5. Aldric

5

ALDRIC

T he Council chambers hum with tension. I stand tall, my wings folded tightly against my back, listening to the heated debates and whispered arguments. The attack on our surface base has shaken them to their core, and they know we can't afford to be caught off guard again.

Brinda's piercing green eyes meet mine, and she rises from her seat, her fiery hair catching the dim light of the chamber. "Aldric," she calls, her voice commanding attention. "You must return to the surface," Brinda continues, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Warn the other bases. Prepare them for what's coming."

"Understood," I reply, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.

Brinda's wings unfurl slightly as she approaches me, her expression fierce yet calculated. "This isn't just about survival, Aldric. We need to show strength, unity. The dark elves can't see us falter."

"I won't let them," I vow.

"Good," she says, a hint of approval in her eyes. "You have proven yourself as a strong warrior. We need you to be more than that now. Be a leader. Rally our forces."

I nod, the responsibility settling heavily on my shoulders. The Council members murmur their agreement, their faces etched with determination and fear.

"And you must leave at once." I've rarely seen her so serious. "Time is of the utmost importance."

My mind races with the enormity of the task ahead. The surface is dangerous, unpredictable. But there's no time for hesitation or doubt.

"Consider it done," I say firmly.

As I turn to leave, Brinda places a hand on my arm, her grip surprisingly gentle for someone so fierce. "Remember your training," she says softly. "And remember why we fight."

"I won't forget," I assure her before stepping out of the chamber and into the labyrinthine tunnels leading to the surface.

The path ahead is fraught with danger and uncertainty, but there's no turning back now. My people depend on me. And I will not fail them.

The weight of responsibility presses down on me like a physical burden as I make my way through the tunnels. Each step feels heavier than the last, but I push forward, driven by duty and the memory of my fallen comrades. The air grows colder as I ascend, the familiar chill of the surface a stark reminder of what's at stake.

Finally, I emerge, stepping through the portal and into the twilight of the closest surface base. The camp is bustling with activity, vrakken and human alike going about their tasks with an uneasy tension. They don't know what's coming. Not yet.

I stride into the center of the base, my presence commanding attention. Conversations die down, eyes turning to me with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

"Everyone, gather around," I call out, my voice echoing in the open space.

The crowd assembles quickly, faces etched with concern. I see Elowen among them, her gaze steady and resolute. It gives me a small measure of comfort to see her strength.

"The dark elves have attacked our surface base," I begin, not sugarcoating the truth. "They came in overwhelming numbers and with brutal ferocity. We barely escaped with our lives."

Gasps and murmurs ripple through the crowd. Fear is palpable in their eyes, but I can't let it consume them.

"The Council has sent me to tell you all we must prepare," I continue, raising my voice to cut through the growing panic. "We cannot be caught off guard again. Training needs to be increased immediately. We need every able-bodied person ready for combat."

A vrakken steps forward, the base leader presumably, his face pale but determined. "How will we know when the next attack is coming?"

"The Council will send word," I reply firmly. "We won't let them surprise us again. The dark elves thrive on fear and chaos; we will give them neither."

My words bolster the crowd's resolve, their fear slowly giving way to determination. Quickly the crowd disperses, determination flooding the base itself.

The base leader looks to me, nodding his head. "Good luck spreading the word. May the First grant you swift travel."

"And may Akeldama protect us all," I answer, pressing a fist to my chest before shooting back up into the air.

I move from base to base like a shadow, delivering the same dire message at each stop. My wings beat tirelessly against the cold night air, the urgency of my mission propelling me forward. At every camp, I gather the vrakken and humans alike, their faces blurring together in my exhaustion.

"Prepare for war," I declare at each location, my voice echoing through the darkness. "The dark elves have attacked. We must be ready."

Each time, I see the same fear and resolve in their eyes. The base leaders nod grimly, immediately rallying their forces. There is no time for pleasantries or rest; I must keep moving.

The night stretches on, an endless sequence of flying and speaking. My body aches, fatigue gnawing at my bones. But I push through it, driven by the knowledge that our survival depends on these warnings.

By the time dawn starts to break, my vision blurs with exhaustion. My wings feel heavy, each flap a monumental effort. It's been over a full day since I've rested, and after the battle this morning, even I am waning.

I spot a dae grazing in a nearby clearing and dive toward it, my wings slicing through the air with precision. The creature doesn't sense me until it's too late. I land silently, my feet barely touching the ground before I close the distance between us. In one swift motion, I sink my fangs into its neck, feeling the shudder of its body as its lifeblood flows into me.

Warmth floods through my veins, spreading like wildfire, restoring my strength and magic. My body hums with renewed power, each pulse of the dae's essence invigorating me. The sun glamour weaves around me like a protective cloak, shimmering faintly as it shields me from the dawn's first light. I take a moment to relish this fleeting respite, my senses heightened, every detail around me sharp and vivid.

I straighten up, wiping blood from my lips with the back of my hand. The dae lies motionless at my feet, its sacrifice not in vain.

With renewed vigor, I launch myself into the sky once more. The final base lies ahead, just beyond the horizon.

My wings cut through the morning air as I fly toward our last stronghold, determination burning brighter than ever before.

I land at Raziel's base, the familiar rocky landscape of the wildspont vibrating with the pulse of magic. The first base. It feels like a lifetime ago since I last saw it.

I stretch my wings, shaking off the fatigue that clings to me despite my recent feed. This place has always felt different, more alive. Maybe it's the history, or maybe it's just the sheer power of the wildspont.

Before I can even step inside to seek out Raziel, he emerges from the entrance, his tall, lean frame backlit by the dim light within. His dark brown eyes narrow as they lock onto me, suspicion etched across his pale face.

"Aldric," he says, his voice carrying a weight of authority and familiarity. "What brings you here in such haste?"

"Raziel," I reply, inclining my head in respect. "The surface base I was at was attacked by dark elves. We were overwhelmed."

Raziel's expression hardens further, if that's even possible. "What happened?" he demands.

I look around as more vrakken and humans come outside, clearly seeing their base leader look concerned. I take a deep breath, delivering the news to the last base as I have with the others.

"The dark elves came in numbers we couldn't match," I explain, recounting the battle with as much detail as I can muster. "I barely escaped." I shake my head. "No one else survived. The other vrakken were either kidnapped or reduced to nearly nothing between the magic and the sun."

Raziel listens intently, his eyes never leaving mine. When I finish, he rocks back, his wings shifting behind him.

"And now?" he asks just as a little blonde human comes up next to him, staring at me with worry.

"There has been no more word of where the dark elves have gone." Murmurs start up at that, but I stay focused on Raziel. "I intend to stay here for a while," I say firmly. "To assist you and plan our next moves. I have no base to return to."

Raziel nods slowly, absorbing my words. "We need every capable warrior we can get," he admits grudgingly. "Your presence will be valuable here."

His acceptance lifts a weight off my shoulders. I nod as Raziel turns to the human, talking to her as the crowd's volume rises.

We need to start training immediately, but I give myself this moment of reprieve. Raziel will direct his base and my task has been completed. Now, I will train. Raziel knows of my strengths, and I am certain together, we can crush these dark elves.

I step back, my eyes scanning the crowd that has gathered. As I take in the sea of faces, one pair of eyes captures my attention, holding me in place like a snare. Forest green, fierce and unwavering, they cut through the chaos around us and lock onto mine.

Her fiery red hair, wild and untamed, frames her face, contrasting starkly with her fair skin and the smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks. She stands out even among our kind.

For a moment, everything else fades away—the noise, the worry, the fatigue. All I can see is her. There's something about the way she holds herself, a raw, almost primal energy that calls to me. It's like recognizing a kindred spirit in a world full of shadows.

She doesn't flinch under my gaze; instead, she meets it head-on, her eyes filled with an intensity that matches my own. It's as if she can see right through me, peeling back the layers to glimpse the turmoil and resolve beneath.

My heart beats faster, a rush of emotions flooding through me—curiosity, admiration, something deeper that I can't quite name. My body seems drawn to her, eager for her. My fangs tease my bottom lip like they want a taste, and I can't help but wonder…

Who is this little human?