The morning after their victory over the Mad King’s forces in Titanous, the trio of rebels found themselves climbing toward Alastra, their spirits still lifted by the belief they had freed a city, even if it was a fleeting victory. The city itself had barely fallen from the tyrant’s grasp when word came to them—King Pylos had restored a new governor, one loyal to him, and the purges had started again.
The news, like a sudden cold gust of wind, hit them as they trudged along a narrow path through the woods. The messenger who had found them—half-frozen and panting—had barely been able to get the words out before collapsing at their feet.
"They’re massacring innocent people again," the messenger whispered through gritted teeth, eyes wide with fear. "The soldiers... the governor... they’re hunting anyone who even dares to speak the name of rebellion. The people... they’re dying... please... you have to... help..."
Jasmine’s face went pale. "No," she whispered, eyes distant, as if she couldn’t fathom the horror. "Not again."
"Great. Just great," Elias muttered, pacing back and forth. "And here I thought we were making real progress. Nice to know the King’s ego is still more important than the lives of his people."
Alex clenched his fists at his sides, a low growl in his throat. "They’ll pay for this. The people of Titanous won’t forget this betrayal."
But in the pit of Alex’s stomach, something twisted. They had barely even begun to scratch the surface of the power the Mad King wielded, and yet, he was already moving on to the next city, reestablishing his reign. They weren’t ready. Not even close.
As they made their way toward Alastra, the weight of their mission pressing down on them, Alex couldn’t shake the sense that they were too small, too inexperienced. They were barely even a footnote in the Mad King’s eyes, an inconvenience.
Alastra’s gates loomed before them, distant and quiet, almost deceptively so. The city’s walls were towering and imposing, a symbol of its safety from the chaos beyond. Yet, Alex could feel the unease of the air, the way it tasted in his mouth as if the land itself held its breath.
“Here we are,” Elias said, slinging his satchel over his shoulder, looking around with a mix of curiosity and disdain. "The glamorous city of Alastra. I was expecting more than this. The streets look like they’ve seen better days."
Jasmine was eyeing the entrance, her hands clutching her healer’s mace nervously. "It’s not the city we need to worry about. It’s what’s inside of it."
"Inside?" Elias raised an eyebrow. "Are we suddenly worried about inside problems now? Because, believe me, we’ve got enough problems out here already."
"People are dying, Elias. Don’t pretend like we’re here for a tour," Jasmine said, her voice a little sharper than usual.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Serious business. But I still think they could put up some decent decorations at the gates." Elias gave a dry laugh, though his eyes were scanning the city’s darkened alleys and shadowed doorways. The scent of burning wood, mixed with the thick tang of fresh earth, filled the air.
They walked toward the gates, the iron hinges creaking as they were pushed open by an old, weary guard who barely spared them a glance. “Keep your heads low, strangers. You’re not wanted in these parts. Not with the governor’s men on the hunt.”
"Wonderful," Elias whispered, casting a sardonic glance at Alex. "What do you think? Should we just turn back now and head for the nearest tavern?"
Before Alex could answer, the ground beneath them trembled.
It was subtle at first—a ripple in the air, the earth groaning like a wounded animal. Then, with a sudden, violent force, the ground beneath their feet cracked open. A roar, sharp and vicious, echoed through the air, sending a pulse of energy that rattled their bones.
Alex’s eyes narrowed, his instincts already sparking to life. “Jasmine, get ready,” he hissed.
The earth trembled once more, and from the ground, a figure emerged—tall, broad-shouldered, with skin as rough and jagged as the stones that broke apart around him. A man made of earth, his eyes glowing with an unnatural yellow light, his hands crackling with raw energy. Alex somehow recognized him immediately.
Jarvis, the Royal mage.
Elias reached for his dagger, but Alex held out a hand. "Don’t. This is mine."
"You really think you’re going to stop me, young man?" Jarvis sneered, his voice booming like the collapse of a mountain. "You think your pathetic little flames are enough to hold me back? I am the earth. The rock. I always have been. You are nothing but a flicker in the wind."
"Well," Alex said, cracking his knuckles, "I wouldn’t say nothing. But yeah, I think I can handle you."
Jarvis’s lips twisted into a grin as his hands lifted, and the ground around him shifted violently. Massive stones shot up from the earth, hurling toward Alex like missiles. But with a swift motion, Alex held out his hand, flames licking the air as he blasted the stones into dust.
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"You’re quick, kid," Jarvis muttered, his expression darkening. "But I’m stronger."
Elias grinned and took a step back. "This is going to be fun, huh?"
Alex’s gaze locked onto Jarvis. "Tell me, Jarvis," Alex said with a sly grin. "You ever wonder what it’s like to be a human being? To feel what it’s like to not be a walking pile of boulders?”
Jarvis growled, raising his hands to the sky. The earth beneath them cracked open in fury, a massive chasm forming between them. It was as though the ground itself was alive, angry, and hungry.
"You’ve made a mistake," Jarvis spat, his voice filled with contempt. "I am going to crush you."
Alex felt the air vibrate with raw power, the heat of his magic rising in his chest. For a split second, he could hear the earth itself whispering to him, urging him to release it, to consume this man before him.
And yet, there was something holding him back. Something pulling him away from the fire.
"You couldn’t even crush a flea," Alex teased, stepping forward. "Maybe you should work on your posture first. That shoulder’s looking a little stiff, don’t you think?"
Jarvis snarled, his face tightening with rage. "And you," he said, eyes scanning Alex from head to toe, " How impoverished and pathetic are you? What are you, some kind of forest hobbit?”
Alex smirked. "Hey, I like to be grounded to the earth. You’d think a pile of boulders would kind of get that. I mean, not everyone can pull this look off."
Jarvis rolled his eyes. " What next, are you going to start singing to the rocks? You’re lucky I’m not crushing you right here, right now! Who says a wimp like you can is even allowed to enter Alastra!?"
Alex tilted his head, a playful glint in his eyes. "Yeah, well, I wouldn’t want to hurt your delicate feelings, rock boy."
Jarvis bared his teeth, clearly done with the banter. "You talk too much, little man. It’s not amusing anymore."
With a final roar, the ground erupted beneath them, and Jarvis launched a boulder in Alex’s direction. Alex moved quickly, evading the rocks, sending flames spiraling in retaliation.
“Okay, okay,” Elias called from behind. “If you two are quite done with your pre-fight chitchat, maybe we should get to the part where we actually kill this guy?”
Alex summoned a flame and managed to get a solid hit in, sending a wave of fire over Jarvis’s chest. The earth mage staggered back, eyes wide in shock.
“Is that all you’ve got, Jarvis?” Alex taunted, watching the boulders tumble around him.
Jarvis, clearly infuriated, gathered his strength for one final move—but this time, something else stopped him. A sharp voice rang through the air.
“Alex, stop! We can’t kill him!” Jasmine cried, her voice ringing with authority.
Alex hesitated, the fire flickering in his palms. He looked back at Jasmine, then to Elias, who was watching intently but didn’t speak.
“Why not?” Alex asked, his voice low, frustrated. "He’s a threat."
Jasmine’s eyes softened, her voice a reminder of the purpose they had. "We’re not like them, Alex. Killing him won’t make us any better than the Mad King."
For a moment, Alex stood still, torn between the heat of his magic and the weight of Jasmine’s words. Finally, with a slow exhale, he let the flames die down, leaving only the singed air and the smoldering remnants of the earth mage’s attack.
Jarvis, now visibly injured, growled in pain but didn’t move. "This isn’t over, boy," he spat. "I’ll be back. You’ll all pay for this. I’m an Archmage of the Royal court!"
Alex simply nodded, his expression cold. "Yeah, we’ll see about that." Elias tossed a ball on the ground which was immediately ignited by Alex and let loose a huge plume of smoke. The guards had them surrounded.
With one last glance, the trio retreated into the smoke, their bodies aching from the battle, and made their way toward the shadowy alleys of Alastra hunted by the Mad King’s men.
Later that night, they found shelter in the rough quarters of the peasant side of Alastra, hiding in a dank inn filled with the stench of sweat and wet straw. The flickering light of a small fire illuminated the corners of the room where they lay, huddled together on a bed of hay.
Elias grinned weakly, shifting next to Jasmine. “Well, that was… anticlimactic. We could’ve killed him, you know.”
Jasmine rolled her eyes. “You just wanted to see blood.”
Alex leaned against the wall, letting out a weary sigh. “Maybe. But I think the Mad King has enough blood on his hands without me adding to it.”
Elias snorted. “And here I thought you were all fire and brimstone. But fine, I guess we’ll save the killing for later.”
Jasmine sighed. “We’re all a bit tired of the bloodshed, no? We want to stop the bloodshed, that’s why we’ve joined together.”
Alex closed his eyes while leaning against a pile a hay, feeling earth beneath him hum with the faintest pulse. Maybe, he thought, just maybe, things would work out. But for now, he was content to sleep. Tomorrow would bring new challenges.
As the fire crackled and the last embers danced in the air, Jasmine and Elias shifted closer in the hay, a comfortable silence between them. The warmth of their bodies next to him felt almost inviting, a solace Alex hadn’t realized he was craving.
Jasmine, her voice soft but teasing, broke the silence. “You know, Alex, if you’re cold, we could—” She gave him a mischievous look. “—let you cuddle with us.”
Elias, never one to miss an opportunity, smirked. “It’s not like you’re the only one feeling the cold. Don’t be shy, Alex. We’ll keep you warm.”
Alex, however, didn’t even look up from where he was staring into the fire. Elias was his friend and during their journey together they’d always slept at least a couple feet from each other. “I’m fine,” he muttered, his tone a little too defensive. "You two can keep your warmth to yourselves."
But his eyes betrayed him, flickering with something just beneath the surface. , he thought, his mind flashing briefly to the comfort of being surrounded by the people who had quickly become his strange, magical family. But he shook the thought away, refusing to let himself lean on them too much.
Jasmine, ever the perceptive one, smirked and leaned in just enough to whisper in his ear, “It’s alright, Alex. We’re not going to bite.”
Elias snickered. “At least, not unless you really want us to.”
Alex shot them both a look, his cheeks flushing, but he quickly recovered, turning away from them. “Maybe next time.”
The silence that followed was comfortable, though, a warmth between them that didn’t need to be spoken aloud. Elias and Jasmine eventually settled back, their own shared space in the hay close enough that Alex could feel their presence even if he refused to admit it.
As sleep finally claimed him, Alex couldn’t help but feel a flicker of longing—a strange, quiet feeling he didn’t often allow himself to acknowledge. But for now, he let it rest. Tomorrow would bring more danger, more challenges and more of their strange, shared adventures. He would need all his strength for that.
And in the end, even if he couldn’t admit it aloud, having his companions near was something more than he had ever dared to ask for, and that was more than enough for him.