Ascending Light

Battle

Emery was among the first to reach the far side of the hall and he swooped in to hug Crysen immediately. "My son. My little Light Blossom. I've missed you."

Happy tears streamed down his face as he held on to his father. Some warrior tried to interrupt with a sword but found a slab of stone instead. "I want to go home." The invading rescuers disbursed into other parts of the castle as the forces in the hall dissipated and only Zacesi and his council remained.

"We're going home." He let go and looked around. "First, we have things to deal with. Where's Skye?"

"Here," Skye said from behind Crysen's shoulder.

Emery nodded and handed him a sword from a crystal at his wrist. He then handed Crysen his bladed staff as he addressed Skye. "Go and find the kids. Lead them to safety outside. There are guardians waiting to secure them."

Skye nodded then hesitated before leaning in to kiss Crysen's temple. "Be careful," he murmured and then zoomed away with red cheeks.

Crysen fought a blush of his own but lost whenever he saw his father's eyebrow rise.

Crysen cleared his throat and looked over to where Zacesi was fighting against two fae Crysen didn't recognize. He pointed at him and said, "There's Zacesi." Laurel was backed against a wall and watching in terror.

Emery chuckled and flew off. Crysen looked back to see Skye disappearing out of the hall. He felt a part of his heart go with him and wondered how quickly this bond would take him over completely. He flitted off after his father into the heat of the battle. The fae fighting Zacesi wore battle attire which spoke of royalty from Belanott, so they must have been Skye's brothers. One was a dark haired earth fae with vibrant green wings and soft red eyes, the color of bani flowers with their many petals and thorns. The other was a white haired storm fae with gray eyes and silver wings.

They had Zacesi on the defense and though the dark fae was powerful, he was no match for three guardian-level fighters and a well-trained light fairy. As Crysen's father joined them, Zacesi's struggle became apparent. There was no way he would win a fight alone against three guardians. None of his allies could help him because they were all fighting their own battles. He was done for and he knew it. Darkness surged through the room and everything became black but Crysen reached out and sent out his light like thousands of little sparkle bugs. It wasn't the light of the crystals and the dawn but it was enough to fight by.

Emery Onyx fought with a righteous anger that stemmed from the inability to protect his young one. The Belanott fae dispersed and it was simply he, Crysen, and Zacesi and their weapons clanging against one another. Emery barely let Crysen help in the fighting, but accepted that he was a decent distraction for Zacesi. Having to divide his attention made the dark fae more vulnerable.

Zacesi's weapon seemed to be made of shadow but with all the force of a metal blade. It was sharp too, Crysen saw as it slashed into his father's shoulder. But Emery was not someone to go down easily, or at all, as a matter of principle. He gritted his teeth and slashed at Zacesi in retaliation but unsuccessfully.

There was a large crack of thunder and Crysen's attention wheeled to the storm fae present. He, too, seemed to be looking for the cause of such a loud atmospheric commotion. Skye, Crysen realized, must be fighting somewhere. He grinned in momentary pride and caught the fae's attention. "Skye must be very angry to make that loud clap, don't you think?"

The fae's face showed shock and then melted into beaming pride. "Aye. He inherited our father's temper for sure."

The fighting between Zacesi and Emery had gotten more intense while Crysen's attention was diverted and he was shocked to find them both bloodied with chests heaving from exhaustion. For a moment he was confused and watched them circle each other while the fae in the hall scattered or fought. There were no enemies left that weren't already engaged and whatever there was to do was already being done. Laurel was watching the battle between her bonded and her saviors from behind a pillar. Her brothers fought another fae close by, but it wasn't an intense battle like the one against Zacesi.