Iron guard

My ears are ringing, a deafening sound reverberating in my skull. What the hell just happened? Instinct kicks in before I can process the pain—I roll to the side, narrowly escaping a massive force that slams into the ground where I had been standing moments ago. Dust and debris explode into the air as I look up to see a hulking figure.

An iron guard?

Its towering frame looms over me, armor gleaming dully in the dim light, but its most terrifying feature is the glowing green eyes peering from behind the iron plating. Without hesitation, I summon my ice magic, sending out a freezing blast to halt its movements. For a moment, the icy tendrils wrap around its legs, creeping up its body—only for it to shatter my magic with a single motion. How did it break free so easily?

It turns toward me, the green glow of its eyes intensifying, and hurls a fist in my direction. I duck just in time, feeling the rush of air as its massive hand smashes into the wall behind me, crumbling stone like dry leaves. Damn it. I throw out my black curse energy, but the moment it makes contact with the guard’s iron body, I realize my mistake. It’s not alive. The curse doesn’t work on this thing—someone must have created it specifically to guard this place. But where are the fairies?

Scanning the room, panic edges into my mind. I can’t locate them. A sharp, searing pain explodes in my shoulder, cutting through my thoughts. I gasp, stumbling backward as I feel the guard’s sword scrape off the bone, the shock of it radiating through my entire body. My vision swims for a moment, pain like fire burning through me. I bite back a scream, but the sound still escapes my lips. Focus, Lenora. You need to focus.

Breathing ragged, I feel something within me surge. The heat building inside is almost unbearable, and I glance down at my skin—it’s glowing, a brilliant gold. My power is rising, flowing through every vein like molten energy. This is new.

With a cry, I throw my hand forward, unleashing the golden flames. They burst from me, swallowing the iron guard in an inferno. I watch as the metal bends and warps under the intensity of the heat, its body melting into nothing but ash. The flames continue to blaze until there’s no trace of the creature left. The pain in my shoulder dulls slightly, and as I glance down, I notice a faint tingling on my arm. Another rune has appeared, glowing softly against my skin.

Steeling myself, I refocus. The fairies. Where are they? I close my eyes for a second, searching for any sign of their life force. There—behind the wall. Without hesitation, I send my golden flames toward the stone barrier, letting the heat consume it as it crumbles to dust before me.

The sight beyond it nearly breaks me.

Huddled together, packed tightly like animals, a hundred fairies stare back at me from the darkness. Their bodies are frail, trembling. Their eyes, wide with fear, shine faintly in the dim light. They’re too weak to even cry out. My heart clenches as I take in their condition. They’ve been suffering for too long.

I teleport them all back to the others, dimming the lights upon arrival. The reaction is immediate—gasps and murmurs fill the air as everyone takes in the sight of these broken souls. They sit huddled, shaking uncontrollably, their bodies still trapped in the trauma of their imprisonment.

My heart aches for them. I know what I need to do. I don’t ask for their permission—there’s no time. Raising my hand, I channel all the energy I have left, every ounce of light and power inside me. My magic surges forward, enveloping the entire group, casting a warm, glowing light that pulses once—twice—and then bursts, breaking the curse that’s been holding them captive for so long.

I feel the connection with each of them as their true selves begin to awaken, but it’s draining me faster than I expected. The edges of my vision blur, dark spots creeping in as my body weakens. I can’t hold on any longer. Not now…

The world tilts, and the last thing I hear is the sound of someone shouting my name as everything goes black.