C H A P T E R 07 : Shadows of Deception
1125 Words
The Whispering Fells were eerily silent as Eldrin and Kira emerged from the vault, the artifact pulsing faintly in Eldrin’s grasp. The night sky had grown darker, the stars obscured by thick clouds that seemed unnaturally still.
Kira sheathed her sword, glancing warily at their surroundings. “Do you feel that?”
Eldrin nodded, his senses heightened. “We’re not alone.”
The pair moved cautiously through the twisted landscape, their breaths visible in the cold air. Eldrin could feel the artifact’s energy humming through him, its resonance both a comfort and a warning.
They reached the edge of the clearing when a figure stepped into their path. The assassin from before stood there, their cloak billowing slightly in the wind. This time, they weren’t alone. Two other figures, clad in similar dark attire, flanked them, their hands crackling with faint magical energy.
Kira drew her sword immediately. “Friends of yours?” she asked dryly.
“Hardly,” Eldrin muttered, his own hands glowing with a soft blue light as he prepared a spell.
---
The assassin raised a hand, signaling for the others to hold back. “You’ve made it farther than I expected,” they said, their voice sharp and clipped.
“Let me guess,” Eldrin said, his tone dry. “You’re here to take the artifact.”
“That is one possibility,” the assassin replied, tilting their head. “But I was sent to offer you a choice.”
Eldrin exchanged a wary glance with Kira. “A choice?”
The assassin nodded. “Surrender the artifact willingly, and Lady Eryndor will ensure your safe passage out of the kingdom. Refuse, and we’ll take it by force. Either way, you won’t be keeping it.”
Kira scoffed, stepping forward. “Is that supposed to be a good deal? You’re asking him to hand over a weapon that could destroy the entire kingdom.”
The assassin’s eyes glinted. “And you think he’s any less dangerous with it in his hands?”
Eldrin felt a pang of doubt but pushed it aside. “Eryndor’s plans will destroy everything. You think I’d just hand over the means to make that happen?”
The assassin took a step closer, their companions moving in unison. “You don’t understand the scope of what’s at stake. The kingdom is already doomed—Lady Eryndor is the only one who can rebuild it from the ashes.”
Eldrin shook his head. “No. She’s not rebuilding anything. She’s trying to rule through fear and destruction.”
“Then you’ve made your choice,” the assassin said, their voice cold.
---
The fight erupted in an instant. The two mages flanking the assassin launched their spells—one a searing bolt of fire, the other a wave of shadowy tendrils. Eldrin raised a shield of ice, the spells colliding against it in a burst of energy.
Kira darted forward, her sword flashing in the dim light as she engaged the assassin. Their blades clashed in a flurry of strikes, each move calculated and precise.
Eldrin countered the second mage’s attack, summoning a whirlwind of water that swept the tendrils aside. He retaliated with a bolt of lightning, striking the mage squarely in the chest and sending them sprawling to the ground.
The first mage circled around him, hurling another fire spell. Eldrin dodged, the heat singing his cloak, and retaliated with a blast of wind that knocked the mage off balance.
Kira, meanwhile, was holding her own against the assassin, but it was clear her opponent was highly skilled. The assassin’s movements were swift and unpredictable, their dagger flashing dangerously close to Kira’s throat more than once.
“We’re not going to win this if we drag it out!” Kira called to Eldrin, parrying another strike.
Eldrin gritted his teeth. The artifact’s power was still humming through him, but he was hesitant to use it. He didn’t fully understand its capabilities, and the risk of losing control was too great.
But they were running out of time.
---
The first mage recovered, sending a wave of fire hurtling toward Kira. She twisted away, narrowly avoiding the flames, but the distraction gave the assassin an opening. They struck, their blade slicing across her arm.
Kira cried out, dropping to one knee. Eldrin’s heart clenched as he saw her blood staining the ground.
“Kira!” he shouted, his hands glowing as he prepared another spell.
The assassin smirked, raising their dagger for the finishing blow.
Eldrin acted without thinking. He clutched the artifact and released a surge of energy, the air around him vibrating with raw power. A blinding pulse of light erupted from his hands, radiating outward and striking all three attackers.
The mages were thrown backward, their spells extinguished, and the assassin staggered, their dagger falling from their grasp.
Eldrin felt the power recede, leaving him breathless and unsteady. He stumbled forward, reaching Kira’s side.
“You okay?” he asked, kneeling beside her.
She winced, clutching her arm. “I’ll live. What the hell was that?”
Eldrin glanced down at the artifact, its glow dimming once more. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But it worked.”
---
The assassin struggled to their feet, their expression grim. “You think you’ve won?” they rasped, blood dripping from the corner of their mouth. “This is just the beginning.”
Kira stood, despite her injury, and leveled her sword at the assassin’s chest. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll tell us what Eryndor’s planning.”
The assassin sneered. “You can’t stop her. She’s already steps ahead of you. The Fallen Flame will be hers, and when it is, you’ll see that you were fighting for the wrong side all along.”
Eldrin’s gaze hardened. “Why? What does she want with it?”
The assassin didn’t answer. Instead, they reached into their cloak and threw down another vial, releasing a cloud of smoke. By the time it cleared, they were gone.
---
The forest was quiet again, save for Kira’s labored breathing. Eldrin helped her to her feet, his mind racing.
“They’re not giving up,” Kira said, her voice weary. “You know that, right?”
“I know,” Eldrin replied, his tone grim.
They began moving again, putting as much distance as they could between themselves and the ambush site. Eldrin couldn’t shake the assassin’s final words, though.
The wrong side.
He glanced at the artifact in his hands, its weight feeling heavier than ever.
“We need answers,” he said quietly.
Kira nodded. “Then we’d better find someone who can give them to us. Before it’s too late.”
- Writer
