The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the dense forest. The air was thick with the scent of pine and earth, as Kaelira crouched behind a gnarled tree, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. She had been tracking the army for hours, watching them march through the woods, their red-and-black armour glinting in the fading light. The soldiers carried spears, axes, and shields-too many for a single warrior to face.
But Kaelira was no ordinary fighter. She had the heart of a warrior, and the mind of a strategist. As the soldiers neared the bridge she had in mind, a plan formed in her mind, a plan that would test her skills and her resolve.
Her horse stood a few paces away, its chest heaving with each breath, its ears flicking nervously. She stroked its mane, feeling the steady rhythm of its heartbeat beneath her fingertips. She whispered, almost to herself,
"I have to do this."
With a swift motion, she mounted the horse and urged it forward, galloping through the forest at breakneck speed. The sound of hooves echoed through the trees as she raced toward the ancient bridge that spanned a chasm deep enough to swallow even the mightiest of soldiers.
She reached the bridge just in time, the sound of the army's march growing louder behind her. Her fingers brushed the edge of the bridge, feeling its old, crumbling stone. The structure was ancient, but it had served as a vital crossing for years. Today, however, it would be her weapon.
Kaelira's mind was sharp as she quickly assessed the situation. She could hear the soldiers drawing closer, their footsteps heavy and synchronised. The bridge groaned under the weight of time and war. She had to weaken it, just enough for it to collapse under the force of the army's march.
With precision, Kaelira struck the base of the bridge, cracking the stones with a well-placed blow from her blade. She slashed at the support beams, cutting through them like butter. The sound of cracking wood echoed in the air. Her horse shifted nervously, but Kaelira remained calm, her eyes never leaving the path of the advancing soldiers.
The sun began to set, the sky painted with hues of purple and red, casting an eerie glow over the scene. The army reached the bridge just as the final support gave way, and with a deafening roar, the structure collapsed. Soldiers screamed as the bridge buckled beneath them, sending many into the chasm below. Some were quick enough to leap to safety, but most were swallowed by the fall.
The sound of death echoed through the forest, but Kaelira didn't flinch. She knew this was only the beginning. She unsheathed her glowing blade, its silver surface shimmering in the dimming light. She turned her horse, moving swiftly into the shadows. The remaining soldiers would not escape.
Kaelira used the chaos to her advantage. She stepped from the shadows like a wraith, her glowing sword catching the faint moonlight. Her movements were a blur, flowing and fluid. Soldiers charged, but she was already there -
cutting, dodging, and striking with precision. Each swing of her blade was deliberate, lethal. Some fell before they could scream; others tried to retaliate, only to meet her steel.
A soldier lunged from her left, axe raised, but Kaelira tilted her head, vanished from his sight, then reappeared behind him. Her blade pierced his spine with ease; he crumpled to the forest floor. Another soldier thrust at her desperately. She deflected, pivoted, and kicked his knee inward. Bone cracked. She drove her blade through his chest as he fell. Around her, the forest quaked under the pounding march of more troops.
A spear grazed her cheek. She inhaled sharply, channelling her focus. The Moonflare Edge ignited-her blade erupted with radiant silver-white light. Trees seemed to dim around her, shadows folding back as if the forest itself had cleared the stage for her performance. She swept her blade horizontally, and six soldiers fell in an instant, their armour splitting like paper beneath the radiant strike.
Kaelira raised two fingers, her aura intensifying.
"Lunar Flash."
A pulse of blinding light erupted from her form. Screams rang out as soldiers shielded their eyes. Using their disorientation, Kaelira leapt, vaulted over shields, and drove her blade down through skull and bone. Blood mixed with the leaves, dripping like crimson rain.
Breathing steadily, she took in her surroundings. The battlefield was littered with bodies, yet she sensed another presence. A calm, unnatural energy coiled behind the mist.
The commander stepped into view, a towering figure clad in heavy armour etched with horned fangs. His helm bore the visage of a beast's skull. A long curved spear dripped with Arathen energy, faintly glowing under the emerging moon. He twirled the weapon, planting his foot forward.
"So… the Moonlight Wrath herself," he said, voice smug. "You are worth the march."
Kaelira tightened her grip. "Come, then."
The ground trembled under his power as he slammed his spear into the earth. Mist erupted, swirling like living smoke, enveloping the battlefield. The world blurred around her. Footsteps echoed everywhere, sound twisting unnaturally. She swung at the phantom noise,
Only empty air met her blade.
"Can't see me, can you?" His voice hissed, slipping through the mist like a serpent.
SLASH!
The commander materialised behind her, slicing across her arm before vanishing. Her cloak was torn, her leg grazed. Mist pressed in, suffocating and disorienting, yet her breath sharpened.
"Enough…" Kaelira whispered, her sword glowing, purer, brighter.
She closed her eyes. One calm breath. Then she vanished, leaving only afterimages. She moved like liquid light, cutting through the mist itself to force clarity. The commander faltered, caught off guard.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Their weapons collided, shockwaves sending leaves flying.
"You-fast...!" he snarled.
"Don't blink," Kaelira whispered.
She reappeared behind him, then above, striking relentlessly. He bled. Panic crept in, though he fought on.
Kaelira drew a deep breath. Her sword radiated silver, almost painfully bright. She raised it high.
"Lunar Veil Art - Blinding Blossom."
Her form dissolved into thousands of shimmering petals of moonlight. The commander froze. The petals swirled, creating a storm of luminescence.
FLASH! Light exploded,
Searing eyes, distracting, blinding. The commander swung wildly, screaming, but Kaelira reformed behind him, silent, precise.
Her blade became a crescent of pure moonlight. TEN PHANTASMAL SLASHES followed, faster than the eye could track. Then the final strike crescent arc exploding in silver bloom. The commander's body fell to his knees, limbs severed, chest split open, blood pooling beneath him.
Kaelira turned him over, eyes burning with intensity. "Why are you here? What are you planning?"
The commander laughed, a broken sound. "Hahaha… You think you defeated us? You just stopped… a small wave… Hahaha…" He coughed up blood. "Our… lord—he will…" His voice cracked.
Silence. No moments.
Kaelira's jaw tightened. "You bastard…"
Her heart pounded. The army was still advancing toward the village. If they arrived… nothing would remain. She wiped her blade, slinging it across her back, and mounted her horse with trembling hands.
"This is not good…" she muttered.
She urged her steed forward, faster than fear itself, faster than the wind. Branches whipped past her like daggers, the forest a blur. Shadows and moonlight danced across her path, guiding her toward the village that would soon be under siege.
Every heartbeat thundered. She felt the weight of responsibility pressing on her shoulders—the lives depending on her. She pushed forward, her eyes fixed, her mind unshakable. The first wave had been a test. The next would be merciless.
The forest faded behind her. Ahead, the village awaited. The first wave had been defeated, but the storm was far from over. Kaelira's silver eyes reflected the moonlight as she rode toward destiny, each stride of her horse echoing a promise:
She would not yield. She would not falter. And the moon would guide her blade.
Far away from Kaelira, as the night fell upon the forest, two figures moved through the dense shadows, their footsteps quick but purposeful. Alan and Edward, travelling side by side, had been walking for hours, their earlier battle with the monster already feeling like a distant memory. There was a stillness now, a quiet that enveloped them as the moon hung high in the sky, casting a soft silver light upon the path.
After a long while, Alan broke the silence. He slowed his pace slightly, casting a sidelong glance at Edward. "Edward, I have a question."
Edward, his usual carefree expression subdued, turned his head slightly, curious. "What is it?"
Alan hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to phrase it. "How did you find me?" His voice was quieter now, more reflective than usual. "I mean... how did you know I was in danger?" He glanced down at the path before them. "I never really thought about it, but... I am curious."
Edward smiled, the familiar mischievous glint returning to his eyes, though there was something more serious about it this time. "Well, it's a funny story, actually," he began, his voice lighter now. "I was sleeping that night, really deeply, like a dog. But then, I woke up. You know why?"
Alan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Why?"
Edward grinned, leaning slightly toward him. "Because I thought you were in the kitchen eating all my bread."
Alan let out a small laugh, but Edward continued as if he hadn't heard it.
"I woke up, and sure enough, the bread was gone, but you weren't there. No trace of you. I checked the house, thinking maybe you'd just gone for a walk or something... but I couldn't find you anywhere." He glanced at Alan, his eyes narrowing slightly. "That's when I started to get worried. I had this feeling - you know, like a gut instinct-that you might have gone into the Black Forest."
"I didn't know," Edward admitted with a shrug. "But when I checked outside, I found some footprints, fresh ones. Big enough to be yours. So, I thought, maybe you'd gone in after all." He paused, as if remembering the moment. "I followed those tracks through the forest, and after a while, they led me to this creepy cave. The kind of place you don't go into unless you're asking for trouble. But... I heard a roar. I thought it was a monster at first. Then, I heard your voice."
Alan's expression softened, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "And that's when you saved me with your dramatic heroic entrance, right?"
Edward laughed, his chest puffing out with mock pride. "Exactly. Leapt into the cave like some knight in shining armour, all heroic and stuff." He gave Alan a playful wink. "You've seen it. It was... legendary right?"
Alan chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, it was. Really heroic," he said, his voice full of affection and humour.
Edward's grin softened slightly, and his gaze grew distant for a moment, the tension from earlier creeping back into his posture. "But seriously... I'm glad I found you. I was worried when you weren't there. And that gut feeling? It's been right more than once."
Alan nodded quietly, his thoughts lingering on Edward's words. He could feel the weight of the situation sinking in, even though the joke had lightened the mood. The strange connection between them-Edward's instinct and Alan's own feeling of danger, was not something to be taken lightly.
As they continued walking, a sudden thought occurred to Alan. "Edward... you said something earlier. About time. You've noticed it, too, haven't you?"
Edward's face tensed, his steps slowing. He glanced over at Alan, as if weighing how to respond. "Yeah, I have," he said after a pause, his voice quieter. "It's like... time's speeding up. I've felt it for a while now, but it really hit me today." He ran a hand through his hair, frustration evident in the gesture. "It's hard to explain, but... today felt like it went by in the blink of an eye. Like, it's already night, and it doesn't feel like it should be.
I've been seeing things, too-things I can't explain." Alan said in a calm tone.
Edward's expression darkened slightly. "Things? What kind of things?"
Alan shook his head. "I don't know. Strange visions. Disturbing things... it feels like time's running out. And maybe it's nothing, but I can't shake the feeling that something's wrong."
Edward's voice softened, pulling Alan from his thoughts. "Let's just get back to the house. It's already nightfall, and we need some rest. We've had our first victory... let's enjoy it."
Alan nodded, but the unease that had been building inside him didn't quite dissipate. There was something more to this, something lurking beneath the surface. He didn't say anything, though, choosing to keep his thoughts to himself for now.
As they walked on, the air grew cooler, the sounds of the forest taking on a more ominous quality. Just as they neared the end of the path, a faint light began to glow in the distance, flickering like a dying ember.
Edward's voice dropped to a whisper, his eyes narrowing. "There. We're almost there."
Alan looked ahead, his brow furrowing. At first, the glow seemed like a distant campfire. But as they drew closer, it grew brighter, more intense. The flames danced in the dark, painting the trees with an unsettling orange hue.
Edward's eyes widened. "That's... that's not right."
Alan's heart skipped a beat. "Edward... that's fire."
Edward's breath hitched, and his eyes flickered with fear. "No... no, it can't be. It's the village."
Alan's stomach dropped as they both broke into a sprint, urgency surging through their veins. The forest around them seemed to close in, the heat from the fire growing more intense with each step.
"Please, Mother... be safe," Edward muttered, his voice tremulous as he pushed forward.
The glow grew brighter and more blinding, casting long shadows across their path. The crackling sound of flames filled the air, along with the distant cries of panic.
Alan's mind raced, his body moving faster than his thoughts could catch up. "We have to get there. NOW!" he shouted.
The village was burning. And they were racing toward it with nothing but fear and the hope that they weren't too late.