Chapter 116 – From the Other Side (5)

Time itself crawled to a halt as the creature jumped towards Ilya. Its claws stretched out and its eyes opened wide. For the first time since it passed through the tear in the veil, the creature seemed worried – no, it was afraid. Afraid of Ilya sealing the tear and healing the veil around it.

Ilya’s gaze turned from the tear in the veil to the creature. Her lips formed a thin line, but she didn’t stop her resonance. Her blade reached towards the tear, her blood gathering at its tip. As if gravity had shifted, the drops fell towards the tear. As they touched it, they began to form a shape – a seal.

She had to stay in place for the resonance to be completed. She couldn’t defend herself. She shut her eyes tightly as the creature neared.

He reached within as his heart sank, searching for even a drop of spiritual power. Yet all he found was a vast emptiness. He ran after the creature, but it was too fast, and he was simply too slow – he couldn’t help her. Realisation sank as he shouted her name. He couldn’t save her.

Pressurised air blasted against the creature’s side, tearing apart its skin and sending it flying towards the woods on the other side of the opening. A shocked and pained growl escaped its lips as it crashed into the ground.

Ilya’s eyes shot wide open, her head jerked to the side as she looked at the source of that explosive resonance. Her lips parted in surprise as someone stumbled out of the woods.

“Willow?!” Midhir breathed out.

The young woman was covered in mud, leaves, and something reddish – it looked like blood. Her eyes were wide open, and her jaw was tight. She was visibly trembling, and her face twisted with pain as she limped closer. She pressed her left hand against her side, wincing with every step she took. “Midhir…” Her voice was weak as she fully ignored Ilya. Her eyes watered as she forced the words out. “Dad… he-“

“Look out!” Ilya shouted, cutting her off.

Midhir kicked the ground without a second thought, caught Willow’s arm and pulled her away from where she was standing just as a shadow passed by them, leaving a trail of black blood on the ground.

The creature slid on the muddied ground, crashed its side into a tree, and quickly recovered its balance, once again dashing towards them. It’s bloodshot eyes were wide with hatred, claws extended and aiming for their throats.

A cold shiver ran down Midhir’s spine. It wasn’t just toying with them anymore – he could feel the killing intent it exuded. “Willow!” he shouted, snapping the young woman out of her daze.

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Willow’s eyes widened, her hands clenched around the hilt of her rapier. Her power flowed into the weapon, lighting up the green gem embedded into its pommel. The air seemed to grow heavy for a split second around them before pressurised air burst from the tip of her sword.

The burst of air hit the creature, but this time all it did was push it back a few steps. It slid on the muddy ground, its crimson eyes focused on Willow as a growl escaped its drawn back lips.

Reality twisted behind them. The edges of the tear began to rapidly shrink as Ilya’s resonance finalised. Whispers rose from the other side, they assaulted their minds and filled their thoughts with foreign words.

… betrayed us!

The creature shouted at the top of its lungs, its voice sharp and distorted. Recovering its balance, it dashed towards Midhir, Willow and Ilya. It’s maniacal gaze was filled with wrath and bloodthirst.

He didn’t hesitate. As the creature neared, he pushed Willow as strongly as he could and threw himself to the other side just as the creature’s claws reached for him.

“Curse you!” Willow’s hate-filled voice reached his ears. Laying on the ground, the young woman pointed the tip of her rapier towards the creature’s back as it missed Midhir, slid on the ground, and tried to make a sharp turn towards Ilya. The gem on the pommel of her sword glowed brightly, illuminating their surroundings for a split second. Then, with a thump, pressurised air hit the creature’s back with immense force.

The creature had just recovered its balance when Willow’s resonance hit its back. It stumbled forward, its claws desperately clawed the air as it tried to find somewhere to hold onto. There was nothing though – just the mending tear in the veil. With a hate-filled shriek, it fell through the tear.

“Ilya!” He shouted. “Close it now.”

She nodded with a smirk. Her green eyes glimmered with satisfaction as the tear shut close with a bright shine. She slowly lowered her sword, then let it vanish into her holding gem. “That’s-“ her voice faded as she noticed Willow.

The young woman scrambled to get up. She stumbled towards Midhir and grabbed onto his arm. “Dad,” she said with a catch in her voice. “He needs help, please, Midhir.”

He had completely forgotten about her plea just before the creature attacked. “What happened?”

“Where is he?” Ilya’s sharp voice startled them both as she approached them with long steps. “And what’s his situation?” Her gaze was cold and detached.

Willow pointed east. “At the foot of the hill.” Her voice was weak. Her sword slipped from her grasp as she stumbled forward. Her knees gave out.

He barely caught her before she collapsed. He knelt down, carefully letting her sit as she muttered something. “Willow?!” he exclaimed, then he stopped as he noticed his own, wet hand. He pulled his hand away from her side, revealing the warm blood that’d wet it. His heart sank as his gaze snapped between his hand and her pale face. “Ilya, she’s wounded!” He lifted his head, only to see Ilya hesitate. “Ilya?” He asked in disbelief.

The young woman tightened her jaw. Her expression was devoid of emotion, but her regret filled eyes betrayed her. “I used up nearly all of my power. I’m drained.” She muttered with a catch in her voice. “I… I must prioritise the enforcer.”