CHAPTER 92: HELP IS HERE

A man in a white robe trimmed with golden thread walks down a stone corridor lined with massive windows on both sides. His steps are calm and steady. In his right hand, he’s holding a phone. The screen shows he’s calling Maeve Collins.

"Why is this child not answering?" he mutters under his breath. He looks to be in his late fifties or early sixties. Calling a twenty-six-year-old a "child" is not an exaggeration for him.

When Maeve still doesn’t answer, he sighs and continues walking.

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"Harrison, I believe I made myself very clear. Leave the Montroses alone."

Baroness Voss glares coldly at Chief Stille.

"It has not even been twenty-four hours since I said it, and you already went behind my back to cause trouble for them? I do not appreciate it when people assume I am stupid."

Mana surges from her, compressing the air around Chief Stille and choking him instantly. The pressure clamps around his neck. His eyes bulge red and wet, and he claws at his throat even though there is nothing to grab.

He wheezes soundlessly, unable to pull in a single breath.

The Baroness watches him calmly while sipping her tea, as if this were routine.

A moment later, the pressure eases. Chief Stille collapses forward slightly, gasping and coughing, dragging in air like he’s been drowning. He looks at the Baroness with terrified eyes.

The Baroness sets her teacup gently on its saucer.

"This is your final warning. Leave the Montroses alone."

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"Fyra, veniar. Kelsu arcten. Ignar."

Maeve doesn’t have time to think. She repeats the strange whispered words.

"Fyra, veniar. Kelsu arcten. Ignar. Fyraball!"

She yells the last word with pure desperation.

Her fireballs erupt hotter, bigger, and in far greater numbers. They double, if not triple, bursting from her hands like miniature suns. Each one slams into the haelions, burning through flesh and sending them screeching in pain as they stagger back, breaking their formation.

The dark area becomes bright, illuminated by the burning bodies of the haelions.

Julian’s mouth hangs open. His rifle dips toward the ground because he no longer has the strength to keep it raised. His eyes are wide in shock.

"You can do that?! Why didn’t you do it earlier?!" He’s half chuckling, half mad.

"I didn’t know how to do that..." Maeve whispers, completely stunned.

Her knees buckle and she slumps to the ground, completely out of strength.

Both of them sit there, breathing hard, watching the burning bodies of the haelions.

But they’re not out of danger yet. The remaining haelions stare at them with a mix of fear and hatred.

And they don’t retreat.

They ready themselves to attack again, as if realizing their prey is far more dangerous than expected.

Julian watches all of this with a mix of fascination and dread.

He shakes his head. "This is crazy! What do they want?! Why aren’t you retreating?! So many of your friends already died!" he yells, frustrated and exhausted.

Without looking at Maeve, he mutters, "I can’t move anymore. You deal with them. Use your fireballs."

Maeve lets out a sarcastic little chuckle. "Right."

Still not looking at him, she adds, "I told you, I didn’t know how to do that. That last one... I just repeated those words."

"Repeated?"

"Yeah. They were whispered to me."

Julian’s head snaps toward her. "Whispered to you?! What does that even mean?!"

"Exactly that. Whispered to me." Maeve shrugs.

"Do you still remember the words?"

"I think so."

"Well, then, do it again! Repeat them!"

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Aldriana exhales and opens her eyes.

Arthur notices immediately. "What? Why are you exhaling?"

He sounds like a worried mother picking apart every detail, terrified he’ll miss something crucial.

Aldriana looks at him. "I’ve found Julian. He’s surrounded by a herd of horse-like haelions. And he’s not alone."

"Not alone?" Liam is shocked. "That means there’s another survivor. That’s great news!"

"These haelions," Arthur says, gripping his sword tighter, "are they vicious? Are they powerful? Give us intel."

"There are more than twenty of them. They’re larger than any regular horse I’ve seen. Their hide is thick. But what’s dangerous about them is that they move like soldiers under orders."

"What? Soldiers? If there are soldiers, then there must be commanders too." Liam blurts out.

"Not good. Yet another anomaly." Arthur’s frustration is clear. "What the hell is this dungeon, exactly?"

He looks back at Aldriana. "How long until we’re there?"

"Five minutes tops. I can’t fly faster than this. Those haelions will notice. They are very sensitive to sound. I can’t cover up the sound of wind. And guys, be ready. Julian and the woman, are not in good shape."

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"I can’t do it again. I have no more mana left." Maeve is half sobbing. She’s truly at the end of her rope. Exhausted, drained, that last fireball took everything out of her.

Julian looks at her and sighs. He gives her a gentle smile.

"It’s okay, Maeve. Just sit and rest." He pushes himself up slowly. "I’ll handle the rest."

Maeve grabs his wrist. "I’m really sorry I can’t be more useful. But Julian... hang in there just a few more minutes. I’m sure help is on the way."

"Yeah? Why do you say that?" He doesn’t believe her, but he won’t crush what little hope she has left.

"Because whoever whispered those words to me can’t be far."

"Okay, Maeve. I’ll hold on a few more minutes."

Julian is clearly indulging her. He doesn’t believe anyone is coming. The gate is locked. No one can enter until they’re dead.

He lifts his rifle back into position. His arms are sore. The weapon feels heavier than ever. The barrel trembles. He can’t hold it steady anymore.

He laughs at himself. So this is how I’m going to die. Trembling like a leaf.

He takes a long breath and tries to steady himself. He looks through the scope and fires.

The haelions charge. The ground shakes beneath their hooves. Julian manages to kill three before a fourth leaps straight toward him, about to crush his skull.

He releases the rifle and closes his eyes. I’m sorry, Maeve. I’m going first.

But nothing hits him. No pain. No hooves slamming into his face.

Instead, he hears screeching.

"Oh my god!" Maeve’s voice cracks with shock.

Julian snaps his eyes open, then squeezes them shut again because the brightness stings. Slowly, he opens them again. It’s still the same.

The entire area is glowing. Blinding. As if the sun has risen right on top of them.

The haelions, creatures of darkness, screech in agony. The "sun" is unbearable to them, far worse than being stabbed.

Their formation breaks instantly. They panic, running around like headless chickens.

Julian quickly helps Maeve stand.

"What’s going on? Do you see anything?"

"Help. This is the help. They’re here!" Maeve says excitedly, pulling Julian aside so the panicking haelions won’t trample them.

Their eyes adjust to the brightness. They see two large clear bubbles flying above the haelions. When the bubbles burst, two men drop out.

"Arthur! Liam!" Julian yells, overwhelmed with relief. Help is really here.

Julian and Maeve watch as the two move with deadly efficiency, striking and killing the haelions. Their skills are far above his.

In less than ten minutes, twenty or so haelions lie dead on the ground.

Soon, Liam and Arthur are standing among the bodies. They keep looking around, weapons in hand, checking if any haelion is still alive. When they find none, Arthur snaps his attention to Julian and bolts toward him.

"Julian!" He grabs him and hugs him tight. "Thank god, you’re safe!" He doesn’t let go. He doesn’t even loosen his grip.

Julian laughs like a madman and hugs him back just as hard.

"I’m not dreaming, am I? You’re really here?" He pats Arthur’s back, then looks at Maeve. "I’m not dreaming, right? You see him too, right?"

Maeve’s tears stream down her face. She nods like a woodpecker. "Yes," she says between sobs. "I see him too."

"And him." She points at Liam.

Liam walks toward them, tears in his eyes as he watches Arthur hug Julian like he’ll never let go.

He needs to distract himself, so he turns to Maeve.

"Miss, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"

Maeve’s quiet sobs instantly turn into full-on wails. She’s crying openly like a baby. All her adrenaline is gone. All that’s left is raw relief.

"Miss?! Why are you crying harder?" Liam panics.

Maeve suddenly remembers how sensitive haelions are to sound. She tries to stop crying, but she can’t. Her wails turn into loud hiccups instead.

"Oh Miss... hey. It’s okay."

Julian approaches her and gently pats her back.

Maeve feels another warm human presence and immediately throws her arms around Liam, hugging him tight and sobbing into his chest.

Liam freezes. Arms awkwardly open, refusing to hug her back because:

Arthur is right there, Julian is right there, and he wants zero complications

But he lets her cry as much as she needs.

Julian only laughs when he sees this. He’s still enjoying Arthur’s hug.