Cedric blinked forward, appearing just inches away from Caelumbras, his hand reaching out to grab Liora from his grasp. But before he could touch her, a dark force seized him. The shadowy figure with its writhing mass of shifting heads emerged from the darkness, grabbing Cedric’s leg and yanking him backward.
Cedric struggled, swinging his sword at the figure. The blade sliced through the creature, but it did nothing—passing harmlessly through the ever-shifting mass of darkness. The figure’s many heads trembled and twisted, their grotesque faces mocking him as they dragged him away from Caelumbras and Liora.
Seeing Cedric in trouble, Tristan quickly redirected his flames, concentrating the fire in Cedric's direction to drive back the shadow. But the moment Tristan shifted his fire, the creatures surrounding them seized the opportunity. They surged forward, their monstrous forms creeping closer, drawn to the lack of heat protecting Tristan and the others.
On the ground nearby, Garrick stirred, still trying to crawl away from the chaos. His body was broken and bruised, but he wasn't giving up. With every ounce of strength, he dragged himself across the cobblestones, inching closer to an escape. But his attempt was short-lived. Magnus, noticing the movement, stomped down on Garrick's back with a heavy boot, knocking him unconscious. Without a moment of hesitation, Magnus bent down and pried the ring from Garrick’s finger.
The moment Magnus put the ring on, the power surged through him, activating alongside the other artifacts he carried. His shield and armor glowed with newfound strength, and without missing a beat, Magnus charged through the approaching horde. He held his shield up, using its protective magic to plow through the mass of creatures, his path blazing a trail of light as the fire flickered behind him.
As the flames from Tristan’s power bathed Cedric, the shadowy figure hissed and recoiled, releasing its grip on him. The figure retreated into the darkness, unable to exist in the light. Cedric hit the ground, gasping as he caught his breath.
Before he could react, Faylinn hissed from her perch on his shoulder. In an instant, vines burst forth from the ground, twisting and growing at a rapid pace. The vines lashed out, coiling around Caelumbras' arms, binding him in place.
Caelumbras glared at the magical fox, his face contorting with annoyance. “You think your tricks can stop me?” he growled, his voice laced with venom. He struggled against the vines, his grip on Liora still tight.
Caelumbras's face twisted into a sneer as dark fluid pooled beneath his feet, swirling and rising like living shadows. "If you try that again," he threatened, "I'll end her." The dark fluid solidified into a blade, cutting through Faylinn’s vines that had bound him. Liora remained in his grasp, her small form limp, cradled against him as if she were nothing more than a tool.
But Cedric’s sharp eyes remained steady, even as the flickering firelight from Tristan's barrier cast long shadows across the eerie night. He could sense the bluff in Caelumbras's words. If Caelumbras didn’t care whether his components needed to be alive, he would have slaughtered the citizens long before. Instead, they were kept as twisted creatures, perhaps for some darker purpose.
Cedric blinked back to Tristan's side, retreating into the protective circle of fire. The streets outside were swallowed in darkness, save for the glow of Tristan's flames. The buildings, now ruined and lifeless, were like empty sentinels standing guard over the cold, desolate city. The wind howled softly, rustling debris through the vacant alleys as creatures shuffled just beyond the firelight.
Magnus charged through the mass of grotesque figures, his shield raised high, the power of his newly claimed artifacts glowing. He rammed through the horde of misshapen citizens, finally reaching the fiery circle as Cedric joined Tristan and Elysia.
Once inside the protective ring, Cedric quickly spoke. “We can’t rush him. He’s bluffing,” he said, his voice low. “If the citizens were just tools, they’d be dead already.”
Tristan's eyes flickered toward the dark figure across the street. "You’re right," he agreed. “But that shadow figure—it keeps stopping you from getting close to him.”
Cedric grimaced, nodding. “Every time I get near Caelumbras, that thing drags me back.”
The fire behind them flickered and roared in the cold wind as Tristan stepped forward. The night city stretched into an endless abyss beyond the flames, the only illumination coming from the crackling fire that held back the darkness. “Magnus, Elysia, and I faced something like this before,” Tristan said, his voice low but urgent. “We couldn’t defeat it alone. It reflects the person it's after, mirroring their insecurities. We needed to work together.”
Elysia, holding Liora close in her arms, nodded. “I can enhance our weapons like before,” she said, her expression determined despite the weight of the moment. "Let's focus on one at a time."
Tristan, his face illuminated by the fire, quickly laid out the plan. “Cedric, you draw it out. Magnus, back him up and strike when the time comes. Elysia, empower Magnus—make sure his blow counts.”
Elysia nodded, already preparing her magic, while Magnus tightened his grip on the ring, the weapon glowing as it shifted in his hands.
Cedric glanced at Magnus, then back to Tristan. “Let’s do this.” Without waiting, he blinked out of the protective ring, moving into the darkened streets.
The moment he left the safety of the fire, the shadow figure appeared again, faster and more aggressive than before. Its mass of grotesque, half-formed heads trembled and distorted as it lunged at him, tendrils of darkness snapping forward to intercept him. But this time, Cedric's sword, glowing with Elysia’s enchantment, was ready.
Cedric swung at the shadow as it closed in, and the blade sliced through its form. The creature let out an eerie, distorted shriek as it recoiled, the heads writhing in pain. For a moment, Cedric thought they had weakened it, but the shadow moved faster in the dark, shifting with unnatural speed.
Faylinn, sensing the urgency, hissed sharply from Cedric's shoulder. Her vines erupted from the ground, winding tightly around the shadow figure’s legs, slowing its movements. The creature struggled against the vines, the many heads twitching violently as it tried to free itself.
“Now!” Magnus shouted, charging toward the figure with his shield raised. His weapon shifted into a glowing spear, the magic flowing through it like a pulse of light. He hurled the spear at the creature, the weapon piercing through the shadow’s torso. The figure wailed, its many heads trembling, but the fight was far from over.
Just as Cedric moved in to strike again, the shadow figure lashed out with a new ferocity. Its tendrils snapped around Cedric's arm, pulling him down before he could react. The creature moved faster in the dark, anticipating his every blink and cutting off his movements. Cedric gritted his teeth as he struggled to break free, swinging his sword wildly to cut the tendrils that bound him.
"Tristan!" Magnus shouted, his voice strained as he slammed into the horde of creatures pressing against the fire. "We need more light on Cedric!"
Tristan grunted as he focused his fire toward Cedric’s direction, sending flames to push back the creatures closing in on the rest of the group. But shifting the fire weakened their defenses, and the creatures on the other side took advantage, clawing their way closer.
“Hold the line!” Tristan yelled as the fire wall flickered, barely holding the swarm back.
Magnus, seeing Cedric’s struggle, raised his shield and charged toward the shadow. His weapon shifted into a warhammer, and with a mighty swing, he struck the shadow figure with all his strength. The enchanted weapon slammed into the shadow’s form, sending ripples through its many heads.
The shadow figure staggered, releasing its grip on Cedric as it recoiled from the blow. But the creature was relentless, its many heads trembling violently as it reformed and lunged at them again, faster than before.
Faylinn hissed, her vines lashing out again, this time wrapping around the creature’s torso, pulling it to the ground. Cedric took advantage of the momentary opening, blinking behind the shadow and slashing at its form with his sword. The enchanted blade cut deep, sending another shudder through the creature’s body.
But Caelumbras, watching from a distance, wasn’t about to let the shadow fall easily. With a cold smirk, he raised his hand, sending a wave of dark energy through the ground. The dark fluid beneath Cedric rippled and surged, forming sharp tendrils that lashed out toward him.
Cedric barely blinked in time to avoid the attack, but the shadow figure was already anticipating his next move. It lunged at him with terrifying speed, tendrils wrapping around his legs. Cedric struggled to blink away, but the creature was too fast, cutting him off at every turn.
“Magnus, now!” Cedric shouted, slashing at the tendrils holding him.
Magnus didn’t hesitate. Charging forward, he swung his warhammer with all his might, the enchanted weapon glowing brightly as it connected with the shadow’s form. The impact sent a shockwave through the creature’s body, causing it to wail in agony as it flickered and trembled.
The shadow figure was weakening, but it wasn’t done yet. It lashed out one last time, its form twisting and contorting in a desperate attempt to strike Cedric. But before it could land a blow, Magnus brought his warhammer down with a final, crushing strike.
The shadow figure let out one last distorted wail before dissolving into a pool of dark fluid, its many heads collapsing into the ground from where it had emerged.
Breathing heavily, Cedric blinked back into the ring of fire, rejoining the group. “It’s down,” he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow. "But it's not over."
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Magnus grunted in agreement, his eyes narrowing as he turned toward Caelumbras, who stood with Liora still in his grasp. The marquis’s cold smile never wavered as he tightened his hold on the sleeping child.
Magnus grunted in agreement, his eyes narrowing as he turned toward Caelumbras, who stood with Liora still in his grasp. The marquis’s cold smile never wavered as he tightened his hold on the sleeping child.
Caelumbras's voice cut through the tension. "One shadow is nothing. You’re still surrounded by hundreds of my creations, and your precious fire won’t hold them forever." He gestured to the hordes pressing against the weakening wall of flame, his smile widening. But Cedric, watching closely, noticed a flicker behind that smirk—an edge of uncertainty.
The confidence was fading, and Cedric could see it. Caelumbras was running out of cards to play.
With a determined look, Cedric raised his hand and focused on Caelumbras. His power surged, slowing time around the dark sorcerer. Caelumbras’s movements became sluggish, his smile freezing in place as Cedric blinked toward him in a blur of motion.
Caelumbras, feeling the pressure of Cedric’s approach, tried to conjure a defense. The dark fluid beneath his feet rippled and morphed into razor-sharp blades, hurtling toward Cedric with deadly intent. But Cedric was already ahead of him, his speed unmatched as he twisted and dodged each blade with precision, closing the distance in the blink of an eye.
In one swift motion, Cedric’s sword cut through the air and found its mark, piercing Caelumbras's shoulder. The sorcerer let out a scream, the sound distorted and drawn out by the slow effect, his hand releasing its grip on Liora as his body staggered.
Without wasting a second, Cedric grabbed Liora, pulling his sword free from Caelumbras’s shoulder. The sorcerer’s scream hung in the air as Cedric blinked back toward the safety of Tristan’s fire, just as the slow effect wore off. Time snapped back into place, and Caelumbras stumbled, clutching his wound in shock.
Cedric landed beside Tristan, handing Liora gently into Elysia’s care. "Keep her safe," he muttered, his eyes locking onto Caelumbras as the sorcerer struggled to regain his composure.
As Cedric handed Liora to Elysia, Tristan grabbed his arm, his grip firm. “You can’t kill him, Cedric. If Caelumbras dies, Caelum will die with him.”
Cedric turned to Tristan, his expression hard. "And how exactly are we supposed to save Caelum? He and Caelumbras are the same person."
Before Tristan could respond, Liora stirred in Elysia's arms. Her eyes fluttered open, and she let out a small yawn. Elysia gently stroked her hair, offering a comforting presence as Liora blinked sleepily, adjusting to the chaos around her.
Liora’s eyes widened as she took in the scene—the towering flames, the creatures snarling and clawing at the edge of the fire, and the team surrounding her in battle stances. "Why are we in the street?" she asked, her voice small and drowsy. Her gaze shifted to Tristan’s fire, her eyes widening in shock. "What's happening?"
Elysia continued to soothe her, brushing a stray lock of hair from Liora's face. "It’s alright, Liora. We’re keeping you safe."
Liora glanced around, still groggy. "The last thing I remember... Mister Marquis came to take care of me. But he had these... these lines. They were yellow and black," she explained, her words drifting as if she were still waking up. "They were all around him."
Elysia froze, her mind racing. She remembered Liora’s strange ability during their time at the colosseum, how she had seen things none of them could. Liora had some unique power, one they didn’t fully understand but might be crucial in this moment.
“Liora,” Elysia said gently, crouching down to meet her gaze. “Can you still see those lines?”
Liora raised her bare hand, as if grasping something invisible in the air. "Yes," she murmured. “They’re still there.”
Elysia stared at her hand, unable to see what Liora was seeing. "What else do you see?" she asked softly.
Liora squinted, focusing on the lines only she could perceive. "The lines... they’re connected to the marquis. But which one should I pull?" she asked innocently.
Tristan’s eyes widened at the revelation. "Wait—maybe the lines represent Caelum and Caelumbras," he said, turning to Cedric. “What if the yellow represents Caelum and the black is Caelumbras?”
Cedric nodded, his gaze shifting between Tristan and Liora. "It’s worth a try."
“Liora,” Tristan said gently but firmly. “Can you pull the black line?”
Liora tilted her head, concentrating on the lines only she could see. Her small fingers moved as if tugging on something intangible, and as soon as she did, the effect was immediate.
Caelumbras, standing just beyond the edge of Tristan’s fire, suddenly stumbled. His body trembled, and he fell to his knees, clutching his chest. A pained gasp escaped him, and for a moment, his cold expression faltered. He looked confused, his eyes darting around wildly as though he didn’t understand what was happening.
Then his form flickered, like two souls fighting for control. Caelum’s face surfaced for a brief moment, his eyes filled with confusion and fear. “What... what’s going on?” Caelum gasped, his voice weak.
But before anyone could respond, Caelumbras surged back, his features twisting with rage as he fought to regain control. “No!” he snarled, his voice deepening with malice. He clawed at the air, desperately trying to pull himself together, but the division was clear. He was being torn between two sides—Caelum and Caelumbras, each struggling for dominance.
The team watched in stunned silence as Caelum and Caelumbras flickered back and forth, like two halves of the same man splitting apart. Caelum’s voice would cry out, filled with confusion and terror, only for Caelumbras to reassert his dominance with snarls of anger.
Liora looked up at Elysia, her eyes wide. “Did I do that?”
Elysia nodded, her voice soft but filled with urgency. “You did. Good girl”
The struggle within Caelumbras intensified, the two halves battling for dominance. The blackness surrounding him writhed as if alive, the dark tendrils snapping and pulling, trying to rebind the two into one entity. But the separation had already begun, and it was taking a toll on the dark sorcerer.
"We're splitting them!" Magnus shouted, realizing what was happening. His voice rang with urgency as he charged forward, activating the ring's power. His weapon shifted, morphing into a spear that gleamed in the flickering firelight. With a powerful thrust, Magnus drove the spear into Caelumbras’ side, aiming to sever more of the dark energy that clung to him.
Caelumbras let out a howl of pain, the tendrils weakening further as Liora pulled at the black line with all her strength. The little girl’s hand trembled, her eyes wide with concentration as the invisible forces unraveled the connection between Caelum and his darker half.
Cedric’s instincts kicked in. "Liora, keep pulling the black line!" he urged, his voice steady but intense. He blinked forward, aiming his enchanted sword at Caelumbras’ center, ready to finish what they started.
Caelumbras, now desperate, summoned the last of his strength. Dark fluid swirled beneath him, rising into jagged, writhing blades. He hurled them toward Cedric, but the Guardian was faster. His sword, now glowing with Elysia’s enchantment, slashed through the air, deflecting the incoming blades with ease as he pressed forward.
"Magnus, now!" Cedric shouted, and Magnus responded without hesitation. He leaped into action, his shield morphing into a towering barrier that he slammed into Caelumbras, knocking him back. The impact disrupted the sorcerer’s concentration, causing the dark fluid to sputter and lose its form.
Tristan, seeing the opening, unleashed a torrent of flames, directing them at Caelumbras. The fire engulfed the dark sorcerer, but not in a way that would incinerate him. Tristan’s fire was controlled, calculated, designed to weaken Caelumbras without harming Caelum. The black tendrils recoiled under the blaze, snapping and burning as they fought against the separation.
Caelumbras screamed, his voice filled with fury and desperation. His form flickered between the sinister sorcerer and the confused marquis, each struggling for control. The black fluid beneath him bubbled and surged, trying to rebind them, but it was too late.
Cedric raised his hand, using his power to slow Caelumbras’ movements. The sorcerer’s arms grew sluggish, his attacks faltering as Cedric advanced. He blinked forward once more, closing the distance in an instant. With a precise strike, Cedric plunged his sword deep into Caelumbras' side, severing the last of the dark tendrils that connected him to Caelum.
The result was immediate. Caelumbras let out a guttural scream, his body jerking violently as the black tendrils snapped and faded. The dark fluid that had once enveloped him dissipated into the ground, leaving only the weakened form of the marquis behind.
Caelum, now free from the dark influence, collapsed forward, gasping for air. His eyes were wide with confusion, his hands trembling as he looked around, no longer bound by the twisted power of Caelumbras.
Caelumbras, on the other hand, crumpled beside him, his once-formidable presence reduced to a twisted snarl. His body flickered with the remnants of dark energy, but the connection to Caelum was broken. The dark sorcerer was defeated, and his hold over the marquis shattered.
With Caelumbras defeated, a sudden silence fell over the street. The creatures that had been surrounding them moments before dropped to the ground, their twisted forms still for a moment. Then, as if a curse was being lifted, a dark aura enveloped their bodies. The shadowy essence that had corrupted them swirled into the air, fading away like dust caught in the breeze.
One by one, the grotesque figures began to shift and change, their monstrous features softening, melting away until all that remained were the unconscious citizens of the port city, their faces slack and unaware of the horror they had been a part of.
Cedric let out a long, exhausted breath as he and Magnus dropped to the ground, sitting side by side. Magnus leaned back against a nearby wall, his body sagging with the weight of the night’s battle. “What a long night,” he muttered, rubbing a hand over his face.
Cedric, still catching his breath, simply nodded. “Yeah,” he agreed, his voice heavy with fatigue.
As Tristan lowered his arms and let his flames die down, the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon. The fiery ring that had surrounded them flickered out, and the warm, golden glow of the sun slowly replaced the shadows that had ruled the night.
The streets of the port city, which had been bathed in darkness and fire, now came alive with the soft light of the rising sun. Rays of light spilled over the rooftops, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets. The flames that had once burned with intensity now seemed small in comparison to the brilliance of the morning light.
The dawn was soft but vibrant, the sky painted in hues of orange, pink, and pale blue. The cool, crisp air of the early morning felt like a balm after the heat of battle, carrying with it the scent of the sea and a promise of new beginnings. The fire-scorched buildings still stood, but their blackened marks were softened by the gentle light of the new day.
The citizens, now free from their monstrous forms, began to stir. Slowly, they blinked awake, their eyes squinting against the morning light, confused and disoriented. Some reached out to one another, while others simply sat, stunned by the sudden shift from the nightmare they had been trapped in.
In the distance, the sound of the waves lapping against the docks became more noticeable, as if the sea itself was waking up with the city. The tension in the air melted away with the light, leaving behind only the quiet aftermath of the battle, a city slowly coming back to life.
Magnus, still slouched against the wall, glanced at Cedric with a tired grin. “I could get used to sunrises like this if we weren’t always fighting through the night.”
Cedric chuckled, though his voice was laced with exhaustion. “Let’s… stay in bed at night, at least for some time. I’ve spent too much time in the dark.”
Magnus smirked, rubbing his sore shoulder. “Not a bad idea. I’m too tired to fight anything right now anyway.”
Cedric nodded, letting out a slow breath. “Same here. I’m not built for this much chaos in one night.” He shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position. “Honestly… I just want to sleep for a week.”
Magnus laughed quietly. “I won’t argue with that.”
Cedric closed his eyes for a brief moment, the weight of exhaustion finally settling in. “Wake me if anything happens, will you?”
Magnus chuckled. “You got it.”
The golden light continued to spread across the city, a stark contrast to the chaos that had gripped them only moments ago. The sun climbed higher, bathing everything in warmth and casting away the final remnants of the night.
With Cedric slumbering into a much-needed sleep, Magnus and Tristan exchanged weary glances before stretching their arms, their muscles aching from the long night.
Magnus let out a sigh, rolling his shoulder. "What’s going to happen now?" he asked, his voice low and uncertain.
Tristan shook his head, staring at the slowly awakening city. "I’m not sure," he admitted, his tone heavy with frustration. "We’ve wasted too much time waiting for reinforcement. And after everything we’ve seen... it’s clear Garrick never sent my letter back to the capital."
Magnus frowned. "So, no one’s coming?"
Tristan’s gaze drifted toward the distant horizon. "We’ll have to hope the reinforcement shows up later at no man's land. But if we can’t afford to wait much longer, we’ll take the ship and go with just us." His voice carried a hint of worry, but there was also resolve. They couldn’t stay idle any longer.
Magnus nodded, the decision made. "The supplies are already on the ship. We’ll just need to pick up a few personal items from here, and we should be good to go."
Tristan glanced down at Cedric, still soundly asleep despite the chaos they had just endured. "Let him rest a bit longer," he said softly, a small, tired smile tugging at his lips. "We’ll need him soon enough."
Magnus gave a grunt of agreement, his eyes scanning the peaceful streets around them. "Yeah... after a night like this, he’s earned it."
As the sun crept higher, casting a warm glow over the city, the streets slowly began to stir with life. Citizens began to wake up, blinking in confusion as they found themselves scattered across the cobblestone roads. Some looked around in bewilderment, wondering why they were in the middle of the street.
A few inspected their dirty clothes, as if only just noticing the grime and soot clinging to their once clean attire. Others stood in their pajamas, completely disoriented, exchanging confused glances with their neighbors.
But it was one couple that caught the attention of the team.
The husband, a man with short black hair and an unassuming appearance, stood frozen in place. He looked like any ordinary person, but it was his wife who truly stood out. Her striking violet-colored hair gleamed in the early morning light, cascading down her back. The shade was eerily similar to Liora's own vibrant hair, a mirror image of the child resting in Elysia’s arms.
Magnus, Tristan, and Elysia exchanged a glance, the realization settling in.
"Is that...?" Magnus whispered, unable to finish his sentence, his gaze locked on the woman.
The woman, unaware of the attention she had drawn, knelt down beside her husband, trying to gather her bearings. But her hair, that unmistakable shade of violet, lingered in the team’s minds, raising more questions than answers.