The ridge rose sharp and steep — a spine of rock overlooking the valley.
Kael and Miko climbed it at dusk — the sky bleeding red behind them.
They needed height — to see if they were being followed.
At the top — wind howled, cold and biting.
Miko leaned against a boulder — catching her breath.
Kael scanned the horizon — shadows stretching long in the fading light.
Then he froze.
"Company."
Miko looked.
Below — moving through the trees — six figures.
Cloaked.
Silver glints.
Not academy.
Not Sylvara's group.
New.
Kael's shadows snapped out — thin, searching.
They found more — flanking from the sides.
Eight total.
Closing fast.
Kael looked at Miko.
"We fight here.
High ground."
Miko nodded — hands already raised.
The seal flared — eager, almost happy.
Finally.
The first attackers reached the base of the ridge — silver threads snapping upward.
Kael met them — black wall rising, blocking the threads.
Miko stepped beside him.
Crimson shadows joined his — weaving, strengthening.
The attackers split — four climbing the left slope, four the right.
Kael took the left.
Miko the right.
She met the first one halfway up — a tall figure with twin blades.
He lunged.
Miko's shadow spear met his blade — metal screaming against dark.
She pushed — hard.
The spear punched through his guard — grazed his side.
He stumbled — fell back.
Another attacker leaped over him — blade aimed at her throat.
Miko twisted — crimson tendrils wrapping his wrist, yanking him off balance.
He hit the slope — rolled.
She didn't wait — shadows surging downward, slamming into the next two.
One screamed as a tendril pierced his shoulder — pinning him to rock.
The other dodged — silver threads forming a shield.
Miko pushed harder.
The shield cracked — threads shattering.
The attacker staggered.
She finished it — shadow spear through the chest.
He dropped — lifeless.
On the other side — Kael fought like a storm.
Shadows lashed — coiling, cutting, crushing.
Two attackers lay motionless.
A third tried to flank — silver blade flashing.
Kael spun — shadow whip catching his ankle, yanking him off the ridge.
He fell — scream cut short by the rocks below.
The last attacker backed off — then ran.
Kael let him go.
Miko reached the top — breathing hard.
Kael joined her — blood on his sleeve, but not his.
They looked down.
Bodies littered the slope — silver cloaks stained red.
Silence — broken only by the wind.
Miko stared at her hands.
Blood on her fingers — not hers.
The seal pulsed — content.
Kael touched her shoulder.
"You're getting stronger."
Miko looked at him.
"I don't want to be."
Kael's voice was quiet.
"You don't have a choice."
He looked out over the valley.
"They'll send more."
Miko nodded.
"Then we keep moving."
Kael turned to her.
"We will."
But his eyes said something else.
They said: Until we can't.
To be continued…