Rhys swung his blade, drawing blood but not enough to kill. He ducked, rolled, and lunged until his muscles burned and his inexperience in fighting in cramped spaces or with any melee weapons showed. The soldiers all had years of training under their belt while most of the miners had were years of swinging pickaxes against walls of stone.

"Korr! Where were the others?" Rhys yelled into the fray, diving from another sword being swung towards his neck. "There were fewer with you here!"

A grunt and a clang later, Korr's garbled voice echoed in the dim light. "I sent them ahead!" he said. "Those who could fight were left!"

Rhys swept his gaze around. Past the flickering light from the torches thrown to the ground which weren't still snuffed, he counted at least ten miners still swinging their pickaxes around. There were at least twice the number of soldiers. It'd be impossible to deal with them especially if the miners couldn't strike to kill.

"Where's Nornel?" Rhys asked. It was getting harder and harder to weave through the mess of arms, swinging blades, and stomping feet without getting mauled by accident. It's a miracle nobody had hit their comrades yet. "Have him lead everyone to exist. Focus on running. I can deal with the soldiers from the rear!"

"Got it, Rhys!" Nornel's weak voice floated through the crowd. "Everybody, run! We'll keep these turds off your backs! Go! The others should have made it there!"

More boots scratched against the dusty floors. Thankfully, there wasn't any groundwater breaking through the bedrock. Otherwise, they would have another problem to deal with. They didn't need the ground to be slick with mud, not when it was supposed to be sloping up.

Rhys gritted his teeth. Just a few more distances and they'd be free. Ilphar could eat the dust they'd shake off their soles after all this. With newfound strength, Rhys dove into the chaos once again. His blade glinted in the harsh orange light as he helped a man with nothing but a blunt stick. The pickaxe's head must have broken off. Rhys drove his leg into the soldier's stomach and pushed the miner forward. "Go," he whispered. The miner appeared to have understood. He gave Rhys a quick nod before scuffling away and disappearing into the darkness beyond.

Korr sent two more miners in the same direction before a sword slashed across his back. A cry died somewhere in Rhys's throat. He lunged forward with half a mind, slashing his dagger against the soldier's wrist. The sword clattered to the ground just as Korr fell forward on his knees. "Korr! Get a hold of yourself, man!" Rhys screamed. He raised his dagger to block another sword aimed for them.

"Aye, in a while," Korr grumbled, pressing a hand against his wound. Magic curled from his fingertips, seeping into his skin. "Just need to catch my breath, lad."

Rhys rolled aside, running his dagger against another soldier's ankle. More screams of pain and clicks of tongue in annoyance rang in the tunnel. He scrambled back when another whish of metal sped for him. A hand closed around his arm and pulled him away.

"It's me, Nornel!" the half-blood screamed in Rhys's ear when he started squirming. "We'd meet the ones from the other shaft really soon. We need to get rid of these soldiers before they realize there's another tunnel leading out."

Rhys nodded. He blew a shaky breath. It's a miracle he was able to survive this long with nothing but a small blade. "Korr's hit," he said to Nornel. "You should get him out."

Nornel snorted, enough amusement in it. He lunged and clashed swords with a soldier. The half-blood must have stolen the blade from another. "That man? He'd die first before backing away from a fight," he said. "Same thing with me. I'd go and protect your sister if I were you. Some of the soldiers went after them. We'll scrub up here and join you shortly."

Rhys nodded. He ignored the growing lump in his throat and turned around. He spread his wings and tore through the dim tunnel. Warmth prickled in his skin as he summoned his magic and let his weaving energy light his way. Soon, the tunnel gave way to the foretold fork. There, Reeca's voice could be heard as well as numerous clashes of metal. Rhys cursed. What happened?

"Rhys! Took you long enough!" Reeca shouted, drawing his attention towards his sister stuck in blocking a sword bearing down on her. The strain in her voice told him she was in pain. "I sent the others ahead. Hopefully, they could make it out before these asses could catch up."

Rhys didn't answer. Instead, he lunged and slammed his dagger into the soldier's arm. He kicked the man away as he cradled his sword arm and screamed in pain. He gripped his sister by the wrist and shoved her up front. Reeca appeared to have understood and continued running. "How many?" Rhys asked. He didn't have the time to think about how he had basically snapped at his sister.

Reeca didn't appear to be bothered by it. "Three went north, towards the exit," she said. "Lenthe and I dealt with about five in the second shaft. Yours?"

"Korr and Nornel were dealing with six when I rushed here," he turned and fired a blast of raw weaving energy into the wall. Chunks of the ceiling fell on the soldiers running after them, knocking them flat out. "Look, I just dealt with two."

Reeca scoffed. "Show-off," she muttered.

Then, what she said registered in Rhys's head. "Wait," he said. "Who's Lenthe?"

"That'll be me!" a brand new girl popped out from the shadows with a smile. Half of her body was suspended out of nothing. She slapped her forehead. "Don't mind the shadow bending," she said. "It's my specialty and I can't wait to try it out. Thanks for choosing this extremely dark tunnel!"

Well, she's in a mine. Of course, everything would be dark.

Rhys nodded his acknowledgment. "Can you deal with the last of the soldiers?"

Lenthe gave him a mock salute. "Even better," she said. "I could also sense how many were making their way in here."

Rhys cursed. He forgot to seal the other shaft! Instead, he nodded at Lenthe. "Keep reporting, then."

"And, they're here," the girl quipped.

He cursed. It didn't matter now even with Reeca hearing him. "How many?"

Lenthe's expression was grim. The tunnel whizzed by them, their footfalls never stopping as they ran. "About twenty," she said. "Way too much than us three could handle. We should focus on running."

Rhys angled his dagger again. "Do that," he said. "I'll cover you."

Lenthe shook her head. Her feet touched the ground as she called the shadows off. "No need," she said. "You guys sacrificed enough to get here. Let me return the favor. Go. I'll hold 'em off."

"Lenthe, no," Reeca stopped running to face her friend. "We'd make it out together. What about the sea? You'd still want to go, right?"

Lenthe smiled. "I already saw it through your eye," she said. "Thanks for that, by the way. Now, go!"

Reeca didn't get to argue because magic spells exploded from where the two tunnels conjoined into one. The soldiers were here. If Lenthe was right, there's no way the three of them could deal with it without having to trap themselves inside too. Rhys clenched his jaw, tightening his grip around the hilt of his dagger.

He had to get his sister out of here. The exit was so near Rhys could almost smell freedom from here. So close. Lenthe had been kind enough to offer her assistance. Rhys would be forever grateful for that.

The first line of the soldiers made it to them. Lenthe's magic crackled, burning the air around them. Whatever she was, it looked like she could handle it. She could buy them time like she promised.

Rhys made his choice. He gripped Reeca's wrist and pulled her away. "What are you doing?" his sister squirmed and clawed at his grip. He held on. "We have to go back and help her!"

Rhys didn't speak. He wasn't going to lose Reeca again and she wasn't going to lose him. That way, they have lost their friends. He didn't like that the least bit, either, but they didn't have a choice.

"Let's go," Rhys said.

Reeca shook her head. "No."

That's when an explosion rocked the tunnel and Lenthe's broken form crashed in between them. Rhys's throat locked up. The girl wasn't breathing. She was too still. A dagger sprouted from her stomach, already covered with blood. Before Reeca could react, Rhys tackled her in the gut and ran forward, dragging her along.

Reeca fought, pounded her fist against Rhys's back. It hurt but it would hurt more if he lost her in the struggle. Rhys blinked the tears from his eyes while every drop from Reeca's felt like pelting stones against his skin. Behind them, spells and weapons whizzed for them. There's no time to go back. No time to check if Korr, Nornel, and the others made it through.

A dot of harsh light appeared in the distance. Hope blossomed in Rhys's gut. There. That's the exit. That's their freedom. It became bigger with every step they slapped against the ground. Rhys ducked as another spell slammed into the wall where his head had just been by. Reeca yelped behind him, stumbling forward. He yanked her up and continued running. Just run. They're almost there.

"Stop right there!" a voice yelled somewhere behind them. It sounded a lot like Ilphar. Rhys didn't care. He'd never stop for any man when his freedom and his sister's safety were involved. "Stop or we'll shoot!"

Rhys pushed Reeca forward, straight into the portal of light, and turned around. With the last of his strength, he shot a stream of bright blue weaving energy into the ceiling and pulled down. Then, he threw himself forward, relishing the sharp cracks and thuds the rocks made as they fell over him.

Then, his world burned bright, leaving nothing in return.