Maia lingered at the northern gate for a moment longer.
As her friends' silhouettes slowly faded into the morning mist, her gaze grew empty.
Kael's fiery hair, Vega's figure carried by the wind, Aryel's determined steps… one by one, they disappeared from sight.
She drew a deep breath, then quietly turned back inside.
Her steps were silent, yet the echoes within her crashed against the stone walls like thunder.
There were still hours left until sunrise.
The academy was deserted. The silence was piercing, the loneliness utterly bare.
At last, she was ready to face the truth.
Until now, she had always remained calm. She had hidden her feelings, comforted Aryel, Vega, Kael. Tried to appear strong. But the only sentence that rose within her was an admission:
"I wanted to go too."
Callahan's serious, scrutinizing expression…
"Physically, you may not be able to protect yourself."
Behind those words, one single term echoed in her mind:
"Inadequate."
Her heart grew heavy. Lorin's distant gaze… the words he'd spoken… he had chosen someone else.
And now, her friends were gone from her side too.
She was alone.
In the academy's vast courtyard, she sank to her knees. Bent down against the cold stone floor. Her small, delicate hands covered her face; her trembling shoulders bore the storm raging inside her. And at last, everything she had held back shattered. Tears flowed. Not silently. Not swallowed within. Not restrained at all.
She sobbed, gasped, cried out loud.
Her shoulders shook, her voice cracked, her eyes burned. As if every fragment breaking inside her was pouring out as tears. The sound of her sobs slowly echoed and faded within the vast, empty halls of the academy. Maia, collapsed forward, her red hair disheveled, surrendered herself one last time to this lonely moment. From her amber-colored eyes, tears streamed without ceasing.
"Why do I always have to be strong?"
"Why does no one ever choose me?"
"I want to fight too. I want to be by their side…"
"Why am I always left behind?"
No one heard her. She wouldn't have wanted them to, anyway.
Because Maia's rule was clear:
"No one must see her weakness."
She always had to be the smart, composed, obedient girl. The pride of her family.
Her family had never forced her to use her powers. So she had simply let them fade.
Whenever she tried, her brother would look at her with hatred.
"Someone like you doesn't deserve these powers," he'd say.
And so, she had given up.
But…
If she had been able to use them? Maybe now she would have gone with her friends.
Maia was buried in her own darkness. Alone with her fears.
There was no one beside her.
Perhaps, for the very first time… she didn't have to be the girl desperately trying to earn her brother's love.
And at that moment… Maia gave herself permission.
Even if no one heard, even if no one saw… she cried until she was at ease.
The sun had not yet risen. The young guardians who had left the northern gate walked on through the cool morning mist. The lights of the academy were already far behind. Aryel was at the front of the group; his back straight, his steps firm. The weight of the responsibility in his heart pressed lightly against his chest, but he was determined not to show it.
Beside him walked Vega, as if listening to the faint whisper of the wind and scouting the path ahead. Kael was right behind them; his red hair glowed like a flame in the newborn light of day, and on his face rested an expression both stern and thoughtful.
Danny coughed uneasily, glanced around, and muttered:
"This forest doesn't feel right to me. Too quiet..."
Serin sighed softly:
"Silence usually means a storm is coming. Stay alert."
Lorin was walking a little behind the group; his eyes constantly drifted to Aryel, yet Maia's absence pressed faintly on his heart as well. Elrik, with his imposing stance, was at the front, holding his shield carefully as he stepped cautiously deeper into the forest.
Aryel stopped, raising his hand slightly to signal the group to halt. He looked ahead. The dark path between the deep green leaves led into the heart of the forest.
"From here on, we need to be careful," Aryel said, his voice firm but gentle. "If the magical anomalies have truly spread, there could be traps of every kind ahead. Stay close to each other."
Vega stepped closer to him with a faint smile:
"I'm sure you'll protect us, captain."
Aryel gave a small smile and nodded:
"We will protect each other."
Kael looked ahead tensely, clenched his fists. In his flame-colored eyes there was not fear but determination:
"Let's go. We must not waste time."
The group moved again, their steps turning toward the shadow of the forest. It was as if the darkness was slowly drawing them in.
In the depths of the forest, at the border where the darkness met the daylight, a silhouette appeared. Aryel and the others stopped, instinctively moving into defense. But as the figure approached them with careful steps, they relaxed.
The one coming was their teacher, Kaiser. His face was darker and more tense than his usual serious expression. When he reached them, he swept his eyes over them briefly and drew a deep breath.
"You're late. The situation is much worse than we thought."
Aryel quickly stepped forward and spoke:
"What exactly happened? How are the villagers, teacher?"
Kaiser ran his hand tensely through his hair, cleared his throat. His voice was cold and distant:
"The village was attacked after midnight last night. Creatures born from the shadows suddenly swarmed everywhere. The children were the first they took. With their long limbs they seized and dragged them away, some couldn't even make a sound."
"As for the adults..."
Kaiser paused for a moment. His breath caught in his throat, his voice trembled, but he continued.
"They injected them with a thick black liquid. It seemed steeped in darkness. This substance… it corrupts the essence of a person. It forces every suppressed darkness inside them to the surface."
"Those who could endure... changed. But not as humans. Into larger, taller creatures, with grotesquely elongated limbs. Their skin cracked, spikes bursting from their backs. Their eyes glowed bright red. And in those eyes... there was no mercy, no familiar gaze left."
"They had become nothing more than the thorns of Blackthorn… turning into weapons that poisoned and shredded everything they touched."
"Those who could not endure… either burned with a scream, or collapsed silently. But none of them found salvation."
Serin, horrified, finished the sentence for him:
"They die?"
Kaiser nodded.
"Yes. And not quickly or easily. There are corpses everywhere in the village, young ones. The things I saw… beyond description. And he added, 'Blackthorn seems to be the name of the organization, some of them shouted for Blackthorn as they attacked.'"
A deep, silent wave of shock spread among the group. Lorin had grown pale, Vega was frozen. Danny's face showed pure anger.
Kaiser took another breath, his gaze moving over the young ones:
"And more than that… it's not only the creatures of darkness who are doing this. There are people taking pleasure in this massacre. Especially the tortures inflicted upon the women… I do not wish to describe them to you, but know this: they are carried out mercilessly and deliberately."
Kael clenched his fists, the anger rising from within almost blazing in his eyes:
"I will destroy every last one of those who did this."
Aryel, with a firm voice, looked at Kaiser:
"Then what will we do? What exactly is our mission?"
Kaiser drew a deep breath, and the determination in his voice was meant to give strength to the young guardians:
"Our priority is to save the survivors and find the children. Be careful, you must protect yourselves too. But do not forget this: this is not only a rescue mission. This is a war. And we must win this war. Otherwise, we will lose far more than a village."
Everyone nodded, their eyes filled with a complicated blend of anger, fear, and resolve.
Aryel gave one last look to his team:
"Let's go. There's no turning back now."
Just as the team was about to head deeper into the forest, Vega suddenly stopped. Her face had turned pale, and with a trembling voice she called out to teacher Kaiser:
"Wait! These people were ordinary humans just a few hours ago, weren't they? Are you saying now we're going to kill them? Is there no way to bring them back?"
A heavy silence fell over the group at Vega's question. A sorrowful, uneasy shadow crossed everyone's face. They had just realized the weight of it. Teacher Kaiser lowered his head slightly, his face marked with deep sadness and gravity:
"There is no way to save them. This darkness completely erases the human soul. Nothing human remains within them anymore. If we don't stop them, more innocent lives will be lost. We have to do this."
Vega stepped back, her eyes welling with tears:
"But they… they were only innocent villagers. Are we… are we going to kill them now?"
No one could answer. Even Aryel had bowed his head, his throat tight. This was a truth they had never considered in war. As the silence sank down on all of them, Kael clenched his fists tightly, but in his eyes there was more pain than anger:
"It isn't us killing them. The ones who killed them are those who put the darkness inside them. We are only… giving them peace."
Even Danny had fallen silent, his eyes fixed on the ground. Lorin looked around uneasily. Nira and Serin exchanged quiet glances, their shoulders slumped. It was a weight felt in everyone's heart.
Aryel finally broke the silence, his voice firm but deep:
"Yes, this will be a heavy burden for us. But remember; their souls are already gone. We cannot save them, but we must save those who have not yet fallen into the darkness."
Everyone nodded silently. Vega wiped her eyes, slowly lifting her head, her voice weak but already resigned:
"I understand… We have no other choice."
Aryel stepped toward her, gently resting a hand on her shoulder:
"Until reinforcements arrive, we must prevent more people from transforming. At least we can save those who are still alive."
These words gave courage to the entire team, but the weight in their hearts did not lighten. In silence, with heavy steps, carrying a great burden within, they began to move toward the darkness.
As they advanced deeper into the forest, Kaiser halted the group and turned toward the clearing where the young guardians had gathered around him. His expression was serious, and his voice echoed in a sharp, clear tone:
"Those who attack you are not ordinary creatures. These are villagers whose bodies have been taken over; physically durable, and even lethal blows may not be enough to stop them."
Kael, tense, cut in:
"Then how do we destroy them? If damaging the body doesn't work, what do we do?"
Kaiser pointed to his own head with his hand as he replied:
"Inside each creature is a core of darkness. This core is usually found in the neck, chest, or inside the head. You can only stop them by destroying this core. No other way."
Everyone listened intently. Aryel drew a deep breath and spoke:
"How do we find the cores?"
Kaiser nodded toward Joran:
"Joran's electric power can cause the cores to glow briefly. Electric attacks make the cores inside the creatures visible. But simply seeing where they are will not be enough; destroying them will also be very difficult."
Aryel quickly turned to his team, his eyes resolute and serious:
"Then everyone will act according to their abilities. Elrik, you will physically hold the creatures and restrict their movements. We trust your strength—you must keep them pinned down."
Elrik gave a grave nod of agreement.
Aryel continued:
"Kael and Taris, the two of you will make precise shots. Once the cores are revealed, you'll strike immediately."
A confident expression spread across Kael's face, while Taris nodded with his bow in hand.
Aryel then turned to Vega:
"Vega, you'll use air currents to direct the creatures, bringing them into positions advantageous for us.
Serin, support the team; with your protective barriers and healing, you must pull the wounded to safety."
Both accepted with determined gazes.
Aryel shifted his eyes to Danny and Lorin:
"Danny, you'll provide close support alongside Kael. Lorin, with your nature powers, you can slow the creatures and hinder their movements."
Danny nodded quickly, while Lorin drew a deep breath and gave a slight nod to show his resolve.
Then he turned to Nira:
"Nira, with your speed and agility, you can distract them and cause momentary confusion. That will buy us time."
Nira looked at Aryel with sharp eyes, silently nodding.
Finally, Aryel looked at Joran:
"Joran, you have a key role in this mission. With your electricity, you'll reveal the cores inside the creatures. You must be careful and fast."
Joran bowed his head in acknowledgment:
"We trust you, captain."
Aryel scanned his team one last time. They all looked ready. The tension inside him was still there, but thanks to his friends' resolve and support, he felt stronger.
"Remember, we will protect each other. If we act as a team, they cannot defeat us."
Kael replied with a slight smile:
"Then let's begin."
Aryel turned to Kaiser:
"Lead the way, teacher."
When the young guardians reached Kelm Village after leaving the academy at dawn, the sky had not yet fully brightened. The sun was slowly rising, but the light revealed the truth more than it gave hope.
Stone paths were filled with corpses. The blood reflected the sunlight, looking sharper, more real.
This darkness was not of the night… it was of humans.
As the wails of creatures and the screams pierced through the morning silence, the team began to falter…
Aryel was at the front. His eyes narrowed, sweat sliding down his forehead.
His jet-black hair fluttered in the morning breeze, and in his dull blue eyes there was suppressed panic.
Behind him, Vega's steps had lost their usual swiftness, uncertain and hesitant.
Her green eyes were fixed on one point—the lifeless body of an old man collapsed on his knees. His eyes were still open.
Vega's voice came out faintly:
"...I thought he was alive."
Serin suddenly knelt, placing his hands on the ground, retching violently from nausea. The front of Serin's robe was stained as he vomited. Vega covered her mouth, stepping back, her face pale; she couldn't stop the tears welling in her eyes.
Danny staggered back, his hand trembling. Even Elrik, usually the bravest, had closed his eyes and clenched his teeth. Nira whispered softly:
"These… these were people… how can such a thing be?"
Aryel swallowed the knot in his throat, trying to suppress the horror rising within. Just as he was about to say something to encourage the group—
Suddenly, a scream was heard. Lorin's voice.
"Creature! It's coming from the left!"
A creature lunged into the group. Its skin was like a hardened gray shell, spikes protruding from its back, its mouth grotesquely split to the sides. There was still a moan within it, something vaguely human. But in its eyes there was neither pity nor the slightest trace of humanity.
Vega was the first to react. She leapt suddenly, bending the wind with both hands, hurling the creature aside. It slid across the ground, leaving a mark in the soil. But Vega's face was pale, her breathing rapid.
"For the first time… I might actually have to kill someone."
Aryel shouted quickly:
"Take positions! Elrik—front defense! Joran, get ready!"
But the team was disorganized. Danny was still scanning the area, Nira had shrunk into a corner for a moment. Joran was beginning his spell, but kept missing from the tension.
The creature attacked again. This time Vega couldn't dodge. A heavy blow struck her shoulder, throwing her to the ground. The impact cracked the edge of her armor, tearing the fabric beneath.
Aryel quickly formed ice magic with his hands. Water condensed in the air, hardened, and stabbed into the creature's leg. The creature collapsed, but it was still moving.
"Vega!" Aryel shouted, rushing to her side.
Vega had pressed her back against the wall, struggling to breathe.
"I'm fine… just… panicked a little. This smell… this scene… everything happened so fast."
Aryel took her hands, meeting her eyes.
"We're here. We're together."
The creature was rising again. Behind it, another appeared. Vega narrowed her eyes, controlling her breathing this time.
The creature's groan was deep and ominous. From beneath its gray skin, dark vein-like lines coiled, pulsing in its left chest. The core was there, revealed for a moment by Joran's quick electric strike.
Aryel immediately shouted: "We saw the core! Left chest—aim for it!" But the team still hadn't fully recovered.
Vega leaned against the wall, breathing heavily, her balance shaken from the blow to her shoulder. Just then Kael arrived, his eyes blazing with fury. His red hair clung to his forehead, soot and sweat mixing across his face. His eyes locked on Vega.
"Pull yourself together, Vega!" he said sharply. "They are no longer human. If you falter, next time it won't be your shoulder—it will be your heart. And we won't be able to save you."
Vega turned her eyes to Kael, biting her lips. The shock in her eyes slowly gave way to determination. She gave a slight nod.
Aryel stepped in, his commanding voice resolute: "Vega, Kael—work together! We'll combine Kael's fire with Vega's wind! We need to channel the power and focus it. We must make a direct hit on the core!"
Kael narrowed his eyes. "I understand your hesitation, Vega, but I don't want you—or any of my teammates—to be killed by creatures that are no longer human. That's why, please, do everything you can to survive." He placed a hand on her shoulder, looking at her with worried eyes.
"You're right, Kael." Vega closed her eyes, taking a few deep breaths. "I'm ready—let's do it. I'll guide the wind to your flames…"
A faint smile spread across Kael's face as he began to gather fire in his hands. He drew back with his left hand, summoning a short bow. A flaming arrow appeared.
"Give it direction." The wind flowing from Vega's hands surrounded Kael's arrow. It rippled in the air like a bent tunnel. Kael placed the arrow into this tunnel, and the fire merged with the wind.
"Now!" Aryel shouted. The flaming arrow gained speed with the wind and plunged into the creature's chest. The core in its left chest glowed for a moment, then exploded. The creature was thrown backward with a muffled scream tearing from within. Its body cracked, the dark veins burned and scattered. There was a moment of silence. Then… it disintegrated like dust. The first creature was gone.
Vega sank onto her knees, head bowed. She clenched her hands so tightly her nails dug into her palms.
Her eyes were still fixed on the ground, her lips trembling. This was not a victory for her.
"I… I destroyed someone."
For the first time, she had truly killed. No matter that it was a creature, the first death was etched into her soul.
Aryel approached and knelt beside her silently. His eyes held soft understanding, his face still smudged with dirt.
"I'm as sad as you are, Vega," he said slowly. "But when we bring them peace… we'll hold a ceremony for all of them. We'll bury them. This… is the last right we can give them."
Vega slightly bowed her head, resting against Aryel's shoulder without wiping the tears streaming from her eyes.
Her voice was hoarse but determined:
"You're right… you and Kael. I just couldn't control my emotions. But I will. I'll be more careful."
Aryel gently stroked her head, whispering in a firm yet compassionate voice:
"I know. We're all struggling. But we will carry each other. Come on…"
Vega slowly straightened. As she wiped her tears, her gaze was more composed now. Leaning on Aryel's support, she stood up.
She took a slow, deep breath. The wind touched her shoulders again.
Joran was leaning against a wall, looking at his hands. Sparks of electricity still danced on his fingertips, but could not hold steady. He had made the core visible, but if his strike hadn't come at the right moment, the creature could still be alive.
"Almost… too late," he whispered to himself.
Serin, a few steps away, was giving first aid to an injured villager. Pressing on the wound with his hands, his face was pale, but his voice came out calm:
"I'm here… you'll be fine. I'm here…"
But his eyes could fill with tears at any moment. He was seeing so much suffering up close for the first time. He needed help to bring the wounded to the camp. He was afraid of being attacked by another creature while administering aid here.
Elrik stood by a villager's corpse. His sword was still in hand, but his muscles hadn't relaxed. His shoulder armor was smeared with blood, a thin scratch marked his face. His gaze remained fixed as if still in battle.
"This was just one. If more come…"
But he whispered these words to his own heart, not out loud.
Taris was checking his arrows in a corner. His eyes scanned the surroundings constantly, but his fingers were trembling. He hadn't hit a target yet; this was a first for him.
Nira, her face streaked with dust and blood, had climbed onto a roof, watching the area. As her eyes scanned the darkness, she thought:
"Even at this speed, I couldn't escape…" But then she squinted.
"They won't get that close again."
Danny sat on a stone, pressing his fingers to the cut on his throat. A growing fear was rising within him.
"The new ones are coming," Nira said, fixing her eyes on a distant street corner.
Footsteps echoed more from the stone streets. New creatures appeared; this time there were three, faster and more savage.
The team was more coordinated; a few creatures had been neutralized. But something was still moving behind the smoke.
At that moment, a blast rang out from the back street of the village.