he Sentinels had managed to hold the advancing horde at bay, but the relentless waves of monsters were taking their toll. Their previously seamless coordination was beginning to falter as fatigue set in.

Wave after wave of monstrosities burned under torrents of fire magic or were cleaved apart by enchanted steel. Yet for every beast that fell, two more seemed to surge forward, as though driven by an unending force.

“They just keep coming!” shouted a Sentinel, her voice a mixture of frustration and determination as she slashed at a lithe, furry creature that lunged toward her. Her blade glimmered with lightning, crackling as it tore through the monster’s hide.

The Sentinel commander stood firm amidst the chaos, their polished armor scratched and dented. Their eyes, however, remained sharp as they barked out orders. “Evacuate the citizens! Prioritize women and children. Anyone capable of fighting stays behind—we don’t have the magic to protect everyone!”

Throughout the town, groups of Sentinels and guards coordinated to usher the wounded and the vulnerable into shelters and onto teleportation platforms hastily assembled in the larger buildings. Glowing glyphs etched into the floors pulsed as each group was whisked away to safety.

Lucas guided a young woman carrying an infant toward the teleporters. “Quickly now,” he urged, his tone firm but gentle. “You’ll be safe at the University. Go!”

Inside the town hall, the chaos was controlled but intense. Families clung to each other, awaiting their turn to escape, while teleporters worked as fast as their magic allowed. Each spell visibly drained them, beads of sweat running down their foreheads.

Lance’s group remained close to the door, observing the flow of fleeing citizens. A teleporter, her robes glowing faintly from residual magic, approached them. She was clearly exhausted, her voice hoarse but steady.

“You kids should stay back,” she said, pointing a finger at Lance and his friends. “You’re mages, and you can defend yourselves. We need every bit of magic for the non-combatants.”

Lance nodded hesitantly. “Alright, I’ll tell my friends.”

ance turned to find his friends clustered near the hall's entrance. The tension was evident on their faces; even Kade, normally the first to rush into a fight, seemed shaken.

“We’re staying back,” Lance announced as he approached, his voice steady but firm.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“What?” Bella exclaimed, her fiery demeanor sparking to life. “They’re evacuating the town. Why are we staying?”

“They don’t have enough magic to teleport everyone,” Lance explained, his gaze sweeping over the group. “We’re mages. We can protect ourselves. If we leave, that’s one less chance for someone who can’t fight to get out safely.”

Lyra frowned, crossing her arms. “You mean we’re supposed to just stay here and... what? Play heroes?”

“Not heroes. Survivors,” Lance corrected, his tone sharpened by urgency. “The Sentinels are out there giving everything they’ve got, but they’re exhausted. We can’t just abandon them—or the town.”

Bella opened her mouth to retort but hesitated. Her gaze flicked to the townsfolk, huddled in fear, clutching their children and each other. She let out a frustrated sigh.

*******************************************************************

Lance took a deep breath as the group gathered near the hall’s heavy oak doors, the muffled sounds of combat growing louder with each passing moment. The roars of the creatures outside mingled with the shouted commands of Sentinels, creating a symphony of chaos.

“Stay close,” he repeated, his voice firm. “Watch each other’s backs. Let’s—”

"Easy there, commander," William’s voice echoed lightly in Lance’s mind, his tone tinged with playful reassurance. "You might want to loosen up a little. Confidence looks good on you, but rigidity? Not so much."

“What?” Lance murmured under his breath, earning curious glances from his friends.

"Your stance, Lance," William quipped. "Don’t lock your knees like that. What are you planning to do, intimidate them with a statue routine? Relax! Go with the flow."

Lance shifted his feet and rolled his shoulders, muttering, "Happy now?"

"Delighted," William replied, his laughter a gentle ripple in Lance's mind. "Remember, kid, you’ve got me to amplify your spells. Just don’t flail around like a drowning octopus, and we’ll be fine."

“What are you mumbling about now?” Bella asked, adjusting the grip on a makeshift staff

“William,” Lance said simply. "Offering his… unique brand of advice."

"Don’t drag me into this," William teased. "You’ll make me sound like a drill sergeant."

“Are we doing this, or are you two holding hands?” Kade interjected, sparks of lightning crackling faintly around his fists.

“Hold tight. We’re moving,” Lance replied, his confidence rekindled as he stepped forward. "Let’s make this count."

As the group stepped out into the night, the battlefield came into full view. The Sentinels had pushed the horde back from the square, but the monsters were relentless, their grotesque forms spilling from the darkness like a flood.

"Okay, quick strategy," William piped in, his tone serious but not devoid of humor. "The big guy there? Lumbering, slow… prime candidate for a quick collapse. Hit the legs, mess with its balance. Simple physics, buddy."

Lance nodded and gestured to the group. "Bella, Felix, keep the monsters busy. Kade, Lyra, help me bring that big one down."

“You’re awfully confident for someone who doesn't know how to use a sword,” Lyra remarked, skepticism apparent.

"Ah, the skeptic," William remarked. "Tell her to save the sarcasm until after we’re heroes."

“Just trust me,” Lance said, ignoring William’s snicker in the back of his mind. "Let’s go."

The group surged into the fray, their movements starting to become coordinated despite the chaos around them. Lance let his focus narrow as William’s voice kept a steady stream of encouragement flowing through his thoughts.