(Arun's Pov)
I fought valiantly alongside Alwin against the relentless Hellhounds, each of us pushing through exhaustion as we felled beast after beast. Yet, no matter how many we struck down, the sheer number of enemies felt insurmountable. Every swing of my weapon left me a little more drained, and I knew I couldn't hold on much longer.
"There are so many of them—they just keep coming!" Alwin shouted, his voice edged with fury and fatigue.
After a brutal struggle, we managed to clear out the beasts in the front row, leaving only one Hellhound blocking our path. My vision was hazy from the toll of the battle, and I glanced away, assuming we'd finished off the last of them. I exhaled, ready to call out to Alwin to seize our chance and run before the next wave charged forward.
"Alwin! No, no, no!" I screamed, my heart dropping as I turned just in time to see the final Hellhound's fangs sink into Alwin's body. My voice broke as I lunged forward, my blade flashing in a desperate, sweeping arc that cleaved the Hellhound's head from its body.
Alwin's knees buckled, his strength leaving him as he began to fall. With swift movements, I swept him up in my arms.
"I'm… I'm sorry, I was so exhausted," Alwin gasped, his breaths shallow. My face twisted in anguish as I clutched him tighter.
"You idiot!" I shouted, my voice cracking, choked with grief and anger. "Why didn't you block the beast's attack? You should've gone with the others! This wasn't supposed to happen!"
Alwin managed a faint smile, his eyes flickering with the last spark of life. "And let you die alone? Not a chance," he murmured, his voice breaking into a weak cough.
I held his gaze, my own heart shattering. "Please, don't talk. Save your strength… How am I supposed to lead the others without—"
But Alwin interrupted me, his voice barely a whisper, "...as brothers… till the end…"
His eyes grew unfocused, rolling back. The light left them, and all life was gone from him.
I sat motionless, cradling Alwin's lifeless body as despair settled over me. My last glimmer of hope was extinguished once again. I recalled my helplessness to save Seira and Kailu, bracing myself for the inevitable. The second wave of Hellhounds was slowly advancing, closing in, step by menacing step.
One of the Hellhounds lunged forward, poised to strike, but before it could land the blow, a powerful beam of radiant light erupted from the sky, illuminating the battlefield. From within the light, a man in resplendent white and gold robes emerged, an ethereal glow surrounding him. A surge of energy followed, sweeping across the field in a fierce, whistling wave. The Hellhounds didn't stand a chance; caught in its wake, they turned to ash and disintegrated in an instant.
Stunned, I looked around in confusion, trying to comprehend the source of this sudden intervention. As I turned, my gaze fell on a second figure—a woman dressed in similar white and gold robes, who had just arrived beside the man.
"You just had to make a grand entrance, didn't you?" the woman muttered, sounding both irritated and accustomed to such displays.
As the man opened his mouth to respond, still sitting in a pool of my friend's blood, I looked up in disbelief. "What… What is happening here? Did that man really descend from a heavenly light of Aetheris?"
The man's eyes fell upon me, his expression softening. "Greetings, I am no messenger from Aetheris," he said warmly, his voice steady. "You're welcome for the assistance. My name is Sixt," he continued with a gentle smile, "one of the nine Stellar Primarchs serving the Sage Sovereign. I am known as the Archbishop of the Sun."
"My name is Recha, also one of the nine Stellar Primarchs, known as the High Priestess of Purity," the woman, Recha, introduced herself as Sixt finished speaking, her voice carrying an ethereal resonance. Her gaze was intense yet kind, her robes glowing faintly with mana as she acknowledged our presence.
Before I could say a word, Sixt interjected, "We came here to exterminate the demonic creatures sighted in this village," he declared. He added curtly, "Now that the task is done, we should leave at once. Come along, Recha."
"Wait a moment," Recha replied, holding up a slender hand. She turned to me and stepped forward, her movements measured, almost ceremonial. Her expression softened as she reached Alwin's lifeless body and gently placed her hands over him. I, still as a statue, could only stare in disbelief, my thoughts racing with questions I couldn't even begin to voice. Then, I sit in silence as i hear her beautiful sacred chant:
"By the power of life's enduring flame, I summon the essence of the forgotten name. With the energy of mana and the breath of spirit, return the heart, restore the body. From the grip of death, you shall awaken. Brought forth by my will: Resurgence of Eternity!"
Then, as if in a dream, I watched as bright particles of mana began swirling around us, casting a warm glow across the scene. For a brief, charged second, the air itself seemed to hold its breath. Then something utterly miraculous happened: Alwin's eyes fluttered open, life flooding back into them. His soul, as if answering a summons from beyond, had returned to his body.
"What?! How is this possible?!" I cried, my voice filled with awe and astonishment at the spectacle before me. My friend, lifeless just moments before, was now breathing, blinking, alive once again. Recha said nothing in response, offering only a gentle, serene smile as she rose to her feet, her expression unreadable but strangely comforting. I, still grappling with disbelief and confusion, felt myself calming, my questions silenced by an unspoken understanding. Somehow, I sensed her intentions were pure and her actions a gift.
What I didn't know was that Recha and Sixt had been watching Alwin and me from afar, observing our desperate struggle from the moment we first took our stand. Through a rare, magical observational crystal—capable of capturing live images through a delicate warping of space and time—the Stellar Primarchs had seen Alwin and me charge against the wave of Hellhounds, our odds impossible, yet our courage unwavering. We had willingly risked everything, buying time for our friends to escape.
Deeply moved by their bravery, Recha decided to reward us with a sacred act—a revival spell, one of the rarest and most powerful forms of magic known to the world. Drawing on mana essence from the nature around us and her own life energy, she cast the spell to restore Alwin's life. Only a select few, those who had reached the highest mastery of magic, could perform such a spell. Recha was one of those few.
As soon as the miracle was complete, the two enigmatic Primarchs stepped back, vanishing into a blinding flash of light, their presence dissolving as swiftly as they had arrived.
"What… happened, Arun?" Alwin murmured, his voice soft and disoriented, as if waking from a distant dream. I looked at him with a mixture of relief and amazement, my heart finally beginning to settle. Smiling, I replied, "I'm just glad you're okay, my friend. I'll explain everything later. Right now, let's catch up with Kiirion and the others."
Together, Alwin and I departed from the village, leaving behind a trace of the bravery we had shown—bravery that would soon be spoken of in hushed tones, remembered by the few who had witnessed it. The blonde-haired young boy we had met when we first stepped foot in this town had hidden behind a row of houses, watching the battle unfold, and saw every moment of our fight against the hellhounds. Determined to preserve our legacy, he would carry our story around the world. Our tale would spread quickly, first among the surviving villagers in their homes and eventually across the region, passed down from one storyteller to another until it became the stuff of legend. Soon, even the distant Aneara Empire, where Seira fought for survival, would hear whispers of our deeds.
After walking some distance down the road, Alwin and I finally spotted Saphielle, Kiirion, and the others resting on a hill, shaded by the branches of a few large trees. Kiirion, leaning against a trunk, was lost in anxious thoughts, silently urging his friends' safe return. "They'll be okay," he must've thought, clinging to hope. "They have to make it back." Gazing toward the sunset, Kiirion's heart leapt as he saw two familiar figures approaching. There, just beyond the horizon, were Alwin and me, walking side by side like brothers in arms. We exchanged stories of the battle, our voices filled with laughter and relief as we relived the unbelievable events that had just unfolded.
"They made it! Saphielle, look!" Kiirion's voice rang out as he turned, pointing eagerly toward the sunset on the horizon. Saphielle's gaze followed his, and her eyes lit up at the sight of us. Without a second thought, she bolted forward, running straight into my waiting arms, embracing me with all the warmth and strength she could muster.
With a low chuckle and my usual confidence, I murmured, "Did you really think I wouldn't come back to you?" Overcome with emotion, Saphielle couldn't bring herself to answer. She simply tightened her grip around my waist, clinging as though she'd never let go. Behind us, Kiirion approached, his pace calm but eyes shining with relief. "I'm so happy to see you guys safe," he said softly.
Our journey to the capital resumed, each day bringing us closer. We passed through several small towns and villages without incident, each night a quiet blessing. Finally, we reached the foothills of the Arlingcour Highlands. Fortunately, we didn't have to ascend to the very top, where both the castle and the most fearsome, radiated beasts lay in wait. Yet, as we climbed the mountain, a heavy rainstorm swept over us, soaking every layer of clothing and chilling us to the bone.
About halfway up, we encountered a narrow cave, a pass-through to the other side of the mountain—a safer route, free from the creatures lurking above. I quickly searched through my pack, pulling out several torches. Striking a flint, I lit one, the flame flickering as it fought against the damp air. "Here, take these," I said, handing out torches to the others so they could see their way in the darkness. The cave was modest in size, a winding tunnel that twisted through the mountain with a few tight turns.
As we rounded a corner, we froze. In the shadowy depths, a beast pup crouched low, its fur bristling as it struggled to stand. A low hiss escaped its throat, a warning. Some of the group tensed, but I stepped forward, calm and reassuring. "It's okay, little guy, we mean you no harm." Despite my soothing tone, the pup's hissing only grew louder as I approached until, with a final high-pitched squeal, it spun and darted away into the darkness.
I watched it vanish, my brow frowned slightly. "Strange…" I muttered under my breath, but we continued onward, following the faint, small paw prints that marked the cave floor.
After a few more turns, the dim tunnel began to brighten, and soon we could see the pale light of day ahead. Emerging from the cave's mouth, we found ourselves on a mountain road leading downwards. The rain had ceased, leaving only the cool scent of wet earth and the soft rustle of leaves as we looked out on a path leading down the mountain.
But before we could relax, my gaze snapped upwards, my senses prickling with unease. The air held a dark tension, a primal feeling that something large—and hungry—was nearby. Glancing up at the trees, we noticed flocks of birds bursting from the branches, fleeing in a panicked wave.
With quick, decisive gestures, I signaled to the group. "Move! We need to get down the mountain, now." My voice was urgent, leaving no room for hesitation.
We took off down the path, our footsteps swift but tense, the growing rumble of cracking branches and trembling earth spurring us onward. Each step intensified the sound, a dreadful rhythm that echoed through the forest. Whatever was chasing us was getting closer.
And then, it burst forth. Trees splintered and crashed as a massive form tore through the forest edge, revealing itself in full. A demon dragon, the most formidable predator of the Abysmal Woodlands, had ventured into the Arlingcour Highlands, its eyes gleaming with predatory hunger. It was searching for its next meal—and we were directly in its path.
The creature had yet to spot us, its massive form scanning the surroundings for any sign of worthy prey. We remained hidden behind the cover of large trees and jagged rocks, our hearts racing.
Seizing the moment, I swiftly attempted to divert the attention of the enormous beast away from the others. With a bold shout of, "Hey there, ugly lizard! Over here!" I took off running, successfully luring it away from my comrades. As I sprinted, exhaustion began to set in. Just as I felt I could run no longer, I noticed a hole in the ground nearby. With a burst of determination, I leaped inside, narrowly escaping the dragon's grasp.
Frustrated by its inability to reach me, the dragon ultimately relented, deeming the pursuit no longer worth its time. After a brief wait, I climbed out of my hiding place and regrouped with the rest of the party, who had taken refuge near the road at the base of the mountain.
With the immediate threat of the demon dragon behind us, we resumed our journey toward the capital.
Only a few hours later, we found ourselves approaching the foreboding Abysmal Woodlands. Hesitant, I turned to my companions. "What do you think we should do? We could find another route around the forest, or we could push straight through."
"I believe we should look for a way around it," replied Meyrith, the skilled craftsman and lockpicker. Saphielle interjected with fiery determination, "Going around could take a week or longer than our original plan. We should go straight through; it's much faster."
Meyrith fixed her with a concerned gaze. "But if we venture through, we will likely suffer casualties." Saphielle, undeterred, continued to press for a direct approach. "How much longer will our children have to suffer before we find them? We need to reach them quickly! Who knows what nightmares they are facing, especially Seira. You know as well as anyone what lies within her."
Before Meyrith could respond or anyone else could voice their opinions, a woman among the survivors stepped forward. "Excuse me," she said, her voice steady. "I possess some skill in manipulating mana essence and energies." The woman, named Ayla, continued, "I can cast an invisibility and silence spell on all of us, allowing us to pass through undetected."
"Perfect," I replied, relief washing over me as Ayla began her incantation. A shimmering wave of mist and ethereal particles swirled around us, enveloping the group as we watched in awe. Before long, we became see-through, our mana essence suppressed and concealed.
With the spell in place, we commenced our passage through the wretched forest. The trees stood dark as coal, their leaves glowing with an ominous red light, as if dark energies from the demon realm had seeped into the very bark of the trees. Sunlight struggled to penetrate the thick canopy above, casting the forest into an abyssal darkness illuminated only by the crimson glimmers of the red glowing leaves.
As we navigated the eerie landscape, I spotted monsters and demons wandering mindlessly through the woods, their movements robotic, as if stripped of their will. "This has to be a nightmare," whispered one of the survivors, terror lacing their voice. I, walking at the forefront, turned to reassure the group. "Don't be afraid; they can't see us. Just keep moving slowly."
Everyone was drenched in sweat and fatigue from our arduous journey. Just beyond the dense thicket of the forest lay the road leading directly to the capital of Shilon, with only a single village to pass after the treacherous Abysmal Woodlands before we would reach our destination.
Suddenly, one of the elves stumbled upon a large stone and twisted his ankle, collapsing to the ground with a gasp. A lurking monster heard the noise, though it could see neither him nor his companions. It began to growl ominously, sniffing the air as it crept closer to the man's face. Quick to act, I hurled a stone away from us, diverting the beast's attention toward the sound.
However, as luck would have it, another creature had spotted me when I picked up the stone, watching it hover in the air. Meanwhile, Meyrith rushed to assist his injured companion, helping him to his feet just as the monster that had seen me began to charge in our direction.
Seeing the threat, I urgently signaled for everyone to run. Without looking back, we dashed through the underbrush, and soon we burst forth from the forest.
Gasping for air, we fled for our lives as a horde of other demon monsters joined the fray behind us. The spells of invisibility and silence that had cloaked us began to wear off as we raced toward the light shining at the edge of the woods.
As we emerged into the sunlight, a demon beast leaped out from the forest alongside us. However, the moment it was exposed to the rays of the sun, it absolved into ash. The other beasts that had been pursuing us halted at the edge of the woods, mere inches from the sunlight. They growled and hissed before retreating back into the shadows of the forest.
Finally, we collapsed onto the soft grass just outside the treeline. "That was an absolute nightmare. It's a miracle we made it out of there alive," Meyrith exclaimed, his breath coming in ragged gasps between words.
Ayla glanced back at the forest, frowning. "I-I don't understand why my spell failed at the end." Still catching my breath, I turned to reassure her. "You didn't fail. Without your magic, we wouldn't have even made it into the forest in the first place." After several minutes of resting and recovering, we resumed our journey, our goal—the capital of Sixon—now just a short distance away.
A day passed, and we arrived at the last village checkpoint, only a few hours from the capital's walls. The town was named Elderford.
As we hurried through the village, an unsettling atmosphere hung in the air. The townsfolk regarded us with curious and uneasy glances from every corner. Choosing to ignore the stares, we pressed forward without hesitation. Upon reaching the village's outskirts, an elderly gentleman stopped us.
"Are you folks headed to the Capital Sixon?" he asked kindly, his voice warm. I met his gaze with a smile and replied, "Yes, we are."
The old man nodded thoughtfully before continuing, "Well, please be cautious on the road ahead. This path leads straight to the capital's gates."
"Thank you very much, kind sir. We will be extra careful," I assured him with a nod. The old gentleman smiled back before continuing on his way.
And so began the final steps to reach the capital.