56. Mira

fifty-six

Mira

Unlike the strike-and-retreat tactic we were successfully using, Cor'than wants to find Yurghen head on, convinced he's low on Chroma after the insane display opening the Great River. Thankfully, I was able to convince Lisa to stay back for this part. A human without magic is a liability. While souls still rain from the sky at a steady pace, I see less and less of them fall to the ground. Tairyn says those creatures flying above us are from the Underworld. I don't think about the rate at which they seem to be devouring those poor souls.

With the Shards by my side, we walk boldly along the streets, but I can't keep my eyes from scanning every window overlooking us.

"This is stupid," I say to Callum, not for the first time. Cor'than and his soldiers were able to find several other bands of Valenfall fighters and channelers. Even though we number over a hundred now, I still don't like this. As we turn a corner, a deep sense of unease settles in my chest. A stillness hangs in the air, like the world is holding its breath.

"Callum," I start, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I feel it too," he interrupts, voice equally grim. His gaze is fixed on something ahead of us. I follow his line of sight and my heart drops.

Yurghen stands at the end of the desolate street, a foreboding presence that looms like a shadowy sentinel. The last rays of the setting sun cast an eerie glow upon his figure, accentuating the sharp angles of his face and the glint in his pale, moon-like eyes. A palpable energy emanates from him, pulsating with raw Chroma and causing the ground beneath us to quake with his immense power. Every breath I take feels heavy and charged as we stand in the menacing aura of Yurghen.

The tall stone townhouses loom around us, their aged walls flecked with moss and vines. The only sound is our faint footsteps falling on the deserted street and the distant sound of roaring fires now raging through other parts of the city. The scent of smoke is heavy in the air.

"This is it then," Sunder mutters next to me, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword, moving his body in front of mine. Despite the danger we're in, I can't help but feel a flutter of warmth at his protectiveness.

I nod, squeezing the hilt of my own weapon firmly in my grip. I haven't had to use my dagger yet, but with my Chroma running dangerously low, it's only a matter of time. My nerves are buzzing, a mix of fear and adrenaline. But there's something else too, an almost electric charge that seems to hum in the air between Sunder and me.

Yurghen's booming voice echoes from all directions as he says, "Leave the Vessel with me, and we'll be on our way."

In the shadows, a small pixie steps into the light, just behind Yurghen. The way his nose wrinkles and shifts as he sniffs the air, combined with the magnifying effect of those large glasses, makes him look like a mouse. The creature shifts his glasses further onto his nose, as if studying us with great care.

Gradually, more of the faeling creatures gather in the vacant windows surrounding us, and even in the nearby alleys until our group of a hundred stragglers and soldiers is completely surrounded.

Cor'than gives the signal and chaos breaks like a pane of glass shattering on a playground. Soldiers scatter in all directions, blasting air and fire towards the old man and his companions.

We're swept into the heart of the battle. Sunder moves with a deftness that leaves me awestruck, his sword slicing through adversaries like they're made of smoke. Faelings and dark, scaly creatures launch attacks from side streets.

Instinctively, my mates form a protective ring around me as we throw our collective might back at them. From the center, I see waves of Bobble's yellow magic ripping flesh and limbs from bodies.

I grab the remaining threads of my red Chroma, lashing luck to each of us. Sunder's blue mist wafts and pulses with surging fury. I can almost sense the emotions dripping off the threads of magic leaching from his hands. Fear and terror seep into the hearts of our foes.

As the last of my luck wraps around Tairyn, I throw my energy into striking Yurghen. I empty my mind.

My intuition directs me as I unleash a combination of fire and air towards him, wrapped in a thread of misfortune, but it is met with a familiar barrier - the same one he used against me in the tower. However, I refuse to give up and continue to push against it, channeling my magic with all my might to break through like I did before. A sound of pure frustration escapes my lips, but I remind myself that if I succeeded once, I can do it again.

Callum's Chroma, a bright green color, moves in a gentle, swaying motion next to mine. It reminds me of a tired truck driver veering off the highway as they struggle to stay awake at the wheel.

A gasp escapes my lips as our magic intertwines, the power growing stronger as we unleash a fiery blast towards Yurghen. Our intentions are aligned, our magic fused into one formidable force. It doesn't originate from us, but flows through us effortlessly, like a powerful current.

Cor'than's soldiers roar and battle, easily overcoming the endless waves of fae creatures attacking. While most are not strong in their abilities to manipulate magic, their proficiency with swords and determination make up for any shortcomings. However, Yurghen's relentless attacks drive us backwards, shattering our strong defensive formation.

"Keep pushing!" I shout, the words echoing in the wild frenzy of the battlefield as soldiers fall back in every direction. Fire and ice, wind and earth, all crash around us in a dizzying show of raw power.

Callum's energy pulses in time with my own, a silent symphony of shared purpose. Sunder is beside me, his sword a blur as he cuts down any enemy daring to come close. Bobble's strength is remarkable, his magic tearing through our foes like brittle paper.

And Tairyn… I can feel him. His cold calculation, his measured might. Each stroke of his magic is like a scalpel, precise and deadly.

Suddenly, Sunder grunts in pain, staggering backward as Yurghen's dark magic slams into him with the force of a locomotive. My chest seizes as I release my Chroma, Sunder's pain echoing through me like a physical blow.

"Sunder!" I cry out, reaching for him.

"Keep fighting!" he growls through gritted teeth, fighting to stay upright. His skin is an ashen color, his eyes unfocused. He's hurt badly.

Cor'than yells something over the din of the battle, but I can't hear him. His soldiers start to retreat around us, leaving too many lifeless, uniformed bodies behind.

Everything shifts into slow motion. My brain screams for me to move, to do something, anything, but my feet are rooted to the ground, my eyes locked with Sunder's. I can see the pain etching his features, but there's a defiance there too. A refusal to yield.

Amidst the chaos, I take note of Yurghen's men closing in on us. Feet are pounding against the ground as they rush towards us with swords raised in a wild and frantic manner.

"Bobble!" I shout, breaking away from Sunder's gaze. The bulky shard is battling off enemies on the other side of our ring, his magic pulsing bright and unyielding.

He turns, amber eyes widening as he takes in Sunder's condition. "Hold on!" he shouts back at me before he launches himself at the enemies closing in on him, his massive bulk leaving a path of destruction in its wake.

Finally, the yellow Chroma that burned so bright only moments before is barely a trickle as it seeps into Sunder. He takes a sharp breath as the magic does its work, knitting his flesh. The look of wild terror in his eyes fades as the magic takes effect. He dismissively waves off Bobble and grabs my arm, shouting for us to retreat. We move together towards a side street, with Cor'than leading the way and clearing our path as we inch closer to safety.

Another wave of darkness crashes over us, causing Callum to stumble. He struggles to catch his breath, his normally piercing gaze now glazed over with sweat beading on his forehead. The force of Yurghen's magic causes his sandy hair to cling to his skin, and his lean body trembles in response.

"No," I whimper.

"Keep going!" Callum manages to grit out, eyes narrowing with determination as he forces himself upright. "I'm… fine."

The lie burns between us, but I can't afford to dispute it. So, I nod as we continue our retreat. Tairyn is behind us now, alone, his green eyes sparkling with a manic energy that sends shivers down my spine as he casts wild flares of purple Chroma, holding back Yurghen's forces single handedly just long enough for us to move out of the line of sight.

"Tairyn!" I call out to him, but he doesn't look back. His fingers tap an inaudible rhythm against the hilt of the sword that has yet to leave its scabbard, as if these creatures pose no real threat to him. The anticipation in his posture sings a foreboding melody.

A sudden flicker of movement catches my attention, and I am frozen in horror as Yurghen's hands weave a web of dark magic, conjuring a massive blast that crackles with malevolent power. The air around us seems to vibrate with tension as the spell takes shape, its dark tendrils reaching out hungrily for Tairyn. His name escapes my lips in a guttural scream, piercingly loud, as it reaches out to grab him. His head snaps towards Yurghen just in time to see the incoming attack.

A blinding strike of electric purple erupts from his fingertips, unleashing a torrent of raw magic that obliterates the stone building adjacent to us. The world shakes as debris rains down in a deafening explosion, engulfing us in choking clouds of dust and rubble. Amidst the chaos, Tairyn sprints towards us, momentarily halting Yurghen's charge.

"Run. Hide!"

Without hesitation, we obey Tairyn's urgent command and Cor'than hurries after us as his guards scatter in all directions. Tairyn's strong arms guide me and the other Shards through a maze of winding streets and narrow alleyways.

Finally, we arrive at a small room tucked away in the basement of a townhouse. It is just big enough for all of us to huddle together, seeking safety and shelter from the chaos outside. The walls are made of rough stone, while old wooden beams stretch across the ceiling above our heads. The musty smell of damp earth fills the air, mingling with the scent of fear and adrenaline that hangs heavy around us.

I struggle to catch my breath as I assess our group. We are all breathing heavily, leaning against the cold and damp walls of our makeshift hideout. In the dim light, Callum's face is hardly recognizable, the agony etched deeply into the lines and contours. He is caked in blood and dirt, barely resembling his former self.

"I need to heal him," Bobble pants, eyeing him with evident concern. His amber eyes are flickering with sparks of gold, and his hair is wild and unkempt from the fight. His broad shoulders heave as he struggles to catch his breath.

A flicker of yellow light sparks to life on his fingers before sputtering out. Bobble shakes his head, eyes wide with fear. "I can't. I don't have—"

"I'm okay," Callum rasps out, coughing. "It's not…" he winces visibly. "It's not as bad as it looks."

Tairyn crumples to the ground with a defeated groan, his once pristine hair now a wild tangle. His green eyes, usually filled with mischief and life, now hold a dark and distant emptiness. Despite the chaos and dire situation surrounding me, I sense the bond between us. So new and precious, he feels lost in a faraway place. Unreachable and disconnected.

Cor'than whispers to himself like Yurghen might find us if we speak too loudly. "This can't be how it all ends. I can't have come this far, done so much, for the city to fall now."

My heart pounds in my chest, a deafening echo of disbelief and terror. This was our last hope, our only chance at survival. But now, as we cower in the shadows like timid prey, I'm a rabbit waiting to be hunted by a savage fox.

I curse myself for ever believing this was anything but a desperate long shot.