Chapter 103 CALM BEFORE THE ASHES

Chapter 103 CALM BEFORE THE ASHES
A few days passed with hardly any trouble, just as Darren had predicted. The few demons they did run into were mostly weak canines — posed a little to no threat to an experienced group, or even a normal hunter. Their numbers were too small to cause huge and real trouble. It was the best run of good luck they'd enjoyed in a long time. Even the nights were entirely peaceful, including this one. The sun had dipped way below the horizon, and though they were still trekking through a dense forest, they hadn't seen or heard a single demon.

"Looks like a good spot to set up camp," Magnus said, stepping into a small clearing. He gathered a few fallen branches from a nearby tree, piled them up, and snapped his fingers. A spark caught the wood, and a bright fire crackled to life.

Darren and Xyra didn't think twice about it; they were used to the routine by now. Whenever they camped in the woods, Magnus would start the fire and cast a wide protective barrier so they had room to move around safely. Usually, he’d just lie down to sleep or stay up to chat. But tonight, he stood up and started walking away just as the other two were sitting down.

"Where are you heading?" Darren asked.

"Just looking around," Magnus replied with a quick smile. He disappeared into the shadows of the trees. It wasn't that he wanted to avoid them; he just needed a moment alone to clear his head. A few heavy thoughts had been weighing on him, and he wanted a quiet break. Plus, he had a very specific plan in mind.

Deep in the woods, he found exactly what he was searching for: a rocky place that looked like an old, dried-up hot spring. There wasn't a drop of water left in it, just a hollow ring of stones, but Magnus could easily fix that.

Stepping up to the edge, he held out his hands and focused. A sphere of water materialized between his palms. He pulled his hands apart, making the bubble grow until it was large enough to fill the entire pit. With a flick of his wrists, he let it drop, watching the water rush out to fill the stone basin. Next came the easy part. He conjured a hot, intense flame, plunged his hand into the pool, and let his magic instantly warm the water.

Steam began to roll off the surface, bringing a bright grin to the sorcerer's face. And people say magic isn't practical, he thought. They clearly don't know the value of a good bath. He stripped out of his travel-worn clothes. His new outfit was almost identical to his old one, just with darker brown pants and a tan shirt. He didn't really care; clothes were just meant to keep the weather off his back anyway.

He slid into the steaming pool and let out a long, satisfied sigh. This was exactly what his aching muscles needed. The tension drained from his body, and the worries in his mind faded away. For a moment, everything was perfectly still. He closed his eyes to enjoy the peace, but warned himself not to drift off. Getting careless and drowning in a hot spring would be a pathetic end for the great Albus. The rumors would be embarrassing.

He sat in the silence for a long time, soaking in the unusual quiet of the forest. While he honestly enjoyed the thrill of hunting demons, taking a breather from the constant fighting was a welcome change.

He lost track of time in the warm water. Darren and Xyra were probably wondering where he was, but he wasn't ready to get out just yet. Then, a soft rustling sound broke the silence. Instantly, his muscles tensed. His senses were once again aware. Magnus froze, waiting as the footsteps crept closer and closer, right up behind him.

Without hesitation and in a quick move, Magnus stood up, water sloshing around his waist. He spun around, raising his palm to blast the intruder, but he quickly stopped. It was Xyra. Her sapphire eyes were wide with surprise, staring directly at his open hand. She looked startled, which made sense given he had almost blasted her, but he couldn't help but feel she should know better than to sneak up on a sorcerer.

"Xyra," he said, lowering his hand with a sigh. "Don't sneak out at me like that. I could have hurt you."

"Sorry," she muttered. Her voice shook slightly, but it wasn't from fear. A bright blush crept up her cheeks, making her face turn completely red. "I was just... looking for you. You've been gone a long time."

The thief dropped her gaze to the ground, looking completely flustered. She fidgeted, refusing to look at him. Magnus was confused for a second, but a quick glance down at his own bare torso gave him his answer. A slow smirk spread across his face. He crossed his arms over his chest, waiting until she glanced up so he could lock his jade eyes onto hers.

Xyra stared at him, desperately wishing she could just turn on her heel and run back to camp, but her feet wouldn't move. No matter how hard she tried to look away, her eyes kept drifting back to his toned chest and arms. The smug grin on his face told her everything — he knew exactly what she was doing, and he was loving it.

"Something on your mind, Xyr?" he asked, his voice dropping into a playful, teasing drawl. He loved pushing her buttons. When she finally looked up, her blush deepened, and she quickly snapped her gaze away. His grin widened. "Do I still make you that nervous?"

"Just get dressed and come back," she snapped, turning around. "You've been out here long enough."

He watched her walk away, noting how she completely dodged the question. It was definitely a yes. The bright blush and her sudden retreat were all the proof he needed. Even after all their time traveling together, he could still fluster her. It made the journey a lot more entertaining.

With a chuckle, he climbed out of the water, dried off, and got dressed. As he walked back to camp, he couldn't shake the smile from his face. It was the first time he had felt genuinely lighthearted since the disaster in Drester. I don't know how you do it, Xyra, he thought, but you always know how to cheer me up, even when you aren't trying.

Two weeks later, they finally reached the edge of the Andagon Valley. The journey had been quiet. They had stopped briefly at a small town to restock their supplies, but otherwise, the path from Drester was nothing but empty fields and dense woods. Despite the plenty of hiding places for demons, they had barely faced any attacks. It felt like their luck had finally turned around.

But the moment they stepped into the valley, Darren froze. He didn't say a word, his eyes wide as he stared blankly across the open grass. His entire body went rigid. Magnus and Xyra stopped right behind him, exchanging a worried glance before Magnus spoke up. "What's wrong?"

"Something is off," Darren whispered, his voice trembling. "The air, the feeling... Everything is different. Something happened here."

Without another word, he broke into a sprint, tearing across the field and up the nearest hill. Magnus and Xyra didn't hesitate, rushing right after him to find out what had caused such a sudden panic. Darren reached the crest of the hill first and instantly stopped, paralyzed by the horror below.

Down in the valley, the village was gone. In its place lay a smoking wasteland of ruins. Not a single home was left standing. The green grass was choked with charred wood, thick ash, and corpses. Hundreds of dragon villagers lay scattered across the ground, their white robes stained a deep, terrible crimson. The beautiful valley had been turned into a graveyard.

When Magnus and Xyra reached the top of the hill, they both gasped, matching Darren's shock. But for the half-dragon, the blow was devastating. His face went completely pale, his eyes wide with horror as his hands shook violently at the sight of the massacre.

"My God..." Xyra whispered, horrified. "Who could have done this?"

Before anyone could answer, Darren bolted down the slope, sprinting straight toward the ruined valley. Xyra and Magnus stayed right on his heels, terrified to let him out of their sight. In this state of mind, he wouldn't be able to defend himself if the killers were still hiding in the wreckage.

Darren wove through the piles of bodies, his heart pounding as he headed straight for Xerxes's house. If anyone had managed to survive, they would be there. He prayed with everything he had left that his family was safe — that his father and sister weren't among the dead scattered in the dirt. It felt like a desperate hope, but it was the only thing keeping him moving.