Sylv and I were roaming the forest, searching for Toby.
Our steps were slow and cautious, our pace steady.
My eyes darted around, watching for any hint of danger. My ears perked up, straining for any trace of Toby.
"Papa, where could Uncle Toby be?" Sylvie, whom I was carrying, asked softly.
I could hear the worry in her voice.
"He's got to be somewhere close, Sylv. I'm sure of it." Though, truthfully, I wasn't sure of anything at this point.
We'd already checked around the cottage and were now moving deeper into the forest.
The night was silent, eerily still, with only the occasional scream or howl of animals echoing through the trees.
' Where are you, Toby? It's been long...'
Anxiety gnawed at me.
I scanned the shadows around us, picking up the fluttering leaves, distant rustles, and an odd sharpness in the air.
Then, amidst the quiet, something else reached my ears.. a faint, metallic echo.
* Shing! Clank! Cling! *
I stopped dead, turning my head toward the sound.
I reached out instinctively, as if trying to pull the sound closer.
It was distant, muffled by the thick embrace of trees, but the metallic echo tugged at me, making my steps faster and faster.
I strained to listen, every step towards that strange, yet familiar haunting sound, making it clearer.
Almost... recognizable.
Concentrating Heka in my ears, I was able to somewhat make sense of it.
It wasn't just random noise.
No… it was deliberate, rhythmic, almost like…
A flicker of memory rose in my mind.. blades meeting in the dark, the familiar, unmistakable clang of steel.
I took a few steps toward it, my body tensing with each faint echo.
' Could it really be…? '
The sounds became clearer, sharper with each cautious step.
My pulse quickened as recognition finally dawned. "It's the sound of a fight," I murmured, almost to myself. "And… I think it might be Toby's blade."
"Uncle Toby is fighting?" Sylvie's voice wavered with a hint of fear.
"Uh-huh. Looks like he's in a battle." I kept my gaze fixed ahead, not daring to meet her eyes just yet.
"Do you think he'll be alright?"
I finally turned to her, bringing the most confident smile I could muster. "Of course. He'll be more than alright. I'm here, aren't I?"
Following the commotion, we reached near the source.
But I didn't rush and took some time to observe the surroundings.
There were clear signs of burning around me.
Most of the plants nearby were scorched black, reduced to ashes.
Scorched leaves crumbled underfoot, and wisps of smoke rose from the blackened soil.
Up ahead, I could see some trees burning with a crimson fire, their light flickering against the ghastly dark night.
The air felt heavy with the smell of burning skin, and ashes fluttered all around.
The heat wasn't too intense, suggesting it had been some time since the flames had burned at their peak.
Placing my feet slowly and moving without a sound, we crept forward.
There was a clearing just a few meters ahead, and the sound was almost beside me now.
It didn't take long before a familiar figure came into view.
Toby was fighting creatures that resembled wolves.
But something was different about them, they weren't made of flesh and bone but…
' branches and leaves? '
The thought confused me until I noticed a massive wolf standing still a few meters away from Toby.
From experience, it didn't take me long to put two and two together.
I wasn't sure who this wolf was, but I was certain the tree wolves were its creations.
Toby seemed to be in a tough spot. Two wolves circled him, while one lay motionless on the ground, probably killed by Toby.
Though he wasn't visibly injured, his stamina looked like it had taken a hit.
His focus was razor-sharp as he parried and blocked the wolves attacking from every side.
I glanced behind me at Sylvie, who was standing nearby.
Protecting her while joining the fight would be difficult, but Toby needed me now, or it would be too late.
Taking out a metallic orb, I channeled Heka into it, watching as it began to charge.
A bright, transparent white light enveloped the orb, and I handed it to Sylvie, guiding her to press it.
* Swish! *
Instantly, the light expanded to form a barrier around us.
The shield wasn't very large, but it was enough for Sylvie to stay safe, and I wouldn't be staying inside.
"Sylv, this is a powerful shield that'll protect you until I get back. All you have to do is sit tight and don't move, okay?" I asked, locking eyes with her seriously.
She didn't answer but nodded, her gaze filled with determination.
Though she hadn't known Toby for long, she'd gotten attached quickly.
And the trauma of Lily's death had only deepened her worries.
"That's my brave girl. I'll be back soon with Uncle Toby, don't you worry, " I said, ruffling her hair as I moved out of the shield's perimeter.
I set up a few elemental bombs nearby, charging them with Earth Heka.
If anything got close to her, the traps would trigger, blinding intruders with the elemental bombs before they even reached the shield.
The orb I'd given her was something I'd prepared when I decided to bring her along.
It provided a strong, reusable protective barrier activated with Heka.
The white, transparent light was only visible from within.. from the outside, it blended seamlessly with the background, making it excellent for camouflage.
The shield would also adjust its size according to the occupants, which was why I'd stepped out.
With only Sylvie inside, it would shrink slightly to suit her.
Of course, there were downsides.
The shield demanded a high amount of Heka.. around 30% of my reserves, which were considerable.
Mind you, my Heka reserves were considered high.
It was stationary, too.. you could move within it, but once activated, it couldn't be repositioned without deactivation.
It wasn't suited for active battle, just for hiding.
And its size, though perfect for one or two, couldn't accommodate a group, maxing out for at most 3-4 adults in a tightened space.
It wasn't omnipotent, but for now it was ideal to keep Sylvie safe.
" Desperate times require desperate measures "
After finishing my preparations, I climbed the nearest tree for a better view of the battlefield.
Looking down, I saw Toby in deeper trouble.
Leaves covered his body and the ground around him, and one of the tree-wolves was sneaking up behind him.
' This is bad. I need to do something. '
Timing my move, I tensed my calves, focusing Heka in my legs, and jumped.
* Bam! *
I landed directly atop the wolf lurking in the shadows, crushing its skull and body beneath me.
Glancing back, I saw Toby's shocked expression, his face a mix of emotions.. relief and astonishment most of all.
Turning toward him with a mischievous grin, I said, "See? I warned you about the wolves, didn't I?"
I sure loved to tease his old ass.