Chapter 26: The Night of Battle

The sky was beginning to lighten, and the castle was a hive of activity. Soldiers moved with purpose, preparing for the impending attack. The tension in the air was palpable, and Min-jun could feel his heart pounding in his chest.

On the battlements, Damien stood next to Min-jun, their hands briefly touching in a silent gesture of support. Min-jun took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. "We'll get through this," Damien said, his voice filled with determination. "Together."

Min-jun nodded, drawing strength from Damien's presence. "Together."

The enemy forces appeared on the horizon, a dark mass of armored soldiers advancing steadily. The sight was intimidating, but Min-jun forced himself to focus. He began to chant, the incantations flowing from his lips as the air around him shimmered with energy. The barriers he conjured were strong, but he knew they would be tested.

As the first rays of sunlight pierced the sky, the enemy forces surged forward. The defenders of the castle braced themselves, the clash of steel and the roar of battle filling the air. Min-jun could feel the strain of maintaining the magical barriers, but he pushed on, determined to protect those he cared about.

Damien was a blur of motion, his sword flashing as he fought off wave after wave of attackers. Min-jun watched him, a mixture of admiration and fear in his heart. He had never seen Damien fight with such intensity, and it filled him with both hope and dread.

Suddenly, a group of enemy soldiers broke through the outer defenses, heading straight for Min-jun. He tried to strengthen the barrier in front of him, but the strain was too much. The barrier flickered and failed, and Min-jun found himself face to face with the enemy.

Panic surged through him, but before he could react, Damien was there. He fought with a ferocity Min-jun had never seen, his sword cutting through the attackers with deadly precision. But the numbers were overwhelming, and Damien was slowly being pushed back.

Min-jun wanted to help, but his magical energy was nearly depleted. He watched in horror as Damien struggled, the enemy soldiers closing in. Just when it seemed they would be overrun, a powerful blast of magic erupted from Min-jun, sending the attackers flying.

He didn't know where the strength had come from, but it gave Damien the opening he needed. He pushed forward, cutting down the remaining soldiers and pulling Min-jun to safety. They stood together, breathing heavily, the battle still raging around them.

"Are you okay?" Damien asked, his voice strained.

Min-jun nodded, though he could feel the exhaustion creeping in. "I'm fine. Just tired."

Damien's eyes were filled with concern. "You need to rest. We can't afford to lose you."

Before Min-jun could respond, a sudden movement caught his eye. An enemy archer had taken aim, the arrow speeding towards Damien. Without thinking, Min-jun threw himself in front of Damien, his magical barrier forming just in time.

The arrow struck the barrier and shattered, but the force of the impact knocked Min-jun off his feet. Damien caught him, pulling him close. "Min-jun!" he shouted, his voice filled with fear.

Min-jun could feel the world slipping away, the edges of his vision darkening. He tried to speak, to reassure Damien, but the words wouldn't come. He felt Damien's arms around him, strong and protective, and then everything went black.

...

The castle was still in chaos, but the defenders were holding their ground. Damien cradled Min-jun in his arms, his heart pounding with fear and anger. He could see the faint rise and fall of Min-jun's chest, but it did little to ease his worry.

Leo appeared beside him, his face grim. "We need to get him inside. He's too important to lose."

Damien nodded, his jaw set with determination. "I'll take him to the healer. Hold the line."

Leo placed a reassuring hand on Damien's shoulder. "We will. Go."

With Min-jun held securely in his arms, Damien made his way through the battlefield, his heart heavy with worry. The healer's quarters were a haven of calm amidst the chaos, and Damien carefully placed Min-jun on a cot, watching as the healer began to work.

Damien's mind was a whirlwind of emotions. Fear for Min-jun's life, anger at the enemies who had caused this, and a fierce determination to protect the one he loved. He couldn't bear the thought of losing Min-jun, not now, not ever.

...

The battle raged on outside, but in the healer's quarters, time seemed to stand still. Damien sat by Min-jun's side, holding his hand and willing him to wake up. He had never felt so helpless, and the weight of it was crushing.

As the hours passed, the sounds of battle gradually faded, replaced by the quiet hum of the castle's defenders regrouping. Damien remained at Min-jun's side, his heart aching with every passing moment.

Finally, as the first light of dawn filtered through the windows, Min-jun stirred. His eyes fluttered open, and he looked up at Damien with a weak smile. "Damien?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Damien's heart soared with relief. "I'm here, Min-jun. I'm here."

Min-jun tried to sit up, but the effort was too much. Damien gently pressed him back down. "Rest. You need to recover."

Min-jun nodded, his eyes closing once more. "Thank you," he whispered, his hand tightening around Damien's.

As Min-jun drifted back into unconsciousness, Damien vowed to himself that he would do whatever it took to protect him. They had faced many challenges together, and there would be more to come. But as long as they were together, Damien knew they could overcome anything.

...

The night had been long and harrowing, but the dawn brought a sense of hope. Min-jun was safe, and the castle still stood. Damien looked out at the horizon, his heart filled with a renewed determination. They would face whatever came their way, together.