The Emberwild was silent.
The air, which had been thick with volatile mana and choking heat, now felt eerily still. Kael could almost feel the absence of the nexus's oppressive hum, as if the land itself were holding its breath. The crater that had once housed the violent leyline energy now stood dark and empty, the only remnants of the battle being the jagged rocks and molten scars scattered across the ground.
Kael leaned on his spear, his body aching with every breath. Around him, the others were slowly recovering, their exhaustion etched into every movement.
Leena sat on a nearby boulder, clutching her side where the serpent's tail had struck her. She had managed to stop the bleeding, but her pale face betrayed the pain she was hiding. Corin was lying on the ground, one arm draped over his face, muttering something about "retirement." Marra was methodically inspecting her bowstring, though the faint tremor in her hands revealed how much the fight had rattled her. Thane stood at the edge of the crater, his staff glowing faintly as he examined the aftermath.
Kael took a deep breath, forcing himself to stand upright despite the protests of his muscles. "Is everyone alive?"
"Define alive," Corin said, his voice muffled. "Because I'm pretty sure my soul left my body at least twice during that fight."
"You're fine," Marra said, not looking up from her bow. "Stop whining."
Kael allowed himself a faint smile. The banter, as strained as it was, meant they were still standing—still fighting.
"What about the nexus?" Leena asked, her voice hoarse.
Thane turned to face them, his expression grave. "It's gone. The leyline connection is severed, and the energy has dispersed. For now, this area is stable."
"For now," Kael repeated, his tone flat. "What about the rest of the Emberwild? What happens to the leylines now?"
Thane shook his head. "The leylines will begin to realign themselves naturally, but it will take time—years, maybe decades. The Master won't be able to use this nexus anymore, but he'll know it's gone. That makes us his next target."
"Fantastic," Corin muttered, sitting up and rubbing the back of his neck. "Just what I needed—another reason for a homicidal maniac to hate us."
Kael ignored him, focusing on Thane. "How long do we have before he reacts?"
"Not long," Thane said. "He likely felt the nexus collapse as soon as we destroyed it. He'll send scouts or worse to confirm what happened. We need to be gone before they arrive."
Kael nodded, his mind already racing. They had bought themselves time, but not much. The Master's forces were relentless, and without the nexus, their next move would need to be even more precise.
"We should head back to Ironholt," Marra said. "Regroup, resupply, and figure out our next step."
"Ironholt might not be safe," Leena countered. "If the Master sends anything after us, he might target the town."
"Then we warn them," Kael said firmly. "We're not leaving them defenseless."
---
The journey back to Ironholt was grueling.
Without the constant hum of the nexus's energy, the Emberwild felt like a different place. The once-vibrant veins of molten rock were now dull and lifeless, their heat fading with every step the group took. The oppressive atmosphere had lifted, but the eerie silence that remained was almost worse. Every shadow seemed to stretch too far, every distant noise too sharp.
Kael walked at the front of the group, his spear acting as a walking stick as much as a weapon. His mana reserves were still empty, and his body felt like it was made of lead, but he forced himself to keep moving. There was no room for weakness—not now.
Behind him, Leena was quiet, her focus on the path ahead. Marra occasionally glanced over her shoulder, her bow in hand as she scanned for any signs of pursuit. Corin, despite his usual bravado, walked with a noticeable limp, his daggers sheathed. Thane brought up the rear, his staff glowing faintly as he muttered incantations under his breath.
"Do you think the Master has other nexuses?" Marra asked after a long stretch of silence.
Thane nodded without hesitation. "Yes. The Emberwild is one of many leyline convergence points in this region alone. If he's been operating for as long as we think, he'll have others mapped—and possibly under his control."
"That's comforting," Corin said dryly. "So, what, we go nexus-hopping until he runs out of them?"
"Not exactly," Thane replied. "The Master's goal isn't just to control the nexuses—it's to weaponize them. Each one he activates destabilizes the surrounding region. If we can cut off his access to enough of them, his plans will fall apart."
"And if we don't?" Leena asked.
Thane's silence was answer enough.
---
When the jagged cliffs of the Emberwild gave way to the rolling hills outside Ironholt, the group felt their first sense of relief. The town's familiar silhouette appeared on the horizon, its sturdy walls standing against the fading light of the day. Kael allowed himself a small sigh of relief—this was home, or as close to it as he'd had since arriving in this world.
The relief was short-lived.
As they approached the gates, the faint sound of shouting reached their ears. Smoke rose from within the walls, faint but unmistakable. Kael's heart sank.
"They're under attack," Marra said, her voice low but urgent.
Kael broke into a run, his exhaustion forgotten as adrenaline surged through him. The others followed, their weapons drawn as they approached the gates.
---
The scene inside Ironholt was chaos.
A group of mercenaries in black armor was tearing through the marketplace, their swords gleaming in the fading light. Fires raged in several buildings, and terrified townsfolk ran in every direction, trying to avoid the carnage.
Kael didn't hesitate. He raised his spear and charged, his body moving on instinct as he thrust the weapon into the nearest mercenary. The man let out a strangled cry before collapsing, his blade falling from his hands.
The others joined the fray, their exhaustion forgotten in the heat of battle. Marra's arrows flew with deadly precision, each one finding its mark. Corin darted between the mercenaries, his daggers flashing as he struck from the shadows. Leena fought with a ferocity that belied her injuries, her glowing sword cutting through the enemy ranks like a beacon.
Thane stood at the center of the group, his staff glowing brightly as he unleashed wave after wave of icy magic. The flames that had engulfed the marketplace began to die down, the cold snuffing them out as quickly as they had started.
Kael turned to the nearest townsfolk, a young woman clutching a crying child. "Get to the town hall!" he shouted. "It's safer there! Go!"
She nodded, her face pale with fear, and hurried away. Kael turned back to the battle, his spear raised as he joined the others.
---
The fight was brutal, but the group's experience and teamwork turned the tide. One by one, the mercenaries fell, their black armor clattering to the ground as they were overwhelmed. When the last enemy dropped, the town square fell silent once more, save for the crackling of dying flames.
Kael wiped the sweat from his brow, his chest heaving as he looked around. The marketplace was in ruins, but most of the townsfolk had escaped unharmed. He turned to the others, their faces etched with exhaustion.
"Who were they?" Marra asked, nudging one of the mercenaries with her foot. "They don't look like bandits."
"They're not," Thane said, kneeling beside one of the bodies. He pulled back the man's cloak, revealing a black emblem etched into his armor—a jagged, crimson sigil. "They're the Master's scouts."
Kael's stomach turned. "He sent them here already."
Thane nodded grimly. "He knows what we did. And he's not going to stop."
Kael looked out over the ruined marketplace, his grip tightening on his spear. The destruction was a stark reminder of what they were up against—and what was at stake.
"The battle for the Emberwild is over," he said, his voice steady despite the weight in his chest. "But the war for Ironholt is just beginning."
The others nodded, their exhaustion tempered by the fire in their eyes. The fight ahead would push them to their limits, but they had no intention of backing down. The Master was coming, and they would be ready.