The streets of Elvensham were eerily quiet as we approached the Lock Pin. The cold air had a sharp bite, and the moon overhead, obscured by passing clouds, cast pale flickering shadows that twisted in the dark alleys. Trendil and I moved quickly, our breath visible in the frosty air as we neared the tavern. But something was wrong. The usual quite of the streets were broken, with ordered shouts and the sound of people hrruing about, Then, I saw them.

Ministry enforcers lined the street in front of the Lock Pin, their black cloaks flowing like shadows against the stone. Their hands, protected by black leather gloves, gripped the chains that bound the wrists of several people, forcing them into a line. Some struggled, their cries for mercy met with cold indifference. Others stumbled along, defeated.

"Desa..." I whispered, scanning the line of captives. My chest tightened as I spotted her. She was near the front, her face bruised, her eyes wild with fear. The Lock Pin, her home, was surrounded—its windows shattered, smoke rising from inside. The smell of burning wood and ale filled the air.

"We’re too late," I growled, my hands clenching into fists.

Trendil placed a hand on my shoulder. "Keep your head, lad. We can’t fight them all."

I wasn’t listening. My body moved before I could think. I bolted forward, eyes locked on Desa, but Trendil’s arm shot out, stopping me in my tracks.

"We need to be smart about this. If we rush in now, we’ll be dead before we can even reach her," Trendil warned. His voice was calm, but his eyes betrayed the tension simmering beneath.

The enforcers began to load the prisoners into iron carts. Desa struggled against her captors, her voice hoarse from shouting. A guard pushed her to the ground, kicking her in the ribs. The sight made my blood boil.

“I won’t let them take her!” I hissed, pulling my sword free. The blade caught the moonlight, its sharp edge gleaming. A sif signalling me it was ready to attack. But Trendil stepped in front of me.

"We’re going to do this the right way," he said, his voice low and firm. "We will wait until they put everyone into the carts and move away. We can hijack them, when they think all is secure.”

The ground trembled as the iron wheels of the cart began to move, dragging the prisoners toward the main street. A voice rang out from behind the enforcers, sharp and commanding.

“Take them to the Ministry dungeons. They’ll face justice for their crimes against the order.”

I turned toward the voice and felt the weight of it sink into my bones. A figure stepped forward, cloaked in dark armor that glistened under the moonlight, his frame massive, his muscles bulging unnaturally. His eyes gleamed with a predatory hunger as he cracked his neck, the sound loud enough to send a shiver down my spine. “I will watch these vermin myself, back to the keep.”

Trendil tensed beside me. "A Bonebreaker," he muttered under his breath. I had heard rumours,but…”

“A what?” I whispered back, but I was already beginning to understand. The Bonebreaker took a step forward, his entire body moving with a strength that seemed impossible. His armor strained against the raw power beneath, muscles shifting under his skin like boulders rolling down a hill.

Trendil leaned closer, his voice low but urgent. "The Ministry enslaves magic users. They use something called a Berianic collar—a tool that binds and suppresses their abilities, turning them into weapons for the Ministry. I’ve never seen one up close before, but I’ve heard the stories. It robs them of everything—free will, memories, even their souls, if the rumors are to be believed."

I listened, my heart pounding in my chest, but at the time, I had no idea how deep the Ministry’s cruelty ran. That Bonebreaker, standing there like a weapon barely contained, was my first real glimpse into the true lengths they would go. I would come to understand more in time, but back then, I just knew we were up against something monstrous—something unnatural.

Trendil’s eyes were dark, his face taut with caution as he watched the Bonebreaker from the shadows. "He’ll tear through us in seconds in this confined space," he whispered. "It’s too risky. We’ll need to find another way."

But all I could think about was Desa—bound and beaten, being loaded onto the cart like she was livestock. Every fiber of my being screamed to run at them, to rip those chains from her wrists, to fight until I couldn’t stand.

"No," I growled, my voice barely above a whisper but seething with anger. "We make a stand. We’ve already lost Deshan tonight to these monsters. I’m not losing anyone else. I don’t care about Villias, his plan, or whatever’s to come. I care about right now, and right now, I can do something."

Trendil stared into my eyes, perhaps looking for doubt or hesitation. When he found none, he nodded slowly. "Alright, lad. But be ready. Once we start, there’s no going back."

I motioned toward the Bonebreaker, who was lumbering behind the iron cart as it made its way down the alley. "How long can you hold him off?" I asked.

"Not long," Trendil admitted, his voice tight. "A few moments at best, but he’s massive. I doubt anything will slow him down for long."

"Then give me what time you can," I said, my grip tightening on my sword. "I’ll create a distraction up ahead where the alleyways intersect. That should pull the guards away. Once they’re distracted, I’ll take the driver. If I’m quick enough, I can free the prisoners before the Bonebreaker becomes a problem."

Trendil nodded in agreement, and I felt a surge of adrenaline course through me. I called forth the wind, pulling loose stones from a crumbling building in the adjacent alley. The rocks tumbled down with a crash, drawing the attention of the two enforcers who had been flanking the prisoners.

As expected, they drew their swords and ran to investigate. I used a burst of wind to launch myself silently behind the driver, my sword slicing through the air. The blade buried itself into his neck and down through his chest, his body going limp before he had a chance to cry out.

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I pulled my sword free and dropped into the shadows, waiting for the remaining guards to return. My heart raced, the thrill of battle making me feel alive in a way I hadn’t in years.

But then, a thunderous roar erupted from behind me, followed by the sound of an explosion. The Bonebreaker had noticed the cart’s halt, and Trendil had engaged him.

I had no time to think. The two enforcers came charging back from the alley, right into me. My sword slashed through both in a single, fluid motion, their bodies collapsing in a heap at my feet. I felt a twisted sense of satisfaction, like a bell ringing deep inside me. I turned to free the prisoners, slamming my sword against the cage lock.

A fist, as solid as iron, slammed into my side, sending me flying. My body crashed into the second story of a nearby building, the impact shattering stone and sending shards flying like ice-cold splinters. Dazed, I barely managed to call the wind, slowing my fall just enough to avoid further damage.

I looked over to see Trendil summoning what looked like a tornado, a swirling vortex of wind that could lift cattle from the earth. But the Bonebreaker walked through it as if it were nothing but a breeze, each step slow and deliberate, his face twisted in a snarl of pure rage.

"We need to stop him!" I yelled, trying to push the words through the howling wind. "Trendil, I’ll use your wind. Push me into that stream to give me momentum. Focus on his arms—move them aside and give me a clear shot!"

Trendil nodded, though I could see the strain in his face. His hands shook, his skin pale under the weight of the magic he was commanding. I sprinted forward, leaping into the wind tunnel that Trendil had created. It accelerated my movement, hurling me toward the Bonebreaker like a an arrow from an archer’s bow. My sword, raised high, poised for a lethal strike., bracing for the strike.

My sword connected. I felt it hit flesh, but the wind around me suddenly vanished, and I dropped to the ground. I looked up, expecting to see the Bonebreaker wounded, but he stood there, sneering down at me, one massive hand gripping the tip of my sword.

With a grunt, he brought his other fist down, smashing it against the blade. The sword shattered, shards of metal cutting into my arms as they flew. I staggered back, shock and disbelief numbing the pain. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

The Bonebreaker swung at me again, his fist the size of a boulder. Desperation surged through me—no, not desperation, something else. Something buried deep in my bones, something primal. Just like wind and blood, I let it come. I didn’t try to control it; I let it rage through me.

When his fist came down, I met it with my own, releasing all the energy at once. Our fists collided, and to my astonishment, mine kept going, tearing through his arm as if it were made of paper. Blood sprayed the street, and the Bonebreaker howled in agony. He clutched his shoulder where his arm had once been.

I wasted no time. With a gust of wind, I pulled a shard of my broken sword from the ground, grabbing it with my other hand. The blade cut into my palm as I leaped into the air, driving it into the Bonebreaker’s eye. He roared in pain, his remaining hand clawing at his face, but it was too late. He staggered back, then fell, his body crumpling to the ground with a final, earth-shaking thud.

My whole body screamed with pain. It felt as though every bone had been struck with a hammer. I gritted my teeth, trying not to cry out as the adrenaline began to fade. Trendil wasted no time—he was already at the cart, freeing the prisoners.

“This way, quick!” Desa’s voice cut through the confusion, sharp and urgent. She waved us toward a side alley, her eyes wide with desperation.

I stumbled after them, my body protesting with every step. My muscles screamed in pain, and my limbs felt like lead. I tried to summon the wind to help, but my energy was spent—drained completely from the fight. Every movement felt like dragging my feet through thick mud. But after a few agonizing steps, I felt a sudden lightness in my legs. I glanced over at Trendil, who moved beside me, his face pale and drawn, yet focused. He was using his magic to help, lending me just enough strength to keep going. We slipped into the shadows, following Desa as she wove us through the dark, narrow streets.

The city around us seemed more oppressive than before. The buildings loomed over us, their silhouettes jagged and crumbling under the dim glow of lanterns. The air was thick with the acrid smell of smoke, and distant shouts echoed through the streets—enforcers discovering the empty carts, the dead men, and the fallen Bonebreaker. The clatter of boots grew louder behind us, the sound of pursuit quickening our steps. I could hear the steel clink of swords being drawn and barked orders cutting through the cold night.

Desa gestured to a small group of figures ahead, who nodded and peeled away, splitting off in different directions as if to throw off our pursuers. It was now just the three of us—Trendil, Desa, and me—moving swiftly, or as swiftly as my battered body would allow. The cold air nipped at my skin, and my breath fogged the air with each labored exhale.

We kept to the shadows, darting through narrow alleyways where the moonlight barely reached. Broken cobblestones and littered debris crunched underfoot. The walls, damp and covered in creeping vines, seemed to close in around us. Every footfall felt heavier than the last, and though Trendil’s magic lightened my steps, the ache in my bones persisted. My joints felt as if they were grinding together, each movement a fresh wave of pain.

Behind us, the sounds of shouting grew distant but no less urgent. I didn’t know how much time we had before they caught up to us. My mind raced, heart pounding in my chest. They would stop at nothing now—dead men, a slain Bonebreaker—there would be no mercy when they caught up.

We approached the eastern wall of the city, and Desa suddenly stopped near a cluster of old crates and broken furniture piled against the wall. She glanced around, her breath quick and shallow, and then hurriedly pulled away a shattered door and a splintered tabletop that leaned haphazardly against the stone. Beneath the rubble, a small hole, barely large enough for a grown man to crawl through, was revealed.

“Quick,” Desa urged, her voice a low hiss. “Through here, head for the mountains. Stick to the shadows. About a mile up the slope, there’s a cave, a hundred feet up. You’ll find it. I’ll be right behind you.”

I didn’t hesitate. Trendil and I crouched low, slipping through the opening and into the frigid night beyond the city walls. The cold bit into my skin as the wind whipped around us, but I pressed on, using what little energy I had left to keep moving. The city lights behind us dimmed as we made our way toward the mountains, the shadows of the towering peaks looming ahead like silent sentinels. The ground beneath us was uneven, rocky, and covered with patches of frost that glistened in the moonlight.

As we neared the mountain’s base, I kept close to the shadows, just as Desa had instructed. The moonlight cast long, eerie shadows across the rough terrain, and each step felt more burdensome than the last. We climbed, our breath ragged in the thin, icy air, and just as Desa had said, we found the cave—a dark, gaping maw in the mountainside, hidden by a cluster of jagged rocks.

I collapsed inside the cave, my legs giving out from sheer exhaustion. The cold stone beneath me was a harsh contrast to the warmth I had felt from Trendil’s magic earlier. I lay there for a moment, gasping for air, my body too drained to move.

Desa arrived not long after, her face illuminated by the soft glow of a small lantern. She stood at the cave’s entrance, her silhouette framed against the night. Her face was bruised, and a fresh cut marked her cheek, the blood dried and dark. She looked as worn and exhausted as I felt, the weight of the night’s events etched into every line of her face.

She knelt down beside me, her voice strained but urgent. “Dashan... did you get Dashan?”

Her question hung in the cold air like a blade, sharp and cutting. I swallowed hard, the weight of her words pressing against me, but I couldn’t answer. Not yet.

The silence stretched on, broken only by the distant wind howling through the mountains.