12 years ago, the sky over Thundra had been a deep, ominous gray. The air crackled with tension as dark clouds swirled ominously overhead.
Kealith stood at the forefront of the battlefield, his heart pounding in his chest.
The ground trembled beneath him as demons poured forth from the rifts that had opened in the sky, their grotesque forms a stark contrast against the once peaceful landscape.
"There's too many of them!" Kealith shouted to his comrades, his voice barely rising above the chaos.
The sounds of clashing steel and anguished screams filled the air.
He gripped his staff tightly, feeling the familiar surge of magic coursing through him.
With a deep breath, he focused, calling upon his powers.
"Flamma Ignis, adducere mortem!" he cried, unleashing a wave of fire that engulfed the nearest demons, their shrieks piercing the air as they were consumed by the flames.
But for every demon he vanquished, two more took its place. The tide of darkness was relentless.
As he fought, Kealith's mind raced. What's my strategy? He could feel the weight of responsibility pressing down on him.
Every decision mattered, and the lives of his friends were at stake. He glanced around, assessing the battlefield.
His team was scattered, fighting valiantly but struggling to hold their ground.
Suddenly, a heart-wrenching scream cut through the noise, sending a chill down Kealith's spine.
"Mira!" he yelled, recognizing the voice of his teammate. Without hesitation, he dashed toward the sound, casting spells to shield himself from the oncoming horde.
"Protego Maxima!" he shouted, a barrier forming around him as he raced to where Mira lay, surrounded by demons.
He unleashed another spell, pushing back the creatures that threatened her.
"Mira! Stay with me! Don't die!" he urged, kneeling beside her. She was hurt, blood oozing from a wound on her side.
Panic surged through him as he laid his hands over her injury, summoning his healing magic.
"Sanare!" he commanded, a warm glow enveloping his hands as he tried to mend her wounds.
But the magic wasn't enough. Mira's eyes fluttered, filled with pain and fear. "
"Kealith, I… I can't…" she whispered, her voice fading. In that moment, his heart shattered.
"Mira, no!" he cried, wrapping his arms around her as her body went limp.
The battle raged on around him, but in that instant, all was still. "Please, stay with me, I love you, please" he pleaded, tears streaming down his face.
But it was too late. She was gone.
With shaking hands, Kealith stood up, his heart heavy with sorrow.
"I will protect you," he vowed, casting a spell to shield her soulless body from the darkness that surrounded them. "Custodia," he murmured, a protective barrier forming around her still form.
As the battle raged on, Kealith fought with renewed determination, but the demons suddenly began to retreat.
Kealith relieved as was exhausted, he gripped his sides in pain as he gasps for air, confusion washing over him.
"What just happened?" He looked around at the battlefield, his heart sinking as he searched for his allies.
His eyes fell upon the bodies of his teammates, lifeless on the ground. Despair overwhelmed him.
"No, no, no!" he cried, rushing to them, desperately casting healing spells. "Sanare! Sanare!" But his magic met only silence.
Then he spotted Kendrick, still breathing but weak on the ground. Relief flooded through him as he rushed over.
"Kendrick!" he exclaimed, kneeling beside him. He placed his hands over Kendrick's wounds, pouring every ounce of his remaining magic into the healing spell. "Please, hold on!"
The warmth of his magic enveloped Kendrick, and after a moment, his eyes fluttered open. "Kealith…" he gasped, his voice strained but alive.
Kealith shook his head as he wandered through the woods, those memories still fresh and painful as if it were yesterday.
The merchant he had approached earlier had given him vague directions about where Kendrick might be.
Now, doubt crept into his mind. What if he was just a scam—no that can't be.
"Well this is just tiring" Kealith sighed in frustration, "Come on Kendrick where are you."
As he kicked at the underbrush, frustration bubbled within him.
He sighed as he thought back to the castle and the summons that had brought him to this moment.
He had entered the grand throne room, the air thick with the scent of polished wood and the flickering light of candles.
The King and Queen stood before him, their expressions grave yet grateful.
"Kealith," the King had said, his voice resonating with authority. "Your guild has protected our kingdom in its darkest hour. We owe you our deepest gratitude."
The Queen nodded, her gaze warm but serious. "For your bravery, we wish to reward you." She gestured to a bag at her side.
"We apologies we could not reward you years ago, since we were still rebuilding our kingdom as you know" the King blunted.
Curiosity piqued, Kealith approached. When he opened the bag, his eyes widened.
It was filled with gold—900,000 pieces!
"I can't accept this," he protested, feeling the weight of the treasure in his hands.
"Nonsense," the King replied firmly. "You and your guild deserve every bit of this. It is a token of our appreciation."
Despite his protests, the majesties had insisted, and he left the castle with the heavy bag, pondering how to spend such a fortune.
What do I do with all this gold? he wondered.
But with only Kendrick alive from their guild, the gold felt more like a burden than a blessing.
He had stored it safely in his magic room, a secret place only he could access.
Determined to find Kendrick, he had ventured out, asking anyone he met about his friend until he stumbled upon that merchant.
Kealith then kicked a rock in anger, "I SWEAR IF THAT GUY LIED TO ME ILL END HIM," he shouted.
He then continued stomped his foot on the ground in frustration, kicking at the rocks and leaves.
That's when he heard it—voices! He froze, straining to listen. The sounds were distant but distinct.
"Sonus Revelatio, vestigia audibilia!" he murmured.
The air shimmered as sound waves appeared, glowing faintly as they rippled through the forest.
He followed them cautiously, excitement building within him.
He soon found himself crouching behind a large tree, scanning the area. He raised his staff again, casting another spell.
"Visus Acuitas, oculis claritatem da!" His eyesight sharpened, and he spotted three figures in the clearing ahead.
A muscular man, perhaps in his late thirties, stood near two girls. His heart raced. "Kendrick?" he whispered to himself.
One of the girls—a smaller one—ran off into the trees, leaving Kendrick with the other.
He focused on the girl in Kendrick's arms.
As he got a clear vision of her, he noticed her ears.
"Pointed? An elf? But that's impossible"! He thought.
He watched as Kendrick carried the girl inside a nearby cabin, his mind swirling with questions.
Leaning back against the tree, he smirked softly. "An elf? Intriguing."
As Kendrick emerged from the cabin, their eyes locked, and Kendrick felt a surge of relief and confusion wash over him.
The past, with all its pain and loss, collided with the present in that moment.
"Long time no see Kendrick I hope you were doing well" Kealith said.