Chapter 18 Cantrus: I’ve got a trail

However, such constraints were nothing for someone of Aelarion's skills. His mastery of both light and dark energy meant the original designers could never have adequately planned for his abilities. In little time, he detected a subtle flaw in the magical wards. There was a minuscule gap where the intersection of light and dark energies were imperfectly implemented.

Aelarion focused his mental energy and seized upon this gap. His restraints were also designed using dark matter. It was a simple thing for him to manipulate the dark matter particles and quietly dissolve the restraints. Weaving a spell of shadows, Aelarion stepped into the ethereal plane.

Cantrus: The trail of blood

There was some residual energy in the air from expended dark magic when Milos and the Alliance Heroes got to the scene of the previous battle. Of course, Lyra was not with them. She was the reason they returned to this scene; they needed to trace her abductors and rescue her. 

The air was cold and the silence oppressive as Thorne used his sharp eyes to scan the surroundings for clues that could lead them to Lyra and the dark forces.

"Devon used shadow walking to abduct and escape with Lyra," Kael said. There was evident frustration in his voice. "You have some experience with shadow walking, Elara. Do you think you can track him in the shadow realm?"

"My shadow walking skills are not that extensive. The shadow cloak only allows me to flit between shadows and I cannot stay in the realm for long so tracking Devon will be difficult." Elara replied.

"Do not worry, We'll find a way." Thorne reassured them.

By this time, Thorne had gotten to the area where Seline had fallen. He was still looking for useful clues he could use for tracking purposes so he crouched low and used his keen senses. Upon inhaling deeply, he got a faint, metallic scent of blood. He followed this scent to a small patch of dried blood on the ground a bit farther on.

Thorne softly summoned Milos. "Milos," and the Alliance agent approached him with an alert expression.

Thorne pointed to the bloodstains and said. "I've got a trail here. While it may be faint, it is something we can use." 

Milos nodded as he studied the patch of dried blood. "Let's follow it then. We must be fast so they do not get further away." 

Kael signalled to the rest of the team and they joined them. Elara, Kael, and Zephyr imitated the two trackers and tried to move with careful and deliberate steps. They did not want to alert their quarry. Thorne also occasionally asked them to crouch or change direction to keep them downwind.

Send Seraphina

By this time, the Sentinel had carried Seline on his massive shoulders to a cave hidden deep in the Catalonia mountains. She now lay unconscious with her life hanging by just a thread. Although the floor of the cave was cold and damp, Seline hardly felt it. Neither could she feel the thick air of oppressive darkness.

Devon looked at Lyra. She was also unconscious. A result of the sleeping spell that Devon had cast on her while she was in a disoriented state in the shadow realm.

Devon knew he needed help so he brought out a dark communication orb with a surface that swirled with ominous energy. He activated it and greeted, "Grand Sorcerer Xandor." Devon's voice echoed through the cave. "I need reinforcements. Our forces are depleted and the Planon Alliance agents are hot on our trail. Selina is also currently gravely injured and I have one of their agents whom I abducted."

Xandor's image in the view had an unreadable expression. His cold voice came clearly. "Hold on and try not to lose more of your force. I will send a healer for Selene and some reinforcements. She will also take over the prisoner." 

The connection closed and the light from the orb dimmed. Grand Sorcerer Xandor turned his head and looked at the High Regent of Cantrus, Badmus who was standing nearby. "It seems we have to do more to deter the Planon Alliance." 

"Indeed, we do have reinforcements to send but I don't have a healer among my novices and cultists. Who do we send?" High Regent Badmus wondered.

"We can send Seraphina. She's highly ranked in Mordak's organisation, has good management and coordination skills. Besides, she's also a Master in illusions and mind control. This can make it easier to take over Lyra and even turn her to our cause." Xandor replied.

Xandor summoned Seraphina and she came in. Seraphina cut a striking figure with her long, raven-black hair that fell in waves around her straight shoulders. Her piercing blue eyes always seemed to see into one's soul. She currently wore a dark, flowing robe that was adorned with intricate silver patterns. Her entire presence emitted an aura of power and danger.

Seraphina gave a slight bow and greeted. "Grand Sorcerer Xandor." 

"We need you to go support Devon in the Catalonia mountains," Xandor instructed. "So arrange a team of elite arcane warriors and shadow adepts and take them with you. Devon has a prisoner from the Planon Alliance. You must turn her to our side and also heal Seline."

Seraphina inclined her head in obedience. "I will execute our instructions, My Lord."

As expected, She quickly and efficiently put the reinforcement teams together. Some moments later, the entire team of dark forces teleported to the cave where Devon was waiting. Seraphina wasted no time but left the process of sorting out the new arrivals to Devon. She instead focused her attention on Lyra with a wicked smile.

We can't let them delay us!

The Alliance Heroes followed the trail of blood through treacherous terrain. There were places where the path got steep and rocky which posed potential hazards. But the Heroes and Milos carefully pressed on. They were fueled by their determination to rescue Lyra from her captors.

As if on instinct rather than based on any physical clues, Kael exhorted. "We may have to fight Devon and his forces at any time. So let's all stay alert."

Dark shadows suddenly extracted themselves from the ethereal realm, eyes glinting with malice. Their entrance to the area seemed as if it were practice. But the mix of shadow adepts and arcane warriors left no doubt about their purposes as they tried to come in waves and attack relentlessly.

Zephyr immediately began to play a restraining tune as Elara launched her own attacks from the shadows. There was no Lyra or her staff to help dispel the dark magic that threatened to overwhelm them. But Kael and Thorne did not let that stop them. They fought side by side, their weapons a mix of steel and magic. Kael wielded his sword with strength and speed and Thorne's arrows continued to fly through. The area easily lit up as Thorne's magic arrows moved through to their target with the radiant light on the tips of the arrows repelled the surrounding dark magic.

Even though the dark forces engaged them in a relentless battle, and these were numerous in number compared to earlier, The Alliance Heroes managed to hold their ground. The available legacy tokens often glowed brightly as the repelled sudden and repeated waves of attacks.

"Everyone, try to push forward!" Kael shouted. "We can't let them use this attack to delay us."

They did not find Devon in this group of enemies but that did not stop them from fighting on bravely. After what seemed like a really long while, Kael and his companions finally defeated the last of the dark forces. They could feel the pains on their bodies and they were panting. However, they still pressed on towards their goal.

Where were you all those years?

In another area of the Catalonia mountains, Seraphina sat beside Lyra as she began her spells. One could see an eerie light glowing in her eyes as she muttered incantations. Her fingers were tracing intricate spell patterns in the air to accompany the whispered incantations.

Her initial spells of illusion and mind control were not too oppressive. She wanted to first gain access to Lyra's subconscious mind. 

Her incantations done, Seraphina peered within Lyra's mind and saw a scene from her childhood. Lyra appeared as a little, frightened girl who lived in constant fear of her abusive father. Her mother was only a frail woman who could do nothing to protect the little girl.

Little Lyra was helpless as she often watched her drunk and enraged father mercilessly vented his frustrations on her mother. Seraphina could empathically feel the raw pain from the vivid memory. In sympathy, the current Lyra also felt the same helplessness she had once felt as a child when she was unable to protect her mother whom she loved.

The scene moved to the little Lyra finding a wounded bird in the fields. Its tiny body was broken and bleeding.