Chapter 34: Battle Start

Selina woke up feeling a lot lighter. She notices the dog that was on her lap prior was sitting next to Noah, a pitiful look on its face.

"Ah, you're up. Morning Amelia." Noah greets her.

Selina stretches a bit and rubs her eyes.

"How long was I sleeping for?"

"Around 3ish hours."

"Light nap." Selina reaches for the puppy only for her wrist to be caught by Noah. She shoots him a confused look.

"The dog's on time-out." Noah explains.

"Time-out? For what?" Selina questions, tilting her head in confusion.

"For…being a bad puppy." Noah points out the ripped bandages on the carriage floor. The dog growls at Noah, baring its fangs only to be swiftly smacked on the head and shushing down. 

"Oh, I didn't even notice, what happened?"

"...Don't worry about it."

"Dude, I'm obviously gonna worr–" The carriage abruptly stops. 

"Are we here?" Selina asks.

"Don't know." Before Noah had time to look out the window, the door gets swung open.

"Get out." Reinhart extends her hand to help Selina out.

Selina takes her hand. "Sooo, what now?" She questions while getting down.

"We're taking a quick pit stop."

Reinhart leads Selina away and Noah gets down, holding the dog by the scruff of its neck.

They quickly eat and re-discuss their plans. Water-users create a liquid shield around them while they charge in, earth-users distort the ground when needed to stumble the enemy and for protection, wind as distraction and to power-up allies, etc. 

After recharging, the group hop on their horses. 

"Amelia, since we're reaching the area, we can't bring the carriage over. 

"I'm guessing I'm back on horse duty with you?"

"Yeah and, leave the dog in the carriage."

"Of course. Why would I bring an injured animal with me?"

The dog opens his mouth only for Noah to close it immediately while glaring at the dog.

"You're with Amelia and I'll be with?" Noah crosses his arm, leaning back on the carriage.

"Troye" Reinhart quickly answers.

"Whelp, can't say I didn't see that one coming." Noah waddles off to Troye, eager to annoy his "good friend". 

Reinhart lifts up Selina and settles her on the horse before getting on herself. As they travel to the location, screeches and demonic screams could be heard. 

Selina gets flung into Reinhart's back as she suddenly stops. 

A small, pitch-black creature stood in their path, its form shifting like liquid shadow before settling into the shape of a cat. Its grin stretched unnaturally wide, revealing jagged, uneven teeth, slick with dried blood. In its hollow eye sockets, two tiny white dots flickered, a thin slit running through the middle. 

Reinhart quickly pulled out her sword, channeling her mana to cover it in fire, but the creature opened its mouth wide, screeching loudly, like a piece of chalk scraping a board. Then, loud rumbling could be heard in the distance. 

 Reinhart, still on the horse, swung her sword, the embers trickling onto the creature and burning it alive. 

"Shit, EVERYONE PREPARE FOR BATTLE!" Selina barely had time to react before the sound of thundering footsteps echoed from the dense trees ahead. The earth trembled beneath them as shadows moved in the mist, a chorus of inhuman growls creeping through the air.

Reinhart's horse let out an uneasy snort, stamping its hooves as Selina gripped tightly onto the saddle.

"Stay close to me," Reinhart ordered, voice sharp and unwavering.

Noah and Troye arrived beside them, their own horses restless. The knights behind them quickly fell into formation, weapons drawn.

"The hell was that thing?" Selina asked, her heart pounding against her ribs.

"A scout," Troye muttered, his expression unreadable. His sword was already in hand. "It must've alerted the others before Reinhart killed it."

"Great," Noah sighed, cracking his knuckles. "Nothing like a warm welcome."

The air grew colder, the shadows shifting unnaturally as multiple figures emerged from the dark. Their bodies twisted and contorted, shapes fluctuating between grotesque forms—some humanoid, others more beastlike, all sharing the same eerie grin as the first creature.

One of them, a towering, hunched figure with elongated arms, let out a gurgling snarl before lunging forward.

"NOW!" Reinhart's voice rang out.

Water mages immediately raised a translucent barrier, liquid shimmering under the faint light. Earth-users slammed their hands onto the ground, causing the terrain to crack and shift, breaking the enemy's footing.

Selina barely had time to process everything before Reinhart kicked the horse forward, leading the charge.

"Shit, shit, shit—" Selina braced herself, gripping onto Reinhart as they plunged into the fray.

Swords clashed, magic illuminated the battlefield, and demonic screeches tore through the night as the battle began.