Serenus - Sarcastic Newcomer Edition

Chapter 12: Fruitless War? More Like Tree-mendous Turnaround!

The sound grew louder and louder, like the universe itself was clearing its throat, as the gigantic beast came into view on the horizon, flapping its metallic wings, and swishing its snake-like tail. Amy opened her eyes and fixed them on the beast, which, as if sensing the dramatic importance of the moment, decided to stare right back at her, spreading its dark shadow across the yard like it was trying to set the mood for a horror film. Its thunderous wings were clearly trying to intimidate her, but Amy, being Amy, stayed as cool as an ice cube in Antarctica, with not even a flicker of fear on her face. I couldn't help but be amazed—was she secretly a superhero?

With all the grace of a boulder crashing into a glass house, the beast landed right in front of her. And who else should be perched on its neck but the ultimate drama queen herself, Esmeray. Her voice, dripping with entitlement, sliced through the silence like a badly rehearsed monologue. "Where is Feray? Is she trying to control my dragon? Feray, come out! Talk to me."

Amy, the picture of calm amid the chaos, responded like she was handling a toddler's tantrum. "Feray is not here. I am the Seren healer now. I called the beast."

Esmeray, clearly not a fan of being upstaged, burst into mocking laughter. "You? The new healer? What, do you think you can just waltz in here and fight me? I am Esmeray, the most powerful wizard in this world. You dare to summon me? You'll pay for your insolence with your life and the life of every Seren. But I'll give you one last chance: hand over the Light vials, and no one has to die. I'll leave this world forever. Refuse, and I'll take them by force and destroy the trees you depend on."

Amy's anger flared up like a matchstick. "We've defeated you before, and we'll do it again. Nobody believes a word you say. Surrender the beast. You can go into the dark, but not with the light." Good one, Amy.

Esmeray's evil laugh could have been pulled straight from a cartoon villain's handbook. "I was hoping you'd say that. Now that you've called me, I'll let you witness the destruction of your land firsthand. Then, I'll take the vials and destroy the Moontree. Your stubbornness will cost you everything." She raised a hand and started muttering, her hand igniting in flames. In a matter of seconds, it grew into a giant fireball that looked like it was straight out of a doomsday prophecy.

There she was, terrifying on her beastly mount, with a fireball in hand and the full intention of turning us all into toast. Fear hit me like a cold shower, and before I knew it, I was screaming as Esmeray turned her fiery hand toward the ground and let the fireball loose.

But then, as if on cue, black silk shot out from every corner of the yard. It zipped toward Esmeray like it had been waiting all day for this moment and wrapped around her, while the fireball, now apparently over its grand entrance, whizzed past Amy and hit the grassy ground, setting it ablaze.

Esmeray shrieked—yes, actually shrieked—as the black silk tried to cocoon her. Suddenly, the beast beneath her went limp like it had just remembered it was supposed to be dramatic too. She tumbled to the ground beside it, all the while struggling like someone who's just realized they're losing an argument.

Then, with the determination of someone trying to salvage their dignity, Esmeray cast another spell. The black silk started to recede, and she stood up slowly, her muttering now a continuous stream as she tried to regain control. She was powerful, no doubt about it, and I began to worry that our Blacklight Bows might end up being about as effective as a water gun in a forest fire.

As if on cue, the second group of Blacklight warriors popped out of the forest, hovering in the air like they were part of some supernatural SWAT team, and started firing their bows at Esmeray. Their faces were twisted with effort, holding their weapons steady as if they were battling a hurricane. But Esmeray, ever the drama queen, simply raised her hands, and a protective bubble appeared around her, making the Blacklight struggle to get through.