The forest's magical energy grew more intense with every step they took. As they approached the center of the clearing, they saw it: the Starpetal. It stood alone, a radiant flower with petals of light. Its beauty is mesmerizing.
"This is it," Essence whispered, his voice filled with awe. "The Starpetal."
The alliance watched in silence as Essence approached the flower. He extended his hand, fingers trembling, and gently plucked the Bloom from its stem. The moment he did, the entire grove seemed to shudder.
A low rumble echoed through the clearing, growing louder by the second. The ground beneath their feet began to tremble, and the glowing symbols on the ground flickered and dimmed. The grove was replaced by an overwhelming sense of danger.
"What's happening!?" Alon shouted over the rising noise.
Essence's face was pale, his eyes wide with realization. "The grove is collapsing! We need to get out of here, now!"
Volt took the lead, urging the others to follow as the ground continued to shake violently. They sprinted toward the entrance, the path they had come from now barely recognizable due to the dust and rubble. Trees swayed dangerously, and vines writhed like serpents, threatening to trip them.
"We have to move faster!" Isabella cried, her voice strained with urgency. "The whole place is coming down!"
They pushed forward, dodging falling branches and leaping over cracks that appeared in the ground. The the entire place has turned into a death trap, and every second counted. As they neared the grove's entrance, a massive tree toppled in front of them, blocking their path.
"Go around it!" Essence shouted, leading them in a detour. The air was thick with dust and the scent of crushed plants makes it hard to breathe. They could hear the earth groaning as if it was angry.
Suddenly, a large boulder dislodged from the cliffs above, crashing down toward them. Isabella raised her hands and summoned her torrent of energy. A barrier formed above them, deflecting the boulder and sending it tumbling to the side.
"Keep moving!" she urged, her face glistening with sweat.
They broke into a run again, their hearts pounding in their chests. More debris fell around them, and the ground continued to quake.
"Stick together!" Volt called out, his voice barely audible over the roar of the destruction around them. "We can make it!"
They pushed through the chaos, their eyes fixed on the light that marked the edge of the forest. Every step was a struggle. A particularly violent tremor sent a shower of rocks cascading down from a nearby cliff. Isabella once again summoned her torrent energy, forming a protective shield around the group. The rocks bounced harmlessly off the barrier, but maintaining it was taking a toll on her.
"Hurry!" she urged, her voice strained. "I can't hold this for long!"
With a burst of speed, they broke through the treeline and stumbled into the open, just as a deafening crash echoed behind them. They turned to see the grove collapsing in on itself, the ground swallowing up trees and rocks in a violent manner.
Essence fell to his knees, still clutching the Starpetal. "We made it," he breathed.
Isabella lowered her hands, letting the barrier dissipate. She was panting heavily. "That was too close," she said, her voice sounding exhausted.
Volt helped her to her feet.
Alon looked back at the now ruined grove. "I can't believe it... that place was incredible. And now it's gone."
Essence stood up, holding the Starpetal out for them to see. "The grove was tied to the Starpetal. Once it was removed, the balance was disrupted. But we have what we came for."
"No, you have what we came for," Volt growled, his voice crackling with the sound of electricity as he marched toward the craftmaster. White sparks danced along his arms. He grabbed Essence by his coat, lifting him off the ground. "You knew that the grove would collapse, didn't you? And you didn't tell any of us!"
Before he could respond, Volt released him, throwing Essence aside. "Risk my life and my friends' lives again, and I'll make sure you're not getting up."
"Let's not waste any more time," Volt said. "We need to get back and create that Etherlink. The Syndicates are not going to wait for us."
YOU ARE READING
Alon
FantasyI always had these made-up characters in my head for the longest time. I can't remember all of them, but they are buried deep in my thoughts. At some times in a day, faces, and details of the characters I imagined would pop in my head, only for them...
