Sylvy was first on her feet, blades instantly drawn and flashing as she sprinted toward them. "Raelyn!" Sylvy shouted, but just as she neared, a second tree twisted and burst violently into life. Thick branches lashed out, blocking Sylvy's path. She swung her curved blades fiercely, carving through bark that resisted her strikes stubbornly, splinters flying with every impact.

Benji groaned from where the branch had thrown him, struggling upright with a wince. Dirt streaked his face and tunic, but his eyes snapped toward Raelyn the moment he found his footing. With trembling hands, he unsheathed his father's sword, the steel catching what little light filtered through the oppressive gloom. He sprinted toward her—but two trees surged to life in his path, branches lashing down and forcing him back with fierce, cracking strikes. "Raelyn!" he shouted, slashing desperately at the branches barring his way.

"What in Lerajie's name is happening?" Sylvy cried, frustration tightening her voice as she battled desperately to get closer.

"I don't know!" Raelyn shouted back, barely dodging another whip-like branch as it snapped inches from her face. Around her, more of the warped, skeletal trees began to twist and creak, animated by the same dark magic. "They were dead—then suddenly they attacked!"

Thomrik and Hovan thundered into view, followed closely by Lira and Rakz. The dwarf's face was grim, his warhammer already swinging through the air to meet the first tree trunk with a deafening crack. Splinters exploded from the impact, showering the battlefield like shrapnel.

Hovan sliced cleanly through a thick branch with his sword, only to watch two more immediately surge forward to replace it. "We can't keep this up!" he barked sharply, his voice edged with strain. "They're relentless!"

"Let me burn them!" Lira shouted, eyes wide with alarm as she narrowly dodged a sweeping branch. She quickly summoned magic between her palms. A shimmering spark ignited there, bright and desperate.

"No!" Hovan snapped fiercely, spinning to sever another writhing branch just inches from his face. "The smoke and fire will alert every demon for miles—we'd be overrun!"

"Bloody cursed trees!" Thomrik growled, smashing his warhammer downward again, wood cracking under the thunderous force. "If it moves, cut it down to the stump!"

Raelyn's breath came in frantic bursts, her heart hammering painfully against her ribs as chaos erupted all around her. She drew her sword quickly, gripping the familiar hilt firmly in both hands, remembering Hovan's instruction to avoid fire at all costs. With desperate determination, she slashed at the branches lunging toward her, feeling the jarring vibration in her hands as her blade hacked against the resistant, gnarled wood.

"Raelyn, run!" Benji's voice pierced through the mayhem, his figure barely visible as he battled furiously, sword flashing, his path still blocked by a wall of twisting branches.

"There's nowhere to go!" she shouted back, her voice cracking under the strain. Another branch lashed violently toward her face, narrowly missing her as she stumbled backward, sword arm shaking with exhaustion.

Nearby, Sylvy spun and danced between two trees, blades a furious blur, her teeth gritted in a snarl of frustration as she struggled to make any progress. Rakz darted low across the battlefield, chirping anxiously as he snapped at the tree's roots, trying vainly to slow their advance.

Massah stood at the clearing's edge, trembling violently, his eyes wide and terrified as he watched the battle unfold, frozen by fear, unable to tear his gaze away from Raelyn's desperate struggle.

Sweat blurred Raelyn's vision, her lungs burning with exertion. She felt claustrophobic, trapped as more trees began to twist and creak into monstrous life around her, their gnarled limbs stretching out, slowly encircling her like a tightening noose. Each swing of her sword grew weaker as exhaustion took hold, panic beginning to overpower her senses.

Then, suddenly, the ground erupted violently beneath her feet.

Raelyn's eyes widened in horror as thick, dark roots burst from the earth, spiraling swiftly around her legs, tightening painfully around her arms, wrenching her backward and lifting her from the ground.

"No!" she gasped in terror, her sword falling uselessly from her grasp as she struggled desperately, panic surging through her veins.

"Raelyn!" she heard Benji yell desperately, his voice raw with fear as he hacked futilely at a cluster of grasping branches blocking his path.

Rakz bounded forward, swift and nimble, dodging wildly lashing branches as he tried desperately to reach Raelyn. The small dragon's jaws clamped fiercely around one thick root restraining her, biting ferociously—but to no avail. The root remained stubbornly resilient, squeezing tighter around Raelyn's body.

A strangled cry escaped Raelyn's lips as a thick, rope-like root curled around her throat, constricting mercilessly. Desperately, she clawed at the choking root, her lungs burning as precious air was robbed from her.

Below, Sylvy shouted furiously, blades flashing like lightning, "Raelyn—hold on! We're coming!" But the trees redoubled their attack, branches battering relentlessly, keeping her allies helplessly at bay.

Raelyn's heart pounded frantically, panic swallowing her completely. She opened her mouth to speak—to utter the Elvish word for fire, disregarding Hovan's warning—but nothing came. The root around her throat was too tight, cutting off both breath and voice, preventing the magic from taking shape. Her limbs weakened rapidly, her legs kicking helplessly, her vision blurred, dark spots exploding before her eyes.

Through a dizzy haze, she glimpsed Benji slashing desperately at branches, face twisted in terror. Thomrik roared defiantly, his hammer shattering bark, but more branches surged in endlessly. Lira screamed her name, while Hovan fought ferociously to reach her. Rakz's frantic chirps sounded faint, distant.

"Loravhin!" Lira shouted, her voice trembling with urgency as shimmering air briefly pulsed from her palms. But the magic sputtered uselessly, its glow faltering and fading instantly. Lira stared at her own hands in shock, eyes wide with confusion and panic. "It's not working—something's wrong!"

Raelyn's limbs grew heavier; she felt her consciousness slipping further away. Her legs kicked weakly in the air, her nails scratching uselessly against the thick bark of the root, desperate to pry it away from her throat. Her vision blurred, darkness crowding the edges as her wide eyes stared unseeing at the chaos around her. She opened her mouth, gasping silently for air that wouldn't come, her chest burning from the lack of breath.

I'm going to die here, she realized numbly, heart shattering beneath the crushing weight of despair. So close to the weapon, so close to victory—and yet I've failed them all.

An image flashed vividly in her fading consciousness—the twisted, lifeless bodies of her companions from her nightmare, accusing eyes glaring up at her, blaming her. They had believed in her, trusted her, and now she would leave them defenseless. Without her ancient magic, their quest was doomed. Baragor would win; demons would sweep unchecked across the realms. Unevia would crumble into darkness, and all because she had failed.

A tear slid down Raelyn's cheek, a final silent apology as her strength faded. Her hands dropped limply to her sides, her body slowly growing still, consciousness ebbing away into the waiting darkness.

Just as darkness threatened to claim her completely, an explosive crunch of wood suddenly rang sharply through the grove. Instantly, the choking pressure around her throat vanished, and she gasped desperately for air. The sensation of freefall startled her fully awake, panic briefly surging as she expected the hard, punishing ground—

But instead, strong arms caught her, gently yet firmly halting her fall. Her breath rattled painfully, eyes still blurred and heavy.

"B-Benji?" she rasped weakly, vision still swimming as she squinted at the figure holding her.

"Not quite," a familiar voice replied softly, tinged with playful irony.

Raelyn frowned, blinking slowly, forcing her vision to sharpen. Gradually, the handsome and roguish face emerged clearly before her, framed by a tousle of dark, wavy hair. His lips curled into a small, uncertain smile as their eyes met. Raelyn stared in shock, disbelief washing over her.

"Danio?" she croaked hoarsely, stunned and breathless.

"In the flesh," he confirmed, gently lowering her to stand on trembling legs, keeping a supportive arm around her waist. "Sorry I'm late—turns out guilt is a terrible traveling companion"

Danio clicked a small button on his Snapstaff, the metal instantly retracting with a smooth hiss into a small, compact cylinder that he quickly stowed behind his belt. Raelyn's head still spun, her throat raw and burning with every labored breath. She coughed harshly, hand pressing lightly against her reddened neck as she leaned into Danio's supporting arm.

"Easy there," Danio murmured quietly, watching her carefully. His familiar dark eyes reflected genuine concern despite his uneasy expression.

Around them, the final moments of battle unfolded in a chaotic blur. Splintered branches littered the ground, and most of the warped trees were shattered and unmoving, their brittle bark scattered in jagged heaps. Thomrik grunted fiercely, swinging his warhammer in a mighty arc that crunched into the base of a final, stubborn tree, the impact resonating sharply through the grove. The animated wood splintered, creaked, then fell silent.

Panting heavily, Thomrik turned his sweat-soaked face toward them, eyes widening in shocked disbelief at the unexpected sight of Danio. "By the gods—Danio?"

Raelyn barely had time to gather her bearings when hurried footsteps drew near. Benji burst from behind the broken branches, his father's sword still clutched tightly, his face a mask of desperate worry. His gaze locked instantly onto Raelyn, the fear etched in his features painfully clear. "Raelyn! Are you alright?" He gently tilted her head upward, wincing visibly at the raw, angry redness marking her throat.

Rakz chirped anxiously, nudging gently against her legs as she tried to steady herself. "I'm—" Raelyn rasped hoarsely, swallowing with difficulty as tears blurred her vision from pain and relief. She coughed again, grimacing. "I'm fine."

"She'll be okay," Danio said softly, carefully handing Raelyn fully into Benji's care. Benji hesitated briefly, his gaze flicking from Danio back to Raelyn before nodding gratefully.

"Thank you," Benji said quietly. Danio merely gave a small nod, looking slightly uncomfortable beneath Benji's sincerity.

More heavy footsteps thundered toward them, and Raelyn glanced up in time to see Thomrik rushing forward, eyes wide with disbelief. The dwarf halted abruptly, just inches from Danio, his chest rising and falling with exertion. For a long, drawn-out moment, they simply stared at one another—Thomrik's eyes wide with disbelief; Danio's gaze cautious, apologetic, and uncertain.

Raelyn felt her breath catch, a small, relieved smile beginning to form as she anticipated the embrace she was sure would follow. The tension lingered, stretching thinly between the two companions, until suddenly Thomrik's face hardened, his dark eyes narrowing sharply.

Without warning, Thomrik swung his thick fist squarely into Danio's gut, a heavy thud resonating clearly through the startled silence. Danio doubled over with a pained grunt, coughing softly, a hand clutching instinctively at his stomach.

Raelyn's mouth dropped open, stunned.

Danio coughed, groaning painfully. "Good—good to see you too, Thomrik," he wheezed, clutching his stomach. "Always a pleasure."

"You bloody fool!" Thomrik roared angrily, his cheeks flushing beneath his thick beard. He grabbed Danio by the shoulders, shaking him roughly. "Wandering Bromaric alone? Were you tryin' to get yourself killed?"

Danio rubbed his stomach as he straightened, eyes apologetic yet carrying a spark of his familiar humor. "Trust me—risking my neck again wasn't exactly on my bucket list." he admitted, voice steady despite his unease.

Sylvy approached, sheathing her blades and shaking splinters from her hair, her eyes still narrowed warily at the scattered remains of the trees. Hovan, expression grim and shoulders tense, stalked over with purposeful strides, closely followed by Lira, whose gentle face was etched with genuine worry.

"Raelyn," Lira said softly, voice filled with remorse as she reached her. "I tried—I wanted to help, but something's terribly wrong. Nature here...it resisted my magic." Her green eyes shone earnestly. "I'm so sorry I couldn't do more."

Raelyn offered Lira a weak but reassuring smile. ""I—I'm fine. Thanks to Danio.""

Lira nodded gratefully, her gaze drifting toward Danio, her expression softening considerably. A small, pleased smile curled the corners of her lips. She glanced back to Raelyn, a glimmer of admiration in her voice. "You should've seen him—he rushed straight toward you, ducking and weaving like he'd rehearsed it a hundred times. Those branches didn't stand a chance."

Danio's cheeks flushed slightly, and he shot Lira a playful, if slightly embarrassed, grin. Raelyn noticed how Lira's eyes lingered on Danio a moment longer, the elf clearly impressed by his bravery, even if she wouldn't admit it outright.

But before Raelyn could speak further, Hovan surged forward. His glare passed briefly over Danio, landing instead on Massah, who had finally mustered enough courage to shuffle hesitantly onto the battlefield, his wide yellow eyes darting nervously among the fallen trees.

"Forget Danio for now," Hovan growled fiercely, taking a threatening step toward the trembling imp. "Massah—care to explain why you didn't warn us about killer trees?"

Sylvy stepped forward, arms crossed tightly as she glared fiercely at the frightened imp. "You said you knew these lands. Raelyn could have died!"

Massah flinched violently, eyes widening in fright. He shrank back hurriedly, ducking behind Lira's robes, his tiny frame quivering. "M-Massah didn't know!" the imp stammered frantically, his shrill voice trembling. "Massah swears—didn't know about killer trees!"

Danio straightened slowly, eyebrows raised in shock. "Hold on—since when did we start recruiting Baragor's lackeys?" He eyed the trembling imp incredulously. "Did I miss something important?"

"It's complicated," Benji sighed, supporting Raelyn gently, his expression softening slightly. "Massah's helping us navigate Bromaric."

"Clearly not very effectively," Sylvy snapped bitterly, still glaring at the cowering imp. "He was supposed to warn us of danger."

Massah whimpered pitifully, his small hands clasped desperately together as he peered out from behind Lira's protective presence. "Massah is so sorry! Massah promises—didn't know! Dark magic growing, changing Bromaric every day! Trees never moved before—Massah swears!"

Hovan scowled deeply, clearly unconvinced, taking another step closer toward Massah, whose frightened squeak pierced the tense silence. "Not good enough, imp," he snapped coldly.

Raelyn forced herself upright, ignoring the stabbing pain in her throat as she raised a trembling hand. "Enough," she rasped weakly, coughing harshly as she struggled to project her voice. "Massah didn't betray us. If he says he didn't know, I believe him."

Sylvy's eyes narrowed skeptically, clearly unconvinced, but she reluctantly stepped back. Lira gently stroked Massah's small head comfortingly, offering a quiet, reassuring glance toward Raelyn.

Hovan scowled deeply, jaw tightening as he stared down at the imp. "You'd better be telling the truth, imp."

Raelyn offered Massah a small, reassuring nod despite the pain still lingering in her throat. She glanced briefly toward Danio, who watched silently, visibly uneasy.