The creatures moved with terrifying speed, their distorted forms a nightmare against the backdrop of the campfire’s flickering light. Elara’s magic pulsed wildly in her chest, desperate to be unleashed. Kael stood in the forefront, his blade cutting through the air with deadly precision. Each swing of his sword seemed to carry a faint, otherworldly glow, leaving trails of silvery light in its wake.

“Elara, behind me!” Kael barked, slicing through one of the attackers.

But she couldn’t retreat—not when the power within her demanded to be used. Raising her hands, Elara felt the energy coalesce, warm and volatile, as a brilliant light erupted from her palms. A surge of golden energy shot forward, striking the nearest creature and disintegrating it into a cloud of ash.

The camp erupted into chaos. Guards fought valiantly, their swords clashing with claws and unnatural screeches. Lyria darted between the wounded, her quick hands staunching bleeding wounds as best she could. Elara, driven by instinct, hurled waves of magic into the fray, each blast of light weakening the dark creatures.

“Elara!” Kael called sharply, his voice cutting through the din. She turned to see a massive beast bearing down on her, its fangs bared and eyes glowing like embers.

She raised her hands again, but the power faltered, sputtering like a flame in the wind. Panic surged through her—had she exhausted her magic already? The beast leapt, and time seemed to slow as its shadow loomed over her.

Kael was there in an instant. He shoved her aside and swung his blade upward, slicing through the creature mid-air. The momentum sent him stumbling, but he recovered swiftly, turning to face her. “You can’t lose focus!” he snapped. “Magic or not, stay sharp!”

Elara nodded, her breath ragged. She reached deep within herself, searching for the connection to her magic, and felt it flicker faintly. It wasn’t gone—merely strained. With renewed determination, she stood and rejoined the battle.

One by one, the creatures fell, their numbers thinning as the guards and Kael worked in perfect synchronization. The last of the beasts lunged at Kael, only to meet his blade in a flash of silvery light. It let out a guttural cry before collapsing into a heap of ash.

Silence fell over the camp, broken only by the laboured breathing of the survivors. The air reeked of burned flesh and ozone, and the snow was stained with dark ichor. Elara lowered her hands, her body trembling with exhaustion.

Kael approached her, his sword still glowing faintly. “You held your ground,” he said, his voice low but approving.

“I had no choice,” she replied, her voice equally soft. “They weren’t going to stop.”

He nodded, his expression unreadable. “We’ll need answers. These weren’t ordinary creatures—they were sent for a purpose.”

Elara’s gaze shifted to the horizon, where the shadows seemed to linger even as dawn approached. “And they’ll come again,” she murmured.