"Through here," Merab said to Orvae as they ducked into a corner to avoid an incoming horde of Braunian soldiers. They waited silently until the last soldier passed before slipping out of their hiding place. Their cautious movement continued as they ascended the floors of the castle.
"That was close," Orvae muttered as they pressed forward.
"You're not exactly trained in the principles of stealth, you know that, right?" Merab whispered.
"What do you mean not trained? I'm a seasoned hunter. I track animals with stealth all the time in the forests. You're a princess. What do *you* know about stealth?" Orvae shot back.
"This isn't a squirrel hunt, is it?"
"Oh please, don't be condescending. I've been in this castle before. I even took gold from right under their noses!"
"And how did that work out for you?"
"Listen, we *were* successful. It was just a minor miscalculation that led to a... chase," Orvae began to explain, but Merab cut him off.
"Shhh! We're close. He's here... I can feel him," she whispered.
They reached the stairwell leading up to the tower room where Bravae was being held. As expected, the entire section was guarded.
They ducked behind a recessed space in the wall, likely meant for a balcony window.
"Okay, listen, Orvae. We're about to confront these soldiers. Other than the black sword you're holding, you have no weapon. I need you to stay close to me. I'll cast an enchantment to protect you, but it only works if you remain in close proximity. Keep the sword with you at all times. Understand?"
"Got it. No problem. Let's do this."
Merab closed her eyes and made three slow, circular motions with her hands, whispering incantations under her breath.
A warm sensation washed over them as the spell settled.
"Let's go," she said— and they burst from the alcove into the corridor. The first two soldiers spotted them instantly.
They raised their rifles to fire, but Merab unleashed a sharp gust of wind, knocking them off their feet. With a flick of her hand, she cast again. Both soldiers hit the wall and fell unconscious.
Orvae followed close behind as they raced up the stairs.
Another soldier bolted down toward them. His fate was no different. Merab hit him with a blinding mist of light, and he tumbled down the steps, dazed and defeated.
"Hurry! Let's get to the top!" Merab called.
At the top of the stairs, three more soldiers waited, rifles raised. They fired simultaneously, but Merab's fortification spell deflected the bullets harmlessly.
She planted her foot, spun quickly, and released a tremendous burst of wind and glowing mist, sending all three soldiers crashing to the floor, instantly unconscious.
Orvae could only stare in awe as she continued to tear through the enemy forces.
Two more soldiers charged in with swords drawn. Merab dispatched them with ease.
Finally, they reached a locked door.
"Stand back, Orvae," she warned, placing her hand on the door. She whispered a few words, and with a flash, the door exploded off its hinges.
Bravae was inside. Strapped to a chair, heavily wounded but still breathing.
"Oh my goodness!" Orvae exclaimed at the sight of him.
"Who's that?" Bravae managed to mutter as his eyes struggled to focus.
"It's okay, Bravae. It's us —we're here to save you," Merab said gently.
"Orvae? What are you doing here? It's dangerous. Where is Indumae?"
"He went to meet the Pylae," Orvae replied.
"Quick! Get me out of here," Bravae groaned.
Merab used her magic to heat and melt the metal restraints on his wrists and legs, setting him free.
Orvae helped Bravae stand, though he could barely walk.
They began their descent, moving slowly. The sound of gunfire echoed through the castle as soldiers scrambled to respond.
Merab blasted spell after spell, forcing back the incoming forces as they pushed their way to the ground floor.
"What about my grandad?" Orvae asked suddenly.
"Yes, we need to go get him," Bravae agreed, coughing.
"You two can't go like this. We'll have to split up," Merab said firmly.
"Are you sure about that?" Orvae asked, hesitating.
"Yes. You go back the way we came. I'll head to the dungeons and get Chief Amintoro. We'll meet at the foot of the moat. Okay?"
Orvae nodded. Bravae could barely stay upright.
Orvae led him to a window and carefully lowered him down.
They made their way to a small grove of trees near the moat and waited, hidden. Cries of soldiers and scattered gunfire filled the air.
Then, a thunderous explosion shook the ground.
From the window, two silhouettes could be seen descending.
Merab had managed to rescue the old man, but a barrage of gunfire followed close behind.
Orvae held his breath as they approached. Bravae was passed out on the ground by now.
Merab looked pale and worn, barely staying on her feet as she guided Amintoro forward.
They hadn't made it more than a few meters when a single shot rang out. Amintoro dropped to the ground.
What followed was a blur of movement: a figure swinging from the rafters of the castle like some wild jungle creature. He launched forward, releasing one cable and firing another that latched to a tree at the edge of the forest. In one fluid motion, he swung across and perched atop a high branch like a sea hawk surveying its prey.
His hair whipped gloriously in the wind.
It was the soldier from earlier, Sir Brian.
Something about his presence made the air feel heavier. Fear rippled through all of them.
Merab raised her hands and blasted a spell at him. But he was too fast, darting from tree to tree with practiced ease. While he swung, he opened fire with a sleek short-barreled gun, unlike the slow, single-shot rifles the other soldiers carried, his weapon unleashed a rapid spray of bullets even as he moved.
It completely threw Merab off. She couldn't land a hit, and the constant barrage chipped away at her protective spell. She was already weak from the earlier fights, and it showed.
A bullet clipped her shoulder. She ducked but not fast enough. Sir Brian was unnervingly accurate. She staggered, tried to raise her hand for another spell, but another shot hit her. Blood soaked the grass around her feet.
Orvae stood frozen. Bravae was unconscious. Amintoro was down. And Merab was bleeding out in front of him.
She collapsed again, trying to rise, but her body gave out.
Sir Brian landed silently on the ground, his cables retracting into the strange device on his hip. Calm and unhurried, he began walking toward her. More Braunian soldiers poured from the castle behind him, rifles aimed.
Orvae knew he had to act.
He looked down at the black sword— still sheathed. The last time he touched it bare-handed, it burned him. That wasn't an option.
But maybe he could buy her time.
He darted behind the trees, grabbed a handful of stones, and hurled them at Sir Brian.
"Hey! Over here! It's me you want!"
Then he turned and bolted into the forest.
Sir Brian didn't hesitate. He gave chase immediately, leaving Merab to face the advancing soldiers.
Orvae sprinted with everything he had, but he didn't get far. A thick branch came spinning through the air, hurled from above, and slammed into his leg, sending him crashing to the ground.
His heart pounded. The world slowed. Sir Brian approached like a shadow made flesh.
Back near the tower, Bravae stirred.
His eyes fluttered open. He saw the soldiers creeping toward him. And beyond them, Merab and Amintoro, motionless on the grass.
Fear surged in his chest. But also anger. Where was Orvae? That worried him most.
He looked around, and there, just a few feet away, lay the sword, still sheathed.
It hadn't answered him before. But this... this was now or never.
He closed his eyes, stretched out his hand, and did exactly what Indumae had instructed him to do.
And the sword came.
When he opened his eyes, it was in his grasp, and his body erupted into flame.
A massive, fiery explosion burst outward, so powerful it could be seen and heard for miles. Trees shook. Castle walls trembled. The grass ignited.
The once-black sword now glowed a radiant orange. Strength surged through Bravae's body. His wounds vanished. His limbs felt weightless.
The soldiers froze.
Bravae stood tall, flames dancing around him. He raised the sword.
The soldiers opened fire, all at once but it didn't matter.
He slashed through the air, and a wave of blazing fire erupted forward, tearing through their ranks. At least fifty soldiers were thrown aside in an instant.
The rest? Speechless. Terrified.
Bravae charged.
He cut through them like wind through wheat, fury and flame at his back.
Meanwhile, Sir Brian stood over Orvae, preparing to strike, when he saw the flash. The blinding explosion lit up the forest like dawn.
He stopped.
He smiled faintly.
"Toro Amaniwen," he said softly.
Then he fired another cable and swung toward the flames.