Jemisha's Pov:
The roars of the beasts kept growing as I run towards the cliff. I'm very close to the battlefield right now, I can feel it! How can a child even be present here at this moment? My gut is telling me It's very dangerous to be here right now but i need to save that boy!
-Pov end
Jemisha reached the cliff and could hear the boy crying for help
"Please, Someone, help me!" The boy cried
"Hey! I'm here, try giving me your hand." Jemisha laid down, trying to give the boy a hand so he could climb, but she couldn't reach him.
She got up 'Maybe I should use my powers to help the boy... But I'm not that confident that i could carry a human with my energy'
Jemisha closed her eyes, focusing on the rhythmic pattern of her breath as uncertainty clouded her mind. Each inhale and exhale felt like a battle against her own doubts, afterall she was just a child the doubt creeping in like a silent whisper. Was she truly strong enough to harness her abilities to save him?
She released her tamas dark mist to create a protective arm to pull him up
"Ok, I shouldn't use my power beyond my limits. This should be enough to lift him up" she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the howling wind.
"It's okay try holding that I'll pull you up!" She said to the boy
But
As the boy caught sight of the distant mist, fear gripped him, causing his hands, barely clinging onto the rock, to slip away.
"No!" Jemisha screamed panicked and she lost the control over her power and a huge wave of dark mist surrounded her and the boy
~At the battlefield~
As the stone crumbled, the beasts retreated, almost like they ran away, which felt strange. The battle looked like the warriors had the upper hand, but there was an eerie feeling in the air.
Duke pondered, "It seems like they almost gave up on this fight and shifted their focus. Even though their stone was destroyed, they still pose a threat to us all. Why would they suddenly run away? Something doesn't add up."
Duke's thoughts drifted towards Jemisha, who was out there, who knows in the midst of which danger.
Duke Shakti, along with a small group of scouts, set out to find Jemisha.
"Listen up, team. Our mission is to locate Lady Jemisha before sun sets. Time is limited. Disperse, search diligently, and bring her back swiftly before nightfall. This is non-negotiable."
"Yes sir!"
Duke Shakti turned to Chief Ashaad and said, "Chief Ashaad, I want you to stay behind. Something feels off about how the beasts suddenly retreated. Protect the mages and let Sorceress Nadi assess the situation."
Chief Ashaad reassured,
"Don't worry, your grace. I hope we find Lady Jemisha soon. I'll handle the troops here."
Duke nodded and departed with the small search troops to find Jemisha.
As the small search troop ascended the mountain, they strategically divided into groups to make the search for Jemisha more efficient and swift. By splitting into smaller teams, each group could cover different areas of the mountain simultaneously, increasing the chances of locating Jemisha quickly. This division allowed them to coordinate their efforts effectively,
As the regroup split into four members in each group, Duke took charge of one team's to ascent up the mountain while the other groups diligently scoured their assigned areas in search of Jemisha. As they ascent up the mountain a few kilometres ahead they spotted a massive black mist, like a raging fire. Duke as soon as he saw hurried towards the smoky haze, feeling deep inside that the energy belonged to his daughter, Jemisha.
Jemisha's pov:
"I-I lost control... The darkness... it's consuming me. I can't see anything, just this suffocating mist all around. It's like a thousand piercing needles, each one stabbing through my body, making every inch ache. The screams in my ears, they won't stop. It's like my head is going to explode from the pain. I-I can't... I can't take it anymore." She coughed weakly, "At least I was able to pull the boy before he fell into the mountains. I need to get out of here, but something feels strange. Is it because of the dark mist I conjured? This uneasy sensation... I think I'm hearing someone approaching us... Is it Dad...?"
As she gazed up in hope of rescue, she was met with a chilling sight – a massive eerie beast with glowing eyes piercing through the darkness. Its fur as black as the night, its growls echoing through the misty air, sending shivers down her spine. It moved with a haunting grace, claws scraping the ground, creating an ominous sound. The dread and awe it instilled in her were palpable.
"Oh no, the beast! What's it doing here? How did it manage to leave the radius?" She gasped, her voice barely above a whisper, as more beasts emerged, their eyes gleaming in the dim light, surrounding her with their ominous presence. The realization of her peril deepened, her breaths labored as she braced herself for the impending confrontation.
"I... can't... fight... anymore..."
The beasts growled as if they wanted something, their viciousness more intense than usual. Something has gone terribly wrong. They growled ferociously, and suddenly, one of them lunged at Jemisha. "Ahh!"Jemisha exclaimed, barely evading the attack. She was already weakened, drained of energy due to the release of so much power. Now, she was all alone with a little boy in this forest, with no one to help her. What a dire situation!
'I don't think we'll survive this many beasts,' Jemisha thought to herself as she saw one more beast getting ready to pounce on her. After all she was just a 12 year old child. She closed her eyes, feeling drained of energy, resigned to her fate. But suddenly, she heard a loud slash of a sword. Barely opening her eyes, she saw her father. 'Father!' she exclaimed, a glimmer of hope igniting within her for survival.
In that critical moment, Jemisha's thoughts of imminent defeat were interrupted by the sound of the sword cutting through the air. Jemisha's heart swelled with a mix of relief and gratitude as she saw her father stood between her and the beasts as she realised her father came to her rescue.
Even though the Duke managed to defeat some of the beasts, their numbers seemed to remain constant, making it increasingly difficult to handle the situation with a small crew. The challenge of facing a seemingly endless stream of creatures with a limited team became more and more daunting as the battle unfolded.
Swoosh, clang, the sound of the sword striking through the beasts.
"Jemisha!, are you okay? Why are you here?" Duke hurried towards Jemisha to check on her, noticing the small fainted boy. He understood that something had happened, he knew it wasn't the time for explanations. It was his duty to protect them both.
"Jemisha, can you walk? I want you to go down the cliff. You'll find more troops there. Can you do it?" he asked, a mix of command and polite request in his tone, ensuring their safety was the top priority.
"No, Dad, I think I sprained my ankle," Jemisha answered in a weak tone.
Duke glanced at Jemisha, her knees all scraped up, and she seemed like she was about to black out from exhaustion.
"It's okay, my daughter. I'll get you both out of here safely. You're safe now. Don't worry; you can rest. We'll handle it." Duke assured Jemisha, his voice filled with determination and reassurance.
"O, okay, Dad," Jemisha coughed weakly, then closed her eyes and passed out. Duke turned to one of his comrades, who was under his command, and firmly ordered, "I need you to follow my lead, Sir Harsh. While we distract these beasts. I want you to get the kids and move to the safe zone. Move swiftly. Once you're clear, don't look back, just keep moving. Your task is crucial; find the searching crew and urgently alert them about the situation here. Send them to this location. Ensure the safety of the children and head to the camp, stay with them until I come back " Duke emphasized, conveying the gravity of the situation. Duke nodded reassuringly to the commarade and saod, "I trust you," before proceeding to slash through the beasts ahead.
The Duke swiftly turned around, invoking an ancient mantra that manifested a crimson sigil, weakening the beasts for a brief moment. Thoughts raced in his mind as he pondered the situation. Despite the odds, he believed in their coordination to buy time until reinforcements arrived, ensuring Jemisha's safety. However, using this technique would drain his energy, leaving him powerless. With a nod to his comrades, they stood ready to follow his lead.
A profound aura enveloped him as a colossal sigil emerged, its radiant power causing the beasts to howl in torment. Those within its reach could feel the raw energy pulsating, a palpable force that stirred a primal awe and fear. The Duke's mastery over this ancient magic was not just a display of strength but a testament to his unwavering dedication to protect his allies, a spectacle that sent shivers down the spine of all who witnessed his unparalleled prowess.
The soldier received a nod from the Duke, prompting him to sprint away from the beasts with urgency. He swiftly gathered Jemisha and the boy, swiftly moving to a safer spot. As he knelt down, he noticed the troops were already en route to provide assistance. "Quick!" he shouted, realizing the gravity of the situation surpassed their expectations. "We need mages too!"
In his heart, the soldier held immense respect for the Duke, knowing that protecting the children was his utmost duty, a task entrusted to him by the Duke himself. With determination in his eyes, he ran, ready to shield the kids with his life, honoring the Duke's command with deep reverence and loyalty.
As the soldier descended the mountain, a sudden, sinister force grazed his neck, causing a sharp pain. 'Wh-what was that?' Before he could even understand what happened, muscle cramps wracked his body. "Poison?" he gasped in disbelief.
'Who would do that?"
As the commanders thought raced he was shot again!
'Who would do such a thing? What is their purpose?' he thought, trying to make sense of the treacherous attack. As he grappled with the unfolding danger, his focus shifting to protecting the children and unraveling the mystery behind this malicious act.
'I-i need to protect the kids' he gasped, feeling the poison take hold. The commander struggled to breathe, coughing up blood,
unraveling the mystery behind this malicious act. With both children unconscious, the situation grew increasingly perilous.
'Did someone betray us?' he pondered, feeling the weight of his duty to safeguard the kids. However, as the poison took hold, the commander realized he might not be able to fulfill his duty.
'I failed,' he whispered as he crumpled to the ground, succumbing to the treachery that had befallen them.