Behind Andrei, a colossal creature emerged — at least twice the size of the Simargl. Unlike the others, which had small, atrophied wings, this one flaunted a massive wing that stretched for several meters. It landed behind Andrei with a dull thud, while he was still looking at his wife.
Ekaterina's despair turned into pure terror the moment a hand with twisted claws pierced through Andrei's body as if his armor didn't exist.
"Damn it, ANDREIIIIII!"
Kuzma screamed and ran toward the creature — only to be brutally struck by Andrei's bloodied body, thrown at him.
Laika, Andrei's bear, howled in pain and lunged to sink her teeth into the creature's leg. But instead of soft flesh, she found a hard, glistening carapace, made of something resembling chitin. Her teeth broke with a dry crack, and blood gushed from her mouth. The creature then raised its leg and crushed Laika with a single blow. The sound of bones cracking mixed with the bear's wail, echoing like a nightmare.
"Brother, protect Laika! I'm going to use full healing!"
Daria stopped her previous incantation and, with a desperate look, redirected her magic toward Andrei, who lay on the ground in shock. He reached for what remained of his own stomach. He found only a deep hole, gaping like a grotesque wound.
"Daria… Daria, I can't feel my legs… What happened…?"
She didn't answer. There were no words. She had never seen a wound like that. Silently, she began to recite the healing spell with all the strength she still had. Kira, her little white bear, let out mournful growls while also channeling her own energy. A rain of green light began to fall over Andrei, wrapping his body in a fragile veil of hope. His eyes were wide open, yet empty.
"My love… Where is my love…?"
Ekaterina remained motionless. Tears streamed silently down her face. Her body trembled, but she didn't react. She only watched, helpless.
"Ekaterina… EKATERINA! Damn it, help me, for fuck's sake!"
Kuzma shouted while trading blows with the Simargl, trying to get closer to the queen that was still crushing Laika. Gerasim, his bear, though small, fought fiercely against two enemies, trying to protect the vulnerable flank.
Ekaterina was still frozen. Kuzma couldn't reach her, couldn't break her out of the trance.
But then, something shattered the silence — a scream. Not a scream of pain. A primal scream. Savage. Ekaterina's soul tore through her throat. And the sound that came out… was from someone who had nothing left to lose.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Ekaterina's scream chilled the spine even of the blacksmiths, who watched in horror from many meters away. She couldn't take her eyes off the Simargl Queen, who seemed to laugh at the situation while cruelly crushing her husband's bear beneath her paws. Laika roared in pain — and the creature seemed to savor the suffering it inflicted on those who dared to kill its offspring.
Ekaterina raised her hand. At her side, Mishka — her blue bear — felt the magic being drained.
"Mishka… forgive me, but…"
The tears fell so hard that the woman could barely finish the sentence. Mishka just approached and laid a paw on her tamer's leg. She wept too.
Soon, the bear's body began to wither, as if all life were being drained from within. When at last the paw dropped limply and the body collapsed to the side, Ekaterina understood — there was no turning back.
"Run!"
Her scream echoed with force. Kuzma and Gerasim did not hesitate — they ran to save their lives. An instant later, an explosion of icy magic swept everything ahead.
Nikolai, who had just arrived on the battlefield, watched in horror as what unfolded before him. His mistress's body was slowly shattering, consumed by her own magic. First, her arms burst apart, spraying blood into the air. Then her eyes withered, and crimson tears streamed endlessly.
"Ekaterina! Stop! You're killing yourself!"
Daria screamed in panic. She broke off the healing spell on Andrei and tried to cast it on Ekaterina — but the magic was repelled by the storm of ice pouring from the mage's hands.
The enemy suffered as well. The crystals that touched the Simargl froze them instantly, shattering them into shards like glass. In just a few seconds, even the great Queen began to freeze. And then, before the queen could freeze completely, the icy magic ceased.
Ekaterina fell, collapsing beside Mishka's dried body — as if both of them had been drained from existence.
A terrifying roar of hatred and grief echoed through the cavern. The Simargl Queen, partially frozen, howled in despair as she realized that all her children were dead. In fury, she charged toward the fallen woman.
But before she could reach her target, a figure appeared between them. A man with long hair, his face bathed in tears, his expression consumed by hatred.
"This is your end."
Before the words had fully left his mouth, the man lunged — and the great scythe cut. The creature's carapace, tough enough to withstand the bite of an adult Leshiy, was split as if it were butter. Blood gushed forth, and the scream of hatred turned into despair.
Children, she could have more. She could gather another pack, seek revenge. Tomorrow would offer that chance — but not if she were dead. She tried to turn and flee, but before she could take her first step, she realized she could no longer control her body. The world spun. When it finally stopped… she saw. Her body was separated from her head. Her final thought was one of confusion: What is happening…?
Nikolai limped. His metal leg had failed during the final attack, and the mechanism had pierced into his own flesh. Blood poured out — but he didn't care. He released the scythe, which transformed back into Ashen, now panting and visibly confused. A strange pain grew in his chest, though he was not wounded.
Nikolai dropped to his knees. He had endured for almost three minutes… His knees trembled. He didn't know if it was weakness, fear, sorrow, or hatred. Maybe it was all of them at once.
"Ekaterina…"
Daria screamed and ran to the body stretched out on the ground. The cry jolted Kuzma and Nikolai from their stupor. Kuzma was the first to move, running toward the two women. Nikolai staggered after him, tears blurring his vision.
As he drew closer, he could hear the conversation between Daria and Ekaterina.
"Wait, my friend. I'm going to heal you. Stay calm."
"Mishka… how…"
Daria cast a glance at the dried, motionless body of the blue bear. Her eyes were still open, but lifeless.
"You… used too much magic…"
"I… killed us…"
Daria looked at Kuzma and Nikolai. Then she turned back to her friend and slowly shook her head, speaking to herself out loud in a bitter tone.
"You used everything… There's nothing left to heal. I can't."
Nikolai finally understood why blue bears were called glass cannons. They had no limits. They kept fighting even without mana, drawing from the soul… and then from life itself. Until nothing remained.
"She's smiling, my friend…"
Daria said, noticing Mishka's expression.
"I know… She forgave me."
Ekaterina breathed with difficulty.
"Take me to my husband…"
Silence. Then Daria murmured:
"He… he died. I'm sorry. I… I couldn't."
She began to cry, but Ekaterina spoke with a strange serenity, as if she were beyond the pain.
"Just take me to him… please."
Nikolai tried to step closer, but Kuzma was faster. He lifted his companion in his arms and carried her to where Andrei's frozen body lay.
Gerasim, the brown bear, seemed smaller than ever as she slowly withered. There was still a trace of life in her dull gaze — a faint spark — but without her tamer, she would not endure much longer. That was the law. Inviolable. Unchangeable. Cruel.
Nikolai picked her up with all the care his aching body allowed. His fingers trembled. She did not resist. She simply accepted it.
With a heavy sigh, he carried her to the couple. There, beside Ekaterina and Andrei, Gerasim lay down for the last time. She rested her head on their legs, as if still seeking the warmth that remained. And then she closed her eyes. Not like one who sleeps. But like one who finally finds peace.
The final image was that of a man and a woman, side by side, with their companions around them.
"Anything else, my friend?"
Kuzma asked, swallowing his tears.
"Thank you for accepting us into your group… I think I never said that. And it's not your fault…"
Ekaterina's breathing faltered. Her voice grew weak.
"Nikolai…"
"I'm here!"
he replied, kneeling beside her. She turned her face toward the voice. Her expression was now calm, almost maternal.
"It's not your fault… You're the best apprentice I've ever trained."
"Thank you…"
Nikolai couldn't hold it in. Tears flowed freely. Ashen, at his side, also trembled. Not understanding what he felt, but with an unbearable pain in his chest.
"Daria… place my husband's hand on my belly."
Without understanding, Daria took Andrei's cold hand and placed it on the woman's womb, since she no longer had arms. Ekaterina shuddered. She felt the cold hand… and felt the emptiness of life, but through crimson tears she still tried to whisper to her husband, now lifeless beside her.
"My love… I'm pregnant…"
Silence.
"I'm sorry… for taking so long to tell you. I thought… I thought that…"
Her mouth parted one last time. But no words came out.
END OF VOLUME 1