The next day..
It was a sunny peaceful slow day. George had closed the bakery to take his wife over east, as part of monthly physical therapy. Xylia having the day off was out and about for a day with the family. The last few days had been rough but all had seemed to come to some understanding.
But now the harvest festival now in full swing with everyone having a good time. The people happy and alive, the members of the clan keeping a watchful eye from hidden vantage points. Xylia could spot them, but paid them no mind. This was their duty after all.
"So how're your friends doing?" Rin asked Juni
Xylia having almost forgotten about that matter entirely. But she too was curious but still less than vocal at times.
"They're doing a lot better. Samantha seems to be the kind of teacher he needed. Though his memory is not coming back anytime soon it seems. It maybe lost forever, according to Tanner. Something about it's like part of him is just, missing." Juni explained to her parents thinking back to her conversation when she went to Misty
Xylia looked hurt at this information. She couldn't imagine losing her memories, let alone never being able to find them again.
"Taiga's going stir crazy. But Tigress seems to be keeping her busy. They have the same energy." Juni added
"And her brother? Any word from him?" Xylia finally managed to ask
"Nothing yet. He must be at the outskirts of the capital by now. That'll put him here... by tomorrow morning. If he catches a carriage." Juni said doing the math in her head as Rin and Xylia smiled, Rin ruffling her hair
Xylia looked over as she saw Cole and his party sitting outside the ice cream shop with the owner, that mysterious woman again. The two of them smiling and conversing about something she couldn't quite make out or hear over the crowd. Something about her and Cole were so similar...
'What was her name again?' Xylia thought to herself
A large explosion in a shop to the opposite side of her went off knocking everyone down. Xylia's ears were ringing as she looked around hazily in the immediate aftermath as smoke and dust filled the air. Rin scurrying to his feet fastest and drawing his sword. But he was still clearly disoriented.
"Juni... Raiden..." Xylia mumbled panic in her voice as she pulled her children close to her
Both knocked out but slowly coming to. Raiden coughing. Juni having a small cut on her head and bleeding some.
The sound metal striking could be heard nearby. Rin was fighting someone now. She couldn't make them out from the smoke and dust as her eyes were unable to focus. But their aura was strong enough...
Burning, darkness, death...
"You've become too complacent boy! The master taught you better than that!" The mysterious attacker shouted having sent Rin sliding back
"You will not harm anyone while I stand!" Rin shouted as he rushed forward again, slashing hard at the figure and cutting him deep across one of his arms causing his opponent to swiftly move away
Rin now was using both hands as he summoned it. Xylia couldn't believe her eyes. Rin's light bow...
"By the grace of Ligeria, by her guiding hand. By the will of my ancestors. Let it fly..." Rin chanted in the Amazoness tongue as he pulled back the light string as an arrow of light formed and let it go
The arrow soared and enveloped the attacker. But he now seemed to be fighting back against it with his own darkness before finally dispelling the light and dark.
Xylia still could not believe her eyes, the attacker that stood before them was no man, but a monster. His claw-like feet and hands covered in black scales, large bat-like wings sprouting from his back. But those eyes, those burning yellow eyes full of hatred. She didn't want to admit it, but she knew exactly what this creature was, this was a Dragonborn...
"You have grown. But you're far from my level boy. You should know light cancels out darkness." The man hissed cackling to himself
Rin disappeared in a flash, creating a loud *CRACK* like lightning itself struck the spot where stood, leaving a crater in the cobblestone road. Flying forward at blurring speeds he threw a punch with his false arm now, only for this other Dragonborn to catch his fist. Ripping the false arm out of his sleeve and tossing it aside before delivering a powerful blast of Darkness that sent Rin smashing into a building near Xylia. His sword flying through the air before landing and stabbing into the ground near her.
That's when an arrow of ash and flame soared past Xylia. The figure slashing away at this new arrow before being engulfed in flames while trying to dispel them.
"Don't forget I'm still alive." Cole said weakly as he took a solid step forward
"I have no quarrel or time for you pissant, my master will deal with you on his own. I am after something more important." The figure shouted pointed a thin scalely arm at Cole
"I made it clear to him. As long I'm standing, I'll be in his way regardless. I will defend those you seek to harm, and I will drive you out. You will not spill innocent blood." Cole said as he let another three arrows fly
The figure fended them off in a flash engulfed in more explosions as he fought to absorb them. Only to then be met head on by Iris with a silver sword. Unleashing an aura of death that rivaled his own.
"You dare fight me with a sword that you cannot call your own?!" The figure shouted in defiance slapping Iris away
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"It may not be mine. But I'm a hell of a lot faster with it." Iris said as she disappeared in a flash of wind before reappearing in another gust slashing downwards leaving him little time to react
"YAAAAH!! You bitch!! But I should tank you kindly for that!" The figure cried out in pain holding the deep slash along his shoulder and chest
He then blasted her away with another explosion of dark magic. Faye unleashed a flurry of wind and light as she slammed her staff into the ground.
"You will pay for what you have done." Faye said her voice low
"Revenge is not your people's way." He taunted Faye now
"I am no High Elf, I'm a Ranger." Faye clarified as she pounded her staff down again "By the Blessing of Juno! Scatter, Heavenstorm leaves!" She chanted now as a a storm of leaves blew towards the cloaked figure
"AAAAHHHH!!!" He cried out fending off onslaught as he was sliced by razor sharp leaves before dispatching them all with another powerful explosion of dark magic "You cannot overcome me on strength and growth alone!" He shouted sending Faye flying back
Cole now clashing against the figure's staff, his spear summoned as it was now a battle of staff's. But Cole was outmatching him by employing his folding shield. Driving him back with well time strikes while fending and blocking strikes simultaneously with his shield.
"Those won't work against me!" The Dragonborn commanded forcing Cole's weapons back into their closed state "Now, you end here!" He declared throwing a fist at him now, engulfed bow in black smoke and fire
Within a split second Cole had drawn his sword as it clashed against the staff knocking it back, sending a powerful shockwave knocking the wind out of Xylia.
"I don't have time for you! I'm here for other reasons!" The old man said kicking Cole away as he smashed through a building causing it to collapse in on him, the figure marching towards Xylia now
His attention was then drawn to the sky as something was hurtling towards him. Another shockwave was unleashed as Tigress' fist collided with his staff. She now in a fighting stance began to swing on him with rapid and well timed jabs, trying to disrupt his focus, if she could do that, she could provoke him, get him slip up on casting spells.
"You. You're too unpredictable. I don't like that." The Dragonborn growled his eyes closed before they opened again glowing black now
Before she could defend, she was put under a powerful mind warping spell and immediately incapacitated as he gripped her neck. A hatred burning even hotter in his eyes as his hand began close before finally tossing Tigress aside as well.
"Now where was I?" The figure said now turning back to Xylia
Xylia lay there unable to move, much less think. This monster had invaded her home, attacked those she loved and cared for. And now more we're getting hurt to defend her and the others. He had gone too far.
The Dragonborn could smell it, a drop in temperature, for a summer day this was unheard of. But then he felt it and a wicked grin formed.
"Oh? Another unknown. You think you can fair any better? Give me your best shot girl." The Dragonborn said now marching forward
Xylia shakily forced herself up, pure adrenaline pumping through her body now as she was angry. Summoning every bit of water in the air in the immediate vicinity it began to freeze. Her hand gripping on Rin's sword for support before taking it from where it had stood.
"Freezing Heart."
Xylia mouthed this as an explosion of ice rocketed forward, only to be repelled by a wall of pure shadow and blackness.
"Ahhh that was good! But too simple minded. So much potential, wasted. This, is how you unleash your powers girl!!" He said before lashing a burst of shadow at her
Xylia was quick to react throwing up a wall of ice, digging in her heels and gritting her teeth. She couldn't stop it as her ice broke sending her flying.
"Now for my prize." The old man turned to Juni
Xylia was fuming, but her body hurt too much to move. All hope was fading, she couldn't go on. Forcing herself to her feet again with both hands gripping the sword, breathing ragged and deep.
"Oh this is precious. You still think you can fight. Go on then girl, push yourself past your limits. Do more damage to your body. Sap more of your strength to buy a few more seconds." The Dragonborn taunted walking forward slowly now
Xylia could not fully comprehend his words. He could be lying, her mind racing and only thinking of protecting her family. Damn anything else, even if it meant her own life. She would not allow this creature to harm anyone else.
"HAAAA!!" Xylia shouted with all her might putting all the strength she had left into this one last attack
The Dragonborn immediately taken aback, just barely dodging, but he could feel this very same blade slice into him again. Now making a large V shaped mark across his chest along with the long cut across his right arm. But with no strength to carry Xylia started to fall before he had her by the throat now as she struggled and beat her fists against his undamaged left arm.
"Now I'm really upset. These won't heal easy. I'm going to kill all of you." He said his tone a dangerous calm as his grip now slowly began to tighten again
Then it suddenly began to get hotter. Hotter than a usual summer day, the heat feeling like a forge. The soft clacking of boots against the cobblestone road the only sound, someone approaching now, the one no doubt causing this immense heat. Xylia's vision returning some as she gasped and coughed still in the Dragonborn's grip.
"Then you'll have me to deal with too. Since you ruined my day off..." a new woman's voice said
Xylia could feel the heat only increasing. The sound of liquid bubbling nearby only threw off Xylia's sense more. It truly made her wonder how could someone so powerful could stay so well hidden. Barely able to keep herself conscious any longer as her vision slowly started to go black
"You have no business here!" He hissed fiercely tossing Xylia aside now as she landed in a pile of rubble nearby
"This is my territory. I will protect it." She said menacingly and hurled something at him
Xylia could no longer make out the battle, only sensing the two's immense aura as the Dragonborn was driven out, but she had completely lost consciousness by then...
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The next few hours were a haze for just about everyone in Serene...
Rin and the clan helping with first aid, the Mayor directing supplies, those not injured helping where they could. Faye personally took care of Xylia, Juni and Raiden making sure they were healed. Juni and Raiden suffering from mild concussions. Most of everyone who was injured would recover. Xylia now laying in a tent as her vision and mind slowly came back into focus and could faintly hear arguing.
"It wasn't your fault!" Juni said sternly
"But I have a duty, and a responsibility. I can't go around getting innocent people tangled up in this. It's better that way." Cole countered
"Why can't you tell me?! He was clearly after me!" Juni demanded
"The less you're involved the better. You deserve your own life. You've found it here, if you walk down this path of your choice. Then it will only lead you to giving up more than you thought you could bear. I won't put anyone through that, the others only do because they understand the risks and know what it's like to lose." He further explained "I've brought harm to people you care about. We became too complacent and he could smell our aura from his hiding hole." He finished
His eyes now filled an intense hatred for the mention of this person. The way he spoke truly invoked a sense of fear that could not be explained.
"But you can't just up and run away! You guys drove him out." Juni defended him "Everyone is extremely grateful to you and your party." She added truthfully
"That wasn't us. That was Akina. She drove him out. Now she's gone back to hiding. Just like we should." Cole said softly "All four of us got thoroughly manhandled. The one he sent, was a messenger." He explained to her
"Please don't do this Cole." Juni begged him
"Destiny is often a cruel mistress... our paths will cross again." he whispered as he finally left...
Juni returned to Xylia's tent in tears as she laid her head against her mother's stomach as she cried gently.
"It'll be alright... you're all okay.." Xylia whispered her hearing still not fully returned
Her body wasn't as attuned to magic use as others, she didn't have as rapid of a response to magic since she didn't use it on the daily like other mages that used their magic in combat. She hadn't built up a layer of aura like Rin or Juni. But she would heal much quicker than normal regardless thanks to Faye.
"Cmon Juni... you need rest. Go make sure your brother is okay." Rin said now entering finally
Juni didn't want to go but knew if she didn't, Raiden would wake up and be scared. He needed someone there who could keep him at ease.
"You should be busy..." Xylia scolded him for being here instead of helping the others
"And you need to be sleeping. Not listening to teens gossip." Rin lectured her inturn as he checked her bandages setting down beside her bed "Everyone's tended to. The clan member's are now passing out stew." He added as he now gently kissed her hand
She could see that worry in his eye. She knew he trusted Faye's work. But he wasn't going to sit still unless he made sure she was alright by his own standards.
"She told me you got a mild concussion. Took a bad tumble when you got hit by that attack. Even exhausted your aura with your own spells you cast." Rin explained as he sounded worried for once "You really scared the hell out of me when I heard you tried to take up my sword." He whispered leaning and planting a soft kiss on her lips now
"I'm just glad everyone is alright. I'm glad you three of all are safe." Xylia whispered finally
"I don't want you to ever scare me like that ever again." Rin said sincerely as Xylia was most in awe
Rin truly had changed in his own way over time. He cared just as much about his family, the fear of losing them was also there. He just seemed to manage it better. He had to, he was the leader of his people. She could start to see and understand why he had seemed so harsh when he had to be a leader. If he failed, then his people would lose hope as well...
"Just try to rest my dear. You need it." Rin whispered planting a gentle kiss on her forehead laying by her side
Xylia curled up into his side holding onto him tightly. She did not want him to fear, she did not like to see fear in him. Her eyes soon closed and before she knew it had slipped off into a deep sleep...
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