Ryker circled his arms around me, not letting go for anything.
The wind twisted through the sculptures and attackers alike, driving the poison away. Masks and weapons littered the ground, the grass now scorched beyond recognition.
The wind drew me toward the exit.
“It’s working,” I said, closing my eyes as the power enveloped me.
I stepped forward, Ryker a steady presence right behind me.
The mist retreated in my wake.
And I felt powerful.
Despite the wind draining me.
Regardless of the exhaustion scratching at my lungs.
I had called upon the winds and they had answered, harder than I could have imagined, just like my own ancestors from generations past.
As soon as I stepped outside, boots crunching the burnt grass, the wind picked up.
It batted my hair around my face and billowed my coat. Ryker kept a firm grip, balancing me against the gale that pushed the mist further and further away, dissipating it.
“Get ready,” I murmured. “Let’s show them what becomes of our enemies.”
Ryker fought against the wind enveloping me to place a chaste kiss on my forehead. It only made my power surge higher.
I opened my arms, letting it carry me further.
Ryker readied his weapons and turned to his soldiers. “On my command, we charge forward!”
I flung my power harder, tendrils twisting the wind as if they were my own hands.
Farther away.
This poison which had already taken so much from me wouldn’t claim anymore lives. I walked in front of the crypt, a blazing blue spear.
The few masked attackers who even dared look my way were quickly disintegrated by the statues.
“Now!” Ryker yelled as the mist finally retreated beyond the tree line, no longer an immediate danger.
The warriors charged, running around me, Ryker leading them.
The current drew me higher, until only the tips of my boots touched the ground.
Between the statues and the warrior’s weapons, the remaining attackers turned into a pile of ash. I watched the small clouds form and fall to the ground, finally extinguished forever.
Perhaps it was a more merciful end than whatever state they were being kept and controlled in.
When the mist had cleared and only dozens of attackers remained, more shadows appeared from the forest.
But these were living, breathing soldiers, forced back onto the battlefield in one last attempt to throttle us.
Up above, Sylvester flew circles in warning.
“The Clans are attacking again,” I said to Ryker, my own voice eerie. Like crystal gnashing against crystal, my power now imbuing everything.
“Let them come, we’ll–” Ryker turned to me. Then he looked up, eyes wide.
