Eclipsed

Chapter 79

As Ren and Sayori cut through the sky, heading toward Yoruzen, a strange weight in the air made Ren uneasy. The soft breeze seemed to amplify the tension. He glanced over at Sayori, who was just as still as he was, her gaze fixed ahead, eyes scanning the distance.

"You felt that?" Ren's voice was shaky, as if he couldn't quite pinpoint what felt wrong.

Sayori nodded slightly, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Yes... something's not right." Her voice was low, almost like a whisper to herself.

Ren didn't have time to dwell on it when a dark shape appeared in the distance. It grew larger and larger, something massive, cutting through the air with terrifying speed. Ren's pulse quickened as the silhouette became clearer.

"Wait—No..." His heart skipped a beat as the massive dragon came into focus. "Is that Tiberon?"

Sayori squinted, her confusion mirroring his. "Tiberon...? But why is it heading this way?"

Ren's hand tightened around the reins of Lyra. "It's Alric's dragon... What the hell is it doing here, out in the middle of nowhere?"

Before Ren could process further, a loud voice rang out, breaking the tense silence like thunder.

"TURN BACK NOW!" Alric's voice, hoarse and desperate, echoed through the sky. The urgency was palpable.

Sayori's eyes went wide. "What?!" She turned her head toward Ren, her voice sharp with disbelief. "Why?"

Ren's words followed quickly, the confusion in his voice unmistakable. "Alric, what's going on? Why are you telling us to turn back?"

Alric, still panting hard as he flew beside them, locked eyes with Ren. His expression was stricken, as if something terrible had unfolded before him. "I can't explain it all right now, but you can't go there... It's too dangerous."

Ren felt a chill run down his spine. His thoughts raced. "Alright... alright," he muttered, trying to make sense of Alric's warning. "But why...?"

Sayori, still hesitant, but trusting Alric's urgency, whipped Lyra around in a quick motion. The dragons flew side by side, Tiberon's immense wings brushing the air with every beat as they turned away from their original course.

Alric glanced at Ren and Sayori, his breath still coming in short gasps. "What the hell..." he muttered under his breath.

Ren, equally stunned, let out a strained laugh. "Yeah, I was shocked too, believe me."

Alric's gaze dropped as his wings cut through the air, his voice barely audible. "Today... today might be the weirdest and most dreaded day I've ever had."

The silence between them was thick, the weight of the day pressing down. Ren stared into the distance, trying to piece everything together. "What the hell is going on, Alric?" His voice was heavy with both frustration and concern.

Alric, still looking down, finally seemed to regain some of his composure. He looked up, his face pale but resolute. "We lost."

Ren's stomach dropped at the words. "Lost? What do you mean? Where's Magnus?" His mind raced. Magnus, Alric's mentor, the one who had always been there to guide them through the toughest situations.

Alric's face twisted with grief, his eyes haunted. "He's dead... Yoruzen killed him. Damned bastard..." Alric's voice cracked as the words left his lips, his usually stoic demeanor showing cracks in the face of such a loss. "He keeps defying logic—every time we think we've figured him out, he surprises us. Like there's no damn limit to his power."

Sayori, her voice soft but firm, looked to Ren. "The only person capable of killing him... is you, Ren."

Ren's head snapped toward her, eyes wide with disbelief. "What? Me?" His voice was a mix of confusion and fear. "How can you say that? I'm not even close to strong enough. Alric is stronger than I am, and he couldn't even scratch him." He paused, the weight of the situation sinking in. "And Magnus, who trained you, Alric... is dead." He shook his head, as if trying to shake off the horror. "There's no way anyone stands a chance against Yoruzen."