XIV

Kiro and Aden skidded to a halt beside them. Reya, barely glancing up from the still form on the ground, gave a curt nod. "She's fainted," she stated, her voice devoid of concern. "A vision, most likely. We should make camp here."

A muscle tightened in Kiro's jaw as he crossed his arms, his posture radiating defiance. "The last I checked, I was the one in command," he said, his tone sharp. "I'll decide when and where we make camp. We have two hours of daylight left, and I don't intend to waste them." He shot the unconscious Kara a dismissive glance before turning to stride away.

"How can you be so heartless?" Lyra shot to her feet, her hands clenched into fists. "We can't move her!"

Before another word could be spoken, shadows detached themselves from the surrounding trees. Figures clad in stark black uniforms materialized around them, their faces obscured by deep cowls, their polished scimitars gleaming in the fading light. They formed a silent, menacing circle, trapping the five travelers in a cage of steel.

"Kiro!" Aden's warning cry cut through the tension as he dropped into a defensive crouch. With a sharp nod, the commander summoned his energy sword, its low hum filling the air. Reya was already on one knee, her hands a blur as they wove intricate glyphs, a shimmering shield of energy expanding to envelop the twins. Lyra, seized by panic, grabbed Kiro's free arm. He glanced down at her, the hard lines of his face softening for just a moment.

"Don't worry," he murmured, his voice low enough for only her to hear. "They're just Arakian lackeys."

"Yeah," Aden added, a confident grin spreading across his face. "Nothing Kiro and I can't handle."

A deep tremor suddenly rocked the forest floor, a resonant boom that jolted Kara from her unconsciousness. The Arakian warriors shifted uneasily but held their formation. Kara scrambled to her feet, her eyes wide with terror, just as a colossal shadow fell over them. A moment later, Kai the dragon slammed into the ground just outside the circle of soldiers, its landing shaking the very trees. Lyra shrieked, but Aden and Kiro were already moving. The Master of the Elements shouted an incantation as Kiro broke through the enemy line, charging straight for the dragon.

Beads of sweat trickled down Reya's temples as she poured more energy into the shield. "Kara, Lyra, stay inside the barrier if you want my protection."

"But they need our help!" Lyra cried, conjuring a sphere of crackling fire in her palm.

"There are too many of them, and the dragon is back!" Kara added, her voice laced with panic.

The soldiers surged forward. Reya shook her head, her focus absolute as the attack began in earnest. One contingent hammered against her shield with their weapons, another began chanting, weaving binding spells around the struggling Kai, while the third clashed with Aden and Kiro. A gasp escaped Reya's lips as she watched the dragon seize Kiro in its maw and hurl him against a distant tree. "No..."

Kara grabbed Reya's shoulders, her grip desperate. "You have to help them! Drop this shield and protect them! Now!"

"NO!" Reya wrenched away, her voice a raw shout. "My mission is to protect you!"

The twins shared a bewildered glance. "Protect us?" Lyra questioned.

"From what?" Kara shot back, already moving toward the shimmering edge of the shield. "I don't know, but we have to do something!" Lyra was already there, launching her fireballs at the nearest soldiers.

"No... I can't let you," Reya gasped, her strength suddenly failing. She felt her own power being siphoned away, pulled through the shield by the Arakian mages, leaving her lungs burning for air. As Lyra's untrained fireballs flew wide, a soldier lunged, grabbing Kara. Reya could only watch, helpless, as her energy drained away. The shield flickered once, twice, and then died. She collapsed to her knees as two of the mages advanced on her. In the chaos, Kai began spewing torrents of flame, forcing Aden and Kiro to retreat into the woods. Lyra, having freed her sister, was now desperately using her own fire to counter the dragon's. All the years of training, all the sacrifice... for this? To die a failure. A single tear traced a path through the grime on her cheek.

Just then, a familiar voice incanted a spell, and Aden burst through the wall of fire, unleashing a powerful torrent of water that drove the beast back. A flicker of hope ignited in Reya's chest, only to be instantly snuffed out. With a shimmer of light, Kai shifted into his human form, a cruel dagger already in his hand. He lunged, tackling Aden to the ground with a savage cry and plunging the blade deep into his chest. A curtain of flame leaped up, obscuring them from view, but Aden's scream of pure agony tore through the air.

Something inside Reya shattered. A new, terrifying power surged through her veins, born of grief and rage. An ancient and immense spell flooded her mind. With a strength she didn't know she possessed, she rose to her feet. "I will not lose him!" Her voice, imbued with raw power, slammed into the mages, throwing them back like rag dolls. She thrust her hands forward, and a colossal tidal wave erupted from the earth, crashing down upon the remaining soldiers and sweeping them away. Kai, caught in the deluge, let out a final scream that was drowned by the roar of the water.

When the wave receded, an eerie silence fell over the clearing. Kara emerged from behind Lyra's sputtering fire shield, her eyes fixed on Reya. "Kara! Look!" Lyra gasped, pointing a trembling finger at her sister's neck. Kara glanced down. On her amulet, the small, etched symbol of the Aqua droplet was glowing with a soft, blue light.

"That means..." Kara breathed, her gaze snapping back to Reya, who was now sprinting toward Aden's still form. Kiro stumbled out from the treeline, leaning heavily against a trunk, his eyes wide as he took in the devastation. Reya was already cradling Aden, her shoulders shaking with sobs.

Her voice trembling, Reya pressed her hands against the grievous wound. "We have to stop the bleeding," she whispered frantically.

"Reya..." Aden wheezed, raising a shaky hand to her cheek. "Don't... ever... forget..." His eyes fluttered and closed.

At that moment, a figure dropped silently from the canopy, landing before the twins. Kara recognized the tall Elf instantly. "It's you!" she exclaimed as he strode purposefully toward Aden.

"Move," the Elf commanded, pushing Reya aside without ceremony. Wary, Kiro stepped forward, his energy sword materializing in his hand. The Elf ignored him, kneeling and placing his hands over Aden. A brilliant light, the same he had once used on Kai, poured from his palms—so bright it forced them all to look away.

When the light faded, Aden was on his feet, looking down at his chest in bewilderment. The Elf, panting from the effort, was now parrying blows from an enraged Kiro.

"Reya, look! It's Aden!" Lyra cried through tears of relief.

Reya turned, and her eyes met his. For a heartbeat, the world seemed to stop. She took a hesitant step toward him, and he closed the distance between them. A wry smirk finally broke through her shock. "Well, well. The great Master of the Elements, nearly taken out by a simple dagger."

A shadow of pain lingered in Aden's eyes, but he managed a weak laugh. "Even a master can slip up."

Reya rolled her eyes and glanced at Kiro and the Elf, who were still locked in combat. She stomped toward them, conjured a sphere of water, and launched it with enough force to knock them both off their feet. They scrambled up, drenched and sputtering.

Planting her fists on her hips, she glared at them. "Do we really have time for this?" she demanded. "Kiro, the Elf just saved Aden's life. Stop trying to kill him so we can get moving."

Kiro let out a low snarl but allowed his weapon to dissipate. Reya then turned to the stranger. "You can come with us, Elf." Without waiting for a reply, she spun on her heel and started down the path.

The others watched her go for a moment before scrambling to follow. "She's always like that," Lyra explained with a small laugh, jogging to catch up. Aden clapped a hand on Kiro's shoulder, pulling him along. With a sigh, Kara turned to the enigmatic Elf. He was watching her, his expression intense. A blush crept up her neck, and she quickly looked away, which earned a faint smile from him.

"W-well," she stammered, forcing an uneasy laugh, "come on, stranger."

"Haken."

She stopped. "What?"

The Elf brushed a damp strand of hair from his face. "My name is Haken. Do not forget it, Fated One." He stepped closer, and before she could react, he pressed a cool, fleeting kiss to her cheek. He then gestured for her to follow the others.

Up ahead, Lyra's excited voice echoed through the trees. "She's the Aqua Mage! Reya, that's so amazing! YAY REYA!"

Kara blushed furiously, but her thoughts were not on Reya's newfound power. They were on Haken, and the unsettling mix of feelings he ignited within her.