Amidst the chaos, she noticed Elara moving with ethereal grace, weaving through the air as she conjured a barrier of shimmering aether to deflect the monstrous onslaught. Each time Elara channeled her magic, a little of her energy flickered out, and Tarasynora could see the toll it was taking. She called out, "Elara! Conserve your strength!"
"I can't stop now!" Elara replied, her voice strained yet defiant. "Not when so much is at stake!"
Tarasynora felt a swell of pride mixed with fear as she watched her friend. Yet deep down, an unshakable dread settled within her—the knowledge that every act of bravery might cost them dearly.
A massive, disgusting looking creature with razor sharp teeth and claws charged at Tarasynora. A Kallari soldier leaped forward, sacrificing himself to divert the creature, his bioluminescent skin flickering as he shouted a battle cry. "For Hiraeth!"
Tarasynora's heart broke as she witnessed the moment of sacrifice. The Kallari's luminous form was consumed, but not before he bought precious seconds for his comrades. Rage and sorrow coursed through her veins, igniting a fire within her. They would not die in vain; she would make sure of it. She had to help hold off the attackers, to protect those enacting the Shift.
As the ground trembled beneath their feet, she channeled her magic into the Great Forest Ward, feeling the ancient roots respond to her call. The Ward pulsed with energy, and a surge of protective light washed over her, fortifying the defenses. But she could feel it waning, could sense the encroaching darkness creeping closer, devouring their hope.
"Push them back!" she shouted, rallying her fellow warriors. They fought valiantly, but with each passing moment, it became clear that the monsters were overwhelming them. She could see the exhaustion in their eyes, the despair beginning to take hold as the reality of their situation settled in.
As if in response to her thoughts, the ground shook violently, and a deafening roar pierced the air. A massive creature, larger than any they had faced, breached the Ward, its eyes glowing with malevolence. Tarasynora's breath caught in her throat as she realized they had reached a tipping point.
"Hold the line!" she screamed, her voice barely breaking through the chaos. But even as she shouted, she felt a deepening despair—the realization that this might be a fight they could not win.
In that moment, the sacrifices began in earnest. A group of Laurian warriors, led by Brakar, surged forward to engage the beast. They fought with unmatched ferocity, their bodies crashing against the creature as they drew its attention away from the rest. Tarasynora watched in horror as they were flung aside like ragdolls, but they continued to fight, refusing to relent.
"Why must it come to this?" Tarasynora whispered to herself, tears streaming down her cheeks. She was a soldier, and she understood the cost of war, yet witnessing such selflessness tore at her heart. They fought not just for survival but for each other—a bond forged in the fires of shared struggle.
As the battle raged on, Tarasynora felt the weight of her own choices pressing down upon her. She had trained for this moment, prepared her entire life for the battles that lay ahead. Yet no amount of training could prepare her for the loss of her friends, her comrades, her family. She lost herself in the fight, wading into her enemies and cutting them down without mercy. She didn't know how much time had passed before she found herself standing, shaking, blood soaked and breathing raggedly. The moment of respite brought her back to herself as the war continued to rage around her.
How much longer until the Shift happens? She thought, desperate for the fighting to end.
Elara's energy flickered like a dying star, and Tarasynora's heart sank as she saw her friend falter mid-air. "Elara!" she cried out, reaching for her as the Aetherian began to fall. In a split-second decision, she broke from the ranks, darting toward her friend. She felt the air shift around her, the palpable energy of their bond urging her on.
But before she could reach Elara, a monstrous tentacle lashed out, sending her sprawling to the ground. Dazed, she fought to regain her senses, pushing through the pain. The vision of Elara falling burned into her mind. Was she too late?
Rage coursed through her body as she rose to her feet and raced forward, drawing upon every ounce of magic and willpower within her. As she reached Elara, she felt a surge of power welling up within her—a protective instinct fueled by desperation.
"Hold on!" Tarasynora shouted, her voice breaking as she grabbed Elara and summoned a shield of energy around them both. They were lifted from the ground, floating for a moment, and Tarasynora felt the warmth of her friend's presence seep into her.
But the moment was fleeting. The creature's maw loomed closer, its teeth glinting with deadly intent. Tarasynora concentrated fiercely, redirecting her magic to create a barrier between them and the monster. The energy surged, and she could feel Elara's strength waning, flickering like a candle in a storm.
As the creature collided with the barrier, a shockwave rippled through the air. Tarasynora gritted her teeth, feeling the strain of the magic pushing against her. "We can't give up!" she shouted, though doubt crept into her mind.
Around them, the battle raged on. The cries of warriors echoed through the air, the sounds of sacrifice weaving a tapestry of valor and tragedy. Each life lost was a reminder of the stakes they faced—the world they fought to protect.
With every ounce of strength, Tarasynora pushed back against the creature, but the barrier cracked under the relentless pressure, sending fissures of energy snaking outward. Tarasynora's breath hitched, her muscles trembling as she strained to keep the shield intact. Every fiber of her being was on fire—magic coursing through her veins like molten lava, but it wasn't enough. Her weakened mental and emotional state was making it extremely difficult to focus on her barrier, and it was only a matter of time before it would break.
She glanced at Elara, whose pale face and dimming wings betrayed the severity of her condition. The glow that once radiated from her friend like a celestial beacon was fading, flickering like a dying ember.
"Elara, don't leave me," Tarasynora whispered, desperation threading her voice. The weight of impending loss settled heavy on her chest. The thought of losing Elara, who had stood by her side through every battle, every trial, felt like a knife twisting in her heart. She couldn't bear it—not her, not like this.
Elara's lips curved into a weak smile, one that broke Tarasynora's heart further. "It's okay," Elara said softly, her voice barely audible over the chaos. "I'll always be with you… even if not in this world."
"No!" Tarasynora's voice cracked. "We're not done yet. You can't—" But before she could finish, the creature's monstrous roar filled the air, drowning out her words. Its tentacles lashed at the crumbling barrier, and with a deafening crash, the shield shattered into shards of dissipating energy.
Time slowed as Tarasynora moved instinctively, grabbing Elara's limp form and dragging her away from the beast. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing like the distant drums of war, relentless and unforgiving. She pushed her legs to carry them faster, feeling the creature's foul breath on the back of her neck, its presence a looming shadow of death.
But then, a surge of energy erupted around them. It was Brakar and his remaining Laurian warriors, charging headfirst into the creature, their war cries deafening as they collided with the monster in a final act of defiance. Their massive bodies slammed into the beast, buying precious moments of respite for Tarasynora to escape with Elara.
"Keep moving!" Brakar bellowed over his shoulder, his axe cleaving into the monstrous flesh with a sickening squelch. The Laurians' attack became a living barrier, their immense strength holding the creature at bay, even as it tore into them with savage fury.
Tarasynora's throat tightened as she watched the Laurian warriors fall, one by one, their bodies broken and bloodied. Each of their deaths felt like a stone being added to the ever-growing weight on her soul. She wanted to scream, to tell them to stop, that they didn't have to die. But she knew—they knew—that without their sacrifice, Hiraeth would be lost.
With a trembling hand, she pressed her palm against Elara's cheek, feeling the coldness of her skin. "Stay with me, Elara. Please."
But Elara's eyes fluttered shut, her once-bright aura dimming to nothing. Tarasynora felt her world collapse inward, her knees giving out as she cradled her friend's lifeless body in her arms. The sounds of battle faded, drowned out by the roar of blood in her ears, and for a moment, all that existed was the unbearable silence of loss.
Tears streaked down Tarasynora's face, each drop falling like a bitter promise—of more death, more sacrifice. The weight of the Shift, the weight of the lives being given so that they might escape this doomed reality, pressed against her like a vice. She could feel her spirit fracturing under the strain, her resolve unraveling.
But there was no time for grief. The world around her continued to collapse—Hiraeth teetering on the edge of oblivion.
"Tarasynora!" a voice called out, snapping her back to the present. It was one of the Aetherian mages, his robes tattered and his face streaked with blood. "The Shift is almost complete! We need your power to stabilize it, or all will be lost!"