A blinding light-

Countered.

Happening so fast Kresley could see the afterimage.

Pounds of sounds whipped like heavy steps being walked on by thousands.

Each time either figure got close Kresley instinctively closed her eyes at the flashes of light.

Turning her eyes away, she hid behind the rock and instinctively knew it was time to leave.

Looking back to the sounds of an army or league of adventurers fighting Kresley noticed the ground move-

‘The roots, wait why are they-’ Kresley watched in horror as the roots began slowly making their way towards the two fighters.

Despite them flashing aroun eventually a large circle of roots encircled the duo, however that didn’t slow their movements.

Instead it accelerated them, pushing and dodging-

Each time a magic attack landed Kresley’s eyes burned, black splotches covered her eyelids as the red world was getting darker and darker.

Faster and faster the two attacked and cleaved, spear of light and walls of gold.

The robed figure was the man Kresley was mainly focused on however.

Mostly because Kresley couldn’t physically look at the captain for more than a few seconds before her eyes teared up and her ears pumping in her ears heightened.

Her only senses being taken out one by one she could feel herself shivering despite the heat.

Taking one last look towards the duo, Kresley saw a wall of roots shoot out in all directions-

Ducking behind the boulder, the roots shot into the rock and all around her.

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But as the noises continued the roots stayed-

In every direction, like a spider's web from the robed man’s hands.

Almost teleporting prone the light wielder swiftly dodged the roots and sliced widely.

The figure jumped back but not before something fell to the ground.

“Bloody pouch.” A loose coin pouch, cheap looking in quality and now in durability fell to the ground.

“Not used to new equipment hmm? Perhaps you should’ve kept the old one.” The captain said head raised, only a few scratches were visible on his body.

“Wasn’t in the plan for me either, and neither were you.” Lifting his hood Kresley’s mouth nearly dropped as she recognised the man-

Aestern’s contractmaker-Kelt. She had to verify her own band when she visited Aestern, if not for Vaud…

Kresley was shocked out of her thoughts as she saw the captain’s weapon glow and instinctively looked away as she heard a thunderclap.

Blackness.

Then another thunderclap and Kresley was aware she was slumped against the boulder, maybe another peek-

Shaking her head out of the dense thinking, Kresley looked for the first way out of the field.

Remembering she had to go North West Kresley’s legs kicked into action.

Already on the West side Kresley kept her thoughts ahead of her rather than behind.

The thunderclaps were growing in intensity and another noise.

A weird slurping noise that gave her the chills.

Dodging the burnt roots that were all around her Kresley didn’t even want to consider what had happened while she was knocked out-

Or what had knocked her out.

Hearing the same noise that came when the roots shot out Kresley quickly went prone, her chests catching the blow the ground dealt but her body missed the hundreds of roots coming out of all directions again.

Turning back for the last time Kresley couldn’t stop the gasp that left her.

Kelt was standing ontop of him.

Thinking back to the earlier attack she remembered seeing the captain go prone-

Did Kelt anticipate it?

At that moment Kresley knew, it was time to leave.

Her arms sprung up, bumping into the roots around her but she didn’t care.

The captain was dead and she would be too if she didn’t escape.

Trying to stay quiet Kresley’s ears rang from the lack of noise, it was almost painful.

If her legs weren’t pumping her as fast she could through the forest that is.

Rounding another boulder she saw a lack of purple moss but hid behind it anyway.

Hands on her thighs and bent over she huffed and squeaked with exhaustion.

She ran harder than she had with the captain but had covered not even a third of the ground.

Pushing off her thighs she prepared to run again before the trees turned upside down.

And-

So did the boulders.

The forests roots and leaves as well.

Then she noticed her feet weren’t in pain anymore-

Instead she felt like she was flying.

Then she saw the roots.

And felt them as her body smashed into them.

Her vision lacking in and out Kresley felt herself stop at a tree and saw him.

Kelt was holding a root.

Almost like a leash.

It went from his hand to her shoulder.

His expression which was sweaty and bloodied, turned now to a gruesome sight as roots began popping up behind him towards Kresley.