Chapter 8
Battle-weary and injured, I drag my brother through the portal that should take us home. We would never have survived such an extensive Shikari attack if Reef had not returned to fight alongside us. But once the battle was over and the final remaining Shikari – their numbers diminished to the tens – retreated, there was no time to reconvene with Reef. The portal opened before us, and it was all I could do to grab Bhodi’s broken, bleeding body and pull him through the vortex with me.
Home.
It’s been so long since we were in Aerwyna, since we had access to all our memories, that I don’t know what to expect.
The moment we emerge from the portal, I am hit with a wave of nostalgia and sorrow. The once vibrant city of Aerwyna lies in ruins before us, buildings reduced to rubble and ashes, the air thick with despair. My heart clenches at the sight, memories flooding back in a tumultuous rush of a land that was never war-torn. I’m sure of it.
Bhodi stirs in my arms, his breathing shallow and ragged. I fear we may have returned too late, that all is lost.
But then a figure emerges from the shadows, a familiar silhouette that sends a surge of hope through me. Reef. Battered and bloodied but alive. He must have used a different portal from the battlefield. Relief washes over me as he rushes forward to help me lower Bhodi to the ground gently. “I thought I’d lost you,” Reef says, his voice rough with emotion. My thoughts immediately go to Malia and the prof and the pain swells.
“Two losses today is more than enough, brother.”
“Two?” Reef frowns.
“Vance fell,” I tell him sombrely and Reef’s eyes widen with shock and then his whole face crumples with devastation.
He sinks to his knees beside Bhodi, eyes filled with a mixture of grief and determination. He places a hand on Bhodi’s forehead, closing his eyes in concentration. A soft golden light emanates from his palm, enveloping both of their bodies in a warm glow.
Reef channels his magic into Bhodi, stealing away his pain, even though he can’t technically heal him. It’s a slow process, but with each passing moment, Bhodi looks stronger and more alive.
The weight of exhaustion pulls at my limbs, threatening to drag me into darkness. But seeing Bhodi’s condition improve under Reef's care, fills me with a renewed sense of hope and purpose.
After what feels like an eternity, Reef finally removes his hand from Bhodi’s forehead, his breathing heavy from the exertion. Bhodi stirs once more, his eyes fluttering open as he takes in his surroundings.
“Welcome back, brother,” I say softly, relief flooding through me at the sight of my best friend, conscious and alert, while Reef takes a moment to recover. “Do you remember anything?”
Bhodi looks between me and Reef before landing on the ruined city around us. “What happened here?” he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.
I exchange a sombre glance with Reef before taking a deep breath.
“We’re not sure. It looks like something has attacked Aerwyna. We need to get to the Elders and find out. And tell them about Vance. When I came through the portal, some memories returned…flashes more than anything concrete, but this doesn’t feel right.”
A flicker of sorrow passes through his eyes as he takes in the devastation before him, wincing as he gets to his feet.
“We need to get you to a healer too,” I tell him. He nods.
“I could use a top up too,” Reef adds, sounding pained and exhausted. “Come, let’s go.”
Together the three of us navigate our way through the rubble of our homeland, the once majestic city of Aerwyna now reduced to a mere shadow of its former glory. The streets that were once bustling with life and energy now lie desolate and silent, save for the occasional gust of wind that carries the whispers of a bygone era.
As we thread our way through the ruins, a persistent unease coils in the pit of my stomach. The assault on Aerwyna unfolds before us, a brutal onslaught that has left behind a landscape of devastation that appears insurmountable. Who could harbour such malevolence to unleash this havoc upon our sanctuary?
Reef guides us along the familiar paths, his countenance a mask of resolve despite the weariness etched deep into his features. His magic had undoubtedly preserved Bhodi’s life, but at what toll to his own well-being?
I silently vow to ensure he receives the rest and care he deserves once safety is secured.
Eventually, we arrive at the palace walls – a sanctum, a fortress surrounding the beating heart of Aerwyna – near to where our leaders convene to guide our community. The colossal doors stand closed, and there are no sentries on guard to allow us access.
Reef hammers on the door and a moment later they open, emitting an eerie creak that pierces the prevailing silence like a haunting melody.
Stepping inside, a sense of foreboding descends upon me, growing more palpable with each footfall into the inner courtyard.
It’s deserted.
My brothers and I exchange nervous glances.
“Shall we head for the council chamber instead?” I ask.
Reef nods and leads the way. With the prof gone, Bhodi and I automatically look to him to lead us. He was always the prof’s second, and now he’s got impossible shoes to fill.
The palace grounds are immaculate. No sign of the devastation from outside has touched the walls within. It’s a relief. But a worry too. Where is everyone? I hope the people of Aerwyna were able to find sanctuary within the keep.
Outside the palace walls, the devastation greets us once more, somehow more shocking and stark. We make our way to the nearby council chamber, quietly and swiftly.
Inside the council chamber, it’s a relief to finally see people. It offers me a sliver of hope. Maybe we can get some help and find out what has happened here.
The Elders are gathered around a table, their faces etched with grief and desolation, as they study maps and scrolls splayed out before them. Upon noticing our arrival, their expressions shift from resignation, to a flicker of hope mingled with disbelief.
“You have returned,” Elder Mirra whispers softly. “We had feared the worst when Aerwyna fell.”
“What happened?” Reef demands.
Next to me, Bhodi sways on his feet. “Can we get a healer?” I ask, indicating Bhodi’s wound.
Elder Mirra nods, his gaze softening as he gestures for a healer to approach us. The healer, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes, hurries over and begins inspecting Bhodi with gentle hands. I can see the relief in Bhodi’s eyes as the healer starts her ministrations, a sense of calm washing over him.
Meanwhile, Reef presses the Elders for answers, his voice edged with urgency. “What happened here? Who attacked Aerwyna?”
Elder Mirra sighs heavily. “It was the Shadow Legion,” he says grimly, and my brows raise.
My fists clench at the mention of the Shadow Legion, a notorious group known for their brutality and thirst for power, but when we left for our mission, they were a small band of rebels who supported the Shikari. They should have been easily squashed. What happened? Now their devastation stands as a stark reality before us, their destructive might undeniable.
“They came in the dead of night,’ one of the other Elders explains. I can’t recall his name but his face feels vaguely familiar. “A relentless army led by a dark sorcerer. They caught us unaware, overwhelming our defenses and laying waste to our city. The casualties were vast, and I fear Aerwyna may never recover from the loss.”
“We’ve managed to fend them off for now,” Elder Mirra continues, determined. “But they will not rest until Aerwyna is under their control. We must prepare for battle.”
Reef’s jaw tightens with resolve as he absorbs this information. “We will not let them take Aerwyna,” he declares fiercely. “We will fight to protect our home, our people.”
The other Elders nod in agreement, their faces set in grim determination.
“We have reason to believe they’re attempting to bring down our wards, with the goal of letting the Shikari in. Aerwyna will fall completely if that happens.’ The desperation in his voice makes my pulse race. My mouth turns dry as uncertainty and fear war within me once more. “Please tell me you’ve completed your mission and the wards are fortified once more.”