The night was quiet.
A small campfire flickered beneath the open sky.
The mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks glowing faintly from rivers of molten lava that cut through the land like veins of fire.
Kael stood watch.
Shun leaned against a rock, sharpening a blade lazily.
Prince Eldarin paced, pretending to patrol but mostly trying to look important.
And Lira—
Was asleep.
Flat on the ground.
Mouth slightly open.
"…She sleeps like she just ended the world," Shun muttered.
"…She nearly did," Kael replied.
Eldarin crossed his arms.
"A true warrior must remain vigilant at all—"
FWOOOOOSH.
Something tore through the air.
A blazing projectile—
A bullet of molten magma—
Shot straight toward Lira's head.
Kael's eyes widened.
"…LIRA—"
Too late.
Or at least… it should have been.
Lira didn't wake up.
Didn't open her eyes.
Didn't even flinch.
Her body moved.
Slightly.
Just a small tilt of her head.
A tiny shift of her shoulder.
The magma bullet missed her face by less than an inch.
It slammed into the ground behind her—
BOOM.
The earth exploded.
Fire scattered.
Molten rock splashed across the camp.
Shun jumped back instantly.
Kael raised his arm to shield himself.
Eldarin tripped over a rock.
"…What just happened?" Shun said.
Kael stared.
"…She dodged it…"
"…While sleeping?" Eldarin added, still on the ground.
Lira rolled slightly.
Still asleep.
"…Mmm… food…" she mumbled.
Another magma shot fired from the darkness.
Faster.
Deadlier.
Again—
Lira moved.
A small shift.
A lazy turn.
The attack missed.
Another explosion behind her.
Shun's eyes widened.
"…That's not instinct…"
Kael shook his head slowly.
"…No…"
"…That's something else."
From the shadows—
Something growled.
A creature formed from molten rock stepped forward.
Its body cracked with heat.
Its eyes burned like furnaces.
The source of the attacks.
Eldarin stood up, trying to regain composure.
"…A magma beast…"
The creature roared—
Preparing another shot.
Lira turned over.
Still asleep.
"…Noisy…" she muttered.
Her hand lifted slightly.
Without opening her eyes—
She punched.
BOOM.
The air shattered.
The magma creature exploded instantly.
Gone.
Silence returned.
Lira dropped her arm.
Still asleep.
"…Good…" she whispered.
"…quiet…"
Kael, Shun, and Eldarin stood frozen.
"…She didn't even wake up…" Eldarin said.
Shun crossed her arms slowly.
"…I like her more now."
Kael sighed.
"…Of course you do…"
The fire crackled softly again.
The night returned to peace.
And Lira—
Slept.
Untouchable.
To Be Continued…