“What’s taking so long.” Syleen huffs as she plops onto the ground next to Lewin, who looks like a pincushion for fragile golden needles.

“That bad?” Tanner struggles to ask as his hands wave delicate patterns of shimmering light above her body. The cocoon of energy around Lewin shifts streams of magical light as he instructs. A calming, faint blue light starts to flow once more throughout her body. “Almost…” Sweat drops down his forehead as his eyes go wide.

“Uh…” Lewin stirs as a dark black smog leaves her lips. The golden cocoon around her sends a mist of sparkling dust to break it down before flowing into her mouth and lungs. Her breathing stabilizes as she opens her eyes. “Fuck!” She screams after seeing Tanner’s wide-eyed, sweaty face hovering above her. Her instincts kick in as her hand flies out to smack him across his hittable face.

“Later, we don’t have time.” Peter catches her hand before it makes contact with the unaware Tanner’s face. The healer falls back into the sand, breathing heavily as he faints from exhaustion. “Locals found us, and we can’t understand their language or if they speak one.” He offers her a hand up.

“How long since we landed?” Lewin asks while steading herself, her legs shaking as she tries to move. “I feel sick…” She vomits up a sludgy residue onto the beach.

“Let it out, lass, there, there.” Peter pats her back as Syleen picks up Rex’s capsule unit to join them. “How is he?” He nods to the Spirit Core unit in her hands.

“No idea doesn’t look broken.” Syleen spins the canister around in her hands, looking for any sign of damage. “Lewin?” She holds the canister containing Rex’s spirit core to the recovering mage.

“Just need a- hup!.. second.” Lewin spit out some nasty bile before turning back around. “Peter, how long?” She asks while taking the canister from Syleen.

“Not even half an hour from landing.” Peter replies while glancing around at the still battlefield. “Odd, they stopped.” He held his twin blades at the ready, a deadly red aura dancing along their edges.

“Guah!” Lewin cries out as she tries to move her mana but receives a painful backlash.

“Lewin!” Chestor cries out in worry, and he dashes back to stand guard between her and the enemies from the forest. “Are you alright?!” He shouts for her, his shield ready to block any attack.

“I’m fine; I just need time to heal.” She says with a hint of regret. “I can’t use my mana for a while.” She twists one of her rings on her right hand, and a pulse of magical energy releases from the stone before rushing into the Spirit Core unit. “Good thing we came prepared.” She chuckles as the stone in the ring breaks apart into motes of light before fading away.

“What now?” Fin asks as he and Davy rejoin the group. “Seems we have a ceasefire, for now.” He nods towards the lines of armored enemies gathering behind the spear wielder.

“What are they waiting for?” Davy wonders as he equips a kite shield and heavy mace from his magical vest. A few broken metal plates on his vest show the loss of his summoned knights. “Boss?” He looks to Chestor for orders.

“Hold.” Chestor’s eyes never leave the spear wielder, but they flicker as a different warrior in armor approaches its side with a longsword.

“Now, we might have a problem.” Peter chuckles nervously as his aura flares around his body. He mirrors the opponent and stands by Chestor’s side, blades drawn. “Don’t tank their slash; you might lose a limb.” He tells Chestor with a severe tone.

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“Interesting.” Chestor only smiles with excitement as he tries to calm his fears. “We can’t make the first move.” He orders his group.

“Yes, boss.” Davy’s body gathers magical motes of light as he starts to enhance the team’s defensive abilities.

“Aye, lad.” Peter crouches into one of his main fighting stances. The killing intent that pours from him causes the grunts behind the warriors to step back.

“Understood.” Fin replies as he slowly releases the tension of his bowstring, lowering it but keeping the arrow notched.

“Just stall for time, boys!” Lewin yells out as the canister in her hands starts to open up. “Damn it, not enough. Syleen, help me.” Lewin pries open a small door off the end of the unit. A small dark gemstone sits amongst a complex array of inscriptions. “Charge this mana stone up!” She points at the gem.

“How much does he need?” Syleen extends her hands as the glow surrounding them flows into the small dark mana stone.

“More.” Lewin says while struggling with the cap on the other end of the device. “Until it shines and powers up!” She grunts while straining her tiny arm muscles against the metal casing.

“Come on, Rex, wake up!” Syleen shouts as she pushes even more mana into the stone. “This little bastard is gonna run me dry.” She complains even more while upping the output. Finally, getting a reaction from the mana stone, its color coming back as the magical light inside grows. “Come on!” Syleen screams as she pushes the last bits of mana she controls into the stone.

“Got it!” Lewin yells as she pops off the other capped end of the canister. She jams her finger onto the indent in the center, pushing down hard on a small rubbery button. A tiny pin pricks her finger, drawing just a drop of blood from her. “Rex!” She shouts at the container.

The mana stone pulses brightly as the container pulls out of her hands to hover before them. Mystical lights branch out along the casing in a circuit-stylized pattern. Once they cover the exterior, they pulse a few times before changing colors, and a hiss of air releases as the side panels fall to the ground. A glass case holds a fist-sized floating transparent crystal; motes of magical colors dance within its structure.

“I’m alive… Holy shit, it worked! We made it!” Rex flashes out victoriously. “Captain, we made it!” He cries out with joy. “Captain?” Rex calls out for Tim.

“Rex, we need your help.” Lewin steps closer to the hovering glass case.

“Sure thing, Lewin, right after the cap-” Rex’s container twists around in the air as if searching for someone.

“He’s not here! Right now.” Syleen tells Rex while averting her eyes from his spirit core.

“Locals have found us, and we are under attack, Rex. We need your help.” Lewin steps aside to let him see their attackers gathering their forces around them.

“How can I help?” Rex floats by her side.

“Try to figure out their language and translate for us.” Lewin pulls out a small pouch with small slender necklaces, all of a similar design. “Then enchant the translation spell into these.” She held one out to him.

“You can count on me!” Rex sent a pulse of magic through his capsule, and a slot in the top opened up for the necklace to be inserted. Lewin gave him the necklace before walking side by side with him up to the front.

“You sure about this?!” Chestor protests as Lewin tries to walk by him, allowing only Rex to float past him.

“What do we have to lose?” Lewin gave him a playful smile.

“Personally, a lot.” Syleen complains as she leans against Fin for support.

“If it doesn’t work, then we are back to killing each other.” Lewin huffs as she rolls her eyes.

“Grrrhghrrrhr!” Rex’s floating Spirit Core emits loud, growling noises as it approaches the enemies.

“Is he broken?!” Davy cries out in surprise.