Guardians of Anteverum City

Chapter Sixteen: The Worst Losses

“Periorísei! Siren’s song, find all but our own!” a familiar voice chanted loudly from above. I stopped cold and looked up to see a carpet blowing through the sky.

  Flying… carpet…?

A gust of wind blew heavily towards us, revealing what was happening.

  “No way,” I gasped. My suspicions were confirmed. A red haze filled the sky, sealing everyone in a restriction. The sky began to swirl at the topmost point and a female voice began to sing the most horrific melody. The Knights around me began to fall to the ground and writhe in pain, screaming and clawing at the ears.

  “There she is! Lyraaaaa!” I didn’t need to look to tell me whose voice that was.

  “Ottie?!” I gaped. As the carpet eased towards the ground, I saw Ottie, Seira, and Ethan wearing relieved expressions. Seira must have been controlling the carpet by using her wind ability. The chanting voice had to be one of Ethan’s spells.

  “What the heck are you guys doing here? You have to get away as fast as you can,” I said hurriedly. Ethan began to laugh. “What?”

  “The cavalry has arrived, and we’re not going anywhere!” Ottie said with her usual flourish. I couldn’t help but smile at the fact that Ottie could remain so jovial while on a battlefield. “Faye sent us. Something’s wrong with Demetria,” she continued worriedly.

  “We don’t have time to talk. Siren’s song is fairly weak and only lasts a minute,” Ethan warned as he turned to Seira and exchanged a nod.

  “This spell?” I asked confusedly.

  “We can talk later,” Seira said, pushing me onto the carpet.

  “What are you– No! I’m not getting on this thing!! THIS ISN’T SAFE!” I screamed as we took off shakily. Seira giggled,       

  “Nothing you’ve been doing is safe,” she teased. We ascended quickly and flew over the battle between the Knights and our group. “They’ll be fine,” she said, noticing me looking down at the battle. “It turns out Ethan is a Secundus. And you know Ottie; if you want to hurt her, you’ll have to catch her first,” she joked. I smiled and hugged her waist more tightly.

  “Thank you, Seira. I’m not exactly happy you guys are here, but if hadn’t come, we would have been in a bind. I’m just concerned because our enemies aren’t anything like the students in Anteverum City. They aren’t here to just for a good-natured fight… it’s hard to explain,” I mumbled. She turned around and smiled.

  “I don’t know what’s happening between your side and the enemies or why you’re even fighting in a battle, but the least I can do is be there for you when you need me, right? That’s what friends are for.” I was stunned and at a loss for words.

  “Seira…” I felt my emotions welling up inside me. I had known Seira for so long but we had only become friends this year. Yet, she was risking her life to help me when she knew nothing about what was happening. She might not even know how much danger she put herself in by coming here.

  “I believe this is your stop,” she said as we descended. “I expect you to explain everything after you win, okay?” she said as we landed slightly below the top of the hill. She turned around and hugged me.

  “Be safe,” I pleaded. She nodded and ascended once more, flying towards the main battle. I took a second to pray for my friends’ safety and then sprinted up the hill. I’m coming, Reese. You had better be alive.

Esmeralda seemed to have arrived just before me and was facing Demetria head on.

  “How dare you betray us,” Esmeralda said venomously to her mother.