Jade

  The portal flared open once more, and this time, a figure stepped through—clad in a dark hooded robe, her face concealed by a mask. The air crackled with a menacing energy as two hooded knights followed her, their movements swift and fluid. Their faces were obscured, not a single marking to give away their origins. As the portal closed behind them, a heavy silence fell over the village.

  Before anyone could react, the knights launched themselves into action. Without warning, they engaged, fighting fiercely against the group and the warrior members of the Fiam clan. The speed of their assault was overwhelming, their weapons flashing in the dim light. The villagers scattered, fleeing into their homes or hiding behind whatever they could find.

  The female mage, still cloaked in shadows, raised her hands and unleashed a flurry of magic. Arcs of energy crackled through the air, knocking people aside like ragdolls. Her magic was precise—each spell devastating, each move calculated to incapacitate. The sheer power of her presence was enough to send a chill down my spine.

  I didn't hesitate. Grabbing my bow, I nocked an arrow and aimed directly for her. The tension between us crackled like the magic in the air. I fired, but the mage was swift, dodging my shots with eerie precision. It was clear this wasn't going to be an easy fight.

  Meanwhile, Emberes was already engaged with the two knights, his blade flashing as he fought fiercely. But even he seemed to be struggling. The knights were relentless, overwhelming him with sheer numbers and speed. He went down to one knee, clearly winded.

  I glanced around. The fight was escalating quickly, with the Fiam clan warriors caught in the fray. Thornton and Hue were still recovering, but they were not yet in the fight. As I dodged another blast of energy from the mage, I noticed something strange. Oz, standing on the outskirts, wasn't fighting the mage. At first, I thought he might be involved in the chaos, but I quickly realized he wasn't attacking. In fact, he was doing everything he could to stay out of her line of sight.

  That's when I understood—it wasn't him. Oz wasn't the cause of all this destruction.

  The mage's eyes locked onto us. With a flick of her wrist, she sent a powerful burst of energy crashing into the ground, knocking everyone to the dirt. I felt my vision blur as I was thrown backward, the wind knocked out of me. The world spun, and for a moment, all I could hear was the chaos around me.

  Then I saw her approach Oz, her mask shimmering in the dim light. She reached out, and in an instant, her hands glowed with a dark energy that drained the mana from Oz. I could feel the loss of power ripple through the air as his energy was siphoned away. Oz staggered, collapsing to his knees, helpless.

  I tensed, my hand reaching for an arrow, ready to retaliate, but before the mage could finish him off, she was stopped. Hue, his eyes burning with an intensity I'd never seen before, rushed forward. His magic surged to life as he began to fight her. The clash of their powers sent shockwaves through the village.

  On the other side, Thornton was now fighting the two knights alone. His movements were fluid, precise, and with a speed that caught them off guard. They seemed to underestimate him, thinking he was still recovering. But as the fight wore on, Thornton's strength began to tip the scales. The knights faltered, backing up as Thornton gained the upper hand.

  I pulled myself back to my feet, grimacing as I fought off the dizziness. My vision focused as I scanned the battlefield. Thornton's eyes were glowing a deep purple, the same as Hue's, and I realized with a shock that they were both tapping into a power they had long kept hidden.

  The fight was shifting. We were beginning to win.

  I focused on the mage. She was still locked in battle with Hue, but there was something about the way she moved—something familiar. Her movements were deliberate, controlled. That's when I saw it: the flicker beneath her mask. Without thinking, I aimed carefully and fired.

  The arrow hit its mark, and with a sharp hiss, the mask flew off, revealing the face underneath. My heart stopped.

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  It was Haley.

  She grinned, the smug expression on her face only adding to the fury rising within me. "Secrets out," she said, her voice mocking. "I came here to eliminate the traitors of the Fiam Clan. I guess not."

  Hue's expression darkened, his rage boiling over. The magic around him intensified, and in a matter of moments, he was overpowering her. With a forceful blow, he knocked her to the ground, his hands crackling with power as he stood over her.

  I stared, a mix of shock and disbelief flooding through me. My mind raced, trying to comprehend what had just happened, but before I could think further, Oz's voice broke through.

  "I have no more mana," he screamed, his voice raw with desperation. His hands were outstretched, but the magic that had once surged around him was gone. His knees buckled beneath him, and he collapsed to the ground.

  The battle had reached its peak, but the outcome was still uncertain. And as Haley lay at Hue's feet, unconscious, the last lingering question hung in the air:

  Why had she come? What did this mean for us?

  The air was heavy with the acrid scent of burned wood and scorched earth as we regrouped after the battle. My body ached with every step, but I forced myself to move, scanning the area to make sure everyone was accounted for. Hue stood over Haley's unconscious form, his shoulders tense, his face a mask of controlled fury. Emberes leaned heavily against his sword, his breaths ragged, while Thornton paced nearby, his gaze darting to every shadow like he was ready for another fight.

  I took a deep breath and walked toward the villagers, who were beginning to emerge from their hiding places. Their faces were etched with fear and sorrow, their eyes darting between us and the destroyed village square.

  An elderly woman stepped forward, clutching a tattered shawl tightly around her frail frame. Her voice trembled as she spoke. "Thank you... you've saved us... again. But why must this happen to us? Why does the village of Lye always suffer?"

  Her words pierced me. I wanted to tell her it wasn't fair, that none of this should've happened, but no words came. Before I could think of a response, a younger man stepped forward, his arm in a makeshift sling.

  "It's because of where we are," he said bitterly. "Being on the outskirts of the Belfour Kingdom means we're the first to face the chaos. No one comes to help us in time. We're always the first to be caught in the crossfire."

  I bit my lip and nodded, placing a hand on the elderly woman's shoulder. "We'll do what we can to help you rebuild," I promised, though the words felt hollow. Could we really protect them from what was coming next?

  Hue's sharp voice cut through the murmurs of the villagers. "We can't let her go," he said, glaring down at Haley. His fists clenched at his sides, his body radiating barely-contained anger. "Not after what she's done."

  Thornton stepped up beside him. "Agreed. If she wakes up and starts using her magic again, we're all in trouble."

  Emberes, still steady despite his injuries, pulled out a set of mana binders from his pack. "These will keep her in check," he said, fastening them securely around her wrists. The runes on the binders glowed faintly, sealing away her ability to channel mana.

  I watched as Emberes finished the job, his expression grim. "She's tied up and powerless now," he said. "But we still need answers."

  I turned toward the tree where Oz had slumped after the fight. He looked utterly defeated, his usual sharpness gone. For the first time, he looked... fragile. I hesitated before kneeling in front of him. "Oz," I said softly, "how are you holding up?"

  He lifted his head slightly, and the exhaustion in his eyes hit me like a punch to the gut. "I've got nothing left," he muttered, his voice hollow. "She drained me completely. My mana... my strength... it's all gone. I feel empty."

  Thornton joined us, placing a firm hand on Oz's shoulder. "We'll figure this out," he said, his voice steady. "You've helped us before. We're not leaving you like this."

  I nodded in agreement. "The elders in Canu Village might know how to help. Just hang on a little longer."

  Nearby, Hue knelt on the ground, holding something in his hands. As I approached, I saw it—the Mask of Cada. It shimmered faintly in the moonlight, its presence unsettling. The power radiating from it made my stomach churn.

  Hue glanced up at the rest of us. "What do we do with this?" he asked. "It's too dangerous to leave lying around. But should we even keep it?"

  Thornton frowned as he examined the mask. "If it falls into the wrong hands..." He trailed off, his expression darkening.

  "We can't use it," I said quickly. The words spilled out before I had time to think. "We've already seen what happens when power like this gets out of control. The elders in Canu might know how to keep it safe."

  Hue hesitated, his gaze flickering between the mask and the rest of us. Finally, he sighed and tucked it securely into a pouch on his belt. "We'll decide when we get there," he said. "For now, let's focus on getting through this night."

  Just as the tension began to ease, a sudden light erupted behind us. The villagers cried out in fear, scrambling to find shelter once more. My heart leapt into my throat as I turned to see a new portal opening, its edges crackling with raw energy.

  Weapons were drawn in an instant. Exhaustion forgotten, we fell into battle positions, ready for whatever was coming next. My hands tightened around my bow as the light from the portal grew brighter, casting long shadows across the village square.

  Whatever was stepping through, it wasn't here to bring peace.

  And we weren't ready for another fight.