CHAPTER 115: FIGHTS

The chaos inside the party hall erupted faster than anyone could process. Music and laughter that had filled the room just moments ago were replaced by startled cries and panicked gasps.

Students scattered, some gripping friends, others freezing in place, caught in the shock of the intrusion. Of course this would happen during the party, Jae thought, scanning the room.

His eyes went straight to the direction of the door, and his mind snapped instantly to the two people he cared about most in that moment, Elise and Yuna. Neither could face this alone, and he refused to let them.

He turned to Tirel, urgency clear in his tone. "We have to find them," he said, voice low but firm.

Tirel’s eyes flicked around the hall as she processed the sudden onslaught. Great, just what I needed, she thought, her fingers twitching as a spark of fire flared lightly at her palms.

For a heartbeat, doubt held her still. She’d faced danger before, sure, but this rapid, sudden nature of the attack unsettled her. Okay, think... think fast. But before she could act, shadowy figures burst through the doorway, filling the room with their unnatural presence.

The monsters were medium-sized, hunched slightly with limbs elongated unnaturally. Their bodies were coated in a dark, writhing aura that seemed to absorb the ambient light, creating blotches of unnatural shadow that shimmered as they moved.

Their glowing red eyes pierced the dim lantern-lit room like twin blades, scanning, hunting. They moved silently, with a fluid agility that made even the most alert students stumble in surprise. One creature lunged from the side, jaw snapping, eyes locked on a group of students frozen with fear.

Jae didn’t hesitate. The heat of adrenaline coursed through his veins, tightening every muscle, sharpening every sense. His hand gripped the hilt of his dragonflame blade, the fire coating its edge like liquid light. Alright, let’s see what you’ve got, he muttered under his breath.

With a swift step forward, he swung in a precise arc, the blade igniting in bright orange flames that cut through the shadowy form. The creature screeched, collapsing as its dark aura dissipated into faint smoke.

Another lunged at him immediately. Here we go again, he thought, coiling his muscles instinctively. Sparks of energy flared as his blade met flesh, a visceral, hot vibration running up his arm. Yeah, that’s better, he muttered, stepping back to scan for the next threat.

"Watch your right!" Tirel called, sending a flicker of fire at a shadow trying to sneak past Jae’s flank. Her voice was tight, sharp, and instinctive.

"Got it!" Jae replied, spinning to intercept another creature. Can’t let them get cornered, he thought. He caught the edge of a student stumbling to the side and swung the blade, sending sparks into the approaching shadow.

Tirel’s hesitation vanished in an instant. The fear in her eyes sharpened into resolve, and with a deep exhale, she snapped free of doubt.

Flames flickered and danced along her fingertips as she raised her hands, sending bursts of fire to intercept creatures lunging toward students. Come on, don’t make me chase you around the room, she thought, muscles tensing as she pivoted.

Her movements were precise, a mixture of practiced elegance and raw, instinctual force. She shifted her stance, body low, eyes narrowed, balancing offense and protection in every flick of her wrists.

Students screamed and dove aside, but Jae and Tirel moved fluidly between them, clearing a path toward the doorway, toward Elise and Yuna. "Almost there," Jae muttered, scanning the doorway, his eyes catching every shadow that moved unnaturally.

Outside, the cool night air cut sharply against Elise’s skin, a sudden contrast to the oppressive panic inside the hall. She gasped, blinking rapidly as her eyes adjusted. Oh... wow... okay, okay... what the heck are these things?

The quiet of the courtyard gave her only a fleeting moment of reprieve before a shadow detached itself from the darkness. Its glowing red eyes fixed on her, and for a moment, time seemed to slow. Nope. Definitely not friendly.

Before she could move, more of the same creatures surrounded her in a tight circle, their dark forms swaying like ink in water, silently closing the distance. Her stomach flipped. Great, now I’m surrounded.

Startled, Elise’s hand flared with glowing mana, the sensation prickling against her skin and igniting her senses. She drew a deep breath, grounding herself, and raised her palm as threads of shimmering energy unfurled invisibly toward the approaching shadows.

The cool night air whipped around her, tousling her hair and brushing against her sweat-dampened skin. Her heart hammered in her chest, a relentless drumbeat of adrenaline. Okay... i just need to hold them back."

At that moment, Yuna appeared, searching desperately for her brother Sun. Her eyes went wide at the gathering of monsters around Elise. "Elsie?!" she breathed, panic flashing before she shoved it aside.

Without hesitation, she sprinted forward, mana flaring around her hands as she summoned a fierce gust of wind. The air roared like a living thing, scattering the nearest creatures, shoving them back a step, if only briefly.

Leaves and debris swirled violently in the sudden tempest, stinging Elise’s cheeks, and the cold night air cut sharper as the wind expanded outward.

Elise felt the surge of energy from Yuna mingle with her own. A warm tingle ran along her arms as she channeled mana to reinforce Yuna’s power, amplifying the strength of the gusts, a skill she had just learnt. Nice... that’s working.

The threads of her own energy shimmered like liquid light along her forearms, intertwining with the wind mage’s force.

Together, their combined aura felt solid, almost tangible, as if the night itself bent around their presence, protecting them with raw elemental energy

Elise’s eyes flicked around, scanning the creatures.

She spotted a discarded training sword leaning against a nearby fountain and grabbed it in a single swift motion.

Mana coiled around the blade instantly, a glowing line tracing its edge like molten silver. Let’s do this, she muttered, swinging, arcs of energy slicing through the shadows, cutting with precision, each movement fluid yet forceful.

The monsters howled in unnatural tones as she struck, their forms dissolving into smoke-like tendrils that hung briefly in the air before fading.

Yuna adjusted her stance, spinning in a wide arc to send the next wave of creatures hurtling back, her hair whipping violently, eyes sharp and focused.

"Watch your left!" she shouted, coordinating silently with Elise, their movements forming a rhythm, a violent dance of light and shadow, energy and precision. The courtyard echoed with the hiss of fire, the crackle of mana, the thrum of wind, and the shrill cries of the monsters as they recoiled from the combined onslaught.

Despite their skill, the creatures pressed hard. Each step forced the two mages to adjust, bodies twisting, muscles straining, breaths coming in ragged bursts as they parried and attacked.

,

they’re relentless, Elise thought, arms burning with exertion, the mana flowing through her like liquid fire. The sword felt almost alive in her hands, vibrating with energy as it connected with the creatures again and again. Sweat trickled down her temples, stinging her eyes, and her heart pounded in her chest.

Yet, even as exhaustion tugged at her, Elise felt the reassuring presence of Yuna at her side. The wind mage’s eyes met hers briefly, sharing a glance that communicated everything, strength, determination and surprisingly, trust.

Together, they pushed back the encroaching darkness, their attacks precise, coordinated, and relentless.

The monsters’ numbers, though formidable, were met with the synergy of two skilled mages, a barrier of combined will and raw energy that refused to yield.