Aestra's hand gripped the sword that materialized from the system, the familiar hum of power coursing through him. With a sharp inhale, he dashed toward Arin, intending to strike before the mage could react.
But Arin was advanced-peak rank. He moved almost lazily, sidestepping the first strike with ease.
"You're not bad for a non-awakened," Arin sneered, his voice full of disdain. "But don't even think you can beat me."
Aestra smirked, knowing exactly what Arin didn't: they weren't ordinary children. Both he and Elera had awakened, though their strength remained hidden.
"Aestra… let me kill him," Elera whispered, her tone low but sharp, trembling with barely restrained rage.
Aestra froze for a moment, trembling himself at the intensity in her voice. He didn't want to meet her gaze—one look at those golden eyes, hollow and terrifying, could make anyone falter. He noted the strange sensation, like his void element was somehow reflected there, a fleeting reminder of their shared connection.
"Your Highness! I'm doing this for your greatness!" Arin shouted, panic creeping into his face. "You can't have such a thing by your side!"
Elera's patience snapped. Her body surged forward, blade in hand. The aura around her stiffened, invisible but heavy, like the air itself was repelling him. Arin hastily conjured a magical barrier, a swirling dome of shimmering energy that intercepted her swing.
"How… how can you be so strong?!" he whispered, fear barely hidden beneath his arrogant tone.
Aestra didn't wait. He leapt toward Arin from the side, swinging his blade in a calculated strike while Elera continued to pressure the barrier. But Arin, being advanced-peak, wasn't careless. He started casting a second spell while maintaining the shield, and with a surge of wind magic, he hurled Elera backward. She crashed into a tree, gritting her teeth.
"My element is wind," Arin growled, panting. "Nothing you pathetic humans can do will harm me. And Your Highness, I don't want to fight you directly—I don't know what kind of mental attack, artifact, or trick he might have. Just wait here. I'll kill him and free you from this… and then you will recognize me as the only one worthy to stand by your side forever."
Elera's response was immediate, cutting through the smugness in his voice.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP, YOU CRAZY BASTARD!" she screamed.
Aestra pushed himself forward, landing a sharp strike to Arin's cheek. The mage's face twisted in disbelief and fury.
"I see… so I have no choice," Arin spat, his voice cracking. "Even if I kill her, I'll take care of what remains of her body myself."
'Dammit,' Aestra thought. 'This guy is insane.'
Then Arin slammed the ancient tome he had brought onto the ground. The air vibrated with raw, uncontrolled mana. Arcane runes erupted across the forest floor, glowing red and twisting like living fire. The trees trembled, and a deep hum filled the air.
A bright, jagged crack appeared in the sky, and shadows swirled unnaturally above them. A massive silhouette began to take shape, wings stretching wider than the canopy. Scales glimmered like molten metal, eyes burning with a terrifying intelligence. A dragon—the sheer size of it dwarfing even the tallest trees—descended from the sky, summoned by Arin's reckless magic.
Aestra's grip on Elera tightened. "He's summoning something beyond his own power!" he shouted.
Elera's eyes narrowed. "A peak-tier dragon… and he's draining himself just to maintain control. He has no idea what he's doing."
The dragon roared again, wings striking the air and sending loose rocks tumbling down. Flames crackled across its jaws as it scanned the forest for movement.
Aestra grabbed Elera's hand. "Run! There's a waterfall nearby—we can hide!"
The dragon's shadow stretched long across the forest, fire licking at the edges of the trees. Arin stumbled, nearly drained dry, still trying desperately to maintain the link with his summoned monster.
They sprinted toward the waterfall, leaping over rocks and fallen logs. The roar of the dragon grew louder, shaking the ground beneath them.
"Elera, safe place!" Aestra shouted. "Your memories—anything!"
Elera's golden eyes focused. "A waterfall, behind it there's a cave. We can hide!"
They dove into the torrent of the waterfall, letting the current sweep them into a hidden cavern behind the cascade. But the dragon wasn't fooled. With a deafening roar, it launched a massive blast of fire directly at the waterfall. The torrent exploded under the attack, rock and water crashing down around them.
Aestra pushed forward, shielding Elera with his body as the shockwave slammed into them. The impact carved a massive hole in the rock, and they tumbled deeper into the cave. He held her tightly, using his strength to absorb the force and keep her from being crushed by the falling debris.
When the dust settled, they lay in a heap, bruised and battered, the entrance behind them completely sealed. Water dripped from the cave ceiling, and shadows danced across jagged walls. The roar of the dragon echoed from above, shaking the mountain itself.
Elera blinked, still pressed close to him, her heart racing. She could feel the warmth of his body and the firmness of his grip protecting her from the chaos. She turned her face slightly away, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Th…thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Aestra met her gaze briefly, a small, teasing smirk tugging at his lips. "You okay back there, princess?"
Elera's golden eyes flickered, avoiding his with a mix of embarrassment and something else she didn't want to name. "…I… I'm fine," she murmured, her voice soft, almost shy.
Aestra nodded, still holding her close, sensing the change in her demeanor. For the first time, he noticed how her composure cracked when she was in danger—and how that made her… human, in a way that tugged at his chest.
"Looks like we're trapped…" Aestra said finally, scanning the cave.
Elera straightened, clearing her throat, but the blush lingered on her cheeks. "Then we deal with it inside," she said, her voice firm, though her fingers still brushed against his as he kept her safe.
From somewhere deep within the cave, the sound of shifting rocks warned them that danger was far from over. Aestra tightened his grip on his sword. Whatever awaited them in the shadows of this cave, they would face it together.