The air was heavy, the only thing that could be heard was Calypsius's labored breathing and the rustling of the wind against the leaves. The glowing blade in his hand flickered with a golden glow, its energy dimming as though it was exhausted also. The surrounding area around him showing evidence of the intense battle that just took place.
He turned to Ellara who was fully awake now, her body trembling as she tried to push herself upright. Her eyes where locked on the sigils glowing faintly along his body, her expression was unreadable. "You… what happened?" She said faintly.
Calypsius kept quiet try to think of a suitable answer, but nothing came to mind. What could he say? That he made a pact with a being he didn't understand? That he had felt his soul reshaped, bound to something far beyond his comprehension?
"I don't know" he finally spoke out, his voice hoarse. "I—Valenyr—that was what he called himself, he gave me power."
Ellara filled with confusion. "Valenyr?" She repeated. Her voice was low, almost reverent. "That name hasn't been spoken in centuries."
Calypsius frowned, lowering his blade. "You know him?"
"Only in elven legends" Ellara replied, her gaze distant. "He was said to be the guardian of balance, a force that intervenes only when chaos threatens to consume everything. But no one's seen or heard of him since the First War."
Calypsius's grip on the blade tightened as he thought to himself. A force that intervenes when chaos rises? Then why now? Why me?
Before he could press for more answers, he heard faint rustle of leaves. He turned sharply, the blade in his hand springing to life. "We're not alone," he murmured.
Ellara tensed, her hand twitching toward her side where her dagger should have been. "Is it the sentinels?" she asked, her voice carrying a little hope.
No." Calypsius stepped forward, his eyes scanning through the shadows. The sigils along his arms glowed faintly, and to his surprise, he could feel something—an almost imperceptible ripple in the air. Movement. His senses had become extremely sharp for some reason.
The sensation was foreign yet instinctive, like a second sense awakened by the covenant. He raised his blade as three figures emerged from the shadows.
They were dressed in all black as if to blend with the darkness, their faces hidden in shadow. But their presence was unmistakably hostile. One of them stepped forward, the glint of a curved dagger catching the moonlight. "The bearer of the blade," the figure hissed. Its voice was raspy, inhuman. "Surrender it."
Calypsius's heart pounded. "Who are you?" He asked.
The figure didn't answer. Instead, it raised a hand, and dark energy began to dance around its fingers. The two others spread out, their movements eerily smooth, like predators circling prey.
Ellara pushed herself to her feet, though her legs wobbled beneath her due to her lack of strength. "We can't fight them, not like this," she muttered. "Not after—"
"We don't have a choice," Calypsius interrupted. The blade in his hand hummed, its light intensifying as the figures closed in. "Stay behind me." He shouted grasping hold unto the blade more intently.
The first figure lunged towards Calypsius, its dagger slicing through the air with unnatural speed. Calypsius barely had time to react, but the blade in his hand moved almost on its own, parrying the strike at the right time with a burst of golden light. The force of the clash sent the figure stumbling back.
The other two attacked simultaneously. One hurled a blast of dark energy towards Calypsius, while the other darted toward Ellara. Calypsius pivoted, his blade carving through the air and deflecting the projectile. With his free hand, he grabbed a rock and hurled it at the second figure, forcing it to veer off course before it could reach her.
Are you okay?" he called over his shoulder.
Ellara nodded, though her face was pale. "I'm fine. Just… focus don't get yourself killed."
The three figures regrouped, their voices muttering in a language Calypsius couldn't understand. He could feel their frustration, their growing desperation. They hadn't expected resistance, especially not from him.
"Who sent you?" he demanded, his voice more intense than ever. "What do you want?"
"The blade does not belong to you," one of the figures snarled. "Surrender it, or face the wrath of the Shrouded Court."
"The Shrouded Court?" Ellara echoed, her eyes widening. "They've been hunting artifacts of power for decades. If they know about Valenyr—"
"They'll never stop coming," Calypsius finished grimly. He raised his blade, its light blazing once more. "Then let's make sure they remember this night."
The figures hesitated, and for a moment, Calypsius thought they might retreat. But then, with a guttural cry, they charged as one.
The clearing erupted into chaos once again. Calypsius moved instinctively, his blade flashing as he parried and struck. Each swing felt guided, precise, as though Valenyr himself fought and not him. The sigils on his arms flared brighter with every clash, their power fueling him.
Ellara, though weakened, managed to hold her ground. She retrieved her dagger from the ground and struck at one of the figures, her movements swift despite her injuries. Together, they fought like a single, desperate unit.
Finally, Calypsius landed a decisive blow. His blade sliced through one of the attackers, the golden energy burning away their form until nothing remained. The other two hissed, their confidence obviously wavering.
"You're next," Calypsius growled, advancing on them. The remaining figures exchanged a quick glance, then suddenly melted into the shadows, their forms dissipating like smoke, as if to say they were no match for him.
Silence fell once more.
Calypsius lowered his blade, his chest heaving. The glow of the sigils dimmed, and the weight of exhaustion slammed into him all at once. He stumbled, but Ellara caught him before he could fall.
"You did it," she said softly. "You saved us… you saved us all."
Calypsius shook his head. "This looks like it's just the beginning."
Ellara didn't argue. Instead, she helped him to his feet, her gaze lingering on the fading light of the sigils. "We need to move. If the Shrouded Court knows about Valenyr, they won't stop until they get what they want."
Calypsius nodded, his grip tightening on the blade. He didn't know what lay ahead, but one thing was clear: the battle with the Elganth was only the first of many.
And he wasn't sure he'd survive the next one.