The Ruins at Night:
The wind had picked up by the time Mellali and Hadjer finished fortifying their small shelter. The ruins offered some protection, but they both knew the crumbling stone walls wouldn't hold up if something—or someone—really wanted to get in. Still, it was better than nothing.
Hadjer had piled up some broken debris, branches, and stones near the largest gaps in the wall to create a makeshift barrier. While doing so, she had found something half-buried under the rubble—a weathered, reaper-like stick. It was long, gnarled, and slightly curved at the end, resembling the shaft of a scythe, though its edges were rough, splintered. It wasn't a weapon by design, but it would do.
Hadjer examined it briefly, testing its weight. It felt right in her hand, sturdy enough to serve as a weapon in a pinch. There was something about it—the balance, the length—that suited her, almost like it had been waiting for her to find it. A strange thought, but in this world, nothing felt impossible anymore.
Satisfied with the crude staff, she brought it over to where Mellali had been running over the day's events in his mind—particularly the part where he had somehow blasted a ghoul without meaning to.
---
Hadjer's Turn to Test the Waters:
"You've got your magic sorted," Hadjer said as she placed the staff next to her and dusted off her hands. "But I need to know what I can do."
Mellali nodded, still breathing deeply after his own experiment with chaos magic. "Yeah. You've got some kind of Bladesinger ability going on, right? Speed, magic, probably some moves with that thing you found."
Hadjer glanced at the stick. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing, and she trusted her instincts. "I'm going to see what I can do with it. If this world is turning us into... whatever we are now, I need to know what it's given me."
Mellali leaned back, giving her the space to work. "Go for it. Let's see what the Eladrin has to offer."
---
A Careful Start:
Hadjer stepped into the open area of the small clearing they had fortified. The night air was cool, the faint glow of the moon casting just enough light to reveal the edges of the ruined stone walls around them. She held the stick loosely at her side, her fingers tightening around its smooth surface. The energy inside her, the strange sensation of something deeper, was there. Mellali had already shown that he could tap into his magic—now it was her turn.
She took a deep breath, letting her focus narrow to the world immediately around her. The wind shifted slightly, brushing past her face. That subtle pulse of magic stirred in her chest, and she reached for it, pulling the Bladesong into herself.
At first, there was no dramatic burst of power. But then, Hadjer felt her body respond—her muscles coiled, her movements suddenly sharper, more precise. She stepped forward, slowly at first, then faster, feeling the agility and speed flow through her. It wasn't frantic or out of control—it was measured, deliberate. She moved with a fluidity that felt alien yet completely natural at the same time.
Her movements with the stick became part of that rhythm—quick, controlled swings, the wood cutting through the air with surprising grace. She wasn't trained with a weapon, but her body seemed to know what to do.
---
Bladesong and Magic Combined:
Mellali watched her closely, his eyes focused on the way her entire presence seemed to change as the Bladesong took hold. "You're moving like you've done this a thousand times," he muttered, impressed.
Hadjer didn't respond, too focused on maintaining control. The Bladesong wasn't just physical—it was magic, too. She could feel the magic wrapping around her, strengthening her every movement. Her connection to the seasons, to the natural world around her, was starting to reveal itself.
She turned her focus inward again, pulling on the faint threads of magic she felt lingering just beneath the surface. With a small flick of her wrist, the energy responded, flowing through her hands and into the staff. The end of the stick began to shimmer faintly, the magic enhancing its strength, turning it from a simple branch into a deadly, enchanted weapon.
The makeshift scythe glowed with a soft, ethereal light as Hadjer moved it with precise control, practicing strikes and jabs in the air. She could feel the connection between the magic and her movements, the way the world around her seemed to respond to her presence.
---
Precision and Control:
Hadjer stepped back, lowering the stick, her breathing steady but her heart racing with the thrill of discovery. She had never fought before—not like this—but the way her body moved, the way the magic flowed, it felt right. She wasn't just fighting with brute force. She was fighting with precision, control, and a connection to the natural energy around her.
"This makes sense," she finally said, her voice steady but tinged with a note of surprise.
Mellali leaned forward, intrigued. "What does?"
Hadjer glanced down at the glowing stick in her hand, the faint light starting to fade now that she had let go of the magic. "The way the magic works. It's not about power—it's about focus. The more I concentrate, the more it enhances my movements. I can... blend it with the physical."
She turned the stick in her hand, studying its now-faded surface. "This... isn't just about speed or strength. It's about precision."
Mellali nodded. "So your dexterity is tied to the magic. It's more like... channeling, right?"
"Exactly," Hadjer said. "If I lose focus, it slips. But if I can stay centered, I can combine the magic with my attacks."
---
The Strain of Magic:
Hadjer flexed her fingers, feeling the subtle strain on her body now that the Bladesong had faded. Like Mellali's magic, it took energy—mental and physical—to maintain it. And while it wasn't as draining as what Mellali had experienced with his chaos magic, it was still something that would take a toll over time.
"I can feel the pull," she said, more to herself than to Mellali. "It's not infinite."
Mellali stood, nodding in agreement. "Same with my mana. It's like there's a limit, and once you hit it, you're vulnerable."
Hadjer sheathed the stick at her side, nodding. "I need to learn how to pace it. It's useful, but if I burn through my energy too quickly, it'll be useless when it really matters."
Mellali watched her closely, impressed by how quickly she was adapting. "You're already ahead of the curve," he said, smiling faintly. "We'll figure out how to handle this together."
---
Rest and Recovery:
Hadjer sat down beside Mellali, her breathing evening out as the tension from testing her abilities began to fade. The night was still cool, the ruins quiet, but there was a sense of relief between them now that they both had some grasp on what they could do.
"We need to rest," Hadjer said, her voice returning to its usual calm tone. "Recover our energy before we push too far. I can feel it—there's more to learn, but not all at once."
Mellali nodded, already feeling the fatigue creeping in after his own experiments. "Agreed. We can't afford to exhaust ourselves."
They leaned back against the stone wall, the air around them settling into a quiet calm. They had taken their first steps toward mastering their abilities, but the road ahead was still long, and the world around them was far from safe.
But for now, they had each other. And they had a plan.
Mellali and Hadjer settled into the quiet of the ruins, the cool night air brushing against their skin as they leaned back against the old stone wall. For now, the tension of the day had eased—both of them had tested their powers, learned something about their new abilities, and begun to understand what their transformations meant.
But as they closed their eyes to rest, the weight of the world around them settled back in. The forest was still hostile, and the ruins, though seemingly abandoned, gave no guarantee of safety.
Hadjer, always more practical, stayed alert for a little longer than Mellali, her mind constantly working through survival strategies. Shelter was good for now, but tomorrow, they would need food, water, and a better understanding of their surroundings.
The air was still, the ruins offering a fragile sense of security. But just as Mellali started to drift off, a faint sound broke the quiet—a low, unsettling scrape coming from deeper within the ruins.
His eyes snapped open.
---
The Noise in the Dark:
Mellali didn't move right away. He stayed still, his breath shallow as he strained to listen. The sound came again—scrape, scrape, like something being dragged across stone. It was subtle, distant, but unmistakable.
"Hadjer," he whispered, keeping his voice low.
Hadjer, who hadn't quite fallen asleep yet, opened her eyes, immediately alert. She didn't ask what was wrong—she just listened. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she focused on the sound coming from the other side of the ruins.
"Do you hear that?" Mellali asked quietly.
She nodded. "Yeah. Something's moving."
Mellali sat up slowly, careful not to make any noise as he scanned the dim light around them. The ruins had felt empty when they first arrived, but that had been before the night had fully settled in. Now, with the darkness pressing in, it felt different—heavier. Like something had been lying in wait.
"What do you think it is?" Mellali asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Hadjer shook her head. "I don't know, but we need to check it out."
---
Approaching the Source:
The two of them rose quietly, Mellali's hand instinctively reaching out to touch the faint hum of magic beneath his skin, preparing himself for whatever was waiting. Hadjer, always the cautious one, gripped her makeshift staff, her eyes sharp as they began to move toward the sound.
They crept through the ruins, staying close to the crumbling walls as the scraping sound grew louder, more distinct. Mellali's heart pounded in his chest, but he kept his breathing steady, focusing on the magic inside him. He couldn't afford to lose his nerve now—not after everything they'd already faced.
The ruins were darker here, the moonlight barely reaching through the gaps in the walls. The sound echoed softly through the stone corridors—scrape, scrape, drag—like something heavy was being pulled along the ground.
They rounded a corner, and the noise grew louder, just beyond an archway leading to another chamber.
Mellali swallowed hard, his voice low. "You ready?"
Hadjer nodded, her grip on the staff tightening. "Let's see what we're dealing with."
---
The Discovery:
They stepped through the archway, their eyes adjusting to the dim light. The room beyond was large, its walls cracked and crumbling, vines creeping through the broken stone. At first, everything seemed still, but then, just at the edge of the room, Mellali saw it—movement.
A shadow, low to the ground, hunched and slow, dragging something behind it.
Hadjer tensed beside him, her eyes locked on the figure. It hadn't noticed them yet, its movements deliberate, methodical. It was dragging what looked like a large stone slab, scraping it across the floor in slow, rhythmic motions.
Mellali's stomach tightened. "Is that...?"
Hadjer stepped forward, her voice low but calm. "Whatever it is, it's not human."
The creature turned then, its face catching a sliver of moonlight. It was a twisted, humanoid figure, its skin pale and stretched tight over its bones. Its eyes were hollow, sunken deep into its skull, and its mouth hung open in a silent snarl. The sight of it sent a chill down Mellali's spine.
It wasn't a ghoul, but it was something equally unnatural.
---
The Tension Builds:
The creature hadn't seen them yet, still focused on its strange task. Mellali held his breath, his hand twitching slightly as he felt the magic stirring inside him again. He could use it—Chaos Bolt, maybe—but that would draw attention.
Hadjer, as always, was more measured. "We don't need to fight it unless we have to," she whispered, her eyes never leaving the creature. "It hasn't seen us yet."
Mellali nodded, trying to calm the rising tension in his chest. "What do you think it's doing?"
Hadjer glanced at the stone slab the creature was dragging. "It's moving something. We need to figure out why."
She motioned for Mellali to stay low as they inched closer, keeping to the shadows of the room. The creature's back was still turned, its thin, bony arms dragging the heavy slab with surprising strength.
As they got closer, Mellali could see more of the room—the stone slab wasn't just random debris. It looked like part of an old door, something that had been sealed off long ago.
"This place has secrets," Hadjer muttered, her voice just above a whisper.
---
The Decision:
They were close now, close enough to see the wear and tear on the creature's body—its bones sticking out at unnatural angles, its movements slow but purposeful. It didn't look like it was preparing for an attack, but that didn't mean it wasn't dangerous.
Hadjer glanced at Mellali, her eyes sharp. "We could take it out now, before it notices us," she said quietly. "Or we watch and see what it's trying to do."
Mellali swallowed, feeling the tension building in the air. He wasn't sure if they should make the first move, but whatever the creature was doing, it clearly had a purpose. The question was: did they want to interrupt it?
"What do you think?" Mellali asked, his voice low but steady. "Do we stop it, or see where this goes?"
Hadjer considered it for a moment, her expression unreadable. "It's not attacking. That gives us time."
Mellali nodded, but the magic in his veins buzzed, ready for whatever might come next.