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1078 Words
“I found her,” Leon whispered. Esther looked at him, then back at the field.
“How do you know she’s the one we’re looking for?” Esther asked.
Leon didn’t answer right away. He stared at the field, eyes focused on the woman sitting on the grassy field. Their leader told him he would know when the time comes because he has seen it in his vision—a vision of them meeting. And now, he was sure. Even if the leader’s vision was unclear, Leon trusted it. He trusted his instincts.
“I just know,” Leon said firmly. “No, I’m certain,” he added. Then he turned around.
“Let’s gather the others. We’re going to meet the marked one,” he said.
Leon and Esther left the field quickly to make preparations.
Kieran suddenly looked around. He felt something was watching them. His sharp senses caught the faint scent of strangers. He walked away quietly, following the scent—and then saw the guards Jeremiah stationed lying on the ground, asleep.
His eyes darkened. Someone had been here. Someone was watching them.
Kieran clenched his hand into a fist.
“Someone’s after her,” he whispered.
Kieran returned to the group and gently took Celestia’s hand.
“We need to go back,” he said. The others looked at him with confused faces.
“What? Why?” Celestia asked.
“We’re not done yet, Kieran. What are you talking about?” Freya asked.
“The guards… they were all knocked out,” he said, serious and calm. Everyone froze at his words. Adelaide quickly stood up.
“That can’t be,” she said. “I didn’t sense anything strange. And I made sure the barrier would alert me if someone forced their way in,” she added. Adelaide turned to Freya.
“Maybe it’s best to stop the training for today,” she said. Freya nodded.
“Alright, let’s head back,” she said.
They packed their things and carefully carried the unconscious guards with them back to Jeremiah’s house. When they got there, Jeremiah was not around.
The guards were placed on chairs to rest, and the group gathered to talk. Flint looked at Kieran.
“Do you have any idea who could’ve done this?” Flint asked.
“What if… it was the Brotherhood?” Celestia asked, her voice a little shaky. The Brotherhood that her Aunts kept talking about were the only ones she knows that wants her.
Freya and Adelaide shared a quick look and shook their heads.
“No,” Freya said. “If it was them, they wouldn’t leave the guards alive,” she added.
“They’re not the kind to show mercy,” Adelaide added. “They want the end of mankind. And if it was truly them, the barrier would’ve picked up their bloodlust,” she added.
“So… who was it then?” Celestia asked.
No one had the answer yet. But everyone knew—they had to be more careful from now on.
“Leon, are you sure it was the marked one?” Theodore asked. The whole team was already back at the inn, gathered in the private dining room they rented.
“Yes, I’m sure,” Leon answered firmly.
“So, what are we waiting here for?” another voice said. Leon turned to his side. It was Nash—their best human fighter.
“I don’t want to overwhelm her,” Leon said. “If we all show up at once, she might think we’re a threat.”
“I say we should meet her now,” Esther said, her tone serious. “The ones we knocked out earlier… they were after her, right? We should go and tell her we’re on her side,” she added.
“Do you even know where she is?” Theodore asked, folding his arms.
“I do,” Esther replied, raising her hand. “They’re staying with the Governor. I asked a few locals and they told me,” she added.
“That’s my girl,” Dan said proudly as he ruffled Esther’s hair.
“Stop that!” Esther said and glared at him, fixing her hair.
“Alright then. Let’s go,” Leon said, standing up.
The group left the inn and made their way to the Governor’s house. The street was busy as ever—and that’s when they heard people shouting. A loud commotion echoed through the area as they neared the Governor's house.
Then suddenly—lightning struck the Governor’s house. Esther jumped in shock.
“What was that?!” she exclaimed.
Before anyone could answer, a large wolf leapt out of the house and tackled a witch who was getting ready to strike again.
People screamed and ran in every direction, trying to get away from the wolf and the witch fighting in an open space.
Leon’s team immediately stepped back, shocked and unsure if they should step in or wait. Leon narrowed his eyes, watching everything unfold.
“What are we waiting for?” Nash asked. The hooded people were still attacking the house without stopping. Two other wolves came out and joined the fight.
“Let’s go!” Leon shouted.
“That’s what I’ve been saying,” Nash said, shaking his head and running after him.
Before the attack, they were all in the living room.
Suddenly, lightning struck. Celestia screamed in fear, and Freya quickly hugged her to protect her from getting hurt.
Flint cursed.
"Who in the hell did it?!" he yelled, but before anyone could answer, the door was blown open. Hooded people appeared outside.
Kieran immediately turned in his wolf form, and was the first to strike. Yes, he broke the rule of the North, but the enemy did it first. He was going to protect Celestia. He jumped out of the house at full speed. Luckily, when the lightning hit earlier, Adelaide had already cast her barrier around the house. Because of that, no one inside was hurt.
Filled with rage, Kieran bit the attacker closest to him and ripped off his head. Blood sprayed the ground, but Kieran didn’t stop.
As he looked around, Kieran noticed a few people fighting the hooded attackers too—but they weren’t part of their group. That made him pause for a second, confused. He didn’t know who they were.
Still, the fight wasn’t over. Kieran growled and jumped back into the battle.
- Writer
