Kael stood at the edge of the clearing, his sword gleaming under the moonlight. His clothes were torn, his face streaked with dirt and blood, but his stance was unwavering.
Alina's heart leaped at the sight of him, but she had no time to process relief.
The robed man turned, his expression shifting from amusement to mild annoyance. "Persistent, aren't you?"
Kael smirked, though there was no humor in his eyes. "You'll find I'm hard to kill."
The woman still had a tight grip on Alina's wrist. She hesitated for a fraction of a second—long enough.
Kael moved.
In an instant, he closed the distance, his sword slicing through the air. The woman released Alina just in time to avoid a fatal blow, jumping back with startling speed. The other two figures reacted as well—one drawing a dagger, the other lifting a hand as if readying another unseen force.
Alina scrambled to her feet, her heart racing.
Kael lunged again, forcing the man with the dagger to block frantically. Steel clashed against steel, sparks flying as Kael pushed his opponent back.
The robed woman recovered quickly, her gaze locking onto Alina. "Stay down," she hissed, raising a hand.
Alina barely had time to react before an invisible force slammed into her chest, sending her sprawling to the ground once more.
Pain shot through her back, but she gritted her teeth. She couldn't just be a bystander—not again.
Her fingers tightened around the parchment. They wanted this, *needed* it.
Which meant she couldn't let them have it.
As Kael fought off the dagger-wielding figure, the robed woman turned toward Alina once more, her eyes glinting with something unnatural.
But before she could strike again, Kael's voice cut through the night.
"Alina, *run!*"
Alina hesitated for only a second—then she turned and bolted.
She didn't look back.
She knew Kael would hold them off for as long as he could.
But she also knew he couldn't do it forever.
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