Demon realm

Ignatius steadied himself on the swaying deck of the ship. As it approached the mist-shrouded Guilder Island. The air was thick with tension, his team huddled together, sharing a silent resolve. Luna, with her piercing blue eyes. Tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword. While Elysia Bloodrose reviewed the scrolls and seals for the tenth time.

"We need to move quickly and stay unseen," Ignatius whispered. The weight of their mission pressing on his shoulders. "Jordo's plan to replace the First Elder could unravel the very fabric of our alliance with the dryads."

As they disembarked and set foot on the cobbled streets of Guilder. A sudden commotion erupted. Guards, alerted to their presence, began closing in from all directions. Panic surged, but a group of cloaked figures emerged from the shadows, offering a lifeline.

"Follow us!" hissed one of the cloaked figures, revealing a glint of loyalty in his eyes. "We are supporters of Ayla."

Without hesitation, Ignatius and his team followed their rescuers through winding alleys. Eventually finding refuge in a small cottage nestled near the Great Tree. The air here felt different, charged with an ancient power. Ayla had been born from this tree, and its magic seemed to pulse with every heartbeat.

"They know we're here," Luna said, her voice above a whisper. "We need to investigate the origin of the hell bats."

The night wore on, and the group prepared for an attack. Hell, bats descended upon the cottage, their screeches piercing the night. Ignatius's heart raced as he heard Ayla shout, "Hell bats!" She dove under the table with the two dryads, whose wooden limbs trembled with fear.

Ignatius's ears pricked up at the faint sound of wings flapping outside the cottage door. Dryads feared hell bats above all creatures. They were the size of full-grown men and spewed demonic fire. Being part human and part tree, dryads would burn like kindling under such an assault.

Elysia and Luna burst through the door, their eyes blazing with determination. "Swift Parry!" Luna activated her defensive stance. While Elysia shifted into her mist form. Allowing the demonic fire to pass through her harmlessly. Ignatius whispered, "Eldritch Blast," and rushed out, kneeling by the door. The forest echoed with loud booms as he fired blast after blast at the hell bats.

Ayla, brave and quick-thinking, dashed outside with a bucket. Dousing the flames licking the sides of the cottage. Luna using her blade storm was taking down the flying hell bats flying in the air. Elysia, now a distance from the cottage. Used her Shadow Step to teleport next to the hell bats in mid-air. Striking them down with lethal precision.

The massive tree in the clearing joined the fray, its thick branches flicking hell bats out of the air. As they hit the ground, roots erupted, pulling the fallen creatures into the earth. Amidst the chaos, Elysia spotted Jordo hiding behind a tree, a wicked grin on his face, staff in hand. His glee at the hell bats' attack revealed his true character.

The victory came as the last hell bat fell to the ground, a large hole in its chest. Ignatius leaned against the cottage, his arm hanging limp, his body trembling. Christie rushed to his side, holding him in her embrace. The two dryads emerged with meat and milk, offering sustenance. Luna and Elysia carried Ignatius inside. Wiping the sheen of sweat from his face as he slipped into unconsciousness.

Ignatius opened his eyes to his half-eaten beef sandwich before him. "What happened," he asked.

Luna held his hand you fainted again from mental exhaustion." You scared us to death."

"You should not push yourself that hard," Elysia commented.

"The two dryads had left to inform the counsel of the attack, Master," Christie said.

"I saw Jordo at the edge of the forest and he held this wicked-looking black staff," Elysia said. "Gave me the heebee jeebees the look he had on his face."

"We should catch this man in the act he is working with the demonic realm," Ignatius said.

"He will return to the scene of his crime. We need to be there when he meets with his co-conspirators." Luna said.

"I will seek him out in my mist from its still dark outside," Elysia said.

"Be careful if it looks like a trap or you feel anything strange return to us," Ignatius said hugging her.

An hour passed when the door to the cottage opened and Elysia walked in. "I have found him he is on his way to the far end of the clearing," Elysia said then sunk her fangs into Ignatius's neck moaning with pleasure.

Finally, as dawn approached, they laid a trap for Jordo. Under the cover of darkness. They followed him to a secluded clearing. Where he began summoning his demonic master with a demonic staff of dark magic. Hidden in the shadows, Ignatius and his team watched in horror and determination.

"We need to reveal his treachery to the dryad council," Ignatius said, his voice steady with resolve. "This ends tonight."

Jordo gave a report on the attack and how the outsiders had won the day. He left a sour dryad as the demon said nothing and disappeared. Ignatius and his team returned to the cottage to rest till lunchtime when the council will meet.

They confronted Jordo before the council, Luna holding the demonic staff aloft. "This is the staff Jordo used to summon a demon," she declared.

"Where did you get that," Jordo shouted as he tried to rush to Luna.

"Elysia and I have broken into houses before to collect evidence," Luna said with pride.

"Yes, you slept like a small child with your thumb in your mouth," Elysia said giggling.

The council murmured in shock as Luna chanted the summoning words.

The air crackled with dark energy, and a demon materialized before them. "Why have you summoned me? Where is my subordinate Jordo?" the demon demanded, its gaze sweeping the room.

The demon stepped back holding his arms up before him. "Not you anything but you, how is this possible." The demon said in a small voice trembling with fear.

Jordo's face twisted in panic, and as the demon's eyes fell on him, he burst into black flames. His screams echoed through the chamber as he was reduced to charcoal.

"The demon kneeled as if he was going to be sick. I will take my leave and never return again." He said as he looked at Ignatius his body trembled as a puddle formed under him.

"He peed himself Master as is proper for a lowly being like him," Christie said then laughed with her hands on her hips.

"Yes, let's talk outside the stench makes it hard to breathe," Ayla said taking Ignatius's hand and pulling him towards the door.

"We must return to Misty Cove," Ayla said, her voice filled with determination. "The battle may be won here, but the war against the demon realm is far from over."

"I agree." Elysia said, "We need to report this to Magnus."

Elysia slipped her arm around Ignatius's waist. "We do not want another war," she said her voice trembling with raw emotion.

"I agree war sucks," Ignatius said. "I have served in the army as a young man." He fell silent as everyone looked at him.

"You were a rail gun gunner back then in the war with a bordering nation," Christie said.

"Yes, the death toll reached into the hundreds of thousands back then. I was lucky to have survived." Ignatius said. "My sister was safe and that was all that mattered to me."

"What is a plane," Elysia asked. "And what is a gunner."

"It's a story come let's go home," Luna said looking at Christie.

Ignatius stared at Christie his eyes far off, Asif reliving the horror of the war. Elysia's eyes softened as she looked at Ignatius knowing the horrors of war herself.

Elysia sat across from Magnus in his office, the weight of her report heavy on her mind. The room was filled with cigar smoke. The flickering light from the enchanted candles cast long shadows on the walls. Adding to the gravity of the conversation.

Magnus leaned forward, his eyes locked onto Elysia. "Tell me everything, Elysia. What happened on Guilder Island?"

Elysia took a deep breath and began. "Ignatius, Luna, Christie and I embarked on our investigation with a sense of unease. From the moment we arrived, we knew something was wrong. The island was steeped in dark magic, the kind that leaves a taint on everything it touches."

She paused for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "We encountered hell bats. Massive creatures, the size of full-grown men spewed demonic fire. Dryads, being part human and part tree, feared them the most. Their wooden limbs would burn like kindling under such an assault."

Magnus's expression grew more serious. "Go on."

Elysia continued, detailing the events. "Luna and I fought bravely.

She then described the pivotal moment. "Amidst the chaos, I spotted Jordo hiding behind a tree, a wicked grin on his face. His glee at the hell bats' attack revealed his true character. It became clear that he was in league with the demon realm, orchestrating the attack."

Magnus's eyes darkened with anger. "Jordo... in league with the demons. This is a grave threat, Elysia."

Elysia nodded. "It is, Magnus. And it's not just Jordo we need to worry about. We must find out if others are involved in summoning demons. The possibility of the demon realm wanting to subjugate our lands again is very real. We need to uncover all their allies and their plans."

Magnus leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. "You're right. We cannot afford to underestimate this threat. We must fortify our defences and investigate any potential collaborators."

Elysia's determination shone through. "We'll stand together, Magnus. We must root out this darkness before it spreads further."

Magnus gave her a resolute nod. "Thank you for your thorough report, Elysia. Your bravery and insight are invaluable. We have much work to do, but I have faith that we will overcome this threat."

Elysia felt a renewed sense of purpose as she left Magnus's office. The battle was far from over. Zarkon stepped out of her shadow walking beside her. The moon full high in the sky the time reaching close to midnight. "Master is waiting for you, Luna and Ayla have gone to bed. You will sleep in Masters's bed tonight." Zarkon said as his eyes roamed their surroundings.