Once the griffin was secured inside a magical confinement, one that could grow small enough for her to pocket. The white crow left with the prize, leaving Amber behind to play with the man she once faced in the past.
"Darius!" Brennan shouted as they reached the cliff.
But there was no one there.
The nest was destroyed, the eggs were broken, and a pool of blood had stained the soil.
Kalla felt the tears start running down her cheeks, she failed Cernnunos, the griffins are dead, and Darius is nowhere to be found.
She could feel her heart pounding against her chest, her stomach twisting in an uncomfortable manner.
"Darius!" Brennan repeated.
"He's dead," Amber said emerging for the shadows of the trees.
The two of them met eye to eye and instantly, anger burned in Brennan's eyes.
"You!" he spat, teeth clenching tightly.
"Good to see you again Brennan," Amber greeted mockingly. A smile graced her lips.
Kalla looked at Amber with terrified eyes, she can feel it, Amber is not someone they can take on.
She was too powerful.
"How's Malory?" Amber asked.
"Why bitch!" Brennan snapped.
"Oh wait, I killed her." Amber giggled. "My bad!"
"But don't worry, you'll see her soon." Her amber eyes darken, a ghostly smile is present on her lips.
As the scythe materialized next to Amber, Kalla took the chance to grab Brennan to run away.
"Help!" she shouted, calling the attention of the nature spirits around the area.
Immediately, the leaves started flying off from the trees surrounding Amber like a green tornado. The dryads and the wind spirit are working together to protect Kalla and Brennan.
Taking the chance to escape, she did not waste time and took Brennan to safety.
They run without stopping until their legs started to ache.
"He can't be dead right?" Brennan asked.
"I don't know Brennan, I don't know…" she said weakly before collapsing to the ground.
Both of her hands covered her eyes while she slumped on the cold earth.
Brennan sat beside her, "I'm sorry… if I didn't get distracted… this wouldn't have happened…" he apologized.
But Kalla shook her head, "If we were with him. We probably have died as well. That girl was strong enough to defeat two griffins, she can kill us in a snap of a finger."
"Were the griffins that strong?"
Kalla just solemnly nodded her head.
The griffins are smart, they have strong wings, and talons that could rip an elephant apart. But most importantly, they can connect to a person and boost their magic ability.
They are the perfect companion for mages, maybe that was why the witches wanted them.
"Oh, Brennan~ where are you?" Amber called in a sing-song voice.
While the young man almost choked in his own breath, Kalla was quick to respond.
Covering their mouths, Kalla pointed at the massive tree root. Big enough to hide them completely.
She placed a finger over her nose and lips, telling Brennan to keep his mouth shut.
The young man nodded and they both crawled behind the root, sitting there with their knees tucked into their chests.
Kalla felt so relieved that the sun had set. Because the darkness of the forest is enough to provide them some sort of safety.
'Go away,' she prayed.
"Yes mother, I will return at once." Amber clicked her tongue.
"Bloody hell," she cursed.
"Oh, Brennan~ you're just full of luck aren't you? But don't worry, I will hunt you down once my duties are over. And I will let you know this… once I put my hands on you. You little freak won't have an easy death."
"I will tear you apart, limb from limb." Amber laughed like the maniac that she is.
Making Brennan shudder in fear, his heart racing inside his chest.
With a strong gust of wind, Amber vanished into thin air. Leaving nothing but a puff of smoke.
After her presence completely vanished, the two finally have the chance to breathe properly.
"Ha… Ha… I thought my heart was going to explode," Kalla admitted.
"Gah! We are safe now." Brennan said breathing heavily.
"Thank god…"
"Ha!" Darius inhaled sharply as he emerged from the water. His body was aching everywhere because of the strong impact of the attack.
His body shivers from the cold, as he sat on the edge of the riverbank.
Luckily, he didn't lose consciousness. Because if he did, he wouldn't be able to swim back into the surface.
Darius place the sword on the ground next to him, if he didn't use it to block the white crow's attack. Will he even be alive? He asked himself.
Raising his right hand, he watched as it trembled.
"I'm screwed." He muttered before allowing his body to fall back. He stayed still, his back lying flat on the ground.
'I have to say, you were lucky to survive that.' Ravana said.
"I never felt so much hate before, your own emotions were mixing with mine earlier," Darius noted.
'Oh? You felt that?'
"How can I not, your bloodlust was so strong. It made my insides twist."
'Well, I'm surprised that we were not angry. She was the one who killed your family after all.'
"I am, I'm angry… I but my fear got the best of me."
'Well your instinct is sharp if that's the case, you felt her tremendous power. And your mind started racing to think of possible ways to win, survive, and die.'
'Again, luck was on your side because she underestimated you. If she thinks you're a little stronger, she will make sure that you were killed properly.'
"Well then, thanks to that." Darius sighed.
'Darius.' Ravana called his name in the most serious tone he had ever heard. It wasn't angry or demanding, but there was a hint of sadness in her voice.
'You've finally had a taste of her power and I can assure you, that was the smallest fraction of what she has. Her daughter also looked well trained, and she was just one of the seven.'
'Now, do you understand the gravity of the matter? How much you are lagging behind? And how much powerful the enemy is?'
"I do, and admitting it is leaving a bitter taste in my mouth."
'Well, hold that feeling close. And use it as a reminder each time you have to fight, use it to inspire you to strive and become stronger.'
"I will."
'Good because your victory is also my victory.'
Darius blindly walked along the dark path, following the path he took earlier to reach the nest.
'If the others are alive, they will be waiting for me in that place.' He figured. But it was mostly wishful thinking. Knowing how powerful the witches were.
He only hoped that Brennan and Kalla didn't have to face those witches.
Maybe, just maybe… they are still in the woods and Kalla was still chasing Brennan. Where ever he ran off to.
When Darius finally reached the cliff, he felt his heart sink all the way to his stomach.
There was no one there, not a single soul.
The night was silence – completely silent. Not even the insects dared make a sound.
A breeze blew past Darius, the cold calming his troubled soul. And with its gentle wind, the clouds cleared. The moon shined brightly in the sky, shedding a faint silver glow in the dark mountain peak.
With the moon shining his surroundings, Darius finally had a better view of the world around him.
All that there was in the broken tree where the griffin's nest was once built and a pile of fallen leaves.
He could feel his throat go dry just thinking about what happened.
From the edge of the forest, the fireflies started glowing. The lime-colored lights illuminating in the dark, like tiny stars that floats in the air.
The fireflies surrounded Darius, mesmerized he tried to reach for them. But the tiny creatures are just avoiding his hand.
They flew around gently and eventually flew away, creating a stream of lime-colored light leading to the edge of the cliff.
Curiously, Darius followed the fireflies.
And when he reached the edge of the cliff, he looked down only to see the darkness of the seemingly endless fall.
The fireflies gather in the cliff surrounding something.
He wasn't entirely sure what it was, but it looks like a ball.
Upon realizing what it was, Darius felt a sudden spike of joy inside him.
Maybe, the task wasn't a complete failure.
Because not so far from the edge of the cliff, an egg about the size of a watermelon was laying in the safety of a shrub.
Darius looked closer and as it turns out, the edge of the cliff was ragged due to the erosion. Which created a series of small dents and bumps, where the shrubs had grown.
'There's no telling how long those shrubs can hold. I need to take the egg soon.' He noted.
But it was easier said than done because the egg was at least a few meters away. And there is no way for him to reach it.
Darius clicked his tongue, raking his mind for a solution.
"Darius?!" he suddenly heard Kalla's voice.
Turning around he saw his friend standing near the edge of the forest. Upon seeing them, relief washed over the young man.
Darius couldn't help but smile, 'Thank goodness, they are safe.'