As the army continued their journey deeper into the forest, the atmosphere grew thick with unease. The trees towered over them, their leaves rustling ominously, and the sunlight that had once filtered through the branches now seemed to struggle to reach the forest floor. Eira kept her senses on high alert, her grip on her sword tight. She knew that this was the heart of the forest, the place where the wraiths and ghouls dwelled, the enemies that could only be killed with holy power.
The priests of the army moved forward, chanting incantations and invoking the blessings of the gods. Their prayers were meant to offer protection to the army and drive away any evil lurking in the forest. But their efforts were in vain, for as soon as they crossed a certain threshold, the wraiths descended upon them.
The wraiths were ghostly figures, their bodies insubstantial and their movements erratic. They swooped in from all sides, their arms stretched out as if to embrace the soldiers. The soldiers swung their swords and shields, but their weapons passed right through the wraiths, doing no damage.
Eira fought bravely, using her sword to deflect the wraiths' attacks, one the priests had recovered and began blessing weapons and items to at least ward off attacks. But she could see that her fellow soldiers were struggling. The wraiths seemed to be endless, and the soldiers were getting tired as the almost never wavering spirits attacked them.
The priests were doing their best to help, chanting prayers and casting spells that were meant to harm the wraiths. But the wraiths seemed to be immune to their efforts, only by making up for it in numbers. Eira could see the frustration on the priests' faces as their magic failed to leave any permanent dent on their numbers.
As the battle raged on, Eira's team leader, a seasoned warrior, was suddenly struck down by a group of wraiths. Eira watched in horror as the wraiths enveloped him, their insubstantial bodies passing through his armor and flesh as if they were not there, attacking the energy of his life.
As the team leader began struggling to breath as each wraith passed through his body, she could see the bodies of some of her fellow soldiers on the ground. They had sunken in eyes and shriveled skin, their eyes kept open in fear and regret.
Eira felt a surge of rage and determination. She knew that the village that they were trying to protect was at risk if the army and their lord fell here. She felt a sudden connection to the divine, as if the gods were calling out to her to take action. She closed her eyes for a moment and breathed deeply, then suddenly her sword began to glow with a bright light.
The soldiers and priests around her gasped in amazement as Eira charged forward, her sword now transformed into a sacred blade of holy light, runes appearing on the regular blade and searing into the metal. The wraiths recoiled at the sight of the glowing sword, they shrunk under the brilliant light on the blade.
Eira swung her sword, the holy power slicing through the wraiths like a knife through butter. The soldiers cheered as they saw the wraiths disintegrate into nothingness under the power of Eira's sword.
Eira fought with renewed vigor, the holy power surging through her veins. She could feel the presence of the gods around her, their blessings empowering her every swing. The wraiths fell before her like wheat before the scythe, their insubstantial bodies crumbling to nothing under the power of her sword.
The soldiers were inspired by Eira's bravery, and they fought with renewed vigor. They pushed back the wraiths, driving them back into the depths of the forest. Eira felt a sense of pride as she watched her comrades fight alongside her, their spirits lifted by her example.
As the battle ended, the army was left battered and bruised, but victorious. They tended to their wounds and paid their respects to the fallen, but Eira could feel a sense of satisfaction. She had never felt such a connection to the divine before, but now she knew that the gods were watching over her, empowering her to fight for the greater good.
Her team leader was barely alive and brought over to a clearing with other injured or dying soldiers. "We...will speak later." He said dryly when the soldier he was leaning on went by her. Eira realized this may be bigger than what she thought, while she was proud of her actions now she had a power inside her that was barely given to champions of the realm. She was young and that spectacle would surely draw attention, it was then that she saw Lady Leora walking towards her with her guards.