Sinephilim rode Fenrus through a moonlit forest, her silver hair snapping behind her.
Willow…
Her thoughts spiraled.
Rhenvar gave him the ring. Dammit, the ring. If that warrior was working with Aucteros, we're in trouble. I must save him. I have to focus.
"Are you sure the Worldheart is this way?" She asked aloud.
"Yes," Fenrus answered, his voice steady and calm. "And the trial that awaits you lies just ahead. It shows you what you desire most… and tests you."
"Tests me how?"
"To see if you can shatter fate."
But then the wolf stopped suddenly.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"Alpha," Fenrus growled, low and shaken, "one of my kin, another great spirit, is under attack."
"Say no more," she snapped. "I've already lost one ally. I refuse for you to lose one too."
"Oddly, it's in the great tree, it's the one that bonded with the other female."
No way- Veronica!
"Go!" She screamed.
They bolted through the forest like a comet. Trees blurred. Moonlight reflecting off bark made the trees look like smeared stars.
Finally, they arrived, at the base of the World Tree, its colossal roots curling into the radiant hollow.
Sinephilim and Fenrus did not stop to admire it.
They dove inside.
At the heart of the tree, chaos raged.
A giant serpent spirit battled a man wielding a glowing sword, and another with a floating book that pulsed with spells.
"Aucteros!" Sinephilim shouted.
The snake swerved to shield a bleeding figure on the ground.
Her eyes widened. "Veronica?!"
Sinephilim rushed to Veronica's side.
Veronica looked up weakly, blood painting her new clothes. "Be careful- I don't know what kind of sword Charles has- it is dangerous."
"Oh, it's more than that," Charles grinned, raising the blade. "Time to see how this 'legendary hero's sword' fares against two lowly beasts."
He swung. A beam of golden fire slashed through the air, Syrethe barely dodged, hissing. Aucteros launched a barrage of spells from his glowing hand.
"Fenrus!" Sinephilim commanded.
The spirit wolf leapt into battle. Two spirit beasts, snake and wolf, against the wielders of fire and prophecy.
She knelt down.
"You're hurt! No, no, no, this is bad…."
"I did it…" Veronica winced. "I- saved the Worldheart- mission success…"
"I don't care about the mission right now." Sinephilim pressed her hands to the wound, desperate. "Stay with me."
"I poisoned myself. Slowed my heart…" Veronica whispered. "Bought time."
This wound wasn't just serious. It was fatal.
The battlefield exploded into motion.
Syrethe's massive coils whipped across the roots, shattering earth and bark as he lunged at Charles. Charles parried with the hero's blade, but Syrethe's fang scraped his cheek, drawing blood.
"You hurt her," the snake hissed.
Fenrus struck lightning fast. The spirit wolf was so fast as if it vanished into shadow and reappeared behind Aucteros. Fangs sinking into his shoulder.
Aucteros cried out, his grimoire glowing, casting defensive magic mid-air just in time to repel the next bite.
Charles dashed across the battlefield, sword glowing with golden heat. With a slash, a beam of fire screamed through the air, Syrethe twisted around it, flicking his tail. Then launching a volley of venomous spit from his mouth.
Charle swung his sword vaporizing the spit.
Syrethe slammed his tail into the dirt and dust surged into the air.
Fenrus and Syrethe moved like a storm, one shadow, one venom. Charles and Aucteros countered with blinding light and spellfire.
Syrethe grabbed Charles by the leg and hurled him into a glowing root wall.
Fenrus tackled Aucteros mid-cast, slamming him into the dirt. His blood hitting the tree roots.
Aucteros staggered up. But Fenrus was too fast, he slammed him down pinning him by the throat, his fangs bared.
"Wait!" Aucteros called, reaching for his book. "We- have a deal to offer."
Sinephilim stepped forward, jaw tight. "Give. Willow. Back."
Aucteros smiled with infuriating calm. "I never took him. But I know who did."
Every instinct screamed not to trust him. But another voice echoed in her mind.
A good leader uses everything to protect her people. Even if it's a gamble. Dammit.
Her eyes sharpened. "I'm listening. But if you lie, you die."
"A pact, then," Aucteros said. "You let us go, exactly as we are, weapons and all. In exchange, I will tell you where Willow is. I'll even sweeten the deal; I'll tell you how to save your friend bleeding out over there. So, all you companions will be saved."
Sinephilim did not hesitate. "Deal."
"Alpha!" Fenrus growled. "Spirit beasts are bound by such pacts,"
"I said deal." Her voice snapped like a whip. "That's final."
Aucteros got up.
"First, your friend," Aucteros said, still flipping pages. "She has the blessing of Elixir, but thinks it is only poison. Tell her to drink her own blood like a healing potion. Then you'll know I'm telling the truth."
Sinephilim knelt beside Veronica. "You heard him."
Veronica hesitated, then raised a trembling hand to her wound. She drank.
A heartbeat passed.
Her wounds healed slowly. After a while they sealed completely.
"…I really should've gotten a blessing assessment," Veronica muttered, standing.
Now both women approached Aucteros, their eyes blazing.
"As per the deal," Sinephilim said coldly, "now tell me. Where is Willow?"
"Of course," Aucteros said, gesturing to Charles.
Veronica gave a silent nod. Syrethe released him, reluctantly.
Aucteros turned another page. "Your friend was captured by Apex Nova. A renowned super soldier. He is part of a military called the intergalactic army of mankind on a highly advanced world dominated by technology."
"What's the name of this world?" Sinephilim asked.
"They call it 'Bloodshed from the Fallen'. Appears to be some sort of 'movie.' Fascinating."
Sinephilim ignored the word movie. "Then the deal is struck. Leave, before we change our minds."
"Oh, we will," Aucteros said. "But I did say I'd let you save all your companions."
Her heart stopped.
Charles stepped beside him, chuckling. "We've made a new friend. She killed the man who carried this hero's sword. Insane, honestly. But… powerful."
Aucteros smirked. "And she's already found Rhenvar."
Sinephilim's fists clenched. Another companion, another threat.
No time to think. Sorry, Willow.
She turned to Veronica, eyes filled with fury.
"Let's go."