Lyrian and Reone
Reone and Lyrian hadn't realized how distracted they'd been—too caught up in their argument to notice the danger closing in.
Now, bound and kneeling on the forest floor, they understood the price of their distraction.
The crawling black-red veins under their captors' skin and the heavy gear humming with stolen resonance revealed them as Nullborn Extractors. But curiously, they hadn't been with the group Lyrian and Reone had seen earlier.
She tried twisting against the metallic coils wrapped around her legs, but the device constricted instantly, digging into her skin until she cried out in pain.
Beside her, Reone gritted his teeth and tried the same—only to have his binds tighten until his breath hitched.
Lyrian looked up to find that this was the Extractors' doing too, through the remotes in their hands.
One of them laughed.
"There's no use struggling, Resonants," he sneered. "Once that coil locks on, there's no escaping it."
"Let us go, Extractor," Lyrian snapped, her voice trembling with fury. "I'm warning you."
The man knelt beside her and brushed a hand against her cheek, mock-gentle.
"Awfully brave for someone so helpless. You're in no position to make threats, my Sylph friend."
"You fiend," Reone growled, thrashing against the coils. "Take your hands off her!"
The Extractors responded by making the coils contract further with one of their remotes, drawing a pained yell from him.
They chuckled at the sound.
"This day's getting better and better,Darel," one of them said with glee. "Initially,we were on our way to tell the boss that we saw the Diviner who escaped last night, and sneaking back into the cave.That we followed it,finding the Diviner's nest, but now we can also say we captured a Sylph and a Legion."
He grinned broadly.
"This is how we redeem ourselves in front of the boss, Darel."
Reone's eyes narrowed.
Diviners, again? Why did everyone keep mentioning them like they were real? he wondered as he listened.
"Hold on—we, Randall?" Darel said. "I'm the one who saw the Diviner sneaking back into the cave. I heard these Resonants talking first."
The other man, Randall, scowled. "You only managed that because you were slacking off and looking for a place to take a break."
"That doesn't matter!They are still my finds. This is all me!"
"You're such a selfish idiot."
The argument escalated fast—two grown men snapping like children right in front of them. Lyrian watched, brow furrowing.
She suddenly realised something.
These must be the incompetent idiots the leader of the Extractors was complaining about earlier.
She sighed.
On one hand, she felt humiliated—getting captured by these morons. On the other, she was glad it was them. Maybe she could use their stupidity to her advantage.
She caught Reone's eye. He made a subtle motion with his chin, mouthing, 'The remotes'.
Lyrian nodded slightly. A plan quickly began to form in her mind.
She may not be able to access the immense power of her Sylph form but she could still use one powerful move.
"Hey!" she called out sweetly. "Can I get the attention of you two geniuses?"
They ignored her, still arguing. She frowned, then raised her voice.
"Hello? I'm calling you. Are you deaf and dumb?"
Reone looked at her in confusion, but she winked at him to trust him.
Reassured, Reone joined in.
"I think we're dealing with idiots, Lyrian," he added dryly.
That got their attention. Both Extractors turned, faces dark with anger.
"What did you just say?" Darel snapped, storming toward them.
"Ugh,So you guys really are deaf," Lyrian replied with an exasperated sigh.
"You two are awfully mouthy for captives," Randall growled. "Maybe we should teach you some manners."
He unhooked his remote and pressed a button without another word. The coils constricted sharply around them both.
Reone and Lyrian cried out in unison.
Reone silently hoped that Lyrian knew what she was doing. Because if things kept on going the way that they were, then they were toast.
Randall leaned close to Lyrian, sneering. "Got any more smart comments now?"
Lyrian gasped for breath, then whispered, "Just this."
And let out a distorted sound.
A low frequency—but full of sonic fury.
It pierced the air like a wretched thing. Both Extractors clutched their ears and screamed, staggering back. Randall's remote slipped from his hands—straight into Lyrian's waiting ones.
Reone's smile widened in excitement.
Way to go, Lyrian, he thought.
Lyrian fumbled with the device, pressing a glowing green button, hoping against hope that it would free her. The coils around her legs dissolved with a whirr.
She didn't waste a second—kicking Randall squarely in the chest and flipping to her feet in one fluid motion.
"Transform," she hissed.
A shimmer rippled across her body as her Sylph form emerged, air swirling around her like living light.
She immediately focused on Darel, who still had Reone's remote. She thrust out a palm and released a sonic burst that sent Darel flying into a tree.
He hit the ground hard, groaning but still clutching his remote.
Lyrian stalked toward him, voice low. "Give me that."
"Not a chance," he spat, clutching it tighter.
She sighed. "Big mistake."
Her kick was fast, but he dodged and countered, blocking her next strike. He headbutted her, but Lyrian recovered quickly, punching him. The two traded blows—Lyrian's movements fluid but desperate.
"Careful, Lyrian—" Reone warned, before Randall, regaining his senses, slammed a fist into his jaw.
Reone went down hard.
Randall turned toward Lyrian, rage blazing in his eyes. He pulled out his Extractor rifle,practically itching with the need to use it on Lyrian.
She had Darel pinned now, his back to a tree, her hand gripping his throat.
"Drop. The. Remote."
"Never," he said.
She applied more pressure and Darel screamed. The remote clattered to the ground.
Lyrian then slammed his head against the bark—once, hard. Darel went limp.
She bent to grab the remote and pressed the green button again. Reone's coils vanished instantly.
But before Lyrian could turn to see this, she felt herself being struck from behind.
A beam of crimson energy lanced through the air from Randall's weapon, striking her squarely in the back.
Lyrian gasped, knees buckling. The Extractor rifle locked onto her resonance signature and drained. The vial on its side filled with glowing blue light—Lyrian's life force.
Her pained yell tore through the forest.
Reone stirred on the ground, disoriented, until the sound of Lyrian's pain snapped him back to reality.
"Lyrian…"
Reone's vision swam—and through it he saw Lyrian collapsing, her body convulsing as Randall continued to drain her.
"No!" he roared.
He slowly pushed himself up, weak and shaking, sword trembling in his hands. Gathering all his remiaining strength, Reone charged.
"LEAVE HER ALONE!"
Randall turned too late. Reone was already upon him. The blade flashed—a clean, furious strike.
The Extractor froze, eyes wide, blood bubbling from his lips. Reone slowly withdrew his blade. Then Randall crumpled.
Reone staggered past him, panting, before dropping to Lyrian's side.
Her eyes were closed, skin pale and cold.
"Lyrian! Lyrian, wake up!" he pleaded, shaking her gently.
No response.
His breath hitched. He lowered his head to her chest—listening for a heartbeat.
Nothing.
Terror clawed at his throat.
"No," he whispered. "No, no, no."
He lifted her face in his hands, tears cutting through the dirt on his cheeks.
"Lyrian! Wake up! Please!"
Silence.
His cry echoed through the quiet forest—raw and grief-stricken.
"LYRIAN!"