Chapter 6: The Battle of Light and Shadow
Ever since they stepped into the borders of Elos Toriel, Edmund and Don felt as if they had entered a world woven with magic. The air here flowed with unseen, mysterious power as if the wind carried an ancient chant. The sky was a pale blue glow, with jewel-like stars glittering as if they were within reach. Towering towers draped with the ancient flag of the elf race fluttered quietly in the breeze while the surrounding forest was shrouded in a tranquil green, vibrant but mysterious.
Their training began in a magical workshop built from ancient trees and crystals, which looked like a perfect combination of nature and magic. The gentle breeze to create a harmonious melody was surrounded by babbling brooks.
Philly's daughter, Lily, a young elf magician, was as light and agile as the forest's starlight. She had long hair as black as night, her eyes flashed with star-like wisdom and magic, and her gentle laughter was as pleasant as a bell.
"Magic is more than words and gestures; it is the resonance of your mind with everything in the world."
Lily's voice was soft yet carried a specific, unshakable power. She gently waved her fingers as if the air danced with her, and a warm light slowly rose from her fingertips, illuminating a small space around them. The light was warm and soft as if it were the first rays of sunlight in the morning.
Don's gaze followed Lily's every movement, and his eyes filled with concentration and curiosity. He carefully mimicked them, and though his movements were slightly awkward at first, he soon felt the power within him begin to respond to the elements outside. The shimmering light burning in his hands grew brighter, and a small smile of delight appeared. "So that's it!" He couldn't help but whisper as if he had found some mystery.
Edmund, on the other hand, was more disciplined. He knew that it was highly challenging for a vampire to master light magic, and he filled his heart with firm determination. Edmund repeatedly practiced the incantations and gestures, striving for precision in every movement. The air gradually filled with pure energy contrary to his nature, and his heartbeat accelerated, but he did not retreat. He understood this was the path towards self-redemption, and there was no turning back.
In another corner of the workshop, the elven artisan Thranduil focused on a half-formed longsword. His movements were elegant and smooth as if he was commanding the elements of nature to dance in the air. Flames and water currents intertwined in his hands, gradually merging into the sword. This sword was not unusual; Thranduil made it for a combination of a rare celestial iron and a secret forging formula of the Elves. The sword's body would emit a faint starlight in the darkness of the night, like the shimmering light of the sky, which could both illuminate the darkness and deter enemies. As Edmund looked at the sword, a never-before-seen sense of power surged in his heart.
"It is more than a rapier," Thranduil whispered, his voice as low as the wind.
"It carries the wind's speed and the stars' purity. The wind will howl with it whenever you wield it, making you swifter than your enemies. It is also resistant to black magic, for the sword tempered by moonlight, whose purity will be your strongest shield."
On the other hand, Don chose a different weapon - the Wild Claw. Obsidian and elven amulets made wild Claw; the surface was engraved with runes, symbolizing the power of nature. This pair of claw sets exuded the power of the earth, and each attack seemed to contain the wrath and power of nature. On the night of a full moon, its power will multiply, and the power of nature in the claws will tear through the enemy's magical shields and grant the user the ability to heal.
Eric stood in the center of the training ground, the sunlight spilling down from between the branches and leaves of the forest and onto his armor, making his figure look particularly majestic. His robes swayed gently, carrying a faint sound of wind as if even the air was under his control. In Eric's hand was a delicate longsword, the blade reflecting the sunlight with a cold flash of light as if ready to unleash tremendous power at any time.
"In battle, the most deadly thing is not your opponent but your hesitation," Eric spoke calmly, his voice deep but clear. "Magic and combat are not two separate things, but rather the art of blending. Only when you can harness both magic and the blade of the sword can you truly be called a warrior?"
Eric's every word exuded a sense of power that could not be ignored, firmly grasping Don and Edmund's attention. The calmness and wisdom unique to elves shone in his eyes, the kind of gaze that seemed to be able to pierce through everything, ultimately revealing the essence of the battle.
"Let me show you guys." Before Eric's words fell, he made a simple gesture, and several light blue magic rays immediately flashed in the air, and they quickly coiled around the longsword in his hand. Afterward, he gently swung his sword, and the magic and the blade instantly fused like a bolt of lightning cutting through the sky.
The light was like an invisible whip that instantly struck the target wooden man on the training ground. Without any sound, the wooden man was sliced in half, and the debris flew in the air. Don and Edmund couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air, their gazes fixed on the wood shavings that hadn't quite hit the ground yet.
"That is what you need to learn." Eric put away his longsword and raised his eyebrows slightly, his tone calm but with undeniable authority. "By relying on magic or swordplay alone, you will never be able to utilize your true power. The key to combat lies in the combination of both."
He turned and gestured for Don to come forward. Don swallowed nervously, uneasiness written all over his face. Even though his heart was filled with courage, he still felt an invisible pressure when facing Eric. He took a deep breath and tried to calm down as he raised his right hand, a faint flame igniting at his fingertips.
"Relax and focus on the power of the flame, " Eric said in a low voice, with a hint of encouragement in his eyes.
Don nodded and gently pushed the flame into the air. The fire slowly grew in his hands, eventually merging into a blazing light beam. He surged forward, the flaming claw set in his hand matching his movements perfectly as if it had become an extension of his body.
Eric quickly sidestepped and easily avoided Don's attack, but at the same time, the longsword in his hand struck back like lightning. Don barely had time to react, and in a panic, he summoned a flame shield, barely blocking Eric's fatal blow.
The shield soon began to shatter, and the flames dissipated into the air. Eric stopped moving, expressing some approval in his eyes but remaining calm. "Not bad, but you're still too slow. Your magic and swordsmanship haven't melded together yet."
Then, it was Edmund's turn to appear. He looked calmer, but there was still some tension between his eyebrows. He gripped the magical longsword tightly in his hand, the blade flickering slightly with silver light. Edmund took a deep breath and chanted a few incantations, and the sword's blade shone with a sharp blade of wind under his magical power.
He quickly rushed towards Eric, his movements fluid, and his sword and magic coordination were obviously purer than Don's. Each swing of the sword carried the power of the wind, and the whistling sound of cutting wind blades echoed in the air. A trace of appreciation flashed in Eric's eyes, but he remained calm as ever.
Erik quickly met him, and his longsword clashed with Edmund's sword with a crisp clang. Edmund's wind blades were weak in the face of Erik's power, and despite his extreme speed, Erik could permanently neutralize his attacks at crucial moments. Ultimately, Erik ended the duel with a beautiful counterattack that sent Edmund's sword flying.
"You have potential, but your heart isn't strong enough," Eric said calmly, his tone like a strict mentor's. His eyes were sharp as if he could see through every wobble in Edmund's heart.
The sunlight poured through the leaves on the training field, and the air was filled with the crisp scent of trees and earth. Eric's gaze skimmed over Don and Edmund's faces before he finally whispered, "Remember, your enemies will not give you time to think. Every swing of the sword, every magic, must be precise and accurate; otherwise, the next time you attack, it may already be your last blow."
Don and Lily walked side by side through the quiet forest, the air around them seeming to convey ineffable tension. The sunlight poured through the layers of leaves, reflecting dappled light and shadow on the ground, and each step hovered between these lights and shadows. Their footsteps were light but carried a specific tacit understanding, not needing to say much, as if the entire world stood still at this moment, leaving only each other's existence.
Her figure looked slender and elegant in the sunlight, her long black hair flicking slightly with the light wind. The feral claws in Don's hands shimmered slightly in the sunlight, the cold metal a stark contrast to the warmth he couldn't ignore in his heart. Lily's fingers inadvertently touched the cold, hard texture of the claw set, and when Don's eyes fell on her, Lily's heart beat faster. But she didn't show it. She remained in the same subdued manner, occasionally using her hands to pluck away the branches in front of her or softly reciting a magical incantation to turn the obstacles that stood in their way into nothingness.
"Are you always this good at hiding your emotions?" Don's voice was low and clear in the silent forest. The words had a hint of tentativeness, but a certain tenderness flowed unconsciously.
"Maybe," Lily smiled slightly, a playful glint in her eyes. Finally speaking, her voice as soft as silk, "But I'm guessing you don't want to know the answer."
The shadows of the forest seemed to thicken. Don inadvertently moved closer to Lily, his fingers stroking the fine hair on Lily's face. "You know," Don's voice was low, almost as if he were talking to himself, "I've always felt that you're just like this forest, mysterious enough to want to get close but afraid of being lost in it."
"Maybe you're lost." Lily looked up like Don. She said softly, a hint of gentle provocation in her words, yet she seemed to be hiding some deep emotion.
Don's heart was beating faster and faster, and he didn't know how to respond. Lily's words were like a thread that tugged at some feeling in the deepest recesses of his heart. He had thought that he was calm and challenging enough, yet it was as if all those pretenses were gradually crumbling in front of her.
The silence of the forest was broken in an instant.
Just as they were tracking the trail of a silver deer, a sharp cracking sound suddenly came from the air. Don snapped his head up only to see several black shadows speeding from among the treetops. Before he could react, an arrow with a curse grazed his shoulder and instantly pierced into the ground, igniting a burst of black smoke.
"Brian!" Don growled lowly, a flash of anger in his eyes. He immediately recognized the ambushers. Brian, that former partner, was now their greatest threat.
Lily reacted quickly as she waved her hands, and a protective barrier rose around them, blocking the following arrows. However, Brian was prepared. His warriors came from all sides and surrounded them. Brian himself stood under an ancient oak tree with a cold gleam in his eyes.
"Don, I've been waiting for this day." Brian's voice came out coldly, his eyes filled with mockery and hostility. His hands raised slightly, and the air around him seemed to tremble as a dark energy slowly condensed in his palms. "It seems like it's time to end our past grudge."
Don gripped his claw holster tightly, his eyes burning with a desire to fight. His heart raced, and his breathing became rapid, but he remained calm. He knew that he and Lily had to go all out facing Brian to have a chance of survival.
He quickly turned his head to Lily and whispered, "We have to work together; this guy is far stronger than any enemy we've encountered."
Lily nodded slightly, her hands quickly forming a seal. Calmness and determination shone in her eyes. "You cover. I'll cast the spell. We only have one chance."
Brian swung his hand violently, and dark energy came at Don and Lily like a giant snake. Don immediately dodged sideways without the slightest hesitation while swiftly waving his Wild Claw; the claw set drew a harsh arc in the air, pointing straight in Brian's direction with the sound of breaking wind.
Brian easily dodged Don's attack, revealing a cold smile, "Is that all you've got? It's not enough to look at."
Just as Brian was complacent, Lily's magic spell was completed. Silver light coalesced at her fingertips, and with a wave of her hands, a pure blade of light instantly slashed toward Brian. The light cut through the air like a sharp sword, striking at Brian's defense.
Brian's face changed, and he quickly condensed his dark energy into a shield before him. However, Lily's light blade was not an ordinary magic attack, it carried the power of purification and instantly penetrated the darkness shield, forcing Brian to retreat.
"Damn elf magic!" Brian gritted his teeth, a hint of anger and panic on his face. He had underestimated Lily's strength.
Don seized the opportunity and violently rushed towards Brian; the Fiery Claw swung out fiercely with wild power. Brian managed to block Don's attack, but every collision made his face grow more gloomy.
Lily chanted the spell again, this time with her eyes slightly closed. An ancient wave of magic began to fill the air, and a starry, shimmering light emerged from her hands, like power borrowed from the night sky.
Sensing the danger, Brian's gaze fixed fiercely on Lily, "There's no way I'm letting you get away with this again!" He swung his hands violently, and a dark storm swept in, straight at Lily.
"Never!" Don instantly blocked in front of Lily, his claws spinning in the air, forming a wind-blade-like barrier that blocked Brian's Dark Storm hard. The powerful impact caused Don's arms to feel a numbness, but he clenched his teeth and didn't retreat a step.
"Don, watch out!" Lily's voice carried a hint of urgency as she prepared her final attack.
A surge of strength surged through Don's heart, and he knew that this was the critical moment for a decisive victory. He took a deep breath and whispered, "Follow me."
As soon as the words fell, Don erupted with unprecedented speed as if he had become one with the wind, instantly appearing on Brian's flank. Brian was shocked and hastily sidestepped to defend, but Don's Wild Claw had the power to tear through the air and viciously strike Brian's left shoulder, bursting out blood.
Brian roared in pain, but before he could counterattack, Lily's spell was already complete. Her hands were raised high in the air, and the starlight transformed into a massive pillar of light that fell from the sky, striking Brian with irresistible power.
"Ah...!" Brian's screams echoed through the forest as a massive pillar of light engulfed his figure, the dark energy quickly dissipating in the glow.
When the light faded, Brian's figure had already collapsed on the ground, his body trembling slightly, ultimately losing the ability to resist.
Don gasped loudly and held onto a slightly weakened Lily, still keeping a high vigilance in his eyes. "Let's go."
Lily nodded and smiled slightly, her voice a little tired but lighthearted, "We must leave quickly and go back to inform Eric; I'm afraid they found the Entrance Boundary very quickly."
The forest had regained its tranquility, with only the rustling of leaves and the occasional birdsong coming from the distance. Don and Lily quickly left the battle scene, knowing that this was only a small-scale test by the dark forces and that the real storm was still waiting for them behind.