Leoruxion wandered through the forest and stumbled upon someone being chased by minions of the Darklord. The man, an elf, tried to get up, but Leoruxion stopped him.Leoruxion wandered through the forest and stumbled upon someone being chased by minions of the Darklord. The man, an elf, tried to get up, but Leoruxion stopped him.
"Wait! Why are you running in such a hurry?" he asked.
The elf ignored him and continued fleeing, unwilling to waste time on a conversation. Intrigued, Leoruxion followed, quickly realizing that the elf might be dangerous—he had apparently stolen an orb from the Sunder Dark Forest and could expose him.
The elf turned suddenly, trying to threaten Leoruxion with his sword.
"Step back, or—"
But his words faltered as he noticed the Darklord's minions still in pursuit. Realizing they had a bigger threat to worry about, the elf called for Leoruxion to follow him.
"Fine! Come on, keep up!"
Leoruxion hesitated, but when the elf apologized for his rudeness, he decided to trust him.
"Sorry for nearly stabbing you back there," the elf muttered.
"It's alright," Leoruxion replied, nodding.
Together, they ran, dodging the minions as they fled deeper into the forest.
After an hour of running, they finally found a place to hide. Leoruxion turned to the elf.
"What's your name?"
"They call me Sol," the elf said cautiously. "It's my last name, but my people prefer to use it as an identifier."
Leoruxion introduced himself. Sol's eyes widened in shock.
"You're… the adopted son of the king?"
"I'm here to find the Ember Falls my mother told me about," Leoruxion said.
Curious, Sol asked, "Why are you wandering outside the city?"
"I wanted to explore the world," Leoruxion answered simply.
Sol studied him for a moment, then asked, "Can you fight?"
Leoruxion hesitated. "I… don't know."
Sol laughed.
Their brief levity was cut short as the minions discovered their hiding place.
The minions charged at Sol, but Leoruxion acted instinctively, striking down two of them before they could reach his companion.
The remaining seven minions recognized him as a threat. Leoruxion and Sol fought side by side. The battle was intense—a true test of all the years of training Leoruxion had endured under Gabriel.
In the end, they emerged victorious, defeating the minions and surviving the first major battle of Leoruxion's life.
Finally, Leoruxion asked Sol why he had been running. His eyes fell on something in Sol's hand: the corrupted orb from the forest.
Sol explained, "I need this orb to forge my double-edged blade. Only then can I defeat the strongest elf in the land."
Understanding the importance of Sol's mission, Leoruxion let it go.
"I… just need directions to Ember Falls," he said.
Sol gave clear directions. "And… thanks for helping me back there," he added.
With that, they parted ways.
Leoruxion finally arrived at Ember Falls at night. The beauty of the place took his breath away. The water glowed a brilliant azure blue, the grass shimmered with rich green hues, and vibrant flowers bloomed everywhere. Colorful fish swam gracefully in the streams, and moonlight reflected perfectly on the water. Enchanting creatures roamed the area.
On top of a majestic tree, a magical girl was sleeping peacefully.
When she noticed him, she assumed he was spying and launched a firecracker in his direction.
Leoruxion dodged it just in time, surprised not only at her agility but also at the dazzling display of her powers.
"I'm not spying!" he called out.
She opened her eyes, assessing him carefully. "You shouldn't sneak up on someone," she said, but there was no malice in her tone.
"I just… wanted to know who you are," he replied.
"I'm Rein Seraphim," she said, "granddaughter of the Great Wizard of Lucindor City."
Leo introduced himself fully, though Rein, slightly annoyed by the length of his name, decided to call him Leo.
"Leo… I like that," he said, smiling.
They sat together on top of the tree, talking and relaxing, soaking in the peaceful vibes of the night.
Suddenly, the bushes below began to shake.
Leo noticed immediately. "Rein! Follow me!" he whispered urgently.
Rein acted quickly, showcasing her magic. With a wave of her staff, they vanished from the sight of the unseen lurkers, keeping them safe from whatever threat was approaching.
Safe again, they shared a glance before returning to the tranquil night, the Ember Falls glowing softly beneath the moon.Safe again, they shared a glance before returning to the tranquil night, the Ember Falls glowing softly beneath the moon.