Before Poll could utter another word, a sudden commotion from the house drew everyone's attention. The sound of hurried footsteps and the sharp crackle of mana filled the tense air. Seraphina Nightvale, Poll's mother, emerged with the authority of a seasoned mage. Her strides were deliberate, her emerald eyes narrowing as she surveyed the situation. Close behind her followed Elowen, her face pale but resolute, a faint glow of mana already flickering around her fingers.
In one swift motion, Seraphina raised her hands. The air around her swirled violently, coalescing into a high-density wind barrier. Its ethereal energy shimmered like a living wall, humming with barely contained power as it positioned itself between Poll and the assistant. The force of its creation sent loose leaves and dust spiraling away.
"Poll, fall back! Now!" Seraphina commanded, her voice slicing through the tension like a blade.
Poll hesitated, his chest tightening. He could feel the weight of his mother's words, but his instincts screamed against retreat. Despite his advanced intellect and strategic mind, a harsh truth crashed into him: his body, young and unseasoned, couldn't withstand the full fury of combat. Recklessness now could endanger not only him but everyone he cared for.
But before Poll could move, the atmosphere shifted violently. A wave of malice surged through the clearing, sending an involuntary shiver down his spine.
The second assistant, who had stood silent and unassuming until now, vanished in an instant, her movements a blur. The next moment, she materialized behind Seraphina, her grin wicked and predatory. Her crimson eyes glowed with malice, her hand crackling with dark, corrupted energy.
"Now die," the assistant hissed, her voice dripping with venom.
Seraphina's eyes widened, her focus momentarily shattered by the sheer speed of the attack. She turned sharply, but her spellcasting faltered. The assistant's glowing hand arced forward, aiming directly for her unguarded back.
"Mother!" Poll shouted, his voice trembling with desperation. He pushed forward instinctively, but he knew he wouldn't make it in time.
A radiant light exploded into existence, accompanied by a resonant hum of sacred energy.
"Not on my watch!"
Elowen, trembling but resolute, stepped into the fray. Her arms extended as a crystalline shield of divine energy formed around Seraphina. The assistant's attack collided with the barrier, sparks flying in every direction. The ground beneath them trembled from the impact.
Elowen's voice rang out, her determination cutting through the chaos. "Stay away from her!"
But the assistant's strike was no ordinary blow. The corrupted energy began to seep into the barrier, its malevolence eating away at the light. Cracks spread across the shimmering surface, thin spiderwebs threatening to shatter it entirely. Elowen gritted her teeth, channeling every ounce of her mana into holding it together.
"Too weak," the assistant sneered, her voice laced with contempt. She pressed harder, her glowing hand digging into the shield, the force overwhelming.
Elowen's barrier groaned under the pressure, shards of divine light splintering away. But just as it seemed on the verge of collapse, a faint smile crossed her lips. Her trembling ceased, replaced by a calm focus.
"I expected as much," she murmured, her voice low but steady. "You thought this was just a barrier?"
The shield began to shift, its form dissolving and reforming into ethereal tendrils that snaked toward the assistant's outstretched arm. The assistant's smug expression vanished as the tendrils coiled around her wrist, locking her in place.
"What?" she hissed, struggling against the enchanted restraint. The tendrils tightened, their energy growing denser with every second.
"This is no ordinary shield," Elowen said, her voice steady now. The shield transformed again, splitting into dozens of small, glowing blades that hovered in the air around her. With a flick of her wrist, she sent the blades hurtling toward the assistant, forcing her to leap back to avoid them.
Poll's mind raced as he watched. I knew the shield had potential, but she's mastered it batter then my expectations. The device I designed lets her manipulate its form freely, but she's wielding it like a true expert now.
The assistant snarled, her frustration mounting. With a sharp motion, she hurled a corrupted mana-infused projectile toward Elowen. The attack was sudden, precise, and filled with malicious intent.
Elowen's eyes widened, caught off guard by the speed of the counterattack.
A sharp, whistling sound sliced through the air before the projectile could reach its target.
In the blink of an eye, a set of mana-infused knives streaked through the chaos, their azure glow cutting through the darkness like shooting stars. The knives struck the assistant's weapon mid-flight, shattering it with enough force to make her stagger and retreat several steps.
"Back off!" a commanding voice rang out, sharp and resolute.
From the shadows of the forest, Celestia Aelthor, the leader of the Nightread Squad, emerged. Her movements were calculated and deliberate, her presence exuding an aura of authority. Her piercing gaze locked onto the assistant, her expression unreadable but undeniably commanding. The air around her seemed to ripple with restrained power, an unspoken warning.
The assistant hissed, her composure cracking for the first time. Her blood-red eyes narrowed as she glared at Celestia, venom dripping from her words. "Tch… You again, Celestia."
Celestia's response was calm but firm. "You won't lay another finger on anyone here." Her hand moved in a smooth arc, and more glowing blades materialized around her, hovering like silent sentinels.
The assistant's confidence wavered, but she quickly masked it with a sneer. "You think you can stop me? You're just delaying the inevitable."
Celestia didn't bother with words. She stepped forward, her movements deliberate, mana rippling faintly with each step. The air around her seemed to grow heavier, crackling with unseen energy. The sheer weight of her presence made the assistant instinctively take a step back, beads of sweat forming on his brow.
Poll's eyes widened, his thoughts racing. Whoa... She's so cool.
Seraphina, calm yet commanding, placed a steady hand on Poll's shoulder and gently nudged him behind her. Her gaze fixed on the assistant, her expression a mix of reassurance and quiet resolve. "We've got this," she said, her voice low and certain. "Stay close to Elowen."
Poll's jaw tightened as frustration bubbled inside him. He hated feeling like a bystander, useless in the heat of the moment. But he bit back the urge to argue. This wasn't the time. Turning toward Elowen, he noticed her labored breathing and the faint tremble in her hands. The glowing blades hovering protectively around her wavered slightly, a testament to her exhaustion.
He stepped closer, his voice unusually soft but sincere. "Hey, Elowen. You were amazing out there. Really, you crushed it," he said, his words carrying an unexpected warmth. "I'll tweak the device later—make it even better next time. But for now… just take a breather, okay?"
Elowen glanced up at him, startled by his tone. A faint smile curved her lips, despite the weariness in her eyes. "I'm fine, Poll," she said, exhaling deeply. Her glowing blades steadied, their light flaring brighter as if echoing her determination. "Let's finish this together."
Poll gave her a crooked grin, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… let's finish it. Just, you know, don't go passing out or anything. You're the cool one, after all. I'm just here to look awesome by association."
Elowen let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Whatever you say, Poll."
The assistant snarled, her composure hanging by a thread. With a guttural cry, she surged forward, her corrupted mana flaring. Celestia raised her hand, the hovering blades responding instantly, launching toward the enemy like a storm of precise, glowing arrows.
As the battle raged on, Poll watched closely, his mind already working on strategies and solutions for what lay ahead. This was far from over.