The cry of the dryads was a noise which interlaced with the alarm arrows that numerous hunters fired off, while the noise of people as they panicked and screamed desperately tried to be heard over the chaos. From the north wall both Eran and I could clearly see a surge of citizens as they ran away from the south-western part of the town, which was where the warehouses were located.

Before I could even react Eran had already bolted to the ladder and begun a quick descent, his haste so severe his hands slipped on a few of the rungs and almost sent him down far faster than he'd want. "Where are you going?" I called out to him, while leaning over the edge.

"My family!" he responded, before he hit the ground and started to run immediately. He headed off to the south-east, in what I could only assume was the direction of his house.

Eran was not a legionnaire, the only reason he and the other hunters had even helped was due to necessity. With the invasion of the dryads it made sense that he would want to run to his family, to protect them, and so when he took off I held no distinct hatred for him. If anything I hoped that everything would turn out fine for Eran, he had been helpful and a fun fellow to talk with.

So I was left with only one course of action, which was to turn to the south and prepare for battle. If the dryads had used a smuggling tunnel to get into town it meant that the hunters and their bows would be far less useful. I lowered my body down into a slight crouch, while the power gathered in my legs and I focused southward.

The leap that I utilized was far longer, stronger and more impressive than the one which I had used against the dryad previously. The top of the north wall crumbled from the backlash, while the point of impact when I landed broke instantly. Stones which had been paved into the ground of the street could only disintegrate when my feet touched down, and then I leapt off again.

It took four long jumps to reach the center of the chaos, and when I landed on top of a roof the wood splintered hard and left one of my feet lodged in it. Below on the streets the people had mostly run away, the only ones still present were legionnaires who were in the midst of trying to buy time for the evacuating civilians.

The streets were thin, wide enough for two people to stand side by side at best. Below me and to the left were two legionnaires who stood with swords drawn, shields raised up defensively. Down the path and to my right three dryads slowly marched through the street with that odd cry of theirs ringing out.

From my place on the roof the sound of other dryads crying easily reached my ears, making it obvious that there were far more than the three visible to me. So obvious that it sent a chill down my spine, there was no way that the town could handle more than one or maybe two dryads at once.

Unlike previously the dryads this time showed no interest in playing the cautious game, when I blinked two of the three had already swept up the path and attacked the legionnaires. Their arms slammed down hard on top of the uplifted shields and drove the two men to the ground through sheer brute strength.

The third dryad drove in faster than either of the legionnaires could follow, it stepped past its own allies and then swung up the arms to the outside. Each arm struck a legionnaire in the head and sent him flying away, both men smashed into the walls with enough force to leave imprints. It was fast enough that neither man was able to call out in shock, all they could do was collapse onto the ground.

Out of the three dryad I opted for the one who had last struck the legionnaires to be my target, and when I leapt up into the air with spear in hand my eyes were locked onto that dryad. When I landed it was on top of the dryad, a move that caught all three by surprise given how none of them made any hostile move toward me.

The spear was uplifted and then driven down hard into the top of the dryads head, angled so that it would become like a second spine to the monster. The blade dug in deep, and when it started to show resistance I redoubled my efforts and shoved in even harder. A tingle of warning as my instincts cried out, and I lifted my body upward on top of the spear itself, while one of the other dryad's arm swung where my ankles had moments ago been.

With the added weight of my full body the spear sank deep enough into the dryad, a careful shift of my center of gravity and I forced the creature to topple forward. When my feet touched down onto the actual paved ground I tore the spear free from the dryad, then looked to the other two. The first was fast enough that it almost crushed my head, a quick swing of both arms which resembled someone clapping their hands together.

A duck was the only way to avoid that attack, and when the arms slammed together where my head had been the noise of it was deafening. My right eye half-closed as I winced from the pain and noise, but I barreled through the discomfort and lunged at the dryad with the spear extended. The weapon sank straight into and through the torso, and I released the shaft of the Shatterblade and stepped back.

"Starburst!" I exclaimed while lifting my right hand up and snapping my fingers. My mind was focused on a single image, what I wanted from the Shatterblade.

The shaft of the spear slipped into the center of the dryad while the blade on the other side did the same, all of the metal of the Shatterblade focused into a sphere within the confines of the dryad itself. From that sphere two foot long blades shot out in all directions, similar to a porcupine, before the sphere rotated rapidly in place. The dryad that the Shatterblade was housed inside could only make an odd gurgling noise before it collapsed to the ground.

The final dryad present could only look at what had happened with those odd hollowed out eyeholes, before it gazed at me and let out a long, melodic tune. It lunged at me before I could even snap my fingers to recall the Shatterblade, heavy wooden arm swung into my face with enough force to send me staggering backward. A hint of blood came into my mouth, yet before I could even respond to that the dryad had already hammered my back from behind.

If it had been the previous year I would have died at that moment, the power of the blow enough to send me off the ground and flying for a good five feet. When I hit the ground the momentum sent me in a tumble across the paved ground, before I collided with a stone wall that belonged to a house. The wall proved useful as I relied on it to help keep my balance while I stood up, and then immediately swayed to the left when a flicker of movement crossed my peripheral vision.

The stump that could only be called the end of the dryads arm slammed hard into the wall, cracks formed instantly due to the power of the blow. The dryad had removed me from the vicinity of the Shatterblade and so I was forced to fight with my hands, a strong punch was directed at the stomach area. My own hit landed, yet it seemed to hurt me more due to how hard the shell of the dryad was.

Both arms of the dryad lifted up, a sloppy and easily read movement, and so I cartwheeled to the left alongside the wall. The dryad hammered the ground, causing fractures and sending a few shards of rock up in all directions. Right hand lifted to ward against any stray rocks, I studied the dryad in search of some type of weakness.

The creature did that faster than can be followed movement, once more it stood in front of me and was already mid-swing by the time I finished blinking. The blow came from the left, and my arm was barely able to stop it from smashing my face in. Once more I staggered from the impact, the dryad already prepared to attack by the time I refocused entirely on it.

With a quick back step I avoided the next arm swing, while the dryad was forced to spend a few moments recovering from the failure to connect. It was a bad situation, if I ran for the Shatterblade the dryad would be on me long before reaching the weapon. Any attempt at retreating would be met with the same type of fate, and sitting around to fight it head on seemed to be a lesson in futility.

There was only one choice, and it was one that might have side effects according to Alise. A deep inhalation of air, and I lifted my hands up to about chest height. The hands curled into fists, and I stared at the dryad with as much focus as possible. A deep intake of air, a slow exhalation, a deep intake of air, a slow exhalation. Again and again this happened and with each breath the world slowed more and more, the sounds quieted down and all I could see was that monster in front of me.

It is almost like reaching into your chest and ripping your heart out, the level of discomfort and the sensation of pain was enough to nearly disrupt my concentration. The air near me began to cool, as though a small cold front had swept into the town. The dryad which had been so aggressive moments before stopped in it's tracks, and then tilted the head to stare at me.

A moment too long it waited, as a few seconds later the sensation of a biting cold coursed over the dryad. The jungle based creature was shocked by the rapid change in temperature, and then the feeling of the cold itself gnawing at the exterior and even interior of the body caused it to go into a panic. It flailed, and then started to back away from me while it emitted an odd quiet noise which pulsated at random.

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When I lunged forward at the dryad the aftereffects of my movement caused the nearby building to almost explode away, while the ground itself was ruptured and sent stones hurtling at an alarming speed. My right fist swung forward at the dryad, there was nothing unique looking about the attack as for all intents and purposes it was a simple punch.

The impact slammed into the dryad, and my hand was shoved into the interior of the monster. Before it could pull away from what I had done I swung my right arm upward, and then out away from the body. The entire front side of the dryad was torn apart and exposed, and the creature was sent falling to the ground lifelessly.

All three of the dryads had died, and it was a moment when I should have cried out in joy for my victory. Instead I screamed in pain as my mangled right hand, arm and shoulder went limp at my side. Blood seeped out from where the bones had jutted out from the flesh, and for the first time in a while I fell to my knees and shed tears simply due to severe pain.

It makes sense when thinking back on the attack, what I had done was something above my capabilities. Like my mother, Alise, my father and so many other hardened and powerful veterans I had drawn on my soul. Presence it was called, and using it you could boost your abilities significantly or even create an aura that was supernatural.

The first time I had ever done it was in that fight, I had played around with Presence before but it was something for a warrior beyond my current standing. While I almost crawled over to where the Shatterblade laid embedded inside a dead dryad I had plenty of time to think about the backlash. What would have happened if I did not have Taryn's blessing? It was a chilling thought, and one I chose not to dwell on for more than two seconds.

Instead of reverting the Shatterblade into the dormant form I brought it once more into a spear form, before I struggled back up to my feet. Even my legs and feet hurt, most likely a fracture was in the left while a few of the muscles in both were torn. The spear became more of a crutch than a weapon while I tried to stagger through the town, heading in the direction of the fighting.

What I came across after five minutes of hobbled walking was the sight of Rudicus and two of the local legionnaires as they fought against one dryad, spears extended in front of them. The usage of the spears had been chosen based on my success at the north gate, versus the hard time they had at the south gate with swords and axes.

The legionnaires held a defensive position in the middle of a small plaza, a group of injured townsfolk placed behind them. Some were so severely injured that they would likely not walk for months, and a few of the townsfolk were even attempting first aid to help the ones who still bled from numerous wounds caused by the dryad assault.

Rudicus looked a bit funny as he tried valiantly to lash out at the dryad with his one good arm, while the other legionnaires tried to back him up with their own attacks. The dryad's hollow eyes stared at the three defenders, the movements fast as it knocked aside the weak thrusts from the legionnaires. With each failed impalement the dryad stepped closer, an ever approaching doom that would overwhelm Rudicus easily.

The distance was great, and my overall strength was still weakened, but I had no choice as the death of General Rudicus would devastate the defenders. With all the power I could muster the spear in my left hand was sent flying at the dryad, at an angle that was within it's blindspot. The weapon pierced into the left shoulder of the dryad, although it only buried in a few inches.

It was enough of an impact that the dryad turned and glared toward my direction, and then chortled out in that weird style of speaking they all utilized. The right arm of the dryad went toward the shoulder, and little tendrils emerged from the arm and pulled free the weapon. Once more it made that chortling noise, something that reminded me of laughter, and then the voice of the dryad became a high pitched scream.

The noise was such that even the citizens who stood behind the legionnaires held their hands to their ears, while Rudicus could only wince and suffer through it as he had no free hand with which to shield out the noise. The other two legionnaires with him temporarily dropped their weapons, demonstrating how poorly disciplined they were as they covered both of their ears with their hands.

"Liliana!" Rudicus bellowed out toward me, as he motioned for me to join up with him.

It was a nice idea, though it was one that would have to wait as I could barely walk without the spear. The spear which was now in the tentacles, tendrils or whatever of the dryad. It was a move that had seemed smart initially, but as I stared at the far off Shatterblade the stupidity of it sank home.

Of course it would have been a different matter if I had been close to the Shatterblade, but with enough distance between myself and the weapon and my ability to manipulate it was lost. It was the main reason I rarely utilized a throwing weapon with the Shatterblade, as I could potentially lose it.

A tingle ran down my spine, one that sent a bolt of fear into me and caused me to look around in a slight panic. My gaze swept over the area, yet all I could see was that single dryad as he grasped my Shatterblade. Even Rudicus seemed to have felt the tingle, his own eyes darted left and right rapidly, though he never gave up on paying attention to the nearby dryad. It was a familiar sensation, yet it was an implausible one and so I cast the thought aside instantly.

The sound of more dryads keening came to my ears and brought me back to reality, and also made me realize how horrible the situation was. Four more dryads slipped out from the darkness of the alleyways and side paths of the town, as they gathered nearby the one who had apparently called for them. Each one had a slightly distinctive look, though if I was pressed to describe those differences it would be impossible for me.

Each dryad began to walk forward at it's own pace, one moved fast and was beside the spear-holding dryad in the blink of an eye while another lazily strolled forward. The sight of five dryads gathered was enough to make a few civilians cry out in horror, two wept openly and the legionnaires themselves seemed likely to have wet themselves. Rudicus had grown pale, and as he stared at the death in front he turned to look at me.

He did not speak aloud what he said, though it was easy enough to read his lips. "Save yourself," he had told me, a statement I had never expected to see nor hear from him. While I watched the dryads continue their steady encroachment on the legionnaire position, Rudicus' face continued to grow darker while he gripped the spear with his one good hand. He would die fighting, as a member of the Legion should.

One moment the dryads were on the verge of overrunning the legionnaires, and the next every single one of them went still. Rudicus himself dropped his spear, a look of horror spread over his face while he peered down at his feet. The legionnaires nearby him cried out in horror, and a few of the townsfolk near them also joined in on the screaming. It was an odd action which sent a hint of hope through my mind.

A luminescent flash of white swept through the lazily approaching dryad, the entire midsection of the body cleaved apart so that the creature could only collapse into two separate piles. One of the dryads turned slowly, as it shook free from the illusion and was met with a strong thrust of the sword to the face. Before it could fight back the sword had already slipped downward, cutting the entire dryad vertically into two chunks.

The glowing blade was the only thing visible as the wielder whirled, delivering a powerful swing of the weapon through the head of a third dryad, and then as the fourth valiantly swung in self-defense the arm was chopped free from the body. When it tried to step away the sword itself seemed to chase after it, carving open the chest area and dissecting nearly every organ of the abdomen in the matter of a second.

The dryad that held my spear tried to use it as a weapon against that glistening weapon, it swung it crudely like a club. The shaft of the spear was caught by an extended thin hand, and then the white blade impaled the dryad deeply in the stomach. With a quick jerk to the right the dryad was nearly cut in half like the first had been moments before, and then a powerful kick sent the dryad flying across the small plaza and into a building.

Her hair was still that odd combination of red and whites, a seemingly impossible blend that added an exotic look to her. The clothes she wore were tight and made of leather, with a light cloak held by a clasp at the neck. The coloring of the clothes were a dark brown, and looked weathered with a hint of moisture still visible on some parts. With a flourish of the sword she sent it back into the scabbard that housed it, and then turned to look at me with a light smile.

"I hope I'm not too late," Alise said in a soft tone.