XXXIV

Victoria sheathed her sword and approached slowly, her exhaustion visible in every step. "He will be okay as soon he is awake - the magic will be worn off and will be as good as he was ," she said softly. "Maybe he will remember you by then."Davina, still catching her breath, managed a tired grin at Austin's remark. "I will rip them to pieces," she repeated, though her voice carried the weight of exhaustion.Austin raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "But will you actually be able to?" he asked, his tone serious but laced with a hint of his usual sarcasm. "No offense, but those ten creatures almost drove us off the edge. And the elders... Well, they're something else entirely."Victoria smirked and slapped Austin on the back of his head. "Be optimistic," she chided, though even she was visibly drained from the fight."Optimism is good," Austin grumbled, rubbing the back of his head. "But there's a fine line between being optimistic and having dreamy ambitions."Davina shot him a sideways glance, her lips curling into a smirk. "And which one are you? The dreamer or the pessimist?""I'm the realist," Austin replied, shrugging. "And right now, reality says we barely survived a warm-up fight. We need to be prepared, not charging in with some 'rip them to pieces' battle cry. We need a plan. Something solid."Victoria leaned against her sword, her legs trembling slightly from the earlier battle. "He's right, Davina. We can't afford to underestimate them. The elders... they're powerful. More powerful than anything we've faced before."Davina sighed, her gaze softening as she looked between the two of them. "I know," she admitted. "But I've got more at stake here than just survival."Victoria's expression softened as she looked at Davina. "We know. But remember, it's not just you they owe. They owe me too. And Alexander. And everyone else who's suffered because of them."Davina's jaw tightened, the fire returning to her eyes. "They've taken enough from all of us," she said quietly, her voice filled with determination. "They won't get away with it."Austin, sensing the shift in her mood, put on his signature grin and nudged her gently. "I like this Davina better—the one who's fired up and ready to break things."She smiled faintly, though there was a hint of playfulness in her eyes. "Just keep up, Austin, or I'll be breaking you too."Victoria laughed, though the sound was laced with fatigue. "I'd pay to see that."Austin feigned offense, clutching his chest dramatically. "Why is it that I'm always the target of everyone's jokes?""Because you make it so easy," Victoria quipped, her lips twitching into a small smile.The mood lightened, but Austin quickly brought them back to reality. "By the way - we say elders , how many of them are there ?"

" four . there is one more but no one has seen her , due to some reasons she doesnt care of earthely matter - she just stay away from everything . she is the oldest and have been there since the begning of time - therefore no one has seen her - the four claim her existence is a myth but book says otherwise - her birth is recorded but her death is not . " Victoria replied . Her eyes drifted as if she was reliving some of her memories . 

The air settled after the battle, and the exhaustion weighed heavily on their limbs. Victoria, Austin, and Davina gathered near a clearing where the remnants of the fight still lingered in the air—burnt earth, shattered branches, and the oppressive, lingering energy of the dark forces they had faced. Alexander lay unconscious nearby, his breaths shallow but steady. Despite everything, they had managed to survive, but barely.Austin flopped onto the ground, his back against a tree, groaning with relief as he stretched out his legs. "Alright," he muttered, "I'm officially done. No more fighting. At least for today."Victoria plopped down beside him, unable to hide her exhaustion. "Agreed," she said, leaning her head on his shoulder, her sword still resting at her side. "I don't think I can even lift this thing right now, let alone fight with it."Davina remained standing, her eyes on Alexander's unconscious form. The familiar tension that always gripped her after battle hadn't faded. Instead, it gnawed at her insides. They had won a fight, but the real battle still loomed ahead."Someone needs to keep watch," she murmured.Austin opened one eye and gave her a half-hearted wave. "Yeah, yeah. We'll take turns. But first, a quick nap. I'm not moving unless there's another apocalypse happening."Victoria chuckled, the sound weak but genuine. "I second that." She leaned further into Austin, both of them too tired to even consider taking shifts at that moment. "Wake me when it's my turn," she whispered before drifting off.Austin smiled softly as he glanced down at Victoria. "Looks like it's your turn first, Davina," he teased, though his eyes were already closing.Davina couldn't help but smile at their banter, though her thoughts were elsewhere. She looked back at Alexander, his face peaceful in his unconscious state. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she crouched down next to him. He will be alright, she reminded herself. Victoria had reassured her, and the magic that held him would wear off soon. But still, a part of her couldn't help but worry.She stood up, glancing back at Austin and Victoria, now both sound asleep. Their heads had tilted towards each other, and despite the exhaustion etched on their faces, there was an odd sense of peace in the scene. She felt a warmth in her chest—gratitude. They had fought beside her without question, even when they were battered and barely standing. They had given her more than she could ever repay.Davina took a deep breath, her gaze lingering on them for a moment longer. She whispered softly, "Thank you." Her voice was barely audible, but it carried the weight of everything she felt—gratitude, affection, and a sense of responsibility.She turned back to Alexander, kneeling down one last time. His breaths were faint but steady, and she brushed a hand through his hair gently. "Forgive me for what's coming," she murmured, her voice soft with sorrow.Steeling herself, Davina stood up and gazed toward the horizon. A misty blue fog covered the path ahead, swirling ominously, beckoning her forward. There was something waiting for her beyond that mist—something she had to face alone.She looked back at Austin, Victoria, and Alexander one last time, her heart heavy with the decision she was about to make. If she won, they would be safe. If she lost... well, they would still be safe, but she wouldn't be returning.They deserve peace, she thought. Even if I don't.With one last glance at the friends who had fought so fiercely by her side, Davina turned away and stepped toward the blue mist. As she crossed the threshold into the unknown, the air around her shifted, thickening with magic. The fog swirled around her, cool and strangely calming. Her heart pounded in her chest, but her resolve remained firm."I'll finish this," she whispered to herself. "For them."As she ventured further into the fog, Davina's surroundings began to change. The trees took on an eerie glow, and shadows seemed to shift just out of sight. The atmosphere was thick with energy—ominous but familiar, like the calm before a storm. Her fingers tingled with the dark power that still flowed through her veins, the remnants of the battle clinging to her like an old cloak.Despite the unease settling in her stomach, she pushed forward. There was no turning back now. Whatever lay ahead, she would face it alone.