Talent’s POV

With three quick bites Talent’s crystal disappeared. Three-sixteen swallowed hard as his eyes watered and his face twisted painfully. His neck jerked and his bones crunched with an audible pop. His body couldn’t contain the energy of the crystal he’d just eaten. The dumb fucking number had wasted Talent’s prize—worse, that crystal was actually meant for his father.

Talent wanted to kill the boy himself, but there was no point. He’d only get himself hurt as raw energy leaked out of the number like magma spilling from a volcano.

A dark shadow rose behind Three-sixteen and the world seemed to fall silent for a moment as an enormous black feathered bird rose up high. Its purple eyes locked on Three-sixteen as it grabbed him in its talons.

Sombra was no where to be seen, Talent hoped that meant he’d managed to disengage the raven king and not that he’d been killed or eaten.

The raven king flew up, carrying Three-sixteen as he screamed and kicked wildly, then dove into the ground disappearing into darkness.

The silence that followed was brief, and broken quickly by Ivy. She threw her magic shield at Kaeleth, knocking her off balance then fired her own pistol. Kaeleth dove away and shot a round that struck Ivy in the leg. She fell to the ground and her magic flickered as her attention diverted to the pain.

Talent couldn’t care less which of them won. He only hoped they’d distract each other long enough for him to disappear.He checked the sky once more for the large bird, but it was gone. Knowing flight was his quickest route to safety, Talent rose into the sky and shuttled away toward the thick jungle.

He flew several hundred yards before he heard wing beats pounding just behind him. It sounded like a bird the size of a house.

Talent increased his speed, but the sound didn't get further away. In fact it was getting louder and the bird was getting closer.

He looked over his shoulder and spotted the massive black bird with purple eyes closing in.

He dove down to evade, realizing a moment too late that the bird wasn’t chasing him, it was running away.

A ball of pure blackness with ember red eyes charged after the bird. Talent fell through the black cloud as he plummeted. The shadows were so cold and empty that they burned his skin and left him feeling violated.

Talent landed on the ground on outskirts of town. Ashil was ruined. Most of the city had collapsed under the pressure of the Raven kings wings or due to a direct attack. The city was on fire, the flames rising up into the sky, creating a dark pillar of smoke that spread out across the horizon.

Talent could smell burning flesh and blood. There were likely a lot of bodies trapped beneath the rubble. He imagined if he listened he might hear people calling for help. Mages were probably doing what they could to help, but Talent was entirely focused on the dark orb chasing after the Raven King. He’d seems something similar once before, when he was exploring the collapsed mine.

This time the entity didn’t feel familiar at all and it seemed openly hostile. As the dark orb caught the giant bird it formed into a cat-like shape, biting and scratching at the avian’s wings and neck. The bird screamed, spiraling, rolling and twisting in the air. Its tail struck the ground hard, kicking up a dust storm and sending a shock wave that nearly knocked Talent over.

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He was so focused on the battle that he didn't think to brace himself or protect against the wind and dust.

When the cloud cleared, the dark cat was perched on the bird's back and the Raven King was hovering in the air above a black mass. Shadows rose like black flames, eager to consume the large beast.

The cat lunged at the bird's neck and the Raven King responded by shooting out a wave of razor sharp feathers. They struck the cat's face and chest, piercing its flesh and causing a spray of black blood to splash over huge piles of rubble.

The cat's front legs gave out and the Raven King's talons slashed down, grabbing the cat's neck. He squeezed as he lifted the beast higher and the cat stopped moving, then slung it down into a shadowy miasma.

A hand gripped Talent’s shoulder, catching him off guard and pulling him to the side.

Talent swung around, his arm coming up to block a blow that didn't come.

Sombra stood before him, his face pale, his eyes wide and his teeth grinding so hard that Talent could almost hear the sound of bone on bone. “Your father… disappointed,” he ground out.

Sombra looked like he was going to be sick. Talent scoffed. His father seemed to always be disappointed in him. However he had to acknowledge that this was different. It seemed that Sombra had not been sent to rescue him, but to reclaim the crystal he’d lost and now Three-sixteen had eaten it. The high lord was content to let Talent die in the ravens nest so long as he got his crystal Back. Talent wasn’t sure how unpleasantly he might be greater on his return to the manor.

Talent sighed. It wasn’t something to worry about right now, he decided. What mattered was escaping with his life.

Sombra shoved a device into his hands then fell backwards into shadow.

Talent was alone. Distant roars and bird cries tousled his hair as shockwaves, that came one after the other, threatened to send him over the edge. He couldn’t help but feel regret. He should never have brought Three-sixteen from the mine. He should have killed him on the spot.

He swallowed his frustration and regret as he glanced down at the object Sombra gave him. It was his key stone. Sombra may no have come to save him, but at least now he could call his cruiser and go home, of course he’d need to find a safe place to do so first. The area was far too unstable for the craft to land, and if the bird caught sight of it it wouldn't hesitate to smash the vessel and leave him stranded in the wasteland.

As he considered his options, his mind wandered back to Three-sixteen and that crystal.

He wondered what happened to the boy, and where the second black beast came from.

The answers weren’t going to come him just standing around. And if he stayed much longer, he might be hurt or killed.Talent tucked the crystal away and took a look around for his safest path of escape.

As he ran, the sound of explosions and screams faded, replaced by the gentle lullaby of night birds and insects. He could still hear the two great beasts in the distance, but he felt he’d gone far enough.

He called his cruiser, watching it come down and hover in the jungles upper canopy. He ascended and boarded the vessel, wondering what happened to the magistrates who were with him when he was captured. As quickly as the cruiser arrived, he knew it must have still been nearby. The magistrates were either killed, captured, or they must’ve found another way home.

Turbulent winds rocked the craft, nearly tossing into an ancient tree. Thick branches whipped around like a cat o' nine tails, lashing at the hull and threatening to crack the glass windows.

The cruiser lurched away, but it was caught by an updraft and tossed several meters before Talent gained control and eased into a wind current. “Those fucking beasts!” he cursed, his voice echoing in the small cabin.

When the craft reached the apex of the jungle canopy, the wind died down and the turbulence lessened. It was still a bit rocky, but manageable. Talent set the course and put the machine on auto pilot. He was eager to go home, and equally eager to get the hell away from the raven's nest. He went to leave the cabin, but another bout of turbulence deterred him. He stayed in the pilots seat until he was far from the dark skies of Ashil and drifted into a much needed nap.