The school year would begin tomorrow, and Aaric had a promise to fulfill to his mother.
Aaric and Edwina walked through the shadowed halls of Nightshade Castle, their steps . As they neared Thimrill's towering form, Aaric raised his voice."Please take us to that island again," he said, his tone calm.
Before the guardian could respond, another voice echoed through the hall."What island?" Simon asked, striding toward them, his sword resting casually at his hip.
Edwina's lips curved into a small smile. "Aaric told me there's a place where I can train my new powers."
Simon raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "I was planning to train with my sword myself. May I join you?"
Aaric shrugged, giving him a sidelong glance. "I suppose…"
Thimrill gave a smile, and with a flash of lightning, the three of them vanished. In the blink of an eye, they reappeared on the forsaken island where Thimrill had once farmed dementors—an island that had left Aaric standing slack-jawed in stunned disbelief the first time he'd seen it.
The moment they arrived, a horde of dementors surged toward them like a living storm, eager to feed.
"I thought we wiped them out last time," Aaric said, raising an eyebrow.
Thimrill's deep voice rolled like distant thunder."The land here is bathed in ancient bloodshed. Tragedy lingers like mist at dawn. It breeds darkness unending, this land can form endless armies of dark creatures."
Aaric and Simon exchanged a glance. Within moments, the dementors fell before them, leaving behind only a heap of cracked crystals and tattered cloaks.
And just as Aaric expected from the dead treeline emerged two distinct forces: a pack of massive wolf-like horrors with eyes of molten iron, and an army of serpentine monstrosities with gleaming fangs.
They hissed and growled, forming a dark wall of violence and hunger, hesitating only for a moment before closing in.
Edwina's smile sharpened as her green eyes shifted into the intricate flower pattern of her gift. Simon drew his sword with a low, resonant ring."I'll take the wolves. You take the snakes?" he asked, glancing at his wife.
Edwina nodded, emerald fire flashing in her eyes.
For a moment, Simon was utterly captivated by her radiance. Then he shook himself free of distraction, crouched low, and launched himself forward. His jump cracked the air like a whip.
He landed in the midst of the wolf pack with a roar, his sword flashing in vicious arcs. Dark red blood sprayed as he carved through them, moving like a storm given form.
Edwina, in contrast, didn't take a single step. Her eyes deepened in hue as she exhaled softly. A pale gray mist unfurled from her lips, creeping across the battlefield. Wherever it touched, the serpents froze, their frenzied hisses dying into an eerie, unnatural silence.
One by one, their eyes shifted to mirror her flower pattern. Their hunger faded, replaced by a chilling, reverent calm.
Simon caught sight of this in the corner of his eye and muttered, "Show-off," under his breath.Edwina only smiled sweetly and gave him a little wave, while Simon's muscles strained as he continued to cleave through the relentless wolves.
Simon cast no spells. When overwhelmed, he thrust his free hand outward, releasing concussive bursts of raw force to fling the beasts away.
His strength was already immense, dragon-born and amplified by the Aether Veil. But these wolves were no ordinary foes. Their hides were as hard as stone, their speed blinding, and their jaws capable of crushing steel.
Simon grinned fiercely. This was the challenge he craved.
Wolves fell one after another, painting the battlefield in a gruesome tapestry of crimson and black.
Meanwhile, Edwina's army moved towards her in perfect formation, bound to her will.
"Look closely, Aaric," she said, her voice serene amid the chaos. "I can now command them freely and store them within the Oculi Viridiflora dimension. Their energy can be added to mine—or they can serve as an army."
"What will you do with them?" Aaric asked.
Edwina tilted her head slightly. "Their energy alone isn't worth much, the whole army might make a difference. Although they will be better use if i have to face an army, even individually they will be a challenge for adult wizards."
They both turned to glance at Simon, who was still cutting through the wolf pack like a force of nature."This will take a while, won't it?" Aaric murmured.Edwina sighed softly. "Yes."
Hours later
It took nearly six hopurs for the final wolf to fall.
While Simon fought, Aaric and Edwina had conjured a small table nearby, sipping tea and sharing snacks as they waited, laughter echoing across the battlefield.
Simon finally returned to them, his breathing heavy but controlled, his grip on his sword loose.
Despite the grueling fight, his clothes were pristine and not a single cut marred his skin, thanks to the Aether Veil's protection.
Edwina stepped forward, kissed him lightly, and handed him a potion to aid his recovery."My new friends tell me there are older, stronger creatures here," she said with a glint in her eyes. "Shall we greet them as well?"
Simon nodded silently.
Edwina stored the serpent army within her dimension, and the family took to the air, soaring across the island with Edwina leading the way.
They landed before a cave blackened with scorch marks, surrounded by withered plants and scattered bones.
Inside, two titanic beasts were locked in primal combat: a colossal serpent and an immense wolf. The snake spat streams of sizzling acid while the wolf unleashed black fire from its maw. Their bodies crashed together with bone-shaking force.
The moment the three intruders entered, the creatures froze, turning their fury toward the newcomers. A metallic, burning stench filled the cavern.
Edwina's eyes flared brilliantly, and within moments, the great serpent fell under her sway. Its thrashing slowed until it coiled peacefully at her side."I'll absorb this one's energy into my own," she murmured to Aaric, who nodded in understanding.
Simon, meanwhile, was already grappling with the monstrous wolf barehanded. He held its massive jaws apart, muscles bulging, then drove a knee into its chest with a thunderous crack. Each strike sent shockwaves rattling through the cavern.
Aaric casually reinforced the walls with transfiguration to prevent a collapse."Do you want this one as a pet?" he asked dryly.
"Volkrin's enough for me," Simon replied with a chuckle.
Ten grueling minutes later, the beast finally collapsed, lifeless.
Simon wiped his brow, grinning. "I do need a wolf fur coat, though."He stored the massive corpse in a bottomless pouch, and the family turned to leave the cave.
A/n: reviews and power stone, please.