In the air, beyond the sound of waves crashing against the rocks and the shrill cries of seagulls from the nearby shore, the clash of blades echoed.

Sif moved with grace, her black hair flying behind her as she effortlessly dodged her enemy's attacks. Helier, on the other hand, swung wildly, his strikes chaotic and uncoordinated, driven more by rage than skill.

"Lukius! Get them to the rest!" Sif shouted, lunging toward the enemy with her blade ready to strike.

"On it!" Lukius called back, turning toward Sylleth and Zara. "Let’s go!"

Zara sprang to her feet in an instant, grabbing Sylleth and pulling him along with her.

"Zara?" The boy stammered, still dazed and confused by the chaos around them.

"We're going!" She shouted joyfully, yanking his hand and following the young man ahead with boundless energy.

As Lukius led the heroes to safety, Sif did everything in her power to keep the hunter's attention focused on her. She moved with precision, her blade flashing in the dim light as she parried Helier’s wild strikes, each movement designed to draw his rage further away from the others.

"Why you..." Helier began, his voice seething with anger. "How did you even know we’d be here?!" he shouted, his face flushed with fury.

"As it happens..." Sif replied, shoving him back with a powerful kick, sending him stumbling. "...one of ours let himself get caught by you." She smirked, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

"Damn it..." The man cursed under his breath, then without a second thought, he turned and sprinted towards the dense forest that surrounded them.

"Huh? That’s it?" Sif muttered, lowering her weapon, a look of disbelief crossing her face.

Suddenly, a massive metal arrow slammed into the ground, destroying one of the larger trees and blocking the man's path with a loud thud.

"Don’t even think about escaping!" Shouted a young man perched on one of the tree branches above. His purple-gray hair, tied into a ponytail, fluttered gently in the breeze, partially falling over the large longbow he held at the ready.

"You..." The man muttered, turning towards the boy.

"Yep, it's me. Bet you didn’t expect that this 'weakling' you caught was an adventurer, huh?" The boy chuckled softly, smoothly drawing an arrow from his quiver and nocking it onto the string of his bow in one fluid motion.

"Niall, don't." Sif said calmly, her voice carrying a sense of control.

"But..." The boy started, only to be cut off by the woman.

"No arguments. We need information, and a dead man won't give us any." Sif's voice grew firm as she slowly walked toward Helier, her gaze unwavering.

"Yes... of course, ma'am." Niall replied, disappointed but obedient, lowering the arrow back into his quiver and settling back on the branch, a hint of frustration in his eyes.

"Information? You think I’ll tell you anything?!" The man laughed mockingly.

"A sane man wouldn’t... but we have our ways." Sif replied calmly, pulling a small gray pouch from one of her pockets.

"...Are you trying to bribe me, woman?" Helier shouted, his frustration rising.

At his outburst, Niall, now lounging lazily on the branch, let out a snicker.

"Oh, you wish." He chuckled.

Sif pulled out a small, square device from the pouch, a gray crystal embedded at its center.

"What the hell is that?!" Helier shouted, taking an instinctive step back.

Without warning, Sif lunged forward, driving the black box straight into his ribs.

"UGH!" Helier grunted, the force of the blow knocking him off balance. He collapsed to the ground, clutching his side, pain and confusion flashing across his face.

Tendrils of gray smoke began to rise from Helier's body, swirling and twisting in the air like serpents.

The man clutched his chest, writhing in agony, but no sound escaped his lips beyond his initial scream. His mouth hung open, but his voice had been stolen by the pain.

The smoke slowly began to funnel toward the gray crystal embedded in the device, as if drawn by an unseen force. The more the mist was absorbed, the more Helier's body convulsed, his eyes wide with panic, each tendril that vanished into the stone intensifying his torment.

"It's always fun watching the bad guys squirm when the crystal gets them..." Niall said, clearly amused, swinging his legs playfully from the branch above.

"Niall, go to Lukius and the others. I'll join you shortly." Sif commanded, her tone firm as she held the device steady over Helier's trembling body. Her focus remained on the man beneath her, the gray crystal continuing to draw the swirling smoke from him, its eerie glow intensifying with each passing second.

"On it!" Niall replied with a grin, standing up and gracefully hopping from branch to branch until he finally landed on the ground with a soft thud.

"They’ve headed toward the port." Sif informed him, pointing with the sword she still held in her other hand, the blade gleaming faintly in the dim light.

Niall gave a quick nod, then dashed off in the direction she had indicated, his movements swift and sure, leaving Sif to finish her business with Helier.

----------------------------------------

Lukius, with Zara and Sylleth trailing closely behind, pushed through the thick brush, his eyes constantly scanning the path ahead. The air was thick with the smell of salt and seaweed as they neared the coastline.

"We're almost there!" The man shouted over his shoulder, his voice barely audible over the sound of their hurried footsteps.

"Where are you taking us?!" Sylleth yelled back, confusion etched on his face as he struggled to keep up.

"No time to explain! We'll tell you everything later!" Came the quick reply, his pace increasing as they navigated through the thick underbrush.

Zara, still gripping Sylleth’s hand tightly, shot him a reassuring glance. Though exhausted and just as confused, there was an undeniable spark of excitement in her eyes as they raced through the forest, pushing toward whatever safety lay ahead.

Suddenly, a soft, feminine voice rang out from one of the trees above them.

"Oh Lukius, that was quick." The woman said, her tone casual as she pulled back the hood of her black leather armor, revealing short, raven-black hair and a scar across her lips.

"Syviis?! What are you doing here?!" Lukius exclaimed, clearly bewildered by her sudden appearance.

"Vidar decided he didn’t need my help, so I took off." She replied nonchalantly, swinging her legs playfully as she sat perched on a branch, her expression calm and unbothered.

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"...The oldest, yet they act like kids..." The young man muttered in disappointment, running a hand through his hair.

"Hey, what are you mumbling over there?" Syviis asked, frowning down at him.

"Nothing important. You should probably go help Vidar before Sif finds out and we all get an earful." Lukius replied, waving it off as he continued moving ahead.

"...They don't seem to be a very coordinated team..." Zara whispered to Sylleth, her voice low with concern.

"Right?" Sylleth replied, nodding as they followed Lukius further down the path.

“What?! Why should I? He can handle himself!” Syviis shouted back, her voice laced with annoyance.

“Syviis, you know him.” Lukius called out, exasperation creeping into his tone. “For all we know, he might have charged headlong into that mage Slanei mentioned. And if that’s the case, he’s in deep trouble.”

“Ugh…” Syviis groaned, clearly frustrated but knowing Vidar, Lukius was right. With a reluctant sigh, she slowly jumped down from the tree, landing gracefully.

Zara tightened her grip on Sylleth’s hand, her face reflecting concern. Whatever lay ahead, she wasn’t eager to find out just how reckless their new allies could be.

Then, all of them burst through the final line of trees into a clearing.

The scene before them made Zara’s heart skip a beat.

On one side of the clearing lay a man, pinned beneath an overturned wagon, his face twisted in pain. On the other, a hooded figure stood tall, clutching a massive staff that crackled with raw energy.

“Vidar!” Lukius shouted, his voice filled with urgency as he spotted the faint glow of mana orbs beginning to form at the end of the hooded figure’s staff.

“Damn it!” Syviis cursed under her breath, instantly dashing toward the trapped man, her eyes fixed on the precarious situation as she moved.

The hooded hunter turned sharply toward the sprinting woman, and with a single swift motion of his staff, unleashed a barrage of fiery projectiles in her direction.

“Syviis, watch out!” Lukius yelled, thrusting his hand forward instinctively.

In an instant, a wave of pure, shimmering energy erupted from his palm. As it surged through the air, it began to ripple and twist, forming into a translucent barrier resembling the flow of water, curving to intercept the oncoming fire.

The flames fizzled out upon colliding with Lukius's magic, dispersing into a thick, swirling cloud of smoke that covered the battlefield.

Syviis, unfazed by the sudden cover of smoke, darted swiftly toward Vidar, her focus unwavering.

“You... what are you doing here?!” Vidar grunted, his voice strained as he struggled to free himself from the heavy carriage pinning him down.

“Maybe start with a 'thank you' first?” Syviis snapped back, gritting her teeth as she threw her weight against the carriage, trying to shift it off him.

A moment later, Lukius, Zara, and Sylleth caught up with the group, their faces flushed from running.

"Alright, we've got a little time before that mage comes to his senses." Lukius said breathlessly, immediately stepping in to help Syviis as she pushed the wreckage of the wagon aside.

Seeing him jump into action, Zara quickly followed, positioning herself on the other side of the carriage. "Let me help too." She said, determination flashing in her eyes as she braced herself to push.

Sylleth stood a few paces behind, still catching his breath and wide-eyed from the chaos of the battle. Zara noticed him hesitating and glanced back, her expression softening slightly.

"Sylleth, come on, we need all the help we can get." She urged, her voice gentle but firm, nodding toward the carriage. "It's not going to move itself."

"Y-Yeah," Sylleth stammered, throwing himself into the effort, his arms shaking as he tried to help push the wagon with all his strength.

"Just... a little more..." Lukius grunted, every muscle in his body straining as he gave it everything he had.

Meanwhile, Vidar, still pinned beneath the wagon, gritted his teeth in frustration. In one swift movement, he reached over and yanked a dagger from the holster on Syviis' thigh.

"Hey!" Syviis shouted, glaring at him.

Ignoring her protests, Vidar stabbed the blade into the ground beside him, using it as leverage to pull himself out from under the wreckage.

"If you dull that blade, I'll kill you myself!" She snapped, though there was a spark of amusement in her voice. She quickly returned to pushing the wagon, her eyes fixed on freeing him.

The combined effort of the group began to pay off. The wagon, slowly but surely, shifted under their combined strength. With a final heave, it moved just enough for Vidar to pull his leg free. He staggered to his feet, dusting himself off and stretching his muscles with a pained grimace.

"Finally!" Vidar shouted as he slowly pulled himself up from the ground, brushing off the dirt. "Took you long enough!"

"Hey! That’s how you thank us for saving your hide?!" Syviis yelled, her voice filled with frustration as she glared at him.

Vidar raised his hands in mock surrender, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Alright, alright... sorry about that." He rubbed his short beard, trying to defuse the situation, before turning to Lukius. "Thanks for the help, man."

Syviis’ eyes widened in disbelief. "Oh, come on!" she snapped, her patience clearly wearing thin. "You can thank him, but not me?!"

"Ugh..." Lukius groaned, clutching his head.

Suddenly, as the thick smoke began to thin out, an intense light flared up from the direction where the hooded mage had been standing.

"Xenthra-Fyren!" The hooded figure bellowed, his voice echoing with a sinister force as he pointed his now glowing staff directly at the group.

"Watch out!" Lukius shouted, thrusting his hand forward.

Zara instinctively dropped to the ground, pulling Sylleth down with her in one swift motion. The boy hit the dirt with a startled yelp but quickly realized the danger as he glanced toward the threat.

Vidar and Syviis stood their ground behind Lukius, bracing themselves for whatever was about to come next. Both of them knew well enough to trust their comrade's instincts when it came to magic.

"Let’s see it, man!" Vidar shouted, shielding his face with his arms as a gust of wind began to whip up around them.

From the mage's staff, a massive fireball erupted, hurtling toward the group at terrifying speed. Before Lukius could summon his magic to defend them, a calm, yet commanding voice echoed from the distance.

"I’ll handle this!" Niall's voice rang out from one of the nearby trees, as he swiftly drew a golden arrow from his quiver.

"Slanei?!" Lukius shouted in surprise, his eyes widening.

"Do it, kid!" Vidar and Syviis yelled together, their voices full of urgency but also trust in the archer’s skill.

Niall drew the arrow against the string of his bow, his movements precise and calm. As he took a knee, his breathing steadied.

"With winds of the ancients, I call upon thee..." He whispered, his eyes closing as the soft hum of mana coursed through him. "...to strip away power, and set the mana free!" He shouted, his voice carrying through the trees.

The golden arrow, now nocked and ready, began to tremble ever so slightly. A faint glow surrounded it, pulsing in rhythm with his words as the magic infused into its core, preparing to break the enemy's spell.

In the blink of an eye, Niall's arrow shot toward the massive fireball, which was now dangerously close to the group. Time seemed to slow as the glowing projectile sliced through the air with precision.

Upon impact, the arrow pierced the enemy's spell, and for a brief moment, the fiery orb hung suspended in the air before exploding in a flash of light. The unleashed energy scattered harmlessly across the battlefield, the once-contained magic now dispersed into the atmosphere like a gust of wind. The heroes stood unharmed, the danger passed as Niall's mana-defusing spell did its work.

"Nice job, kid!" Syviis shouted, waving toward the boy perched on the tree branch.

"Thanks!" Niall called back with a grin, quickly leaping down from the tree with effortless grace. He landed softly on the ground, brushing off his clothes as he joined the others, clearly pleased with himself.

The heroes turned toward where the mage had once stood, only to see another hooded figure emerging from the shadows, this time wielding a massive axe.

"Looks like we've got another problem..." Lukius muttered, taking a cautious step back.

"I'll handle this one." Vidar said confidently, drawing his sword from the sheath at his side.

"You already 'handled' the last one," Syviis shot back with a smirk, pulling one dagger from the ground and another from her other pocket, her eyes locked on the new threat.

The hooded figure swung their massive axe, its blade glowing with an eerie malachite light.

"They're attacking!" Niall shouted, his voice urgent.

"Take cover!" Zara yelled, grabbing Sylleth’s hand. In one swift motion, she pulled him up from the ground and dragged him behind the wagon for safety, her heart pounding in her chest.

A sudden gust of wind swept across the battlefield, and in an instant, both hooded figures vanished as if carried away by the breeze.

"Ahh!" Niall shouted, shielding his face from the blast.

"Where are they?!" Syviis yelled, her voice laced with confusion as her eyes darted around the clearing, searching for any sign of the enemies.

"Maybe... they ran away?" Lukius muttered, glancing around cautiously.

"Ugh... no fun at all." Vidar grumbled, sheathing his sword with a frustrated sigh.

"I'll pass on that kind of 'fun'." Syviis snorted in response, rolling her eyes.

“Did they run away?” Zara asked, peeking out from behind the wagon.

“I think so…” Lukius replied, still scanning the area for any signs of danger.

“Uh… is it a good idea to ask who you are?” Sylleth chimed in, leaning out from behind Zara.

“You didn’t tell them?” Niall said, turning to Lukius with a raised eyebrow.

“There was no time for that.” The young man answered, his tone laced with frustration.

“Ugh…” Syviis sighed, crossing her arms as she faced Sylleth and Zara. “We’re A-rank adventurers.” She declared, her voice carrying a hint of pride.

“Actually, we’re called the Stormbreakers.” Vidar interjects, a hint of pride in his voice.

“I don’t really like that name.” Niall replies, wrinkling his nose in disapproval.

“What did you just say?!” Vidar shouts, eyes widening in disbelief.

“Don’t argue with him, Slanei.” Lukius chimes in, a smirk playing on his lips as he tries to diffuse the tension.

“Ugh…” Niall groans, tossing his braid over his shoulder with a dramatic flair, the annoyance clear on his face.

“Well, it’s better than being called the ‘Lost Causes’ isn’t it?” Syviis adds with a teasing grin, earning a laugh from the others.

“Yeah, yeah, we get it! You’re all clever!” Vidar retorts, crossing his arms but unable to hide his smile.

“...The most important thing you need to know is that...” Lukius begins, turning to Sylleth and Zara, his expression earnest. “...we want to help you.”