The group gathered in the forest, their faces etched with worry and exhaustion. They had escaped the Shadar-Kai invasion of Autumnshade, but they were not safe yet.
As they huddled together, Annabelle couldn't help but feel a sense of hopelessness. The Shadar-Kai had launched an attack on their home, and now they were forced to flee.
"We should go back and fight," Andrea said angrily.
"I understand how you feel but if we went back we would just be throwing away our lives and disrespecting the memory of General Tacitus," Annabelle said.
Pompey paced back and forth, his fingers tapping anxiously on his chin. "We need to retreat to the Southlands and create a magic barrier to separate us from the invaders," he said.
"How does that help?" King Belsarius asked.
"You see the barrier that I speak of can only be crossed with the permission of its creator. Anyone that attempts to cross it forcefully will be turned to nothing."
"How do we create something like that?" Remus asked. "What do we need?"
"It can only be created by an Artificer which we have but the materials may be impossible to find. We need three relics to make it happen: A blade called 'Lion of the North,' the crown of King Belsarius the first, and a mythical item known only as the Raven's claw."
"Why do you need those specific items?" Annabelle asked.
"They are all relics that were created by the last Artiificer," Pompey replied.
King Belsarius shifted uneasily, clutching his crown tightly. "But the crown is a symbol of my authority. Without it, I cannot rule."
Remus spoke up, his voice calm and steady. "Your Highness, I understand your concerns. But the fate of our kingdom is at stake here. We must do whatever it takes to protect our people."
"We have no other choice," Andrea interjected. "We must do everything we can to stop the Shadar-Kai."
The king hesitated for a moment before nodding his head slowly. "Very well. I trust you, Remus. Take the crown."
"What about the blade you spoke of?" Annabelle asked.
Rhaeya, who had been quiet until now, spoke up suddenly. "I tried to steal the blade, but Remus already has it."
All eyes turned to Remus, who nodded and pulled out the gleaming blade from his inventory. "I took it for safekeeping. It was too dangerous to leave with her."
Pompey smiled at the revelation. "Excellent work, Remus. All we need now- is the Raven's claw?"
Remus hesitated for a moment before producing a small, intricately carved claw from his inventory. "I have it. But I cannot reveal how I obtained it."
The group exchanged glances, but Pompey quickly broke the silence. "No matter. We must focus on the task at hand. We still need to reach the Southlands to create the barrier."
Andrea spoke up, "But how do we get there? The Shadar-Kai are still chasing us."
Remus thought for a moment before his face lit up with an idea. "I can sneak back into Autumnshade and steal one of their airships. I know they have one that looks like a wasp. It's small and fast."
"Did you forget what I just said about throwing away our lives and disrespecting General Tacitus's memory?" Annabelle asked.
Pompey nodded. "That could work. But we need to move quickly. The longer we wait, the more time the Shadar-Kai have to catch up to us."
"I will go with you and keep you safe," Andrea asked.
Annabelle sighed.
The next morning, Remus and Andrea set out on their mission, slipping back into the darkness of the forest. The others waited anxiously, hoping that he would return with the airship.
As they waited, they heard strange sounds in the distance. They looked up to see a swarm of Shadar-Kai approaching. A wasp-shaped airship landed in a clearing next to them.
"They've found us!" cried Andrea. "Hop in! Quickly!"
Remus emerged from the darkness, piloting the wasp-shaped airship. "Get in! Quickly!"
The group scrambled into the airship as the Shadar-Kai closed in around them. Remus revved the engine, and they lifted off into the night sky, narrowly avoiding the attacks of the Shadar-Kai.
As they flew towards the Southlands, Pompey handed the relics to Remus, who opened his window and went to work. The air around them crackled with energy as the magic barrier took shape, shimmering in the air.
Remus activated the magical barrier. A bright, shimmering, translucent wall of energy, that glowed with an otherworldly light sprang up behind them, and the Shadar-Kai ships were vaporised as they struck the barrier.
Several of the ships managed to slow down or stop just short of the barrier, but a few others were caught off-guard and crashed directly into it. The impact was tremendous, and the ships were instantly vaporized upon contact, exploding into a shower of sparks and debris.
"I have something to tell you all," Remus began, his voice low and serious. "Something that may shock you."
The group looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to continue.
"The airship we used to escape from Autumnshade," Remus said, "is powered by magic."
There were murmurs of surprise from the group. Pompey looked confused.
"What do you mean, powered by magic?" he asked.
Remus took a deep breath. "The airship is equipped with a device that siphons magic from people, like a battery. It drains them completely, leaving them in agony."
There were gasps from the group. Annabelle looked horrified. "How could they do something like that?" she asked.
Remus shook his head. "I don't know. But I experienced it myself once. There were dozens of people strapped to the device on the ship, their magic being drained away."
King Belsarius stood up, his face was red with anger. "This is unacceptable," he said. "We must find a way to stop them."
Remus nodded in agreement. "I freed the people on the ship before we left, but there may be more out there. We need to put an end to this."
Annabelle stood up and placed a hand on Remus's shoulder. "Thank you for telling us," she said. "We'll find a way to stop this together."
The group huddled together, discussing their next move. It was clear that they needed to find a way to put an end to the Shadar-Kai's inhumane practice. But how? The question hung heavy in the air, as they plotted their next steps.