The Leader's Cry

«Drekarön, Maru, Leo, Sayron—you four, with me.»
Arian’s voice rang out—weary yet steel-edged.
An order permitting no debate.

His gaze swept the others.
«The rest stay here. Rest. Recover strength for the academy.»

For a heartbeat, his eyes lingered on the unconscious protester’s crumpled form.
A sigh escaped him.
«Tend to this boy. Ensure he wakes before we return.»

Then—
The rescue team charged
into the dark wood’s suffocating depths—
silent as shadows hunting light.

In the academy's shadowed tower, William watched the forest unfold within a swirling crystal orb, a ghost of a smile on his lips.
«Arians?..» He murmured. «This year's first-years prove... intriguing. That quintet will make waves.»

The orb spun—
revealing the wounded students below.
«Though...» His fingertip tapped the glass. «Every wave demands its sacrifices.»

Deep in the woods, Arian’s voice cut through the gloom:
«Sayron! You’ve earth affinity, yes?»
He hung back, eyes scanning the rear flank.

The silver-haired elf among them offered a thin smile.
«How... unexpected.» Pale lips curved. «Real talk? Didn’t think you noticed others.»

A faint smile touched Arian’s lips—the kind that could steal hearts. «My master taught me…» His voice trembled with raw honesty, «To know your allies before you know your foes.»

That raw, unguarded tone furrowed every brow in the group—
A jarring reminder: This commander was still a nine-year-old boy.

The moment hung suspended—
Until a wolf’s howl shattered the silence.
«Steady!» Arian called. «That’s Shadwolf—we’re close to Laina.»

They pressed deeper…
Minutes later, they emerged into a clearing drenched in crimson.
There stood the black wolf—
Blood dripping from his elongated muzzle,
gaze locked unblinking on a single point.
The stench of rotting blood hung so thick,
even Maru clamped a hand over his nose.

Sensing his father-figure’s presence, Shadwheel whirled—
hurling himself at Arian with a triumphant roar—
equal parts fierce loyalty and unrestrained joy.

«Hey, pup!» Arian grinned, ruffling the wolf’s fur. «Glad you’re in one piece.»

«Thanks, Papa!» Shadwolf nuzzled him, then eyed the others. «Who’re these guys?»

«I’ll introduce them later,» Arian deflected, scanning the crimson-soaked clearing. «Right now—point me to the target.»

«Follow me!»

The group trailed Shadwolf into the gloom—
Until
Ice-cold fingers pressed between Arian’s shoulder blades.

«Maru?» Arian turned, brow furrowed. «Why stop me?»
The vampire stood frozen, eyes locked on Shadwolf. «Where did you acquire that creature?»

Arian blinked. «Shadwolf? What of him?»

«That spectral wolf—» Maru’s voice dropped to a hiss. «—where did it come from?»

«Traded for him at the black market two winters past. Why?»

Drekarön closed the distance, gaze sharpening.

Maru’s throat clicked audibly. For three heartbeats, he stared at the wolf’s pitch-black fur.
«You jest.»
His finger trembled as he pointed.
«That ‘wolf’ is the rarest being in recorded history—
—and you claim to have bartered for him...
...in a marketplace?!»

«Listen, Maru—I know Shadwolf’s rare.» Arian’s voice turned flint-hard. «But Laina comes first. We’ll dissect this mystery after she’s safe.»

Maru dipped his head, fangs glinting. «As you command, Leader. But this conversation will happen.» He melted back into formation.

The group surged forward—
Drekarön and Leo’s shouts for Laina ricocheting off ancient trees,
hoping for an answer in the echoes.

Then—
Amid a sea of scarlet poppies—
Laina’s lifeless form materialized.

Arian crashed to his knees beside her.
Crimson-slicked, trembling hands
cradled her ghostly-pale face.
He gathered her barely-breathing body against his chest—
A broken guardian clutching shattered light.

«Goddess Armaiti be praised...» Arian breathed, turning to Leo with frantic urgency. «The waterskin! Now!»

After trickling water past Laina’s lips, her eyelids fluttered open—
—then
A bloodcurdling scream tore from her throat.
She recoiled from Arian’s arms, her palm cracking across his cheek.
«How DARE you lay hands on me?!»

Arian’s eyes widened comically, fingers pressed to his stinging skin.
Maru and Drekarön doubled over, howling with laughter—
While Shadwolf’s silent chuckle vibrated through their mental bond.
All eyes drank in Arian’s crimson-flushed humiliation.

«Are you insane?!» Arian spat, cheek still stinging. «What kind of gratitude is this?!»

Laina drew herself up, pale but defiant. «I’ll strike any fool who dares embrace me without consent!»

Arian dragged a hand down his face, muttering bitterly:
«Should’ve listened to that boy I punched... Pointless wounds for this...»

He surged to his feet, vein bulging at his temple, face crimson.
«READY THE RETURN MARCH! NOW!»

«No!» Laina’s voice trembled with exhaustion. «My body aches—we rest!»

«We. Move.»

«We stay.» She clutched her torn robes. «I need recovery—and to ensure you stole nothing!»

Arian’s roar shook the poppies:
«Why would I steal from a wretched girl like you?!»
He loomed over her, shadow swallowing the light.
«FINAL. WORD.»

Arian slumped against a tree trunk, waiting for the recovered girl—fingers pressed to his throbbing cheek.

Drekarön and Maru approached their humiliated leader, shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.
«See, Maru?» Drekarön’s voice boomed, abandoning restraint. «Weakness does breed growth! Our leader’s learning to obey a girl’s whims—»
WHUMP.
Arian’s fist jabbed his ribs.
«—Ow! What was that for?!»

Arian’s knuckle ground into Drekarön’s sternum, eyes blazing:
«I don’t hit girls.»
A venomous pause.
«But you, dragonkin?
You’re no girl.»

"«Guys...» Sayron’s voice held awed hesitation. «Doesn’t reaching the academy feel... storybook?»

Drekarön didn’t break stride. «Truth? Too bone-tired to care. Just get me there.»
He surged toward the tower—
The others shadow-leaping behind.

No wind stirred.
The forest stood corpse-still.
Self-fallen branches littered the path.

The trees’ fury had bled out.
Branches parted like theater curtains—
Revealing a road to Krosalis Tower.
And the new story
looming within its shadowed gates.