A Fallen Star: The Punch Of A Woman

26. Lars

The morning sun cast a warm, golden hue over the small lake as Katrina, Feyverk, and Petra stood at the water's edge. They were skipping stones, their laughter echoing in the serene surroundings. Petra, with her power to control rocks, effortlessly won their little competition, her stones gliding across the lake in perfect arcs.

"Alright, you win, Petra," Katrina laughed, tossing a stone that barely made it halfway. "Your power is really unfair in this game."

Petra grinned. "It's all in the technique," she teased, winking at her friends.

As the laughter subsided, Katrina reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, noticing it was dead. "I need to charge this," she said, looking at Petra. "Do you have a charger at your place?"

"Yeah, I do," Petra replied. "My house isn't far from here. Let's head over."

The trio began their walk along a little path leading away from the lake. The air was crisp, filled with the scent of pine and the soft rustle of leaves. Birds chirped overhead, adding a melodious backdrop to their conversation. As they approached an exit from the lake area, they noticed something unusual: bits of metallic debris and trash floating eerily in the air.

"That's strange," Feyverk muttered, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Before they could react, the floating debris suddenly plummeted to the ground with brutal force. Petra quickly raised her hands, summoning her power to form a protective barrier of rocks around them. The metallic pieces smashed against the barrier, falling harmlessly to the ground.

"That was close," Petra said, lowering the barrier and glancing around. "What just happened?"

Just then, a figure emerged from the shadows, stepping onto the path in front of them. He wore a wide-brimmed hat and had a confident smirk on his face. "I see you survived," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Katrina stepped forward, her fists clenched in readiness. "Who are you?"

The boy tipped his hat slightly. "Name's Lars. And my power is making things float. Nice to meet you."

"Where's Laska?" Feyverk demanded, her eyes blazing with determination.

Lars shook his head. "This time, I'm alone."

Without another word, Lars lunged at them, and the battle began. Katrina charged her fists with energy, Feyverk readied her fireworks, and Petra summoned rocks around her. Lars moved swiftly, touching objects and making them float, neutralizing their attacks with ease.

Katrina swung a charged punch at him, but Lars deftly deflected it, sending the energy burst floating harmlessly away. Feyverk's fireworks popped in the air, but Lars made them float off, rendering them ineffective. Petra tried to encase him in rocks, but he simply made them float away with a touch.

"He's good," Feyverk muttered, dodging a floating branch that Lars had sent her way.

Lars then touched the ground with both hands, causing the trio and various objects around them to rise into the air. As they struggled to find their footing in mid-air, Lars sauntered over to Katrina, a smug expression on his face. "I'll be taking that," he said, snatching the souls book from her grasp.

Katrina struggled against the floating force, trying to propel herself towards him. "Give it back!" she shouted, her voice filled with frustration and determination.

Ignoring her, Lars turned away and started walking towards the edge of the clearing, the book clutched in his hand. Just as he was about to disappear, Katrina charged her legs with energy. With a burst of strength, she propelled herself like a torpedo towards the ground, punching it with such force that a shockwave rippled through the clearing. Lars was launched into the air, and the souls book slipped from his grasp.

Katrina's group slowly floated back to the ground, steadying themselves. "Nice move," Feyverk said, picking up the book and handing it back to Katrina.

In another part of the forest, Laska emerged from the shadows, his arms stretching to catch Lars as he fell from the sky. "What happened?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration.

Lars groaned, rubbing his head. "I couldn't get the book. We need more help."

Laska nodded. "We'll call for backup. Camilla's other soldier will join us."

Back in the village, the trio walked to Petra's small house. Inside, it was cozy and filled with the scent of fresh herbs hanging to dry. Petra plugged Katrina's phone into a charger and invited her friends to sit.

"Camilla's soldiers are getting bolder," Petra said, her face serious.

Katrina nodded. "Yeah, and stronger too. Why hasn't Camilla come for us herself?"

Petra sighed, leaning back in her chair. "Camilla is incredibly powerful. Maybe she's waiting for the right moment or... testing us."

Katrina looked curious. "What exactly are Camilla's powers?"

Petra took a deep breath. "Camilla controls fear and darkness. She can create large chains of darkness, wield a scythe made of pure shadow, and teleport through shadows. She can also create her own domain, a place where she has absolute control."

Feyverk shivered slightly. "That sounds... terrifying."

Petra nodded. "It is. When she tried to recruit me, she demonstrated some of her powers. It was enough to make me say no immediately."

Katrina, feeling a mix of fear and determination, looked at her friends. "We need to be prepared. We can't let her or her soldiers win."

The trio spent the rest of the afternoon in Petra's house, discussing strategies and planning their next move. They knew the battles ahead would be challenging, but with each other's support, they felt ready to face whatever Camilla threw at them.

As the sun set, casting a warm glow over the village, Katrina's phone finally buzzed to life. She checked her messages and saw a notification from the modeling agency. She smiled, knowing that despite the chaos around them, life continued. She shared the good news with Feyverk and Petra, and they celebrated with a simple, heartfelt meal.

The bonds between them grew stronger that evening, and as they drifted off to sleep, they knew they were not just allies, but friends united against a common enemy. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but they would face them together, ready to fight for their freedom and their future.