Chapter 83: Mika help

Chapter 83: Mika help The creature surged forward, sensing their plan. A tendril of water shot out from its body, wrapping around the mare’s back leg. SPLASH! HISSSS! The horse screamed as the water around its leg suddenly boiled, scalding flesh straight to the bone. It stumbled, nearly throwing both riders. "NOW!" Nari shouted. Seril hauled on the reins, forcing the injured mare into a sharp left turn that brought them parallel to the ravine rather than heading toward it. At the same instant, Nari unleashed her element, commanding the roots beneath the ravine to retract violently. The effect was immediate and catastrophic. Without the network of roots holding the soil in place, the entire edge of the ravine collapsed inward. Earth, rocks, and trees tumbled into the chasm in a roaring avalanche of debris. RRRRRUMBLE! CRASH! BOOOOM! The creature, unable to change direction quickly enough, found itself swept along with the collapsing edge. Its watery form twisted frantically, attempting to flow against the tide of falling earth, but the sheer volume of debris overwhelmed it. Silver hair disappeared beneath tons of soil and shattered trees as the ravine swallowed everything along its edge. For several moments, the forest echoed with the sounds of falling rocks and settling earth. Then, silence. "Did we... did we get it?" Seril gasped, bringing the limping mare to a halt. Nari didn’t answer immediately, her senses stretched to their limit as she searched for any sign of the creature’s elemental signature. The collapsed ravine exuded only the normal energy of disturbed earth and damaged plants—no trace of the water manipulation that had characterized their opponent. "I think so," she finally said, allowing herself to slump against Seril’s back. "But we shouldn’t linger to make sure." The younger warrior nodded, urging the injured mare back into motion. The animal moved with a pronounced limp now, its rear leg badly damaged by the creature’s scalding water. "She won’t last long like this," Seril said grimly, patting the mare’s sweat-slicked neck. "The burn goes to the bone." "Then we walk," Nari replied without hesitation. "The message must reach Thornvale, no matter what." They had traveled perhaps half a mile from the ravine, alternating between riding double and walking to spare the mare, when Seril suddenly froze. "Captain," she whispered, head tilted in that distinctive way that indicated she was using her sound element to enhance her hearing. "Something’s coming." Nari drew her remaining dagger, ignoring the protest from her broken ribs. "From where?" "Everywhere," Seril replied, eyes widening as she turned slowly in place. "All around us." The forest had gone silent again—that same unnatural stillness that had preceded the creature’s first appearance. Both warriors stood back-to-back, weapons ready, the injured mare breathing heavily beside them. "If it’s that creature again..." Nari began. "No," Seril interrupted. "Different movement pattern. Multiple entities. Smaller, lighter footfalls." She paused, concentrating harder. "They’re... in the trees." As if summoned by her words, the undergrowth ahead of them rustled. Both warriors tensed, prepared for another attack. Instead, a section of forest floor suddenly heaved upward, soil and plant matter rising to form a barrier directly in their path. WHOOOMP! "Earth element," Nari breathed in surprise. "That’s not our creature." Before either warrior could react further, similar barriers rose on either side of them, and then behind—boxing them in with walls of manipulated earth ten feet high. "Trap!" Seril hissed, spinning to face the only direction still open—directly above them. Dark figures dropped from the overhanging branches, landing in silent crouches around them. Each wore close-fitting black clothing, faces obscured by masks that revealed only their eyes. There were at least a dozen, surrounding the Vylonian warriors in a tight circle. One of the masked figures stepped forward, hands raised in a complex gesture. The earth beneath Nari and Seril’s feet suddenly softened, then hardened again around their ankles, effectively immobilizing them. SCHLUP! CRACK! "Earth manipulators," Nari said quietly to Seril. "We’re in Thornvale territory now." Another figure moved forward, this one’s hands weaving intricate patterns in the air. The space around them shimmered, and suddenly the forest seemed to vanish, replaced by an endless void of stars. "Illusion element," Seril identified, her voice tight with pain and exhaustion. "Don’t trust your eyes." As quickly as it had appeared, the illusion dissolved, the familiar forest returning to view. The message was clear: these strangers could have disoriented them completely had they wished. A sharp cry from behind caused both Vylonian warriors to twist awkwardly against their earthen bonds. From the direction of the ravine came a sound like rushing water—familiar and terrifying. The masked figures reacted instantly, several breaking from the circle to face this new threat. Through the trees, a familiar silver-haired form appeared, moving with that same unnatural fluidity. The creature had survived the ravine collapse, though it appeared diminished—smaller, its movements less assured. Upon seeing the assembled masked figures, it hesitated for the first time. Three of the masked warriors stepped forward in perfect unison, hands extended toward the ground. The earth responded to their call, rising in a series of jagged spikes that raced toward the creature like a wave. At the same instant, two others created illusions—perfect copies of themselves that flanked the real attackers, making it impossible to determine which were real and which were fabrications. The creature backed away, clearly recognizing it was outmatched. It retreated several steps before its body began to lose cohesion, melting into a shapeless mass of water that slithered rapidly beneath the undergrowth and disappeared into the shadows of the forest. Nari felt a cold blade press against the back of her neck. "Who are you?" a female voice demanded from behind her. Despite the blade at her throat, Nari maintained the dignity of her rank. "Captain Nari of the Vylonian Royal Guard, accompanied by Sound Warrior Seril. We carry an urgent message from Queen Elizabeth to Thornvale." A moment of silence followed her declaration. Then the blade was withdrawn, and the earth around their ankles crumbled away, releasing them. "Turn around," the same voice commanded. "Slowly." Both warriors complied, coming face to face with one of the masked figures. This one was slightly taller than the others, with an air of authority that marked her as their leader. Slowly, deliberately, she reached up and removed her mask. The face revealed was elven, with sharp features and eyes that glowed with a subtle green light—the mark of an earth elemental. Her hair was cropped short rather than shaved like the Vylonians, and intricate tattoos ran along her jawline. "I am Mika, warrior of the Thornvale Kingdom," she announced, studying them with calculating eyes. "You were sent to deliver a message, you say? From Queen Elizabeth herself?" Nari nodded, one hand still pressed against her injured ribs. "Yes. A matter of urgent importance regarding someone called the Veilwalker." At the mention of that name, a ripple of reaction passed through the assembled warriors. Mika’s eyes narrowed slightly. "The Veilwalker," she repeated, her tone carefully neutral. "And what does Vylonia want with him?" "Not Vylonia," Seril interjected, wiping blood from a fresh cut on her forehead. "Queen Elizabeth entered his dreams. She sent us to warn your Queen Elena that he’s been taken prisoner by someone calling herself the First Eternal." Mika’s composure slipped for just an instant, genuine alarm flashing across her face before her features settled back into careful neutrality. "The First Eternal," she said softly, almost to herself. "So the ancient texts were true." She turned to one of her companions, issuing orders in a low voice. The other warrior nodded once before disappearing into the trees with unnatural speed. "Your injuries require attention," Mika said, turning back to the Vylonians. "And your message must reach Queen Elena without delay." A smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Though you’ll find her in the Oceanic Kingdom, not Thornvale." Nari’s head snapped up, suspicion instantly replacing exhaustion. "The Moonlight Kingdom?" She released her grip on her injured ribs, hand moving subtly toward her remaining dagger. "Everyone knows Queen Elena rules Thornvale, not the Moonlight Kingdom. And everyone knows those two kingdoms haven’t been aligned for centuries." With surprising speed despite her injuries, Nari lunged forward, seizing Mika’s wrist in a vise-like grip. "None of our kingdoms are aligned," Nari hissed, pulling Mika closer. "So who are you people, really? And why the deception?" Mika didn’t resist the grip. Instead, she leaned in, her smirk widening into something predatory. The green glow in her eyes intensified. "You," she said simply, the single word dripping with condescension. "You Vylonians always think you know everything. So certain. So... limited." She twisted her wrist free with casual strength that belied her slender frame. She took a step back, gesturing for her warriors to stand down as several moved to intervene. "That creature—" she glanced in the direction where the silver-haired being had disappeared "—will return, and next time it won’t be alone. The First Eternal does not abide by the elemental boundaries established after the Sundering. And if she has returned, if she truly holds the Veilwalker..." She shook her head. "We must move quickly." "You haven’t answered my question," Nari pressed, standing her ground despite the circle of masked warriors tightening around them. "Who are you?" "Someone who knows more than you," Mika replied with a dismissive flick of her hand. "Someone who understands that in times like these, old boundaries become... flexible." Her cocky smile returned. "Rest assured, Captain, your precious message will reach Queen Elena. Whether you’re there to deliver it personally depends entirely on how cooperative you decide to be in the next few seconds."