LEGENDS OF ELDORIA

CHAPTER 13

Zariel groaned as he slowly regained consciousness. His head was throbbing, and his body felt heavy, weighed down by the ropes that bound him. As his vision cleared, he saw that he and his classmates were tied up in a large, circular formation. The ropes dug into their wrists and ankles, making it difficult to move.

Elara's voice pierced through the haze. "Zar! Zar, are you okay?" Her voice was desperate and full of concern. She was struggling against her bonds, her eyes wide with fear as she looked at Zariel.

Zariel managed to turn his head slightly to see his classmates in the same predicament. The sight was grim. The entire group was tied up tightly, including even the older students like Vikram and Orin. Everyone had visible injuries from the fight, with bruises and cuts scattered across their bodies. The masked attackers had done a thorough job in subduing them.

His eyes scanned the circle of captives, and he noticed Kai lying in front of him. Kai looked even worse than the others—his face was pale, and his eyes were half-open, barely showing any awareness of his surroundings. Zariel's heart sank at the sight.

"Kai!" Zariel called out, trying to reach out to his friend, but there was no response. Kai didn't move or make any sound, his condition clearly critical.

Nearby, Darian was trying to wriggle free from his restraints. "Dammit! We need to get out of here!" he shouted, his voice strained with frustration.

Azim, sitting beside Zariel, was also struggling with his ropes. "We have to find a way out of this!" he said urgently, looking around at the others.

Seraphina and Selene, the twins, were trying to comfort each other despite their pain. "Stay strong," Seraphina said to Selene, her voice trembling.

"Where are the others?" Selene asked, glancing around. "Is everyone here?"

"Everyone's here," Vikram answered from his spot, his voice grim. "But it looks like we're all badly injured."

Alya, who was sitting next to Eira, was trying to keep calm. "We need to stay focused. Panicking won't help us get out."

Caspian, trying to shift into a more comfortable position, added, "We need to figure out what the attackers want and how they plan to use us."

"Look at Kai," Zariel said, his voice laced with concern. "He's in terrible shape. We need to find a way to get him medical attention."

Kai's condition was worsening. His breathing was shallow, and he seemed to be slipping in and out of consciousness. Zariel could see the pain in his friend's face and felt a pang of guilt for not being able to help him sooner.

Thalia, sitting near the edge of the circle, was quietly trying to untie her ropes with a small, hidden tool she had managed to conceal. "I'm working on getting free," she whispered to the others. "But it's going to take some time."

The group fell silent for a moment, the weight of their situation sinking in. Their surroundings were dimly lit, and the area was eerily quiet apart from their muffled voices and the occasional rustle of ropes.

"We need to stay strong and find a way out," Zariel said, trying to sound determined despite his own feelings of helplessness. "If we work together, we can find a way to get free and save Kai."

The group nodded in agreement, each person focusing on their own method of escape while keeping a watchful eye on Kai. Despite their dire circumstances, they all knew that their only chance of survival was to remain united and determined.