Without a barrier, the accumulated attacks from soldiers and tamers, heroes whose names didn't matter, were descending on Orion from every angle.
It was the end for him.
But the crystals came out of Dorian's and Magnus's hands before either of them finished understanding what was happening.
Toward Orion… Into his configuration, incorporated with the fluency of someone executing something they had already decided to do before the situation required it, not a true reaction, a plan activated.
The combined crystal count in his hands changed to 10, and the barrier that followed was small, just enough to manage without the water and fire elemental control of his brothers. Just enough, because the corruption filling the gaps made up for the precision their absence took away.
"I'm sorry," said Orion, without looking at them.
Dorian and Magnus looked at their eldest brother for the time it took to process what had just happened.
