Starless Nights

As they made their way down the mountain, the duo spoke in hushed voices, the snow crunching softly beneath their boots.

"We should head to the village nearby," said Vael, glancing down at the winding path ahead. "It's only a two-day walk. There's a road that leads straight to it, so we won't get lost."

Kiera walked beside him, her breath misting in the cold air. "Sure. But do you think we'll find anything worthwhile there? Supplies? Information?"

Vael shrugged lightly. "That village—Rjkia—it's bigger than mine ever was. More trade, more people. If it hasn't been wiped out, someone there might know something. Even if it has been burned… maybe there's something left to learn."

There was a moment of silence as both of them stared down at the dense treeline below, where the path vanished into the shadows of the forest.

Then, without another word, they began their descent.

Their hearts were heavier than before, but their direction—at last—was clear.

The first day of travel was uneventful.

They walked, silent conversation occupying their thoughts.

The second day, however, brought something far less forgiving than silence.

A Horned Druid.

A beast resembling an overgrown deer, but with jagged antlers and glowing, silver eyes. Wind whirled around its limbs, slicing through branches as it stood between them and the road ahead.

Mid-third stage.

The second it noticed them, the wind shifted. And then—battle.

No words. No time.

Vael blinked forward, rapier glowing with his purple sword aura. He aimed for the creature's legs—less armored, more vulnerable. A clean strike.

But the beast was fast. Too fast.

With a burst of wind coiled beneath its limbs, the Druid darted out of reach, almost graceful in its escape.

"Tsk…"

Before the creature could recover, Kiera burst from the shadows. Shadow tentacles erupted from behind her, aiming to bind the beast's hooved limbs.

Again, the Druid dodged—but this time, they were ready for that.

As it leapt back, Vael blinked Kiera above the creature's neck in perfect sync with her descending strike. Her blade was already mid-swing, fueled by both momentum and intent.

To seal the kill, Vael blinked again—this time behind the Druid, cutting off its only route of escape.

But what happened next shocked them both.

The Druid twisted mid-air, contorting its body unnaturally. Its massive horns caught Kiera's blade, deflecting it just enough to turn a killing blow into a shallow cut.

Then—wind.

A burst of concentrated air exploded from the creature's antlers, and in the blink of an eye, it was behind Vael.

He barely had time to turn his head before searing pain tore through his face.

A deep, jagged slash stretched from his forehead to his cheek, missing his eye by millimeters.

Except it didn't miss.

Blood blurred his vision. His left eye was useless—possibly forever.

At the same time, Kiera landed awkwardly from her failed strike, her foot twisting beneath her. She winced, nearly stumbling.

"Are you okay?!" she asked telepathically, panic slipping into her usually calm tone.

Vael didn't respond. He just gritted his teeth and steadied himself, blood dripping from his jaw.

They were both injured. The fight had barely begun, and already, they were at a disadvantage.

But they weren't done. Not yet.

"We have to change tactics," said Vael telepathically. "I'll use that move. It's not perfect yet, but it's exactly what we need right now."

"Are you sure?! It's dangerous!" Kiera's mental voice crackled with worry.

"Do you have a better idea? If not, I suggest you buy me the twenty seconds I need."

Reluctantly, she nodded and stepped toward the Horned Druid.

They had struggled together against it.

Now she was facing it alone.

"Twenty seconds," she repeated in her mind, forcing herself to breathe, to focus.

And then—they moved.

The Druid charged, too fast to track. She dodged on instinct, barely managing to avoid a direct hit, but its wind-charged antlers still grazed her arm.

"Shit…"

Drawing strength from the shadows, she lashed out with her shadow tentacles, briefly binding its legs. It was enough. She dissolved into the darkness beneath her feet.

She reappeared like a wraith behind the beast—but it sensed her instantly and twisted around to face her.

Good.

She had counted on that.

From its blind spot, she launched a medium-sized boulder using her telekinesis, aiming for the back of its head.

The rock connected with a solid thud.

The Druid didn't flinch.

But it didn't matter.

Because Vael was ready.

His first real offensive ability.

Dimension Slash.

Like Sword-Aura, he coated his rapier in mana—except this time, he poured a massive amount into it. Not just into the blade, but his entire body.

Hence the prep time.

He blinked between Kiera and the beast.

With a roar, he unleashed the strike.

A blinding surge of violet mana exploded from his rapier—cleaving the air, cleaving space—

—and cleaving the Druid's head clean off.

He then collapsed gracelessly on the floor, every drop of mana spent.