I’d been running through the woods for what felt like hours. My legs were practically jelly, and my face and hands were covered in scratches from low hanging thorns and branches. I stopped to catch my breath, taking the moment to close my eyes and focus.

I don’t sense him, I thought, feeling a strange mix of relief and paranoia all at the same time. I looked back the way I came, throwing a barrier around myself before taking off again. The trees thinned up ahead, and soon I found myself in an open field of dewy grass and sweet-smelling flowers. The sky above was all shades of sunset pinks and yellows, and the whole field smelled like fresh rain. Not too far away was a large building that almost looked like a castle, made of dark stone with four tall towers. It was beautiful and mysterious, but I couldn’t afford to be distracted by it. I focused again, not sensing anyone around. At that point I was still worried, but against my better judgement I half-sat, half-fell down in the grass. And then something rushed past me, and a moment later a sharp pain shot through my side.

Get up, get up!

I hurried to my feet, disoriented and dizzy. The barrier around me had shattered with the blast, and I quickly surrounded myself with another one, though a small part of me wondered if it would do me any good.

“Show yourself!” I shouted, still not sensing anything, no matter how far across the field I extended my magic. I slowly turned in circles, looking around with panicked eyes. A chill went down my spine, and I spun around, stifling a scream. He’d been right behind me, and I hadn’t sensed a thing.

“Kane…?”

It was him, wasn’t it? A shiver passed through me. I didn’t know anyone else with amber eyes that could see right through you. He smiled a cold smile that didn’t reach his eyes. There was a flash of light, and I found myself flying backward, slamming into a nearby tree. I heard a snap and began gasping for breath, clutching my chest and trembling all over. Blinking back tears, I forced myself to my feet with an arm pressed against my chest, desperately trying to heal my shattered ribs. I eyed the castle-like building in the distance and made up my mind; making it there could be my only chance of escaping with my life. That terrifying thought distracted me for a split-second, just long enough for Kane to rush in and slam me to the ground.

His attack knocked the wind out of me and I tumbled across the grass, landing hard in the mud. I pulled myself up on all fours, coughing and wheezing. I tasted blood. My barrier flickered and faded, and as Kane slowly, almost casually, approached me, I knew there was nothing I could do. Desperately, I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to pull together enough magic for a teleport, but he quickly grabbed the front of my shirt and lifted me up. I went limp in his grip, too drained to break free.

“K-Kane…” I pleaded weakly. “Don’t… Please.”

He smirked, summoning dark waves of magic that began swirling around us. The blast sent a shock through my whole body and shattered whatever was still in one piece. I fell to the ground in a crumpled heap, unable to move or even scream. I gave one last desperate gasp for air, and then the world went dark.