Something was terribly, terribly, wrong.
The fire was supposed to be lit; we were supposed to be defeating the bandits. But no, the flames were unignited. Around us, adventurers were dying.
We exchanged anxious glances as seconds turned into agonizing minutes following Erabor's scream.
"Go, now!" Celest shouted, waking us.
We sprang into action. We had no time, we couldn't think. We ran from the bandits' camp; I looked over my shoulders as I passed through the undergrowth, barreling through bushes.
Approaching the camp's perimeter, any remaining hope I had was shattered. Before me, total carnage.
Everything was red.
Nor from flames. From blood.
Around us, I could hear bandits cheering. They were not some ragtag, disorganized gang. No, they were terrifying.
I could feel my knees shaking. I hadn't experienced this kind of fear since the first time I had faced my first monster ever with Lily.
Brutality abounded.
Around us, steel clashed with steel. Red sparks flew, reflecting the blood that colored the ground.
Everything was red.
Before us, grim faces were locked in deadly struggles.
The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood. Desperate cries echoed.
I needed to run.
Looking down at my feet, I saw a cadet I had known, John. His eyes were blank. Crimson blood streamed from his chest.
He was dead.
Around me, desperate cries of the wounded echoed. Reality sunk in. I had eaten with him. We had talked.
But, he was dead.
It was a cacophony of chaos and dread, and we were in the heart of it.
My vision was red.
No. No.
Everything was red.
Turning around, I could see Arthur, somehow undaunted, covering our retreat like a sentinel with his bow drawn, arrows flying with deadly accuracy to take down bandits. His skill was awe-inspiring, yet even his lethal precision could only slow the tide of attackers.
Aria and Selene, their fear masked by fierce determination, conjured spells that danced through the night air, defending our group from the relentless assaults. The flashes of their magic illuminated the terror in their eyes, but they fought valiantly, refusing to yield.
But the sheer force and brutality of the bandits were overwhelming. Despite our best efforts, it was clear that this was a losing battle.
No, I couldn't afford to die. I couldn't afford to have my friends die.
As if to mock my thoughts, death pushed in. The forest, a gruesome battleground. The ground was slick with blood, and the night was filled with the agonized screams of the wounded. All around us were bandits. Fueled by rage and desperation.
They were showing us no mercy.
I focused all my energy on escaping, following Celeste's lead. Near me, Jonas, Eliza, and Caspian also followed.
In the heart of the chaotic turmoil, a bone-chilling scream shattered the night, electrifying us all with fear and urgency.
Amidst the whirlwind of violence, Arthur and Aria were trapped, surrounded by an unrelenting gang of ruthless bandits.
My heart froze. Then, it began beating faster than it had ever before.
In the corner, I could see them fighting desperately. Killing bandit after bandit.
In fleeting flashes, I could see Aria's magical prowess ignited the darkness like a comet streaking across the sky, a testament to her unmatched power. Yet, even her dazzling abilities couldn't counter the sheer numbers and brutal ferocity of their assailants.
The situation was growing more dire by the second.
Then, it happened.
In the heart of this savage skirmish, Aria took a stand. She summoned a surge of magic, blasting the bandits surrounding her with flames as she sunk to her feet. It was a breathtaking display of her unwavering bravery, a testament to her inner strength that left us all in awe.
I sighed to myself; they would be fine. I felt my panic receding.
But no. Her daring act came at a terrible cost. Recognizing the threat to their comrades, the bandits redirected their fury toward Aria. Her agonized screams and unyielding resolve echoed through the night as she valiantly fought, buying Arthur precious seconds to escape.
Yet, within the whirlwind of battle, grim reality remained inescapable. Aria's brilliance blazed brilliantly in her final moments, and I watched as the bandits decapitated her mercilessly in a final, crimson flash.
I watched, horror-stricken, as the bandits continued, closing in on Arthur, their faces grotesque masks of hatred. They were a relentless storm of blades and malice, striking with unforgiving precision.
Arthur fought valiantly.
He danced as he struggled to survive. But he was outnumbered, and exhaustion had begun to take its toll. I could see the strain on his face, the desperation in his forest-green eyes, as he parried blow after blow, in loud clashes.
In those agonizing seconds, time seemed to slow to a crawl. Every clash of steel against steel, every grunt of effort, and every pained cry hung in the air like a haunting melody.
In his final moments, Arthur's eyes met mine from across the battlefield, a flash of anguish and sorrow passing between us. Then, as if time had chosen that precise instant to resume its normal pace, the bandits' blades found their mark.
I watched in helpless horror as Arthur crumpled to the ground, yet another life extinguished in the blink of an eye this day.
The forest seemed to mourn in unison, its rustling leaves whispering of loss.
I turned back to Celest, who was leading the way; in her eyes, I could see tears forming, but she continued on, protecting us as we escaped.
Behind her, we fought our way through the relentless onslaught, our bodies and spirits battered by the relentless onslaught of the bandits.
I could see an end to the slaughter. Before us, the forest thickened; it would prevent the bandits from chasing us. But as we neared the edge of the meadow, with the bandits still in pursuit, disaster struck.
An arrow flew through the air, with a deathly woosh.
It found its target, plunging into Caspian's side.
He stumbled. Then fell.
I watched as his face contorted in pain.
We couldn't leave him behind. But time was running out. The bandits were closing in.
I could see them. They were everywhere. They were coming.
We would be overwhelmed.
Making a last minute decision, I rushed to Caspian's side, picking him up. Near me, I saw Jonas and Eliza also join.
Quickly, we dragged him into the forest.
We knew that our chances of escape were slim, but we couldn't abandon our friend, not after our years together.
We couldn't give up.