3RD POV
Ronan: - Finally out!
Ronan exhaled sharply, as his four massive paws met the forest floor. No more damp cavern walls. No more cold stone tunnels. The beast mage had taken on his colossal wolf form to carry the youngest of the children out on his back. He knelt down gently, letting the frightened kids slide off. As soon as the last child was down, his body shimmered with white light, returning to his mage form.
Airos emerged from the cave's shadow, his arms raised in concentration. Behind him, more children floated through the air, suspended by his wind magic. As he reached the tree line, he let them down one by one.
Ronan: - Airos?
The wind mage gave a short nod, eyes scanning the group.
Airos: - That's everyone.
Ronan: - Good. Let's get them moving. We have to return them to the village before-...
He stopped. Airos wasn't moving. He was staring back at the cave entrance.
Ronan: - What's wrong?
Airos: - ....Remember what the captain told us? If we heard a woman screaming for help.... we were to ignore it?
Ronan nodded slowly.
Ronan: - Yeah....
Airos: - I went deeper into the left tunnel, past the old storeroom. There was a cage....made from Nihil.
Ronan's eyes widened.
Airos: - It was empty.
Ronan: - Empty? But....she couldn't have escaped. Nihil cancels magic, and-....
Airos: - I know.
He reached into his armor and pulled out a small, cracked glass vial. Inside was a faint trace of glowing lime-green liquid. He held it out between his fingers, tilting it. A single drop fell to the earth. The ground hissed, the dirt sizzled, leaving a blackened crater the size of a coin. Ronan audibly gulped.
Ronan: - This is bad. This is really bad.
He ran a hand through his hair. If she had escaped, the bandits would be warned. Selin would lose the element of surprise.
Ronan: - We have to go back! We can't just leave her. If she's discovered-...
Airos: - No.
Airos coldly spoke. Ronan stared at him.
Ronan: - What?
Airos: - Our mission is the children. Nothing else.
Ronan: - But Mrs Selin-...!
Airos: - Trusted us with the kids. She ordered us to get them back safely. And we will not break her trust.
The two locked eyes. All around them, the children clung to one another. Some whimpered. One sniffled. Another tugged on Ronan's sleeve with trembling fingers.
Child: - Mister magic warrior, are the bad people gone?
Ronan looked down. He saw the fear in their eyes. The exhaustion. The bruises. These kids had been through something no one their age should go through. They needed their parents. He exhaled softly in resignation.
Ronan: - Yeah....yeah. They're gone.
Airos: - We'll return them first. Then, we wait for reinforcements to arrive and then we go back.
YOU ARE READING
Adventures Beyond The Void (Season 1)
FantasyNicholas Blackwood is a fifteen year old boy who always thought his life would be deprived of any form of happiness, condemned to be constantly neglected by his parents, bullied by his peers and uncared for by the world. One day his parents decide...
