“Cedric, how many faeries are left in this tribe?”
Broken asked as Polly flew away from the volcano, the oppressive heat beginning to fade as cooler air greeted them.
“There are about 350 faeries left, Mr. Broken,” Cedric replied. He sighed deeply. “If this curse continues, we’ll likely all be extinct within the next thirty to fifty years.”
Broken glanced at Cedric’s and Cecilia’s stats, noticing their levels were only 75 and 77. It became clear that, among the faeries, only Tribe Leader Elaine, Knight Commander Morel, and the four Knights held any significant power. Most of the faerie residents were below level 100, with only a small fraction above that.
As they descended back to the ground, preparing for the journey home, the calm atmosphere was suddenly shattered. Four faeries approached from different directions, closing in on them.
“Those are the Knights! What are they doing here?” Cedric exclaimed.
“Hey there! What brings you all here? On patrol?” Cedric shouted, waving his arms to greet them.
But the Knights didn’t respond in kind. Instead, they shot toward them at alarming speed. “Cedric, I think they’re here with bad intentions!” Broken shouted. He hurriedly lifted Cedric and Cecilia onto Polly’s back, but it was too late. Out of the corner of his eye, Broken saw glowing orbs of magic forming, whirling and crackling as they hurtled toward them.
The magic orbs tore through the air like streaks of lightning. Before Broken could react, they collided with Cedric and Cecilia.
Cedric and Cecilia were knocked backward, their bodies flung through the air as if weightless, hurtling toward the Faery Mage Knight.
But instead of the expected impact, the magical orbs surrounding them didn’t harm them. Instead, the magic swirled and twisted, solidifying into a transparent barrier that encased them both in a clear cylinder. The wall of magic locked them in place, trapping them inside, unable to move.
Ivana quickly moved to stand beside Broken.
One of the Knights stepped forward.
“Don’t think you are welcome here. Don’t believe for a second you can do whatever you please.”
The Knight’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t belong here. Stop acting so sympathetic to our issues and stay out of matters beyond your understanding. You have no idea of the dangers you’re meddling with.”
“How can I trust anyone here when even the knights are still looking for ways to cause trouble for me?” Broken snapped, his frustration clear in his voice.
Ivana, standing close to him, whispered, “What are they trying to achieve by doing this, Broken?”
Broken’s eyes stayed locked on the Knights. “I think they’re simply too ignorant to realize how foolish this is.”
The Faery Swordsman Knight stepped forward, his eyes locked on Broken. “I’m sure you know why we came here, don’t you?”
“To die?” Broken replied, his tone casual.
His words hit a nerve, and the irritation was clear on the faces of the four Knights.
“You show up here, acting like you’re something special, giving us false hope. Do you really think you can defeat Lady Elaine in her Eternal Flame form?” one of the Knights spat.
Broken’s gaze hardened. “Let me make something clear,” he said. “The decision to bring me here wasn’t mine-it was your leader’s. If you’re unhappy with it, take it up with Elaine, not me.”
The Faery Knight bristled. “We don’t need Lady Elaine’s permission when the fate of the entire tribe is at stake!”
Broken clicked his tongue in frustration. “What kind of stupid nonsense are they spouting now,” he muttered under his breath, clearly annoyed.
He hated situations like this-needless confrontations that only wasted time. Broken wasn’t one to linger if it didn’t matter to him, but if forced, he’d retaliate hard. And right now, the Knights were pushing him dangerously close to that edge.
“Damn!” Broken sighed, his frustration boiling over. “I try to help them, but they’re still testing me?”
Ivana, standing quietly beside him, spoke softly. “Broken… I don’t think this is an order from Lady Elaine. Maybe it’s better if we try talking to them first, see if we can calm things down before this gets out of hand.”
“I’m not good at talking, Ivana,” Broken muttered, still irritated by the situation. Despite his annoyance, Broken assessed the four Knights’ levels. They were all around level 210-a formidable challenge, especially if he had to face them all at once.
The odds weren’t in his favor, but with Ivana by his side, he might still have a chance. Even so, the advantage of fighting on their home turf, where they knew the terrain, could complicate things further.
One of the knights suddenly called out. “Broken! The four of us challenge you to a duel of life and death. If you’re truly worthy of the task you’ve been given, then let our lives be the price of your victory.”
“You’re so stupid!” Broken retorted, his patience running thin.
Ivana tugged gently on his arm. “Broken… maybe I can help talk to them?” she asked quietly. Broken took a deep breath and gave her a slow nod. “Go ahead, Ivana. But listen-I’m no pushover. If they push this, I’ll fight them,” he warned.
Ivana stepped forward, addressing the knights with calm determination. “Everyone… I understand you have doubts about his capabilities, but consider the trust Lady Elaine has placed in him. She’s worked hard to build this faith in Broken. Wouldn’t it disappoint her if you disregarded that trust?”
One of the knights replied, “We understand, and we’re fully aware of the risks. That’s why we cannot stand by and remain silent.”
They continued, their voice resolute. “Lady Elaine, in her Eternal Flame form, is stronger than all of us combined. If Broken fails to defeat her, every faerie in this tribe will be at risk. Do you comprehend the gravity of this situation?”
“But you’re doing this without Lady Elaine’s order,” Ivana countered. “Do you really believe this is something you should do without her approval?”
“We’ve already explained our reasons,” the knight shot back.
Ivana knew Broken well-he was not the type to back down once he set his mind on something. And even though the knights’ threats were clear, she was certain that Broken
would stand his ground. But if this confrontation escalated into a fight, it would only damage their fragile relationship with the faeries.
She turned to him, her voice soft but resigned. “Broken… I will support whatever decision you
make.”
“Are you sure this is the right course of action, Ivana?”
“I’m not certain,” she admitted. “But I’m trying to believe in this approach.”
Broken’s expression hardened. “People like them won’t back down, no matter how convincing our arguments are. The only way this ends is by fighting, until one of us is destroyed,” he said, his tone resolute.
This turn of events was completely unexpected for Broken. He could already sense that this was going to end badly. But it was their own fault. The destruction that would follow was a result of their own foolishness. And he wasn’t the type to take such things lightly.
“Ivana, we’ll do it like we always do,” he said.
“I’m used to this by now,” she replied.