The soft rustle of leaves was the only warning Adrian had. He smiled faintly, already attuned to the subtle shift in the air. Without hesitation, he vanished from his position, his form blurring into nothingness.
The next second, sharp green crystal arrows pierced the space where he had been standing, embedding themselves into the tree behind him with a dull, reverberating thud.
From the dense foliage surrounding him came hushed whispers, tinged with confusion and alarm. The hunters had expected an easy target.
Adrian reappeared several meters away, hidden in the shadows of the forest. His expression was calm, though his dagger pulsed faintly in his hand, its energy responding to his anticipation.
He watched the figures of his ambushers—Elvins, their faintly greenish skin blending seamlessly with the forest around them, their long hair and angled ears lending them an ethereal, almost elflike grace.
