The sun had barely begun to peek over the horizon when a hurried knock on Alex's door shattered the silence of dawn. Still half-asleep, Alex opened his eyes and noticed that both Aria and EMI were still fast asleep—one on each side of him—taking up far more space than he thought possible.
"What the hell...?" he muttered as he sat up, trying not to disturb the girls too much.
Another knock, this time louder, echoed through the door, followed by the urgent voice of Duke Alaric.
"Alex, Aria, EMI! Get up right now! The village is under attack!"
A jolt of alertness shot through Alex's body. Before he could respond, EMI stirred with a soft gasp.
"What's going on?" she asked groggily, rubbing her eyes.
"The duke said the village is under attack," Alex replied as he stood up.
Aria cracked one eye open, yawning elegantly. "An attack? How inconvenient... Can't they let us rest after saving them yesterday?"
"This isn't a game, Aria," Alex said firmly. "We need to move."
---
When they stepped out into the hallway, dressed and ready for action, they found Duke Alaric waiting, clad in his usual shining armor and wearing a grim expression.
"A group of armed men, sent by the dark mage, attacked the village guard during the night," he explained quickly. "Our forces tried to hold them off, but the attackers are well-organized and possess dangerous abilities. I need you to head to the village immediately to contain the situation."
Aria crossed her arms, her face showing a mix of annoyance and resolve. "How many are we dealing with?"
"About twenty, though among them are figures who appear to have magical abilities," Alaric answered.
EMI nodded, her face displaying a rare seriousness. "We'll go right away."
"Alex," the duke said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I know you don't have the same powers as Aria and EMI, but your support has been crucial. Don't underestimate your value."
Alex nodded slowly, though deep down, he still felt that familiar frustration of not being able to do more.
---
The group arrived at the village in the midst of chaos. Houses were burning, villagers were running for shelter, and enemy soldiers rampaged through the streets, destroying everything in their path.
Aria didn't hesitate—she raised one hand and summoned three shadowy creatures with ghostlike forms that rushed straight at the attackers, forming a barrier between them and the fleeing villagers.
"EMI, I need a direct strike! I'll keep them back!" Aria shouted, commanding her summons.
Without hesitation, EMI channeled her light magic, forming a brilliant sphere that she hurled into a cluster of enemies, instantly disintegrating their weapons.
The blinding flash forced several to retreat.
---
Meanwhile, Alex remained behind the girls, closely observing the battlefield.
He knew he didn't have the brute strength or magical abilities to face the enemies head-on, but he had learned to make up for that with strategy.
Focusing on his runes, Alex activated one that boosted Aria's magical energy, allowing her to summon a fourth shadow creature—something normally impossible.
"Impressive, Alex," Aria commented as her new summon, a beast with massive claws, tore through the enemy lines.
"EMI, watch your right," Alex warned, activating another rune that created a small shield to protect her from a surprise attack.
"Thanks, Alex!" EMI responded, turning to counter with a beam of light that knocked the attacker down.
---
Just when it seemed the group had the situation under control, a towering figure appeared on the horizon, walking through the flames.
It was a tall man clad in black armor etched with glowing red runes that seemed to burn with their own fire.
"Who is that?" EMI asked, a chill running down her spine.
"He must be one of the dark mage's lieutenants," Aria said cautiously, eyeing him.
The man stopped and raised a massive sword that seemed to absorb the light around it. With a deep, thunderous voice, he spoke:
"So, you're the ones interfering with my master's plans. Too bad you won't live to tell the tale."
Alex felt a knot in his stomach. He knew this enemy wasn't like the others.
As EMI and Aria prepared to engage, Alex took a deep breath and whispered to himself:
"I can't let them down. I have to find a way to help them… even if it means staying in the shadows."
The deafening clang of the enemy's sword hitting the ground marked the start of a battle the village would never forget.
The man in black armor advanced slowly, exuding a chilling aura of superiority. His eyes, hidden behind an ornate helmet, seemed to pierce right through them.
"Surrender now," he said mockingly. "None of you are a match for me."
Aria moved first, summoning her most powerful creature: a colossal shadow wolf with ember-like glowing eyes.
The wolf leapt at the enemy ferociously, but with a single sweep of his sword, the man sliced it in two, dissipating it into a cloud of shadows.
"That's it? What a disappointment," the man scoffed, spinning his sword in his hands.
"Don't get cocky!" Aria shouted, summoning three more shadows that lunged at him from different directions.
But the man spun with incredible speed, unleashing a slash of dark energy that obliterated them instantly.
---
The man extended a hand, and pillars of dark energy erupted from the ground, heading straight toward EMI and Alex.
EMI reacted quickly, casting a light shield that blocked the attack, though the force of the explosion pushed her back a few steps.
"Aria, cover Alex!" EMI shouted as she prepared another spell.
"I've got him!" Aria replied, casting a shadow barrier that protected Alex from the flying fragments of dark magic.
The enemy laughed, his voice echoing like a sinister wind. "Your efforts are meaningless. My power far surpasses yours."
---
From his position, Alex watched the enemy's every move, trying to find an opening.
Though he lacked offensive abilities, he knew his role was to support the girls so they could give it their all.
Activating one of his runes, he boosted EMI's speed and agility, letting her move like lightning across the battlefield.
Then he activated another, enhancing Aria's summoning ability, allowing her to conjure a massive shadow serpent that slithered toward the enemy.
"EMI, now!" Alex shouted, pointing to a weak spot in the man's defense.
---
EMI took advantage of the distraction caused by the shadow serpent and rushed forward, her body surrounded by golden light that intensified with every step.
With a shout, she unleashed a blast of energy that hit the man square in the chest, sending him stumbling back several meters.
He staggered but didn't fall. Instead, he raised his sword and channeled his energy into a devastating attack, forming a black sphere that he hurled toward EMI.
Unshaken, EMI raised both hands and channeled her light magic. A radiant barrier appeared before her, absorbing the dark sphere and dispersing it into a shower of brilliant sparks.
"I won't let you hurt anyone else," EMI said, her voice firm enough to make even the enemy falter.
With a graceful movement, she conjured a magic circle beneath her feet, expanding the range and potency of her magic.
A spear of pure light appeared in her hands, glowing with almost divine energy.
---
The man charged for a final strike, sword raised high—but EMI acted first.
With flawless precision, she hurled the spear of light directly into his heart.
The impact was cataclysmic. The light pierced through the black armor, disintegrating it—and the man inside—in a brilliant beam that lit up the battlefield.
When the light faded, nothing remained of the enemy but a smoldering crater.
---
Silence fell as villagers and soldiers looked at EMI in awe and gratitude.
"That was incredible," Aria said, still stunned by EMI's sheer power.
Alex let out a sigh of relief. Though he often felt out of place in such moments, he couldn't help but feel proud of how well they had worked as a team.
EMI, her face calm but tired, turned to Alex and gave him a small smile.
"Thanks for your help, Alex. Without your runes, it wouldn't have
been nearly as easy."
Alex nodded, feeling an unexpected warmth at her words.
"I just did my part."