Chapter 19: Breaking Point

Zephyra moved like a shadow, silent and focused, but never far from Nyra. The group attacked in bursts, testing her defense, looking for a gap. And each time, Zephyra was there—twisting, blocking, biting, and clawing. She fought not to win, but to protect. Her focus never left the girl behind her, and she took more hits than she should have. Steels met her fur, and blood followed. The wounds slowed her, even if her eyes stayed sharp. Her breathing grew heavy, and her movement less clean. Still, she never backed away from Nyra's side. One of the bandits scoffed as he circled, blade dragging along the dirt. "What kind of beast throws itself in the way like that?" he spat. "You hiding forever behind it, girl? Or do you just enjoy watching it bleed for you?" Nyra's lips trembled. Her body shook. "Stop," she said, voice thin. "Please stop... I'll come with you, just.. just leave her alone." The air around her started to waver. The same unstable pressure returned, flickering like a warning. But Zephyra didn't let them near her. Even when her legs buckled, she lunged again, slamming one attacker to the side with a roar. Another tried flanking her, slipping past to strike Nyra directly, but Zephyra turned on instinct, throwing herself into the path of the strike. The blade hit clean. Blood sprayed. Zephyra stumbled, knees giving out as she growled low. The group started laughing. They didn't mind the wounds, some even looked amused, whispering among themselves about capturing her too. "One of a kind," one said. "Might fetch a fortune." They moved to corner her, faking one direction then striking from another. Zephyra kept up as long as she could. But that last hit... it had been deep. Nyra saw the blood. And something inside her snapped. The wind howled first. Then came the chill. Her scream pierced the clearing as ice exploded from her body, wild and sharp. Shards of frozen air lashed out in every direction, slicing through grass, bark—and flesh. The force threw two of the men backward, smashing them into trees. But Zephyra was caught in it too. She staggered, barely standing, her body scraped and burned by the raw release of energy. She didn't flinch, though. She'd been through worse. Arden's system had already shifted her body, and the lingering life energy in her veins was pushing her to heal. The others didn't wait long. They recovered and turned toward Nyra with serious faces now, weapons raised. Her uncontrolled surge was dangerous, but they weren't here to kill her. Not yet. "Drain her slow," one of them muttered. "We want her alive." Nyra stood frozen, caught in the whirlwind she had unleashed. Her eyes were unfocused, lips cracked, hands trembling. The wind still whipped around her, and shards kept forming, striking out in random bursts. But it couldn't last forever. Her breaths were short now. Her knees gave a little. And the pressure around her thinned just a bit, but it was enough. They moved in. Blades flashing, chains uncoiling. Zephyra growled, low and vicious, as she struggled to rise. Her eyes locked on Nyra, who couldn't defend herself anymore. It wasn't that she didn't want to, but she had nothing left. Foolish girl, Zephyra thought, you're going to burn yourself out before they do. One of the men raised his weapon again, and swung it down toward her back Nyra turned Then nothing. No strike. No pain. Just silence... and the weight of something new entering the field. Nyra barely saw it happen. Just a blur tearing through the group, clean, merciless, and fast. One by one, the men fell. Some didn't even scream, they just dropped where they stood, blood trailing after steel. She squinted through the mist of her own power, catching a glimpse of him. That same figure. That same presence. Arden. For the second time, he'd come when she needed saving. And for some reason, she felt safe with him. Arden said nothing, His focus was on the chaos in front of him. He'd moved with urgency, his body reinforced, and his will sharpened by the pain screaming through his bond with Zephyra. Each hit she had taken echoed in his chest. And now that he saw the scene for himself, there was no space left for mercy. They had touched what was his. That wasn't something he forgave. The rest of the group tried to scatter once they understood what he was, but he wasn't in the mood to let anyone go. He dashed after the last man who turned to run, cutting him down before he could get far. His blade didn't hesitate, and neither did he. As the last body dropped, a pulse ran through him, his system alive with activity. Notifications buzzed, new memories itched to play out, but he didn't care for any of it right now. He just let the flood of life energy pour into him, restoring what he had burned to get here. His feet carried him back to Zephyra, and he crouched next to her, running a hand across her bloodied fur. She nudged him faintly, signaling she'd manage, but her eyes pointed toward Nyra, still in the heart of the chaos, drowning in her own storm. "She'll burn herself out," Arden muttered under his breath. He exhaled and steeled himself, activating the layer of life energy and his life signature Stonehide shell that hardened his skin and increased his physical resistance. Step by step, he approached Nyra. Her wind still lashed, though weaker now, and the ice was thinning, melting under its own intensity. Her head jerked as she felt him draw close, eyes wild and body shaking. "Trust me," Arden said, calm but firm. Her eyes met his. Tired, scared, but she gave a weak nod. Arden reached forward, one hand resting just above her core, pressing lightly on a known pressure point. He closed his eyes and pushed his life energy into her, not forcefully, just enough to connect. Nyra gasped, her body responding instantly. She didn't understand what it was, it wasn't aether but it calmed something inside her. The raging fight between wind and ice began to slow, like someone had stepped between two brawlers and made them listen. Arden could feel it, the clash inside her core. Her affinities were constantly colliding, tearing at each other in their refusal to coexist. But as his life energy sank in, it spread like a balm, easing the tension, and mediating the storm. Nyra's breathing evened out. Her power faded to a quiet hum. Then her legs gave out. Arden caught her before she hit the ground. Her eyes fluttered as she whispered, "Thank you..." And then she was out cold in his arms. He sighed, brushing a few strands of hair from her face as he lowered her gently. "You girls are going to kill me at this rate," he muttered. Zephyra let out a soft growl that sounded close to a chuckle. A/N: Send Powerstones, and Engage by leaving comments and Reviews Thanks for the Support