Chapter 19: The Strength of the Heart
The air in the hideout grew heavy as EMI released an overwhelming wave of magical energy. The explosion was so sudden that the leader of the men had no time to react, being violently hurled against a wall before he could activate his magic-nullifying ability.
—"No one gets between us and Alex!"—EMI shouted, her bluish aura lighting the room with flashing sparks.
Meanwhile, Aria unleashed her shadow summoning magic, creating creatures that lunged at the bandits, distracting them and clearing the way. Taking advantage of the chaos, she rushed toward the cells where Alex and the woman remained locked up.
Aria ran to Alex, her face reflecting a mix of guilt and desperation. As she reached him, she knelt in front of him, pulling a small vial filled with a bright green liquid from her bag.
—"Alex… I'm so sorry,"—her voice cracked as she avoided his gaze.—"I shouldn't have brought you on such a dangerous mission. This is all my fault."
Alex took the vial and drank the liquid. His wounds began to heal rapidly, and he stood up with a sigh of relief. Then, gently, he placed a hand on Aria's head, who still stared at the ground.
—"Aria, don't worry,"—he said with a soft smile, ruffling her hair.—"Believe me, I'm used to this. With EMI around, I'm basically the 'damsel in distress' who always needs saving."
The comment made Aria look up, surprised by the calmness in his voice. Alex smiled at her confidently.
—"Now, let's go help EMI before she causes an earthquake or something worse."
Aria nodded, quickly wiping her tears and regaining her composure. She rose and summoned more shadow creatures that charged at the regrouping bandits.
As Alex and Aria moved to support EMI, Alex suddenly stopped and turned toward the woman. He extended a hand toward her, his gaze calm but firm.
—"Come on. We'll handle the fight. You help your friends get out of here."
The woman stared at Alex's hand in disbelief, as if she couldn't comprehend what was happening. She hesitated for a moment, her eyes full of conflicting emotions. Finally, she took his hand, allowing him to help her up.
—"Why are you doing this?"—she asked, her voice low and confused.
Alex looked her directly in the eyes.—"Because no one deserves to be trapped here. Everyone deserves a chance to fight for their freedom."
Still stunned, the woman added:—"But… didn't you see his power? That man can nullify our magic. You don't even have magical abilities. How do you expect to help her?"
Alex smiled with a mix of determination and humor.—"I don't need magic to do what's right. Besides…"—he glanced at EMI, still fiercely fighting the men—"…when you have friends like them, sometimes all you need is to be the one who believes in them."
The woman looked at him for a moment before nodding firmly.—"Alright. I'll free the others and make sure they're all safe."
As the woman ran to release the prisoners, Alex and Aria joined EMI in battle. The combination of Aria's shadow creatures, EMI's destructive force, and Alex's strategic thinking began to shift the tide in their favor.
Even without magic, Alex used his speed and skill to disarm several bandits, allowing EMI and Aria to focus on the strongest opponents. The confrontation reached a critical point...
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