The next day arrived all too swiftly, the night fading away like a fleeting dream. Cordelia, still weary from her midnight meeting, struggled to wake up but knew she had no choice today. The Guest House was shrouded in a tense silence as everyone quietly donned their armor, the metallic clinks and soft rustling of leather the only sounds breaking the morning stillness.
Cordelia secured her potion belt, the vials clinking softly like a nervous heartbeat. She thoughtfully touched the vials for a few seconds. Would they be enough? A knot of worry tightened in her stomach, but she pushed it down. She had to be strong for everyone else.
Suddenly, Daniel appeared at her side. He extended his arm, showing the gauntlet hanging loosely, wordlessly asking for her help. With ease, Cordelia tied the small buckles beneath his gauntlet, ensuring each one was snug. She tested the tightness, her fingers pressing against the cool metal and sturdy leather. Satisfied, she gave a gentle tap on his shoulder. Daniel flexed his fingers, the gauntlet moving seamlessly with his hand. He nodded in approval, a silent thanks, before turning to gather the rest of his gear. As he walked away, Cordelia took a deep breath, steeling herself for the day ahead. The weight of the unknown settled deeply as she was finally ready to move out.
Once again, Commander Henric took the lead, the others following close behind as they exited the Guest House. The morning air was crisp, filled with the scent of pine and earth. The elves had already prepared their horses, leaving them ready and waiting.
Mounting their steeds, Commander Henric took a final glance at his map, his lips moving in a quiet mutter beneath his thick beard. He then turned to face the group.
“We're headed further north. If we encounter danger, avoid going directly south. Take the southwestern road instead. We mustn't endanger innocents.”
Daniel raised an eyebrow, his voice tinged with concern, “Do you think it'll come to that commander?”
Henric shook his head slowly, “Maybe, maybe not. Even the simplest missions can turn fatal.”
Talia, standing beside her horse, added with a firm voice, “We don't need any heroics from you two. Let us handle things in the field. But if things go bad, I want you both to survive and inform the Academy.”
Daniel and Cordelia just nodded in understanding.
Henric nudged his horse with his heels, and it responded with a neigh before starting to move. The others followed suit, with the sound of hooves against the ground echoed in the morning silence.
***
The further north they went, the colder the weather became. The towering trees, once abundant and lush, began to dwindle in number, their leaves turning brittle and sparse as the chill set in. The change in scenery was drastic; the vibrant, fey-inhabited forests gave way to a stark, wintry landscape. Frost clung to the remaining foliage, and the ground beneath their horses' hooves grew hard and unforgiving. The dense canopy overhead thinned, allowing more of the pale, wintry sky to peek through. Cordelia pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders to prevent the cold seeping through her armor.
As they pressed on, the silence of the forest was replaced by the eerie stillness of the northern wilderness. The sounds of wildlife grew scarce, replaced by the occasional whisper of the wind through barren branches. Cordelia couldn't shake the strange aura that seemed to hang in the air. The sensation grew stronger as they drew closer to a towering, skeletal tree. A lone raven perched on a skeletal branch, its beady eyes seemingly following their movements.
What met their eyes next was a grim sight. Tall elven corpses, already in advanced stages of decay, hung grotesquely from the tree branches. The stench hit Cordelia and Daniel like a physical blow, forcing them to cover their noses. The reality of this war finally made itself apparent with the decaying corpses. Even if Cordelia tried to look away, something inside her prevented her from turning her head. The bodies were horribly mutilated to the point that they were hardly recognizable. A wave of nausea washed over Cordelia as she took in the grotesque scene. Her fingers instinctively tightened around the hilt of her sword. Daniel also swallowed hard, turning his face away from the macabre scenery. Commander Henric immediately dismounted, his expression darkening as he approached the tree. Talia followed closely, trying hard to control her revulsion.
Henric shook his head, his voice heavy with disgust. "Embrals did this."
Talia nodded, holding her nose against the foul odor. "Yeah. They really were here."
Henric sighed, "Expect monsters nearby."
Cordelia tightened her grip on her reins, her eyes scanning the surrounding area. The cold air now seemed to carry a more sinister chill, as if the very forest itself was whispering a warning. Cordelia's heart hammered in her chest as the forest seemed to hold its breath.
Henric and Talia mounted their horses once more and moved forward, with Daniel and Cordelia close behind. As they ventured deeper into the nearly lifeless forest, more elven corpses began to emerge from the shadows. The missing hunters, now revealed themselves in a macabre succession. Many of the bodies bore savage claw marks, indicating that the monsters had indeed accompanied the Embrals.
Daniel shook his head in disgust. "Good gods…"
It was unusual for the Embrals to leave so many dead behind since they typically preferred to transform their victims into thralls. This gruesome display meant they were either sending a clear message or they were in a hurry. The unsettling feeling hung in the air as they pressed on, the forest growing colder and more foreboding with each step. Cordelia's senses were on high alert, every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs putting her on edge. The feeling of being watched intensified, as if unseen eyes followed their every move. Henric furrowed his brows, his hand never straying far from his weapon. Talia's eyes scanned their surroundings, her every muscle taut with readiness.
Suddenly, a black arrow whistled through the sky, narrowly missing Talia's horse. An instant later, another arrow followed, and Daniel screamed in pain.
"Daniel!" Henric shouted.
The arrow hit Daniel in the left shoulder. Daniel staggered, clutching his wounded shoulder with a sharp intake of breath. Cordelia rushed towards Daniel to look at his wound, but he raised a hand to stop her. Gritting his teeth, he painfully yanked the arrow out of his shoulder and drew his sword with his uninjured arm. Cordelia followed him, unsheathing her own weapon.
“HOLD YOUR ARROWS!” yelled a voice from the shadows. The group gazed at each other in confusion.
Suddenly, a group of Embrals emerged from the shadows, their gray-toned skin, white hair, and golden eyes contrasting the gloomy forest. They moved with a predatory grace, with their eyes glowing maliciously. The one who appeared to be their leader, a tall Embral with a burn scar running down his face, smiled as he approached. His cold, golden eyes glinted with a predatory hunger, like a wolf sizing up its prey.
"Worthy guests at last! I guess we should've expected Dragon Knights eventually," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Elf scum aren't really known for their courage."
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Henric stepped forward, his sword at the ready, eyes narrowing at the Embral leader. "Ha! What would you know about courage?"
The Embral leader laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Oh, we know plenty. Enough to know that you're far from home and outnumbered."
Talia positioned herself beside Henric, her eyes never leaving the Embrals. "That can be easily remedied."
The Embral leader nodded and smiled with a display of malice. "I know. I'm aware that four dragons can appear in the sky at any moment. But you should also be aware that a horde of Azhar are waiting for my command."
"If so then why are you even talking with us?" Henric asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
The Embral leader smiled, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. "I like to see what kind of enemies I have, and I want my enemies to know me."
Talia scoffed, unable to hide her disgust. "We killed plenty of your kind. Nice to meet you too."
The Embral leader's smile widened into a manic grin. "You'll be meeting the whole family soon, darling. Don't worry." Talia angrily glanced at the Embral as he kept speaking, his voice rising in pitch with each word. "We had a hunch that they would approach you out of fear. All of this..." The Embral leader gestured dramatically towards the dead bodies, his voice dripping with sadistic glee, "...This was just to give the elves a warning. Our surprise will be much bigger and better than that!"
He was getting unsettlingly excited as he slowly raised his sword, his voice dropping to a low growl. "When the young Lord Aiden rises, all the world will know our darkness! Not even your precious dragons will be able to save you!"
Henric whispered, "Lord Aiden...?"
Suddenly, an Embral warrior's sword sliced through the air with a sickening screech, striking Henric's horse with a thud. The animal shrieked in pain, its hooves skidding on the forest floor before collapsing. Henric was thrown from the saddle, landing heavily on the ground.
The group instantly dismounted and slapped their horses' flanks to send them fleeing to safety. The air immediately filled with the deafening clang of clashing swords and the high-pitched whistle of arrows that zipped through the trees like angry hornets. A whirlwind of steel and shadow engulfed them as they clashed with the Embrals.
Henric scrambled to his feet beneath the fallen horse. With a fierce battle cry, he charged toward his attacker, his sword gleaming in the dim light. Talia moved with him. Despite the pain in his shoulder, Daniel also stood tall holding his sword high. Cordelia was at his side in an instant, their movements coordinated as they faced the oncoming Embral warriors. Now that Daniel's left side was vulnerable, she instinctively positioned herself to shield him.
Henric turned to Cordelia and Daniel, whispering an incantation. Swirling runes of magic appeared at their feet, casting a golden hue around their bodies. Cordelia recognized the warding spell. He was trying to protect them from incoming arrows and projectiles. Just in time, hidden Embral archers released a volley of arrows. The enchanted barrier shimmered as arrows hit them, then fell to the ground without hurting them.
The forest pulsed with the rhythm of combat. With every clash of steel, leaves littered the ground and the air grew thicker with the scent of sweat and blood. Suddenly, an Embral warrior charged at Cordelia with a roar. She spun instantly, dodging his initial strike before retaliating with a swift kick to his chest. As he stumbled back, she lunged forward, her sword finding its mark with deadly accuracy. Meanwhile, Henric faced off against the Embral leader, their swords clashing in a symphony of metal. The leader's each strike aimed to overpower him while Henric kept mirroring his attacks, masterfully evading his strikes in the process.
The Embral leader pulled back, then put his hand on the ground. A surge of dark energy pulsed from him, and the air grew thick with an eerie, green and black smoke that coiled around the fallen corpses scattered across the battlefield. Tendrils of smoke enveloped the bodies, lifting them from the ground. The sickening sounds of cracking bones and tearing flesh filled the air as the corpses began to twist and contort, reshaping into various monstrous forms. Their eyes flickered open, glowing with an unnatural green light.
The group stared in horrified disbelief at the cruel monstrosities emerging before them. The once lifeless bodies had transformed into Azhar instantly. A putrid stench of decay filled the air as the bodies writhed, the sound of wet flesh slapping against bone sending shivers down Cordelia's spine. Everything was happening too fast. Her mind was a whirlwind of worry for Daniel and a desperate need to survive. The Embral leader stood tall, a sinister smile playing on his lips. "Let's see how you deal with them." Then he turned towards the other Embrals, “Fall back!”
The Embrals started to retreat, leaving their fates with the recently risen Azhar.
Henric's grip tightened on his sword as he took in the sight. It was well known that only Embral Arcanists could create the Azhar. To create so many from the dead in mere seconds was unprecedented. This was a new and terrifying power they had never seen.
"Stay together!" Henric barked, his voice steady despite the rising dread.
The Azhar moved with their unnatural agility, their twisted limbs propelling them forward with alarming speed. Their glowing eyes locked onto the Knights, hunger emanating from their newly formed bodies.
As Talia fought against the monsters she looked at Henric, “Gods be damned! Summon your dragons!” she yelled.
Henric and Talia's arms glowed with an intense, radiant light. The sky above them seemed to split open as two luminous portals emerged. Through the shimmering passages, a majestic gold and bronze dragon soared into view, their roars reverberating through the battlefield.
Now that the dragons appeared, Henric and Talia's attacks got more powerless, as their souls started to slowly drain.
Amidst the escalating battle, Cordelia's greatest fear was on the verge of becoming reality. She had to summon her dragon in the middle of the battle. Her hand shook as she reached for the soul strengthening potion, her eyes wide with hesitation and doubt.
“Cordelia!” Daniel’s voice pierced through the thunderous roars of the dragons. “You can do it! Come on!”
Turning towards Daniel, Cordelia's heart sank. The veins on the left side of his face were darkening, turning an ominous black. The grim realization hit her like a cold wave—the arrow that had struck Daniel was poisoned, and it was killing him, slowly and painfully. Summoning his own dragon would drain him faster than the others now that his life line was slowly getting shorter. He needed an antidote quickly.
Cordelia took a deep breath, steeling herself against the fear. She downed the potion, feeling the magic surge through her veins like liquid fire. Her arm began to glow with a radiant energy, and the sky responded, tearing open with another brilliant portal.
From the portal Milasadris emerged, her scales shimmering like precious white diamonds. Her roar joined those of the other dragons. Milasadris flew into the fight almost immediately, freezing the Azhar in her cold breath.
The battlefield, once a scene of chaos and despair, was now a realm of fiery and icy devastation. Milasadris’s ice swept through the ranks of the Azhar, their movements slowing, their strength sapped by the biting cold. The other dragons attacked the frozen enemies from both sides, shattering them into pieces. A wave of bone-chilling wind swept through the battlefield, causing visible wisps of vapor to rise from the ground as Milasadris and the other dragons unleashed their fury. The Azhar, shrieked in a chorus of agony as blizzard and fire ripped through them, their monstrous forms turning brittle and fracturing under the assault.
As the last echoes of the battle faded, an eerie silence descended upon the forest. The air hung heavy with the metallic tang of blood and the acrid scent of burnt flesh. Cordelia slumped against a nearby tree, exhaustion gnawing at her. Milasadris hovered protectively beside her, her sapphire eyes scanning the surroundings for any remaining threats.
Daniel leaned heavily against Talia while holding his shoulder. He seemed to get paler and paler by the minute. Henric surveyed the scene with a grim expression.
“We have to go. There might be more coming, we need to let the Academy know.” he gazed at the forest floor littered with the shattered remains of the Azhar, blood dripping down from his face.
Who was this Lord Aiden? What did he mean by a surprise? Cordelia knew this was just the beginning. Fear threaded through her as she gazed thoughtfully at Milasadris.
Henric suddenly grabbed Daniel, lifting him in a cradle carry. "We need to get back to the elves. The Chief has to know what happened, and Brightsteel needs help."
Talia whistled sharply, and a monstrous form materialized beside them with a thundering crash that sent tremors rippling through the ground and a giant blue dragon landed with a heavy thud. Talia glanced at Milasadris and then back at Cordelia.
"We'll ride with Earvin," Talia said, gesturing at her dragon. "You can send Milasadris back. I can't risk you dying now."
Cordelia nodded, her arm glowing once more as she commanded Milasadris to return. The dragon took off, her powerful wings beating the air as she ascended and disappeared into the heavens.
As Cordelia turned back to face Talia, Talia requested her dragon to bow down, and Cordelia climbed onto his back. The rough, golden scales scraped against her armor, creating a sound of metallic clangs. Henric settled Daniel in front of him and ascended as he secured him between his arms.
With a deafening roar, Earvin launched himself into the air. The wind whipped past them, tearing at Cordelia's hair and stealing her breath. Below, the landscape blurred into a tapestry of grays and browns as Earvin climbed with powerful strokes of his massive wings. As they made their way back towards the camp, Cordelia knew in her heart that this was no ordinary field training anymore. Things were going to change.