The sun reaches its peak as the clouds separate slightly, creating light. The beautiful golden light of the sun. The gray tree leaves ruffle and rustle. I turn to look at Dominio and Edward. They begin to stir awake. I glance at the small fire where Rela roasted the fish. I had to use fire magic to keep it small so the smoke wouldn't alert Kregg and his men.
I look at the sea. The once black water slowly grows brighter. This weather is perfect, no rain, no storm. Just calm. An almost beautiful yet terrifying calm. Even dangerous places like this have their beauties.
"Aurelia." A dragged voice calls. I turn to see Dominio standing and stretching. Edward is already dusting off his coat.
"Sorry for the long sleep, my lady," Dominio says with a smug smile.
"Don't call me that. You know I don't like being called that."
"Even if you don't like it, you're still a noble. Whether disowned or not, my lady~."
Rela, sitting beside the fire, laughs almost to herself. I swear I can't with these people.
"So what's the plan, Aurelia? Kregg and his followers are somewhere on this island, and they have the fire stone," Edward asks.
I look at Dominio. "Do you still have the water crystal?"
Dominio reaches into his pants pocket, rummaging through it before pulling it out. "Here you go." He hands me the deep blue crystal.
The crystal is almost the size of my hand. Its color is a deep blue, and it seems to flow from the inside, like water stored in stone.
"I'll use the crystal to help us in the fight. Magic crystals improve the strength of the wielder's magic, and since my affinity is water magic, it will be crucial."
I pull out my wand and press it against the crystal. Blue Lumin glows as it flows from the stone into my wand.
I look at the team. Dominio, Edward, and Rela. My gaze shifts to the gray hill. This island is far larger than the last one, almost three times as big, meaning there will be more space for us. But too much space with such small numbers will also be a disadvantage.
I look at Dominio. "Dominio, you're the fastest and most adaptive among us. Your task is to kill Kregg, the leader. One swift, sudden dash to end him."
He nods once. I turn to Edward. "You seem to have the most Lumin compared to the rest, and since you have protection through your chainmail vest, you'll help Rela fight on the front line."
I then look at Rela and smile. "You already know your role."
She jumps up. Black Lumin already surrounds her skin like flames. "Finally, more combat!" she exclaims with a wild grin.
"You all have three minutes to get ready. Warm up. Prepare your Lumin."
Edward starts stretching his arms and legs. Dominio begins jumping as he twirls his dagger around his arms. Rela practices her axe swings and jabs.
Five minutes later, everyone is ready. I turn to Dominio and give him a nod. As soon as my eyes blink, he's already gone.
I turn to the others. "Time to go."
We enter the forest and rush through the trees. Edward and Rela outrun me as they move ahead. But the steeper we go, the more uncertain I feel about this mission.
We continue moving, and then I hear a whistle. I stop instantly as an arrow flies past me, landing in a tree.
I turn toward where the arrow came from and see a faint silhouette of a man moving back into the darkness behind the trees.
I withdraw my wand and point it in that direction. Then I hear another loud rustle. I turn back to see a woman with two daggers charging forward. I raise my wand and summon a wall of water to block her path. I summon another wall of water to surround me as more arrows land on its surface.
Raising my wand, I summon a large sphere of water. Almost immediately, the rogue moves back into the trees. The sphere grows higher, almost as large as a boulder.
I point my wand downward. "Loose!"
Spikes emerge from the sphere and extend, moving through the gaps between the trees. I glance back toward where Edward and Rela ran. They didn't even attack them. Was this a plan to ambush me, knowing I'm the leader? And that rogue woman; when Kregg came to the previous island, I didn't even see her. If that's the case, that means... no... it can't be.
There are more of them.
If that's true, Dominio's mission will be even harder. I turn and run up the hill as the sphere follows above me, its spikes still extending, searching for potential targets.
Another arrow is launched. Before it can reach my face, a water spike pierces it.
I look up and see the blue-skinned man in the trees, pointing his bow at me. I point my wand at him, but then I hear more footsteps behind me. I raise my wand again, commanding the spikes to surround the area near us, forming a web-like cage.
More spikes appear, aiming for the ranger, but he intercepts them by firing numerous Lumin arrows. I turn around and see the rogue woman impaled by the spikes, her leg and arm pierced. As long as her leg is wounded, that's all that matters.
I throw beams of water at the ranger as he leaps from tree to tree, evading the spikes. One beam strikes its mark, launching the man into the air before he crashes hard onto the ground.
Two down.
I keep running and hear action ahead. Weapons clashing, Lumin waves, small explosions and impacts. I'm close.
Sweat beads on my forehead. After several more steps, I reach the peak and see chaos.
Rela is fighting five rookies. Edward is fighting three. I look ahead and see Kregg holding his arm or what remains of it. Dominio cut his arm off. But where is he?
Rela grabs a rookie by the leg and uses him as a weapon, thrashing his body into others, sending two flying and another running. She finally throws him.
I summon numerous water serpents to coil around the runner and the others who landed.
Turning to Edward, I see him standing over frozen rookies. Their bodies shiver violently as ice completely encases them, preventing any movement.
There are six more Eighty members standing at Kregg's sides.
"So should we finish off the rest?" Rela asks.
"Fight the guards. I'll fight him myself."
"Yes, ma'am." Edward nods as ice forms around his arms and mist escapes his mouth.
Kregg looks up and raises his staff, spinning it as a massive sphere of fire manifests.
"Igni wrathus!" he screams, launching the fire toward us.
"Aquarius Glacier!" I move my sphere of water to meet his.
The two elements collide, creating a massive shockwave that sends us all back. My back hits a tree, and I hold on as the shockwave continues its push, sending others tumbling down the hill, including Edward.
Thick steam follows, and the battlefield falls silent. A large orange light moves closer. I shift my body, dodging the fireball.
I move forward toward the source of the flames. More fireballs approach from multiple directions. East, north, and west, all converging on me.
"Get down!" a voice booms. I drop low as a massive slash cuts through the flames and part of the steam. I turn back and see Rela preparing another swing.
I start running toward Kregg. When I turn back, Rela is gone. I only see destroyed trees and her axe lying on the ground.
My steps falter. I remain in the same spot. The steam clears, revealing Kregg leaning against a tree, losing blood as he points his staff at me. His face shifts from anger... to joy.
I turn around. My body begins to shake uncontrollably. I drop my wand, and my knees weaken.
"You're supposed to be dead. You're not supposed to be alive."
"Rowan?!"