Shandra was completely, utterly, undeniably tired.The past few days had been cold, confusing, exhausting, and far from peaceful.In the rare moments when she managed to eat or rest, it always felt like it would be her last. Apparently, even in small numbers, her auras, scents, and energies seemed to attract the attention of other creatures and fantastical beings.Nevertheless, Shandra was grateful. Grateful first and foremost for the training she had undergone when she was in Zirun, which had given her the opportunity not only to defend herself but also to help others in combat.And she was also grateful to the demons and to Marcus, who, despite all the difficulties encountered along the way, remained undeterred and cleared the path for her.They were less than three days away from their destination. The young woman was nervous to arrive soon, yet increasingly fearful.Now the members of the Shadow, the human, the Alpha, and the demons were near a lake that Marcus called "The Cauldro
The Leviathan rises from the murky waters of Cauldron Lake, its colossal and imposing form dominating the scene. Its scaly skin, of a deep purple hue, gleams under the moonlight, revealing its ancient and menacing nature.Shandra feels her heart race in her chest, a mix of fear and determination taking hold of her thoughts. How had she not sensed its energy? How were they so close to such a grave threat without suspecting anything?She looks around. Apparently, no one there knew of the creature or had even sensed its scent. Seeing genuine fear in the eyes of members of a veteran organization makes her falter, taking a step back.She is supported by a thick hand with slightly stronger fingers than usual. Startled, Shandra looks behind her and sees that it is Sam holding her firmly on the shoulder, but in his demonic form. By his side, Julian also returns to his infernal origin.The other members of the Shadow are also stunned by the sight of the Leviathan. Marcus, with his experience a
Trembling from head to toe, Shandra slowly let the lightning in her mind and hands subside. She took a deep breath, containing her own fury and destructive potential, calming herself in the process.Then, as the sparks finally faded away completely, she sighed.And fell to her knees on the ground, gasping for breath and extremely tired.Immediately, everyone rushed to her, their faces filled with concern."Shandra," murmured Sam, sitting down and embracing her.The girl simply looked at him."I did it," she said, smiling.After being embraced by Sam, Shandra looked around, meeting the worried gazes of her companions. Julian, his voice choked, broke the tense silence."Shandra, you scared us," he said sincerely, his expression reflecting the concern he felt for her. "You faced such immense power, so dangerous... We were afraid of losing you."Julian's words hung in the air, lingering as a reminder of the danger they had all faced. The relief of seeing Shandra triumph mixed with the ten
Julian takes a few steps back, his eyes wide with surprise and fear. Shandra, although exhausted, quickly stands up, her heightened senses sensing the imminent danger. She positions herself between the two brothers, trying to calm the situation."Sam, stop!" she shouts, her voice trembling but firm. "We won't solve anything by fighting amongst ourselves. Julian is our ally, not our enemy."Sam growls, his eyes burning with uncontrollable fury. He seems to struggle to control his demonic form, but the anger is still present."He's meddling where he shouldn't," Sam snarls, his guttural voice echoing in the air.Julian, still in a state of shock, recovers enough to respond."Your reaction only proves my point. What is it? Are you feeling guilty, Sam? Feeling unworthy of something?"Julian's irony seems to further provoke Sam, who advances but stops instantly.Shandra extends a trembling hand towards Sam, trying to calm him."I don't know why you're like this, but I think you better stop
Julian's words echo in Shandra's mind like an explosion, leaving her stunned and wounded. Eluna, Sam's former betrothed, also shared a Blood Fusion with him. A mix of shock, betrayal, and disappointment swirls within her, causing her to tremble with restrained emotions.She turns to Sam, her eyes shining with a mixture of pain and anger. What she sees in his eyes is a blend of guilt and remorse. Silence hangs in the air as she tries to process this devastating revelation.Around them, no one interferes, only watching the turn of events between the Vanguard and the Beacon of Light."Why didn't you tell me?" she whispers, her voice filled with despair. "I thought... we shared everything. How could you hide something so important from me?"Sam looks at her, his lips moving, but no words come out. The pain in his eyes is palpable, and Shandra can feel the internal struggle he's facing."I couldn't," he finally manages to say.The girl completely loses her composure. Blue flames surround h
Marcus doesn't seem surprised by Shandra's request, or rather, her announcement. She wasn't asking for his permission but formally notifying him that she could no longer serve the Alpha. The werewolf with impressive eyes uncrosses his arms and gazes firmly at her. Without hesitation, the young woman returns the same look.Seconds later, he takes a deep breath before saying:"You can't just leave, Shandra. You have to bear this responsibility.""Responsibility?!" Shandra exclaims angrily. "I didn't ask for this. Throughout this whole time, all I wanted was a bit of respect, transparency, and equality. I gave up everything and put my own desires on hold to help these idiots," she points at Julian and Sam, who remain motionless. "But I don't answer to anyone. Not to them and not to you."The Alpha approaches Shandra slowly, looking at her intensely in the eyes. His voice is softer now, filled with a mixture of understanding and determination."I understand your frustration, Shandra. Trul
The sweat dripping down Shandra's face is hot, almost like lava, and produces terribly unsettling sensations on her cold, shivering skin. Tremors and spasms take over her body, and her eyes blink without stopping as, in desperation, the young woman tries to regain control.She remembers Marcus' words in her magic training, when they were still testing the limits of Shandra's magic. She asked the Alpha when exhaustion began, and he explained to her that there were two stages.The first had already happened to her in Fairy Town, which was the most common form of burnout. The second was the most dangerous and lethal, as it could destroy the magic bearer's body from the inside out.With each violent jolt that took hold of the girl's arms, legs and torso, the greater was Shandra's desire to cry, but even this she could no longer do.The sounds of the world also oscillated. The tree on fire seemed to scream louder and louder, only to fall silent the next instant as if it had never started.
Shandra's heart races as she prepares to face the unknown that hides behind the tree. Her determination and the strengthening of her magic fill her with confidence.With one swift movement, Shandra turns toward the tree, ready to face her pursuer. However, her expression of courage turns to surprise when she finally sees who was there."Julian?" she whispers, incredulous.The redhead, who is wearing the same clothes as the night before, runs up to her."Shandra!" He takes both her hands, looking her up and down. "You look... well?""I am now.""But you...? I mean, Sam was suddenly exhausted, so we came to the conclusion that you... well...""I really was exhausted.""But you were supposed to be lying there, dying of pain... How did you...?""It's a long story."The yellow-eyed demon looks around and notices the burned tree."É. Apparently so.""But I can't stay here anymore. I...I need to go back and help you."A pained expression forms on Julian's worried face."About that, I just wa