The morning after Darius’s death, the air in the guild was thick with an unspoken grief. Kalsei, Steph, Seikan, and Elyra moved with a shared silence, each step feeling heavier than usual. It was as if Darius’s presence lingered with them, a shadow of what had been and what could no longer be.

The Guild Mother gathered them in her office, her expression more solemn than they’d ever seen. "I know nothing can replace what you've lost," she began, her voice soft, almost reverent. "But we can't let this stop us. We have leads on the League's whereabouts, and we believe they’re holding their core operations in the marshlands. If they’re setting up there, it means they’re preparing for something big."

Seikan’s gaze was steely, his fists clenched by his sides. "They wanted to break us. They’re trying to get to us through fear and loss. But we won’t give them that satisfaction."

Steph placed a hand on his shoulder, her voice quieter than usual. "We’ll end this. For Darius."

Kalsei nodded, though his usual grin was nowhere in sight. "And we’ll do it with the same ferocity he would’ve shown."

Elyra, standing off to the side, swallowed hard, her voice barely audible. "He deserves justice. We can’t let this go unanswered."

The Guild Mother’s eyes reflected a quiet sorrow. "Then you understand what you must do. We have reliable intel suggesting the League has set up their base deep within the marshlands. It’s isolated and protected by wards, but they have no idea we’ve tracked them this closely. You’ll face resistance, but it’s the best chance we have to dismantle them before they can do any further damage."

The journey to the marshlands began at dawn, with the team moving in a solemn but determined silence. Kalsei led the way, his usual sarcastic commentary replaced by a steely focus. Steph and Elyra walked close behind, their expressions set, each of them preparing mentally for the mission ahead. Seikan brought up the rear, his eyes sharp, scanning the horizon with an almost predatory calm. The last traces of hesitation or fear had been burned away by their shared loss.

The marshlands greeted them with a thick fog, heavy and cloying, clinging to their clothes and dulling the sounds around them. The air smelled damp and stale, and strange sounds echoed from the shadows—a croak here, a distant splash there. It was the perfect place for the League to hide, a place that seemed to swallow any light or hope. And they knew it.

"Stay close," Seikan murmured, his voice low. "The League’s been using dark wards to guard their territory. They might sense us the moment we cross the outer barrier."

Elyra nodded, glancing around as she tried to keep her nerves under control. "I can feel the magic in the air… it’s thick, almost like it’s breathing."

Steph gave her a reassuring nod, her hand gripping her staff tighter. "We’ve faced worse. And we’re doing this together."

Kalsei glanced back at them, a grim smile on his face. "Let’s give them a reason to regret ever picking this place."

The path grew narrower, and Seikan stopped, motioning for them to halt. He knelt down, tracing his fingers along the muddy ground. "There’s a trap rune here. It’s set to trigger the moment we step within ten paces."

Kalsei crouched beside him, studying the faint lines of magic visible only to Seikan’s trained eye. "Can you disarm it?"

Seikan nodded, concentrating. "I’ll use Runic Erasure. It’ll take a moment, but it’ll be safe after."

The others waited in tense silence as Seikan began drawing a counter-rune in the air, his fingers moving with practiced precision. The runes pulsed faintly, then vanished as Seikan’s magic neutralized the trap.

Steph let out a slow breath. "One down… probably a hundred more to go."

Kalsei forced a chuckle. "And here I was hoping for a straightforward fight."

They pressed forward, alert and wary. The marsh seemed to close in around them, the fog growing thicker, heavy with the scent of decay and earth. After a while, they spotted dim lights flickering in the distance, likely the outposts of the League’s camp.

Elyra paused, her face tense as she extended a hand, forming an Aqua Prism in front of her. "I can sense movement… just beyond the lights. It’s faint, but it feels… wrong."

Seikan narrowed his eyes, studying the shadows. "They’re cloaking their forces. Illusions, probably, to make us think there are more of them than there really are. Stick together and stay focused."

A low hum began to fill the air as the League’s wards reacted to their presence. Dark, twisted shapes seemed to materialize out of the fog—phantoms or illusions, it was impossible to tell.

Kalsei grinned, though his eyes held a hardened edge. "Guess they’re ready for us. So, who wants to make the first move?"

Seikan stepped forward, his hand raised as he activated Blood Seeker Rune. The air pulsed with his magic, disrupting the illusions and revealing several cloaked figures skulking just beyond their line of sight.

"There," Seikan murmured, his voice deadly calm. "No hiding anymore."

The first of the League members charged, and the battle erupted. Kalsei moved with a speed and agility that made him a blur, activating Echo Shift to teleport between his opponents, leaving trails of explosive light behind him that disoriented the attackers. He twisted mid-strike, delivering a blow to the closest enemy and sending him crashing into the mud.

Steph summoned her Sanctuary Shield, a radiant barrier that glowed with healing energy. It covered her teammates, absorbing the initial barrage of dark magic that the League agents unleashed. The shield pulsed, mending minor wounds and restoring their stamina as they pressed the attack.

Elyra stayed close to Steph, her Aqua Prism shimmering as it intercepted projectiles, freezing them mid-air before they shattered harmlessly. With a wave of her hand, she redirected the frozen shards back at the enemy, catching them off-guard.

Seikan wove through the chaos, his eyes focused and cold. He activated Runic Erasure, dissolving the dark wards protecting the League agents. With a swift motion, he unleashed Eldritch Grasp, dark tendrils snaking out to bind an enemy and drain his life force. His expression was calm, almost detached—a mirror of his resolve.

A particularly fierce League warrior lunged at Seikan, but Kalsei intercepted, activating Reality Flux to increase the weight of the enemy’s weapon mid-swing. The warrior staggered under the sudden weight, allowing Kalsei to deliver a swift, incapacitating blow. "I’ve got your back," he called to Seikan, his voice tight with focus.

Steph’s voice echoed through the fog. "Stay together. Don’t let them separate us."

The League members seemed to sense their strength, falling back into the shadows, regrouping. The team took a moment to catch their breath, watching the shadows warily.

"They’re trying to draw us deeper," Seikan observed, his voice cold and analytical. "They want us to exhaust ourselves before we reach their main stronghold."

Kalsei smirked, though his eyes were sharper than usual. "Let them try. We’re not leaving until every last one of them regrets crossing us."

They advanced carefully, picking their way through the marsh, alert for any sign of movement. The lights in the distance grew brighter, and soon they reached the edge of a large clearing where a heavily fortified encampment lay ahead. The League’s forces were gathered there, their dark-clad figures moving with a grim purpose, setting traps and reinforcing their defenses.

Elyra took a deep breath, steadying herself. "There are so many… can we really—"

"We can," Seikan interrupted, his tone firm. "We’re not going in blind. We know their tactics, their weaknesses. And we have each other."

Steph’s grip on her staff tightened. "Darius would’ve told us the same thing. We do this together, or not at all."

Kalsei’s eyes glinted with a fierce determination. "Then let’s remind them why messing with the Guild was the biggest mistake they ever made."

The assault was swift and brutal. Kalsei’s Echo Shift allowed him to weave between enemy lines, disorienting their ranks with sudden bursts of light and sound. Steph activated her Sanctuary Shield repeatedly, shielding them from dark magic attacks while amplifying their healing.

Seikan used his Blood Seeker Rune to target League members who bore traces of his own blood magic, homing in on them with lethal precision. Each strike was calculated, each spell meticulously controlled.

Elyra stayed close, her Aqua Prism shifting from defense to offense as she manipulated the water around her, solidifying it into crystalline spikes that shot toward their foes with deadly accuracy.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

As they fought, memories of Darius flashed through their minds—his unwavering strength, his quiet resolve, his steady presence that had anchored them. They channeled that memory into every strike, every spell, their grief fueling their determination.

The battle raged on, the League's forces swarming from all sides in waves. Each figure that emerged from the shadows seemed more formidable than the last. Cloaked assassins, dark mages, and heavily armored brutes formed a relentless tide, intent on overwhelming the guild team. The clash of magic and steel echoed through the marshlands, merging with the distant roar of twisted, unnatural creatures that prowled the shadows.

Kalsei darted through the chaos, his Reality Flux ability allowing him to make sudden shifts in his surroundings. He reached for a League warrior, only to render the man’s armor impossibly heavy. The enemy stumbled, giving Kalsei the opening to strike swiftly, knocking him down before shifting to the next target. As he moved, he shouted to the others, his voice laced with a dark humor that barely hid the rage beneath. "Thought they could throw a welcoming party and not get burned? Bold move!"

Seikan, keeping to the edge of the group, was a relentless force of calculated destruction. With Blood Seeker Rune active, he traced his magic through the battlefield, pinpointing those who had stolen his blood for their twisted experiments. The rune glowed ominously, guiding him from one enemy to another. As he reached each target, he dispatched them swiftly, his face a mask of cold fury.

Steph kept the team bolstered with her Sanctuary Shield, creating a healing aura that pulsed with each beat of her heart. Her spells sustained their strength, but she, too, was in the thick of battle. When one of the dark mages attempted to cast a curse on Kalsei, Steph swung her staff, sending Spectral Chains toward the caster. The ghostly chains wrapped around the mage, immobilizing him, and Steph’s voice rang out in fierce determination. "You won’t touch them. Not while I’m here."

Elyra, standing within the shield's reach, summoned a whirling vortex of water around her, shaping it into an Aqua Prism that deflected incoming attacks. With a focused gesture, she solidified parts of the prism into shards of ice, launching them toward the nearest attackers. "There’s no end to them!" she called out, breathless but resolute.

Kalsei laughed, even as he parried a strike from a cloaked figure. "Good! I was hoping they’d make this worth our while."

As he spoke, a towering figure emerged from the depths of the League’s camp—a warlock clad in dark armor adorned with blood-red runes that pulsed with ominous light. His voice boomed across the battlefield, carrying an unnatural resonance that seemed to chill the air. "Guild wretches! You think you can disrupt our plans? You are but insects before the might of the League!"

Seikan’s eyes narrowed as he recognized the warlock's attire. "Careful, that one’s likely their leader. He’s wielding blood magic—enhanced, corrupted. Stay close, and don’t underestimate him."

The warlock raised his hands, chanting in an ancient language. Dark tendrils of energy spread from his fingers, writhing through the air before coalescing into shadowy constructs that loomed over the battlefield. Each construct glowed with the same corrupted energy, moving with an unnatural intelligence as they advanced on the guild members.

Steph’s grip on her staff tightened, her expression resolute. "If he wants to use blood magic, he’ll find out what happens when he tries that against a real healer."

She raised her hand, channeling Sanctuary Shield into an expanded barrier that absorbed the warlock’s initial onslaught. The dark energy dissipated against the radiant shield, but the strain showed in Steph’s clenched jaw.

"Elyra, help me reinforce it!" she called out.

Elyra nodded, stepping closer and weaving her water magic into the barrier, forming crystalline shields that helped disperse the impact. The two of them created a wall of protection, holding back the constructs while Kalsei and Seikan prepared their counterattacks.

Kalsei activated Echo Shift, teleporting around the constructs and striking at weak points he detected in their forms. Each time he moved, he left behind a burst of destabilizing energy that disrupted their cohesion, forcing them to pause as they tried to reform.

Seikan, meanwhile, called upon Runic Erasure, drawing a complex rune in the air that glowed with dark power. With a swift motion, he activated it, dissolving the nearest construct into a cloud of dark mist. The warlock scowled, his eyes narrowing as he focused his attention on Seikan.

"So, you’re the one they spoke of—the blood-imbued mage," the warlock sneered. "Your power is ours, and I will see to it that your precious Guild falls."

Seikan’s eyes flashed with a mixture of fury and defiance. "I’ve spent too long watching people like you manipulate and abuse power you don’t understand. Your time is up."

The warlock raised his hand, summoning a massive spike of corrupted blood crystal that hovered ominously in the air. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it hurtling toward Seikan. But Kalsei intercepted, activating Reality Flux to increase the density of the air around the spike, slowing it down long enough for Seikan to sidestep.

"Not so fast, shadow creep," Kalsei taunted, his voice sharp. "You want him? You’ll have to go through all of us first."

Steph, still holding the shield, gritted her teeth. "And that’s not happening any time soon."

Their coordinated efforts threw the warlock off balance, but he recovered quickly, summoning more constructs and hurling curses at them. Elyra countered with Aqua Prism, redirecting a spell back at the warlock, who snarled as it hit his armor, sending cracks through the enchanted metal.

The battle escalated as more powerful enemies joined the warlock, each wielding dark, twisted forms of magic that tested every ounce of the team’s skill and endurance. Dark knights with cursed blades, mages wielding corrupted fire, and spectral archers all converged on them.

Steph’s Sanctuary Shield began to flicker, the strain evident on her face as she struggled to maintain the barrier against the relentless onslaught. "I don’t know how much longer I can hold it!" she admitted, her voice strained.

Seikan stepped closer, casting Blood Seeker Rune to disrupt the enemy mages' connection to their spells, weakening their attacks. "We just need to push a little longer. This is their final stand—if we break them here, the League loses its stronghold."

Kalsei unleashed Echo Shift in rapid succession, moving around the battlefield to keep their enemies guessing. His eyes met Steph’s, and he gave her a reassuring grin. "Hang in there. You’re the best shot we’ve got at keeping this together."

Elyra, drawing on every ounce of focus she had, solidified her Aqua Prism into a massive barrier of ice that gave Steph’s shield some much-needed reinforcement. "We’re with you, Steph. We can do this."

The warlock, realizing his constructs and mages were being picked apart, let out a roar of frustration. He began to channel a final, desperate spell, drawing on the corrupted power around him to create a swirling vortex of dark energy.

The ground shook as the vortex grew, consuming everything in its path. The warlock’s laughter echoed, a twisted sound that seemed to resonate with the marshland itself. "You cannot stop us! You will be consumed by the very darkness you sought to challenge!"

But Kalsei and Seikan exchanged a look of understanding, and in unison, they advanced toward the warlock. Seikan activated Runic Erasure, crafting a counter-rune that would weaken the vortex’s pull. Kalsei used Reality Flux to manipulate the density of the air within the vortex, slowing its expansion.

Steph and Elyra focused their remaining strength, reinforcing the team with layers of shields and barriers to protect them from the warlock’s final attack. Steph’s Sanctuary Shield pulsed with a radiant glow, amplifying the defensive magic around them, while Elyra’s Aqua Prism formed a lattice that absorbed and redirected the vortex’s energy.

With one final push, Seikan unleashed Eldritch Grasp, sending tendrils of dark energy spiraling toward the warlock. The tendrils latched onto the warlock’s armor, draining his power and destabilizing his control over the vortex.

The warlock’s eyes widened in horror as his power began to fade, the vortex collapsing in on itself. In a final act of defiance, he raised his hand, attempting to summon another dark construct, but Kalsei appeared beside him, grinning fiercely.

"Sorry, end of the line," Kalsei said, and with a swift movement, he delivered a powerful blow that shattered the warlock’s concentration.

The vortex imploded, pulling the warlock into its collapsing center before dissipating into nothingness. The battlefield fell silent as the last traces of dark magic faded, leaving only the broken remains of the League’s forces scattered across the marsh.

The team stood together, breathing heavily, each of them bearing the marks of battle but standing victorious. Steph lowered her shield, her face pale but resolute.

"We did it," she murmured, the weight of their achievement finally settling over her.

Elyra looked around at the fallen enemies, her voice soft. "Darius would’ve been proud."

Kalsei’s gaze turned somber, though a faint smile played at his lips. "He was with us every step of the way."

Seikan, surveying the aftermath, nodded. "We’ve broken their hold. But we still have work to do. The League’s influence won’t vanish overnight."

Steph placed a hand on his shoulder. "We’ll finish what he started.

The marshlands were quiet now, with only the distant sounds of wildlife slowly returning to fill the void left by the fierce battle. Kalsei, Steph, Seikan, and Elyra took a final look around, their expressions a mix of exhaustion and grim satisfaction. They had dealt a serious blow to the League of Shadows, shattering their forces here and removing one of their primary strongholds. But they all knew the fight wasn’t over. Somewhere, the League’s leader still lurked, waiting.

Steph let out a long breath, glancing at her companions. "Let’s get back to the guild. The Guild Mother will want to know what we found here… and what we’ve done."

Kalsei nodded, though his usual grin was tempered with the weight of what lay ahead. "Yeah, I could use a bit of rest after today. That was… intense."

Seikan’s gaze was steady, his expression unreadable. "This was just a step. The League won’t let this go unanswered, and neither will we. But we’re stronger together—and we’re not doing this alone."

Elyra, who had remained quiet through most of the battle, now spoke up softly, her voice carrying a determined edge. "Darius would have told us to keep moving forward. We’ll bring this news back to the guild and get ready for whatever comes next."

---

The journey back to Aurelia was long, each of them lost in their thoughts. As they traveled, the somberness of what they’d endured hung over them, but there was also a shared determination to see things through. The weight of Darius’s absence was palpable, a reminder of the cost of their mission and of the stakes that still remained. When the spires of the guild city finally came into view, they all felt a sense of relief and resolve.

Entering the city, they walked through the bustling streets, their presence drawing curious and respectful glances from the other guild members and citizens who had heard about the battle. News of the Titan attack and the League of Shadows had spread fast, and the guild had become a beacon of hope—and fear—for everyone who looked to them for protection.

They pushed through the guild hall doors, each step taking them deeper into the familiar comfort of their home. As they entered, the Guild Mother appeared, her expression grave yet soft, as though she already sensed the burdens they carried.

She guided them to a quiet room, away from the bustling guild members, allowing them a moment to settle before she spoke. "You’ve done the guild proud today. We received reports from scouts of unusual activity in the marshlands, but the details were… incomplete. Tell me everything."

Seikan stepped forward, his voice calm but edged with a steely focus. "The League’s stronghold was hidden deep within the marsh, protected by wards and powerful constructs. They were more organized than we anticipated, but they didn’t expect us to hit them that hard. We neutralized their forces there and eliminated their warlock leader. But we’ve only slowed them down."

The Guild Mother’s gaze darkened, though her voice remained steady. "I had hoped… but I knew it wouldn’t be over so easily. You did well. The League has been wounded, and that buys us some time, but their leader will see this as a provocation. We must be ready for a counterattack."

Kalsei folded his arms, leaning against the wall, his gaze unwavering. "They’ve already made this personal. Losing Darius—" He paused, the familiar smirk gone as he looked at the others. "We won’t let that be for nothing."

Elyra’s voice was soft but firm. "The League’s forces in the marsh were using blood crystals to enhance their magic. They’ve twisted Seikan’s blood magic into something… monstrous. We’ve taken all the crystals we could find, but it’s clear they’re planning something much larger."

The Guild Mother’s expression grew more concerned as she processed their report. "Blood crystals… and with their leader still out there, the threat remains. But now we know their tactics, and we know their weaknesses. This will give us an advantage when they strike next."

Seikan placed the last of the blood crystals they had confiscated onto the table, his voice flat. "They’re trying to weaponize magic in ways that disrupt the balance of the world. We’ve seen their influence firsthand, and it won’t stop until they’re completely dismantled."

The Guild Mother nodded, her gaze lingering on each of them with quiet pride and concern. "You’ve all faced losses, and yet you’ve come back stronger. The guild will prepare for the inevitable assault, and when the time comes, we’ll stand together. But until then… rest. Prepare yourselves. There are things only you can accomplish, and we need you ready for what lies ahead."

Kalsei let out a slow breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "I’ll be ready. We all will."

The Guild Mother’s eyes softened, a rare hint of affection breaking through her stoic demeanor. "You’ve been through more than most could bear, and yet here you stand. Darius would be proud. And he would want you to keep pushing forward, no matter what lies ahead."

Steph nodded, her gaze somber but determined. "We’ll keep fighting. For him… and for everyone who’s counting on us."

Elyra glanced at each of her teammates, a faint but resolute smile touching her lips. "Together. We’re stronger than any of us alone."

The Guild Mother stood, her voice steady as she addressed them. "Rest tonight. We’ll call a full guild assembly tomorrow to discuss our strategy. You’ve done more than enough for now."

They each murmured their thanks, and as they made their way back to their quarters, a heavy silence settled over them, a shared understanding of the path ahead. They had struck a powerful blow against the League of Shadows, but they all knew the final confrontation was yet to come—a confrontation that would call upon everything they had, and everything they were willing to risk.

As they reached their rooms, Kalsei looked back at his team, a faint smile breaking through his exhaustion. "Sleep well tonight, everyone. Tomorrow, we start preparing to end this for good."

Each of them nodded, silent promises shared in the quiet night air as they parted ways to rest, to heal, and to gather their strength for the battle that would define everything they’d fought for. Aurelia may have been quiet tonight, but they all knew it was the calm before the storm.