As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the forest floor, tension hung thick in the air. Without a word, Usdavi moved first, his form shifting and blending seamlessly with the surrounding foliage. Vines snaked out from the undergrowth, aiming to ensnare Aria and Elzid. Still, they danced aside, their movements fluid and precise.Aria charged forward, her sword slicing through the air with deadly accuracy. She aimed for Usdavi's heart, but Usdavi merely laughed at her assault, tendrils of dark energy pulsing around him. Roots erupted from the ground, threatening to entangle Aria, but she rolled out of harm's way.Meanwhile, Elzid unleashed bolts of lightning from his sword, each strike crackling with raw power. The forest itself seemed to recoil from his onslaught. Still, Usdavi remained defiant, their form shimmering and shifting to evade his attacks.As the battle raged on, Usdavi's control over the forest was unparalleled, and their attacks grew more relentless with each passing moment. He was a formidable opponent, his connection to the land granting him an almost insurmountable advantage.Elzid paused mid-attack, his sword crackling with latent energy as he looked toward Aria, who had also halted her advance. Usdavi stood before them, their form wavering slightly, weakened by Elzid's relentless assault."Stop," Elzid whispered, his voice barely audibles above the rustling of the leaves. "Something isn't right."Aria's brow furrowed in confusion as she lowered her sword.Elzid stepped forward, his gaze locked on the figure of Usdavi. "We need answers. What did you do to the girls?"Usdavi's laughter echoed through the clearing, a hollow sound devoid of mirth.Elzid's grip tightened on his sword, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "We saw what you did to the forest, how you twisted its power to your will. If you're capable of that, then..." he paused. "We need to know," he said, his voice firm but measured. "The girls, what happened to them? What did you do to them?"Usdavi's laughter took on a sinister edge. As the sound faded, Usdavi spoke, his voice low and dripping with malice."The girls you said?" Usdavi said, their tone dripping with disdain. "Oh yes. They were the lifeblood of this forest, their essence intertwined with its very existence."Elzid's eyes widened in horror, the implications of Usdavi's words sinking in. "You used them... to sustain the forest?" but Elzid was still unsure of what he did.Usdavi nodded, a cruel smile twisting their features. "Their presence fed the very heart of this land, their life force intertwined with its own. Without them, the forest would wither and die."Elzid clenched his fists, his anger rising like a tempest within him. "You sacrificed innocent lives for your own gain?"Usdavi shrugged, their form flickering with dark energy. "In the grand scheme of things, what are a few mortal lives compared to the eternity of the forest? Their sacrifice was necessary for the greater good."Elzid's grip tightened on his sword, "For the forest? Or for you to use? You may have taken their lives, but you won't take any more. We'll stop you, no matter the cost."With a wave of his hand, Usdavi summoned forth a wave of dark tendrils of shadow swirling around him like a cloak. "You are welcome to try," they taunted, their voice dripping with contempt. And without a word, he sent the tendrils to attack them.Aria charged deftly and dodged the first wave of tendrils, her movements fluid and precise. Elzid followed close behind, his sword crackling with raw energy as he unleashed a barrage of lightning strikes. The tendrils recoiled from the onslaught, but Usdavi remained undeterred, their form flickering with dark energy.Aria pressed on as she closed the distance between herself and Usdavi. She brought her sword down in a sweeping arc, aiming for the heart of their opponent. But Usdavi was quick to counter, deflecting her blow with a wall of twisted vines.Undeterred, Aria spun away from the counterattack, her movements graceful and fluid as she launched a series of rapid strikes against Usdavi's defenses. Each blow was met with a calculated parry echoing through the forest.Then, in a moment of desperate inspiration, Elzid thrust her sword onto the ground into the forest. And unleashed a torrent of lightning. The ancient trees trembled, their leaves ablaze with ethereal light as the lightning surged through their roots.Usdavi howled in agony, their form flickering and fading as the life force of the forest was unleashed against them."Usdavi was one with the forest. The girls...," Elzid muttered to himself, his voice barely audible above the din of battle."Aria!" Elzid's voice rang out through the chaos of battle, cutting through the cacophony of clashing steel and crackling energy."Aria!" Elzid's voice echoed through the clearing, cutting through the chaos of battle with urgency. He watched as Aria continued her relentless assault on Usdavi, her sword flashing in the dim light with each strike.Realizing that she hadn't heard him, Elzid raised his voice, his tone urgent. "Aria, we need to find the source of the forest's power! It's our only chance against Usdavi!"This time, Aria's movements faltered, her focus momentarily shifting as she glanced in Elzid's direction. Usdavi took advantage of her distraction, launching a barrage of tendrils towards her. Aria dodged the attack, her senses now fully attuned to Elzid's words."What?" Aria asks as she jumps back towards Elzid."He was one with the forest. If we stop where these sources are coming, we can defeat him," Elzid explained. "Cover me! I'll find the source," Elzid said with determination.Aria tapped on his shoulder, and Elzid turned to face her. Before he could utter a word, Aria spoke, her voice firm."I'll find the source," she said. "You hold the line here." Elzid was confused, but Aria started to run towards the depths of the forest.Usdavi's eyes widened in surprise as Aria and Elzid's realization dawned upon them. They had uncovered the source of his power. With a snarl of anger, he aimed to stop Aria from pursuing her quest, unleashing a torrent of dark roots towards her.Elzid intercepted Usdavi's attack with a swift motion, his sword crackling with lightning as he deflected the darkness away from Aria. The force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling through the clearing, shaking the very ground beneath their feet.Elzid squared off against Usdavi, his sword raised in defiance. Though the odds seemed stacked against him, he refused to back down, his resolve unbroken despite the darkness that threatened to consume them all.Aria ventured deeper into the heart of the forest, her senses attuned to the subtle energies that pulsed around her, she came upon a cave.As she stepped into the cave, the walls seemed to pulse with energy, casting an ethereal glow that illuminated the cavernous space. Aria could feel the power of the forest. As she walked towards the depths of the cave, she heard someone spoke."Is anyone there?" the voice whispered, its tone both familiar and otherworldly."Who's there?" Aria called out, her voice echoing off the walls of the cave. She scanned her surroundings, but there was no one to be seen."It is I, the guardian of the forest," the voice replied, its tone solemn yet commanding.As Aria cautiously advanced into the depths of the cave, her steps echoing softly against the cold stone floor, her gaze fell upon a figure. Before she stood the Guardian of the forest, their majestic form bound by chains of darkness vines, their once-bright aura dimmed by imprisonment."What happened to you?" she asked, her words echoing through the cave."Usdavi," the Guardian replied, their voice tinged with sadness. "Forces that seek to overthrow the balance of the forest and bend its power to their will."The Guardian looked down. "There's no hope Usdavi is too strong. "I am a guardian of the forest, not a warrior..." she pauses as she looks at herself. "...My power lies in nurturing and protecting the land, not in combatting the forces of darkness."Aria drew her sword, the steel gleaming in the dim light of the cave. Without a word, she stepped forward towards the prison cell that held the Guardian, her movements steady and deliberate.With a swift and powerful swing, Aria brought her sword down upon the chains that bound the Guardian, her muscles tensing with the force of her blow. The dark vines groaned and protested against the impact, but with each strike, they began to weaken under the relentless assault.As the final vine fell away, her eyes alight with astonishment and gratitude. As she had been freeing them from their imprisonment."You... you have done what I could not," the Guardian said, their voice tinged with awe and gratitude.As the Guardian of the forest stepped forward into the light, their form seemed to shimmer and glow with a newfound radiance. The ethereal energy surrounding them pulsed with vitality, casting a warm and comforting glow throughout the cavern.The Guardian's gaze fell upon her, their eyes filled with an expression of shock and disbelief. "Arithia?" the Guardian said, their voice filled with a mixture of astonishment and reverence.Aria's eyes widened as she heard the name spoken aloud. "Aria," Aria said, her voice barely a whisper. "My name is Aria." as she looked away.As the Guardian fixed her eyes on Aria, a sense of urgency filled the air, their gaze piercing through her with a solemn intensity.Then, to Aria's surprise, the Guardian's gaze shifted away. With a heavy sigh, the Guardian spoke, their voice tinged with sadness. "The girls," they said, their words echoing through the cavern with a solemn resonance. "They are held captive in the heart of the forest, where the darkness holds sway.""They are in the depths of the forest, beyond the reach of my sight," the Guardian replied, their voice tinged with regret. "But I sense that they are still alive, their spirits resilient against the darkness that seeks to consume them."As Aria followed the instructions provided by the Guardian, she ventured deeper into the heart of the forest, her senses attuned to the subtle energies that pulsed around her. With each step she took, the darkness seemed to grow denser, the air heavy with the weight of despair.Finally, Aria reached her destination.As Aria's eyes fell upon the girls ensnared within the ancient tree, innocent souls whose lives were being drained away by the malevolent force of the forest.As she approached the tree, the darkness seemed to thicken around her, suffocating her with its malevolent presence.Aria swung her sword with all her might, striking out at the twisted vines that ensnared the helpless girls. Each blow landed with a resounding clang, sending shockwaves of energy rippling through the air as the dark magic recoiled from her righteous fury.The vines slowly began to weaken under the force of Aria's assault, their grip loosening as the stolen life force began to flow back into the girls' bodies.As the vines weakened, a primal roar echoed through the forest, filling the air with a deafening cacophony of agony and rage. The sound reverberated through the trees, shaking the very ground beneath their feet as Usdavi sensed the impending liberation of its captives.As the deafening roar of agony echoed through the forest, Elzid was caught off guard, stumbling to the ground under the sheer force of the sound. His senses reeled, his ears ringing with the intensity of Usdavi's rage as it reverberated through the trees.Struggling to regain his footing, Elzid gritted his teeth against the overwhelming pressure, his muscles tense with the effort to push through the disorienting sensation. He forced himself back onto his feet, his gaze scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger.The roar must have signaled some significant development—a sign of Aria's success in finding the captive girls.With the life force of the girls now freed from the clutches of the ancient tree, Elzid surged forward, his sword raised high as he launched a relentless assault on Usdavi. With each strike, he channeled his fury and determination, his muscles burning with the intensity of his attack.Usdavi, weakened by the loss of its power source, roared in defiance as it faced Elzid's onslaught. Its tendrils thrashed wildly, lashing out with renewed ferocity in a desperate bid to repel its assailant.But Elzid was undeterred, he pressed the attack. With each blow, he forced Usdavi back, driving it further into the depths of the forest as he sought to deliver the final blow.As the battle raged on, Elzid's movements became a blur of motion, his sword flashing in the dim light of the forest as he struck with precision and speed.Finally, with one mighty thrust, Elzid delivered the decisive blow, his sword piercing through the heart of Usdavi with a resounding clash. With a deafening roar of agony, the ancient creature collapsed to the ground, its form dissipating into the ether as its dark energy dissipated into the air.As the dust settled and the echoes of battle faded away, Elzid stood victorious, his chest heaving with exertion.He took a moment to catch his breath after his intense duel with Usdavi. With the adrenaline of combat coursing through his veins, he sank to his knees, his muscles trembling with exhaustion as he leaned on a tree for support.Closing his eyes, Elzid allowed himself a moment of respite, the sounds of the forest washing over him like a soothing balm. The gentle rustle of leaves,—it was a stark contrast to the chaos and violence that had consumed the clearing only moments before.As Elzid rested, his respite was short-lived as a presence materialized before him, causing him to startle to attention.Before him stood the Guardian of the forest, their form ethereal and radiant, bathed in the soft glow of the forest's magic. Elzid's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden appearance of the ancient being, his instincts urging him to remain vigilant despite the tranquil aura that surrounded them."Arithia..." the Guardian pauses. "No. Aria and the girls are safe. They are on their way back."With a sense of relief washing over him, Elzid's tension eased as the guardian spirit delivered the news he had been hoping to hear.Elzid didn't utter a word and just stared at the Guardian's fading figure.As Aria and the girls arrived, Elzid watched as they emerged from the depths of the forest, their forms bathed in the soft glow of the forest.Elzid faced Aria, but the latter looked away and walked past Elzid. He then turned to the girls, his heart filled with compassion for their ordeal. "You're safe now," he said, his voice gentle and reassuring. "We will bring you back to Daeka."As Elzid made the promise to escort the girls safely back to Daeka, a wave of relief washed over them, their tense shoulders relaxing as the weight of their fears lifted."Thank you," one of the girls said, her voice trembling with emotion. "We were so scared but knowing that you're here to help us makes all the difference."Elzid smiled warmly, his eyes reflecting genuine compassion for their plight.With Elzid and others leading the way and the girls under their protective watch, the group embarked on the journey back to Daeka. The forest seemed to whisper its blessings as they passed through its ancient boughs.As they emerged from the forest, the familiar sight of Daeka greeted them, and the sun had long since set.Despite the darkness, there was a sense of relief and safety in returning to the familiar surroundings of the village.Arriving at the chief's office, Elzid, Aria, Daeka's wielders, and the girls were greeted by the sight of the chief, their families, including Miss Prea, were waiting for them.Despite the late hour, Prea's expression was one of concern and anticipation, her eyes shining with a mixture of relief and joy as she saw her sister.As Prea saw her sister among the group, her eyes widened with relief and joy. She rushed forward and enveloped her sister in a tight embrace.Tears welled in Prea's eyes as she held her sister close, the weight of worry and fear lifting from her shoulders as she felt the warmth of her sibling's presence."I was so worried about you," Prea whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "I'm just glad you're safe."Prea, overcome with gratitude, moved toward Aria, her eyes shimmering with tears as she approached her. With a heartfelt expression, she extended her arms and embraced Aria tightly, her silent gratitude conveyed through the warmth of her embrace."Thank you," Prea whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "For bringing my sister back to me."The chief's suggestion to stay the night and travel back to Viralinn in the morning was met with unanimous agreement from the group. With darkness blanketing the city and the weariness of their journey weighing heavily upon them, the prospect of a restful night's sleep was a welcome one."Thank you, Chief," Elzid said, his voice filled with gratitude. "We appreciate your hospitality."With the arrangements made, the group settled into the chief's office building for the night, grateful for the opportunity to rest and recuperate after their long and arduous journey. As they prepared for sleep, Miss Prea's sister came over to see Aria.Prea's sister approached Aria, her expression filled with gratitude and kindness. With a gentle smile, she extended a soft blanket towards Aria, a silent offering of comfort and warmth."Here," she said softly, her voice warm and gentle. "I thought you might appreciate this. It can get chilly at night, especially in unfamiliar surroundings. There are two of them. You can share it with your boyfriend.""Boyfriend?" Aria repeated in confusion."That guy," she pointed at Elzid, who was talking to the chief. "Wasn't he?""No""Oh! What a shame. I thought you were perfect for each other," she said in a low voice as she put down the blankets. "Bye, Aria," the girl waved back and ran away.Aria dismisses Prea's sister's words and sleeps that night.The next day, as the sun rose over Daeka, Aria and Elzid prepared to depart for Viralinn, their job in the town is complete. With the assistance of the town's officials, they secured a carriage for their journey, grateful for the convenience and comfort it would provide on the long road ahead.As the carriage arrived in Viralinn, Elzid made his way to report to headmistress Erine..Meanwhile, Aria headed yo Lorenzo's shop, Aria's surprise was palpable as she stepped into Lorenzo's shop and was met with an unexpected sight. The usually tidy and organized space was now in disarray. It's like someone had a fight inside. Almost every item is broken, even the walls are full of holes, the door was cut in half and the floor was also filled with holes."Lorenzo, what happened here?" Aria asked.Lorenzo emerged from the back room. Lorenzo chuckled softly, amusement dancing in his eyes. Sensing Aria's curiosity, he couldn't resist sharing the story behind the chaos.