The moment the last of the Bronze Legionnaires disappeared through Tiberia's gates, I finally let out a shaky breath, my heart still hammering in my chest. That had been too close. If even one of them had glanced up at the rooftops, if even one of them had noticed us...

I swallowed hard, shaking the thought away. No time to dwell on that now.

I looked at Galahad, who gave me a sharp nod, and together we climbed down from our hiding spot. My boots barely touched the ground before the kidnappers whirled around, hands flying to their weapons.

"Whoa! Who are you? Stand back!" one of them snapped, eyes darting between us.

I raised my hands, forcing myself to stay calm. "I'm Lancelot," I said, though my voice came out a little sharper than I intended. "The one they're looking for." I tilted my head toward Galahad. "And this is Galahad."

The guy's face twisted in frustration, his grip tightening around his sword. "Damn it, no! Why are you here of all places?! You're gonna lead those soldiers straight to us!"

Behind him, Mayor Tilly struggled against her bindings, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. "Help me! Get these bandits away from me!"

Galahad exhaled sharply, his patience already wearing thin. "Why did you take her?"

The man scoffed. "Isn't it obvious?" He spread his arms wide, motioning at the ruined buildings and the people watching warily from doorways. "Look around you. This is Tiberia—the side of Ravenna the nobles pretend doesn't exist."

I frowned, taking in the town properly for the first time. I had noticed the damage earlier, but now that I was really looking... The houses were crumbling, their wooden frames rotting from the inside out. The streets were lined with people who looked exhausted, hungry, and hopeless. Some children peeked out from behind broken fences, their faces smeared with dirt.

I had seen a lot of places since waking up in the War Seas, but nothing like this. Nothing that felt so utterly forgotten.

"The great King Calvus the Fourth acts like we don't exist," the man continued, his voice filled with a quiet, simmering rage.

A woman standing beside him—thin, her face lined with exhaustion—crossed her arms. "Everyone outside Tiberia sees us as rejects, like we're worth less just because we were born here." Her lip curled. "Rubica, Rasna, all of them look down on us, like we're filth beneath their boots."

Another man spat on the ground. "The king? He doesn't give a damn. And when we heard he left the island, leaving his guest behind..." He gestured toward Tilly. "It was the perfect opportunity."

"You think kidnapping someone is the right answer?" Galahad cut in, his voice edged with irritation. "This isn't going to fix anything."

The woman glared at him. "And what will? Begging?" She shook her head. "They need her back before the king returns. This forces them to act. It's the only way."

I clenched my fists. "I heard the king planned to rebuild Tiberia," I muttered. "That he actually wanted to help."

The first man let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Right. That's what they always say." His expression darkened. "They've been making that promise for decades. And every time, nothing changes."

I looked away, biting my lip.

I hated this.

I hated seeing people suffer like this, hated how unfair it was. Tiberia wasn't just some rundown slum. It was a place where people lived, where families tried to survive. And yet, the rest of Ravenna treated them like they didn't matter and it made my stomach twist.

"So, what happens now?" Galahad asked, his arms crossed.

The man sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "We won't hurt her. We need her alive, or we lose our only leverage." His gaze flicked to me. "I don't know why you attacked Fort Talos, but I won't pretend I'm not grateful. This kingdom needs change."

I hesitated, then glanced at Galahad. He met my eyes, and for once, he looked like he agreed with them—at least, to some extent.

Still, we couldn't stay here.

"Where do we go?" I asked.

The man at the front studied me for a second before answering. "If you want to stay on the island, you should hide in the Shining Plains. It's to the east, past the town outskirts. No one will find you there."

I nodded. "Thanks."

Behind them, Mayor Tilly scoffed. "So you're just going to leave me here with these criminals?"

I winced. I could feel her glare burning into my back. She was looking at me like I was the villain here.

I wasn't.

But right now, I wasn't a hero either.

"...Sorry."

As we turned to leave, I felt the weight of Mayor Tilly's glare drilling into my back. I didn't look at her. I couldn't. The guilt was already twisting deep in my stomach like a knife.

But what was I supposed to do? There was no right answer here.

Galahad walked beside me, his face unreadable as always, but I knew him well enough by now to recognize the tension in his jaw. He wasn't happy either.

We moved quickly, keeping close to the broken alleyways of Tiberia as we made our way toward the outskirts. If the Legionnaires were searching Rubica and Rasna for me, then there was no way we could just walk through the towns. I was officially a fugitive on Ravenna's land.

Which meant there was only one way left to go.

Mount Caesar.

I exhaled sharply, glancing toward the towering peak in the distance. It loomed over the island like a silent guardian, its winding paths treacherous and steep. But it was also our safest option. If we took the roads leading up the mountain and circled around from the higher trails, we could slip past the town without being seen and make our way toward the Shining Plains unnoticed.

Still, the thought of climbing all the way up there made me groan internally. I wasn't exactly in the mood for a scenic hike.

We reached the base of the mountain, where the path curved sharply upward. The dirt road was uneven, lined with jagged rocks and thick, gnarled roots that jutted from the ground like grasping fingers. The air grew thinner the higher we climbed, carrying the distant scent of pine and damp earth.

I glanced behind me, my heart hammering as I scanned the town below. I could still see Tiberia, its flickering lanterns glowing dimly in the night, but there was no sign of pursuit. Not yet, anyway.

"Think they'll actually pay the ransom?" I muttered, kicking a loose rock aside as we ascended.

Galahad snorted. "Doubt it. The moment they get Mayor Tilly back, they'll send the entire army after those guys."

I grimaced. That was what I was afraid of.

The climb up Mount Caesar was brutal. The mountain was steep, its jagged cliffs and uneven terrain making every step a careful calculation. Loose stones crunched beneath our boots, threatening to send us tumbling if we weren't careful. The cold wind bit at my skin, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine as we ascended.

I stole a glance behind me. Below, Tiberia sprawled in eerie stillness, its rundown houses barely visible under the dim glow of scattered lanterns. Further beyond, the wealthier districts of Rubica and Rasna flickered with golden light, a stark contrast to the neglected village we had just left. Even from this height, I could hear the distant, muffled shouts of the Bronze Legionnaires patrolling the streets, searching for me.

I shivered, less from the cold and more from the realization that I was now truly an outlaw here.

We kept climbing, following a narrow, winding path carved into the mountainside. It wasn't well-traveled—few had a reason to venture up Mount Caesar unless they were desperate to avoid the Legion. Which, in this case, we were.

Large, gnarled tree roots twisted out of the ground like skeletal fingers, making the already difficult path even more treacherous. A misstep could send us sliding down the rocky slope into a sheer drop. I stuck close to Galahad, placing my hands on the rough surface of the rock wall beside me for balance.

"Are we even going the right way?" I muttered, eyeing the twisting path ahead.

"As long as we keep heading east, we'll make it," Galahad said, his gaze scanning the landscape. Unlike me, he didn't seem the least bit tired.

"Easy for you to say," I grumbled, kicking a loose rock down the side of the cliff. It clattered against the stone before disappearing into the darkness below.

The higher we climbed, the thinner the air became. My lungs burned, my legs ached, but we couldn't stop. If we wasted time, the Legion might set up blockades before we even reached the Shining Plains.

After what felt like an eternity, we reached a plateau near the mountain's peak. A cold wind whipped through the trees, bending the branches and rustling the sparse grass beneath our feet. From here, we had a full view of Ravenna, its sprawling settlements laid out like a map below us.

I sighed. "They really concentrate on looking for me."

Galahad crossed his arms, glancing toward the far horizon where the Shining Plains stretched beyond the mountains. "Very well."

I followed his gaze. Beyond the rocky slopes, the land gradually evened out, opening into a vast, golden expanse. The Shining Plains.

It was a rolling savanna, its tall grass swaying in the wind like a golden ocean. Large, scattered boulders and the occasional lone tree dotted the landscape, offering sparse cover. The hills rolled gently, the sky vast and open, but all I could feel was the weight of the air pressing down on me. My legs ached, and the climb had taken its toll. We weren't running anymore, but I knew we weren't safe either.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead, letting out a breath. "We should be safe here for now."

Galahad was less convinced. His arms were crossed, eyes scanning the horizon. "Safe? Maybe, but if the Legion searches this way, we'll be wide open."

Before I could respond, the ground beneath me shifted. A small tremor, then a huge explosion. I didn't even have time to react before Galahad grabbed my arm and yanked me backward. My breath hitched as the earth beneath my feet split apart, a jagged line appearing where I had just been standing. Dirt and stone exploded into the air, and I stumbled backward, barely managing to stay on my feet.

"What the hell—?!" My heart pounded as I looked toward the source of the attack.

A woman stood there, perfectly composed despite the chaos she had just created. Her armor gleamed in the sunlight, a mixture of brown and yellow, fitting her like a second skin. Even from a distance, I could see her figure standing tall, her sharp blue eyes glaring at us and her black hair tied tightly in a ponytail. Her skin was a warm tan, and the way she carried herself exuded power. 

She tilted her head, her gaze assessing. "So, you two are the ones who killed Argos?"

I stiffened. Well, I knew the news was spreading fast, but I didn't expect this fast.

Her lips curled slightly, almost like she was enjoying this. "Must be some kind of mistake. You don't look like you'd hurt a fly." She took a step forward, and the ground beneath her foot shuddered, cracks spiderwebbing out from where she stood.

Then she continued, her voice laced with something unreadable. "Tell me... are you also responsible for the disappearance of my dear brother, Elius?"

I didn't even have to speak. Galahad stepped in, his voice calm but firm. "Yeah, we are. We spared his life, but we don't know where he is now."

The woman—whoever she was—let out a soft hum, her expression unreadable. Then, she laughed. A short, humorless chuckle that made my stomach tighten.

"I see..." Her voice was cold now, with a sharp edge. "That means he failed his mission. He must have gone into hiding." Her eyes narrowed, a flash of disdain flickering in them. "The Order will hunt him down and kill him anyway."

Then, her gaze locked on me. There was a coldness in her eyes, and something primal stirred inside me. She wasn't just talking about Argos—she was talking about us now.

"My little brother always was a weakling, trying to follow in my footsteps," she added, her tone almost pitying, as if she were speaking of someone long past, someone who had failed her.

Before I could process her words, she moved. Her leg shot up with terrifying speed, and when her knee smashed into the ground, the earth cracked beneath her. The impact created a shockwave that threw me off balance, and the ground buckled around us, sending pieces of dirt flying. This woman wasn't just strong—she controlled the land beneath her, bending it to her will.

Galahad and I barely managed to regain our footing as the ground continued to tremble. She wasn't done. In a blur of movement, she leaped into the air, higher than I expected, and with one fluid motion, she came crashing down toward us.

I didn't even have time to react. The force of her landing sent a shockwave of power radiating outward, slamming into the earth and shaking the very air around us. I barely managed to dive out of the way, but Galahad manged to grab my arm and pull me behind him.

"Who are you?" Galahad demanded, his voice steady despite the chaos unfolding around us.

The woman straightened herself, standing tall with a gleam in her eyes. "My name is Carina, The Officer of the Order of Aesir. I am the older sister of Lord Elius. And you two are the ones who killed Argos."

She didn't look winded or even remotely affected by the destruction she had just caused. Her calm demeanor only made her more intimidating, and her mastery of the earth's power was terrifying. I could feel the tension in the air, like the ground itself was waiting for her next command. She was like a force of nature—unrelenting, powerful, and in control of everything around her.

Her stance widened, and once again, I could feel the ground tremble underfoot. Carina was no ordinary fighter. Her martial arts were unlike anything I had ever seen. Every movement, every step she took seemed to command the earth to bend to her will. And she was focused. I could see it in her eyes—she wasn't going to back down.

"I won't make the same mistake," she said, her voice cold. "Unlike my brother, I won't fail."

The moment Lady Carina moved, the air itself seemed to shift. One second, she was standing on solid ground, and the next, she was gone—a blur of motion so fast my eyes barely caught it.

Then the earth shattered.

I threw myself backward as her foot slammed into the ground, sending a shockwave tearing through the plains. The tall golden grass was sliced clean apart, flattened by the sheer force of her attack. Cracks splintered across the ground, deep fissures forming beneath our feet. It wasn't just raw strength—she controlled her every movement with terrifying precision.

Galahad reacted first, throwing out a crimson cloud of poison, the gas expanding outward to cut off her vision. But before it could even reach her, she was gone. A rush of wind followed, and then—

Boom!

Carina came from above, twisting in midair, her leg cutting through the poison cloud like it wasn't even there. The moment her foot made contact with the air, a powerful burst of force followed, dispelling the gas entirely. It was as if the earth itself had responded to her will, breaking apart anything in her way.

Galahad barely had time to curse before she was already on him. She landed with devastating speed, her foot digging into the ground and sending a quake racing toward him. He leaped away, but Carina dashed forward in an instant, closing the distance before he could get his footing.

Her knee struck out, aiming for his ribs. He barely managed to block with his arm, but the impact still sent him flying. He crashed into the grass with a sharp grunt, rolling before skidding to a stop.

I didn't have time to think.

I shot forward, plasma crackling in my hands. "Hey!" My voice rang out as I threw a massive blast of energy at her. The red glow of my magic lit up the plains, burning through the grass as it tore toward her.

Carina turned her head slightly, as if finally acknowledging me.

Then she jumped—no, soared.

She shot into the sky, dashing midair with frightening speed, each kick against the air creating a ripple of force. My plasma blast missed entirely, crashing into the ground below and erupting in a fiery explosion.

Before I could react, she twisted midair and launched herself toward me.

I barely managed to raise my arms before she landed a spinning kick straight at my guard. The force of it sent a shockwave rippling through my bones, my feet digging into the dirt as I skidded backward.

The force of her descent sent another tremor ripping through the plains, the earth groaning under the sheer power of her landing. Dust and grass exploded in every direction.

"Fast," Galahad muttered, tensing as he threw out a cloud of crimson poison, hoping to force her back. But she didn't even slow down.

She pivoted on one foot, her leg slicing through the air, generating enough force to send the poison scattering. Galahad barely had time to curse before she was on him, closing the distance in an instant.

Her knee shot forward.

Galahad blocked just in time, bracing his forearm against the impact. The sheer force of her attack still sent him sliding backward, his boots digging into the dirt. He growled under his breath.

"Gods, this is annoying," he spat, shaking out his arm.

Carina smirked. "What's wrong? Can't keep up?"

Before he could respond, she launched forward again. This time, she spun mid-air, her heel slicing toward his ribs. Galahad ducked, barely avoiding the kick as it cut through the air with a sharp whoosh.

I didn't give her the chance to land.

I sent a blast of plasma straight at her while she was mid-jump. The red energy streaked forward, illuminating the battlefield with its glow.

Carina reacted instantly. Instead of dodging, she twisted, using the force of her own attack to launch herself even higher. She hovered for a moment, suspended in the air by sheer momentum, before flipping downward.

Her leg came crashing down like a meteor.

I threw up both arms, plasma flaring around me in a desperate shield.

BOOM!

Her foot slammed into my guard, and the impact sent another quake tearing through the ground. My legs nearly buckled under the force, but I grit my teeth and pushed back, forcing my magic to counter her strength.

Carina's eyes widened slightly, as if surprised I hadn't crumpled instantly.

"You're stronger than you look," she muttered, pushing down harder.

I snarled. "How do you think we killed Argos?"

With a roar, I detonated my plasma in a burst of energy, forcing her back. The explosion sent her flying midair, but she twisted with impossible agility, landing gracefully before launching herself toward me again.

Galahad moved at the same time. He rushed in from the side, his fists coated in thick crimson gas. His poison wasn't useful against her sheer force, but he could still hit her if he got close enough.

Then, Carina saw him coming. She spun midair, her leg whipping around in a brutal roundhouse kick.

Galahad ducked, barely avoiding the strike, but the force alone sent the surrounding grass flattening outward. He scowled, throwing out another cloud of poison to obscure her vision.

Carina reacted immediately, her foot slamming into the ground again, sending another shockwave that scattered the gas completely.

Galahad gritted his teeth. "Damn... stop kicking everything."

Carina smirked. "It works, doesn't it?"

Without another word, she lunged at him. Galahad cursed under his breath, throwing himself back as her foot grazed the air where he'd been standing. The sheer speed of her attack made it impossible for him to counter.

I moved to help, sending a concentrated blast of plasma toward her. Carina twisted midair, dodging it with terrifying precision before flipping backward. She barely landed before she shot forward again, closing the distance between us in an instant.

Our attacks clashed—my plasma against her raw force. Every hit sent shockwaves through the plains, shaking the ground beneath us. My hands burned from the impact, but I didn't back down.

Then, she vanished. No—not vanished. She launched herself into the air, kicking off the ground with so much force that the earth cracked beneath her. She stayed midair for a few seconds, shifting her weight before kicking downward, propelling herself straight toward me like a cannonball.

Pain exploded through my body as I barely had time to register the impact. Carina's kick sent me crashing backward, my back slamming against the torn-up earth. I gasped, vision blurring for a second as I struggled to push myself up. Every inch of me screamed in protest—my ribs, my arms, my legs. Everything hurt. But I couldn't stop.

Carina was already moving again, relentless and terrifyingly fast. She barely touched the ground before launching herself toward me, her foot cutting through the air with another devastating kick. I threw my arms up just in time, plasma flaring to block, but the force behind her attack still sent me skidding back, feet digging deep into the dirt.

She didn't even look winded. Her tan skin was dusted with dirt, her blue eyes sharp and calculating, focused entirely on me. She was reading me—every weakness, every movement, every injury I had been trying to push through.

"You're struggling," she said almost lazily, stepping forward as if she wasn't even trying yet. "Your body's not keeping up with your magic. And from the way you're moving, you're still healing from something, aren't you?"

I clenched my fists, plasma crackling in my palms, but she was right. The wounds from Fort Talos, from fighting Argos, from everything—I had ignored them, forced myself forward anyway, but she could see it. And now she was taking advantage of it.

Before I could respond, she moved again, faster than I could react. A blur of motion—then her knee drove straight into my stomach. I choked, the impact knocking the air from my lungs, my vision flashing white as pain shot through me.

Galahad lunged forward with a sharp snarl, his poison surging in a thick wave toward her. "Leave her!" he snapped, swinging his arm to send more crimson gas forward, but Carina barely even spared him a glance. With a swift pivot, she stomped the ground, sending a shockwave so strong it shattered the earth beneath us. The force scattered his poison like it was nothing, dispersing the gas before it could even reach her.

"Damn it," Galahad growled, trying again, sending a denser, more concentrated cloud straight at her. This time, she twisted mid-air, dodging it entirely before flipping over him in a blur of motion. He barely had time to react before she lashed out with a sharp kick to his gut, then another to his chest. The second hit sent him flying back, crashing into the torn-up ground with a grunt of pain.

I forced myself to move, shaking off the dizziness as I fired a blast of plasma her way. She spun, dodging effortlessly, before her foot snapped forward, sending another quake through the battlefield. The ground split apart beneath me, throwing me off balance, and before I could regain my footing, she was already there.

Her next kick struck my side, the same ribs she had already hit before. A sharp, unbearable pain shot through me, and I bit back a scream. My legs buckled, my body threatening to collapse, but I forced myself to stay standing. It was too early to be defeated. 

Carina smirked slightly. "You should stay down," she advised, though there was no kindness in her voice. "Your body won't last much longer at this rate."

Galahad coughed as he pushed himself up, eyes blazing with frustration. "Why don't you come and fight with me instead?" He lunged again, trying to punch her this time, but she moved so fluidly it was like she saw it coming before he even swung. She ducked under his fist, grabbed him by the collar, and with a sharp movement, flipped him straight into the ground again.

He hit the dirt hard, coughing violently. "You—"

I forced myself forward, plasma surging in both hands. This time, I wasn't holding back. I launched a massive explosion straight at her, the crimson mixing with a glimpse of orange energy tearing through the battlefield. The force of it kicked up dust and wind, brightening the sky with its intensity.

For the first time, Carina actually seemed interested. She jumped high, using the shockwave itself to propel even higher into the air, hanging there weightless for a moment before she shot downward like a falling star.

The impact sent me flying, my body twisting through the air before I crashed hard into the ground, rolling across the torn earth. I barely had time to recover before Carina was on me again, closing the distance in a blink. My arms burned as I threw them up to block her next strike, plasma flaring at the last second to catch the brunt of her kick. The force of it still sent tremors up my bones, my feet dragging through the dirt.

But I didn't stop. As soon as I regained my footing, I countered, swinging my arm in a wide arc, sending a concentrated blast of plasma straight at her. The red energy seared through the air, bright and vicious, but Carina twisted to the side, narrowly avoiding it before using the shockwave from my attack to propel herself higher.

I gritted my teeth. She was too fast, too unpredictable, but I wasn't going to let her control the fight forever.

Before she could land, Galahad was already moving. He darted toward her, crimson gas swirling around him, thicker and more aggressive than before. "You like flying, huh?" he snarled, launching a massive wave of poison upward.

Carina reacted immediately, stomping down mid-air with enough force to send a ripple through the sky itself. The resulting shockwave disrupted Galahad's gas before it could reach her, but this time, he didn't let up. He lunged the moment she landed, his fist swinging toward her face.

I took my chance. Plasma built up in my palms, heat swirling around me as I forced my aching body forward. The moment Carina shifted to counter Galahad, I struck, firing an explosion beneath her feet. The blast detonated instantly, sending her skyward, and this time, I followed.

Launching myself up with another burst of plasma, I met her mid-air. My hand snapped forward, sending a concentrated beam straight at her. Carina spun, dodging with fluid precision, but I had already anticipated that. The moment she moved, I detonated the air around her.

The explosion ripped through the sky, the shockwave pushing both of us back. I hit the ground in a crouch, my heart pounding as the dust settled.

Then Carina emerged, a streak of dust and blood lining her cheek where the edge of my attack had grazed her. She wiped it away with the back of her hand, her expression unreadable before she smirked.

"Not bad," she admitted, rolling her shoulders. "I see why you could defeat Elius."

Galahad spat to the side, poison swirling violently around him. "You just realized now?"

Carina let out a short laugh before suddenly vanishing from sight.

My breath caught—no, she didn't vanish. She was moving. Fast.

I barely had time to react before she reappeared in front of me, her leg already swinging toward my ribs. I twisted, just enough to avoid a direct hit, but the shockwave alone sent me stumbling. Galahad lunged in from the side, but Carina anticipated it, pivoting on her heel to send a brutal kick straight into his side.

He cursed, staggering back, but before Carina could capitalize on it, I fired another blast at her, forcing her to back off.

She exhaled, shaking out her arms. "Persistent."

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breathing. My legs were heavy, my arms sore, but I wasn't backing down. Galahad was the same—his stance remained strong, his magic coiling around him, unwavering.

Carina lunged, her movements sharper, relentless. She had changed her approach—before, she split her attention between me and Galahad, but now, it was clear. She was targeting me.

I barely had time to react as she closed in, her leg swinging toward my side. I raised my arms to block, but the impact rattled me to my core, forcing me back. Another kick followed, and then another. It was a relentless onslaught, a storm of precise, crushing blows that left me with no room to retaliate.

Each strike came with the force of an earthquake, her legs carving through the ground with every movement. I barely had time to raise my arms before a kick crashed against my forearm, the impact sending a numbing shock through my bones. Before I could recover, another blow slammed into my ribs, and something inside me cracked.

Pain flared through my torso, but I didn't get a second to react—Carina twisted midair, her heel slamming into my shoulder. My body jerked violently as I was launched backward, skidding across the ground, dirt and shattered stone scraping against my already battered body. Blood smeared across the earth where I tumbled, my breathing sharp and ragged.

I tried to create space, throwing out a blast of plasma between us, but she was already moving before I could fully cast it, slamming her heel into my wrist. Pain flared, my magic faltering as my arm jerked from the force. She didn't let me recover—her foot slammed into my chest next, sending me flying.

I hit the ground hard, the impact jarring every bone in my body. I tried to get up, but she was already there, dropping from above with a force that sent the earth quaking beneath me.

"Damn it—get off her!"

Galahad's poison surged forward, thick crimson gas swallowing the battlefield. Carina exhaled sharply, jumping back to avoid being completely engulfed. She waved a hand in front of her face, her sharp eyes darting through the mist.

"I see," she murmured, her voice cutting through the haze. "Your magic lingers, but it's too slow. Too passive, not suitable for direct attack."

Then she was moving again, weaving through the poisonous air with frightening ease. Galahad lunged at her, his fists coated in venom, but she stepped past him like a gust of wind, her foot smashing into his stomach.

He coughed violently, blood splattering from his lips, but he still moved. His free hand lashed out, clawed fingers coated in venom aiming for her throat, but Carina ducked, pivoting with precision. She released him just to slam a brutal kick into his side, sending him crashing onto his back.

I pushed myself up, my limbs screaming in protest. Blood ran from my forehead, dripping into my eye, and my chest burned with every breath. I could feel it—something had cracked, maybe broken entirely. My body was already struggling from my last fight, and now, under Carina's relentless assault, I was coming apart. 

I pushed myself up, ignoring the burning in my limbs, but she was already there. A sharp kick to my shoulder sent me reeling, another to my ribs knocked the breath from my lungs. I gasped, trying to summon plasma to counter, but my body wasn't keeping up.

She's too fast.

I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to keep moving. I knew what she was doing—she wasn't giving me time to fight back. My magic was explosive, and bright. If I got even a second to use it properly along with Galahad, we could turn the fight.

And she wasn't going to let that happen.

I twisted away from another strike, but my body screamed in protest, my injuries catching up to me. My legs buckled for just a moment—just enough for Carina to take advantage.

Her knee drove into my stomach. I gasped, the air leaving my lungs all at once, but she didn't stop. A devastating kick to my side sent me skidding across the ruined ground, my body tumbling before finally coming to a stop.

Pain flared in every inch of me, sharp and searing. I tried to push myself up, but my arms shook violently.

"Pherishore!" Galahad's voice was distant, almost drowned out by the ringing in my ears.

Galahad surged forward again, his body moving sluggishly from his injuries, but his determination never wavered. He exhaled, sending a dense cloud of poison toward Carina, forcing her to back away slightly. He took the opening, swinging with everything he had, but Carina was faster. She dodged with ease, her leg snapping up to strike his temple.

His head snapped to the side, blood flying from his mouth, and he staggered before crumbling to one knee. He tried to stand, but his arms shook violently, his body struggling to keep up.

I could hear Galahad pushing himself back up, his breathing ragged, but he could barely stand. I struggled to move, but my body was failing me, my limbs trembling violently as pain shot through my every nerve.

Carina approached, slow and steady now, her expression unreadable.

"I expected more from you," she muttered, standing over me.

I clenched my teeth, trying—desperately—to move. My magic flared weakly in my fingertips, but my body refused to cooperate. My wounds from Fort Talos burned, aching deep in my bones, and every breath felt like fire in my lungs.

Carina exhaled, almost disappointed. "It's over."

Carina exhaled before pulling her leg back, then swung forward. Her foot crashed into my ribs one last time, and my world faded into darkness.

Galahad's breathing was ragged, his chest rising and falling unevenly as he struggled to keep his footing. His body ached, deep and punishing—his ribs screamed every time he moved, his limbs felt sluggish, and the gash along his side was still bleeding. Carina had been relentless, her strikes hitting harder than any opponent he had ever faced. But none of that mattered.

His gaze snapped to Lancelot, lying battered a few feet away. She was lying still on the grass, blood stained her clothes and pooled beneath her, fresh and dark. Her breaths were short, shallow—too weak. And her body... something about the way her arm twisted unnaturally, the stiffness in her legs...

Galahad swallowed hard. He knew he had to get to her.

Carina saw it too. She wasn't about to let him escape with her prize.

The second he moved, she was on him. A blur of motion, her leg cutting through the air like a blade. He barely managed to raise his arms in time before her heel slammed into him, sending a tremor through his bones. The impact forced him back, his boots scraping against the shattered earth.

"Ah, not so fast."  Carina said, her voice almost amused.

Galahad didn't respond. He pushed forward, his fingers curling, releasing a burst of crimson poison into the air. The gas spread between them, thick and curling, but Carina didn't flinch. With one sharp movement, she swept her leg across the ground, sending a shockwave that tore through the gas and the ground alike. The force sent him stumbling, his already aching body protesting every movement.

Damn it. He was slowing down. His limbs felt heavier, and the wounds scattered across his body weren't helping.

Carina lunged again. This time, she aimed low, twisting her body mid-air before driving her knee into his stomach. Pain exploded through his core, and for a second, his vision blurred. He staggered, coughing violently as the taste of iron filled his mouth. Before he could regain himself, she spun, delivering a sharp kick to his shoulder that sent him crashing onto his back.

His muscles screamed in protest, but he forced himself to roll away before she could stomp down on him. He pushed off the ground, breathless and aching, but his eyes never left Lancelot. She was still there, still unmoving. He had to get to her.

Carina exhaled, tilting her head. "You're still standing? I'll give you credit for that." Her expression shifted, less amused, more calculating. "But your friend is down, you will be next."

He wasn't going to entertain her.

Forcing down the pain, he moved again—this time, not to fight, but to end this. He inhaled sharply, and in the next moment, the air around them turned red. A surge of thick, choking poison burst forth from him, a violent storm of gas swallowing the battlefield whole. It spread fast, consuming the ground, the sky, everything.

Carina flinched, stepping back instinctively as the gas clawed at her vision, forcing her to retreat. "This damn magic..." She covered her mouth, her stance shifting.

Carina skidded to a stop, her expression twisting in irritation as the toxic cloud enveloped her. She recoiled slightly, bringing her forearm up to shield her face. The thick, curling gas obscured her vision entirely, making it impossible to see where her targets had gone. She clicked her tongue in frustration, stepping back instinctively as the poison thickened.

Then something dawned on her.

Lancelot was still in the middle of that gas—but she wasn't coughing, wasn't writhing in pain like she should have been.

Carina's narrowed eyes darted through the haze, her sharp mind working quickly. "So, his poison doesn't affect her..." she murmured to herself.

But before she could act, Galahad pushed himself forward, ignoring the sharp pull in his wounds as he rushed toward Lancelot. His hands trembled as he grabbed her, hoisting her onto his back. She was too still, too limp, her weight pressing down harder than it should.

He could feel her breathing against his neck, light and uneven, but at least she was still alive.

He didn't hesitate. Gathering every ounce of strength left in his battered body, he leaped. His legs burned as he propelled himself upward, the weight of Lancelot nearly throwing off his balance. But he pushed through it, his mind focused only on one thing—getting them out of here, it was clear that they couldn't fight unprepared like this, especially with Carina.

Mount Caesar once again loomed ahead, a jagged silhouette against the dark sky. His landing was rough, his body nearly buckling under the impact, but he kept moving. His breaths came out harsh, his hands gripping onto Lancelot's legs to keep her steady.

It was only when they were hidden among the rocks, shielded from sight, that he finally stopped.

His hands were shaking. His entire body ached, but none of it mattered as his eyes darted down to Lancelot.

His stomach twisted. The angle of her arm—wrong. Her leg—stiff. And when he shifted, he could feel something give beneath his grip, something that shouldn't move like that.

"...Shit." The curse left him in a breath, barely above a whisper.