A few minutes later.
The group is sitting in a round format, with Zara sitting next to Lyse, as Hector finishes his explanation.
"WHOOOAAA!!!!" Lyse exclaims. "I had no idea our boss was so cool!"
"Is that what you got from all of that?" Hector asks.
"Well, yeah. Possessing that kind of power but constantly suppressing it since it can turn you evil, is pretty darn cool."
"But what kind of name is Peep anyway?" Zara asks.
"It's what the spirit chooses to call itself...AND you don't get to ask that question! You've barely known him for ten minutes!" Hector complains.
"So, who is this man he's fighting anyway?" Elyra asks.
"I am curious about that as well. A man who can trigger fear in our Arryn...he must be quite the opponent." Gavric says, pondering and tickling his beard.
"You also don't get to say that! You're imagining a fight right now! You're still injured!" Hector yells and straightens up his posture. "Honestly, I don't know who that was. I'd never met him in my travels with Arryn, so I can't say for sure that I've even heard of him. He didn't give off any aura at all, so I couldn't tell when he got into the tunnel."
"So what exactly is reassuring in the story you just told?" Elyra asks, her arms trembling.
"Huh?" Hector turns to her.
"Why should I not go to him right now and try to save him?" Elyra asks. "Why shouldn't I go help him?"
"I had a feeling you'd be the hardest to convince." Hector walks up to her. "He's our boss, is he not?"
She nods.
"Then, believe that he would do as he said. He'll be right behind us. Besides, we've got five pounds of gold for this. we'll have enough to throw a nice party when we return to Valkenburg." Hector says.
"I'd love to hear of your history with this man that makes you believe him to this extent." Zara says.
"You can hear it on the way. we're leaving." Hector says and lifts her up on his back.
Gavric and Lyse get up as well. Elyra, last to stand to her feet, gets up and turns to look at the direction of the cave, before turning to meet the others.
The group starts walking towards the direction where they left their horses, when they hear a thunderous boom in the background.
They all turn simultaneously to see a large humanoid ethereal being, about a few inches taller than the Wallakki they fought hours ago, completely clad in starry materia, almost like the night sky personified.
The being lifts an arm up in the air and makes to strike.
"Ah, come on!!!" Hector complains.
As it throws down its arm, the group immediately goes into evasive maneuvers. Together, Elyra, Hector, Lyse and Gavric fire beams of wave energy at the same time towards the being.
The being is sent rolling back several meters away, before getting back on its feet and firing a single beam back at them, forcing them to scatter and dodge the blast. Hector hides Zara behind a bush and rushes to the being. He leaps into the air and dishes throws a punch at the it, only for his arm to go through.
"What?" Hector says in surprise.
The being prepares another beam for him, but Hector quickly concentrates his energy into a small ball of water and fires it off as a blast, which impales it. Hector quickly returns to the ground and starts chanting quietly.
Elyra and Lyse fire off ice and flame magic at the ethereal being, while Gavric enchants his broken sword and chucks the enchanted blade at it. All of the attacks deal significant damage, but none are powerful enough to take it down.
Done with his incantations, Hector bites his thumb hard enough to make him bleed. He focuses the bleeding thumb over his other arm which his index finger is pointing at the beast.
"Maledict Number Two: Open Convergence." He says as blood drops to the index finger which fires of a single, thin, red beam of light at the being. The beam sweeps through it and the rest of the forest behind it.
For a moment, it appears nothing has happened. Then the beast fall apart and explodes, and so do the tall trees behind it.
"Nice one, Hector." Lyse says.
"Yeah, for a moment I thought we were goners." Gavric jokes.
Hector walks to Zara and picks her up. "We can move now."
Then more of those footfalls are heard coming from behind them. They look to see about five more of the same kind of being.
"How do we deal with that exactly?" Elyra asks.
Hector laughs nervously. "Heh...We don't. It seems those pounds of gold would be able to fetch us a nice, group casket."
"Well, For once I actually accept that outcome. Seems like a fitting way to go." Lyse says.
"I'm not one for pessimism, but we've got to find some way." Gavric remarks.
Suddenly, the beings are met by a huge, mountain-sized orb of energy. Hector, noticing what is going on, turns to the group.
"Everyone, turn on the jets! NOW! if you know how to use movement magic, then push it to the absolute limits. The White Woods are going down!!!"
They too realize what is going on and heed Hector's warning. Each one of them runs for the edge of the woods as fast as they can. Hector, while carrying Zara, leads the pack, running as fast as he can.
They all make it out of the woods in time, albeit in terrible shape, as they watch from afar as the orb detonates and wipes out the forest in an unbearably loud boom.
A few minutes after the smoke subsides, Hector leaves Zara with Lyse and Gavric and goes with Elyra to the site of the blast. After running on foot for kilometers with no magic to aid their movement, they see a figure moving in the smoke, dragging themselves to their feet.
Elyra and Hector rush forward once they catch a glimpse of his violet eyes. "He's back." Hector says. "He made it!!" He says.
As they reach him, he falls flat on his face. Hector's joy changes to concern. "Hey, hey, hey!!" He says as he rushes to his side and turns him on his back.
"Is everyone okay?" Arryn mutters.
"Look who's asking that." Hector smiles. "What happened in there?"
Arryn's face is covered in blood. His shirt is ripped to shreds and his eyes are dull again, but his cornea is bloody.
"Well...I lost. I didn't even stand a chance." He replies with a big smile.
"No, you didn't!" Elyra says.
She sits down next to him, across from Hector.
"You're alive, aren't you? That means you're the victor..." She says, cleaning her tears.
"Glad you remember that. It's a good principle to live by, isn't it?" Arryn asks, playfully.
She nods. "It's about time we head back Arryn. The others are waiting."
"I'd have you know that I can't move...I spent everything on that last attack." He replies.
She turns to Hector.
"Hey, now! I've been carrying a fully-grown teenage girl on my back for the past few hours, give me a break!" Hector says.
"Then allow us to help..." Lyse says, as the three turn to see the rest of the crew, and Zara present. Their horses and luggage are with them as well.
"I'd say you came prepared... How long have you been there?" Arryn asks.
"As long as you need to know, Ryn-dearest." Lyse retorts. "Do your best not to make us worry like this again, 'kay?"
"You've got it, boss." Arryn raises a thumb. "Ow!"
Gavric lifts him up to his feet and takes him by the arm. "Up we go." He puts him on one Horse to ride with Hector, while Lyse rides with Zara behind. Gavric and Elyra walk on foot.
Arryn turns to Zara behind him. "I certainly hope your daddy doesn't try to run off with the money. You're too nice to have a father like that."
Zara smiles. "Thank you."
The crew gets a move on, trudging through smoky fields of burnt grass and trees, heading for Valeryn through Carnegie.