The Legends of Anigma: Ethiel Archer | ONC 2023

PART XXXIV

"Give us back our friend!!" Tifa shot up to her feet and pointed her staff at the grinning bob of light.

A condensed surge of fierce fire rocketed out of her staff.

The beam exploded the bob, making it burst. Undulating sheets of bright blood showered along with a listless Red Wings.

The evil ecstasy of the forest came to an abrupt halt; the laughter stopped and chimeras hooted in discontent. They swarmed towards him, their hands raised desperately to catch; the devastating display wasn't enough for them.

Tifa hurriedly swished her staff and cast a second spell.

In mid-air, Red Wings was paused, his limp neck and wings hanging.

Unrest swelled in the chimera horde causing it to caterwaul. Resilient, they started piling over one another forming mountains.

There was no limit to there avaricious efforts.

Carefully and slowly, Tifa levitated him to herself.

The mountains of chimeras crumbled to the ground. They followed his floating body, scrambling and screaming all the way back.

Repelled by the pendant's light, they could've done nothing more than encircle Ethiel's party again.

Their focus was on Red Wings as Tifa placed him gently in front of herself.

Ethiel found them even more wicked than before; there was something in the way they breathed, in their grossly gleeful gaze, in the shuffling of their feet – maybe it was their incomplete satisfaction, their eagerness for witnessing further torment.

"Red Wings!!" Tifa sat down and cradled his head in her arms.

Same as with Maya, Red Wings was in great pain, but there was no physical wound. His body was covered in a bloody liquid and showed no movement – only his chest was thumping intensely. Drool trickled down his agape beak as he puffed, cold fog forming in each breath. The severity of his sufferance reflected in the exhaustion weighing heavy in his eyes — he was too tired to even frown or grimace. His roughly ruffled feather were fuming filaments of white.

"Oh my God! He is so cold!" She brushed off the blood.

"Do you think you can manage a fire spell mild enough to provide warmth?" Lord Veer asked, not taking his eyes off the horde.

"I think I can."

She picked her staff and tapped Red Wings' chest with its magic tip.

From that point, a dim ball of orange light expanded and enclosed him.

"This should help?"

There was little movement. His body twitched. The thumping and puffing started to ease down.

"He seems to be getting better." Tifa informed.

"Good. But he is not in a good condition. You will have to carry him." Lord Veer instructed, continuously smashing away the nearing chimeras. "Can you?"

She nodded, holding Red Wings closer and tighter with one hand while her other hand held up her glowing staff.

"Thanks for being strong, Tifa. Ethiel, we cannot be here for too long. We have to keep moving."

"Right," Ethiel inhaled deeply.

The unexpected, unpeaceful, and unpleasant break was over.

He struggled back to his weight; Maya was starting to feel heavy, but he had to carry her.

And so continued their trek through the terrorising, the terrifying, and the troubling.

Forevermore, the forest's malice metamorphosed, embodying more horror and hideosity that incited dismal dread and despondency. Whatever was happening around, Ethiel didn't want to know. The voices were enough to tell how sickening the view was.