The duo dashed towards the shadows, not wanting to waste anymore time before they could slip upon the rest of the City of Reverie. The shadows followed. Though with their flowing outnumbers, they quickly circled around Aelin and Zale, keeping them from escaping if they even tried. Though Aelin and Zale were now faced back to back, they both glanced at each other. A smirk slowly forming onto their faces.
Aelin quickly grabbed Zale by the arm, tossing her highly up into the air so she wouldn't get caught in the crossfire by accident. Following along, Zale charged up as much of her aura as she could, letting it burst just a little bit. While Zale was in mid-air, Aelin grabbed a hold of the pocket watch clipped onto her tie. Gripping it tightly before the pocket watch began to glow. Releasing its grip on the tie and soon transforming into Aelin's signature weapon. Chronos. Her longsword.
Using her ability of time, she specifically slowed down the movements of the shadows while quickly zooming around the hoard of shadows. Golden and white colored slashes began to form around, marking Aelin's actions before stepping back as her time manipulation faded along with the slash marks.
The shadows roared in agony, though they had lost focus of Zale still in mid-air, Zale quickly took the chance to finish the rest of the shadows off, charging her fist to the ground as her aura bursted. Spreading across the hoard of shadows that had circled around them as it had decimated most of them.
Aelin pulled her glove up once more, turning around to face the scenery of weakened and even dead shadows.
"Do better if you're going to try and outnumber us, alright?" Aelin jokingly said.
Zale chuckled in response, though noticing a shadow quickly began to slither away, she quickly pointed.
"Wait. That shadow!"
"Let's follow it without killing it, we may find an answer to all of these ambushes."
"But your day off—"
"It can be another time… let's go."
Zale sighed before giving her a nod. Though disappointed with their peaceful day being ruined by these brainless shadows, Aelin was right. This could bring an end to the ambush of shadows. Without wanting to waste anymore time, the two quickly followed the injured shadow's retreat.
. . .
Following the shadow's retreat, they were led out of the City of Reverie. Soon, they were being led back into a similar forest where Zale and the Unity were hunting down the dreamwalker last time.
I remember this… could this lead to the real owner of the dreamwalker? Zale thought.
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Aelin's tight grasp of her jacket collar, pulling Zale back as she was quickly dragged into a bush with such ease.
"Yeouch!" Zale yelped, yet her scream was cut off by Aelin's finger, gently placed over her lips.
Holy… she's strong… Zale gulped.
Aelin shifted her head towards the shadow, slowly walking as if it was now going to a stop. Looking around in an act of desperation, it whined softly before continuing to crawl on it's four legs. However, a deep but gentle female voice began to call out. Leaving the two surprised.
"Oh dear… my shadow you have returned harmed and all by yourself…" the voice said.
In the shadows, a hand reached out. Rubbing the injured shadow by the head. Though it's arm was a dark purplish color, it was clear it was a human arm.
"What the.." Zale mumbled under her breath.
"How could you fail to snipe out the girl?" the voice asked.
The shadow cried softly, as if it was explaining what had just happened moments ago in their own form of communication. Though the voice gave a hum, the hand suddenly extended as a figure stepped forward and out of the shadows. A woman. Her skin was heavily pale while her limbs were tinted in purple. Her color palette absolutely fit as the shadows that had recently ambushed the City of Reverie. Her dark purple eyes that glowed slightly in the dark gave off her rather chilling look.
"Another was there, hm?" the woman asked, only for her eyes to then slowly glance at the bush the two were in.
"Shit." Aelin murmured.
"Oh dear spies… come out. I've always been wanting to see you." the woman said.
A few seconds passed, Zale and Aelin refused to get out of their hiding place. Hoping she was just talking about some random animal that interrupted or so…
But suddenly, the woman reached her arm towards the direction of the bush they were in, sending a bright purple bolt as it immediately burned the bush into ashes. But just barely, Zale and Aelin managed to slip away before getting caught by it.
Though the two were separated, Aelin slid into a crouching position as she stared right at the woman while Zale landed on the other side of her. As Zale glanced up, she noticed the shocked look in Aelin's face. Nothing she had seen before from someone like her.
Aelin? She thought.
"You… You look—"
"You dare interrupt my mission…?" the woman asked, interrupting Aelin.
"Who are you…" Zale questioned.
"You'll know me as… Fae. The final person you'll meet!" Fae said, chuckling as her eyes glowed brighter.
Suddenly, the shadows that were formed by the forest began to disappear as though Fae had absorbed and transformed them into energy. Zale's eyes widened as the winds became harsh and foul. Almost as if dust were in her eyes, it became difficult to see.
Aelin stood her ground, summoning her longsword, Chronos, she immediately dashed towards Fae. Not wanting to waste anymore time before she even had the chance to cause further chaos, Aelin lifted Chronos high, swinging it as she roared.
. . .
Atsuji slowly sipped a cup of coffee, though he was on duty with Amore and Xiu-Lan, just the feeling of emptiness because Zale wasn't here felt off. It bothered him the entire day, but knowing he couldn't hold it anymore, he turned to Amore who was cleaning her rapier, Luxten.
"I'm bothered, Amore. They should've returned by now." Atsuji confessed.
"You're always worried about Zale, Atsuji. I'm sure they're just having fun and didn't look at the time." Amore smiled.
"Aelin has a stop watch y'know. I'd thought you'd be able to observe that she watches time very carefully." Atsuji replied.
"Hm… You're right. But those two are strong. I'm sure whatever is happening to them they're putting belt to ass—"
"Hm."
Atsuji stared, his eyes shifting to the window as his expression stood still. Though he knew Aelin and Zale were strong, something felt as if it wouldn't last long.
. . .
"HRAGH!" Zale shouted, swinging her fist towards Fae who had now become a purple silhouetted shadow.
However, part of Fae's shadow grabbed Zale's fist. Catching it like ink as Fae's strength was strong enough to keep her still. Zale's eyes widened as she tried to push pressure onto her fist, desperately trying to push forward. But Zale was slowly met to her knees as it made no progress. Her aura suddenly decreased, as if signalling a break out.
"What's wrong, little girl. Unable to fight?!" Fae leaned closer, her smile widening.
Fae leaned back as her other shadowed hand formed a blade, sharper than any weapon. Though Fae was ready to pierce the blade through Zale, Aelin quickly dashed in. Her hand tightly gripping the sword even though her choice… was much rather different.
"Zale!" Aelin shouted.
Aelin slid in front of Zale, getting into a defensive stance with only her body. Taking the blow of the piercing blade as it hit through her chest. Though Aelin's grip on her sword vanished, Zale's eyes widened as her jaw dropped in shock. Though Aelin began to fall back, Zale quickly and somehow slipped out of the shadow with ease, while even Fae was left rather shocked by Aelin's decision.
"Aelin!" Zale cried.
Though Fae knew she had still won, the surprise on her face faded as it was replaced with the same widening and sickening smile. Aiming her hand towards the two, the sent multiple shadow arrows towards two. Though with quick thinking, Zale quickly held Aelin, zooming away as quickly as she could from the arrows as they barely hit her. But there, she fled with Aelin.
"Cowardly act, I'm assuming? You fools made such a mistake… but now with one of you out the way… I could have possibly more than I imagined!"
Please be okay… Aelin!
TO BE CONTINUED…