Darin crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. "Alright, we need a plan. Here's what we'll do. Amara, you'll stay on scout duty. Use your binoculars to keep an eye out for any approaching moths. Leon, you'll stay with her as backup in case anything happens."
Amara nodded, already pulling her binoculars from her pack. "Got it. I'll set up somewhere with a clear view of the shard deposits."
Darin continued, "Meanwhile, I'll stay with the miners and make sure they're protected. Most of them are already gathered near the camp, but we're waiting on more transportation to get the injured out of here. If the moths return before they're evacuated, I'll hold them off."
Leon considered the plan and gave a sharp nod. "Makes sense. We'll cover the approach while you handle the miners."
Amara adjusted the straps on her pack, glancing at the two of them. "If anything happens, we'll signal each other through our Essentia Bands."
Darin gave them both a confident grin. "Good. Let's stick to the plan and make sure no one gets hurt."
With the plan settled, the three moved quickly to their positions,
...
To pass the time, Amara glanced at Leon and decided to break the silence. "So, tell me about yourself. Where are you from?"
Leon hesitated for a moment, his gaze lingering on the crystalline formations in the distance before replying. "I'm from the Tharvyn family of Karyth City."
Amara's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "The Tharvyn family? As in the one that recently produced the new genius, Selina Tharvyn?"
Leon raised his brows, equally surprised. "You know her?"
Amara let out a small chuckle. "Of course I do, who doesn't? It's all anyone talked about during the first week of the academy. They said she got the attention of an elder almost immediately and was taken directly under their tutelage." She leaned in slightly, her curiosity piqued. "Hey, tell me—rumor has it she possesses a mutated version of the White Dragon Aspect. Is that true?"
Leon nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, it's true."
Amara clicked her tongue, shaking her head with a hint of envy. "Some people are truly born with wings."
Leon leaned back slightly and asked, "What about you?"
Amara paused, her expression softening for a moment. "I'm from outside Karyth City, from a city far away. My father sent me here to the academy to learn."
She seemed ready to say more, but suddenly her eyes narrowed as she lifted her binoculars. "Hold on a minute," she said, her tone sharpening. "I think I see something."
Leon straightened, his muscles tensing. "What is it?"
Amara kept her gaze locked on the distance, her brow furrowing. "It's a moth… It's heading this way."
She lowered the binoculars and turned to Leon, her voice urgent. "Get ready. It's coming fast."
Leon's gaze followed her direction as he stepped forward, his body already on high alert. His hand brushed the hilt of his sword as he moved toward the area where the moth was expected to approach. He positioned himself to stand guard, his senses sharpening as he prepared for whatever came next.
Leon's ears perked as a faint buzzing sound reached him. His gaze darted to the horizon, narrowing as he squinted to make out the source. In the distance, a glowing figure with fluttering crystalline wings approached, its light refracting faintly against the surrounding terrain. The sight of the Luminescent Moth sent a ripple of tension through him.
Before he could act, a voice crackled through his Essentia Band. It was Amara. "Leon, watch out for its acid spit. Even with our protective gear, too much exposure can corrode it, leaving you wide open."
Leon's grip on his sword tightened. 'Acid spit? That's going to make this tricky.' He shook off the thought, steadied his breath, and broke into a dash toward the moth. Each step kicked up small clouds of dust as he closed the distance, his blade gleaming faintly with Essentia.
The moth seemed to notice his approach, its wings flaring as it hovered in place. Suddenly, it emitted a high-pitched screech, the sound vibrating through the air and striking Leon like an invisible force. He winced, his balance faltering briefly, but quickly steadied himself. 'That's not going to stop me,' he thought, gritting his teeth.
With a burst of speed, Leon swung his sword in a clean arc, the blade slicing through the air toward the moth. But just before the strike landed, the moth darted sideways with surprising agility, its glowing wings leaving faint trails of light in its wake.
Leon skidded to a halt, quickly repositioning himself for another attack. His eyes remained locked on the creature, his mind already calculating his next move.