Crowned (Santa Catalina University)

Chapter 3

The air crackles with anticipation, bloodshed and magic, as we continue to fend off the relentless assault of the Shikari. Their dark forms dart and weave, their claws and fangs glinting in the dim light of the battleground. Each strike they land sends shockwaves of pain through my body, but I grit my teeth and press on, fuelled by determination and the memory of Malia’s sacrifice.

Without thinking, moving on a deeply buried primal instinct, I strike one down right in front of me. I was distracted. I allowed it to get closer than it ever should have. Its strange ethereal body twists and deforms under the force of my strike, the magic in my blade poisoning it and speeding up its demise.

Phew. That was too close. I need to focus.

The hairs on the back of my neck rise and I turn as another three Shikari come for me.

Claws rake within a breath of my face, but I jerk back just in time. My hands come up automatically, my fingers wrapping around the cold sinew of its flesh.

The power within me surges, rushing from me and flowing into the creature. It screams, high-pitched and awful, a sound that has my insides running cold as its skin melts away under my touch.

I release my grip, and the thing staggers backwards, the power I pushed into it now racing up and consuming it from the inside out.

The other two come for me, but I raise my hands, palms out, and bolts of bright blue electricity strike them, leaving nothing but their charred remains behind.

That’s new.

Or is it?

No time to wonder – focus!

In the ruckus, I dropped my blade.

Glancing to make sure the coast is clear, I quickly drop to retrieve it, dragging in deep breaths as I ready myself to continue fighting.

By the time I stand, a mere split second later, another Shikari has taken their place.

It’s impossible to keep up. For every Shikari I strike down, another three seem to pop up. I’m exhausted. My magic is waning. The portal is closed but I’ve no idea if the gate is sealed or not, only that Reef appeared to get Malia through it in the nick of time.

I didn’t even get to say goodbye to Malia.

Pain stabs my heart, but when I look down, there’s no blood. It’s not from a Shikari strike, but from the agony of losing her.

And by the looks of it, it will all have been for nothing because the two of us can’t hold back this horde alone.

Just as the weight of defeat presses down on me, a surge of energy courses through my veins. The vaguely familiar tingling sensation of magic fills me, stronger than ever before. I raise my hands, channelling the power within me, and unleash a wave that sends the Shikari flying in all directions.

Cove and I lock eyes, a silent understanding passing between us. We may be outnumbered, but we will not go down without a fight.

With renewed determination, we stand back to back, Cove’s magic intertwines with mine, forming intricate patterns of light and shadow that dance around us like a protective barrier. Together, we move in perfect harmony, anticipating each other’s movements with uncanny precision. It’s as if our souls are connected, united in purpose and resolve.

The barrier holds them back at first, its energies causing them to scream with pain as they try its strength, and for a moment, I’m filled with hope that we can hold out.

Then they reform, coming at us in droves, swarming through the barrier and breaching it. It falls under their heavy numbers, and in the sea of black claws and razor sharp fangs, I get swept away from Cove.

I grit my teeth, resolving not to go down, not like this.

Several Shikari descend on me, and for a moment, even the sky disappears from view. I centre myself, calling up my dormant power from within, letting it build, even as their claws rake over my skin and my blood drips onto the sacred ground below.

With a determined breath, I push up from the blood-soaked ground, releasing another wave of power that sends my attackers crashing into the oncoming force. For a moment, the ground around me comes into focus, littered with the bodies of our enemies, and I know that we can do this.

With a roar, I run towards the advancing Shikari. No more cowering and defending, no more reacting and hoping for the best. We’ll only survive if we bring the attack to them.

Countless fall, struck down by my power.

As the battle rages on, I catch glimpses of Cove’s figure amidst the chaos. His movements are fluid and graceful, his sword a blur of motion as he cuts through the ranks of the enemy with unparalleled skill. It’s a sight to behold, a testament to his prowess as a warrior and his unwavering dedication to our cause.

But even as we fight with all our might, the Shikari seem endless in number, their dark forces swelling like a tide that threatens to engulf us. We are outnumbered, outmatched, and yet we refuse to yield.

A sudden, blinding pain erupts in my side, and I gasp for air at the searing agony. My vision blurs, and I collapse to the ground, my body shaking uncontrollably. It takes me longer than I’d like to admit to get back up again, but I do because my brother needs me. The wound on my side, from some sort of Shikari weapon, bleeds freely and my strength is waning with every precious drop lost.

With another surge of power – though weaker now – I unleash a torrent of flames that engulf a group of Shikari, sending them screaming into the night. Beside me once more, Cove conjures a whirlwind of energy that sweeps through the battlefield, scattering our foes like leaves in the wind.

But still they come, their relentless assault pushing us to the brink of exhaustion. My strength is waning, my magic flickering like a dying flame. Desperation gnaws at the edges of my mind, threatening to overwhelm me with its suffocating embrace.

And then, just when all seems lost, a voice breaks through the chaos. It’s Malia’s voice, soft and gentle yet filled with an unyielding resolve.

“You are not alone,” she whispers, her words a guiding light in the darkness.

With her words echoing in my mind, I find renewed strength surging through my veins. It’s as if her spirit is beside me, guiding my every move and lending me her boundless energy.

Together, we fight as one with renewed vigour, our powers combining to create a dazzling display of light and energy that cuts through the darkness like a beacon of hope. The Shikari falter under our onslaught, their ranks thinning as they face the strength of our unity.

But although we gain the upper hand, I know that victory is not guaranteed. The Shikari are cunning and ruthless, and they will not go down without a fight.

I know that we can win this battle though. Malia may be gone, but her spirit lives on in us, fuelling our resolve to protect this world from the darkness that threatens to consume it. And with that knowledge filling my heart, I unleash the full extent of my power, ready to face whatever comes our way.

The ground trembles beneath our feet under the weight of the Shikari’s most powerful attacks, but we stand firm, a united front against the encroaching darkness. Cove’s determination is palpable, his magic intertwining seamlessly with mine, creating a shield of light that repels the enemy forces.

As we push back against the tide of malevolent creatures, something glints in the distance. A glimmer of hope lights up the horizon. The portal, once closed, begins to crack open again, but this time it radiates a warm, golden light that fills us with renewed strength.

Through the fissure in reality steps a figure clad in a shimmering aura, wielding a sword that blazes with righteous fire. Reef, returned from Aerwyna, his eyes ablaze with fierce determination.

With a mighty roar, Reef charges into battle beside us, his sword cutting through the enemy ranks, like a scythe through wheat. His presence reinvigorates us, and together we become a formidable force to be reckoned with.

The Shikari are pushed back, their numbers dwindling as our combined powers overwhelm them. With one final surge of magic, we unleash a devastating blast that obliterates the remaining creatures in a blinding flash of light.

As the dust settles and silence descends upon the battlefield, I look around at my companions.

We are battered and bruised, but alive.

“Brother, you’re hit,” Cove says, his voice laced with urgency and concern.

I glance down at a rapidly blooming bloodstain, spreading across the fabric like a sinister flower, its crimson petals unfurling with a grotesque elegance.

“Oh.” It doesn’t hurt. Why doesn’t it hurt?

There’s a jarring pain through my legs and I don’t even realise I’ve fallen, until Cove curses and heaves me up, staggering through the portal with me, barely conscious now, in his arms.