As the last of the dark-robed attackers stumbled back, disoriented and defeated, a heavy silence fell over the forest. The shadows seemed to shrink, and the faint breeze that had carried their threats now felt like a gentle sigh. Lira lowered her hands slowly, feeling the lingering pulse of her wind magic and the soft quiver of the vines she had summoned. Her chest heaved, not just from exertion, but from the exhilaration of having survived something so dangerous.
Renkai sheathed his sword, his sharp eyes scanning the clearing for any remaining threat. "They're gone… for now," he said, voice steady but tinged with caution. "This wasn't a random encounter. Someone sent them."
Thalanir crouched, his antlers still glowing faintly as he shifted back into his human form. "It doesn't matter who. What matters is that we held our ground—and together," he said, brushing dirt from his sleeves. He gave Lira a warm, reassuring look. "You did well. You kept your focus."
