Elara nodded, taking a deep breath. She held her hand out, summoning a swirling vortex of magic that glowed with an intense, radiant light. The hounds, drawn to the power of the spell, began rushing toward it. Arpious took the opportunity, darting between the hounds as they crowded around the vortex.
She ducked under a hound's swipe, her body turning as she drove her blade into its chest. Another came from her right—she spun low, sliding beneath its body before slashing upward in a clean arc that severed its form. Every move was efficient, no wasted energy, no hesitation.
Elara, using the distraction, fired another barrage of light arrows, her hands moving in rapid succession. Each arrow found its mark, exploding the hounds into bursts of shadow and mist. With her spell drawing the remaining creatures into a single area, Arpious dashed forward, her sword glowing with aetheric energy.
