground and allowed it to hop in her lap and curl up. The flames from the tail were warm to the touch.


    Her grandmother, who taught her about the past, including the dark wars and the birth of magic, had given her this necklace when she was a child. Its purpose was unknown, only that she was never to remove it.


    ¡°If we are going to be friends, I will need to come up with a name for you.¡±


    It perked up, flames sparkling in its eyes.


    ¡°If I ever had another child, I was going to name them Ruvan. Would you be fine with Ruvan as a name?¡±


    The flame fox yipped, curled up, and laid its head on her leg. Content with her new companion, Lyra spent the rest of the day relaxing. When night fell, she climbed up a tree and fell asleep on a sturdy branch. A technique she had mastered long ago under her father¡¯s tutelage.


    I suppose I don¡¯t have to walk this path alone anymore.

 Chapter Nine: Turning Point

    It had taken Tinesi longer than she had expected to track down Lyra. She had returned to Sobi to inquire which direction she had traveled and they could only point in a general direction. Any trace of mana that might have lingered would have dissipated by now.


    Forced to make her way between the various settlements, Tinesi had to sacrifice day after day running into dead ends. When she arrived at Peaceful Lilly, there were remnants of a funeral pyre. A large one at that. Evidence of an attack on the village was clear.


    A rough-looking elf approached her, his hand resting on a sword hilt.


    ¡°Whatever you are looking for, mis, you won¡¯t find it here. I recommend you move on.¡±


    When she raised her eyebrow, he huffed in irritation. Hand gripping the sword. Tinesi took a moment to hone her senses on Lyra''s signature and smiled at the heavy scent thick in the air.


    She must have massacred whoever attacked the village.


    Lacing her words with compulsion, she said, ¡°I have no need to linger here. I¡¯m searching for an acquaintance. Where did the elf who saved you recently go?¡±


    He had made it clear she should leave, so it would be harder for him to resist the compulsion if he knew her intentions and the elf didn¡¯t disappoint.


    ¡°She went that way,¡± he said as he pointed off into the forest. ¡°We were grateful for all she did. Unfortunately, the family who took her in did not fare well in the attack. Bandits assaulted Aurora, killing her husband and child in the attack. She turned her grief toward Lyra. I had to ask her to leave.¡±


    Tinesi could see how it may have played out. Curious, she asked, ¡°Did you know Lyra witnessed her husband and child die to a magical beast and was powerless to stop it?¡±


    Seeing his guilt answered her suspicions. ¡°Lyra would have understood more than anyone what that mother was going through, and in her rage, used that knowledge as a weapon,¡± Tinesi said, her words clipped as she stepped closer to the elf.


    Head bowed, he huffed and said, ¡°Yes. I¡¯m not proud of what we did. It was best for everyone that she left. I promised her I would look after the village properly.¡±


    Shrugging, Tinesi began walking in the direction he had pointed, and said, ¡°You better. Lyra was one of the most accomplished magic fighters ever trained in this region and you pushed her away,¡± not sure why she made the claim as she had said it.


    Back on the trail, Tinesi continued her search, knowing she was a few days behind her quarry. Her investigation led to the remains of a tree that a strong fireball had blasted apart. How the fire hadn¡¯t spread to the surrounding forest piqued Tinesi¡¯s interest.


    Another day of chasing brought her to a random clearing, the sun shining down on a sweat-covered Lyra. Mana flowing all around her in the deadly dance she wove. Surprisingly, the fox with the flame tail watching nearby shocked her the most. Tinesi couldn¡¯t believe it. A nature spirit. Pure elemental mana given sentience.


    There were a few old records claiming a few of their ancestors tried to replicate the necklace worn by the hero of the second and third Dark War. In those failed attempts, they created a magical amulet that absorbed mana.


    If the conditions were just right, an elemental spirit would be born. When they realized what it could do, they spent decades trying to replicate it, only succeeding at summoning a spirit a few more times.


    To think Lyra had a relic millennia old around her neck this entire time. She must have had a distant family who had come from her organization and had left, still holding on to one of the surviving artifacts.


    The flame fox spirit in question noticed her presence and ran up to its master, yipping and rubbing Lyra¡¯s leg. Tinesi could feel the hostility being directed toward her. Tinesi walked forward, her hands out in plain sight, and said, "Fancy meeting you out here."


    ¡°We both know you''re following me, so save us both the trouble and convince me why I shouldn¡¯t kill you?¡±


    This would be an uphill battle changing this woman¡¯s mind, but it¡¯s not like I can refuse. I received an order and I''m going to execute it.


    ¡°With pleasure. As I told you previously, I hunt magical beasts, and the evil mages related to them. After our encounter during the blood moon and the attack at your home, you became a potential link to those I hunt.¡±


    Lyra''s hostility cooled off into frustration and annoyance as the words dripped off her tongue. ¡°You still haven¡¯t given up this foolish notion that my brother-in-law is responsible for my family''s death? There is no proof of this. The idea is ridiculous and insulting.¡±


    Tinesi lowered herself to the ground, finding a comfortable position, and said, ¡°What you fail to grasp, Lyra, is that the people I work for have been hunting those who submit to their darkest desires and twist magic into abominations for generations. The elf I hunt is a master of the dark art, and when he finds those he can convert, he forces them to sacrifice someone close to them to prove their worth.¡±


    Hands sifting through her hair, Lyra growled out, ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean he was responsible just because he visited the night before the attack. Moreover, you keep talking about the dark art. Most people aren¡¯t very knowledgeable in the subject. I only know what I do because of the stories my father and his mother shared, along with my personal clashes with their kind.¡±The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Tinesi needed to guide the conversation in the right direction, so she said, ¡°That¡¯s true. Someone from your family probably had ties to my organization. That would explain how they learned about the past, which most have forgotten. Truth be told, it wouldn¡¯t be the first time that occurred.¡±


    Still walking back and forth in irritation, Lyra said, ¡°What''s so special about who you work for that makes you think my family ever helped people like you?¡±


    Debating if she should or could disclose this, Tinesi made the call, knowing it was for the greater good and said, ¡°Your spirit fox, a flame nature elemental, is the byproduct of an artifact my people crafted thousands of years ago. There are only a handful left in existence and now there is one less.¡±


    Lyra joined Tinesi on the ground. The spirit fox jumped on her lap and curled up. With a deep calming breath, Lyra said, ¡°Let¡¯s set aside Ruven for the moment and get down to the main point. Why decide to recruit me now? What''s changed?¡±


    Careful not to mishandle it, Tinesi took out the package and gently unwrapped it on the ground. Careful not to touch it directly, she displayed it.


    "They gave me this magical weapon and told me to recruit you for the mission for this one-of-a-kind artifact that''s impossible to find elsewhere."


    Quick on the uptake, Lyra asked, ¡°What¡¯s the ketch?¡±


    Grinning, Tinesi replied, "The creators gave it its own internal source of power during its creation. The problem is, that it¡¯s incomplete. It requires a willing soul to let go of their mortality and become one with the blade after a process of attuning to its magical signature. In essence, you would transform into a sentient weapon. The first ever in existence.¡±


    ¡°And you want me to do what in exchange for all this?¡±


    ¡°Hunt down the elf who''s terrorizing all these villages and threatening the lives of all you know. After the transformation, you will become immortal. A weapon that can choose who wields it and fights injustice long after everyone you know has died.¡±


    Curiosity etched in her voice, Lyra said, ¡°Let¡¯s say I agree with this crazy idea. What is so special about the weapon beyond its need to absorb my soul, and could I test it out first?¡±


    ¡°Excellent question,¡± said Tinesi, perking up at the shift in the negotiations. ¡°It can transform into any weapon you could conceive of. It has two runes etched into it that allow magic to manipulate the metal and wood. As to your request, I am afraid that would be impossible. Whoever touches the weapon directly next is bound to it. The bonding process would begin immediately. Hence, the need for the cloth wrapping.¡±


    Face and posture calm, Lyra looked Tinesi in the eye and asked, ¡°Besides my potential tie to the dark mage and the hints of my family involvement with your organization, what made you look at me and think, this elf would let a magical artifact absorb their soul turning them immortal. Trapped and forced to bring death and misery for an eternity?¡±


    Unblinking, Tinesi said, ¡°You lost the will to live, but are too stubborn to die, so you found a noble reason that has a higher chance of killing you. Now you have the excuse your pride demands. This is your opportunity to make a real difference. What you lack is focus. A guiding hand pointing in the right direction.¡±


    Back on her feet, Tinesi picked up the artifact by the cloth and held it out toward Lyra, already regretting what she was about to do. Drawing her full power behind the compulsion, she said, ¡°I know you want this. Stop looking for trouble and take the fight directly to the source. The darkness that plagues our land.¡±


    The fire fox spirit yipped. Jumping out of Lyra¡¯s lap, it wagged its tail, causing flames to fly off and dissipate. Lyra shook her head as if trying to break out of a haze, then glared at Tinesi.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what kind of mind meddling you tried to do on me but cut it out. I can decide if I¡¯m going to do this or not. Your argument is convincing on its own. I¡¯m tired of wandering around aimlessly, and this dark cloud following my thoughts has been drowning me in despair.¡±


    The fox rubbed up against Lyra¡¯s leg, then began pawing at her. Relenting to the spirit elemental¡¯s demands, she picked it up and stroked its fur.


    The fox defeated her last trump card, leaving her with nothing else. Tinesi had to hope her efforts were enough, despite her blunder after the fox thwarted her mind manipulation.


    ¡°I''ll do it.¡±


    Stunned at the abruptness, Tinesi stood there speechless. Grasping at her thoughts, she asked, ¡°You will?¡±


    Annoyance clipping her words, Lyra said, ¡°What? Do you not want me anymore? Am I unworthy of sacrificing myself?¡±


    Rushing to assure the elf, Tinesi shook her head and said, ¡°No, I¡¯m just surprised. I have my reservations regarding this new type of magic, but I have my orders.¡±


    Mana began swelling around Lyra, a spell being formed at her fingertips. The wind began spiraling under the artifact in Tinesi¡¯s hands, lifting it. It floated over to Lyra, who reached out and grasped the hilt. A surge in mana erupted from the weapon on contact. It mingled with the mana radiating off Lyra. The magical link was swift and final.


    ¡°I guess there¡¯s no going back now,¡± Lyra said in a resigned tone.


    Tinesi laughed at the absurdity of the moment and said, ¡°I suppose not.¡±


    Prancing around Lyra, the fox spirit left wisps of flames in the air that danced in place before being absorbed back into the natural balance of the forest. Tinesi watched in awe of the elemental. Its carefree attitude balanced with the fierce loyalty to its master, which left a foul taste of envy in her mouth.


    Tinesi, report. I detected a surge of energy near your location.


    Yes, sir. I located Lyra, and she agreed to our terms and claimed the magical weapon. There have been unexpected developments, though.


    Explain.


    I have discovered there may be links between our organization and Lyra''s family. She was hiding one of our lost relics this entire time. A new elemental spirit has been born.


    Understood. Make sure she gets close to the family member we suspect is a dark mage.


    At once, sir.


    Attention back on Lyra, who had the weapon close to her face inspecting the runes etched on its surface, Tinesi said, ¡°Now that you have joined the fight, your first assignment is to join the Rangers if your brother-in-law asks. We need to find out if he is a dark mage or not. Hunting down magical beasts helps our cause, so it will be a valuable experience either way.¡±


    Lyra shook her head as she sighed in exasperation and said, ¡°If this ends your baseless claims against him, I will do it. I doubt I will learn much from the Rangers. Their tactics and beliefs feel outdated and stale. They are capable fighters who help, so I can¡¯t be too harsh with them, but my father never did like them.¡±


    Amused that she shared a similar view to Lyra, Tinesi moved up and began pointing out the three runes and how to manipulate them to alter the shape of the weapon. She didn¡¯t know how much time Lyra had before the artifact absorbed her. For better or worse, she had made her decision and could only stay by Lyra''s side until the end.


    Tinesi hated to admit it, but she grew to respect Lyra. Her moral compass would not let her abandon or betray anyone she respected. A list smaller than the number of fingers on one hand.

 Chapter Ten: Transformation

    Nasir. Who was he? An elf. Brother to a now deceased Ryo. Traitor. The one who picked power and greed at the expense of two lives he had held dear so he could preserve his own life. Subservient to Kiressin. The dark mage who created the worst of the magical beasts plaguing these lands. The very beasts Nasir, as a Ranger, vowed to kill to ensure everyone''s safety, even if he secretly wished to just prove his skill.


    Now his promises were all subverted and twisted to fuel the deadly game Kiressin played. The dark mage wanted reports on how his creations fared against the Rangers so he could craft stronger monstrosities. Again, Nasir¡¯s actions would kill those he valued.


    The darkness that burrowed deep within clamped down on any lingering thoughts of decency or obligation. It also amplified every selfish impulse and desire he tried covering up. Ryo always saw through his bravado and the truth behind the mask. That frustrated him to no end.


    He may be all this and more, but as a fledgling dark mage himself, he now wielded the power he needed, no, deserved, and would prove to Lyra once and for all that she should be with him.


    ¡°No, not should. She will be mine. Even if I have to force her to see the truth. Lyra has nothing left to live for, and she will be too prideful to crawl back to her mother. She won¡¯t have any choice but to agree with me.¡±


    He returned to the rest of the Ranger team he belonged to after scouting ahead. Nasir said, ¡°I¡¯m back, Shaerwyn. I found some promising signs of another beast in the vicinity. There could be more than one.¡± What he failed to disclose was how he knew this. Kiressin made sure his newest pet could detect his creations so he could guide others to them.


    ¡°Thanks, Nasir. Listen up Elemalu and Siranya. Our newest scout found us another target. Let¡¯s go hunt another abomination,¡± said Shaerwyn.


    Finished crafting a new batch of arrows, Elemalu added them to his quiver and rose. Siranya pulled out her daggers from the tree she had been using for target practice and said, ¡°I still can¡¯t believe how you got so good at finding them. I¡¯ve been doing this for years, yet I need to rely on a young sprout to do what used to be my job.¡±


    It was a fact that Nasir was the newest member, a replacement after Halbron died. He found it difficult following Shaerwyn¡¯s orders, but his fear of Haera back in Timberwood outweighed any disagreements over leadership. Nasir spent decades under Lyra¡¯s shadow. He knew how to pretend.


    Kiressin wanted to test how a group fared this time instead of the usual single foe, so that¡¯s what Nasir would do. Nasir was leading his team into danger, knowing he would be spared death if his team succumbed to the darkness that tried to devour them. These abominations were no less deadly. The latest mental communication through the forced dark link revealed they were headed toward a nest of wolf-sized spiders that exhibited pack mentality and tactics.


    Everything will be fine. All I have to do is kill everything. Think of it as another test that proves once and for all how much stronger I am. They will beg me to lead them. It¡¯s only a matter of time.


    Shaerwyn led the group of hunters in the direction Nasir had pointed. The natural sounds of the forest dissipated the further they went.


    Elemalu pointed up and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t those spider webs?¡±


    ¡°That can¡¯t be possible. They are as thick as my fingers. How could a spider do that?¡± A baffled Siranya asked. Her neck craned back to see.


    With a leap off the ground, Elemalu bounced between two trees and reached out for a low-hanging branch close to the spider webs. Studying it close up, she reached out to touch it.


    ¡°Anya, no! Did you forget spiders use vibrations in their webs to identify intruders or potential meals?¡±


    The Ranger let go of the tree with a pout. ¡°You never let me have any fun, Shaerwyn.¡±


    ¡°I always end up with more work when you have fun,¡± said Elemalu, dryly.


    Finger shoved in his chest, Siranya said, ¡°You¡¯re our healer. Of course, it¡¯s your job to patch us up. What¡¯s so hard to understand about that?¡±


    Nasir winced at the sound of Shaerwyn''s hands slapping the back of their heads. Glaring at the two chastised Rangers, she said, ¡°Now is not the time to get snippy at each other. We are professional Rangers, so act like it. I''m sure Haera would entertain you both in a refresher course.


    The chastised Rangers snapped to attention when the rustle of leaves and the sounds of scurrying limbs echoed in the forest.


    They were coming.


    Yes. Plural. Just as Kiressin had informed him. Reaching for his sword, Nasir used an earthen reinforcement spell to strengthen and protect his body and a wind spell along the cutting edge to enhance its potential.


    ¡°They have ears too, I guess because they must have heard you all argue from the other side of the forest. Honestly, you¡¯re supposed to be one of the best Ranger teams. Try acting like it.¡±


    Elemalu grinned, hand still rubbing the back of his head. ¡°Don¡¯t mind us, Nasir. We may act like this occasionally, but we always fight seriously." The elf put action to his words as he strung up his bow and knocked an arrow.


    Less forgiving of the criticism, Siranya glared at Nasir. Contempt dripped from her lips as she said, ¡°Sure, you have a knack for finding more magical beasts than me, but in a fight, you¡¯re still a pup who needs to learn their place.¡±


    Coughing in her hand, Shaerwyn grabbed the team''s attention and said, ¡°Elemalu, try to thin their numbers. Siranya, I need you to disable them so that Nasir and I can finish them. Watch out for the web and keep moving. Nasir, with me.¡±


    The first abomination revealed itself. Eight giant furry legs connected to a wolf-sized bulbous body. Its head resembled a wolf, except for the two giant spider fangs sprouting out of its mouth. Despite its size, the creature scurried across the spiderwebs crisscrossing the branches up in the trees.


    Springing into the air, it launched itself straight down at Siranya. Elemalu launched several arrows in a row that sunk deep into the belly of the abomination. Lighting arcing up and down Siranya¡¯s daggers, the elf rolled out of the way and sprang back, both weapons sinking into its side, releasing the magical charge.


    Nasir laughed at the twitching abomination and said, ¡°Shall we call them wolf spiders?¡±


    Swift to act, Shaerwyn moved in and lobbed its head off. Sword resting on her shoulder, she said, ¡°Wolf spider is a good name. Let¡¯s go with that.¡±


    Three more scurried along the ground, trying to growl, but failing because of the enlarged fangs protruding from their jaws. On closer inspection, Nasir could see a viscous liquid dripping from the fangs.


    Of course, they have venom. Knowing him, he did something to it.


    A wall of water shot up in front of Shaerwyn, blocking the spray of venom that shot out of the lead wolf spider''s mouth. The vegetation dissolved where it landed.


    ¡°Watch out, their venom eats away at anything it touches!¡± Shaerwyn shouted, her water spell reshaping into multiple arrows. Siranya waved her hand over the water arrows, infusing them with lightning. Nasir¡¯s leader hurled the spell at the three magical beasts. They did not penetrate far, but that didn¡¯t matter. Lightning coursed through their bodies, forcing them to the ground, a twitching mess. Everyone but Elemalu rushed in for the easy kill. Careful not to step on any of the lingering venom.


    ¡°Get back!¡±


    Elemalu¡¯s frantic shout drew the rest of the group''s attention. Nasir felt the dark pulse of mana and looked in the direction their archer was pointing. Not knowing what to make of the monstrosity before him, he could only retreat with the rest.


    He didn¡¯t mention this.


    Unlike the others, this spider towered above the rest. It¡¯s children scurrying underneath it. Trees bent out of the way under the weight of its body pushing between them. It was all he could do to keep the tremors from reaching his hands. He would rather die than show weakness.


    Calm and assertive, Shaerwyn took charge of her team.


    Pointing at the wolf spiders hiding near its legs, she said, ¡°Ele, focus on the young, keep them off our backs, and watch out for the venom.¡± Calling out to an already charging Siranya, she said, ¡°Anya, I need you to keep Ele safe.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Reply lost in the mass of chittering wolf spiders.


    That left the big one up to him and Shaerwyn. Reinforcing his spells, Nasir nodded to her and said, ¡°You ready for this, Wyn?¡±


    ¡°You know I am. When the other two give us an opening, let¡¯s focus on disabling its legs,¡± said Shaerwyn, her sword gripped at her side.


    ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡±


    Their miniature forest battlefield erupted into chaos. Lighting strikes rained down on the wolf spiders, giving Elemalu the time he needed to fire off arrows with devastating results. Any that evaded the disabling effects of Siranya''s spells or Elemalu¡¯s arrows retaliated with a volley of venom.


    The archer escaped their attack with ease, quick to fire off more arrows into their ranks. Siranya didn¡¯t fare so well. Her acrobatics and the small earthen wall she tossed up couldn¡¯t save her from the assault so close to the enemy. Screaming in pain, she crushed the survivors into another wave of lightning strikes that split a few trees in half from the force. Rushing to her side, Elemalu dragged her back, hand already glowing with life energy healing her wounds.


    Nasir worked with Shaerwyn to cut down any wolf spiders that got too close to them, avoiding the area of lightning spells and arrows being fired off by the other two. To his surprise, the giant wolf spider did nothing but chitter as its young fell in droves.


    When it lifted the two front legs and swung them out, toppling any tree in its path, Nasir charged. Curving around the left side, he added a few layers of earth over the bottom of his feet that regenerated to counteract the venom lacing the ground.


    From the corner of his eye, he saw Shaerwyn gliding on a thin layer of wind that kept her off the ground. She wasn¡¯t a master at the element but made use of what she could when the need arose. Jumping on the now toppled tree, she hurled a handful of water arrows at the beast¡¯s head the moment before jumping up, sword arcing for the spider leg that still hung in the air.


    Following her example, Nasir ran at full strength. Pushing off with all his might, he clung to his sword with both hands and cleaved deep into the other leg raised high in the air. Unable to cut all the way through, he ripped it out on his way back down. Nasir watched the beast''s two front legs slam back down; a wave of venom-covered dirt in all directions.


    His quick thinking of moving behind a nearby tree saved him from the worst of it. To his delight, the damaged legs could no longer hold the spider''s weight. Bent in an odd direction where their blades cut deep into them, it cried out.


    Another wave of lightning strikes and precise arrow shots drilled into the wounded magical beast, forcing it backward. Not wanting to give it any chance of escaping, Nasir ran toward its rear, pressed his hand to the ground, reached for the darkness lurking beneath the skin, and poured all his hate into a single dirt spike that sprang from the ground, piercing its abdomen.


    Shaerwyn rejoined Siranya long enough to join forces for another lightning-water arrow. Much larger than the previous spells, the force of the impact snapped one of the giant fangs, sending a stream of venom gushing out of its mouth.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Sending the end was near, Nasir forced a small pillar of earth under him to shoot up in the air, propelling him up above his prey. Tucking his shoulder in, he rolled to a stop on the back of the wolf spider and said, ¡°Feel the bite of my blade, you foul creature. Your death only serves to strengthen me.¡±


    Thrusting his blade into the base of its neck, he twisted it, then yanked it up with all his might cleaving its head nearly in two. He held on when it collapsed to the ground, dead. Triumphant, Nasir held his sword high in the air and roared. The dark energy seeped from the beast finding a new home within himself.


    His new god rewarded those who were loyal and the most powerful. The weak were only fuel to empower the strong. Misery and suffering the energy that gave his followers the power to dominate. Nasir rejoined the rest of his team, the smirk that slipped out not going unnoticed by the wounded Anya.


    Siranya growled at Nasir, venom spewing from her lips as she said, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare smirk at me. Just because you dealt the final blow doesn¡¯t give you the right to look down on me. I earned my spot on this team, and I¡¯ll stab you in the eye before I ever acknowledge you for being anything but an insecure, pompous asshole.¡±


    Eyes narrowed, Nasir gripped his blade, the spider''s venom still in the process of eating away at the material. It would not last much longer.


    Doing her job, Shaerwyn stepped between the two and said, ¡°Nasir, you are healthy enough. Go scout the area and report back to me.¡±


    The darkness whispered in his ear, telling him to attack. To kill those weaker than him. Still feeling the rush of power from absorbing the dark mana, it took all his mental restraint to force himself around and walk away.


    You did well, my pet. I felt my creation die to your blade as its mana was transferred to you. Now tell me, how could they have done better?


    Thank you. The venom that could eat away at anything it came into contact with was beautiful. The giant wolf spider could wreak a lot of damage, but its size got in the way and made it easy to hinder its mobility and strike a killing blow. It would need a stronger defense that could stop magical weapon strikes to stand any chance.


    Thank you. That will be all for now. Head back now. I have a feeling you will like what you find.


    At once, sir.


    ¡°There are no more threats in the area. I suggest we make our way back home,¡± said Nasir when he joined back up with his team, Shaerwyn still talking with an upset Siranya. It appears the venom attack that splashed over her arm and leg ate away enough to question her fitness to stay on active duty.


    ¡°I won¡¯t repeat myself, Anya. You need to be evaluated back at base. I won¡¯t watch a friend die because she was too stubborn to admit when her time was up. We already lost Halbron. Don¡¯t ask me to lose another needlessly.¡±


    Face scrunched up in dissatisfaction, Siranya grunted, turning her back to Nasir, and walked away. Her slight limp was all the reward Nasir needed. Elemalu stepped up next to him and asked, ¡°Need any healing?¡±


    Still feeling the bite of the venom in a few spots, Nasir nodded. Elemalu frowned when he used his healing magic. Nasir noticed the resistance but didn¡¯t voice his concerns. Treatment finished, the elf jogged ahead and joined Siranya and Shaerwyn, leaving Nasir alone in the rear.


    The trek back to Timberwood was uneventful. Siranya¡¯s sour mood put a damper on the group¡¯s morale, except for Nasir, who inwardly took great satisfaction in her distress. Their healer did all he could to return her to normal, but his abilities couldn¡¯t regrow the missing parts destroyed by the venom. They would need a more powerful healer to accomplish that.


    When they arrived at the settlement, Shaerwyn guided them into the Ranger compound outside of Timberwood to report to Haera.


    Elemalu took Siranya off to see the Ranger''s top healer, which left Nasir alone. He was still deciding what he would do when he heard a familiar voice from behind.


    ¡°Nasir! You¡¯re back.¡±


    He turned and faced the annoyingly happy Paeral along with a much more tolerable sister, Keya. They worked well together, but he hated spending time with the pair.


    ¡°We just passed by Elemalu and limping Siranya. When I asked what happened, Siranya just snarled at me and kept walking.¡±


    Wishing they would just leave, Nasir said, ¡°Our last fight was against a wolf spider mutation that spat venom that could eat away at anything it touched.¡±


    Punching her brother in the arm, Keya glared at her brother before he asked another question and said, ¡°I''m glad you all survived the encounter. We had our fun while you were gone.¡±


    Paeral jumped back into the conversation and said, ¡°That¡¯s right. We were guarding a merchant when this random elf showed up. They had detected a magical beast before we could, then helped us take it out.¡±


    Picking up where her brother left off, Keya said, ¡°She ended up being a friend of Elora.¡±


    Saved by the door opening, Nasir turned in time to see Shaerwyn walk out. When their eyes met, she said, ¡°Good work, Nasir. You¡¯re dismissed. We need to wait for a report back on Siranya.¡±


    A chill went down his spine when Haera walked out, her presence still a force to be reckoned with. Gathering his courage, Nasir said, ¡°I have a request. May we speak inside?¡±


    ¡°Make it quick, rookie.¡±


    Nasir followed Haera into her office and sat down. A desk with an elaborate wooden chair behind it, with a few simple chairs on the side. Trophies hung on the wall from her kills when she still fought with a team. Heads of mutated wolves, bears, cougars, and a necklace of elf ears from the corrupted mages she encountered. The giant antler rack sitting on the ground in the corner looked new.


    ¡°That? An elf helped Keya and her brother out and killed the mutation while they were guarding a merchant. They took care of the corpse and then brought this as a trophy for Kellam. Gorre hasn¡¯t decided if they will let this inside the settlement.¡±


    After he took a seat, Nasir faced Haera, finger tapping on her desk, and said, ¡°I want permission to recruit my sister-in-law. Under her father, Daylor, she outperformed everyone else. She lost her family to a magical beast. I think it would be best for her and us if she joined the Rangers.¡±


    Eyes narrowed, Haera said, ¡°If I recall, Adjor took over after Daylor died during the blood moon mage rebellion. You may not know this, but the traitors who killed your instructor weren¡¯t the only ones. There were simultaneous attacks across the region that night.¡±


    She stood up and walked over to the necklace of ears hanging on the wall. Hand caressing them, she said ¡°My team and I were on patrol. My exploits that night propelled me to the position I''m in today.¡±


    Nasir felt Haera''s attention focus back on him. Her aura pressed against his.


    ¡°I appreciate your enthusiasm in trying to recruit a family member. If Lyra is willing, I will consider it. Gorre has the final say though.¡± Handing Nasir a small token, a wooden carving of two swords crossed, she said, ¡°Give this to him. It¡¯s my approval for your request."


    Chair sliding back, Nasir accepted the token and saluted. Quickly leaving, he made his way out and turned toward Timberwood. Siranya and Elemalu hadn¡¯t returned from the healer yet, and Shaerwyn had left.


    When he passed by the guard on his way out, he asked, ¡°Did you see Shaerwyn pass by?¡±


    The elf pointed toward Timberwood and said, ¡°Sure did. Looked like she needed a strong drink. Can¡¯t blame her after seeing Siranya limping in the way she did.¡±


    Dismissing the guard, Nasir made his way over to Timberwood. Seeing who was on duty, he waved at Nindrol and said, ¡°Hey, how have you been?¡±


    With a grin, Nindrol waved back. ¡°Welcome back. I¡¯m fine. We¡¯ve had a few run-ins with some magical beasts getting close to town while you been out.¡±


    ¡°I heard a random elf appeared who helped put a beast down. I saw the antlers in Haera¡¯s office.¡±


    The guard nodded enthusiastically and said, ¡°They are friends with Elora, I hear. Childhood friends if the rumors are true. In fact, they are back in town, and they brought a friend with them this time."


    Could this be the reason why he told me to go back home?


    The dark mage was still a mystery to Nasir. An elf who worshipped this dark force who reveled in death and misery. He knew this was wrong on a fundamental level, but he couldn¡¯t let go of his ambition. His pride would be his downfall and whatever the darkness swirling inside Nasir knew this too. Even now it amplified his worst thoughts. Consuming all he could have been until he became what Kiressin needed.


    If Nasir wanted to confess his crimes, he could. If the Rangers didn¡¯t kill him for it, the dark mage would. All the sacrifices he made would be all for nothing.


    I would rather watch the forest burn down than give up on Lyra. She will be mine.


    Thoughts focused on his inner struggle; Nasir missed Elora walking into a popular two-story establishment with two companions. He moved toward the inner gate where the guard held up a hand halting him.


    ¡°Greetings, Ranger. What business do you have inside today?¡±


    Nasir pulled out the token Haera gave him, showed it to the guard, and said, ¡°I have permission to speak with Gorre.¡±


    They stepped aside allowing him access. Marveling at the inner settlement¡¯s stylish homes reserve red for those important enough to keep safe behind a second wall. Elaborate carvings spread over the outside telling a story. This history of Timberwood since its rebirth when the Rangers were founded.


    In the very center stood a grand building taller than any other around where the ruling officials and the head of the Rangers in charge of this area spent most of their days while people like him were outside unprotected keeping the beasts away.


    Now they have a new beast pretending to be a Ranger in their midst. A snake slithering around their ankles. It would only take a single command for me to kill everyone and plunge Timberwood into chaos. My hope relies on Kiressin''s focus on playing with his creations instead of dismantling the Rangers.


    Nasir presented his token again at the door proceeded to Gorre''s office and knocked.


    ¡°Come in,¡± said the stern muffled voice from within.


    Another beast of a Ranger with a long history and an even longer trail of bodies left in their wake from their time fighting on the front lines in this never-ending battle. Gorre didn¡¯t scare Nasir like Haera could, but he wore his authority on his shoulders and made sure no one ever forgot it.


    ¡°Make it quick. I don¡¯t have all day to listen to every request a Ranger makes."


    Where Haera decorated her room with trophies, left his bare. There were intricate carvings along the walls, but other than the single desk and chair, nothing of note was there. Gorre spoke with Kellam''s authority and Nasir knew his place. Placing the token on the desk, Nasir stood at attention and said, ¡°I wish to recruit Lyra. She is my sister-in-law and has a fresh reason to fight back against the beasts we hunt.¡±


    Twirling the token between his fingers, Gorre stared at Nasir for an uncomfortably long time. ¡°I can assume you convinced Haera that this would be worth my time and energy.¡± Nasir knew better than to reply, a trap the elf used often. ¡°What¡¯s her name?¡±


    ¡°Lyra, sir. She specializes in ice daggers with proficiency in wind and fire. There are a few others, but less notable.¡±


    Tossing the token in the air, Gorre snatched it out of the air. ¡°Lyra, you say. As it so happens, I received a report not long ago about a few guests who entered last night. The elf who helped take down the magical beast recently and her companion, Lyra. What are the odds she is the one you speak of?¡±


    Was Lyra here? It couldn¡¯t be true. Could it? Wait! She has to be. Why else would that mage tell him to head home? He knew his obsession with her. But how did he know?


    His hands clenched; a manic grin stretched across his face. He had to know. Saluting, he said, ¡°I will confirm her identity and present her to Haera if it is indeed my Lyra.¡±


    Gorre raised an eyebrow when he emphasized, ¡°My Lyra,¡± But made no remark. The Ranger''s second-in-command waved him away, still messing with the token Nasir handed over.


    No longer lost in thought, Nasir followed the rumors and made his inquiries. All pointed in one direction. The most popular place in Timberwood to hang out and have a good meal or a strong drink in Shaerwyn''s case.


    He pushed his way inside. Head whipping back and forth trying to find her. One of the elves who worked there said something that he ignored. Shrugging, she left him be. Eyes focused on a group snuggled in the corner, Nasir could make out Elora who sat next to a stranger. What pushed his feet forward wasn¡¯t them, but the mystery third who had her back to him.


    ¡°Thank you, Elora. I appreciate all you have done for me,¡± said a voice he knew all too well.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome. Any friend of Tinesi is a friend of mine. I''m sure you will succeed wherever you decide to settle down.¡±


    ¡°I doubt I¡¯ll ever put down new roots. I tried that already and it was ripped away from me.¡±


    Any doubt that lingered was squashed instantly. Hand reaching out, he moved closer. So many words battled to be the first past his lips. Hand gripping his shoulder from behind, he heard, ¡°Not so fast, Ranger. What business do you have with my wife and her friends?¡±


    Captain Reptar spun Nasir around. His no-nonsense attitude was on full display. Mind still struggling for the words to say, he looked back toward the three. Eyes meeting hers for the first time since before he betrayed her, Lyra stared at Nasir. Her expression was void of all emotion. A blank slate watching him with disinterest.


    ¡°Lyra?¡±


    ¡°Hello, Nasir. You don¡¯t look surprised to see me. I guess you know what happened?¡±


    Grip still holding Nasir, Reptar looked to his wife. Elora shooed him away with a wave of her hand. He complied, sitting back down with a group of off-duty guards.


    Free to move, Nasir stepped closer and said, ¡°I do. My team and I just returned home myself so I couldn¡¯t find out what happened to you yet.¡±


    Lyra''s outburst of laughter caught the attention of everyone else inside. She took a few deep breaths composing herself and said, ¡°We grew up together, Nasir. You have many talents, but lying isn¡¯t one of them. Stop treating me like a fool. We both know you never made an effort to find me.¡±


    Every instinct that pushed Nasir to make himself look smaller and submit to her overwhelming presence vanished in an instant. Destroyed by the darkness clutching his heart with tendrils of power. Jaw set straight, he said, ¡°First and foremost I am a Ranger with responsibilities of my own. By the time I learned, too much time had gone by.¡±


    Shaking her head, Lyra took a deep breath and let it out. ¡°Let''s move past the ugly truth and get down to why I¡¯m here. You have something to ask me, don¡¯t you?¡±


    This wasn¡¯t how it was supposed to go. She should be a broken mess. Pliable to his needs and desires. He all but guaranteed it the moment he sacrificed Ryo and Airdan in exchange for power and another chance to live. Refusing to back down, he said ¡°Join the Rangers. You belong here. Being a housewife was never supposed to be how you spent your life.¡±


    You belong with me.


    Ice dagger appearing in her grasp, the chair sliding back from the force of her standing, Lyra pointed it at Nasir and growled out, ¡°I may have put up with this dismissive behavior before, but not anymore. No one dictates how I live my life, let alone you Nasir. The one who never could handle not being the best. I choose to become a Ranger. I will make you realize how outclassed you are.¡±


    Hand resting on the pummel of his sword, Captain Reptar said, ¡°Lyra, we don¡¯t take kindly to those who pull out weapons inside of town. You need to dismiss the spell or I will be forced to act.¡±


    Elora chuckled from her seat. When her husband glanced over at her, she said, ¡°You would be dead before the sword ever left its sheath, dear husband.¡± Her friend next to Elora said, ¡°And I would kill anyone who harmed my companion.¡±


    A loud booming voice empowered with wind magic shouted, ¡°That¡¯s enough! Take your dispute outside before I toss you all out myself and refuse you service for the rest of my life.¡±


    After the ice dagger melted in her hand, Lyra turned to the owner and bowed. ¡°I apologize for my actions. It will never happen again.¡± Waving at Elora and the other elf, Lyra walked past Nasir and Captain Reptar. When she reached the door, Lyra looked over her shoulder and asked, ¡°Are you coming, Nasir?¡±


    I did it. Lyra is going to be a Ranger. I don''t care how it happens or how feisty you may be. Nothing escapes the darkness. Even your father fell to its power.


    ¡°Yes. I need to introduce you to Haera. She handles the recruits.¡±


    I said you would like what you found. Do not disappoint me. I will kill her if you do.

 Chapter Eleven: Duplicity

    Nasir. Who was he? An elf. Brother to a now deceased Ryo. Traitor. The one who picked power and greed at the expense of two lives he had held dear so he could preserve his own life. Subservient to Kiressin. The dark mage who created the worst of the magical beasts plaguing these lands. The very beasts Nasir, as a Ranger, vowed to kill to ensure everyone''s safety, even if he secretly wished to just prove his skill.


    Now his promises were all subverted and twisted to fuel the deadly game Kiressin played. The dark mage wanted reports on how his creations fared against the Rangers so he could craft stronger monstrosities. Again, Nasir¡¯s actions would kill those he valued.


    The darkness that burrowed deep within clamped down on any lingering thoughts of decency or obligation. It also amplified every selfish impulse and desire he tried covering up. Ryo always saw through his bravado and the truth behind the mask. That frustrated him to no end.


    He may be all this and more, but as a fledgling dark mage himself, he now wielded the power he needed, no, deserved, and would prove to Lyra once and for all that she should be with him.


    ¡°No, not should. She will be mine. Even if I have to force her to see the truth. Lyra has nothing left to live for, and she will be too prideful to crawl back to her mother. She won¡¯t have any choice but to agree with me.¡±


    He returned to the rest of the Ranger team he belonged to after scouting ahead. Nasir said, ¡°I¡¯m back, Shaerwyn. I found some promising signs of another beast in the vicinity. There could be more than one.¡± What he failed to disclose was how he knew this. Kiressin made sure his newest pet could detect his creations so he could guide others to them.


    ¡°Thanks, Nasir. Listen up Elemalu and Siranya. Our newest scout found us another target. Let¡¯s go hunt another abomination,¡± said Shaerwyn.


    Finished crafting a new batch of arrows, Elemalu added them to his quiver and rose. Siranya pulled out her daggers from the tree she had been using for target practice and said, ¡°I still can¡¯t believe how you got so good at finding them. I¡¯ve been doing this for years, yet I need to rely on a young sprout to do what used to be my job.¡±


    It was a fact that Nasir was the newest member, a replacement after Halbron died. He found it difficult following Shaerwyn¡¯s orders, but his fear of Haera back in Timberwood outweighed any disagreements over leadership. Nasir spent decades under Lyra¡¯s shadow. He knew how to pretend.


    Kiressin wanted to test how a group fared this time instead of the usual single foe, so that¡¯s what Nasir would do. Nasir was leading his team into danger, knowing he would be spared death if his team succumbed to the darkness that tried to devour them. These abominations were no less deadly. The latest mental communication through the forced dark link revealed they were headed toward a nest of wolf-sized spiders that exhibited pack mentality and tactics.


    Everything will be fine. All I have to do is kill everything. Think of it as another test that proves once and for all how much stronger I am. They will beg me to lead them. It¡¯s only a matter of time.


    Shaerwyn led the group of hunters in the direction Nasir had pointed. The natural sounds of the forest dissipated the further they went.


    Elemalu pointed up and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t those spider webs?¡±


    ¡°That can¡¯t be possible. They are as thick as my fingers. How could a spider do that?¡± A baffled Siranya asked. Her neck craned back to see.


    With a leap off the ground, Elemalu bounced between two trees and reached out for a low-hanging branch close to the spider webs. Studying it close up, she reached out to touch it.


    ¡°Anya, no! Did you forget spiders use vibrations in their webs to identify intruders or potential meals?¡±


    The Ranger let go of the tree with a pout. ¡°You never let me have any fun, Shaerwyn.¡±


    ¡°I always end up with more work when you have fun,¡± said Elemalu, dryly.


    Finger shoved in his chest, Siranya said, ¡°You¡¯re our healer. Of course, it¡¯s your job to patch us up. What¡¯s so hard to understand about that?¡±


    Nasir winced at the sound of Shaerwyn''s hands slapping the back of their heads. Glaring at the two chastised Rangers, she said, ¡°Now is not the time to get snippy at each other. We are professional Rangers, so act like it. I''m sure Haera would entertain you both in a refresher course.


    The chastised Rangers snapped to attention when the rustle of leaves and the sounds of scurrying limbs echoed in the forest.


    They were coming.


    Yes. Plural. Just as Kiressin had informed him. Reaching for his sword, Nasir used an earthen reinforcement spell to strengthen and protect his body and a wind spell along the cutting edge to enhance its potential.


    ¡°They have ears too, I guess because they must have heard you all argue from the other side of the forest. Honestly, you¡¯re supposed to be one of the best Ranger teams. Try acting like it.¡±


    Elemalu grinned, hand still rubbing the back of his head. ¡°Don¡¯t mind us, Nasir. We may act like this occasionally, but we always fight seriously." The elf put action to his words as he strung up his bow and knocked an arrow.


    Less forgiving of the criticism, Siranya glared at Nasir. Contempt dripped from her lips as she said, ¡°Sure, you have a knack for finding more magical beasts than me, but in a fight, you¡¯re still a pup who needs to learn their place.¡±


    Coughing in her hand, Shaerwyn grabbed the team''s attention and said, ¡°Elemalu, try to thin their numbers. Siranya, I need you to disable them so that Nasir and I can finish them. Watch out for the web and keep moving. Nasir, with me.¡±


    The first abomination revealed itself. Eight giant furry legs connected to a wolf-sized bulbous body. Its head resembled a wolf, except for the two giant spider fangs sprouting out of its mouth. Despite its size, the creature scurried across the spiderwebs crisscrossing the branches up in the trees.


    Springing into the air, it launched itself straight down at Siranya. Elemalu launched several arrows in a row that sunk deep into the belly of the abomination. Lighting arcing up and down Siranya¡¯s daggers, the elf rolled out of the way and sprang back, both weapons sinking into its side, releasing the magical charge.


    Nasir laughed at the twitching abomination and said, ¡°Shall we call them wolf spiders?¡±


    Swift to act, Shaerwyn moved in and lobbed its head off. Sword resting on her shoulder, she said, ¡°Wolf spider is a good name. Let¡¯s go with that.¡±


    Three more scurried along the ground, trying to growl, but failing because of the enlarged fangs protruding from their jaws. On closer inspection, Nasir could see a viscous liquid dripping from the fangs.


    Of course, they have venom. Knowing him, he did something to it.


    A wall of water shot up in front of Shaerwyn, blocking the spray of venom that shot out of the lead wolf spider''s mouth. The vegetation dissolved where it landed.


    ¡°Watch out, their venom eats away at anything it touches!¡± Shaerwyn shouted, her water spell reshaping into multiple arrows. Siranya waved her hand over the water arrows, infusing them with lightning. Nasir¡¯s leader hurled the spell at the three magical beasts. They did not penetrate far, but that didn¡¯t matter. Lightning coursed through their bodies, forcing them to the ground, a twitching mess. Everyone but Elemalu rushed in for the easy kill. Careful not to step on any of the lingering venom.


    ¡°Get back!¡±


    Elemalu¡¯s frantic shout drew the rest of the group''s attention. Nasir felt the dark pulse of mana and looked in the direction their archer was pointing. Not knowing what to make of the monstrosity before him, he could only retreat with the rest.


    He didn¡¯t mention this.


    Unlike the others, this spider towered above the rest. It¡¯s children scurrying underneath it. Trees bent out of the way under the weight of its body pushing between them. It was all he could do to keep the tremors from reaching his hands. He would rather die than show weakness.


    Calm and assertive, Shaerwyn took charge of her team.


    Pointing at the wolf spiders hiding near its legs, she said, ¡°Ele, focus on the young, keep them off our backs, and watch out for the venom.¡± Calling out to an already charging Siranya, she said, ¡°Anya, I need you to keep Ele safe.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Reply lost in the mass of chittering wolf spiders.


    That left the big one up to him and Shaerwyn. Reinforcing his spells, Nasir nodded to her and said, ¡°You ready for this, Wyn?¡±


    ¡°You know I am. When the other two give us an opening, let¡¯s focus on disabling its legs,¡± said Shaerwyn, her sword gripped at her side.


    ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡±


    Their miniature forest battlefield erupted into chaos. Lighting strikes rained down on the wolf spiders, giving Elemalu the time he needed to fire off arrows with devastating results. Any that evaded the disabling effects of Siranya''s spells or Elemalu¡¯s arrows retaliated with a volley of venom.


    The archer escaped their attack with ease, quick to fire off more arrows into their ranks. Siranya didn¡¯t fare so well. Her acrobatics and the small earthen wall she tossed up couldn¡¯t save her from the assault so close to the enemy. Screaming in pain, she crushed the survivors into another wave of lightning strikes that split a few trees in half from the force. Rushing to her side, Elemalu dragged her back, hand already glowing with life energy healing her wounds.


    Nasir worked with Shaerwyn to cut down any wolf spiders that got too close to them, avoiding the area of lightning spells and arrows being fired off by the other two. To his surprise, the giant wolf spider did nothing but chitter as its young fell in droves.


    When it lifted the two front legs and swung them out, toppling any tree in its path, Nasir charged. Curving around the left side, he added a few layers of earth over the bottom of his feet that regenerated to counteract the venom lacing the ground.


    From the corner of his eye, he saw Shaerwyn gliding on a thin layer of wind that kept her off the ground. She wasn¡¯t a master at the element but made use of what she could when the need arose. Jumping on the now toppled tree, she hurled a handful of water arrows at the beast¡¯s head the moment before jumping up, sword arcing for the spider leg that still hung in the air.


    Following her example, Nasir ran at full strength. Pushing off with all his might, he clung to his sword with both hands and cleaved deep into the other leg raised high in the air. Unable to cut all the way through, he ripped it out on his way back down. Nasir watched the beast''s two front legs slam back down; a wave of venom-covered dirt in all directions.


    His quick thinking of moving behind a nearby tree saved him from the worst of it. To his delight, the damaged legs could no longer hold the spider''s weight. Bent in an odd direction where their blades cut deep into them, it cried out.


    Another wave of lightning strikes and precise arrow shots drilled into the wounded magical beast, forcing it backward. Not wanting to give it any chance of escaping, Nasir ran toward its rear, pressed his hand to the ground, reached for the darkness lurking beneath the skin, and poured all his hate into a single dirt spike that sprang from the ground, piercing its abdomen.


    Shaerwyn rejoined Siranya long enough to join forces for another lightning-water arrow. Much larger than the previous spells, the force of the impact snapped one of the giant fangs, sending a stream of venom gushing out of its mouth.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Sending the end was near, Nasir forced a small pillar of earth under him to shoot up in the air, propelling him up above his prey. Tucking his shoulder in, he rolled to a stop on the back of the wolf spider and said, ¡°Feel the bite of my blade, you foul creature. Your death only serves to strengthen me.¡±


    Thrusting his blade into the base of its neck, he twisted it, then yanked it up with all his might cleaving its head nearly in two. He held on when it collapsed to the ground, dead. Triumphant, Nasir held his sword high in the air and roared. The dark energy seeped from the beast finding a new home within himself.


    His new god rewarded those who were loyal and the most powerful. The weak were only fuel to empower the strong. Misery and suffering the energy that gave his followers the power to dominate. Nasir rejoined the rest of his team, the smirk that slipped out not going unnoticed by the wounded Anya.


    Siranya growled at Nasir, venom spewing from her lips as she said, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare smirk at me. Just because you dealt the final blow doesn¡¯t give you the right to look down on me. I earned my spot on this team, and I¡¯ll stab you in the eye before I ever acknowledge you for being anything but an insecure, pompous asshole.¡±


    Eyes narrowed, Nasir gripped his blade, the spider''s venom still in the process of eating away at the material. It would not last much longer.


    Doing her job, Shaerwyn stepped between the two and said, ¡°Nasir, you are healthy enough. Go scout the area and report back to me.¡±


    The darkness whispered in his ear, telling him to attack. To kill those weaker than him. Still feeling the rush of power from absorbing the dark mana, it took all his mental restraint to force himself around and walk away.


    You did well, my pet. I felt my creation die to your blade as its mana was transferred to you. Now tell me, how could they have done better?


    Thank you. The venom that could eat away at anything it came into contact with was beautiful. The giant wolf spider could wreak a lot of damage, but its size got in the way and made it easy to hinder its mobility and strike a killing blow. It would need a stronger defense that could stop magical weapon strikes to stand any chance.


    Thank you. That will be all for now. Head back now. I have a feeling you will like what you find.


    At once, sir.


    ¡°There are no more threats in the area. I suggest we make our way back home,¡± said Nasir when he joined back up with his team, Shaerwyn still talking with an upset Siranya. It appears the venom attack that splashed over her arm and leg ate away enough to question her fitness to stay on active duty.


    ¡°I won¡¯t repeat myself, Anya. You need to be evaluated back at base. I won¡¯t watch a friend die because she was too stubborn to admit when her time was up. We already lost Halbron. Don¡¯t ask me to lose another needlessly.¡±


    Face scrunched up in dissatisfaction, Siranya grunted, turning her back to Nasir, and walked away. Her slight limp was all the reward Nasir needed. Elemalu stepped up next to him and asked, ¡°Need any healing?¡±


    Still feeling the bite of the venom in a few spots, Nasir nodded. Elemalu frowned when he used his healing magic. Nasir noticed the resistance but didn¡¯t voice his concerns. Treatment finished, the elf jogged ahead and joined Siranya and Shaerwyn, leaving Nasir alone in the rear.


    The trek back to Timberwood was uneventful. Siranya¡¯s sour mood put a damper on the group¡¯s morale, except for Nasir, who inwardly took great satisfaction in her distress. Their healer did all he could to return her to normal, but his abilities couldn¡¯t regrow the missing parts destroyed by the venom. They would need a more powerful healer to accomplish that.


    When they arrived at the settlement, Shaerwyn guided them into the Ranger compound outside of Timberwood to report to Haera.


    Elemalu took Siranya off to see the Ranger''s top healer, which left Nasir alone. He was still deciding what he would do when he heard a familiar voice from behind.


    ¡°Nasir! You¡¯re back.¡±


    He turned and faced the annoyingly happy Paeral along with a much more tolerable sister, Keya. They worked well together, but he hated spending time with the pair.


    ¡°We just passed by Elemalu and limping Siranya. When I asked what happened, Siranya just snarled at me and kept walking.¡±


    Wishing they would just leave, Nasir said, ¡°Our last fight was against a wolf spider mutation that spat venom that could eat away at anything it touched.¡±


    Punching her brother in the arm, Keya glared at her brother before he asked another question and said, ¡°I''m glad you all survived the encounter. We had our fun while you were gone.¡±


    Paeral jumped back into the conversation and said, ¡°That¡¯s right. We were guarding a merchant when this random elf showed up. They had detected a magical beast before we could, then helped us take it out.¡±


    Picking up where her brother left off, Keya said, ¡°She ended up being a friend of Elora.¡±


    Saved by the door opening, Nasir turned in time to see Shaerwyn walk out. When their eyes met, she said, ¡°Good work, Nasir. You¡¯re dismissed. We need to wait for a report back on Siranya.¡±


    A chill went down his spine when Haera walked out, her presence still a force to be reckoned with. Gathering his courage, Nasir said, ¡°I have a request. May we speak inside?¡±


    ¡°Make it quick, rookie.¡±


    Nasir followed Haera into her office and sat down. A desk with an elaborate wooden chair behind it, with a few simple chairs on the side. Trophies hung on the wall from her kills when she still fought with a team. Heads of mutated wolves, bears, cougars, and a necklace of elf ears from the corrupted mages she encountered. The giant antler rack sitting on the ground in the corner looked new.


    ¡°That? An elf helped Keya and her brother out and killed the mutation while they were guarding a merchant. They took care of the corpse and then brought this as a trophy for Kellam. Gorre hasn¡¯t decided if they will let this inside the settlement.¡±


    After he took a seat, Nasir faced Haera, finger tapping on her desk, and said, ¡°I want permission to recruit my sister-in-law. Under her father, Daylor, she outperformed everyone else. She lost her family to a magical beast. I think it would be best for her and us if she joined the Rangers.¡±


    Eye¡¯s narrowed, Haera said, ¡°If I recall, Adjor took over after Daylor died during the blood moon mage rebellion. You may not know this, but the traitors who killed your instructor weren¡¯t the only ones. There were simultaneous attacks across the region that night.¡±


    She stood up and walked over to the necklace of ears hanging on the wall. Hand caressing them, she said ¡°My team and I were on patrol. My exploits that night propelled me to the position I''m in today.¡±


    Nasir felt Haera''s attention focus back on him. Her aura pressed against his.


    ¡°I appreciate your enthusiasm in trying to recruit a family member. If Lyra is willing, I will consider it. Gorre has the final say though.¡± Handing Nasir a small token, a wooden carving of two swords crossed, she said, ¡°Give this to him. It¡¯s my approval for your request."


    Chair sliding back, Nasir accepted the token and saluted. Quickly leaving, he made his way out and turned toward Timberwood. Siranya and Elemalu hadn¡¯t returned from the healer yet, and Shaerwyn had left.


    When he passed by the guard on his way out, he asked, ¡°Did you see Shaerwyn pass by?¡±


    The elf pointed toward Timberwood and said, ¡°Sure did. Looked like she needed a strong drink. Can¡¯t blame her after seeing Siranya limping in the way she did.¡±


    Dismissing the guard, Nasir made his way over to Timberwood. Seeing who was on duty, he waved at Nindrol and said, ¡°Hey, how have you been?¡±


    With a grin, Nindrol waved back. ¡°Welcome back. I¡¯m fine. We¡¯ve had a few run-ins with some magical beasts getting close to town while you been out.¡±


    ¡°I heard a random elf appeared who helped put a beast down. I saw the antlers in Haera¡¯s office.¡±


    The guard nodded enthusiastically and said, ¡°They are friends with Elora, I hear. Childhood friends if the rumors are true. In fact, they are back in town, and they brought a friend with them this time."


    Could this be the reason why he told me to go back home?


    The dark mage was still a mystery to Nasir. An elf who worshipped this dark force who reveled in death and misery. He knew this was wrong on a fundamental level, but he couldn¡¯t let go of his ambition. His pride would be his downfall and whatever the darkness swirling inside Nasir knew this too. Even now it amplified his worst thoughts. Consuming all he could have been until he became what Kiressin needed.


    If Nasir wanted to confess his crimes, he could. If the Rangers didn¡¯t kill him for it, the dark mage would. All the sacrifices he made would be all for nothing.


    I would rather watch the forest burn down than give up on Lyra. She will be mine.


    Thoughts focused on his inner struggle; Nasir missed Elora walking into a popular two-story establishment with two companions. He moved toward the inner gate where the guard held up a hand halting him.


    ¡°Greetings, Ranger. What business do you have inside today?¡±


    Nasir pulled out the token Haera gave him, showed it to the guard, and said, ¡°I have permission to speak with Gorre.¡±


    They stepped aside allowing him access. Marveling at the inner settlement¡¯s stylish homes reserve red for those important enough to keep safe behind a second wall. Elaborate carvings spread over the outside telling a story. This history of Timberwood since its rebirth when the Rangers were founded.


    In the very center stood a grand building taller than any other around where the ruling officials and the head of the Rangers in charge of this area spent most of their days while people like him were outside unprotected keeping the beasts away.


    Now they have a new beast pretending to be a Ranger in their midst. A snake slithering around their ankles. It would only take a single command for me to kill everyone and plunge Timberwood into chaos. My hope relies on Kiressin''s focus on playing with his creations instead of dismantling the Rangers.


    Nasir presented his token again at the door proceeded to Gorre''s office and knocked.


    ¡°Come in,¡± said the stern muffled voice from within.


    Another beast of a Ranger with a long history and an even longer trail of bodies left in their wake from their time fighting on the front lines in this never-ending battle. Gorre didn¡¯t scare Nasir like Haera could, but he wore his authority on his shoulders and made sure no one ever forgot it.


    ¡°Make it quick. I don¡¯t have all day to listen to every request a Ranger makes."


    Where Haera decorated her room with trophies, left his bare. There were intricate carvings along the walls, but other than the single desk and chair, nothing of note was there. Gorre spoke with Kellam''s authority and Nasir knew his place. Placing the token on the desk, Nasir stood at attention and said, ¡°I wish to recruit Lyra. She is my sister-in-law and has a fresh reason to fight back against the beasts we hunt.¡±


    Twirling the token between his fingers, Gorre stared at Nasir for an uncomfortably long time. ¡°I can assume you convinced Haera that this would be worth my time and energy.¡± Nasir knew better than to reply, a trap the elf used often. ¡°What¡¯s her name?¡±


    ¡°Lyra, sir. She specializes in ice daggers with proficiency in wind and fire. There are a few others, but less notable.¡±


    Tossing the token in the air, Gorre snatched it out of the air. ¡°Lyra, you say. As it so happens, I received a report not long ago about a few guests who entered last night. The elf who helped take down the magical beast recently and her companion, Lyra. What are the odds she is the one you speak of?¡±


    Was Lyra here? It couldn¡¯t be true. Could it? Wait! She has to be. Why else would that mage tell him to head home? He knew his obsession with her. But how did he know?


    His hands clenched; a manic grin stretched across his face. He had to know. Saluting, he said, ¡°I will confirm her identity and present her to Haera if it is indeed my Lyra.¡±


    Gorre raised an eyebrow when he emphasized, ¡°My Lyra,¡± But made no remark. The Ranger''s second-in-command waved him away, still messing with the token Nasir handed over.


    No longer lost in thought, Nasir followed the rumors and made his inquiries. All pointed in one direction. The most popular place in Timberwood to hang out and have a good meal or a strong drink in Shaerwyn''s case.


    He pushed his way inside. Head whipping back and forth trying to find her. One of the elves who worked there said something that he ignored. Shrugging, she left him be. Eyes focused on a group snuggled in the corner, Nasir could make out Elora who sat next to a stranger. What pushed his feet forward wasn¡¯t them, but the mystery third who had her back to him.


    ¡°Thank you, Elora. I appreciate all you have done for me,¡± said a voice he knew all too well.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome. Any friend of Tinesi is a friend of mine. I''m sure you will succeed wherever you decide to settle down.¡±


    ¡°I doubt I¡¯ll ever put down new roots. I tried that already and it was ripped away from me.¡±


    Any doubt that lingered was squashed instantly. Hand reaching out, he moved closer. So many words battled to be the first past his lips. Hand gripping his shoulder from behind, he heard, ¡°Not so fast, Ranger. What business do you have with my wife and her friends?¡±


    Captain Reptar spun Nasir around. His no-nonsense attitude was on full display. Mind still struggling for the words to say, he looked back toward the three. Eyes meeting hers for the first time since before he betrayed her, Lyra stared at Nasir. Her expression was void of all emotion. A blank slate watching him with disinterest.


    ¡°Lyra?¡±


    ¡°Hello, Nasir. You don¡¯t look surprised to see me. I guess you know what happened?¡±


    Grip still holding Nasir, Reptar looked to his wife. Elora shooed him away with a wave of her hand. He complied, sitting back down with a group of off-duty guards.


    Free to move, Nasir stepped closer and said, ¡°I do. My team and I just returned home myself so I couldn¡¯t find out what happened to you yet.¡±


    Lyra''s outburst of laughter caught the attention of everyone else inside. She took a few deep breaths composing herself and said, ¡°We grew up together, Nasir. You have many talents, but lying isn¡¯t one of them. Stop treating me like a fool. We both know you never made an effort to find me.¡±


    Every instinct that pushed Nasir to make himself look smaller and submit to her overwhelming presence vanished in an instant. Destroyed by the darkness clutching his heart with tendrils of power. Jaw set straight, he said, ¡°First and foremost I am a Ranger with responsibilities of my own. By the time I learned, too much time had gone by.¡±


    Shaking her head, Lyra took a deep breath and let it out. ¡°Let''s move past the ugly truth and get down to why I¡¯m here. You have something to ask me, don¡¯t you?¡±


    This wasn¡¯t how it was supposed to go. She should be a broken mess. Pliable to his needs and desires. He all but guaranteed it the moment he sacrificed Ryo and Airdan in exchange for power and another chance to live. Refusing to back down, he said ¡°Join the Rangers. You belong here. Being a housewife was never supposed to be how you spent your life.¡±


    You belong with me.


    Ice dagger appearing in her grasp, the chair sliding back from the force of her standing, Lyra pointed it at Nasir and growled out, ¡°I may have put up with this dismissive behavior before, but not anymore. No one dictates how I live my life, let alone you Nasir. The one who never could handle not being the best. I choose to become a Ranger. I will make you realize how outclassed you are.¡±


    Hand resting on the pummel of his sword, Captain Reptar said, ¡°Lyra, we don¡¯t take kindly to those who pull out weapons inside of town. You need to dismiss the spell or I will be forced to act.¡±


    Elora chuckled from her seat. When her husband glanced over at her, she said, ¡°You would be dead before the sword ever left its sheath, dear husband.¡± Her friend next to Elora said, ¡°And I would kill anyone who harmed my companion.¡±


    A loud booming voice empowered with wind magic shouted, ¡°That¡¯s enough! Take your dispute outside before I toss you all out myself and refuse you service for the rest of my life.¡±


    After the ice dagger melted in her hand, Lyra turned to the owner and bowed. ¡°I apologize for my actions. It will never happen again.¡± Waving at Elora and the other elf, Lyra walked past Nasir and Captain Reptar. When she reached the door, Lyra looked over her shoulder and asked, ¡°Are you coming, Nasir?¡±


    I did it. Lyra is going to be a Ranger. I don''t care how it happens or how feisty you may be. Nothing escapes the darkness. Even your father fell to its power.


    ¡°Yes. I need to introduce you to Haera. She handles the recruits.¡±


    I said you would like what you found. Remember this the next time you.

 Chapter Twelve: Ranger Induction

    Rushing to catch up to Lyra, Nasir felt indignation. How dare she presume to lead him! He was the experienced Ranger. Not her. What would a housewife know about surviving in the wilderness? She may not have a husband or child to worry about anymore, but that didn¡¯t erase the time wasted on them instead of fighting by his side where she belonged.


    The shadows will be the ones swallowing you now, my pretty little bird. It¡¯s time you learned your place.


    Hidden behind his mask, Nasir smiled and said, ¡°Haera can be strict, but she means well. I found out she was on active duty when our classmates turned on us.¡± Glancing in his direction, Lyra looked at him with a blank expression. Flustered, he went on, ¡°Who would have guessed what happened to us occurred elsewhere all at once? Do you think they ever caught who was responsible?¡±


    Chuckling under her breath, Lyra glared at him. ¡°How can you call yourself a Ranger if you don¡¯t know simple facts about your organization? Is this just a game to you?¡±


    His darkest thoughts fought to break free. Fueled by the god he now served; Nasir barely held on. Cracks formed over the mental wall he had built, and a snarl escaped. Words he could never take back released.


    ¡°Shut up. You¡¯re still just a little bird who knows how to fly a little better than the others. Haera will crush this inflated ego of yours and bring you back down to reality.¡±


    By the time his head snapped to the side, Nasir felt the pain. Lyra kept walking; her right hand clenched in a fist. Everyone else who saw them stared at him with disgust. A child pointed at Nasir and asked, ¡°Momma, why did she slap him?¡±


    Ignoring the chatter growing around him, he raced to catch up. This was not how it was supposed to go. This wall forming between them had to fall. If he couldn¡¯t find a crack, he would make one.


    When he caught up, she refused to look at him. Desperate to salvage his standing with her, he said, ¡°Look, I¡¯m sorry. My team got hurt in our last mission and I took my frustration out on you. Let''s focus on the test so you can become a Ranger yourself and understand the responsibilities we have protecting everyone.¡±


    Hand unclenching, Lyra turned around, blocking his path. Finger shoved into his chest, she said, ¡°Call me little bird one more time and I will grab your little bird and cut it off. Do I make myself clear?¡±


    Gritting his teeth, Nasir brushed her finger off and moved toward the gate. Not bothering to check if she followed, he said, ¡°Hurry. I don¡¯t want to keep Haera waiting.¡±


    He heard her grumbling behind him, the only sign she still followed. Halfway to the Ranger compound, she caught up and matched his pace. Any grievance she had toward him fell behind the fierce, determined fighter of his childhood that threatened to cast a shadow over him once more.


    ¡°Already back, Nasir? Is this the mysterious Lyra I have been hearing about?¡±


    Nasir glanced at Lyra, and said, ¡°Yes,¡± then turned to the Ranger. ¡°Haera is expecting us. She''s taking the test.¡±


    Hand up, they shook their head and said, ¡°You know the rules. I can¡¯t let her in without notifying Haera first.¡±


    The smirk Nasir noticed in the corner of his eye from Lyra nearly broke his resolve again. He growled out, ¡°Then get to it. Or do you want to be the reason Haera has to wait?¡±


    Another Ranger who noticed the conversation, walked up and asked, ¡°Hey, Camin. Need me to inform the boss?¡±


    Lyra stood at attention, drawing the guards'' and Nasir¡¯s gaze, which interrupted Camin''s reply. Nasir tracked where her eyes focused on a moment before Haera appeared. Did Lyra notice the mana from the teleportation spell before Haera appeared? He refused to believe she could do something he couldn¡¯t.


    Nasir stood in shock when Haera clapped. She never applauded anyone. Ever. Seeing her smile would be the closest most would get to any positive emotion from the elf until they realized why she was happy. Punishments always put a smile on her face.


    Haera had an inquisitive expression. If he didn¡¯t know better, Nasir would have assumed she had intentions of taking Lyra for herself.


    ¡°Well done, Nasir. We appear to have a warrior cut above the rest. Unlike all of you, she noticed my arrival and had time to present herself accordingly.¡± Stepping up to Lyra, she held out her hand. When Lyra took it, Haera continued, ¡°I¡¯m sure your father would have been proud of you. I may not have known him, but I knew all about his exploits.¡±


    Even Nasir could feel the clash of magical energy between the two. Their hands gripped tight, neither giving ground. Feeling uncomfortable, Nasir coughed loudly, grabbing Haera¡¯s ire, her energy pressing down on him till he stumbled back.


    Quick to bow, he said, ¡°My apologies.¡±


    ¡°You had to ruin my fun." She let go of Lyra''s hand with a sigh. ¡°Follow me. Time to see if you live up to all the hype.¡±


    Spinning around, Haera walked away. Nasir saw the glint of excitement shine in Lyra¡¯s eyes. He picked up what remained of his dignity and followed behind Lyra. He stepped on Camin''s foot in irritation on his way past. The Ranger struggled to hold back his mirth at Nasir¡¯s expense, even after Nasir made his displeasure known. That only drove the guard further into laughter.


    All training and evaluations took place in the middle of the compound. A circular fence enclosed the large flat clearing. A Ranger who specialized in barrier magic made sure any spells tossed around didn¡¯t leave the designated space.


    Pointing inside, Haera directed Lyra inside by herself. Lyra hopped over and walked to the center. She composed herself. Hands resting by her sides, she gave off a confident aura that demanded respect. So similar to Haera that it sent chills down his spine.


    ¡°Show me the weapons you are proficient with.¡±


    Two ice daggers appeared in her hands. Nasir noticed the balls of water pop up and freeze in her palms. A spell she perfected in her childhood. Settled in a defensive posture, Lyra began a practiced routine of attacking and defending against invisible targets. She finished by hurling both in Nasir¡¯s direction, dispelling them a moment before reaching the barrier.


    Flinching at the two splashes of water pissed him off. Lyra winked in his direction as she reached for the dagger on her hip, which confused him. She just showed off her dagger skills. Why would she need another one?


    ¡°Care to explain?¡±


    Curious about an answer himself, his confusion left him speechless when the dagger transformed into a short sword. He dug through all his memories and came back at a loss for how she pulled it off.


    Haera smiled at the display of magic and waved to continue. This time Lyra cast a wind spell, increasing her speed. Launching at an invisible foe, she stabbed, parried, and deflected blows aimed at her. Mid-swing, her short sword elongated to a longsword. Unfazed by the spectacle, Nasir resigned himself to watching Lyra dance around the training area.


    Her weapon morphed into a long pole that she swung with both hands low to the ground for a leg sweep. Shifting her grip, Lyra smashed the end into the ground.


    ¡°Anything else?¡± Haera stood, her emotions locked behind her strict persona once more.


    Spinning the staff over her head, she stomped it into the ground. A curved blade grew out the side of the top end. Confused, Nasir leaned in closer for a better look. When she saw his surprise, she laughed. Holding it out, a similar blade appeared on the other end, facing the opposite direction. As if that wasn¡¯t surprising enough, Lyra set one blade on fire simultaneously with a wind spell vibrating along the other. Movements doubling her previous attack patterns, Lyra became a whirlwind of death to anyone within her reach.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Slightly winded, Lyra shrunk back into a dagger and returned it to her hip.


    Clapping for the second time, Haera laughed, which baffled Nasir and most of the onlookers who flocked to the training grounds throughout the performance. ¡°I normally ask for a display of your offensive magic spells, but that won¡¯t be necessary. You can tell me instead.¡±


    Standing at attention, Lyra said, ¡°I use Ice, wind, and fire spells for the most part.¡±


    ¡°Excellent. I will see you in action tomorrow when I take you on a hunt. Let me be the first to welcome you to the Rangers. Haera flipped a token in the air. Catching it with a current of air, Lyra guided it to her hand and snatched the token.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Envy at the way she interacted with everyone but him, ate away at his pride. The darkness entrenched in his mind tore at his defenses, leaving the worst of his personality intact. Haera¡¯s voice broke him out of his thoughts.


    ¡°Guide our newest Ranger to meet with Gorre so Kellam can welcome her to the organization.¡±


    Saluting on instinct, Nasir replied, ¡°At once.¡± Waving Lyra over, he said, ¡°Follow me. The main headquarters are within the inner settlement¡¯s walls. Don¡¯t lose the token. Haera doesn¡¯t make it a habit of providing replacements.¡±


    Too irritated to see if she would follow him or not, Nasir made his way out of the compound. His sour mood silenced any comment Camin might have had. Nearing the gate to Timberwood, Lyra caught up. Refusing to look at her, he pushed past the gate.


    The trip to the inner gate left Nasir mentally exhausted. His desire to earn her respect clashed with the need to dominate her. Nasir closed his eyes and took a deep breath, centering his focus. He ignored the looks Lyra, and the inner gate guard gave him and instead leaned over and said, ¡°Show him the token.¡±


    She reached into a pocket, flipped it in the air, and caught it with a wind spell so the guard could view it.


    ¡°Congratulations. You may enter.¡± Moving to the side, the guard opened the way in for the pair, a grin breaking his stoic appearance for Lyra, but not for him. The stark contrast between the cheerful reception she received versus the ridicule and disrespect he endured fueled the darkness, burrowing further into his very being. Consuming who was as it shaped him into something useful.


    Knocking on Gorre¡¯s office inside the central building in the settlement, Nasir waited for permission to enter.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    Swinging the door open, Nasir stepped aside for Lyra as he said, ¡°Nasir reporting in.¡± She stepped inside and saluted. ¡°Presenting our newest Ranger, Lyra.¡±


    Gorre looked her up and down with his critical eye. He must have found her satisfactory enough since he rose from behind his desk and walked around. Offering his hand, Lyra took it.


    ¡°My reports say you arrived with that elf who assisted a merchant on her way to visit Elora. I hope her rebellious nature hasn¡¯t rubbed off on you. Rangers require obedience and discipline.¡± Their auras clashed similarly to her interaction with Haera, but instead of pressing the attack, Lyra held her ground. Neither giving ground nor pressing for an advantage. All the while, she held his gaze.


    ¡°I know how to follow orders, sir.¡±


    Breaking contact, Gorre went past them as he said, ¡°Follow me.¡±


    Heading up a flight of stairs, Gorre stopped at a door and knocked. When nothing happened, he grumbled under his breath, knocked again, and said, ¡°I know you¡¯re in there, Kellam. Stop ignoring me and let us in. I have a recruit for you to meet.¡±


    A chair scraped against the floor, followed by rushed steps that halted in front of the door. After a pulse of magic caused the door to unlock and swing open, Nasir could get a good look at their leader. The aloof retired Ranger preferred to run the show from behind the scenes, which forced Gorre to endure all the front-facing responsibilities.


    Pushing Gorre out of the way, Kellam moved his fingers in an intricate pattern, causing a small wind spell to push Lyra closer. Nasir had the impression she could have avoided or countered the spell but chose not to.


    Scars crisscrossed his face. The deepest left behind a visible scar over his left eye. Anyone who met the elf for the first time inevitably stared at it. Nasir did, and it appeared Lyra did too.


    If the second-hand stories are to be believed, a fight against a horde of magical beasts earned him those scars, killing everyone in his squad but him. He refused to be healed beyond keeping himself alive. A reminder of his failure to protect his fellow Rangers.


    The previous leader of their Ranger branch refused to let him go when he retired. Kellam agreed to help the organization from behind the scenes and when there was a vacancy in leadership, everyone pushed him into the role. That would explain his reluctance to be more public in his role as leader.


    Because of his private life, his reputation among those who never met him varied from ruthless to an old fool who didn¡¯t care. To the few like himself who met, Kellam knew he could be a cheerful prankster when he wanted, or a strict, demanding leader if lives were on the line.


    Hands holding Lyra¡¯s arms to her side, Kellam said, ¡°Let me get a good look at you, girl. Yes! Excellent. I can sense a strong magical aura about you. Refined and razor-sharp. I trust Haera didn¡¯t push you too hard, did she?¡±


    ¡°No, sir. I satisfied her enough with my prowess that she skipped the magical test.¡±


    Eyebrow raised, Kellam looked over her shoulder at Nasir and asked, ¡°Is that true?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    ¡°Excellent. Most excellent indeed. I will work on fitting you with a team. In the meantime, enjoy the rest of your day and prepare for the trial hunt tomorrow.¡± Seeing that glint in Kellam¡¯s eye, Nasir backed out of the room a moment before another wind spell pushed Lyra back until the door closed.


    Gorre placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. Used to his friend''s antics, he had been waiting out in the hall. ¡°He may not always act like it, but he cares about everyone under his command and takes his job seriously.¡± He guided them back down to his door and turned to face Nasir and Lyra. ¡°This concludes our time together. Hand over Haera¡¯s token and leave. I still have business to attend to.¡±


    Around this time, his team usually met up to eat together after returning from a hunt. Nasir hoped he could introduce Lyra to the rest of his squad, so he asked, ¡°Would you like to meet the rest of my team? We usually get something to eat together after coming back.¡±


    The vulnerability he felt asking her made him feel sick. A feeling the darkness had no need for. Unclenching his fist, he forced himself to look her in the face. ¡°I can show you where we sleep in the compound after.¡±


    A hint of surprise melted away into scrutiny that Nasir felt try to pierce past his defenses. Afraid of breaking under her scrutiny, he held still, focused on giving her his best friendly smile.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what your deal is. One moment you¡¯re the Nasir I grew up with and then you pull out this obsessive attitude that makes me want to punch you in the face. Like it or not, we are family, and I want to give you the benefit of the doubt, but that will only get you so far."


    She gripped his shoulder and smiled, though it didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°Lead the way. I''m curious who got stuck with your sorry ass.¡±


    Dumbstruck by her bluntness, Nasir could only nod and lead her back outside, past the inner gate to the most popular place in all of Timberland to eat and hang out. Remembering his manners, he opened the door for Lyra, who rewarded him with a genuine smile and a ¡°Thanks¡± for his gesture.


    The patrons inside glanced over at Lyra. Some took longer than Nasir felt comfortable with before looking away. He caught sight of Shaerwyn waving him over in their normal spot. Pointing her out to Lyra, he said, ¡°That¡¯s my team.¡±


    Nasir guided Lyra over to his team and introduced them.


    ¡°Lyra, this is Shaerwyn, our leader. To her left is Elemalu, our healer, and to her right is Siranya.¡± Shaerwyn smiled and offered a hand to Lyra who accepted it. Siranya scowled at Nasir. She jerked her body away from Shaerwyn, hand rubbing her arm. Wilting against the raised eyebrow from Shaerwyn, Siranya put on a forced smile. Elemalu waved, not bothering to put his mug down mid-chug.


    Nasir reached out to help Lyra sit down but gave up when she pulled the chair out herself and sat down. Not letting it get under his skin; he sat down next to her. Hands clasped together on the table, Shaerwyn leaned in and said, ¡°It¡¯s so nice to meet you. Too bad I couldn¡¯t watch your test with Haera. The word spreading around tells me you have great potential.¡±


    Reaching out for the offered drink from the waitress, Lyra took a sip and smiled. ¡°I know how to kill magical beasts on my own. I helped kill a mage who was raising the dead not that long ago. Not to brag, but I doubt I will be surprised by anything you guys are tasked with hunting down.¡±


    Fingers digging into his palms under the table, Nasir bit back his response. Siranya noticed his discomfort, grinned, and said, ¡°So, is it true that you know Nasir?¡±


    ¡°Yes. We grew up in the same settlement and trained together along with his brother.¡±


    ¡°Brother? If he is as good as you, I¡¯m sure the Rangers would accept him with open arms,¡± said Elemalu.


    Shutting that down quickly, Lyra said, ¡°If my husband was still alive, I wouldn¡¯t be here.¡±


    The joyful demeanor fell from Elemalu, his shoulders slumping. With a heartfelt, ¡°Sorry,¡± he chugged the rest of his drink and raised it up for a refill.


    Lyra acknowledged his apology with a nod, chugged the rest of her drink, and slammed the mug on the table. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. With the help of the Rangers, I will have a better chance of finding the beast that did it. Plus,¡± looking over at Nasir, ¡°I can prove once and for all that I¡¯m a better fighter.¡±


    Grinding his teeth, Nasir forced a smile and said, ¡°That remains to be seen. Try surviving the trial hunt tomorrow first.¡±


    Patting him on the back, Lyra grinned and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask to join the hunt? That way you can¡¯t ignore the truth.¡±


    The obvious tension between the two caused Siranya to laugh out loud, hands clutching her stomach. Soon everyone but Nasir found themselves laughing. He couldn¡¯t find the humor in the clear disrespect to his superiority which only drove Siranya to laugh that much more.


    At the end of the meal, Nasir walked back to the compound with Lyra in tow. Reaching the barracks, Shaerwyn grabbed Lyra¡¯s hand and pulled her into the woman¡¯s half of the resting quarters while Nasir and Elemalu headed off to the men¡¯s area.


    Nasir had to get Haera¡¯s permission to join the hunt tomorrow for the trial. He couldn¡¯t afford to lose face against a new member, no matter how special she may be. He had a reputation to uphold.

 Chapter Thirteen: Avian Adversaries

    The dark still held claim over the sky, which gave Lyra more time before morning arrived. Head still resting on her pillow, she held up her arm and watched as a magical representation of Ruvan ran over her skin. A soft red glow that contrasted the rest of the female loving quarters filled with sleeping Rangers.


    Only a few others were occupying other beds, giving Lyra some space. She recalled her time approaching Timberwood with Tinesi after their match, discussing what to do with Ruvan. Her connection with the spirit animal bound them for life, just as she had done with the dagger under her pillow.


    Surprising both her and Tinesi, Ruven had pounced on her leg, vanishing. On the verge of panic, they reappeared as she saw them now on her body. Free to roam, Ruvan could hide from prying eyes while able to jump out at a moment''s notice. Thoughts of joy, mischief, and anticipation bled through the connection.


    Careful not to wake the others nearby, Lyra whispered, ¡°Me too, Ruvan. My objectives may have changed, but the goal at the end of the road remains true.¡±


    A door opened, letting candlelight leak inside. Noticing her unique magical aura, Lyra watched the Ranger enter and said, ¡°Hello, Shaerwyn. Is it time?¡±


    Shrouded in the darkness, Shaerwyn walked over to Lyra¡¯s bed and said, ¡°Yes. Haera wants to get going. The town reported a missing elf who was supposed to arrive yesterday. It will be our job to find out why and eliminate the threat if any exists.¡±


    Working quickly in the dark, Lyra got dressed, strapped the dagger to her hip, and followed Shaerwyn. They met up with Haera, who stood with Elemalu and Nasir. Seeing Nasir left her feeling conflicted. She wanted to believe he had nothing to do with what happened to her family. The thought of proving Tinesi wrong helped toward agreeing to the entire plan of joining up with the Rangers. That conviction crumbled the more she interacted with him.


    Debating if he was responsible for those deaths had to wait. That¡¯s not something she could just ask him. How would that even go? Hey, Nasir. My friend, who is part of a secret organization that none of us have heard of, claims you joined yet another secret organization full of dark mages who thrive on death and misery and sacrificed your brother and his son to earn your place. What she knew for sure was that Nasir was obsessed with proving his superiority and that¡¯s not enough to go by.


    Lyra didn¡¯t reach the top of her group during her five decades of training without proving she could outmaneuver everyone else, including this pompous fool of a brother-in-law. He needed a reminder of why she stood over him in their youth. This outing would leave no question of who deserved more respect. Not that it would be difficult to come out on top. Lyra could already gleam how her fellow Rangers felt about Nasir from the few interactions she witnessed during her initiation.


    ¡°Listen up, everyone. We received a report that a trader the town expected never showed up last night. I was hoping to replace a normal patrol for the evaluation, but this takes precedence. If I didn¡¯t think you were capable, I would have replaced you. Don¡¯t make me regret my decision.¡±


    Haera shifted her focus over to Nasir and nailed him to the wall with her gaze. The only reason I haven¡¯t replaced you is because Lyra requested your presence, and you¡¯ve got experience working with Elemalu. Follow orders and we will get along. Understood?¡±


    Lyra picked up on his agitation. From the way he talked about her, it was clear he feared the elf, and with good reason. The veteran Ranger outclassed him in skill and experience.


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    His reply felt forced and automatic. A behavior drilled into him with brutal efficiency. Haera looked over at everyone and said, ¡°Meet me in front of the compound''s entrance ready to go,¡± then vanished.


    Elemalu laughed, shaking his head in amusement. ¡°She sure does enjoy doing that. So, are you all ready to go?¡±


    Lyra nodded in the affirmative while Nasir scoffed as if the answer was obvious and unnecessary. Ignoring Nasir, Elemalu said, ¡°Great, let¡¯s go,¡± and moved toward the exit with Nasir and Lyra hot on his heels.


    Waiting impatiently out front, Haera set the pace as soon as they reached her position. ¡°Our priority today is to locate Lyklor and the two warriors who help protect him as he travels between settlements. Between our Ranger patrols and their battle prowess, it¡¯s usually enough to keep them safe. Until we determine the threat, I will be in charge.¡± Haera paused, looked over her shoulder at Lyra, and continued, ¡°This is your evaluation too, Lyra. So, if you detect any danger, speak up. Prove to me that your senses weren¡¯t a fluke when you detected my teleportation spell yesterday.¡±


    Expanding her magical sensing net out around them, Lyra grinned and said, ¡°There are three wolves chasing a deer in that direction and a rabbit is hiding in a bush there.¡± Pointing as she identified each as she gave her report, Lyra winked at Nasir.


    Grinning at this display, Haera adjusted her path away from the wolves, letting her actions speak for her. The sun crept closer to its zenith in silence for the duration of their trek. That is until Lyra stumbled when she detected the telltale sign of dark magic up ahead and not a small amount. Hand clutching her chest, Lyra forced herself to calm down. Ruven wrapped her mind in encouragement. The heat of his presence on her skin was a comfort.


    ¡°Speak up. What troubles you so Lyra?¡±


    Focusing on Haera, she answered, ¡°Corruption and not a small amount. There are too many crowded in one place to know the exact amount. We need to proceed with caution.¡±


    ¡°Noted. Remain here. I will be back.¡±


    Vanishing, Elemalu stepped up and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, causing Nasir to sneer, but her glare shut him up before he could say anything. Feeling the change in the air, Lyra said, ¡°She¡¯s back.¡±


    Appearing in the same spot she had been prior, Haera looked troubled. She took a deep breath and let it out. Focused on the three Rangers, she said, ¡°You were right. There is a murder of crows in a tree above the remains of our missing trader and his two defenders. I recognized his cart.¡±


    Shifting to her no-nonsense persona, Haera gave them her orders. ¡°Lyra will take point with Nasir aiding her in the front. Elemalu will stay back, offering support and healing. Without him, our chances of surviving go down drastically, so I will focus on defending him.¡±


    ¡°But Haera!¡±


    Before Nasir could expand on his objections, Haera teleported behind him, gripped his neck, and slammed the Ranger into the ground. Still holding Nasir tightly, Haera said, ¡°I warned you. It appears my discipline hasn¡¯t sunk in yet. If you survive this, we shall have to revisit your worth in our organization.¡± Standing back up, she pointed at Nasir and said, ¡°Elemalu, patch him up while I chat with Lyra.¡±


    Leaving their healer to his work, Lyra joined Haera. Going over her abilities and the previous fight against the undead birds, Lyra came up with a plan. Finding her own resolve, she said, ¡°We need to kill or ground as many of them in our initial attack. It¡¯s the only way we can avoid being pecked and clawed to death. Tainted as they are by magic, we can expect their attacks to carry something deadly.¡± Haera nodded, giving Lyra the confidence to keep going.


    ¡°I will create a wind funnel around the tree light it on fire and hold the spell for as long as I can. Nasir can keep me safe while I concentrate, and then the two of us can go after the survivors. If my spell threatens the rest of the surrounding trees, I will help put out the fires.¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Haera clapped Lyra on the shoulder and nodded toward the others. Nasir was rubbing his jaw. Blood smeared from the broken nose Elemalu had to heal. ¡°Listen up. Lyra will begin the attack with a fire and wind combo spell. Nasir will keep her safe while I protect Elemalu. Any objections?¡± Nasir shook his head from side to side silently with everyone¡¯s attention focused on him.


    ¡°Good. If the crows react before Lyra can pull off the spell, we will retreat." Focused on Lyra, she said, ¡°If it comes to that, you have my permission to light up the air with magic. Preferably ice if possible. That is your strongest element, is it not?¡±


    Conjuring a ball of water in her palm, Lyra spun it in her hand, tossed it up in the air froze it in the shape of a dagger, and caught it as it fell. ¡°Yes. It is.¡±


    ¡°Good. Now show me your worth,¡± said Haera, a glint in her eye hinting at the expectations she had for her newest recruit.


    Careful not to make any noise, Lyra closed the distance to the crow-infested tree. Imagining the spell in her mind, Ruven¡¯s presence comforted her, allowing a deeper concentration. Commanding the wind in her left hand, Lyra encompassed the tree in a vortex of wind spinning at bone-breaking speeds. In her right hand, she channeled Ruvan¡¯s flames into the spell, transforming the spell into a flaming vortex of wind.


    The crows from within erupted into a torrent of chaotic activity. Desperate attempts to force their way through their fiery tomb ended in countless crows caught in the spell until the flames devoured them. The hope that her effort might be enough to end it without a fight rose only to burn up when a loud ¡°Caw¡± sent a chill down her spine.


    Punching a hole as it dove through, a giant crow adjusted its flight and aimed its talons at her in its rage. Hesitating if she should abandon the spell or not, Lyra watched Nasir leap up to intercept. Sword drawn; he slashed at the crow''s wing unsuccessfully. The crow''s wing tossed Nasir away with one mighty beat, his sword bouncing off.


    Sensing her imminent peril, knowing she had no way of avoiding the blow, Ruven jumped out, blasting the crow in the face with a blast of fire strong enough to redirect it away from Lyra, giving her enough time to jump out of the way. Unable to maintain the spell, the flames flickered out along with the wind. In its place was the surviving murder of crows badly injured and hungry for revenge.


    Lyra could sense that Elemalu was healing Nasir when Haera said, ¡°Lyra, you and your new friend will kill the leader. Nasir will keep the rest of you. I will keep Elemalu safe. Go!¡±


    Nasir growled in obvious frustration. Lyra could tell he wanted to say something but followed orders instead. Thoughts of her brother-in-law filtered to the back of her mind. Focused on her prey, Lyra pulled out her dagger and transformed it into a spear, giving her reach.


    Ruven, I need you to attack it from the sides.


    She felt its acknowledgment and charged in toward the giant black bird. From the failed attack by Nasir, she assumed its wings would be too difficult to damage, so Lyra focused her thrusts on its chest, avoiding or partying its talons and diving out of the way from its beak. Unbalanced from Ruvan¡¯s constant barrage of flame attacks that did little to harm the magical avian, the crow still had to deal with the force behind the blows.


    A force in his own right, Nasir dashed around Lyra, cleaving through every crow he encountered, sometimes several at once. There could be no denying his prowess with a blade using his strengthening magic. It was a shame he had a rotten personality.


    The crows harassing Haera and Elemalu fared no better. Teleporting between each strike, the veteran Ranger left a growing mound of dead crows around the healer. Haera may not be on active duty, but make no mistake, the elf could go toe to toe with the best.


    No wonder she is in charge of the newest members. She has the skills and dedication to weed out those who aren¡¯t qualified to face the worst their world dished out.


    Unable to pierce its body deep enough to cause a significant wound, Lyra found herself in a precarious position. More and more of the magical beast''s brethren fell to Nasir and Haera¡¯s blades. Before the last fell, Lyra watched her opponent fly up and spread its wings out. A spell which felt unclean formed revealing a cloud of feathers waiting to crash down over the party of Rangers. Shrinking back into a dagger, she returned it to her hip and reached out to her friend.


    Ruvan, help me create a fire barrier!


    Thrusting her hands out, Lyra conjured a dome of pure flames over her companions with Ruvan¡¯s help. Braced for the impact, Lyra gritted her teeth when the magical feathers rained down. Unable to feel anything else crash against her spell, Lyra released her spell.


    Only those who hid in the tree survived the onslaught of feathers. As for their leader, they dove not for her, but toward Nasir. His eyes glazed over in some kind of trance; he did nothing to avoid the attack. Hating herself but doing it anyway, Lyra dashed forward and shoved with all her worth.


    Nasir snapped out of his stupor in time to see the crow slash its talons into Lyra''s back. Crying out in pain, Lyra crumpled to the ground next to Nasir. She felt a dark spell take hold around the wound that dug deeper into her flesh. Elemalu sent healing energy to close the wound. Soon Lyra felt her skin close.


    What she didn¡¯t voice after his magic faded was the wound tearing open once more. Forcing herself up, she looked at Ruvan and said, ¡°Let¡¯s end this.¡±


    Knees shaky, Lyra retrieved her dagger, transformed it into a bow, and positioned her hand as if there were an arrow and a bowstring present. Relying on a pure mana strike as an arrow, Lyra pulled the magical arrow back and aimed it at the crow barreling down on her position. Thinking back on the last time she relied on pure mana to fire an arrow the night her father died, Lyra let loose.


    The arrow tip became coated in blue flames courteous of Ruvan, which enhanced the lethality of the arrow that shot out faster than any normal eye could follow. The impact sent shockwaves out, knocking her down. With her last bit of energy, she pushed off, avoiding the crow''s body that had been where she had been moments before.


    The dust had settled over the battlefield. Any crow that had survived the battle thus far flew out of the tree away from the Rangers. Lyra reached out to where the bow had fallen. Crying out in pain short of her prize, she curled up. The wound had grown wider. Blood soaked the back of her shirt.


    In her pain-filled haze, Lyra heard several footsteps rushing over to her. A gentle hand touched her back, sending healing energy toward the gash, stitching it up once more. When she could speak, Lyra said, ¡°Foul magic won¡¯t let you heal me. We need to get back.¡±


    Cutting her off, Haera turned to Nasir and forced him to his knees with the force of her aura alone.


    ¡°What is wrong with you? Because of your ineptitude, one of our most promising recruits since I joined may die. Not from her shortfalls, but yours. Give me one good reason I shouldn¡¯t kill you now.¡±


    Amidst Haera¡¯s rant, Ruven lifted the bow and nudged it in Lyra¡¯s direction. Letting it fall in her hand, she smiled gratefully and put it away. With Elemalu¡¯s help, she stood up and asked, ¡°May I speak?¡±


    Still fuming, Haera said, ¡°Speak.¡±


    ¡°That wasn¡¯t his fault. The magic coming from the crow caused him to fall into a daze. That¡¯s why I had to push him out of the way.¡±


    ¡°Fine. Nasir can make himself useful and check that the crow is dead."


    Able to get back up, Nasir kept his head down as he turned toward the crow and walked off. Ignoring the Ranger, Haera moved up next to Elemalu and asked, ¡°Can you keep her stable long enough to make it back?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I think so.¡±


    ¡°You think?¡± Eyebrow raised, Haera eyed the healer.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what that spell is doing inside her. The best I can do is keep the wound closed.¡±


    Focus switching from Elemalu to Lyra, and more importantly, her flame spirit friend Ruvan, Haera, took a slow breath and said, ¡°You better have a good reason for keeping knowledge of that to yourself.¡±


    Pushing through the pain being mediated through Elemalu¡¯s constant trickle of healing energy, Lyra said, ¡°Ruvan is my best friend. He formed from my mana and is bound to me. I still know little about him and rather lean towards keeping his existence a secret.¡±


    ¡°Fine. It hasn¡¯t tried harming any of us, so I will let it slide. We need to get going.¡± Hands cupped to her mouth, Haera said, ¡°Nasir, we are leaving! Keep our rear safe.¡± Hand gripping Elemalu¡¯s shoulder, she said, ¡°Keep Lyra on her feet. I will take point.¡±


    Lyra felt Nasir¡¯s gaze on the back of her head for most of the journey back. It got harder to concentrate through the pain every time she moved. Elemalu did his best to keep the wound closed, but he only had a finite amount of energy he could tap into.


    The sun touched the horizon by the time they came within view of Timberwood. Lyra was being half-carried between Elemalu and Haera during the last part of the trek. Unfortunately, that is when the healing magic dried up and Elemalu lost his ability to support her.


    Lyra¡¯s legs buckled, slipping from Elemalu¡¯s grasp and collapsing to the ground. To her surprise, Nasir rushed over and picked her up, letting her head rest against his chest. She heard, ¡°I got this. Can you teleport and let them know?¡±


    The next moment she felt the wind as Nasir ran toward the compound. Going in and out of consciousness, Lyra reached out to Ruvan.


    Come back to me, my friend.


    She heard Nasir yelp in surprise a moment before Ruven crashed into her and returned to his hiding spot. Credit to Nasir for not dropping her. When they reached the compound''s entrance, Haera met them with the healers who placed her on a piece of cloth attached to poles.


    A surge of healing rushed into Lyra, allowing her to relax and let sleep swallow her up. Before the black void dragged her under completely, she heard a voice whisper, ¡°Don¡¯t leave me.¡±

 Chapter Fourteen: Facing the Truth

    Lyra woke up in the healer''s section of the compound in a slight daze. The magic that had infected her body no longer ate away inside her. Knowing she was free from its grasp, Lyra smiled.


    ¡°You appear to be in good spirits. How are you feeling?¡±


    Pushing herself up, Lyra said, ¡°Hello, Haera. I am. Thanks for asking.¡±


    ¡°Good. You performed admirably during the mission. I already had a chat with Kellam. He plans on staying late tonight, so make sure you visit him after you¡¯re discharged.¡±


    With a smile of her own, Haera vanished, leaving Lyra alone in her room. Healers came in and out during the day to check up on her and confirm the magical infection hadn¡¯t resurfaced. Her day had been tolerable until he showed up.


    Nasir walked in like he owned the place. Oozing with self-confidence and a smug superiority, Nasir did the worst thing he could, open his mouth.


    ¡°Thank goodness you recovered. Like I told you before, it is dangerous being a Ranger. In respect for my brother, I intend to keep you safe, and what better way than to make you mine officially?¡±


    Stunned by the audacity, Lyra clenched her fist, focused her rage solely on him, and said, ¡°You have been nothing but rude and obsessive toward me since I ran into you in Timberwood. Why would I want to live with you when I can hardly stand being in the same room as you?¡±


    Lyra¡¯s voice rose as her anger toward him bubbled out. ¡°I may tolerate your face because we are family, but that doesn¡¯t mean I like you. Especially when you treat me like some fragile object about to fall apart unless you are there to hold me together.¡±


    Fuming at her words, Nasir¡¯s anger clung to him like a hungry flame devouring an entire forest. That flame turned black. She felt the same corrupted magical aura surrounding him that once fueled the crow that nearly killed her. There was no mistaking it.


    The tears she shed unabashed quenched his anger, leaving him with a confused expression. ¡°Lyra?¡±


    Tinesi was right. He was a dark mage now. Subservient to the mages responsible for killing her family. Regardless of how she felt personally, he was still family, and the truth of his betrayal hurt more than she would admit.


    Pointing toward the door, tears still streaming down her cheeks, she said, ¡°Leave before I am forced to make you." Her voice was dead calm, contrasting with her outward appearance.


    One assistant responsible for her rushed in behind the lead healer with a team of Rangers behind him. The team grabbed Nasir and dragged him out of the room with little fuss. Lyra almost wished he had given the others an excuse to use force to put him down like the traitor he was.


    Drained from the experience, Lyra lay back down on the bed.


    ¡°Are you unharmed? Did he hurt you?¡±


    ¡°No. If he tried, I would have killed him.¡±


    The assistant tried covering up his laughter, earning a frown from the healer.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad it didn¡¯t come to that. I will be back to do your final assessment and discharge you.¡±


    Alone again, Lyra relaxed and reached out to Ruvan, who flowed across her skin until he rested in her palm.


    ¡°Bad elf gone. I keep you safe. You trust, yes?¡±


    An unfamiliar child-like voice resonated in her mind. Self-assured, yet hesitant. If it weren¡¯t for the familiar aura tied to it, she would have been more worried.


    Ruvan?


    ¡°Yes! I learn speak. Or is bad? Momma upset with Ruvan?¡±


    The sudden influx of emotion rattled Lyra to her core. The more she thought about it, Ruven was born from her mana. Ruvan curled up in her palm, their unease filling the silence.


    Momma is not upset. I¡¯m proud of you.


    ¡°Ruvan happy.¡± The elemental paused, then ran down her arm away from prying eyes. ¡°Healing nice elf comes. I hide.¡±


    Thank you. I will do what I can to let you out so we can play.


    She felt a rush of joy and excitement burst from the elemental. Basking in the pure cheerfulness from Ruvan, Lyra missed the healer approaching her bed.


    ¡°Feeling better? I¡¯m back for your discharge assessment.¡±


    Nodding at his question, she said, ¡°Let¡¯s do this. I¡¯m sure my companion is getting worried. Since she''s not a Ranger, they won''t let her in to check on me.¡±


    He reached out his hand and sent a healing spell through her body. ¡°I won¡¯t waste either of our time and get you out of here.¡±


    Once he confirmed the curse hadn¡¯t resurfaced, the healer asked Lyra to move about and perform simple magic. Feeling better than ever, Lyra thanked the elf and left. Many of the Rangers she passed by waved or asked how she was. On a whim, she spoke with Haera on her way out.


    Knocking on the door, she asked, ¡°May I come in?¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Doing so, Lyra stepped up to Haera, who sat behind her desk, and said, ¡°Nasir has a horrible personality that I can¡¯t deny, but he is still a capable warrior. Even though I don''t want to fight alongside him, I request you don''t remove him from his position because of me.


    Haera leaned back in her chair and studied Lyra. The woman¡¯s aura gave Lyra the impression they felt her request humorous.


    ¡°I know my request may be unreasonable. To be honest, there is something off about Nasir. He has changed somehow, and I worry.¡±


    The amusement shifted into curiosity and suspicion. At least, that¡¯s what Lyra guessed. She didn¡¯t make it a habit of reading people¡¯s emotions from their aura. She rarely spent time around elves like Haera, who had a powerful aura and didn¡¯t suppress it.


    ¡°I will take your request into consideration. Everyone¡¯s safety is my job, and I won¡¯t tolerate behavior that can get Rangers or civilians killed. There aren¡¯t any other teams who would take him in.¡±


    Leaning forward, she said, ¡°Shaerwyn¡¯s team is his last chance. When I release him from his punishment, I will send them on a mission to see how he performs. That¡¯s the best I can offer.¡±


    Standing at attention, Lyra saluted and left, heading toward the exit and Timberwood. Tinesi waved from her spot, leaning against a tree between the Ranger compound and Timberwood. She hadn¡¯t seen her newest companion since she left to join the Rangers. Lyra wondered what the mysterious elf had been up to all this time.


    ¡°Momma¡¯s friend. Ruvan happy.¡±


    When she reached Tinesi, the elf said, ¡°I hear you had a rough time on your trial mission. Curse magic is rare among their kind. Tough luck on your part. You hungry?¡±


    A rumble from Lyra¡¯s stomach left her embarrassed, but she couldn¡¯t deny a good meal would do her good. ¡°Yes, please. Will Elora be able to join? I have news of my own.¡±


    Patting her on the back, Tinesi started walking toward the gate. ¡°Of course. Despite her husband¡¯s annoyance, we have been having most of our evening meals together. I won¡¯t be staying much longer. Elora has explained this countless times. Her husband can be stubborn. He makes for a great captain of the guard, though.¡±


    Walking by the area along the inner wall where the traders set up their wagons, Lyra noticed an empty spot with a small offering of flowers. Curious, she held up a hand for Tinesi to wait and went to check it out.


    An older female elf sat in front of the offerings; head bowed. When Lyra approached, the woman looked up. Face puffy from crying, the elf asked, ¡°Can I help you?¡±


    ¡°I feel great sadness. Why is she sad, momma?¡±


    I feel it too, Ruvan. Let me find out.


    ¡°I apologize for intruding. Are you related to the trader the Rangers were asked to search for?


    Tears freely flowing, the elf just nodded.


    ¡°I see. I was part of the team who found him and eliminated the beast responsible.¡±


    The elf reached out and grabbed her pant leg, gripping it tightly with a trembling hand. When she had calmed down, the elf said, ¡°Thank you for finding my husband. I heard a Ranger nearly died fighting the magical beast. Was that you?¡±


    Unsure if she should have told her but was unwilling to lie, Lyra said, ¡°Yes. The healer just discharged me today. I made a full recovery.¡±


    The woman let go, wiped at her face, and stood up. Bowing politely, the elf said, ¡°Thank you for your service.¡±


    ¡°I lost my family to a magical beast. I know what you¡¯re going through. The pain doesn¡¯t go away, but the best we can do is to move forward. That¡¯s one reason I decided to become a Ranger.¡±


    Standing tall, the elf nodded and smiled. ¡°I agree.¡±


    Lyra returned to Tinesi, who was generous enough not to have asked questions, and the two of them continued to their destination. Sitting in their usual spot from before, a waitress stopped by to offer them something to drink. The crowd was lively, offering a pleasant atmosphere.


    Joining them not long after, Elora sat down after shooing away her husband. Lyra felt at ease having a meal in a place like this with them. Her past self would have drowned in guilt for enjoying this moment, but with her life set on a course she couldn¡¯t take back, there was no room left for guilt.


    Choosing her words carefully, Lyra said, ¡°My friend that you thought stole my black pants was the one after all. I don¡¯t know if they were responsible for the rest, but it¡¯s a start.¡±


    Elora and Tinesi looked at each other, then back at Lyra with a sad but knowing gaze that hinted at a resolve for what they would have to do with this information. Lyra found herself baffled at the increased perception of other¡¯s emotions. She couldn¡¯t pinpoint what could be responsible for it.


    ¡°Ruvan help momma. Ruvan in trouble?¡±


    No, you are fine.


    She could feel the elemental running across her body under her clothes, wrapping her mind in a blanket of warmth and happiness. The unexpected growth paired with the childlike nature gave Lyra much to think about.


    They filled the rest of their meal with normal gossip and the idle discussions Lyra enjoyed in her youth. When it was time to leave, Elora said, ¡°I will escort you to meet with Kellam. It¡¯s time for your official team assignment.¡± Glancing at Tinesi, she asked, ¡°What about you?¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡°I have reports of my own to make, and I plan on checking out the location you fought. You may not see me for a few days at least.¡±


    Reaching out, Lyra offered her hand to Tinesi, who raised an eyebrow but took it, regardless. Lyra grinned shook Tinesi¡¯s hand and said, ¡°When you get back, I would like to talk about a hot friend I met recently. The relationship has some interesting developments.¡±


    With a knowing grin, Tinesi parted ways outside Rolim''s, leaving Lyra alone with Elora. Lyra, wondering who her new partners would be, asked, ¡°Any hints as to who I will be matched with?¡±


    Chuckling to herself, Elora shook her head. Hesitating at first, she looked at Lyra and said, ¡°The one pleasure Kellam refuses to give up is a good surprise. As you have been told before, he rarely sees anyone. So, if there is something he wants to tell you in person, he expects to be the one saying it first.¡±


    Scratching the back of her head, Lyra couldn¡¯t help but laugh, too. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want to get on his bad side, that¡¯s for sure. I haven¡¯t spent a lot of time around the other Rangers yet to get a feel for the kinds of people I will be working with. Trusting in his judgment and Haera¡¯s reports will have to do.¡±


    Elora reached out and patted Lyra on the back and said, ¡°Fret not. He may be eccentric, but our leader knows what he¡¯s doing. His predecessor had the right of things when he pushed this responsibility in his lap.¡±


    Their conversation dwindled by the time they reached the checkpoint, and Lyra¡¯s hands shook from the nerves once they entered the building and she was standing in front of Kellam¡¯s door for the second time. When Elora squeezed her shoulder, Lyra flinched, startled by the contact.


    ¡°Easy there. He¡¯s not going to bite you. That¡¯s not his style.¡±


    Forcing a smile on her face, Lyra stomped down on her emotions and centered her resolve.


    ¡°He bite and I hit his face with fire.¡±


    Thanks, Ruven.


    Lyra raised her hand to knock on the door when the telltale sign of the magical lock being opened caught her off guard. The door swung open; her hand still raised to knock.


    ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there, girl, come in, come in. We have much to discuss and the day isn¡¯t getting any younger and neither am I.¡± Lyra stepped in and closed the door. She heard the lock re-engage behind her and froze in place. ¡°I haven¡¯t thought of a way to turn back time. It has an annoying stubbornness that refuses to go anywhere but forward.¡±


    Surprising herself, Lyra said, ¡°Time may only go forward, but it¡¯s possible to alter your perception of it, giving you the illusion of slowing it down. It has happened to me before, not that I have figured out how to activate it consciously.¡±


    Leaning against his desk, Kellem reassured her with a nod and said, ¡°If you figure it out, please share it with the rest of us.¡± With a clap of his hands, Kellam stood up straight and walked closer to Lyra. ¡°Now to more pressing concerns. Your placement.¡±


    He walked around the room as he spoke. ¡°From the report Haera provided and the whispers I have heard from others, you are a remarkable fighter. You can think strategically, act decisively, and even protect those you would rather punch in the face.¡± He winked at her when he said that last part. ¡°When it comes to placing new Rangers into existing teams, I must consider many factors, such as personality, combat abilities, and role within a team. There are front-line offense and defensive fighters that deal damage or keep the enemy¡¯s attention on themselves. Ranged support such as archers or pure magic and those that provide healing or buffs.¡±


    Kellam stopped in front of Lyra and asked, ¡°What do you think is most important when deciding if you fit well with a group?¡±


    Being top of her class when under her father¡¯s instruction, she put together patrols to test her abilities. In the beginning, she focused on filling the basic roles while ignoring the rest. This resulted in a mix of average to outright failure.


    Thinking back on why, she looked Kellam in the eye and said, ¡°Personality is the simplistic answer. What drives them to fight? Do they have a personal motivation, or would they rather let others dictate the direction they travel?¡± Feeling more animated, Lyra pressed on. ¡°During my trial mission, my motivation was to prove myself and show how capable I could be. Nasir appears to be driven by a personal need to prove he is the best, which is great at self-improvement but challenging when working with others. Elemalu is an excellent healer who cares for others, and it showed during our mission.¡±


    Taking a second to think, she said, ¡°Haera is, well, Haera. A master Ranger who can take command and use her abilities to deadly effect in the best way that contributes to the overall success of the mission.¡±


    Grinning at her explanation and analysis, Kellam said, ¡°That was insightful, and I agree. Motivation is a key factor that influences the rest. It¡¯s easy to fit people together that satisfy an optimal party, harder still to find those who can elevate each other to higher levels.¡± Resting against his desk, Kellam focused his attention directly on Lyra.


    ¡°What you need is a group that is capable and receptive to your battle tactics. As it so happens, I have a pair of siblings who need a new partner. The last two Rangers that I sent their way hurt themselves during their last mission and requested a transfer.¡±


    It didn¡¯t take a genius to figure out who Kellam was talking about. She knew of one pair of Ranger siblings. Lyra asked, ¡°Keya and Paeral, correct?¡±


    ¡°Precisely!¡± Kellam said enthusiastically. With a flick of his wrist, a gust of wind pushed Lyra toward Kellam. He gripped her by the shoulders, halting her momentum, and grinned. ¡°Paeral can be impulsive, but his prowess holding those two swords is unmatched. Keya¡¯s ranged support and buffs complement her brother perfectly. They have worked together for so long; they know how the other will respond during battle and act accordingly.¡±


    He sighed and let go of her shoulders. ¡°That is a blessing and a curse. If you can¡¯t adapt to their fighting style, you will end up like the last two who got in the way and ended up in the care of the healers.¡± He smirked and said, ¡°When I found out the companion you arrived with fought with the pair, I hoped you might be equally capable. I dare say you have shown great promise in that regard.¡±


    Kellam stepped away from Lyra and walked to a corner in the room, leaned down, and opened a chest. Rummaging through its contents, Kellam said, ¡°I have been waiting for a long time for a Ranger of your caliber. Anyone who can impress Haera is impressive on its own, let alone me.¡±


    Pulling something out, he held a chain, no, a necklace, toward her. A flame-red jewel hung below it. Gems were rare and their uses were even rarer. Lyra had heard about them, but this was the first time she ever had the chance to see one in person. Her thoughts must have been evident because Kellam said, ¡°A friend gifted this to me long ago. Told me I would know what to do with it when the time came.¡±


    With a few brisk steps, Kellam closed the distance and held out the necklace toward Lyra. ¡°And you would never guess what happened when I met you for the first time. I felt it react to your presence.¡±


    ¡°Momma. I want it. Can we have?¡±


    Lyra sighed and put on a knowing smile. ¡°Did Haera mention everything in her report?¡±


    ¡°Clever girl. She did, indeed. I surmise from your reaction that this friend of yours is interested in the necklace?¡±


    Resigned to her fate, Lyra held out her hand where Ruven appeared and jumped out of her palm, transforming from an image drawn on her skin to their physical manifestation. The gem glowed brighter in the elemental¡¯s presence.


    Kellam handed the necklace to Lyra, kneeled, and examined the fox with the flaming tail. He reached out to pet them, looked up at Lyra, and asked, ¡°Is it safe?¡±


    ¡°If you mean no harm to me or them, it should be ok. They are a fire elemental, after all. They have full control over their flames.¡±


    Ruvan moved in and brushed up against Kellam¡¯s hand and pushed into it until the old Ranger started scratching the spot in the fur.


    ¡°Ruvan happy. Like elf.¡±


    Finished placing the necklace over her head, Lyra said, ¡°Congratulations. He likes you. That¡¯s good news for you since he won''t have to burn this all down. That would be a shame.¡± She tried to keep a straight face, but the shock in his eyes broke her and she laughed.


    Come back to me, my friend.


    ¡°Yes, Momma.¡±


    Ruvan leaped toward Lyra and dived into the gem, causing it to glow brightly before dimming. Lyra placed a hand over the gem and felt the heat, a comforting warmth, against her skin. She tucked it away under her shirt and looked at Kellem, who now stood with a satisfied smile.


    ¡°Now that is out of the way. Back to your assignment. The three of you will be without a healer regrettably, but I trust you can take care of yourself, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir. I can do the basics. When my son was still alive, he always showed up with minor cuts from running around. Just enough can go a long way.¡±


    A solum look came over Kellem. ¡°I agree.¡±


    Putting on his smile, he said, ¡°It''s getting late for both of us. Unless you have solved the mystery of time manipulation, our joyous conversation will have to end.¡±


    Lyra took a step back and saluted. ¡°Not yet, but I will keep you posted. Good night, sir.¡±


    Kellam reached out toward the door and unlocked it. ¡°Take care, Lyra. I expect great things from you.¡±


    ¡°So do I, sir. So do I.¡±


    Lost in thought, Lyra made her way down to the first floor and out of the building. Breathing in the fresh air, she looked up at the night sky. Drained from all the excitement of the day, Lyra wanted to head back to the Ranger compound. With that in mind, she started walking. The streets were still lively with the late afternoon buzz of activity.


    After passing by a rowdy group looking for a late meal at Rolim¡¯s Rest, Lyra heard someone call her name from behind.


    ¡°Lyra, wait up! Are you heading back to the compound?¡±


    Recognizing the voice, Lyra turned around and waved at Siranya. She recalled the elf had a strong dislike toward Nasir, and Lyra couldn¡¯t blame the Ranger. He was awful to be around. She couldn¡¯t tell if he had changed for the worse or if she had been blind to the fact. Either way, he was a dark mystery and a traitor to boot.


    And she asked Haera to keep him within the Rangers, where he could betray them at any moment. What did that make her? The heat from the gem radiated against her skin, sending a sense of calm from Ruvan. Focused, Lyra said, ¡°Yes, I just received my assignment from Kellam.¡±


    ¡°Really? Who do you get paired up with?¡±


    Not seeing any reason to hide it, Lyra said, ¡°Keya and Paeral.¡±


    The cringe reaction from Siranya when she mentioned Paeral didn¡¯t surprise her if the rumors she heard were to be believed. Compared to Nasir, though, she could handle Paeral''s boisterous nature. ¡°I will be fine. If he talks too much, I can always encase his head in water till he stops.¡±


    Siranya erupted into uncontrollable laughter that tapered off when she noticed Lyra silently standing there. The Ranger caught her breath and asked, ¡°Wait, you were serious?¡±


    ¡°Yes. If I were joking, I would have used ice. That¡¯s harder to recover from.¡±


    The upheaval of losing her family and the stress from all the constant changes, including the fact she was on borrowed time now, forced Lyra to change or be consumed by it all. Finding humor where she could was a welcome distraction.


    Scratching her head, Siranya let out a breath relaxed, and said, ¡°If you say so. Mind if I walk with you? I was with Shaerwyn at Rolim¡¯s. We were having a meal with another Ranger group that just got back.¡±


    ¡°Fine with me. I don¡¯t have many friends here, so a friendly face is welcomed.¡±


    The two of them began chatting as they walked toward the exit. The elves they passed by were friendly even if they gave them a wide berth. The Rangers were an integral part of Timberwood¡¯s survival against magical beasts, which meant that the average elf had no chance of defending themselves against the elite force.


    Lyra glanced over at the line of carts where she met the grieving wife. The offering of flowers was left alone amidst the bustle of activity from the merchants still open for business. Noticing her gaze, Siranya said, ¡°I always looked forward to seeing what he had to sell. His wife used to join him, but the increase in magical beasts made it too dangerous.¡±


    She placed a tentative touch to Lyra¡¯s shoulder grabbing her attention and said, ¡°For what it''s worth, I¡¯m glad you survived. Us women got to show those men what a real warrior looks like.¡±


    Patting Siranya¡¯s hand, Lyra said, ¡°So am I. These magical beasts aren¡¯t going to kill themselves. Rangers like us got to handle the dirty work for them so the men can come back and claim all the glory.¡±


    They reached the Rangers compound and entered the woman¡¯s wing of the living quarters without any other distractions. Before parting ways, Siranya said, ¡°We may not be in the same group, but I have your back, and I hope you¡¯ll have mine.¡± Lyra found herself tapping into the emotional resonance coming from Siranya. Could her connection with Ruvan or the dagger be the cause?


    She felt hesitation with an underlying desire for companionship battling against her outer defensive persona that demanded to be seen as strong and deserving of respect. Panic from the loss of control over her abilities surged forward until Ruvan¡¯s aura wrapped her in a warm blanket and soothed her nerves.


    ¡°Ruvan protect momma.¡±


    Thanks, Ruvan. I needed that.


    Siranya stepped back, her whole body deflating, when Lyra realized she hadn¡¯t replied. She reached out reflexively and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to leave you hanging. You caught me off guard, is all. It would be an honor to have your back.¡±


    Jumping forward to envelop Lyra in a hug, Siranya squeezed, giggling in excitement. ¡°Thank you, thank you, thank you!¡±


    Never expecting to see another side of the otherwise stoic Ranger, Lyra didn¡¯t know how to respond. Giving in and hugging the elf back, Lyra tried not to think about the last time she ever hugged Ryo. Calmed down, Siranya stepped back and waved before hurrying off toward her bed. A slight redness to her cheeks glowing in the soft candlelight.


    Yawning, Lyra got ready for bed and fell asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.


    ¡°Momma, wake up.¡±


    Stirred awake, Lyra blinked away the fogginess clouding her brain and focused on her surroundings. An elf holding a candle was looking around at the different Rangers still sleeping. When their eyes met the Ranger smiled and hurried over and said, ¡°You must be Lyra. My name is Keya. Haera wants to talk with us.¡±


    A small chuckle escaped Lyra''s lips. Quick to cover her mouth, Lyra said, ¡°Sorry, I find it funny that my last two missions started with a wake-up call. Not that I''m complaining, but how are you finding out before me?¡±


    Not wasting time, Lyra got up and dressed while Keya said, ¡°Haera expects all group leaders to meet in the morning before daylight breaks. That¡¯s when we receive our orders. Since you¡¯re still new, Haera wants to talk with all of us instead of leaving it to me to explain.¡±


    Ready by the time she had finished explaining, Lyra joined Keya and the two of them met up with Haera who was chatting with Paeral or rather listening to Paeral go on about something. That all changed when he saw Lyra, waved enthusiastically, and started to run over. Haera¡¯s grip on his neck halted all momentum.


    ¡°Don''t you dare scare away the best recruit we have had since I joined.¡±


    His shoulders drooped then popped back up, his chipper attitude back in place, all be it a more subdued version. Lyra followed Keya and stood next to Paeral in front of Haera.


    Getting down to business immediately, Haera said, ¡°For your first mission, I want the three of you to escort a merchant. Use this time to get to know each other. Keya has the contact information.¡± Stepping closer, Haera put a hand on Keya and Lyra¡¯s shoulder, leaned in, and said, ¡°You will remain the leader, Keya, but if Lyra proves herself, she may take over. Objections?¡±


    Keya replied, ¡°No,¡± at the same time Lyra said, ¡°What?¡±


    Teleporting back to her prior position, Haera grinned and said, ¡°Good. You¡¯re dismissed,¡± then vanished.


    Paeral pounced bringing both his sister and Lyra in for a hug and said, ¡°We are going to have so much fun together. Welcome to the Rangers, Lyra.¡±

 Chapter Fifteen: Dark Sacrifice

    Deep underground, Nasir sat there alone in the dark. Splinters littered his feet and hands from the wooden planks lining the floor. Haera stripped him of everything but his pants, which were soaked from the sweat all over his body. The moisture in the air labored his breaths. An experience he was unfamiliar with.


    All he found was a bucket of water after crawling around. Without using magic or a rope from above, climbing up the smooth tunnel that led to the surface was impossible. This place punished those who needed a reminder that actions had consequences. His stomach rumbled, reminding him of the last time he had anything to eat. The memory of Rolim¡¯s signature stew made his mouth water.


    Where did it all go wrong? True, there were a few missteps. That¡¯s a given. Those destined for power and greatness always encounter setbacks on their path to the top. Haera didn¡¯t kick me out, so there must be a way to salvage this and escape this torment.


    A voice appeared in the dark in front of him and said, ¡°Get up.¡±


    Speaking out loud for the first time in who knows how long, Nasir asked, ¡°Haera?¡±


    The urge to grab her by the throat and slam her against the wall sat there patiently, waiting for a chance to act. His awareness of who would win such an attempt tempered his resolve, and he rose to his feet.


    ¡°Good. I will say this once, so listen carefully. Against my better judgment and at the behest of your family, I have asked your group to give you a chance to redeem yourself and prove your loyalty to the cause and your fellow Rangers.¡±


    Still unable to see, her magical aura shoved Nasir against the wall. Then she said, ¡°If you give them any grief, force your ideals on them, or ignore any order from your leader, I''ll hear about it, and you won''t like what happens. Am I understood?¡±


    Struggling to breathe, Nasir panicked as he gasped for air. Haera drew her aura back.


    Hand clutching his chest, he said, ¡°Understood.¡±


    Her lack of response was his only indication that she had teleported out, leaving him alone once more. Shortly after, a soft glow came from the tunnel, followed by something hitting the ground. Struggling across the wooden planks, Nasir winced as the wood cut into his hands as he reached the tunnel and fumbled for the rope that he could vaguely see from what little light shined from above.


    Remembering how they had tied the rope around his waist and lowered him down here, he did the same and climbed. Hands raw from sliding down the rope multiple times, Nasir forced himself over the lip of the opening. He winced at the window that allowed the natural light to come in. The Rangers standing guard glared at him. One of them pointed at a table that held all his belongings and said, ¡°Get dressed and report to Haera. If you give us any trouble, we get to toss you back down there.¡± The look in the elf''s eyes told Nasir he would love nothing more than to do so.


    Nasir, too weak to argue, followed their instructions and made his way to see Haera after he strapped on his armor and weapons. She had a sour look on her face, but that wasn¡¯t anything new to him. He didn¡¯t care if she liked him. His new master gave him a mission and if he wanted to live, he had to carry it out.


    ¡°Stop by to see the healers before heading to town to get something to eat. You will need your strength for the mission tomorrow. I¡¯m sending your team out on a patrol to check on a village nearby. If you understand, then get out of my sight before I get the urge to shove you back down that hole.¡±


    Quick to escape her wrath, Nasir stopped by and let the healer help him recover some of his strength, leaving just his rumbling stomach. Avoiding the glares from his fellow Rangers, he passed by Siranya. She smiled wickedly. Closing the distance, Nasir froze in place. He couldn¡¯t fight back. No one would believe him.


    Shoving him to the ground, the Ranger sat on his chest and held a dagger to his throat. He looked around for help and found that no one bothered to look his way. He might have enjoyed the sensation of her body pressing against him more if it weren¡¯t for the dagger or the violent desire radiating from her gaze.


    She leaned down till her breath tickled his ear and said, ¡°Lyra is my friend now. If you ever do something that stupid again, I will end you before Haera can. Seeing his discomfort, she rocked her hips back and forth until she felt his body react. Siranya pushed herself off, slammed her foot down on his growing interest, and walked away.


    Holding his groin in pain, all he could do was curl up in a ball and cry. Amidst the agony, Nasir felt a hand on his shoulder, and he flinched.


    ¡°Nasir, it¡¯s me, Elemalu. Let me help.¡±


    He grit his teeth, the darkness within him fueling his anger. ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°As long as you remain a member of my group, your wellbeing is my responsibility, and I take that seriously. Now stop arguing and let me help. I heard what Siranya did to you.¡±


    Accepting the help begrudgingly, Nasir stood up and said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Elemalu nodded and patted Nasir on the shoulder. With a sympathetic smile, the Ranger walked away. Nasir was grateful for the help, though. That didn¡¯t change who he was and what he had to do. His life wasn¡¯t his own anymore.


    I gave up everything for you, Lyra. What is the point if I can¡¯t have you? My master gave me this power. It¡¯s about time I used it instead of pretending to be the elf I used to be.


    Anyone nearby that could sense magic and recognize the foulness of it would have felt a chill go down their back from the damn holding Nasir¡¯s potential as a dark mage back-breaking apart. His master¡¯s consciousness focused on his mind. Feeling the mage probe his thoughts, Nasir opened himself fully to the darkness and basked in the power racing through his body.


    All that he had been or wished to be died. Swallowed within a black pit, no light could penetrate. Nasir became a true dark mage. Lyra would rue the day she ever said no to him.


    Stuck in the rear, Nasir could only glare at Siranya, who took back her position as the scout for their group. His reunion earlier that morning had been strenuous at best. His anger boiled just thinking about it.


    Shaerwyn had stepped between Siranya and Nasir and said, ¡°That¡¯s enough out of the both of you. Nasir, one wrong step and you will be lucky to leave still breathing. Haera made that very clear. Siranya, just because you are friends with Lyra now doesn¡¯t give you the right to threaten and assault another Ranger.¡±


    After that, Shaerwyn ordered Siranya up front to scout and stuck me in the back to keep the peace. To be honest, I am tired of being treated like this. My master was right. They all deserve to die. Though he cares more about his experiments than killing them.


    ¡°Hey, Nasir, are you listening?¡±


    Looking up, Nasir saw Shaerwyn calling out to him. Not sure what she wanted, he said, ¡°Sorry, I was lost in thought.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be sorry, be present in the moment, and keep our rear covered. Or do I need to send you back now and save us all the headache?¡±


    He forced himself to salute as he said, ¡°Understood.¡±


    Elemalu had been silent the entire morning unless Shaerwyn asked him a question. The healer always tried to remain impartial during disagreements. It could be hard to trust someone to heal you if they sided against you in an argument. He also had his perceived duty to his group members. It made Nasir feel sick thinking about it, but if it meant Elemalu would keep him alive, he could tolerate the elf a bit longer.


    The group reached Pebble Blossom before the sun reached its peak in the sky. Tucked away between a river and a small meadow of flowers, the village became a rest stop for travelers en route to Timberwood. Besides catering to the many travelers, the villagers started producing their own wares to trade.


    Nasir found them mildly interesting. He wondered how they would all do against the attack his master planned to send their way. When he found out their destination that morning, the first thing he did was inform the dark mage, who was all too happy to send a force out in that direction.


    He focused on the dark connection and waited for his master to acknowledge him.


    Speak.


    I have arrived, master.


    Excellent. I decided to watch today¡¯s performance. My latest experiment with an entire wolf pack is ready for some action.


    As you wish. I shall not disappoint you.


    See that you don¡¯t.


    Following along with the others, Nasir watched Shaerwyn meet with the leader and said hello to the other villagers while Elemalu healed anyone who needed it. The few children who got close to him ran away. Now that he embraced his dark power fully, he didn¡¯t bother hiding it.


    The village leader offered them a meal when they were done with their patrol. No one argued when Nasir offered to take his meal outside and keep watch. Siranya smiled when he left, but that didn¡¯t matter. Why be friendly with someone who will die soon?Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    It¡¯s time.


    Nasir grinned as he ate his food. The initial screams coming from the guards watching the perimeter filled him with joy. Why did he ever resist this gift? He was foolish to have ever doubted his master.


    The doors to the home behind him burst open. Shaerwyn looked at him and said, ¡°It¡¯s time to do your job. Move out.¡±


    Nasir carefully set his food down where it wouldn¡¯t be knocked over, then pulled out his weapon and followed behind Shaerwyn and Siranya. He couldn¡¯t help but grin in satisfaction.


    Let the fun begin.


    The screams only intensified from every direction. So many wolves, it was impossible to count, attacked anything in sight. They had surrounded the village before committing to the assault. Directed by the dark mage, if Nasir had to guess.


    ¡°Nasir, I need you and Siranya to push them back and help any survivor make it to safety. I will work with Elemalu and protect the villagers.¡±


    Truth be told, he didn¡¯t care what Shaerwyn said. The only way he would grow stronger was through combat. Killing the weak, taking their strength and making it his own. Enhancing his body and blade, Nasir blazed through the village, slicing into any wolf he found. Greedy for power, he drained their energy at the same time.


    If he sliced into a villager struggling underneath, well, there was nothing he could do about that. It was their fault for being so weak. They should honor him by offering themselves.


    He did attempt to save those he could. It would be foolish to destroy any hope of proving his worth to the Rangers when he still had use of them. Death would be preferable to going in that hole again.


    Focused on the fight, Nasir listened to the cries of those still struggling to survive. Two elves ran toward him with five wolves who were in hot pursuit. Dashing around them, he cut three down in one blow and kicked the fourth into the fifth before stabbing them in the heart. Ignoring their thanks, he pointed toward safety and moved on.


    What he could only assume was a mother who sat there curled around a frightened child. Three wolves faced an elf, struggling to keep them at bay. How heroic of him. It made Nasir sick to think he once wanted to be like him. Dilutions of the weak and ignorant. Yet, he had to play the part of the valiant Ranger.


    Maneuvering in the wolves'' blind spot as they harassed the family, Nasir gripped one wolf by the tail, swung it up, and slammed it down into another wolf. Between their yelps of pain, the elf stabbed the remaining wolf. Finishing the two wolves he had stunned, Nasir pointed toward the center of the village and said, ¡°Go.¡±


    He ignored their thanks, already hunting for more prey. Victims he would sacrifice for glory and power. It didn¡¯t take long to find his next target. The village was littered with them.


    When Nasir found Siranya, she was dancing among many bleeding wolves, chomping at the chance to tear her limb from limb. The Ranger hadn¡¯t noticed him yet, so he watched from the shadows. Content to see her die forever messing with him.


    To his dismay, the electric attacks that stunned the wolves made it impossible to overwhelm her with numbers alone. They needed something more that could pack a punch and shrug off her attempts to stun it.


    For instance, the giant magical beast stalking behind her.


    Is this the pack leader?


    Yes. Enjoy the show.


    Using the shadows to conceal himself, Nasir waited. No longer unfamiliar with shadow manipulation after his master had forced the information into his brain, the possibilities were endless.


    The amped-up alpha wolf gripped one of the dead villagers by the leg and hurled it into Siranya¡¯s side, knocking her to the ground. Struggling to push the body off of her, one wolf she was engaged with clamped down on her wrist and shook its head violently back and forth, eliciting a streak of agony from the wounded Ranger.


    Chills went down Nasir¡¯s back, watching the alpha stalk over and press its giant paw down on Siranya¡¯s chest. She tried stabbing it with her one free hand, but his fur deflected the strike somehow. Similar to the crows encountered during Lyra''s trial mission.


    She cried out, ¡°Someone! Anyone!¡± Her attempts at fighting back wavered after each failed strike. Struggling for breath, she said, ¡°Help me, please.¡±


    Master, I have a request.


    Speak.


    If it pleases you, I would be honored to sacrifice the Ranger at your feet.


    Silence filled Nasir¡¯s mind, leaving him wondering if he had asked too much.


    Come quickly. Follow the wolf. I shall transport the elf.


    Yes, master. Thank you.


    True to his words, the alpha lifted its head and slammed it down on Siranya¡¯s face. The impact cut her scream short, knocking her out. The beast then gripped her by the shirt and tossed her in the air. Her body flopped on its back.


    Nasir shed his shadow cloak and chased after the magical beast; sword drawn so that any who witnessed it would assume he was trying to save her. The thought alone made him want to gag.


    For good measure, he cut down any wolf that still lingered nearby to make his performance more believable. It didn¡¯t hurt to steal more power for himself. Though he doubted anyone would see him run off after the wolf. The other two Rangers focused on protecting the surviving villagers.


    Eager to reach the dark mage, Nasir raced after the alpha. Siranya¡¯s unconscious body jostled on top. He only now noticed her daggers were still on the ground back in the village.


    ¡°Hmmm. Better off this way. It will give me some credibility.¡±


    His heart pounded with excitement standing before his master. A stark contrast to the first time back when he sacrificed his family for power. The alpha let the Ranger slide off and hit the ground, causing her to stir.


    Empowering his enhancement magic with shadows, Nasir picked Siranya up by the neck till her feet dangled in the air. She clawed at his wrist with her one remaining working hand; the wolf had left her other hand in a mutilated state.


    Siranya focused on who held her up, and he grinned with delight at her shock.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me. Congratulations. You get to be my first."


    Her expression changed to one of horror and disgust, making it clear what she thought.


    ¡°No, not that. I¡¯ve had plenty of that. If you could have learned to keep your mouth shut, I would have been willing to show you a good time. Alas, it was not meant to be. You, my dear Siranya, get to be my first sacrifice as a dark mage.¡±


    When she no longer struggled, Nasir walked over to the earthen altar crafted by his master and placed her across the slab, releasing her throat so he could caress her cheek.


    Siranya forced out a breath and asked, ¡°Why?¡±


    The shadows by his feet writhed to the beat of his anger pulsing through his veins.


    ¡°Why? Because you¡¯re a worthless elf who deserves to die, so I can devour you and grow stronger. That, my dear, is all you are worth to me. Trust me when I say this is going to hurt.¡±


    Nasir let his eyes wander as he took his time stripping her clothes off. She thrashed back and forth, forcing him to slice into her limbs with his sword, which prevented her from fighting back anymore. Accepting the black dagger from his master, Nasir followed his master''s guidance as he sliced into repeatedly, careful not to cut anywhere that would make her bleed out instantly. She screamed until her voice was too raw to make a sound.


    He knew they would eventually find him if he took too long, so he finished ripping her fingernails off and admired his work. She hardly reacted to his administration anymore. Satisfied, he slapped her cheek till she opened her eyes. Gripping her chin, he leaned in and kissed her. Using his free hand, he plunged the dagger in and out of her chest until he felt her last breath and broke off the kiss, leaving the dagger behind.


    ¡°Wonderful work, my newest disciple. Let me reward you.¡±


    The dark mage master gathered the energy from the dead Ranger and raised his hands to the sky. Nasir looked from his master to the sky, then wished he hadn¡¯t. A black bolt of lightning struck the top of his head, setting his nerves on fire. Regaining consciousness lying on the ground, he forced his head up and saw a group of wolves devouring Siranya¡¯s corpse. Bile rose from his gut at the sight, but he regained his composure.


    Nasir rose and stared at his palm. Black lightning sparked back and forth between his fingertips. Her power now was his, but better.


    ¡°Your last mission to become a true disciple worthy of my attention stands before you. Defeat my creation or don¡¯t. Your death concerns me not, only the results. I have other pressing concerns. I will leave you to it.¡±


    The dark mage scratched the chin of the alpha wolf and said, ¡°If you kill him, I will reward you with a new pack and more power.¡±


    And just like that, Nasir faced off against the magical alpha wolf whose brethren were busy devouring the rest of Siranya, leaving only scraps behind. A part of him was grateful no one would know what he had done to her. The pleasure he felt watching her scream. Death was too good for her.


    The alpha roared, its breath reeking of blood and flesh. Nasir waved a hand over his sword, watching with delight how the black lightning crackled along the edge of the blade. He grinned up at his opponent and said, ¡°It¡¯s you or me now. Let¡¯s get on with it.¡±


    Leaping up, the alpha wolf pounced. They intended to smash Nasir into the ground from the get-go. Nasir felt the shadows underneath the wolf call to him, so he stepped into his shadow and out of the alphas behind him.


    With all his might, he slashed across the hind quarter of the wolf, leaving a shallow cut. Bravado emboldened him to strike again. ¡°Come on fur ball, is that all you got?¡±


    He blinked in confusion as he tumbled through the air, slamming his back into a tree. Reinforcing his body in shadows saved his life. Forcing himself up on his feet, Nasir watched as the alpha¡¯s tail shrunk back to its normal size.


    ¡°You smacked me with your tail? Cool trick. Too bad it didn¡¯t finish me off.¡±


    Eager to retaliate, Nasir rushed in. Dodging claws, teeth, and a tail that could change size at will. At his disposal was his standard reinforcement magic, along with shadow enhancement and teleportation, shadow hiding, which was useless now, and the black lightning taken from Siranya.


    That didn¡¯t mean he was perfect. The alpha¡¯s fur could cut him just as easily as its claws. Each time he was a hair''s breadth late, the alpha capitalized on the moment, slicing deep gouges across the Ranger¡¯s body. Both combatants bleed freely as the fight wore on.


    Nasir felt new shadows drawing near. Yet another ability he hadn¡¯t realized he possessed. If he had to guess, Shaerwyn was among them. He needed to end this quickly. They couldn¡¯t know about his new shadow abilities. Refocused, he hacked at the same paw until the leg collapsed, forcing the beast down to the ground.


    ¡°Nasir?¡±


    ¡°Siranya?¡±


    ¡°Where are you?¡±


    Of course, she would look for us. That must mean the village is secure by now. I wonder how many survived.


    Nasir Shadow stepped into the alpha¡¯s blind side, dashed in, and blinded the beast in one fell swoop as he yelled, ¡°Over here!¡±


    Shaerwyn burst into view, sword drawn just as Nasir maneuvered on the magical beast¡¯s back and with a shadow-enhanced black lighting sword strike to its neck, though it took three tries to cleave it off completely.


    Lifting the head toward Shaerwyn in triumph, Nasir expected some praise but only received concern mixed with blame from her expressions. Frantic, she said, ¡°Where is Siranya? What did you do to her?¡±


    With a forced expression of sadness, he lowered the alpha''s head and shook his own. ¡°Let me explain what I know.¡±


    He wiped the blood off his sword, sheathed it, and pointed toward the scraps of clothing and leftover remains after the wolves had devoured the Ranger.


    The alpha found her surrounded by the others and subdued her. When I ran after, there wasn¡¯t anything I could do to save her once they started tearing her apart. So, I fought this creature to end the threat.¡±


    Looking at Shaerwyn, he said, ¡°That is what a Ranger does, is it not? Finish the job and bring safety to these lands?¡±


    His leader paused, tried to speak, and gave up. Nodding once, she rushed over to where Nasir had pointed and fell to her knees. Finding enough evidence to confirm his words, Shaerwyn cried.


    Amidst the tears, Nasir heard her whisper, ¡°Why couldn¡¯t it have been you?¡±


    Why? Because I¡¯m more powerful than all of you. Soon I will be stronger than even Haera. She will find out what it means to be weak. Until then, I will wait and pretend to be a dutiful Ranger.


    Chuckling to himself, he pondered. If they don¡¯t find a reason to kick me out instead. I know, what if I offer to hunt a beast on my own to prove myself?


    Nasir looked at the other elves who had accompanied Shaerwyn and said, ¡°We should head back and make sure the village is still secure. My leader will join us when she is ready.¡±


    In unison, they nodded and turned around. He started walking away, looking back once, wanting to say something, but saying the truth would only make things difficult if she knew how much he despised them all.


    He settled on looking up with a sigh and said, ¡°You''re next, my pretty little bird.¡±

 Chapter Sixteen: Belief, Respect and Trust

    Light filtering through the tree canopies reached Tinesi. She felt the chill breeze brush against her skin. Reaching for her cloak, Tinesi drew it close to stop the shivering. When she left Lyra behind with Elora the evening prior, her thoughts dwelled around the uncertainty the future held for her friend.


    Shocked at her admission, Tinesi giggled. A response that would have left her reputation in shatters if witnessed. Determined to put the ordeal behind her, Tinesi grabbed her bow, intending to hunt down a rabbit for her morning meal.


    ¡°Who would have guessed I¡¯d miss Lyra hunting for me? I must be getting soft.¡± Tinesi shook her head self-deprecatingly and said, ¡°No time to waste. I have somewhere to be.¡±


    Hands reacting on instinct, Tinesi hunted, prepped, and ate while her thoughts were elsewhere. Not so long ago, she had lent Lyra a hand against the dark necromancer mage. Her motives were far from pure. Her organization only cares about defeating the dark lord and anyone who worships the entity. Lyra was a means to an end.


    Now, though? Watching the elf fight with all she has, recklessly even, just because she believes it¡¯s the right thing to do. Unknowing of the veritable force she faces. Grabbing the magical dagger, knowing her life full well, as she knew it, would never be the same.


    Tinesi would never think of herself as weak or a coward, but the thought of becoming a sentient weapon unable to die scared her. The morality behind her organization''s method of creating the artifact caused her great unease. All she could do with her thoughts was lock them away and be the diligent servant she swore to be so long ago.


    ¡°Took you long enough to show up. Kindroth and I have been waiting for you. You have some explaining to do.¡±


    Tinesi bowed to Kindroth, a smirk creeping on her lips, eyeing Kailu next to him.


    ¡°Nice to see you too, Kailu. You¡¯re talkative today.¡±


    The elf glared at her. His hands rested on the two swords attached to the hip. Used to just seeing his eyes, Tinesi learned to read his expression by the way he glared. Today appeared to be a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.


    ¡°That is enough, you two. We have a job to do. Kailu, follow up on those tracks we found earlier. I will work with Tinesi.¡±


    Bowing to Kindroth, Kailu used his magic to hide his presence and ran off, which left the two of them alone. That didn¡¯t bother Tinesi. The silence never got awkward for her. Compared to Tinesi, orphaned by a dark mage¡¯s magical beast attack, he was born and raised within the organization.


    She still remembered looking up at Kindroth, just a junior member at the time assigned to protect the survivors so the others could face the dark mage and their beasts, and wanting to be just like him. Decades later, she earned the privilege of working under Kindroth.


    Breaking the silence, she pointed at the tree and said, ¡°This must be where Lyra faced the murder of crows. From her retelling, she had used a wind and fire combination spell to encase the tree.¡± Tinesi moved up and placed a hand on the trunk. ¡°The magical beast broke through and dive-bombed her. It became chaotic after that.¡±


    Inspecting the charred remains of a crow left behind by the scavengers of the forest, Kindroth asked, ¡°What about the dark mage traitor that fought during the battle?¡±


    ¡°The Ranger? Lyra said that his eyes became unfocused when the beast unleashed waves of dark energy. She tackled him, which allowed the beast to claw her back and transfer the cursed poison. It almost killed her.¡±


    She felt him expand his aura. His ability to sense any magical residue was magnified. Attention split, he said, ¡°What became of our newest dark mage?¡±


    Focused on a charred piece of wood herself, Tinesi replied, ¡°He tried convincing Lyra to get married, and the Rangers tossed him into a hole where they punish their own. No idea how long they will keep him down there.¡±


    ¡°Keep me posted. As for Lyra, I believe she is ready to join us and learn the truth. She will become a living weapon wielded by our order in due time. It¡¯s the least we can do.¡±


    Surprised, Tinesi dropped the piece of wood she had in her hand. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Quick to elaborate, she said, ¡°I value her company and trust her at my back, but I barely know her. Protecting our order takes precedence over any irrelevant emotions.¡±


    Walking up to her, Kindroth placed a hand on Tinesi¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°It¡¯s rare to see you get so flustered. Lyra embraced immortality at the cost of losing everything she was. Forced to eventually rely on another to carry her. We must respect her sacrifice.¡± Patting her shoulder, Kindroth walked back toward the tree. ¡°If she knows the truth, it will give her meaning in the new world opened to her.¡±


    Tinesi let the silence stretch as she thought about his words when Kailu appeared next to Kindroth, leaning in and whispering into his ear. The elf nodded, looked at Tinesi, and said, ¡°We have a lead. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Kailu led the way, pointing at obscure signs here and there. A broken branch or a stray crow feather. On their own, nothing of interest. The dark magic residue that lingered told a different story. Whoever guided the crows to the tree had to be powerful for any trace of their magic to linger for so long.


    They followed the trail till the night reclaimed the sky, and Kindroth ordered them to set up camp while he searched for food. Kailu¡¯s deft hands reached into his pack and pulled out the supplies and got to work. Tinesi joined him but with far less fervor. Returning with a deer hung over his shoulders, Kindroth grinned and dumped his kill next to the fire Kailu lit.


    ¡°We get to eat good tonight.¡±


    Without being asked, Kailu took out a knife, skinned, and prepped the deer before cooking it over the open fire. Tinesi marveled at the efficiency of his work. He moved with precision, reaching into his pack a few times to sprinkle some herbs on top for seasoning. Breathing in the smell, Tinesi could already tell it would taste wonderful.


    She caught Kindroth smiling at her. When she asked, ¡°What?¡± He shrugged and stared at the fire. Why did he enjoy teasing her? She wasn¡¯t the same kid he knew anymore.


    Ignoring her mentor and leader, Tinesi ate her meal in silence. A fact that she knew Kailu appreciated. When everyone finished, Tinesi took a chance and asked, ¡°How was everyone back home, Kailu? I¡¯m sure you met some of them on your trip to retrieve the dagger.¡±


    He stared at her in silence until Kindroth coughed a little too loud. Clicking his teeth, Kailu¡¯s shoulders slumped as he replied, ¡°They were fine. Losing Rina hit the community hard. Lyra better make sure her sacrifice wasn¡¯t in vain.¡±


    ¡°You can test her worth yourself when we head back to Timberwood. I doubt you want to miss the induction ceremony when we welcome her into our fold.¡±


    Looking back and forth between her and Kindroth, fumbling his words as he said, ¡°She? What? No, you wouldn''t! Would you?¡±


    Kindroth held up a hand, stalling Kailu¡¯s outrage. When the elf had calmed down, Kindroth said, ¡°Do not belittle the sacrifice Lyra made when she accepted that dagger. Or do you doubt my judgment?¡±


    His tone left little to the imagination of what he thought on the matter. If she could have seen the look on Kailu¡¯s face, oh what a joy it would have been. Content with watching his eyes glance everywhere but on Kindroth, Tinesi smiled at his discomfort.


    Offering him a bone, Tinesi changed the subject and asked, ¡°Have you dispatched any dark mages lately? I took out a few, including the necromancer I helped Lyra defeat. There was also a fool who tried to self-destruct his magic core after I ran him down.¡±


    He grabbed the lifeline like a fish to a worm and tugged for all he was worth. ¡°Yes, I did. On my way back home, there were a couple scattered around this forest trying to harass a small village. From what I gathered, they were taking turns sending their creations in to attack. I killed two of them in their sleep. The third must have noticed their death because he was waiting for me. He placed some kind of magic spell on the surrounding plant life. I found out quickly they drained my magic on contact and the thorns definitely had poison dripping from their ends, but I stayed away from that.¡±


    Curiosity peaked, Tinesi asked, ¡°So, how did you kill him?¡±


    ¡°Easy. I placed a wall of fire in front of me, then tossed a ball of water on top, creating a thick mist. Hiding my presence and sneaking behind him from above so I could drop a fireball on his head was simple after that.¡±


    Too shocked to say anything, Tinesi sat there wondering if she had ever heard the elf say so much at once since she met him years ago. Kindroth''s expression showed his surprise as well. She snapped out of her stupor, grinned, and said, ¡°Thanks for sharing. Did you want to take the first watch?¡±


    Kailu stood up and said, ¡°Yes! I will wake you up when my shift is done,¡± and with that, he walked away.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    On the outskirts of Timberland, Tinesi halted their progression in the clearing where she had sparred with Lyra not that long ago. They had spent years, decades even, making little progress after the hidden dark mages turned on their weapons against friends and family alike under the blood moon. Meeting Lyra changed everything.


    A warrior who charges toward danger, not away from it. A danger drawn to her like a moth to light. First, her brother-in-law meets the master¡¯s dark mage and chooses to sacrifice his brother and nephew instead of honoring his oaths as a Ranger and fighting the darkness.  True, this was only speculation, but from what Tinesi knew about dark mages, it was close enough to the truth.


    Lyra¡¯s link, tenuous it may be, to the master dark mage has drawn her into Tinesi¡¯s world. A war fought in the shadows. The moment Lyra reached for that magical dagger; she chose to step into the dark with me. Now it is my turn to shed some light. Offer her the answers to the questions she didn¡¯t know she wanted to ask.


    Kailu ran off on Kindroth¡¯s orders leaving the two of them alone. The sun hung low in the sky. It wouldn¡¯t be long until the night welcomed them. The best time to perform such a secretive ceremony was in the dark of night. You see, the night did not belong to the darkness alone.


    Her people worked in the shadows wielding secrets. Secrets that dripped like poison into the elves who fashioned themselves traitors to their kind. And now it was time to arm Lyra with enough poison to drown their foes.


    ¡°Tinesi, go fetch our Ranger. I sent Kailu out hunting. We shall enjoy a meal together before bringing her into the fold,¡± said Kindroth, leaning against a tree with a relaxed smile.


    A collection of soft animal activity buzzed around Tinesi on her short trek toward Timberland and the Ranger compound. Unconcerned with hostile wildlife, she felt safe enough to lower her guard. Breathing in the lingering forest scent, Tinesi remembered happier memories as a child.


    Innocent and na?ve, a younger Tinesi strolled between her parents. Cloudless sky matched with a gentle breeze that filled the little girl¡¯s nose with comfort and a hint of a meal being cooked over a fire. On an adventure down a well-worn path to reach a lonely wooden house tucked deep in the forest.


    Like so many others, the darkness shattered Tinesi¡¯s dreams and devoured what remained of her innocence. Blood-soaked hands that would never go away.


    Not everyone is lucky enough to be saved like I had been. I owe my life to the order, and as such, will do what I''m told. Even if I don¡¯t agree. The burden of responsibility on the shoulders of my leaders should be respected.


    Waving at the two guards in front of the Ranger compound, Tinesi tried to remember the name of the guard. He waved and said, ¡°What can I do for you, Tinesi?¡±


    Wonderful. They remembered me.


    ¡°I have business with Lyra. Is she around?¡± Tinesi asked, hoping they ignored her lapse in memory.


    He grinned, pointed behind, and said ¡°She came back late last night from her first patrol with Keya and Paeral. I hear Lyra asked to use the training ground today.¡± He waved at a nearby Ranger and said, ¡°Flinar! Can you go let Lyra know Tinesi is waiting for her at the gate?¡±


    They replied, ¡°No problem, Luthais. I''ll let her know right away. She has kept her party inside the training circle for a while now. I¡¯m sure Keya will be excited for the break just as much as Paeral is by now.¡±


    That¡¯s right! His name was Luthais.


    ¡°Thank you, Luthais. By the way, what happened to Nasir?¡±


    Head shaking in obvious disappointment, Luthais said, ¡°The fool made a move on his sister-in-law and found himself in a hole for it. I know he wasn¡¯t the most approachable Ranger we have had, but this was too much.¡± Leaning in, the guard whispered, ¡°I watched him leave with Shaerwyn, Siranya, and Elemalu for a routine patrol this morning. His last chance to prove he is worth keeping around if the rumors are true.¡±


    Tinesi humored the guards with an idle conversation to pass the time until Lyra appeared Waving when she saw Tinesi. Between the dampness of her hair and the sweet scent, she must have cleaned up first. Smiling at the approaching elf, Tinesi couldn¡¯t help but feel relieved to see her friend again. A fact she grew more comfortable with each day.


    Waving back, Tinesi said, ¡°Congratulations on completing your first mission as a full-fledged Ranger.¡±


    Surprising Tinesi, Lyra replied with a hug, quick to lean in before saying, ¡°We have a problem.¡± Keeping up with appearances, Tinesi hugged her back and said, ¡°Later.¡±


    Stepping back, Tinesi waved at the guards, grabbed Lyra¡¯s hand, and said, ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind; I am stealing your newest Ranger for the evening for a date in the forest. Try not to interrupt.¡± She winked at Luthais who stood there with bright red cheeks accompanied by an open mouth left speechless.


    True to her words, Tinesi grabbed Lyra¡¯s hand and started walking toward the forest. Both erupted in fits of laughter. When they were far enough away Lyra reached in and pulled out a necklace with a red gem from under her shirt and summoned Ruven from the gem. An artifact Tinesi knew she didn¡¯t have when they departed.


    ¡°Can we speak now?¡±


    Shaking her head, Tinesi replied, ¡°No. I''m taking you to meet my traveling companions. Kindroth, my leader and mentor in the order, and Kailu. He isn¡¯t very talkative.¡±


    Shoulders slumped; Lyra pulled her hand to stop her. Lips pouting, she asked, ¡°What about our date?¡±


    Stumped, Tinesi didn¡¯t know how to respond. Her confusion turned into amusement when Lyra burst into laughter, unable to maintain the charade.


    I wish I could have met her sooner. Who would have guessed I could find happiness after so long in the shadows?


    Pulling her friend in before she could change her mind, Tinesi kissed her on the cheek and said, ¡°The night is still young."


    Hand pressed to her cheek, Lyra grinned, grabbed Tinesi¡¯s hand, and said, ¡°Then we better finish up with your friends first.¡± She looked down at Ruven and said, ¡°Of course, you can join us, Ruven. You¡¯re my protector, after all.¡±


    The forest took over with its ambiance when their conversation ended. Ruven pouncing around them, flaming tail wagging back and forth. They reached the clearing revealing a small camp. Tinesi pointed out Kindroth sitting by a fire and Kailu who looked up for a moment before focusing on the meal he was preparing.


    Lyra tapped Tinesi on the arm and said, ¡°You didn¡¯t mention food. I¡¯m starving. The training today wiped me out.¡±


    ¡°And who was responsible for setting the pace?¡±


    Not missing a beat, Lyra replied, ¡°Me, obviously.¡±


    ¡°Please, have a seat by the fire. It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person, Lyra. My name is Kindroth. It was my decision to send Tinesi after you so we could locate the link we were sure you had with our current target. You have shown great promise and that has given me the confidence to except you to our order fully.¡±


    Tinesi heard Kailu mumble under his breath but chose to ignore it. He made his opinion clear regarding this. Ruven clung to Lyra''s leg, ears flat against his head eyeing Kindroth and Kailu.


    Lyra picked up Ruven and said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Passing out their meal in silence, Kailu sat down with his portion and ate in silence. Kindroth asked Lyra random questions about her training and the types of magical beasts she had faced. Tinesi added to the conversation when it involved her, but mostly stayed quiet.


    At the end of the meal, Lyra looked at Tinesi and asked, ¡°Can I tell you now?¡±


    Nodding, Tinesi said, ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°I found out from the guard who was on duty that when Nasir was released from the hole, he was assaulted by Siranya, a Ranger he works with, but didn¡¯t fight back. No one came to his defense either. What is of concern is what happened next.¡±


    Lyra took a breath, looked at Kindroth, and said, ¡°Haera appeared, sword drawn asking where the magical beast was. The guard had no idea what she was talking about. They mentioned feeling uneasy around Nasir after Siranya assaulted him. Haera vanished shortly after that.¡±


    A sigh escaped Kindroth drawing Tinesi¡¯s attention. She asked, ¡°You¡¯re familiar with this incident, aren¡¯t you?


    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s documented that when an elf is recruited by a dark mage under duress, they struggle to fully accept the gift the darkness thrusts on them. When they do give in, it manifests itself with an explosive release of dark aura. I''m surprised the Ranger didn¡¯t kill him on the spot.¡±


    Lyra scratched her temple and said, ¡°Haera is among the few Rangers who have put in the time refining their ability to sense magical aura. I told her not to kick him out and to keep an eye on him. If she wasn¡¯t absolutely sure, the doubt may have held her back.¡±


    Speaking up for the first time, Kailu said, ¡°If he is a true dark mage now, the morality that held him back in the past will be gone. If he is on a mission with Siranya, her life is in danger.¡±


    Kindroth stood up and said, ¡°Their fates are out of our hands now. If he returns, we shall deal with it. It is true that we were using him to get to his master, but if he has killed a fellow Ranger, we can¡¯t ignore the threat. For now, we have a ceremony to perform.¡± He turned toward Tinesi and asked, ¡°Can you help Lyra prepare? Kailu and I will finish preparations."


    Guiding Lyra by the arm, Tinesi found a spot behind a large tree and began to tie Lyra¡¯s hair so that it wouldn¡¯t obstruct her face in any way. Tinesi held a piece of cloth and said, ¡°I need to cover your eyes now. Do you trust me?¡±


    Hating how vulnerable she felt asking, Tinesi centered herself and waited for Lyra to reply.


    Lyra took the cloth from Tinesi with a smirk and tied it around her eyes and said, ¡°My goal before meeting you was to fight magical beasts until they killed me. The best route I could find that would grant me peace and honor the code my father drilled in me. Now? I have a friend who showed me that death need not be the end. A question I have pondered for a long time."


    Ruven clung next to Lyra¡¯s leg as Tinesi guided her back into the clearing. Kindroth stood inside a circle of floating flames held up by Kailu who stood off to the side. Halting Lyra when Kindroth motioned to stop, Tinesi waited for the ceremony to begin. Responsible for guiding Lyra forward a step at a time each time Kindroth spoke.


    ¡°We are the Shadows.¡±


    ¡°The last line of defense against the darkness.¡±


    ¡°Our god died so that we may wield magic.¡±


    ¡°His last champion who created our order perished beside them.¡±


    ¡°We hold the only surviving records that date back to the last Dark War.¡±


    ¡°To this day, the fight against the dark god persists.¡±


    ¡°His forces not only possess his blessings, but the magic bestowed upon us by the light god.¡±


    ¡°They thrive on death, hatred, and pain above all.¡±


    ¡°It fuels the darkness within.¡±


    ¡°Thus, our order supports the evolution of magic.¡±


    ¡°Defending our land against the dark mages and the magical beasts they create.¡±


    Guiding Lyra along the eleven steps toward Kindroth and into the circle of flames filled Tinesi with pride. Kindroth picked up a wooden bowl from the ground filled with the blood of the deer Kailu killed while Tinesi was retrieving Lyra.


    ¡°I ask this of you now, Lyra. Knowing the truth, do you pledge your life, be it in your mortal body or as a sentient weapon, to fight against the darkness?¡±


    Lyra held her head high, the cloth still wrapped around her eyes, and said, ¡°I do.¡±


    Filled with glee, Tinesi removed the cloth and stood back leaving Kindroth inside the flames with Lyra. Kindroth stepped closer and dipped his fingers in the blood.


    Smearing blood across her forehead he said, ¡°Belief in our creed. Finding a way to rid our land of the darkness that plagues it.¡± Once more on her right cheek, he said, ¡°Respect our role in the fight. Not in the light, but hidden in the shadows.¡± A third time across her left cheek before he said, ¡°Trust in those who fight by your side.¡±


    Dipping his thumb in the bowl, he smeared the blood down Lyra¡¯s nose and said, ¡°Willingness to sacrifice yourself if no other choice is left.¡±


    Stepping back, Kindroth placed the bowl on the ground and raised his arms wide, and said, ¡°If you are ready to step out of the darkness and embrace the truth, step forward.¡±


    Rising to the occasion, Lyra closed the distance with confidence.


    Grasping her by the shoulders, Kindroth smiled.


    ¡°I welcome you to the Shadow Breakers.¡±

 Chapter Seventeen: Dark Mage

    Lyra left the forest full of hope and promises. She chatted with Tinesi and the others, learning about them and her future expectations. Kindroth made it clear not to reveal who they were to anyone. If the Rangers agreed to use Nasir as bait to lure out his master, they would go after the dark mage. That much she could share.


    Scratching her face revealed dried animal blood under her nails. Tinesi offered to help her wash it off, but she refused. Lyra wanted a reminder about her new oaths. A minor discomfort would be a small price to pay.


    The guards in front of the Ranger compound had switched since she left. She hadn¡¯t recognized them, but they knew her. One of them rushed over and said, ¡°You''re back! Hold on. Is that blood? Are you hurt?¡±


    Patting the elf on the shoulder, she shook her head and said, ¡°No, I¡¯m fine. I was having fun with friends. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± She smiled at the discomfort the elf clearly felt, trying to imagine what kind of fun she had.


    Stepping to the side to move around the guard, she halted when he said, ¡°We have orders for you to report to Haera immediately.¡±


    A sigh escaped before Lyra could compose herself. She pondered if it was too late to turn around and pretend that she never came back. The slight shake of his head gave her the impression that the Ranger knew what she was thinking and had the grace to save her the trouble.


    ¡°Orders received. You may return to your post.¡± The relief on his face voiced his worry over having to explain to Haera that Lyra ignored her orders. ¡°Fear not. You won¡¯t get an earful from Haera because of me tonight.¡±


    The Ranger still at the gate laughed at her last comment and said, ¡°Thank you. We appreciate it.¡±


    She started regretting not accepting Tinesi¡¯s offer to help clean her up. Haera gave Lyra the, are you serious, look. Instead of inquiring, Haera said, ¡°Shaerwyn hasn¡¯t returned yet. The only reason they wouldn¡¯t make it back is if something happened.¡±


    Pressing her aura against Lyra enough to make her feel uncomfortable, she said, ¡°You told me to let Nasir remain. That something was off about him. That he had changed somehow.¡±


    Lyra could see where this was going and felt conflicted about how to respond since her allegiance between the Rangers and the Shadow Breakers conflicted. ¡°Yes. I did say that. Why do you ask?¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Haera laughed as if that was the worst joke ever told. ¡°I feel one of the strongest auras usually reserved for the magical beasts we kill inside my own base, and all I find is Nasir walking away after Siranya accosted him, no less. I have no proof it was him, so I let it pass. Should I be regretting my decisions?¡±


    While massaging her brow, Lyra inquired, "Do you know how magical beasts are made?"


    Surprised, Haera nodded and said, ¡°Of course. There are mages who learn a form of corrupt magic and use that to mutate the wildlife. I have killed my fair share of traitors.¡±


    Lyra said, ¡°Yes, good enough for my purposes. Next, can you recall what those elves felt like? Their magical presence, I mean.¡±


    Shock on her face, Haera stumbled back till she sat on the lip of her desk. ¡°No, it can¡¯t be. Are you suggesting he is one of them?¡±


    She knew there was no going back after this. There were some words that changed lives irrevocably. ¡°That is what my friend wanted me to find out. I wanted to prove her wrong. How could I believe he would align himself to a power that thrives on the suffering of others?¡±


    Taking a deep breath, Lyra said, ¡°Like you, I had no actual proof. Until I heard the rumors about your reaction to Nasir¡¯s aura. My new friends are more familiar with hunting the traitors, and all but confirmed what we wish wasn¡¯t.¡±


    Pressed back to the wall from the oppressive aura, Lyra gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Whatever happens tomorrow, please don¡¯t confront him right away. This may be our only chance to lure out his master. The one responsible for most of the magical beasts you keep fighting.¡±


    Restraining her aura, Haera let out a breath and asked, ¡°What do you have in mind?¡±


    Lyra grimaced, shook her head trying to gather her courage, and said, ¡°If Nasir is the reason something happened, it will probably involve Siranya. Nasir made it clear he wants me and from what I have heard, she attacked him because of me.¡±


    Narrowing her eyes, Haera spoke softly. ¡°Are you telling me he would kill one of my Rangers?¡±


    Not willing to speak anymore, Lyra started to shrug, froze, and then nodded.


    ¡°If he doesn¡¯t give me a reason to kill him on the spot, I will bring this up with Kindroth to decide how we proceed. There are a few Rangers who excel at hiding that I can use to monitor Nasir in the meantime. For now, go get that blood washed off and get some rest. This ends tomorrow.¡±


    Shaerwyn''s return late morning the following day with Nasir and Elemalu, carrying a single bag of what little could be salvaged from Siranya¡¯s body, crumbled the fragile peace over Timberland. Since a full-out magical battle didn¡¯t take place, Lyra had to assume Haera held to her word not to confront Nasir. From the whispers going around, they convinced him to spend time with the healers for observation.


    As for Lyra, she sat inside Rolim¡¯s, looking up at Shaerwyn and Elemalu. Focused on their aura, Lyra noticed small fluctuations and deducted it was from unstable emotions, lack of quality sleep, the death of a friend, and the unease from being around Nasir. Discovering she could detect fluctuations at all, or interpret them, didn¡¯t even surprise her.


    I need to take the time to figure out what the artifact is doing to me.


    ¡°Why did Haera send us here to meet you? What do you know?¡±


    ¡°Hello to you too. Have a seat and keep your voice down. We have much to discuss.¡±


    Lyra turned to the Ranger sitting at the table next to them and said, ¡°Go ahead.¡± A bubble of air cocooned the table that Lyra sat at, giving them privacy while dampening the noise coming from the rest of the patrons.


    A soft touch from Elemalu calmed Shaerwyn enough to convince her to comply. Elbows resting on the table, the Ranger leader leaned in and said, ¡°Start talking.¡±


    Meeting the Rangers'' gaze, Lyra said, ¡°Siranya didn¡¯t die because of a magical beast, and you already know who was responsible.¡±


    Shaerwyn snarled and said, ¡°Nasir.¡±


    ¡°But how? Why?¡±


    Lyra glanced at Elemalu and replied, ¡°What did it feel like healing Nasir during my mission against the crows?¡±


    He looked at her with a puzzled expression. ¡°I felt resistance.¡±


    ¡°Not just resistant, but an antithesis to your magic. When he visited me after our mission, I felt it too. How could I know he had betrayed us? If it weren¡¯t for my past interactions and the knowledge my new friends provided, I never would have believed it myself.¡±


    Losing patience, Shaerwyn slammed her fist down on the table, knocking over drinks, growled, and said, ¡°Stop beating around the bush and spill it.¡±


    ¡°A mage corrupted him with their magic. His new master, according to what my friends have determined, is responsible for the majority of magical beast attacks. Directly or indirectly through his recruits.¡±


    Caught between telling them the truth and protecting the order frustrated Lyra. Hand reaching where the blood had been, she felt her resolve begin to solidify.


    Seething with rage hidden behind her eyes, Shaerwyn asked, ¡°So, what are we going to do about it?¡±


    Lyra reached out and held Shaerwyn''s hand and said, ¡°We are going to use him as bait to bring out his master and kill them both. Nasir has been told about the wake we are holding this evening with everyone present. If he can communicate with his master, there is a chance he shows up with a force to attack.¡±


    ¡°And if nothing happens?¡±


    Lyra saw the determination in Shaerwyn''s gaze and together they looked at Elemalu and said, ¡°We kill him.¡±


    Haera appeared next to the wind mage, who cut off the barrier, bringing back the chatter from the other patrons, cutting off their conversation, and said, ¡°I expect the two of you to act as if nothing is wrong. Both of you will be in the greatest danger at the start. Head back and prepare for the wake.¡±


    Elemalu rose with Shaerwyn, saluted, then left.


    ¡°Is it time?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I will warn you now, be respectful toward Teriani. The leader of Timberwood can be very, passionate, fulfilling their duty.¡±


    The guard stationed by the door nodded to Haera and opened the door. Multiple voices, once silenced behind the spell, sprung up mid-conversation.


    ¡°I am tired of your excuses. You¡¯re supposed to protect Timberland, not put it in more danger. We never agreed to this.¡±


    Lyra walked behind Haera, stopping when she had cleared the door, and the guard closed it. An unfamiliar elf who that sat across the table from Kellam pointed and said, ¡°How long do I have to wait before someone explains what¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°Why can¡¯t we wait for more support? You can¡¯t expect me to defend against magical beasts with my defenders alone while the rest of you are off in the forest.¡± Raptor leaned forward. Hand clenched.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me how dangerous it can be out there. We are the ones risking our lives to protect Timberland. Do you expect us to ignore this threat?¡± Glaring at Raptor at the end of the table, with a relaxed Elora separating them, was Gorre.


    The Ranger representatives sat on one side with Timberland on the other with their respective leaders sitting in the middle. Haera pointed next to Kellam and Lyra sat down. Haera sat to Lyra¡¯s left, which left an empty seat separating her from Teriani.


    Noticing her for the first time, Teriani pointed at Lyra and said, ¡°Who is she? Get her out of here! She doesn¡¯t belong.¡±


    Patting her arm, Kellam smiled, clearly ignoring the other elf, and said, ¡°Thank you for coming.¡±


    ¡°With all due respect, sir. Lyra has every right to be here, ¡°said Elora, speaking up for the first time since Lyra walked in. She tapped Raptor¡¯s clenched fist and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be rude.¡±


    The captain of the guard unclenched his fist, nodded to his wife, and said, ¡°I apologize. It is nice to see you both,¡± looking at Haera and Lyra.


    ¡°Teriani has a point. Why is Lyra here? This is unconventional.¡± Unlike Teriani, Gorre remained calm. His no-nonsense attitude tackling the situation.


    Grinning at Gorre, Haera said, ¡°Lyra knows the traitor and has proven her worth. Her input will be relevant to our discussion.¡±


    Lyra flinched back at the sudden noise when Teriani slammed his hands on the table and said, ¡°What do you mean she knows them? What if she is a spy? Raptor, I demand you remove her at once!¡±


    When Raptor rose, Ruvan burst from Lyra¡¯s necklace, appearing on the table, flame tail burning brighter than usual, and growled at Teriani. The elf shoved his seat back in his attempt to distance himself from the elemental.


    Ruvan protect momma.


    Raptor placed a hand on his sword, which prompted Haera to rise, a dagger in her hand. Eyes focused on Teriani, Lyra said, ¡°Why would I help him? He could be the reason my husband and child are dead. Help? The only help I will provide is to kill him.¡±


    Ruvan took another step towards Teriani, prompting Raptor to draw his own blade.


    Breaking the tension, Kellam said, ¡°Lyra, please ask Ruvan to return.¡± He glanced at Haera and said, ¡°There will be no need for violence here. Sit.¡±


    Sharpening his tone, he addressed Timberland¡¯s representatives and said, ¡°Threaten my Rangers again and I will put all support from Timberland during our mission today.¡±


    Return to momma. It will be alright.


    The elemental returned to Lyra''s necklace, leaving four scorch marks where it had stood. Haera returned to her seat, leaving an upset Teriani and an uncertain Raptor.


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Elora snapped her fingers and said, ¡°Please sit down.¡± Lyra could barely sense the energy from Elora¡¯s spell. They sat back down without saying another word, which confused Lyra.


    Clapping his hands with his relaxed smile back in place, Kellam said, ¡°Haera, report.¡±


    ¡°We plan on holding a wake for Siranya, inviting everyone. There will be a detachment on the outer perimeter acting as security and an early warning against an attack. If nothing happens, we subdue, question, and kill the traitor on the spot.¡±


    Gorre said, ¡°I have organized the best Rangers for security and guard protection for me and Kellam. I am also coordinating with Raptor in case the enemy attacks the town in our absence and have asked Elora to help me with the merchants.¡±


    Everyone shifted their focus to the elf, who nodded and said, ¡°Yes. I have talked with the merchants, and they will close their shops early today. We have also sent Rangers out to tell those scheduled to arrive today that the town will be on lockdown this evening. The plan is to let the residents know there is a magical beast in the area.¡±


    Leaning back in his chair, Kellam grinned and said, ¡°My Rangers have the situation under control. You have little to fear.¡±


    Teriani growled in frustration, huffed, and said, ¡°Fine, but I still see no reason for her to be here.¡±


    ¡°Fair point. Lyra, tell them about your friends.¡±


    All eyes focused on her, but she looked at Teriani, and said, ¡°My friends have been hunting the elf who turned Nasir into a traitor. They have offered to assist the Rangers if their target shows up. I can vouch for their capabilities. Tinesi already proved herself when she helped the Rangers kill a magical beast on her way toward Timberland not that long ago.¡±


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t they revealed themselves? Why not join the Rangers properly?¡±


    Lyra leaned forward so she could see Gorre and said, ¡°They have their own allegiance. Our interests happen to align this time.¡± He shook his head and said, ¡°Kellam, why are you agreeing to this?¡±


    At the same time, Raptor faced his wife and asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask me for help with the merchants? It¡¯s my job.¡±


    A tap on her left shoulder drew her attention away from the conversations. Haera said, ¡°Teriani can be aggravating. Thank you for not letting your fox attack him.¡±


    That same magical signature pulsed behind her from Elora, who said, ¡°You have enough to deal with. It wasn¡¯t an issue. Trust me.¡±


    Kellam laughed. ¡°Stop being so uptight. We need all the help, and if Lyra trusts them, then so do I.¡±


    ¡°You trust too easily.¡±


    Focused on Haera, Lyra said, ¡°I can tell he cares about the town. He could benefit from working on that temper of his, though.¡±


    The door opened behind her, and the guard said, ¡°Raptor, you''re needed.¡±


    Kellam stood up and said, ¡°This is a perfect time to end our meeting. Lyra, Haera, and Gorre follow me.¡±


    Ignoring Teriani¡¯s attempt to keep the Rangers, Kellam walked out. Lyra followed behind Gorre, with Haera bringing up the rear. Kellam led the way, unlocking his room, and waited for everyone to enter before joining and locking it.


    ¡°Someone tell me how we are protecting ourselves from Nasir?¡±


    Haera spoke up and said, ¡°We don¡¯t know what abilities he is hiding now that he has become a traitor.¡±


    ¡°Elemalu, Haera, and I are familiar with how his magic feels. Between Haera and I, we can react quickly if he taps into his new powers.¡±


    ¡°I still want to know more about your friends. What are their capabilities?¡±


    Lyra stood there; lips pursed.


    Kellam filled the void, slapping Gorre on the back, and said, ¡°Teriani may have a tree up his butt, but he cares. Make sure we offer enough patrols to keep Timberland safe. Have plans in place if we need to retreat to protect the town.¡±


    Gorre¡¯s shoulders slumped in defeat and turned toward the door, which unlocked, opened, and then closed behind him.


    Dropping his joyful demeanor, Kellam turned to Lyra and said, ¡°What is your relationship with Tinesi and her friends?¡±


    Questions as to why he would ask flooded her mind. Does he know who they are? Who was she? Could this be a test? How much can I say?¡±


    Ignoring them all, she said, ¡°I met Tinesi on my travels and she asked me to help since I was capable. She is the one who suggested I become a Ranger.¡±


    Solum expression, Kellam said, ¡°I don¡¯t doubt your loyalty, but if you had spoken up sooner, Siranya might still be alive.¡±


    ¡°And accusing without proof would have damaged my credibility at best, and at worst, Nasir could have gone on a rampage and killed many. We wouldn¡¯t be able to lure his master after that."


    ¡°She¡¯s right, Kellam. I am as responsible as she is. I let him leave after I felt that release of magic that resembled magical beasts. Caution because of the lack of solid proof held my hand.¡±


    He smiled once more, yet none of it reached his eyes. ¡°I know loss and regret better than anyone here. Take the lesson for what it is and end this threat.¡±


    Lyra joined Haera in a salute and said, ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    She felt his presence long before she reached the gate. Lyra paused when Haera gripped her shoulder. Shaking her head, she smiled. ¡°I''ve got this. If I call out, you can take him out.¡± Haera looked up at the wall and vanished.


    Momma need help?


    Not yet.


    Shaking off her nerves, Lyra relaxed and walked out of Timberland alone. When she was out of the guard''s view Nasir grabbed Lyra''s arm, dragged her to the wall, and shoved her. His aura felt like he was being dropped into a bucket of fish.


    ¡°What is wrong with you? I come back from a mission deadly enough to kill a Ranger and you don¡¯t have the decency to visit me."


    If he could pretend as if he still held a shred of the elf he used to be and act offended for something as petty as not visiting when they both knew he was never hurt, she could play along. A part of her knew she could tap into his aura and gleam more information, but that could break her. She couldn¡¯t afford to fall apart. Not now.


    ¡°Back off. There¡¯s no reason to be so angry. I had a reason. The higher-ups requested my presence. We are Rangers. Our oath means following orders.¡± She was also ordered to stay away from him, but Nasir didn¡¯t need to know that.


    Nasir blurred, hand gripping her throat, he slammed her against the wall. Dizzy, she stared at him as he said, ¡°Back off?¡±


    No!


    Ruvan appeared between them in a burst of light. Claws extended; the elemental fox dug into Nasir''s arm forcing him to let go. Stumbling back, Nasir held his bleeding arm. One angry fire elemental now stood between them.


    Emboldened by her companion¡¯s support, Lyra closed the distance, clenched her fist, and punched him in the jaw. Lyra poured all her rage and disappointment into that one act of defiance.


    His head whipped to the side. The sound of the impact resonated within herself.


    Ruvan.


    The fox sent a puff of flame toward Nasir''s feet and returned to Lyra''s necklace. Massaging her throat, Lyra walked around him. She poured all her anger into the glare she directed his way. ¡°You should reflect on your actions and get cleaned up before Siranya¡¯s wake today.¡±


    When the hand gripped her arm from behind, Lyra encased her hand in ice, swung around, and nailed Nasir in the nose. He hit the ground and had the decency to stay down that time. Lyra glanced at the blood dripping from her ice-covered fist and couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    Back inside the Ranger compound, Haera appeared at her side, worry mixed with a rage colder than the ice Lyra used to break Nasir¡¯s nose. ¡°I will enjoy killing him.¡±


    Touching the bruises appearing around her neck, Lyra said, ¡°If I don''t get to him first.¡±


    Candlelight spread across the clearing reminded Lyra of the night sky and its distant lights sparkling. Each ranger in attendance held one. A promise to the dead that the living still burned with a desire to fight back. The pyre burning brightest pushed back into the darkness. Its flames reminded Lyra of the night Ryo and Airdan died. The home she set ablaze and walked away from. A life she could never have again.


    Kellam stood before the pyre. Gorre and Haera are on either side. Off to the side stood Shaerwyn, Elemalu, and Nasir. Overwhelmed by everyone''s emotions leaking into her awareness, Lyra focused on ignoring those she didn''t want to know about. She hadn¡¯t realized up till now how much her newest ability lets her gleam from her surroundings.


    It was no surprise to Lyra that Kellam and Gorre were hard to read. The Ranger leader appeared relaxed, but his eyes promised mischief. Was it possible that he anticipated the enemy attacking them? Gorre¡¯s ridged demeanor fits his personality. The elf took his responsibilities seriously, and that left little time for anything else. Haera, on the other hand, was a fiery ball of emotions. Her passion for keeping those under her alive was second to none in Timberland.


    Controlled fury blended with sadness emanated from Shaerwyn. After her last conversation, it¡¯s no surprise the elf would feel that way, knowing a traitor under her command had murdered her friend. Elemalu was easy to read, even without her ability. Tears flowed freely from the healer. As the one responsible for keeping his charges healthy and alive, losing one must have hit him hard.


    Unwilling at first, Lyra glanced at Nasir. He had suppressed most of his dark aura, but not to the extent he had before he fully accepted the darkness. When their eyes met, he grinned, forcing her to look away in disgust.


    ¡°Rangers to attention!¡± Gorre said. His eyes roamed the crowd.


    Using their free hand not holding a candle, everyone saluted. He nodded and said, ¡°We are here today to honor the dead and give our respects to a fallen Ranger.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Gorre,¡± Kellam said after stepping forward. The mischievousness from before was replaced with a serene expression. ¡°I have known Siranya for a very long time. Her ambition to become the best she could be. Siranya was quick as the lightning she possessed. Never hesitating to put herself between danger and those she called friends.¡±


    He glanced at Shaerwyn and said, ¡°Your calm, rational decision-making made you the perfect choice for Siranya. Together, I knew the two of you would go far. All you needed was a wonderful healer to patch you up and another sword around to round out the group.¡±


    Kellam stepped back and placed a hand on Haera¡¯s shoulder. She stepped forward and said, ¡°May this all be a reminder to you all. No one is invincible. This is why I train you so hard. Remember this the next time you decide to fight on your own without proper support from someone you trust.¡±


    What could only be an obvious dig at Nasir caused the crowd of Rangers, who knew about the circumstances of her death, to whisper.


    A blast of dark energy silenced the whispers. Nasir glared and said, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare judge me. I proved myself time and again and what did I get in return? Tossed down a hole. Forced to live in darkness. I¡¯m done pretending you are all worthy of being comparable to me.¡±


    The cries of pain echoed all around them from beyond the perimeter, followed by the howls of beasts. Lyra expanded her senses, which let her know instantly the danger they were all in.


    Nasir reached for his sword, prompting Haera to teleport, dagger in hand. He stumbled under her oppressive aura but did not fall. Writhing shadows emerged, blossoming around his feet. Another blast of darkness knocked her back mid-swing. Standing tall, Nasir sneered at Haera when she teleported again.


    Stumbling forward, Haera looked around, confused.


    Witnessing Nasir vanish and reappear from within Haera¡¯s shadow, Lyra said, ¡°Behind you!¡±


    The experienced Ranger teleported a moment before black lightning slammed down where she had been. Haera teleported again, avoiding an earthen spike from impaling her.


    Leaving Keya and Paeral behind, Lyra hurled a ball of water into Nasir and froze him in place. He broke free immediately, but long enough for Haera to teleport in and go for the killing blow. He raised his sword to block without success. Haera adjusted her aim and took his hand off at the wrist. Nasir¡¯s sword fell to the ground with the hand.


    He covers himself in shadows and vanishes along with the dropped sword, leaving behind his severed hand.


    ¡°Haera, I need you!¡±


    Hearing Kellam¡¯s plea, she vanished herself.


    Left on her own, Lyra surveyed the battlefield. Wolves, bears, large cats, deer, and a multitude of small creatures. The dark mage mutated anything that lived in the forest within his grasp and could cause damage. No strangers to combat, her fellow Rangers fought back. What the magical beasts lacked in strength; they made up in pure numbers.


    Knowing the true threat still lingered, Lyra focused on Nasir¡¯s aura and located him. When that wasn¡¯t enough, she searched for his thoughts and shivered. Barely visible in the shadows, the traitor held his sword with a newly created shadow hand. She raced towards her target, her signature weapon forming in her hand. The long-curved blade sticking out on both ends.


    Wind-enhanced speed propelled her forward past teeth and claws. Swinging with all her might, Lyra aimed at Nasir¡¯s neck. Cutting through the tree he stood beside. She frowned.


    ¡°Did you try killing me? Your own family?¡±


    Turning around, Lyra glared at Nasir with open contempt. ¡°All I see is a traitor and a dark mage who gave up his honor and self-respect because he was too weak.¡±


    Roaring with rage, Nasir¡¯s shadow tendrils lashed out, forcing Lyra back. ¡°I am not weak.¡± He raised his arms and looked around at the chaos with a smile. ¡°Do you not see the power my master wields? It will soon all be mine.¡±


    Momma need help?


    No. Stay for now.


    With all the conviction she could muster, Lyra said, ¡°I won¡¯t let you.¡±


    He began to teleport into every shadow around her, blasts of black lightning hitting the ground close enough to raise the hair on her arms. She had the reach with her weapon, but the constant teleporting made it impossible to land a blow. Lyra was sure she had a magic spell that could do something, but the constant barrage of black lightning took all her focus to avoid.


    She had to admit it. Nasir had the upper hand in this fight.


    ¡°Give up and join me.¡±


    ¡°Join you? You¡¯re delusional. I thought I had made myself clear already. I joined the Rangers to hunt magical beasts, not to support the dark mages who created them. Have you forgotten the atrocities they committed?¡±


    Teleporting behind her, Nasir grabbed Lyra by the neck and threw her to the ground.


    ¡°So be it. I''m going to kill everyone you know until you''re left with no choice but to come to me.¡±


    She turned around, trying to find Nasir. Back on her feet, Lyra ran, even though she knew it wouldn¡¯t help. Just like before. Powerless.


    Nasir stabbed Elemalu from behind with his sword. He grabbed the healer by the head and sent black lightning coursing through the Ranger. Shaerwyn reacted with an attack that passed through space when Nasir teleported, letting Elemalu collapse lifelessly on the ground.


    He sent an earthen spike jutting from underneath her. Slamming a water spell into the jutting earth, Shaerwyn dodged the worst of it. Holding her side where the tip ripped through her armor, Shaerwyn winced.


    When Lyra reengaged Nasir, she forced him to teleport or face being cut down. Behind her, she heard, ¡°Leave her with us. Kill the traitor.¡±


    Recognizing Luthais, she nodded. Nasir noticed the intervention and growled. He sent another bolt of black lightning toward Shaerwyn, but a force shield controlled by a Ranger working with Luthais deflected it. They healed Shaerwyn and guided her toward safety. Another carrying Elemalu over their shoulder.


    ¡°Fine. If I can¡¯t have her, I will have to cut the head off at the root.¡±


    Lyra yelled out, ¡°Haera, watch out!¡±


    Nasir impaled two Rangers guarding Kellam before Haera could teleport herself and confront him. On her way to support them, Lyra watched Kellam use his wind magic to destroy the earth spikes or deflect Nasir¡¯s sword strikes aimed at Haera.


    Gorre focused on directing the remaining Rangers nearby, still locked in battle with the magical beasts. If he saw someone struggling, he would reach out and clench his fist. Unsure what his magic was, Lyra struggled to figure out why the creatures collapsed as if they couldn¡¯t hold up their weight.


    Noticing a pattern, Lyra guessed where Nasir would appear and altered her weapon back into a dagger, and thrust it toward the distortion she felt. The rare semi-sentient artifact thrust into Nasir¡¯s lower back to the hilt. Lyra twisted the dagger and yanked it to the side.


    She never got the chance to see how much damage it had caused. Knocked back by a wall of shadow, Lyra witnessed a cocoon of shadows envelop Nasir. The dark force struck those nearby as well, allowing the shadow beasts to turn the tide of battle. Quick to react, the Rangers recovered, but at a significant cost.


    When the shadow cocoon dissolved, Nasir was gone.


    ¡°No¡­I failed.¡±


    The injured gathered near Gorre were being protected by Haera and Kellam, who monitored the perimeter Gorre had set up. Lyra searched for Keya and Paeral and found them fighting a giant, mutated bear. Paeral fought it with his twin blades set ablaze, thanks to his sister. Keya danced around the beast firing arrows in its flank.


    ¡°Just because you escaped this time, doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t find you. You will face the consequences of your actions. This I swear.¡±


    Lyra smiled at the common sight she had become accustomed to and rushed over to join the fight. Leaping into the air, her dagger transformed into the weapon she had personally designed and used its long-curved blade to slice into the bear¡¯s neck, cutting it off with one blow.


    ¡°Lyra, you¡¯re here! Did you get him? Is Nasir dead? Are you unhurt? Why did you leave us behind?¡±


    Keya slapped her brother¡¯s back and grinned. ¡°Take a breather, brother. Lyra doesn¡¯t need all the questions. Let us focus on killing the rest of these beasts first.¡±


    ¡°Yes! Of course. You¡¯re right. So, where to?¡±


    It still surprised her how quickly they agreed to let her take charge. If Keya wasn¡¯t around to keep her brother in check, Lyra wasn¡¯t sure she would have enjoyed being alone with Paeral.


    ¡°Search for the injured and guide them toward Kellam as we finish off any beasts we come across.¡±


    They saluted and fell in line, Lyra leading the way.


    Run while you can. The darkness can¡¯t hide you when daylight drags you from the shadows.

 Chapter Eighteen: Fallout

    Tinesi


    ¡°It appears he sent every beast he could after the Rangers,¡± said Kindroth. His perch in the tree gave him a clear view of the surrounding forest. ¡°Do you think they will be strong enough?¡±


    Tinesi looked toward the soft glow in the distance and thought of her friend, wondering if Lyra could kill someone who had been part of her family. She didn¡¯t think Lyra had been very close to Nasir, though. Tinesi looked up from her spot in the tree and said, ¡°They will suffer casualties. Between the magical beasts and the fresh, dark mage, it is inevitable.¡±


    Hidden within the tree, Kailu said, ¡°If she dies, I will recover the artifact.¡±


    ¡°Hush. The beasts will pass us soon. We are hunting the dark mage tonight. Wouldn¡¯t want to alert him of our presence.¡±


    Her magical senses could feel the dark aura leaking from the horde of magical beasts traveling beneath her, heading toward and around the Ranger¡¯s position. It didn¡¯t take long for the beasts to encounter the outer perimeter. Cries of pain mixed with the roar of the larger animals signaled the start of the battle.


    In a whisper, Tinesi said, ¡°Stay alive and I shall do the same.¡±


    The urge to abandon her position and come to Lyra¡¯s aid swelled in her chest as time passed by. Her strict training and respect for her master held her hand. Tinesi paused, her senses picking up a dark spike of energy, but not enough to determine its location.


    ¡°I have him. Follow me!¡±


    Kindroth jumped from tree to tree. Tinesi sprang into action, close behind. She didn¡¯t bother looking for Kailu. He never failed to follow an order from Kindroth and with his ability to mask his presence, it would be nearly impossible, even for her.


    The hunt was on.


    Traveling away from where Timberland lay, parallel to the Rangers'' position, Kindroth leaped from the tree, landing with a roll. Short sword pointing at the two dark mages before him, he said, ¡°Find peace in death,¡± then whipped his sword back and forth, sending wind blade strikes shooting out at both elves.


    Beside a wounded Nasir stood an elf, face hidden under a cloak. His eyes pierced the night. Their hands moved deftly to control the shadows blocking the wind attacks. He picked up Nasir by the throat and tossed him to the ground, away from danger.


    ¡°Leave before I regret it. Fail me again and I will use you for my next experiment.¡±


    Striking from the shadows, Kailu set his twin blades alight with fire and ice and aimed for Nasir¡¯s neck in an outward crisscrossing pattern when he was getting back to his feet. The hooded dark mage forced Nasir into a shadow, teleporting him further away.


    Kailu turned to pursue when Kindroth said, ¡°Focus on our target.¡± Quick as a rabbit, Kailu launched himself at the dark mage. Despite being assaulted on two sides, the elf had little trouble maneuvering his shadows to block them both.


    Powering her spell, Tinesi coated her blade with wind, and ignited the fire rune, setting the wind ablaze. Channeling the current of fiery wind into a ball, she positioned it above the dark mage¡¯s head and drove it into the ground.


    Laughter laced with malice emerged from behind a tree untouched. ¡°Surely you can do better than this. Shadow breakers who dare face me at night. How foolish can you be?¡±


    Firing off wind blade strikes defiantly, Kindroth declared, ¡°If you know who we are, then you must know we will never stop till you all die, and we cleanse the land of you and your god.¡±


    Eyes glaring beneath his hood, the dark aura around the mage intensified. ¡°You will regret those words.¡±


    Tinesi no longer thought they could defeat the shadow mage when he had the upper hand. Why does he not fight back? He is powerful enough to do so. What purpose does Nasir have that would push him to intervene and expose himself? Then again, if he had nothing to worry about, it wouldn¡¯t matter. This had to be just a game to him. The dark mage¡¯s obvious disregard toward them frustrated Tinesi.


    Kailu¡¯s charge back into the fight lit a fire under her feet. Roaring in defiance, she rushed back in. Kindroth adjusted his wind blade strikes so they would curve in random directions before reaching their target without harming Kailu. Melee or ranged spells. Neither could puncture the dark mage''s defense.


    Halting his attack, Kindroth backed away. With his attention drawn to the sky, the dark mage cackled with laughter. Confused, Tinesi asked, ¡°What is it, master?¡±


    ¡°The crows.¡±


    ¡°But master, the Rangers defeated them already. How could he have found more so soon?¡±


    Backing up as he deflected every attack from Kailu, the dark mage shook his head. ¡°Foolish shadow. You have no idea what I am capable of. If you survive this, come find me again.¡±


    When Tinesi first saw the crows descending rapidly, she recalled Lyra mentioning some crows had escaped. A wind blade strike from Kindroth intercepted the nearest crow, which exploded in a burst of dark energy.


    ¡°There are too many of them. We need to retreat.¡± Tinesi said, her mind split between protecting her master and finding an escape route.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be a coward. He is right here. We can do this.¡±


    ¡°She is right. Don¡¯t let your pride cloud your judgment.¡±


    Kailu dodged the crows as they crashed into the ground all around him. More crows filled the night sky. He couldn¡¯t dodge them all.


    ¡°Kailu!¡±


    Gathering the wind in her hands, Tinesi hurled a giant gust over Kailu¡¯s head, deflecting those closest to him. So focused on trying to protect him, Tinesi never saw it coming. Pushed out of the way by Kindroth, she then felt a wave of dark energy that knocked her to the ground.


    He lay on the ground, unmoving. Tinesi looked for the dark mage, but he was gone. Grinding her teeth in frustration, she turned to Kailu and said, ¡°Help me lift him up. We need to leave. Now.¡±


    He didn¡¯t argue this time. Together, they carried their master away from the crows and Lyra. Away from responsibility. They had failed. She had failed. Worse, her actions could have gotten Kindroth killed. That was unacceptable.


    ¡°We will find him again, and when we do, I will kill him.¡±


    Lyra


    The taste of death clung to Lyra like a wet blanket. Smoke rose from the pyre, no longer ceremonial. Ordered to discuss her fight with Nasir with Kellam, she watched the others work around her.


    ¡°There is little doubt left. Nasir has become one of them. He has learned to control the shadows, and his lightning attack reminded me of Siranya. An ability he must have stolen from her somehow when he killed her.¡±


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    ¡°I see. That is unfortunate. We Rangers pride ourselves in the ability to face magical beasts, but there is little understanding to this day regarding those who become corrupt. Our organization has focused solely on protecting our people.¡±


    The battle-scarred leader never let his eyes linger as he surveyed the aftermath of the fight with the magical beasts and Nasir, the traitor. She doubted anyone still had doubts about his leadership capability after tonight. He reminded everyone why he was the only one who survived the attack that killed the rest of his companions so long ago.


    ¡°My father taught me to take pride in protecting those weaker than yourselves. There is honor in what we Rangers do. I wouldn¡¯t have joined if I didn¡¯t believe in the cause. Have faith that there are those out there who are doing everything they can to rid the land of every traitor who has embraced the shadows.¡±


    ¡°Like Tinesi and her companions?¡±


    ¡°Did I ever tell you about the time I killed a magical beast that had been an elf before his transformation?¡±


    Eyeing her with a raised eyebrow, Kellam shook his head and shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you have. I haven¡¯t run across one such as that myself during my years of service.¡±


    ¡°When I delivered the fatal blow, it transformed back into the elf it had been, but all I could see was the monster. I hunted the abomination to protect my family. It was the last time I had the chance to do so successfully.¡±


    He gripped her shoulder and nodded toward Shaerwyn, who stood there alone, staring at the pyre. ¡°She lost two friends to Nasir¡¯s treachery. I¡¯m sure Shaerwyn could use a friend right now.¡±


    With a resigned sigh, Lyra forced a smile and said, ¡°Of course.¡±


    Approaching the lone Ranger, Lyra stared at the flames next to Shaerwyn. Her thoughts drifted to those she lost. She didn¡¯t say anything. She didn¡¯t have to. The silence spoke for itself.


    ¡°He took everything from me, Lyra. I have nothing left. Is there any point in fighting?¡± Turning to Lyra, she asked, ¡°How do you do it? Continue to fight back after all the death and betrayal without giving up?¡±


    Searching for the pain, regret, and helplessness she once had, Lyra found acceptance and inevitability in its place. She faced the distraught elf and said, ¡°I had every intention of fighting the horrors that hid in the shadows with little regard for my survival. Don¡¯t think of me as a hero. I¡¯m just too much of a coward to end it myself.¡±


    On the verge of speaking out, Lyra shook her head to silence Shaerwyn. ¡°At least that is how I used to think before I came to terms with my responsibilities.¡± Lyra knew Shaerwyn would assume she was referring to the Rangers and not the fact that she made an oath to another cause and was on borrowed time now. A path where death was the only escape, and even that wasn¡¯t a given.


    Taking her by the hand, Lyra tugged till the elf followed and together they made their way back toward Timberland. The survivors had trickled back a few at a time, which created a long line. Gossip from the front spread down the line until it reached Lyra and Shaerwyn.


    ¡°Did you hear? The guards protecting Timberland watched a murder of crows fly toward our location and vanish. I didn¡¯t see any crows during the fight, did you?¡±


    Shaerwyn glanced at Lyra after hearing the news herself and said, ¡°You look like you have an idea about the crows.¡±


    Tilting her head in thought, Lyra shrugged and said, ¡°Nasir didn¡¯t escape on his own. The dark mage who corrupted him is responsible. My friends were waiting in the forest to engage. If I had to guess, the crows were being used against them.¡±


    ¡°Wait. Are you saying they could have helped defeat Nasir and protected countless others from the magical beasts, but waited for someone whose appearance was uncertain?¡±


    Shaerwyn''s pace slowed down, her face scrunching up in frustration and anger. Tossing a cool icy breeze into her face, Lyra cracked a smile at the Ranger''s discomfort.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be so na?ve. The entire point of putting everyone in danger was to draw out the true enemy behind most of the magical beasts that have appeared. Every Ranger took an oath to defeat the threats that endanger the lives of those we protect. My friends have their oaths to fulfill, including hunting down that dark mage.¡±


    Crouching down where she stood, Shaerwyn hugged her knees. Tears rolling down her cheeks. Lyra kneeled and patted her head like she would have with Airdan when he was still alive.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine to be upset when you grieve for those you cared for and lost. If you want to blame anyone, blame me. I convinced the others not to kill him yet so we could get a chance at a bigger prize.¡±


    Now rocking back and forth, Shaerwyn didn¡¯t notice the looks the other Rangers gave her as they walked around. Nothing egregious, though. If they had, Lyra would have shown them the error of their ways. Shaerwyn wasn¡¯t the only one who lost someone that night.


    After helping Shaerwyn get to bed, Lyra joined Haera, Gorre, and Kellam, who were talking to Captain Raptor at Timberland''s front gate. She heard the same report about the crows, and Gorre relayed what had occurred during the operation. When questioned about her friend''s involvement, she said, ¡°They did not try contacting me yet. We shall have to wait and see. I can report that I delivered a grievous wound to the traitor, forcing his master to extract him. Odds are, that was enough to give away his location to my friends.¡±


    Her lack of conclusive answers caused some to scrunch their faces, but what could they do? Her role in the operation revolved around engaging Nasir, and she did just that. Feeling someone¡¯s eyes lingering on her, Lyra cast out her senses and felt Elora. Stepping around Raptor, she smiled at the guards and walked into Timberland. Lyra let her eyes ask the words she couldn¡¯t voice.


    Elora shook her head. Hopes deflated, Lyra looked back toward the forest where Tinesi would have clashed with the dark mage. The uncertainty frustrated her. Could she continue fighting with the Rangers when Tinesi was out there somewhere, putting her life on the line against the true threat?


    Did it matter if she was the one who put the mage down? No, it wasn¡¯t. Did that make her heartless for not wanting revenge against the elf who directed that magical beast to kill her family? Lyra didn¡¯t care. It was never about pure revenge. Even when she was at her lowest, her only concern was removing any threat to her people she could before she died.


    ¡°Lyra?¡±


    Remembering Elora was there, Lyra turned back and said, ¡°Sorry. I have a lot on my mind.¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you join me at Rolim¡¯s, and you can tell me all about it?¡±


    The luxury of time the average elf had no longer applied to her anymore. Not as she was now. Placing her hand on the hilt of the dagger, she felt it react to her touch. Soon, time would be meaningless to an immortal sentient weapon. That didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t pursue one last goal.


    ¡°I¡¯d like that.¡±


    Nasir


    Lost in the euphoria his new powers gave him during the battle, Nasir let his desires guide his hand. Losing his hand to Haera irritated him, but it was only a minor inconvenience to one as powerful as him. The plan had been perfect. What better time to kill the Rangers than now?


    He had given Lyra another chance to join his side now that he had proved his prowess through his shadow mastery. He could forgive her attempts to kill him. She didn¡¯t know better. How could she? Yet still, she refused to see the truth. That¡¯s when he attempted to remove those who poisoned her mind with lies.


    Killing Elemalu felt satisfying. One less distraction. His attempt at finishing Shaerwyn failed, so he turned his attention toward the root of Lyra¡¯s problems. The Ranger¡¯s leadership, meaning Kellam needed to die. He just had to kill Haera first. The pesky teleporter could hold her own against him, as much as he hated to admit it.


    Focused on his opponent, he never saw it coming. The pain was sudden and intense. Worse than anything he felt before, including the loss of his hand earlier. Why? Because it was Lyra who did it.


    Nasir gasped in pain, looked at Lyra, and asked, ¡°Why?¡± Lyra twisted the dagger and yanked it to the side. Panicking, Nasir reached toward the wound to press against it.


    Master!


    Hush. I may have use for you still.


    Swallowed by a cocoon of shadows, Nasir felt himself fall into its embrace. He found himself by Kiressin''s side, away from all the fighting. His master burned his side closed with pure dark energy with an annoyed look in his eyes.


    ¡°You need to run. They will be here soon.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    Dizzy from the pain, Nasir struggled to focus.


    An elf jumped out of a tree, sword drawn, and said, ¡°Find peace in death.¡±


    Nasir flinched at the sudden barrage of wind blade strikes covering his face. When nothing hit him, he looked up at his master. The dark mage blocked every attack with ease. He leaned in and grabbed Nasir by the throat and tossed him to the ground behind him and said, ¡°Leave before I regret it. Fail me again and I will use you for my next experiment.¡±


    A second elf appeared out of nowhere, two elementally enhanced blades aimed at Nasir''s neck. Falling into the shadow beneath him, Nasir escaped death for the second time that night. He had no desire to face whoever those elves were or ignore his master¡¯s orders. Nasir ran.


    The wound was closed, and his makeshift shadow hand functioned, but the effort drained him of energy. What little he could spare was used to teleport himself as far as possible. Paranoid that the mystery elf would show up at any moment, Nasir lost track of his footing and fell several times, leaving his face covered in dirt and blood.


    He didn¡¯t know how long he ran. It all became a blur. His hand kept reaching for the sword secured on his hip. Convinced he would find it missing when they found him, and he needed it most. The mental strain left him exhausted. No longer able to keep going, Nasir found a cave and entered.


    Stirred by his presence, a bear rose, heckles rising. With a roar, it charged. Acting on instinct, Nasir teleported behind the bear, jumped on its back, and thrust his blade through the back of its skull and out the mouth. When two bear cubs rushed him, he skewered them with spikes of earth and left them.


    Collapsing to the ground, his mind drifted to sleep to the tune of a bear cub slowly bleeding to death.

 Chapter Nineteen: Shifting Priorities

    The atmosphere inside Rolim¡¯s had a touch of death lingering in the air. It was a smell she was all too familiar with. A taste that made anything she ate seem like it had been covered in ash. Lyra didn¡¯t fail to notice the overwhelming presence of Rangers nursing a drink alone with their thoughts. Those who noticed her offered a nod of recognition before returning to their drink.


    Elora guided Lyra to her favorite corner in the back. She appeared unphased by the gloom clinging to every surface. That piqued Lyra¡¯s interest even more than her initial curiosity in the elf. As the official go-between for the Rangers and Timberlands leadership, Elora must have picked up a few techniques for manipulating social interactions. She knew how to hold her own working around so many powerful figures.


    Able to sense when the elf used her mental magic, Lyra wasn¡¯t concerned she was being manipulated by the elf. That much she could guarantee. Tinesi trusted her, and she had stood up for Lyra during the meeting they had yesterday. Instead of chasing doubts, shouldn¡¯t she believe her instead?


    The staff had delivered their drinks while Lyra sat there pondering to herself. Taking a sip, she tried calming her mind.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you share instead of bottling it all up like the rest of your comrades drinking away their pain in here?¡±


    Shaking her head, Lyra grinned. ¡°You are mistaken. I found you more intriguing than focusing on regret or loss, but that¡¯s beside the point. You offered to listen to what I had on my mind. Given the time restraints I find myself with, my priorities and personal interests, beyond the oaths I have made, have become muddled.¡±


    Elora tucked a stray hair behind her ear. With an amused look on her face, Elora said, ¡°Careful. If my husband found out you thought I was intriguing, he might get jealous.¡±


    Gazing up at the ceiling, Lyra tucked a loose hair behind her ear and said, ¡°His devotion to you and his duty is admirable.¡± She took another sip of her drink and smiled at Elora. ¡°He reminds me a little of Ryo, except Ryo had focused on raising our son instead of keeping a place like Timberland safe.¡± Her shoulders sagged as she stared at her hand. Clinching it tight, she said, ¡°It was supposed to be my job to keep them safe.¡±


    ¡°Care to elaborate?¡± Elora asked with a gentle smile.


    The words she desperately wanted to say died on the tip of her tongue. Hand reaching toward her ear, Lyra froze, then sighed.


    Reaching out and laying a hand over Lyra¡¯s, Elora said, ¡°I can¡¯t help you if you don¡¯t talk to me. I¡¯m not a mind reader.¡±


    Lyra grinned, raising her eyebrow as if to ask, really?


    Elora leaned back. Mouth agape and eyes wide open, the elf placed her hand against her chest in an exaggerated pose of shock and said, ¡°You wound me.¡±


    Unable to hold it in, Lyra let out a belly laugh that drew the attention of her fellow Rangers. How could it not? When she glanced around the room, all she found was a mix of confusion and irritation burning from their eyes. When Lyra thought about it, she found it didn¡¯t matter if her ability to be happy angered them.


    Raising her mug in the air, Lyra raised her voice and said, ¡°To the fallen!¡±


    Most raised a toast, echoing her sentiment, but not all. Nothing to be done about them. They had a right to feel the way they did.


    No longer pretending to be shocked, Elora rested her head in her palm and said, ¡°Feel like sharing now?¡±


    Lyra felt it at the same time as Elora looked up. A hand gripped her shoulder and pulled back hard. She watched a fist fly towards her face. Her mind split between her amusement at the situation and the words he spat in her direction.


    ¡°You were supposed to kill Nasir! My brother is dead because of you.¡±


    His knuckles scraped across her cheek, whipping her head to the side. Could she have prevented it? Yes, but what would be the fun in that? Lyra spat out blood from the cut on the inside of her mouth, grinned, and said, ¡°I will be right back.¡±


    Reaching across her chest, Lyra gripped the hand holding her in place and yanked it forward. Simultaneously, she raised her free arm and elbowed the elf in the throat when he lurched forward.


    While he was busy clutching his neck, Lyra pushed her chair back and stood up. Seeing as he was the only one stupid enough to face her, Lyra offered his friends nearby a sympathetic shrug and slammed her fist into his nose. Unbalanced, the impact sent him sprawling on his back. The crunch of his nose against her knuckles left a satisfying amount of blood smeared across her hand.


    Lyra could sense the raw pain and anger waffling from the Ranger, but she ignored it. Leaning in, she said, ¡°Get up. What happened to blaming me for not protecting your brother?¡±


    Feeling that tinge of magic when Elora said, ¡°Lyra¡­¡±


    She raised her hand, whipped her head toward Elora, and said, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare. This is between him and me.¡±


    With a sigh, Elora took a sip and remained silent.


    Focused on the elf still holding his bleeding nose, Lyra grabbed his shirt, lifted him to his feet, and raised her fist. ¡®Why?¡± Crunch. ¡°Did.¡± Crunch. ¡°You.¡± Crunch. ¡°Not.¡± Crunch. ¡°Save him.¡± Crunch. ¡°Yourself?¡± Instead of punching his already mangled face, Lyra slammed her forehead into his, knocking him out cold.


    Still standing over the unconscious Ranger. Blood dripping from her hand. She looked up when the guard burst through the door and closed the distance.


    Hand gripping the hilt of his sheathed sword, he said, ¡°What is going on here? Someone rushed outside saying there was a fight.¡±


    Crouching down, Lyra wiped the blood off on the Ranger¡¯s pant leg.¡± This is Ranger business. Do me a favor and get a message to Haera that Lyra requests her presence at Rolim¡¯s.¡± She stood back up and crossed her arms expectantly.


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    The rest of the guard''s words lost steam when he met her stare. Backing up quickly, he nearly fell, trying to reach the exit. The owner of the establishment frowned at her and then ordered her staff to get back to work. In short order, Haera appeared inside and strolled over.


    ¡°Care to tell me why you summoned me?¡± Haera said with an edge to her voice that promised regret if the answer didn¡¯t satisfy her.


    Unmoved by the pressure that Haera was applying to Lyra with her magic, she pointed at the unconscious elf and said, ¡°He lost his brother tonight and felt the need to blame me for it.¡±


    She kicked him in the leg to see if he responded and said, ¡°I explained how that was a bad idea.¡±


    Relaxing the aura she had pressed against Lyra, Haera smirked and said, ¡°With your fist?¡±


    ¡°He needed to understand the severity of his mistake,¡± Lyra said with a shrug.


    Haera said, ¡°Gorre assigned his brother to guard Kellam. He was an excellent Ranger. I will talk with him after he wakes up,¡± as she grabbed the Ranger and flung him over her shoulder. ¡°Find me tomorrow. We need to chat.¡±


    Once Haera had left, Lyra grabbed her mug and chugged the rest of it down in one go and said, ¡°Unless anyone else wants to experience Haera¡¯s displeasure, or mine, I plan on continuing my conversation with Elora.¡±


    Silent as the grave, they all focused their gaze on her. Lyra said, ¡°Good,¡± nodding to herself. Sitting back down, she raised her mug and said, ¡°Can I have a refill, please?¡±


    Elora shook her head as she watched Lyra take a sip from her freshly filled mug. ¡°Was that necessary?¡±


    Put off by the tone of her question, Lyra had to tamp down her agitation. She took a deep breath and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know much about you.¡± Lyra gestured toward the other Rangers. ¡°But I know about discipline. About fighting for a cause and demanding others to do the same. I know about sacrifice. Everything I fought for, only to be ignored when I told them it wasn¡¯t enough.¡±


    ¡°Told who?¡±


    Lyra clamped down on the rising tide of emotions, leaning into the warmth that Ruven¡¯s consciousness brought her as she refused to dwell on a past she couldn¡¯t change. Clenching her fist, Lyra looked at Elora and said, ¡°Time isn¡¯t on my side. Anyone who gets in my way will stand aside or be stepped upon.¡±


    Massaging the bridge of her nose, Elora sighed and said, ¡°So what is it you want to do with what time you have left?¡±


    Relaxed in her seat, Lyra grinned and said, ¡°Now that is the right question. If I wanted revenge, I would have devoted myself to tracking down Tinesi¡¯s target with her from the start. No, that prize is for her alone.¡±


    Lyra reached toward her face, twirled a lock of hair, and said, ¡°Like it or not, I¡¯m good at killing magical beasts. Becoming a Ranger hasn¡¯t been the worst decision I ever made. But is that enough?¡±


    Elora sat there thoughtfully before she said, ¡°What about Nasir? Do you feel any desire to hunt him down?¡± Lowering her voice, Elora leaned in and said, ¡°Between you and me, Gorre sent out a message to every town regarding the traitor. He is to be hunted and killed on sight. How many more will die before he meets his end?¡±


    ¡°If you are trying to persuade me, don¡¯t bother. You make a fine point, though. What better goal could there be as the sun reaches out to the darkness for the last time than to hunt him down and find out if he had a hand in Ryo and Airdan¡¯s deaths? This will end. Once and for all.¡±


    Ruvan want to burn bad elf that hurt momma.


    Thank you, Ruvan. Together we will bring an end to his fall from the light.


    ¡°They won¡¯t let you abandon your duties without a good reason. If you''re determined to hunt him down, find me when the time comes,¡± said Elora with an amused smile.


    The following day, Lyra met up with Haera, who gave her an earful for the incident at Rolim¡¯s the night before. Lyra could sense the pride the elf had, which contradicted her words. That alone nearly made her crack as she held back her smile. The Rangers disciplined themselves. Even if it was just for show.


    Free from any lasting consequences, Lyra met up with Keya, who was chatting with her brother. Waving at the siblings, Lyra said, ¡°Hello. How are the two of you holding up?¡±


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    Keya smiled, dark bags under her eyes. Lyra remembered seeing her help care for the injured when she was helping Shaerwyn back to town. She couldn¡¯t recall seeing her in bed when she came back from Rolim¡¯s last night, either.


    ¡°You stayed up all night?¡± Lyra asked. Concern for the elf overshadowed her worries. Paeral didn¡¯t fare any better. His boisterous personality was muted by fatigue. He looked at Lyra and nodded once, not bothering to hide his emotions.


    Keya closed the distance and hugged Lyra, and said, ¡°We wanted to make sure everyone was cared for last night. Unlike the others, our group didn¡¯t suffer any casualties.¡±


    Embracing Keya, Lyra said, ¡°Both of you need to rest up. That¡¯s an order. I plan on relaxing myself. We all earned it.¡± She let go and hugged Paeral, surprising the elf before she waved goodbye and left the Ranger¡¯s compound.


    When she was clear from prying eyes, Lyra reached for the pendant under her shirt and brought it out. Ruvan¡¯s warmth flowed into her hand. ¡°Come to me,¡± she said. Basking in the love she felt from the elemental. Appearing out of the gem in mid-air, Ruvan fell into her arms, snuggling against her chest with a purr of contentment.


    Ruvan love momma.


    Wrapping her arms around the fox, Lyra let herself relax. Ruvan licked her face. His concern drew her attention to the tears trailing down her cheeks. Deep down in the hidden depths of her very being, her will to keep herself together cracked. The magical aura emanating from her dagger pulsed with ever-increasing power.


    Momma, no! Don¡¯t go. Not yet.


    Curled up on the ground convulsing, Lyra said, ¡°Help me.¡±


    Ruvan touched his head to hers and sent a blast of magical energy coursing through her body. Flames tightened around the unseen cracks, preventing them from shattering. Lyra tried to grasp how close she had been to submitting to the artifact. Without Ruvan by her side, she would be nothing more than a sentient weapon forever trapped.


    Forcing herself back on her feet, Lyra growled and said, ¡°Not yet. I will not give up without finding the truth first.¡±


    Time passed by, but Lyra never spoke about her experience in the forest to anyone. She Focused on being the best Ranger she could be. Haera took advantage of her group surviving the failed ambush and put the three of them to work. On her way back from a patrol, her senses picked up Tinesi¡¯s aura. For the skilled shadow breaker who could conceal her aura, this must be her way of signaling her presence.


    Lyra turned to Keya and Paeral and said, ¡°I need to investigate something. Please go on without me. Keya, can you give our report to Haera?¡±


    ¡°Why can''t we¡­¡±


    Keya punched her brother in the arm, silencing his question, and said, ¡°I will.¡±


    ¡°But Keya?¡±


    His sister glared at him, ending any further argument.


    Lyra left the two of them behind and walked toward Tinesi¡¯s presence. Ruvan appeared by Lyra¡¯s side and walked with her in silence. Thoughts of what she would say to Tinesi swam in her mind. The fight with Nasir. What happened to her? Did they defeat the dark mage? Does she need to know how she had to ask Ruvan for help in preventing her transformation? Even if it was only temporary.


    When their eyes met, Lyra said, ¡°Hi.¡±


    Tinesi smiled and said, ¡°I see you survived. I¡¯m sorry it took me so long to come back.¡± The elf looked around, avoiding Lyra. Finding her resolve, Tinesi said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. We failed to kill the dark mage. He was too powerful under the cover of night. Worse, Kindroth got hurt protecting me.¡±


    Finding her resolve, Lyra said, ¡°I want to hunt down Nasir. Will you take me with you?¡±


    ¡°You what?¡± Tinesi said, caught off guard.


    Ruvan pawed at Lyra¡¯s leg until she picked him up and cradled him in her arms and said, ¡°I want to know the truth. Take me with you.¡±


    ¡°Of course, you can come with me. You are one of us now. What about the Rangers? Do you plan on disappearing?¡±


    Walking up to Tinesi, Lyra shook her head and said, ¡°No. I will ask first. Elora will help me persuade them if they resist. When do you want to go?¡±


    Brow furrowed in thought, Tinesi said, ¡°Tomorrow. I can¡¯t risk any longer than that.¡±


    ¡°Then I better get back,¡± Lyra said, going in for a hug after she let Ruvan fall to the ground. ¡°Knowing Haera, she won¡¯t let me leave unless I can prove I won¡¯t die in the attempt. Practicing against someone else who can also teleport will be useful.¡±


    Backing away from Lyra, Tinesi said, ¡°We can discuss this more with the others tomorrow. Don¡¯t keep me waiting.¡±


    Lyra felt there was more to the words Tinesi said, but her deeper connection to the aura of others felt restricted ever since Ruvan had to use their magic to keep her from falling apart. A confirmation she desperately needed during a tumultuous time where Lyra felt like she was falling headfirst toward a future she couldn¡¯t change.


    On her way to see Haera, Lyra passed by a Ranger who flinched away from her when they made eye contact. Annoyed, she said, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    ¡°Please don¡¯t punch me. I didn¡¯t say anything, I promise,¡± the elf said, trying to stay as far away from her as possible.


    It all clicked into place. The incident at Rolim¡¯s. Lyra supposed it had been long enough for the rumors to spread until there was little left of the truth. She didn¡¯t mind being feared, though. That left the foolish who wanted to prove themselves and find out how outclassed they were. Leaning into the persona, Lyra took a step toward the Ranger and said, ¡°If you had, you wouldn¡¯t be conscious right now.¡±


    The already nervous elf yelped in fear and ran away. They were supposed to be Rangers. The best warriors her people could offer. Instead, she had to deal with all this.


    ¡°Are you done trying to scare away my newest recruits?¡± Haera asked when Lyra first walked in. ¡°Keya reported in for you already. What brings you to me?¡±


    Not wasting either of their time, Lyra said, ¡°I am going after Nasir, and I can¡¯t do it as a Ranger. Tinesi and her companions are my best bet. To be honest, the majority here wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.¡±


    Haera let out a laugh that left tears in her eyes. ¡°That is what I like about you, Lyra. You don¡¯t skirt around the truth and neither will I. If that is your choice, then you need to prove to me how much of a chance you actually have,¡± she said with a grin that promised pain.


    Haera requested the head healer along with two of their assistants and two at the training grounds. Word of their impending dual spread like wildfire. Lyra surveyed the growing crowd lining up around the perimeter, seeing a few faces she recognized. Paeral waved, his excitement bursting from the seams while his sister was more subdued. Lyra even noticed the elf she knocked unconscious, trying to stay hidden within the crowd, doing his best to avoid making eye contact.


    When Lyra joined Haera on the training ground, Haera held up her hand to silence the crowd and said, ¡°Lyra wants permission to hunt the traitor. If she wants to leave us to chase him, she needs to get past me first. The only rule is to check your attack for killing or maiming blows only.¡± Pulling out two daggers, Haera said, ¡°Show me what you¡¯re made of. I won¡¯t be holding back.¡±


    Drawing her dagger, Lyra chose not to shape it, instead crafting a second out of ice to match the first. Mirroring Haera, Lyra took an offensive stance and grinned in anticipation.


    Haera Vanished.


    ¡°You got this, Lyra!¡±


    ¡°Watch out!¡±


    Relying on instinct, Lyra felt exactly where Haera teleported to a blink of an eye before she appeared, dagger thrusting toward her shoulder. Ice dagger shattering on impact when she deflected the thrust. Lyra stabbed toward Haera¡¯s outstretched arm, extending the blade when the elf drew back, cutting into the muscle.


    Drawing first blood, Lyra grinned.


    Go momma! Ruvan believes.


    Forced to retreat when Haera swiped at her face with the other dagger, Lyra kicked out, hitting nothing but air when her opponent teleported behind her. Crouching low, Lyra spun around, whipping her leg around in a kick that slammed into Haera¡¯s leg, knocking her off balance.


    The crowd gasped. A nearby Ranger said, ¡°How did she do that?¡± and another said, ¡°Is Haera going easy on her?¡±


    Expecting her to teleport again, Lyra slammed her hand to the ground with a ball of water and created a thin sheet of ice in a small circular area around her. Extending her dagger into a long-curved sword, Lyra stood back up.


    ¡°Did she just reshape her weapon? How is that possible?¡± Murmurs erupted from the crowd.


    Slipping on the newly formed ice, Haera fell. Seizing on the opportunity, Lyra thrust toward the Ranger¡¯s belly. Grunting in agitation when Haera vanished before she hit the ice, Lyra raced toward where Haera would be. Teleporting mid-fall, Haera hit the ground. She was quick to rise, but not quick enough.


    Lyra threw a fireball at Haera¡¯s feet and a gust of wind immediately after forcing the flames to envelop the elf. Extending and reshaping her weapon into a spear with a thought, Lyra adjusted her trajectory to where the elf would be and swiped her weapon for a leg sweep.


    The timing of her blow reminded her of the fight with Nasir when she stabbed him. Stabbing her spear in the dirt next to Haera¡¯s face, Lyra let go of her weapon and stepped back.


    Momma won!


    The crowd burst into a mix of applause and angry Rangers accusing her of cheating somehow. Lyra ignored them all. Offering a hand to Haera, the elf accepted and rose to her feet. Haera waved over the healer after the barrier dropped and they rushed to her side to heal the wound on her arm among the other minor injuries she had accumulated.


    Haera raised a hand in the air, silencing the crowd instantly, and said, ¡°That is enough. I will not tolerate disrespect. I did not go easy on her and she clearly didn¡¯t cheat. We both fought within the limits I set to prevent unnecessary injuries. Her ability to know where I would teleport put me at a disadvantage.¡±


    Glaring at the few Rangers who still grumbled, she said, ¡°That is all. Dismissed.¡±


    Lyra followed Haera back to her room. She replayed the fight over and over, wondering how Nasir would have reacted. His black lightning and earth spikes would be a challenge. He could have killed her that night. Would she bet on him restraining himself next time?


    ¡°You have my approval,¡± said Haera, breaking her out of her concentration. ¡°Come back to us when you are done. That is an order.¡±


    Saluting, Lyra knew she couldn¡¯t promise that. There was too much uncertainty to guarantee anything. This was the path she chose for herself. ¡°Till we meet again.¡±


    The brief trip to the inner part of Timberland was uneventful. She had been there long enough for some residents to wave at her in passing. She greeted them, but otherwise kept to herself. The guards let her pass without stopping her, which was a bonus.


    Lyra reached Gorre¡¯s office and knocked. ¡°Come in,¡± said Gorre, his voice muffled but firm. When he saw her enter, he sighed and said, ¡°No. Now close the door and leave me alone.¡±


    Baffled, Lyra said, ¡°No?¡±


    Narrowing his eyes, he said, ¡°Your little stunt with Haera already reached my ears and I don¡¯t care. Too many died after our last fight, and I can¡¯t afford to send one of our best off to die.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    Cutting her off, Gorre pointed at the door and said, ¡°Get out. You have my answer.¡±


    She would have been more frustrated if she hadn''t expected his reaction. Lyra had hoped she could explain herself first, but when Gorre made up his mind, it would take an act of nature to alter his course.


    It was time to bring in reinforcements.


    ¡°Looking for me?¡±


    Lyra chuckled as she turned around and smiled at Elora.


    Pointing her thumb toward the door, Elora said, ¡°We both knew he would never agree to let you go. Haera at least gave you a chance to prove yourself. I won¡¯t bother trying to convince him to change his mind. Our best bet is visiting Kellam.¡±


    Shaking her head, Lyra said, ¡°We just have to convince him to open his door first.¡±


    Elora beamed with a mischievous smile and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. I have a secret weapon.¡±


    Shrugging, Lyra let Elora pass her and said, ¡°If you say so.¡± Following behind, they reached Kellam¡¯s door and Elora knocked.


    Silence greeted them, leaving Lyra feeling uneasy. She leaned in and said, ¡°Would be upset if I broke his door?¡±


    Elora pondered for a moment and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know. No one has ever been crazy enough to try. This is the only door in Timberland that can lock.¡±


    Gathering water in her hand to freeze over her fist, Elora shook her head and said, ¡°Wait! Wait! Give me a chance to do it my way before we result in violence.¡±


    She maintained her spell but backed off for Elora.


    When Elora raised her hand to knock again, a voice within said, ¡°Please don¡¯t destroy my door.¡±


    Shrugging when Elora looked at her, she said, ¡°We need to talk.¡±


    Elora quickly said, ¡°And I have your favorite snack if you open the door.¡±


    After a moment of silence, Lyra heard a shuffle from the other side, then the signature click of the door unlocking. Once the two of them entered, Kellam used his magic to close and lock the door behind them.


    Reaching in her bag hanging off her hip, Elora pulled out a small bag and handed it to Kellam. He opened it up and dumped a handful of nuts and berries into his palm and grinned.


    Stepping closer, Lyra shook her head when Kellam tried to protect his prize and said, ¡°I¡¯m not here to steal your snack. Nasir needs to die and you¡¯re looking at the one who will do it. Haera approved, and Gorre wouldn¡¯t bother listening to me.¡±


    Elora wrapped her arm around Lyra and said, ¡°So, we need you to approve her request. It is for the greater good.¡± The telltale magical signature of her mind manipulation laced her words like a fine mist.


    Still absorbed in the food, Kellam nodded and said, ¡°Sure. No problem. Was that all?¡±


    They both said, ¡°yes,¡± simultaneously, which reminded Lyra of the past during her younger days with Ryo. They knew each other so well. Finishing each other''s sentences or replying at the same time was natural. The pain of his loss still hurt, but it was a pain she could live with.


    ¡°Good. That means you can go.¡± With a flick of his wrist, the door unlocked and opened. They didn¡¯t move quickly enough, resulting in a gust of wind which shoved them the rest of the way out before Kellam closed the door and relocked it.


    ¡°I suppose I am free to go now.¡±


    ¡°When do you leave?¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow morning. Want to head over to Rolim¡¯s and share a meal first?¡±


    ¡°Not tonight. I can meet you there in the morning.¡±


    On her way out, she met Gorre, who was going to see Kellam. He stared at her, then at Elora, and said, ¡°You didn¡¯t, did you?¡±


    Feigning ignorance, Lyra looked at Elora and said, ¡°Do you hear something?¡±


    Chucking, Elora met Gorre¡¯s glare with a smile of her own and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t hear anything. Must be the wind.¡±


    Lyra felt something coming, causing Elora to bump into her when she stopped. Elora glanced around, seeing nothing, and said, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Catching Gorre¡¯s puzzled expression, Lyra said, ¡°Timberland is under attack.¡±

 Chapter Twenty: Running from the Past

    Huddled in the cave, Nasir sat with his back against the wall. He twitched at every noise he heard. Hands bloody, he tore off another bite of flesh he had carved from the bear he killed. Hunger begged him to find more food, but paranoia had other plans.


    ¡°I need to leave. Master will be mad if I don''t. What do you think?¡±


    He stared at his shadow expectantly, and the shadow rewarded him and said, ¡°You need to find Lyra and kill her for rejecting you.¡±


    Taking another bite, Nasir said, ¡°We talked about this already. If she can¡¯t see reason, I will make her. She will be mine.¡±


    ¡°You are a fool. She will kill you before that happens,¡± it said as his shadow pulsed with laughter.


    Tossing the meat on the ground, Nasir said, ¡°Shut up. What would you know? All you ever do is follow me everywhere.¡±


    He jerked his head at another noise. When he looked down, his shadow had vanished. He didn¡¯t want it to leave. He didn¡¯t want to be alone. With trembling lips, Nasir said, ¡°Shadow? Where did you go?¡±


    A soft whimper came from the dead bear cub. To his horror, it was clawing at the earthen spike, pushing his body up till he plopped on the ground and stood up. It stared at Nasir with pure black eyes, blood leaking from its mouth and the gaping hole in its belly.


    Screaming in fright, Nasir slammed the back of his head against the cave wall. He scrambled for the entrance, despite being dazed from the blow to his head, and ran for his life.


    ¡°Why are you running? You know you can¡¯t run from your own shadow.¡±


    Looking back, Nasir sent a bolt of black lightning and another spike of earth at the dead bear cub chasing him. To his ever-growing dismay, nothing he did could touch it. His shadow laughed and said, ¡°I told you; you can''t escape your own shadow.¡±


    Joining the cub was an ever-changing horde of animals chasing him, no matter which direction he turned. Crows dove through him, screeching, ¡°coward, fool, worthless,¡± and anything else they could think of as they passed through his head.


    When a deer standing taller than him stepped in his path, Nasir drew his sword and said, ¡°I won''t let you stop me!¡± He drove his blade straight into the beast¡¯s chest and ripped the blade out, spraying his face in blood. Emboldened by the fatal blow, he swung with all his might at the deer¡¯s neck, cutting it clean off in one go.


    The head shrunk, revealing a face for a moment, but Nasir rejected it, choosing to pick up his prize and roar. Holding it with two hands, he sent an earth spike straight up, piercing it at the base for all to see. Pointing his bloody sword at the dead bear cub staring at him, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t forget your place. You are just my shadow, after all.¡±


    The bear cub vanished in a puff of black mist. Nasir heard voices all around him. They whispered in his ear and said, ¡°Just your shadow, you say. We shall see about that.¡±


    The shadow beasts swelled in numbers, chasing him whenever he grew tired, and his crumbling mental defenses broke down a little more. Forced to push on with no rest as the day grew closer to its end. They whispered in his mind all the ways he could die.


    ¡°Tear. Rip. Chew, chew, chew. Tasty flesh. Fresh from the bone. Bleed. Scream. Feel our teeth. See our claws pluck out your eyes.¡±


    ¡°Flames lick and bite. Pretty blisters go pop, pop, pop. Face melts like rain. White as bone. Brittle bone. All dust in the wind.¡±


    He screamed, clawing at his face, leaving streaks of blood. Unable to escape their nightmare. Nasir shook his head and said, ¡°Get out of my head!¡± They did not.


    ¡°Breathe in the dirt. Lost underground. Choke, choke, choke. Squeezed tight. Bloody fingers clawing at the end.¡±


    Nasir gripped his throat and squeezed. He gasped for breath; the memory of being punished by Haera resurfaced in his mind. He didn¡¯t want to go back there. He couldn¡¯t. Never again.


    ¡°Falling. Swallowed by the dark. Free, free, free to fall. Will you ever meet the bottom?¡±


    Overwhelmed, Nasir stood no chance. Hands still clamped around his throat, he slammed into the trunk headfirst and fell.


    ¡°Hurry, hurry, hurry. We come for you. Death waits for no one.¡±


    Scrambling to his feet, he groaned. The pain. Oh, the pain. Pounding, throbbing pain that beat to the rhythm of his chest. What else could he do? The dead bear cub¡¯s black eyes watched, so he ran.


    His shadow followed, chuckling to itself. What else could it do? It was just a shadow, after all.


    The last rays of sunlight gleamed across the horizon when four figures approached Nasir. He was well beyond reasoning with. Fresh trails of blood coated his face and arms where he had been clawing at the voices that wouldn¡¯t leave him alone. The fingernails from his shadow hand cut deepest.


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    As if his situation couldn¡¯t get worse, Nasir was slack-jawed, looking at Siranya, Airdan, Ryo, and Daylor. They should be dead. This isn¡¯t possible. Why would the dead come back to torment him now? He turned around to ask his shadow if they were responsible and found nothing. It had abandoned him. Again.


    Reaching for the shadows, Nasir ran toward the dead and bypassed them by teleporting. He couldn¡¯t afford to waste time with the dead.


    The dead had other plans.


    Airdan was the first to catch up with him. Wind-enhanced legs propelled him past Nasir, where the young boy drew out a dagger and said, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault that my father died. You made my mother cry. I thought you were family. How could you betray us?¡±


    He laughed at the notion of trying to convince a dead child why he did anything. Nasir sneered and said, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have been born. If it hadn¡¯t been for you or Ryo, Lyra would have been all mine.¡±


    Airdan ran at him and said, ¡°You didn¡¯t even have the guts to kill me yourself. You had to have your master send his pet to do it for you.¡±


    Nasir trembled in anger. He teleported behind the boy and grabbed him by the neck. He lifted Airdan and slammed them into the ground, summoning an earth spike that shot through the child''s stomach and out his back.


    Sword in hand, Nasir said, ¡°You should have stayed dead,¡± and sliced through the boy''s head.


    Footsteps drew Nasir¡¯s attention, and he took off. Away from his tormentors. Away from the dead. Away from the nightmare.


    Next to find him were Ryo and Siranya. Unlike Airdan, they wasted no time attacking. Ryo wielded a sword imbued with fire, and Siranya wielded hers with lightning. Nasir thought it fitting she had kept her element after death.


    They attacked him in unison, as if they had fought side by side for a very long time. Another impossibility Nasir couldn¡¯t figure out. Ryo never traveled on his own. He never left Lyra¡¯s side. Ever. Siranya was a mystery to him, but he didn¡¯t think she ever roamed far away from Timberwood.


    They avoided his black lightning and earth spikes, forcing him to rely on his strength with the sword and the power to move around using the shadows.


    Ryo blocked another strike aimed at Siranya and said, ¡°You were never going to be good enough for Lyra. The two of us always ranked top two with her at the peak every time. You weren¡¯t good enough, even for third place. That went to the traitor that killed Daylor during that blood moon so long ago.¡±


    Siranya grazed his arm, sending a jolt of electricity that caused Nasir to drop his weapon. Poised to strike him again, she said, ¡°I only came back so I could yank out your eyes and force them down your throat. Do you know how much pain I was in when you tortured and forced yourself on me?¡±


    Sensing the true beginning of night, Nasir rejoiced. He reached out and commanded the shadows to manifest and restrain the two before him in vines of condensed shadows. Another ability forced into his brain by his master.


    Nasir walked up to Siranya and turned to Ryo and said, ¡°I¡¯m not good enough? I will show you how wrong you are.¡±


    He let his hands roam her body. Fingertips lingering each time her body squirmed from his touch. Licking her cheek, he said, ¡°I didn¡¯t have the time to enjoy myself last time, but¡­¡± Nasir gripped Siranya¡¯s jaw and kissed her.


    The sound of his shadow vines snapping drew his attention to Ryo. Free from his binds, Lyra¡¯s dead husband lunged at Nasir, who picked up his sword from the ground and defended himself.


    Struggling against the vines, Siranya said, ¡°Free me, so I can cut out his tongue and jam it down his empty eye sockets.¡±


    He ignored her tirade and focused on defending himself against Ryo. He was a skilled swordman, but not the best. Under the night sky, only his master could ever defeat him. Catching the blade with his shadow hand, Nasir laughed at the absurdity. Why had he not tried that before?


    Nasir clenched his sword and drove it into Ryo¡¯s chest to the hilt. He leaned in as the elf choked on blood and said, ¡°All you were ever good for was staying home to keep an eye on your son. And how did that work out for you?¡± He slid the blade free and sent a bolt of black lightning through the elf, who fell over, twitching.


    Siranya broke free and pulled out a dagger. She held it up to her throat and said, ¡°I won¡¯t let you have me a second time.¡± Siranya smiled and drove her blade in, then collapsed.


    Standing before him now was Daylor. Lyra¡¯s father. Their village''s best warrior and the one responsible for training all of them. All the memories of the elf sparring with him until he collapsed in the mud came to the forefront of his mind.


    Daylor pointed at Ryo¡¯s corpse and said, ¡°He will always be better than you.¡± Then he pointed at Siranya and said, ¡°And that is not how you treat someone you care for.¡±


    Nasir couldn¡¯t take it. So, he turned his back on the elf and ran.


    ¡°Run. Run. Run. Death has finally come.¡±


    Hearing the voices again, Nasir looked around for his shadow and missed the tree.


    He woke up on the ground, a sword held over his chest. Daylor prepared to strike when Nasir blasted him with shadow energy, knocking him over. Restraining him with shadow vines, Nasir searched for a rock. Finding one suitable for his task, he stood over the struggling elf and said, ¡°You don¡¯t get to tell me what to do anymore. You''re supposed to be dead.¡±


    Lifting the rock high, Nasir brought it down hard on Daylor¡¯s face, breaking their nose. Fueled by his rage, Nasir continued to bash the elf until his skull cracked and caved in, leaving nothing recognizable behind.


    Nasir stepped back to admire his work when the dead bear cub appeared. It stared at the dead elf and grinned. When Nasir looked down, he didn¡¯t recognize who they were.


    ¡°No, this can¡¯t be right. That was Daylor. He came back from the dead. It has to be. I¡¯m not crazy. I know what I saw.¡±


    Attached to his feet once more, his shadow said, ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    Unable to look at whoever he had just killed, Nasir ran away right back to where he had killed Ryo and Siranya. At least, that is what he thought. He didn¡¯t recognize them either. Shaking his head, Nasir refused to believe he was wrong.


    Pulling his hair till chunks ripped out, Nasir said, ¡°I¡¯m not crazy. I know what I saw. This has to be a trick. I have to find who did this and kill them.¡±


    Quick to respond, his shadow said, ¡°Crazy who? Crazy you? Crazy we be. Let¡¯s ask the dead boy and be free.¡±


    Convinced that at least Airdan was real, Nasir ran back the way he had come and fell to his knees in front of the body. He picked up the head and stared into its eyes, begging it to change back into Airdan. Unable to look at it anymore, he clutched the head against his chest and cried.


    Stop crying and dispose of that head. I have need of you. Come now.


    Nasir collapsed from the pain shooting through his body. Every emotion he fought against moments before vanished. Nothing but his desire to serve his master remained.


    ¡°Yes, master. At once.¡±


    His shadow rippled with laughter. A voice he couldn¡¯t hear asked, ¡°Can we stay?¡±

 Chapter Twenty One: Desperation

    Lyra


    ¡°What do you mean Timberland is under attack?¡± Gorre asked, staring at Lyra with a puzzled expression.


    Lyra turned toward Elora and said, ¡°I need you to alert Teriani. Gorre and I can investigate.¡±


    Shaking his head, Gorre said, ¡°What gives you the right to tell me what to do?¡±


    Feet already moving, Lyra said, ¡°Stay or not, I don¡¯t care.¡±


    Gorre did indeed follow her. She didn¡¯t care how he rationalized it. Something was out there, and she felt responsible. He pestered her about how she knew until the shouts and alarms started when they passed the inner gate. Timberland''s guards and fellow Rangers all made their way toward the main entrance, along with Lyra and Gorre.


    Raptor greeted them just outside the settlement, then turned toward the growing mayhem and said, ¡°We are the last line of defense. Do not let them get past you.¡±


    The strong magical aura that alerted Lyra in the first place hadn¡¯t made an appearance yet, but she could feel them somewhere further back in the forest. Rangers and guards alike were fighting off numerous black panthers. Preparing to engage herself, Haera appeared in front of her.


    Haera noticed Gorre, gave him a puzzled look, and said, ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I want to know,¡± he said. His glance at Lyra directed his response to her as well.


    ¡°I plan on fighting the magical beast. What are you going to do?¡± Lyra asked Haera.


    Pulling out her daggers, Haera said, ¡°I thought you would never ask.¡±


    More Rangers entered the fray, cutting down all the black panthers near the front gate. Maneuvering around them, the pair focused on reaching the magical beast that was controlling the other beasts from the back. Since every animal was engaged in battle, Lyra took the time to admire how they fought. Many she recognized from the battle against Nasir. They were survivors.


    Lyra heard footsteps closing in from behind and recognized who it was by their aura. Keya and Paeral were weaving around the fighting, trying to reach her. A panther tried escaping by running at her but stumbled when two arrows hit it in the flank from Keya and Haera appeared next to it for the killing blow.


    Nodding in thanks, Lyra said, ¡°Follow my orders unless Haera tells you otherwise. Questions?¡±


    Paeral opened his mouth to speak when Lyra asked, ¡°Is it related to this fight?¡± He grinned and shook his head. ¡°Too bad. I need you to protect my rear when I engage. Keya can aim for its vitals when possible.¡±


    They gave her a knowing grin, and Keya said, ¡°You can count on us.¡±


    She turned away from the pair and moved toward the enlarged black panther stalking toward them. Lyra would miss going on missions with the siblings. A part of her missed the days she spent protecting her village. Being forced to choose between leaving it all behind or ignoring the truth and allowing her family to be at risk soured the memory.


    Shaking her head to silence the doubt and let go of a past she couldn¡¯t change, Lyra leaned into the warmth radiating from Ruvan dwelling within the gem that hung around her neck. She placed a hand over the gem and said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Ruvan happy.


    Holding out her hand, Lyra summoned a ball of water, shaped it into her favorite weapon, and solidified it. Staring at the long-curved ice blade at the end of the long shaft, she smiled in anticipation.


    ¡°I will hold its attention,¡± she said, looking at Haera. ¡°And you can do what you do best.¡±


    Haera laughed and vanished, leaving Lyra with the siblings behind her. Letting out a war cry, Lyra propelled herself forward. Arrows imbued with flames flashed past her head, hitting the giant beast in the chest, causing it to rear up. Feeling a build-up of magical energy where she stood, Lyra leaped back. An immense pressure flattened the earth, promising pain to anyone unlucky enough to be standing there.


    The panther spun around, whipping its tail at Haera, who dodged its attack and sprung back in to stab at its legs. Lyra closed the distance and swung her weapon up under its jaw. She frowned when the weapon shattered against its skin and dodged another magical attack from the panther.


    ¡°Don¡¯t stay in one place too long,¡± Lyra said as she reached for her dagger and transformed it to mirror the weapon she had used previously. More arrows sunk into its flank, agitating the beast. A scream coming from Paeral¡¯s direction drew her attention, and she winced at the sight of him on the ground. The panther''s magic forced his leg into an odd angle, crushing it to the ground. Cursing under her breath, Lyra said, ¡°Get him out of here.¡±


    Feeling her desire for help, Ruvan burst from her necklace and let loose a constant stream of fireballs while dodging its attacks. Haera continued to shift around the beast with her magic, focusing her attacks on its legs.


    Burn bad beast for momma.


    After imbuing the blade of her weapon with flames courtesy of Ruvan, Lyra dodged multiple attempts at crushing her and leaped over a paw that was swiping at her face and stabbed the panther in the eye. It roared. She ripped it out before being flung into the air. Skidding to a stop on her feet, Lyra moved toward its blind spot and attacked. So focused on what she was doing, Lyra forgot about its tail and got sent flying backward from the force.


    ¡°You good?¡± Haera asked, appearing next to her.


    Pushing herself up with a grunt, Lyra replied, ¡°Good enough.¡±


    Sensing another magical attack, Lyra said, ¡°Go,¡± as she jumped out of the way and charged the beast when she was back on her feet. Ruvan had done a great job lighting its fur on fire in multiple spots, but it looked more irritated than anything else. She thought of a way they could do serious damage, and her elemental friend reacted immediately.


    Yes, momma. Trust Ruvan.


    Ruvan ran toward Lyra and jumped into her outstretched arm. Creating a ball of wind around them, she ran closer to the beast, dodged out of the way into its blind spot, and hurled Ruven into the air. Trusting they would do their part, Lyra dodged another tail strike and sliced into the panther''s belly, and retreated.


    The beast roared in pain when Ruvan landed on its head and let loose a stream of flames into its eyes, blinding it. Lyra found Haera and asked, ¡°Can you teleport on its back?¡±


    Haera laughed and said, ¡°I can. Question is, why should I?¡±


    Shaking her head in amusement, Lyra said, ¡°Because I asked?¡±


    Appearing on top of the panther, Haera sank her daggers into its neck and said, ¡°Since you asked.¡±


    The beast roared in pain, and Haera teleported next to Lyra to avoid being tossed. They both dodged the panthers'' wild magical attacks, hitting the surrounding area at random. Unable to get close enough to strike at it again, Haera said, ¡°Now what?¡±


    Lyra retreated far enough to avoid being flattened and concentrated on gathering any ambient mana she could. When she had gathered enough for the spell, Lyra ran toward the panther and created a giant ball of water in her hand. Stopping short of being crushed, she hurled the water at the beast and grinned when the water made contact and froze the panther in place.


    Free to move in unhindered, Lyra ran up and swung her weapon across its neck with ease, thanks to the flames coating the edge. Breaking free of her ice by sheer will and strength, the panther struggled to land a blow against her as it continued to bleed from the gash in its neck.


    With a final cry of pain, the magical beast collapsed and died.


    The stillness that settled within the forest soothed the tension in Lyra¡¯s shoulders. With a thought, she changed the shape of her weapon back into a dagger and returned it to her hip and kneeled. Ruvan jumped into her open arms, and she hugged them.


    Haera¡¯s hand on her shoulder drew her attention up to the Ranger, who said, ¡°I need to check on the others. Are you coming?¡±


    With a reluctance she didn¡¯t want to admit, Lyra coaxed Ruvan back in the gem and rose. ¡°I should. Paeral got hurt during the fight, and I want to see how he¡¯s doing.¡±


    Wincing at the pain in her side where the tail had hit her, Lyra followed Haera back toward the Ranger compound, noting all the dead panthers scattered on the ground. She watched Haera teleport to each group of Rangers and wondered what she would do if she had that ability. Lyra glanced at the gate into Timberland and saw Raptor waving her over. She would rather go directly to see Paeral.


    Deciding on a compromise, she let Ruvan out with instructions to find the Ranger.


    Ruvan find friend for momma.


    When she reached the captain, Raptor said, ¡°I take it the threat is over?¡±


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Straight to business, she could appreciate his desire to resolve this quickly. ¡°Yes. Haera and I killed the magical beast. I don¡¯t sense any others nearby.¡±


    ¡°Good¡­That is good,¡± Raptor said, an expression of relief settling on his face. ¡°I need to go report this and head home.¡± Turning around, he looked at the guards nearby and said, ¡°The threat is over. Those on duty, back to your posts. Everyone else, get some sleep.¡±


    She admired how efficient and to the point he could be. Raptor probably wanted to get home and be with his wife, too. His love for her filled her with joy and sadness. Feeling the bond she shared with Ruvan, Lyra closed her eyes and let herself see through her companion. They were curled up in Keya¡¯s arms, looking at Paeral lying in bed. His leg was no longer in a mangled mess.


    Feeling relieved that he was doing better, Lyra let go of the visual connection and opened her eyes. Haera stood there, staring at her with an amused look, and said, ¡°I saw you talking with Raptor. Did you tell him?¡±


    ¡°How amazing I am and that his wife might leave him for me if he isn¡¯t careful?¡± Lyra said, trying to hide the grin.


    Shaking her head, Haera replied, ¡°I doubt Elora is interested in the adventurous life you have. Since you talked to him, I don¡¯t have to.¡± Haera winked and vanished, leaving Lyra alone. Turning away from Timberland, Lyra headed for the compound to find Ruvan and check on her friends.


    A few Rangers were being treated by the healers when she arrived, but the atmosphere was relaxed. Ruven jumped out of Keya¡¯s arms and into hers, causing her to wince in pain.


    Ruvan found friends. Momma happy?


    Hugging him close, Lyra said, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m happy.¡± She looked at the siblings, noticed Paeral was sleeping, and asked, ¡°How is he?¡±


    Keya smiled. Reaching out, she scratched behind Ruvan¡¯s ear and said, ¡°He will live. The spell crushed his leg, but the healer took care of him.¡±


    A healer passed by and asked, ¡°Did you get hurt?¡±


    Lyra pointed to her side and nodded. The healer placed a hand over the area and sent healing energy into Lyra. She gritted her teeth when her ribs reset themselves and forced a smile when they said, ¡°All done. Take it easy.¡± Lyra watched Keya stare at her side where the healer had touched her and raised her eyebrow.


    Keya fidgeted under Lyra¡¯s attention and asked, ¡°Do you have to leave us? You are the first Ranger to join us who we could be ourselves around and trust to have our backs. I don¡¯t want to lose you.¡±


    Ruvan crawled up Lyra¡¯s chest and sat on her shoulder, their tail wrapping around her neck, and nuzzled their face against her cheek. Enjoying the warmth and comfort they brought, Lyra waited for Keya to meet her eyes and said, ¡°These attacks won''t stop until we go after the source. This is why I must go.¡±


    ¡°Then take us with you,¡± Keya said pleadingly.


    Shaking her head, Lyra replied, ¡°Neither of you could face off against Haera and win, let alone Nasir or the one who gave him his new powers. I won¡¯t put you in that kind of danger when you can do so much more helping Timberland like you have.¡±


    Bowing her head, Keya sat down next to Paeral and said, ¡°I know you are strong, but that doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t get hurt like the rest of us. You nearly died during your trial mission.¡±


    Forcing a smile, Lyra said, ¡°I won''t be alone. I have others who will fight by my side. Someone needs to stop Nasir, and I won¡¯t pass up the chance. He needs to pay for what he¡¯s done.¡± Her anger towards herself caused her fists to clench. The wet lick to her cheek cooled her frustration. Rubbing her face against Ruvan, Lyra relaxed and said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Just promise me you will come back,¡± Keya said.


    Shaking her head, Lyra backed away. ¡°I can¡¯t. Like you said, I can die just like you or Paeral. The difference is I stand a better chance,¡± Lyra said, her face scrunched up in frustration. ¡°Please don¡¯t make this harder than it already is.¡±


    Lyra turned around and walked away. Her keen hearing picked up Keya¡¯s parting words, ¡°Good luck.¡±


    Tinesi


    Tinesi felt the magical beast close in on Timberland during the night. She knew the Rangers could handle it. That got her questioning the dark mage''s motives. Did he think the Ranger casualties would be enough after the fight with Nasir? Unable to think of a reason, Tinesi let it go. She felt Lyra near the fighting and knew her friend would take care of the magical beast. A fitting gesture before she left the Rangers.


    She received a mental message from Elora in the morning to meet her and Lyra at Rolim¡¯s. The thought of a warm meal caused her belly to rumble. When she reached the gate to Timberland, the guard recognized Tinesi and waved her in without question.


    ¡°Welcome back. You should have seen your friend last night. I heard she took down the magical beast along with Haera,¡± said the guard cheerfully.


    Not having to reintroduce herself reminded her how long it had been since she used her mental abilities to trick others into forgetting her. Tinesi was still chasing Lyra the last time she utilized it. She smiled politely and said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Passing by all the cart stalls offering goods early in the morning, she made her way to Rolim¡¯s and entered. Familiar with Elora and Lyra¡¯s magical auras, Tinesi had little trouble finding the pair. She sat down, ordered a drink, and said, ¡°Nice job last night. Heard you paired up with Haera and took out the magical beast.¡±


    Shrugging as she took a sip of her own drink, Lyra said, ¡°It had a weird ability that flattened the earth. I could tell where the spell would go off and avoided it, but the two Rangers supporting me from behind had to escape when one of them had their leg crushed.¡±


    Looking around at everyone inside Rolim¡¯s, Tinesi noticed the way they were looking at Lyra. Furtive glances showed respect and weariness, and some were even fearful. When curiosity got the better of her, she turned to Lyra and asked, ¡°What did you do to make people afraid of you?¡±


    Elora grinned and said, ¡°It happened after the battle with Nasir. A Ranger who lost his brother picked a fight with her, and she showed him no mercy. She knocked him out by slamming her head into his already broken nose. If that wasn¡¯t enough, she promised to do the same with anyone else who had a problem with her in the room.¡±


    Waving at Elora dismissively, Lyra said, ¡°It wasn¡¯t that dramatic. I just taught him an important lesson¡­one punch at a time.¡±


    Tinesi nodded in approval and finished the rest of her mug. The servers arrived with their food, and they ate in silence. When they all sat back in contentment, Tinesi said, ¡°It was nice seeing you again, Elora. We need to get going, Lyra.¡± She pushed her chair out and stood up.


    Lyra drank the rest of hers and joined Tinesi. Grinning with mischief, Lyra said, ¡°When I finish my goal, I plan on coming back here and stealing you away. Don¡¯t let your husband know.¡±


    Elora laughed, and Lyra joined in. Tinesi knew that would be impossible. From the look Lyra gave her when she turned back to her, she knew too. Lyra winked at Tinesi and made her way toward the exit. With a wave goodbye to Elora, Tinesi joined her, and together, they left Timberland.


    Sitting by a campfire next to Lyra, Kindroth, and Kailu, Tinesi coughed in her hand to grab everyone¡¯s attention and said, ¡°Now that Lyra has joined us, let me explain the plan.¡± Kindroth nodded, and she continued, ¡°We lost the dark mages'' trail after they injured Kindroth, but we have an idea of where to search.¡±


    ¡°You mean I found hints of his magic,¡± said Kailu, a bit stiffly.


    She continued as if he had never spoken and said, ¡°Kindroth and Kailu will team up since Lyra and I work so well together. We will search the area where the trail Kailu found came to a dead end and meet back here tonight. The last fight taught us we don¡¯t stand a chance during the night.¡±


    Kindroth stood up and waved at Kailu and said, ¡°We wasted enough time already. Let¡¯s be off.¡±


    They traveled in relative silence. Tinesi enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere the forest provided. She could tell Lyra had a lot on her mind but didn¡¯t want to press the issue. Tinesi almost changed her mind when she felt a magical beast. More than one.


    Lyra spoke up first and said, ¡°He¡¯s nearby.¡±


    Tinesi had an idea who she meant and thought about inquiring, but said, ¡°We have more pressing concerns. Get ready to fight.¡±


    Drawing her dagger and changing it into a longsword, Lyra said, ¡°Nasir! I know you¡¯re out there, and I¡¯m coming for you!¡± Her friend ran straight at the boar charging at them. It shot flames out of its tusks. Attacks that Lyra deftly deflected with wind.


    She jumped into the air, spun around mid-air, and sliced the boar''s head off as it passed under her. Tinesi noticed Lyra had imbued the blade with wind to sharpen its cutting ability. The need to catch up compelled Tinesi to run. The rage Lyra exuded surprised Tinesi.


    Changing directions constantly, dodging and ignoring the boars that were converging on their location, Lyra growled and said, ¡°You can teleport all you want, Nasir, but you can¡¯t hide from me! Face me, you coward!¡±


    Her surprise was growing into frustration at Lyra¡¯s behavior. Arming herself, Tinesi engaged the boars. They were weak compared to most she encountered, firing off flames from their tusks, but nothing more. She cut them down one after another. Reaching her limit, Tinesi said, ¡°By the light, Lyra, if you don¡¯t stop this nonsense right now, I will make you.¡±


    Whirling on Tinesi, Lyra pointed her sword at her and said with desperation, ¡°You don¡¯t get it. Ruvan can¡¯t keep holding me together. I have to end this. Nasir is my burden to bear.¡±


    Time felt like it slowed down. The magical displacement. Lyra shoving Tinesi to the side. Her shock as the blade aimed at Tinesi¡¯s neck sliced across her cheek. Someone grunted in agitation, and she was on the ground.


    Lyra, still holding her sword up, now aimed it at Nasir. He stood there dispassionately. Ignoring the blade pointed at him. A contrast to the rage Lyra exuded. Rolling to the side, Tinesi avoided the spike of earth that shot up, breaking the stalemate. Lyra rushed him and swung.


    Tinesi twisted around when he vanished, avoiding Lyra¡¯s strike. She jumped back, barely avoiding the black lightning strike. The hair on her arms stood up from the surrounding energy. Nasir stood there, eyeing her with a blank expression. His clothes were a mess of dirt and dried blood. Staring at his face, Tinesi saw the bags under his eyes and the look of a broken elf. What horror did he experience since he last fought Lyra?


    She blocked his next strike, noticing the black shadow''s hand holding his weapon. Nasir¡¯s control over the shadows had improved considerably. On a whim, she asked, ¡°Were the boars your work?¡± He nodded and sent another earthen spike aimed at her, forcing Tinesi back next to Lyra.


    Ruvan howled from his position on Lyra¡¯s shoulder, tail wrapped around her neck. She gave him a scratch behind an ear, and the elemental leaped into the air and fired off fireballs at Nasir, forcing him to teleport. Lyra already calculated where he would appear and hurled a ball of ice and said, ¡°Did you offer Ryo and Airdan up to your master?¡±


    Dodging the attack, Nasir answered with another bolt of black lightning aimed at Tinesi. Her arm was numb where it grazed her, but she dodged it. A twitch of an eyebrow as he narrowed his eyes at Lyra was all the response he gave. Even that disappeared.


    Running at him again, Lyra said, ¡°Stop ignoring me and answer! Did you sacrifice my family to save your worthless life?¡± He went to parry her blow but fumbled forward when Lyra changed the shape of her weapon mid-strike and jammed the dagger into his chest. Nasir moved quickly enough that her blade missed anything vital and teleported.


    Ruvan started blasting a spot with flames lighting up Nasir when he appeared. Instead of crying out in pain as Tinesi expected him to do, he growled and vanished instead. In a feat of pure agility and mastery over her wind boost, Lyra reached Nasir when he appeared again and said, ¡°Did you think killing those I cherished would make me fall in love with you?¡± She punctuated her question by slamming her feet on the ground covering the surrounding area in ice, securing his feet. Lyra grabbed him by the shirt and bashed his nose with the butt end of her dagger.


    ¡°Even.¡± Smash. ¡°The thought.¡± Smash. ¡°Of sleeping.¡± Smash. ¡°With you.¡± Smash.


    For the first time, Nasir aimed a bolt of black lightning at Lyra, forcing her to dodge. Holding a hand to his mangled nose, Tinesi saw fear in his eyes.


    Backing away, shaking his head, Nasir said, ¡°No, master. I can do this. Please.¡± Tinesi struggled to hear him after Lyra broke his nose. Whatever the dark mage said to Nasir next didn¡¯t go in his favor. ¡°Yes, master. Understood,¡± Nasir said, deflated.


    Nasir backed away, countless spikes of earth rising from the ground, blocking every attempt Lyra made to close the distance. Lyra roared with rage and said, ¡°I¡¯m not done with you. Fight me, you traitor.¡±


    He teleported away, and a roar from within the forest sent a chill down Tinesi¡¯s body. The magical aura wafting off the magical beast worried her. Lyra ignored the beast, still looking for a way to catch up to Nasir. Unsure she could handle such a foe on her own, Tinesi said, ¡°Lyra, stop. If we don¡¯t face this together, neither of us will get what we want.¡±


    Stomping her foot down, Lyra said, ¡°Nasir!¡±

 Chapter Twenty Two: Shadow

    Blood dripped from his broken nose. The hate he felt from every blow left him with an emptiness he couldn¡¯t shake. A loss consumed by darkness. Never to return. He gave up everything for her, and she hated him for it. Nasir hated himself for it. All he had were his new powers and a master who controlled him. The memories of the dead still haunted him. Faces he couldn¡¯t look away from. How he wished he could fall asleep and pretend none of this had ever happened. Change the unchangeable.


    ¡°Pathetic. You let your nose get smashed. A stab in your chest that nearly killed you. You are a dark mage with power that rivals all but the truly powerful such as I, and you can¡¯t kill a few measly elves? Why do I bother with such filth? Don¡¯t just stand there. Get over here so I can put you back together¡­again,¡± said Kiressin. His every word was dripping with promised malice and pain.


    Too tired to keep walking, Nasir let the shadows embrace him again and teleported to his master. Kiressin gripped his throat and lifted him into the air. Struggling to breathe, Nasir flailed his limbs, then screamed when the master forced his body to heal. Dropped to the ground, Nasir sat there struggling to catch his breath. A roar from far off in the distance sent birds into the air, flying away from the beast his master had sent to test the elves.


    Bowing his head, he said, ¡°Thank you, master.¡±


    Pain erupted in his side, and Nasir went tumbling to the ground. Walking toward him to kick Nasir again, Kiressin said, ¡°Don¡¯t thank me. Do what you are told.¡± Nasir felt something break inside when his master smashed his boot into his chest again. Close to passing out from the pain, Kiressin slammed his foot into Nasir¡¯s gut, causing him to gasp.


    Shadows enveloped him, and his bones snapped back together, eliciting another cry of pain from Nasir. He was powerless against such control over the shadows. A lesson he believed his master wanted him to know with every ounce of his very being.


    Kiressin stood over him, shaking his head, and asked, ¡°What will I ever do with you?¡±


    ¡°Give him to me.¡±


    Eyes bleary from the tears of pain, Nasir recognized the voice and saw his shadow. The dead bear cub was still bleeding from where Nasir had driven a spike of earth through its chest. His shadow said, ¡°We only need his body. Give him to me.¡±


    Confused, he looked up at Kiressin and asked, ¡°Master?¡±


    Clapping his hands, Kiressin smiled and said, ¡°You are due for an upgrade. Say thanks to our dark god. He will bless you with his strength today.¡±


    ¡°Thank you-¡±


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    ¡°Louder, you fool,¡± Kiressin interrupted him. His expression promised more pain.


    ¡°Thank you, dark god, for this gift,¡± said Nasir with all the energy he could muster.


    His shadow danced around him and said, ¡°Thank the dark. Shadowy dark. Lovely dark. Power to you. Power for me. Body no longer. Mind I shall have.¡±


    Confused, Nasir watched Kiressin reach out, and his shadow coalesced into a ball of swirling mist in his master''s palm. He glared at Nasir and said, ¡°Stand.¡±


    Forcing himself up, he stood before his master.


    Without warning, Kiressin slammed the ball of shadows into Nasir¡¯s chest, and he fell into pure darkness. He didn¡¯t even feel his head hit the ground. Looking around, all he saw was an empty, shapeless void.


    Appearing in front of him was a pair of eyes floating in the air. Red, bloodshot eyes that seemed to grin.


    ¡°Where am I?¡± asked Nasir. He spoke, but all he heard was his thoughts projected. Reaching for his throat, he found he couldn¡¯t. He had no body. Panicking, he looked at the floating eyes and begged, ¡°What happened to me?¡±


    ¡°Inside your mind, of course. You had the chance to prove yourself, but you failed.¡±


    Its voice rattled inside his mind. One familiar to him. ¡°Shadow?¡±


    The floating eyes danced around him and said, ¡°Yes, your shadow. Now my shadow. It¡¯s my turn to take a ride in your body. Maybe have a taste of Lyra after I capture her, then kill her. I told you to kill her. Did you listen? No. This is what you get for ignoring me.¡±


    Anger boiled within him, and Nasir roared within his mind, projecting all the hate he could toward his shadow. With nothing to move and no access to his powers, he could do little else. His shadow laughed as it faded away, leaving him alone in the void. Trapped in his mind. Cut off from the outside world. He never felt so isolated.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t alone. You have me, and now I have you,¡± said his shadow directly into his thoughts.


    Rubbing the back of his head, Shadow settled into Nasir¡¯s body and stood up. Though all his injuries were gone, dirt and blood still coated him. He looked at Kiressin, who stood there watching him, and he waved. Using his new voice for the first time, Shadow said, ¡°It is done.¡±


    With a grunt, Kiressin eyed him up and down and said, ¡°Prove it to me, Nasir.¡±


    Moving around to get a feel for his new body, Shadow said, ¡°Call me Shade. I have no desire to share his name.¡±


    ¡°Fine. Shade, show me what you can do,¡± Kiressin said, shrugging his shoulders.


    Raising his hand, Shade commanded the ground to rise, bringing forth a spike of earth. He then brought down a bolt of black lightning that struck the tip of the spike, shattering it. Reaching for the shadows, Shade wrapped them around himself and teleported around.


    Shade unsheathed the sword strapped to his hip and performed a few swings and thrusts, imitating what he had watched Nasir do. Satisfied, he returned it to his hip, teleported before his master, bowed, and asked, ¡°Are you pleased?¡± He glanced up, unable to hide his glee at the new body. It had been so long since he had flesh and bone. So long, he couldn¡¯t recall what his name had been before the darkness took him for itself.


    ¡°For now,¡± Kiressin said. His tone was neither pleased nor upset. ¡°Listen closely, Shade. I expect results. You will train and grow stronger before killing those pesky elves who chase me. You will come back to me victorious or not at all.¡±


    Gliding his hand over his new face, Shade grinned and said, ¡°With pleasure, master.¡±


    A voice locked inside his head cried and begged for someone, anyone, to save him. With a thought, Shade asked, ¡°Who would ever save you?¡±