As Aren struggled to his feet, dazed and disoriented, he saw the leader of the magical beasts preparing to deliver the finishing blow. With a surge of adrenaline, he charged forward once more, his sword flashing in a desperate bid to turn the tables.
But just as Aren was about to strike, he felt a sudden jolt of energy course through his body. It was Linda, her healing magic coursing through him once more, restoring his strength and vitality. With renewed vigor, Aren charged forward, his sword flashing in the fading light of day.
The leader of the magical beasts laughed, his eyes flashing with surprise and anger. But Aren was undeterred, his determination to avenge Richard's near-death experience driving him forward.
The two enemies clashed in a flurry of steel and sorcery, their battle echoing through the darkening forest. The leader of the magical beasts unleashed a torrent of spells, but Aren dodged and weaved, his sword slicing through the air with deadly precision.
Aren ordered his teammates to leave him .
"Everyone get out of here."
Linda's eyes locked onto Aren's, her voice trembling with concern.
"But, Your excellency. ... .Aren, no... we can't just leave you here alone. You're our friend, our leader."
She took a step forward, her hand reaching out to him.
But Aren's resolve was unshaken. His voice remained firm, his eyes burning with determination.
"Go! It's my order. You have your orders! I'll handle this!"
He raised his hand, and a faint glow of magic emanated from his palm, as if he was conjuring up a barrier to keep them back.
The other warriors hesitated, torn between their loyalty to Aren and their duty to obey his command. Richard, took a step forward.
"Aren, we can't leave you behind. We have to stick together as a team."
Aren's gaze snapped at Richard, his expression unyielding.
"I'm not asking you to leave me behind, Richard, I'm telling you to leave me behind. You have your orders, and I have mine."
His voice was like a hammer striking steel, unyielding and unrelenting.
Linda took another step forward, her voice laced with desperation.
"Aren, please, think about what you're doing. We're not just teammates, we're friends. We're family. We need each other now more than ever."
Juri also nodded to Linda and she was crying.
But Aren's response was immediate and decisive. A burst of magical energy erupted from his hand, enveloping the group in a sphere of shimmering light. The air seemed to distort around them as the magic intensified, making it impossible for them to approach him.
The warriors exchanged worried glances, their faces set with determination. They knew they had to respect Aren's wishes and leave him behind, but it was tearing them apart. With heavy hearts, they slowly backed away from the glowing barrier, their footsteps echoing through the chamber as they disappeared into the shadows.
As they vanished from sight, Aren's gaze remained fixed on the spot where they had been standing. His chest heaved with emotion as he struggled to come to terms with the price he was paying for his duty. The weight of his decision settled upon him like a shroud.
With a deep breath, Aren raised his hands, and a brilliant flash of magic erupted from his fingertips. The air shimmered with an otherworldly glow as he unleashed the final blow against the leader of the magical beasts. The creature's massive body began to glow with an intense, pulsating light, its very essence seeming to unravel before their eyes.
The ground shook beneath their feet as the beast let out a deafening roar, its once-mighty form beginning to crumble. The magic coursed through the air, seeking out the heart of the creature and destroying it from within.
As the light faded, the beast's body collapsed, defeated. The chamber fell silent, except for the heavy breathing of Aren and the faint hum of magic still resonating in the air. The young sorcerer stood tall, his eyes glowing with exhaustion and triumph.
He had done it.
After that, he lay down on the grass. He has no energy left. He could not even move an inch.
He remembered his teammates. If they were here now, Linda must have healed him.
He remembered how they first met. And how their journey began.
In Aren's Povs
It was the time when Archduke and his teammates went on a mission for the first time. He clearly remembered how they became what they are now.
As the Archduke and his teammates came to a halt, they gazed around in awe at the towering trees of the "South Heart Forest." The air was thick with an otherworldly energy, and the horses seemed to sense it too, their ears perked up and their eyes gleaming with excitement.
The Archduke dismounted his horse and approached the edge of the clearing. His teammates followed suit, their cloaks fluttering behind them like dark wings.
"What is it, my lord?"
One of his teammates, Linda asked, her hand on the hilt of her sword.
The Archduke's eyes scanned the forest floor, his gaze lingering on the strange symbols etched into the ancient trees.
"I sense magic," he whispered.
"A powerful spell has been cast here. Something ancient and wild."
As he spoke, a faint hum filled the air, like the buzzing of a thousand bees. The horses prick their ears, sensing the magic too.
As they stood there, a faint hum began to emanate from the air, growing louder and more intense until it was almost deafening. The Archduke's eyes narrowed, his grip on his sword tightening.
Suddenly, the surrounding air seemed to ripple and distort, as if the very fabric of reality was bending and warping. The hum grew louder still, a magnificent creature emerged from the shadows. It was unlike anything any of them had ever seen: a being of pure energy, with wings that shimmered like diamonds and eyes that burned with an inner fire and its eyes burned with an otherworldly green fire, and its very presence seemed to fill the air with an electric charge.
The creature let out a deafening roar, the sound waves causing the party to stumble backward in shock. The Archduke's sword hand faltered, his grip slipping on the hilt as he took a step back.
"To be continued
Stay tuned"