She stared curiously into the crater, her tiny hands almost reaching out to touch the lava her eyes wide with innocent wonder.
Well, no one except the daughter of King Emberfall… fine, I can endure it- he steeled himself, pushing the thought aside.
Just as these thoughts crossed Eris's mind, the lava inside the crater erupted upward, directly toward the two a molten geyser roaring with deadly intent.
Without wasting a moment, as the trained Knight he was, Eris immediately grabbed Aelya while leaping backward, dodging the strike, his movements swift despite the weight of his armor.
With a piercing roar filled with mana and power, a monster emerged from the crater, its presence shaking the air like a storm unleashed.
Its eyes were fixed on Eris's, as he kept the little girl behind him. "Stay behind me!" he said with a frown as he observed the monster, his grip tightening on his sword.
