Thunder echoed from the swirling vortex above, but a deeper, more ominous rumble emanated from the revived dragon. Its gleaming eyes burned like embers, and smoke seeped through the crevices of its massive jaws.

“Didn’t the Savior just strike it down?” one guardsman shouted, his voice shaking with nerves.

“It’s healing—just like the wolves,” Sir William said gravely. “Its wounds must be regenerating.”

“Headmistress, what shall we do?” Sylvia called out, her tone a fragile mix of hope and despair.

The dragon took a heavy step forward, its colossal form emerging fully into view. Trees splintered, and rocks tumbled in its wake.

“Is that…” Sir William began, his words trailing as he turned to the headmistress. His gaze darkened as he continued, “My lady, the dragon is still recovering from its wounds. The marks left by the Savior’s magic are visible, its huge size must be delaying the healing process—unlike the wolves.”

The headmistress tightened her grip on her wand, her eyes locked on the approaching beast. She said with a steady, unwavering voice, “Sir William, we cannot retreat. We have to fight.”

A distance away....

“Vidia, the dragon,” Aki said, his voice tinged with urgency, though his gaze remained fixed on Alastair.

“I know,” Vidia replied quickly. She hovered beside him, her voice steady but tense as she continued, “it seems to have regenerative properties. Its wounds are healing.”

“What should I do? Should I aid them?” Aki’s tone brimmed with concern, his grip on his wand tightening.

“With Alastair in front of you, it’s impossible,” Vidia said firmly, stating the cold reality.

Alastair’s grin widened as he observed Aki’s worried expression. “If you want to save your friends, you’ll have to go through me first. Can you do it, oh promised one?” he mocked, his tone dripping with amusement as though savoring the moment.

“He’s right,” Vidia said softly. Then, her tone grew firmer as she continued, “The dragon is a summoned entity, bound to his essence. Defeat him, and the dragon will fall as well.”

“Are you certain?” Aki asked abruptly, his tone tinged with hope despite the grim situation.

“There’s no doubt about it,” Vidia answered, her voice unwavering with certainty.

Aki hesitated. He would have rushed to aid them, but Alastair’s aura grew heavier and more oppressive as if signaling an imminent strike.

“The summoned body,” Aki muttered, his thoughts racing. “If we could locate and destroy it, would that defeat him?”

“His presence in this world would cease to exist,” Vidia confirmed, her tone resolute.

Aki nodded, determination flickering in his eyes. “Vidia, I’m sorry if this burdens you, but could you locate his summoned body? I’ll hold him off in the meantime.”

Hovering closer, Vidia suddenly flicked Aki’s forehead.

“Ouch!” Aki yelped, startled.

“There’s no such thing as a burden,” Vidia said, her voice firm, though a slight pout crept onto her face. “I’m here to assist you, remember?”

Aki’s lips curved into a soft smile. “Thank you, Vidia.”

“Don’t get too reckless,” she warned, her tone tinged with concern. “And be careful.” With that, she flew away, her glowing form darting into the air as she began her search.

Taking a deep breath, Aki steadied his stance. He gripped his wand tightly, the weight of the moment pressing down on him.

“Very well,” he said, his voice low but persistent, as he turned his full attention to Alastair.

......

The dragon roared, its guttural cry shaking the ground as it prepared to unleash its fury. Flames licked at the corners of its massive mouth, and the air around it shimmered with heat.

“I need cover!” the headmistress called out, her voice steady despite the tension.

Responding swiftly, several mages who had accompanied her from the academy stepped forward. Forming a line, they raised their wands high into the air. The ground trembled as large stone blocks erupted from beneath, assembling a formidable shield around their position.

The dragon reared back, and with a roar, it unleashed a fiery blast.

BOOM! The dragon’s breath struck the stone barrier with explosive force. Flames erupted and licked at the edges, sparks flying as the intense heat collided with the mages’ protective magic.

Seeing the sheer force of the dragon's might, Sir William turned to the headmistress, his face pale with urgency. "My lady, the protective wall cannot hold much longer. We must act now!" His tone lace with both concern and desperation.

The headmistress's expression hardened, her resolve unshaken. With a swift motion, she raised her wand high, its tip glowing with an intense light. Her voice rang clear as she chanted with unwavering focus:

"By ancient earth and mountain's might

Awake, thou guardian forged from light.

Shield thy master, smite my foe,

Through thee, earth's wrath shall flow.

By the power in these words, I plea,

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Arise, stone warrior, and fight for me!"

As the final words left her lips, magic pulsed through the air. The ground trembled, and massive stone blocks began shifting and fusing together from either side of the protective wall. The earth groaned under their weight as two colossal stone humanoids took form, each figure towering over the battlefield.

Both Sir William, Sylvia, and Amabel stared in wide-eyed amazement. "Incredible," Sylvia whispered, her voice barely audible over the din of the shifting stones.

The headmistress, her wand still held aloft, pointed it firmly toward the dragon. "Onward! Destroy my enemy!" she commanded, her voice fierce and commanding.

The stone giants moved with surprising agility despite their immense size. Their heavy steps shook the earth as they charged toward the dragon, which had just finished expelling its fiery breath. The dragon roared defiantly, smoke and embers spilling from its maw, and launched at the advancing giants.

A thunderous clash erupted as one stone giant delivered a crushing blow to the dragon's face, sending a shockwave through the forest. The second giant lunged forward, locking its arms around the dragon's massive body in a tight embrace, restricting its movement.

The dragon thrashed violently, its tail whipping against the ground and wings struggling to break free, but the stone giant held firm.

Aki saw the clash between the stone giant and the dragon from afar. “The headmistress is so cool,” he whispered in admiration.

Without warning, a dark lightning-like magic zapped near his face. “Where do you think you’re looking at, boy?” Alastair grunted in annoyance. They were, in fact, moving at a fast speed in mid-air as they clashed in an intense aerial pursuit.

Meanwhile, behind the protective stone wall, the headmistress called out, “Sir William, we need to strike now while my summoned stone giant hold it in place.”

As the dragon attempted to draw another fiery breath, the stone giant that had struck its head earlier lunged forward, locking its mouth under its massive arm.

“The wound that’s still healing might be our chance to defeat it,” Sir William said as he observed the battle. With a determined expression, he added, “my lady. I and the guardsmen will strike the open wound, but we’ll need assistance.”

“Understood,” the headmistress replied with a nod.

Above the battlefield near the large dark tree...

"Ugh, the dark aura emanating from this tree is unbearable," Vidia muttered, her delicate wings fluttering erratically as if to shake off the oppressive energy. Reluctantly, she flew closer. "I really don't want to do this," she grumbled, hesitating before extending her tiny hand toward the gnarled bark.

With a deep breath, Vidia closed her eyes, focusing all her energy. Her hand pressed against the rough surface, and in an instant, a surge of light radiated from her palm. Her consciousness dove into the tree's essence, coursing through its dense fibres like a lightning bolt racing through veins.

Dark magic surged back in retaliation, clawing at her mind, attempting to break through. "Heh, my mind isn't so easily invaded," Vidia muttered confidently, the shimmering aura of Athia's blessing forming an impenetrable barrier around her, protecting her from dark magic influence.

As she delved deeper, scanning the ancient tree's core, her energy pulsed through every branch and root. Then, she froze. "Aha!" she exclaimed triumphantly. I knew it! The summoning body—it's beneath this tree, buried deep underground."

At the same time, she realized something crucial. "But how on earth will we reach it? The body is buried so far underground, there must be something—" She stopped mid-sentence, her expression changing as her consciousness unexpectedly detected a living presence beneath the surface.

Her eyes flew open in shock. "There's...someone down there?" she whispered, puzzled. "A living being, untouched by dark magic. But how?"

The discovery left her momentarily speechless, her mind racing with possibilities. Shaking off her confusion, she muttered to herself, "Doesn't matter. We don't have time for this. Alastair has to be defeated. This might be our only chance."

Underground......

“Garghhh,” Sir Francis grunted heavily, his frustration echoing off the cave walls. “Will I be buried down here?” he muttered in an annoyed tone, holding both fists in the air as if blaming the ceiling above.

The dimly lit cave glimmered faintly with the light of several crystals embedded in the rocky walls. Sir Francis let out a long breath, slapping both his cheeks with his hands as if to snap himself out of despair. “No! I will survive. Surely William is already on his way to rescue me.”

He straightened his posture and began surveying the area. “Now, where should I—” He froze mid-sentence, his expression sharpening as a voice suddenly rang inside his mind.

“Hey, you there, can you hear me?” the voice asked, startling him.

Sir Francis, caught off guard, muttered, “Why me? Well, I—” but before he could continue, his expression shifted to one of shock. He abruptly exclaimed, “Wait! Who is this? What are you doing in my head? Show yourself, you foul spirit, you dark malicious entity!”

He instinctively drew his sword, assuming an offensive stance. His eyes darted around the cave as he searched for the source of the voice.

The voice returned, this time tinged with annoyance. “What did you just call me? Foul spirit? Dark entity? Do you have any idea who you’re talking to? I am Vidia, the pride of the fairy clan and the sole representative of the Goddess Athia! Don’t you dare mock me with such lesser names!”

Still holding his stance, Sir Francis narrowed his eyes. “You tried to fool me, fairy? ‘Goddess Athia,’ you say? That’s an absurd claim. Even a lesser demon wouldn’t dare mutter such a thing!”

Above ground, Vidia’s hand remained firmly on the tree bark. She let out an exasperated sigh, irritation flickering across her face, but she managed to steady herself. There wasn’t time to argue.

“Listen,” she said firmly, “I’m speaking to you using telepathy. Right now, there are people up here fighting for their lives, and the savior is currently engaged with Demon Lord Alastair.”

“What?” Sir Francis muttered in disbelief, lowering his sword slightly.

Before he could utter another word, Vidia continued, her tone sharp and urgent. “I don’t know who you are or how you ended up down there, but your soul isn’t corrupted by dark magic. By chance, the summoned body of Demon Lord Alastair is near your location. I need you to destroy it.”

Sir Francis blinked, gripping his sword tightly. “Summoned body? What nonsense is this?”

“It’s not nonsense,” Vidia retorted. “It’s the only connection that link his presence to this world, and if you don’t act now, everything above will be lost. This might be our only chance to defeat him!”

“You sound convincing, but how do I know you’re not some demonic entity trying to deceive me?” Sir Francis said, his voice edged with suspicion.

“Touch the tree root near you,” Vidia commanded, her tone sharp and unwavering.

Sir Francis glanced around and saw several large roots protruding from the ground, stretching upward to the cave ceiling. “Why?” he asked, hesitating.

“JUST DO IT!” Vidia exclaimed, her voice laced with frustration. Then, softening slightly, she added, “You wanted proof, didn’t you? Touch the root. Now!”

Sir Francis swallowed hard. “Ugh,” he muttered under his breath, the hesitation in his eyes giving way to reluctant resolve. His hand slowly extended toward one of the roots. Taking a deep breath, he whispered to himself, “Argh, rats,” before finally making contact with the rough surface of the root.

The moment his fingers brushed against it, his consciousness jolted. A wave of unfamiliar energy surged through him, and in an instant, he was connected to Vidia’s mind.

“Now, see for yourself,” Vidia said, her voice echoing in his head.

The world around Sir Francis shifted. His vision was no longer his own—it was Vidia’s. Through her eyes, he saw the raging battlefield above ground.

Down below, Sir William and the guardsmen were engaged in a desperate struggle against a massive dragon. The headmistress’s summoned stone giant held the beast in place, locking its massive jaws to prevent another fiery breath. Nearby, Sylvia was visibly exhausted, her trembling hands barely able to maintain the spell she had been casting for so long.

“No,” Sir Francis whispered in disbelief. His heart pounded as beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

Vidia abruptly cut the connection, snapping him back to the dimly lit cave. “Now do you believe me?” she asked, her voice urgent. “We need to hurry!”

Sir Francis gritted his teeth, his earlier doubt replaced by a determined resolve. “Where’s this summoned body?” he asked, his voice steady.

“There’s a tight passageway at your far-left corner,” Vidia explained. “Squeeze through it. You’ll find another path leading further down. The summoned body is there.”

Taking a deep breath, Sir Francis nodded. “Right.” He adjusted his grip on his sword and began moving toward the passageway without hesitation.

As Vidia released her telepathic connection, she felt the strain on her magic. Breathing heavily, she muttered to herself, “Ah, I forgot to ask who he was.”