"Watch the left!"
Another knight came barreling for him.
Elara snapped her fingers—
[Slipcast: Shatter Shard.]
A crystal dagger materialized mid-air at Ren's flank and detonated—
CRACK!
The burst of frost knocked the knight's swing off-balance just long enough for Ren to dodge.
"Thanks!" he barked.
Elara didn't answer.
She was already moving.
The third knight had locked onto Valeria, shield raised, mace glowing. They clashed in a burst of sparks—steel against phantom steel.
Its mace swung in heavy arcs—controlled, calculated—each blow designed not to kill, but to overwhelm. Valeria parried the first strike cleanly, her blade sliding along the phantom metal with a hiss of ghostlight.
The second one—
Too close.
The knight slammed its shield forward, catching Valeria square on the forearm and forcing her back half a step. The illusion's enchantments crackled: yellow-gold sparks danced where the shield had struck.
Ren cursed. "She's boxed—"
Elara's palm lifted—
