Tears of Ashes En-Us

Chapter 13: Whispers in the Forest

In the days that followed, Eldric and Lira deepened their training. Every sword thrust and every well-aimed shot was accompanied by a burning desire to protect each other. However, news about the presence of demonic creatures on the border began to circulate among the adventurers, creating an aura of concern in the guild.

One night, while Eldric and Lyre were on their rest after training, an adventurer rushed into the guild, his expression pale.

"Demons! They are attacking the city! We need all adventurers!" he shouted, causing a ruckus among those present.

Eldric and Lira exchanged a look. Adrenaline took over them. They stood up immediately, ready to act.

"Let's go!" said Eldric, his heart racing as they rushed to the entrance of the guild.

When they reached the city center, the chaos was evident. Demons of various shapes and sizes invaded the streets, spreading terror. The scream of civilians and the clang of weapons echoed through the air, while adventurers fought bravely against the creatures.

"Lira, by my side!" Eldric shouted, holding his sword firmly. They moved as one, attacking demons that threatened the safety of the citizens. With each movement, they felt the connection between them strengthen, as if they were fighting not only for their lives, but for each other's lives.

"Be careful!" Lira screamed, dodging a demon that jumped towards him. She fired an arrow, hitting the target in the chest, and spun around to protect Eldric from another attack.

The battle continued for hours, and exhaustion began to weigh on the adventurers. Eldric saw a group of demons charging towards a frightened child, and the sight made his blood boil.

"No! I won't let them hurt her!" he shouted, running towards the child.

With a precise blow, he cut off the head of the demon that was about to attack the child, narrowly saving him. But as he turned around, Eldric saw Lyre fighting a larger, stronger demon. His heart raced.

"Lira!" he shouted, running to help her. The demon pressed her against a wall, and the fight seemed disloyal.

"I can do it, Eldric!" she cried, but he couldn't stand still.

With a last effort, Eldric attacked the demon from behind, delivering a fatal blow. The monster fell, and Lira turned, panting.

"Thank you," she said, an exhausted smile on her face.

"I couldn't let anything happen to you," Eldric replied, his gaze deep and sincere.

After hours of fighting, the guild finally managed to repel the demons, but the city did not come out unscathed. Many lives were lost, and the feeling of defeat hung in the air. Kael rallied the adventurers, and the weight of the loss was palpable.

"Each of you has shown courage, but we need to learn from it. We can't afford any more weaknesses," he said, his deep voice echoing among those present.

Eldric and Lira walked away from the crowd, feeling the pain of battle and loss. They knew they needed to prepare for what was to come, as the real battle was yet to come.