The night before the tournament, Ziraiah leaned against the cold stone wall, her heart pounding in her chest. She had been exploring the town, soaking in the culture of Mystvir, when the voices had stopped her in her tracks. Hidden in the shadows, she peeked around the corner and spotted the Velphraxis leader and his companions standing near an open warehouse.
"They're not ready yet," the leader growled, his golden eyes flashing. "The experiment failed before, but this time we'll succeed. The cleansing will begin tomorrow, and the Earthers will be the first to go."
Ziraiah's breath hitched, her hands clenching into fists. She pressed herself further into the shadows, her green eyes wide with terror.
Another Velphraxis chuckled darkly. "What about the ones we've already captured?"
"They'll be dealt with," the leader replied. "Either sold or disposed of. The failure three hundred years ago won't happen again. This time, we'll ensure complete compliance."
Ziraiah didn't need to hear more. Her body trembled with fear and fury as she turned and bolted, her heart racing. She sprinted through the winding streets of Mystvir, her thoughts a whirlwind of panic.
---
The inn's door burst open, slamming against the wall. Valerius and Eryndor, seated near the fireplace, jumped to their feet as Ziraiah barreled in, panting heavily.
"We have to leave now!" she cried, her voice trembling with urgency.
Valerius frowned, stepping forward. "What happened, Ziraiah? What's going on?"
Ziraiah gasped for air, clutching her sides. "The Velphraxis… they're planning something. They called it a cleansing. Tomorrow, during the tournament, they're going to wipe out the Earthers!"
Eryndor's green eyes narrowed, his towering frame tense. "Are you certain?"
"I heard them talking," Ziraiah said, her voice frantic. "They mentioned experiments. Earthers being sold—or killed. We can't stay here!"
Valerius clenched his fists, his green eyes blazing with anger. "Then we're not staying. We're finding out what's going on and stopping it."
Eryndor nodded. "If Ziraiah is right, we need proof. Without it, we're just running blind."
---
The siblings moved quickly under the cover of darkness, guided by Ziraiah's account of the warehouse. The air was heavy with tension as they approached the looming structure, its rune-inscribed walls glowing faintly.
They slipped inside through a side entrance, the shadows concealing their movements. The interior was dimly lit, the faint hum of magic resonating through the air. Rows of cells lined the walls, each one holding an Earther. The siblings froze at the sight.
"This is worse than I thought," Ziraiah whispered, her voice trembling.
Valerius approached a desk piled high with papers, his hands shaking as he rifled through them. "Earther Experimentation Project," he read aloud. "Three hundred years ago… complete failure…"
Eryndor's calm voice broke through the silence. "Here." He held up a document. "Subjects unfit for compliance to be terminated."
Ziraiah's eyes filled with tears. "They're treating us like animals…"
Footsteps echoed down the hall. The siblings turned to see the Velphraxis leader and a group of his soldiers blocking their escape.
"Well, well," the leader said, his golden eyes gleaming with malice. "What do we have here? Meddlesome little children."
Valerius stepped forward, his fists clenched. "Let them go!"
The leader chuckled, his sharp teeth glinting in the dim light. "And why would I do that?"
A familiar voice interrupted. "Because they're with me."
Kaelan emerged from the shadows, his green eyes sharp and unwavering. He stood between the siblings and the Velphraxis, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
The Velphraxis leader sneered. "Oh, Kaelan. You elves never mind your own business, do you?"
Kaelan's expression darkened, irritation flashing across his face. "How many times must I tell you?" he said, drawing his sword in one fluid motion. "I'm not an elf."
---
The air crackled with tension as Kaelan charged forward, his sword glowing with runic power. The first Velphraxis lunged at him, claws extended, but Kaelan sidestepped effortlessly, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision.
The leader snarled, matching Kaelan's speed as they clashed. Sparks flew as their weapons collided, the sound of metal ringing through the chamber.
"You've always been fast, Kaelan," the leader growled. "But speed won't save you this time."
Kaelan smirked. "We'll see about that."
The siblings watched in awe as Kaelan fought with a mix of elegance and ferocity. His movements were a blur, each strike calculated to push his enemies back. The Velphraxis were fast—almost as fast as Kaelan—but his precision gave him the upper hand.
"Run!" Kaelan shouted over his shoulder. "Now!"
Eryndor hesitated, his fists clenching. "We can't leave you—"
"Go!" Kaelan barked, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Reluctantly, the siblings turned and ran, their footsteps echoing through the corridors.
---
Outside, the battle escalated. Kaelan's sword glowed brightly as he fought off the Velphraxis, their claws raking against his blade. The leader's strikes grew more aggressive, pushing Kaelan to his limits.
But as the fight raged on, the runes on Kaelan's sword began to flicker. The glow dimmed, and the blade lost its magical aura.
Kaelan cursed under his breath, tossing the now-ordinary sword aside. He turned and bolted, his speed instantly reaching 100 meters per second.
The Velphraxis gave chase, their agility matching his as they leaped off walls and rooftops with stunning acrobatics. Kaelan's smirk returned as he glanced over his shoulder. "Not bad. Let's see how long you can keep up."
Despite their speed, the Velphraxis began to falter. Kaelan's endurance outmatched theirs, and one by one, they slowed, their breaths labored.
---
Kaelan caught up to Eryndor and Ziraiah, who were struggling to navigate the narrow streets. Without breaking stride, he scooped Ziraiah onto his shoulder and grabbed Eryndor under his arm.
"You're too slow," he said with a smirk.
Before they could protest, Kaelan bolted again, his acceleration so sudden that it created a powerful gust of wind. Ziraiah lost consciousness from the sheer force, while Eryndor struggled to stay alert, his vision swimming.
Kaelan raced through the forest beyond Mystvir, his speed unmatched as he put as much distance as possible between them and the Velphraxis.
---
When he finally stopped, Kaelan set Ziraiah down gently and released Eryndor, who stumbled as he tried to regain his balance.
Eryndor blinked, his head clearing as he took in their surroundings. "Where's Valerius?"
Kaelan froze, his green eyes scanning the darkness.
"Damn it," he muttered, his voice laced with frustration.
---
To be continued...