Chapter 105 DO YOU LOVE HER?

Chapter 105 DO YOU LOVE HER?
The dragons began to spread out across the massive room, finally realizing they were safe from attack. With Darren and Magnus around, the tension in the air completely vanished. It was clear that if travelers could survive and make it through the valley, the immediate danger was over. As things quieted down, Xyra decided to approach the dragon king. She had been burning to ask him a few questions about how magic worked.

"Um…" she started, hesitating over the proper title. "Lord Xerxes?"

"Yes?" he replied warmly, a kind smile on his face.

"I was wondering if you could answer something for me. It’s sort of about magic."

"Of course. What is it?"

"Dragons are only supposed to be able to use fire magic," Xyra said, tilting her head. "So how are you able to cast sealing and healing spells?"

Xerxes's smile widened, giving him a genuinely gentle look. He seemed to take great pride in her observation. Historically, wielding magic was a trait reserved entirely for humans. Even though not every human became a sorcerer, magic belonged to them. Dragons possessed an unmatched natural defense, while demons had devastating offensive powers. Giving frail humans the gift of magic was simply the world's way of balancing the scales. Though lately, that balance seemed to be falling apart.

"You see," Xerxes explained, clearly happy to share his knowledge, "I am the only dragon alive who can use this kind of magic, which is exactly why I am king. But even for me, there are strict limits. This power is actually a branch of curse magic. Anything that alters the fundamental state of an object or being falls under that category, including sealing spells. However, unlike a human sorcerer, I cannot just cast it at will. I have to rely on written runes to channel the energy. It’s the exact same for healing. Without those ancient markings, I would be completely powerless."

Xyra frowned slightly, processing this. "Then what about demons? Like Routher in Vekta. He can cast spells that show people the past."

"Ah, that is a unique type of curse magic that humans can never perform," Xerxes said. "Only dragons like myself and certain high-tier demons can use it. It includes abilities like dream trapping — which is what he uses on you — soul sealing, and on very rare occasions, fortune-telling. Only a select few can manage it, and no human can ever replicate it. It keeps the powers balanced, so humanity never grows too dominant."

Xyra nodded, finally understanding the logic behind it. It was always useful to learn more about magic. She knew a fair amount about normal spells, but anything beyond a human sorcerer's abilities had always been a mystery to her. She only knew what she had managed to read in books. Though she didn't have a drop of magic herself, she had always been fascinated by it. She used to resent those blessed with such power, but she had come to realize most sorcerers didn't actually enjoy their heritage. Most just wanted to be normal. Given how dangerous it is to be a sorcerer these days, especially with the heavy hand of the Sorcerer's League, she couldn't blame them.

Speaking of sorcerers, Magnus had been gone for a while now. A knot of worry began to form in Xyra's stomach. Given everything they had been through lately, it was impossible not to feel anxious. There was always a chance he had run into trouble or been ambushed. She tried to shake the dark thoughts from her head, but she knew she wouldn't relax until she checked on him. Without a word to Xerxes, she turned and hurried out of the room.

The moment Darren noticed her leave, he decided to follow. He kept a slower, casual pace, wondering why the thief was in such a rush. The village was already devastatingly destroyed; there was nothing left for an enemy to attack, meaning they were relatively safe. Yet, the panic in her stride was unmistakable. He figured it had something to do with Magnus, though he didn't see a point in worrying about the guy. Magnus was the legendary Albus, after all. Nothing was supposed to be able to stand against him.

Then again, Darren thought with a mental smirk, the real Albus is a bit of an airhead. He’s reckless, hot-headed, and stubborn. He might be a brilliant sorcerer, but at the end of the day, he’s still just a fragile human.

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Magnus lurched to the left, barely dodging a hand that swiped at his throat. Gleaming silver claws extended and snapped back into the creature's knuckles. This was the fifth time he had almost been torn apart. Every single time he tried to plant his feet and chant a spell, he was forced to break off and run for his life. Nothing was going right. This hybrid was part vepus, one of the most dangerous demon bloodlines in existence. They were shape-shifters capable of stretching and bending their bodies in impossible directions, which made predicting their movements a nightmare.

The moment Magnus's feet hit the ground from a desperate leap, he immediately threw himself into a backflip to avoid another swipe. He did it without using his hands, hoping to land upright and immediately retaliate, but the monster didn't even give him time to chant a basic lightning bolt spell. It was just too fast. At this rate, he was going to end up dead.

What am I supposed to do? If I can't get a single chant out, I'm a sitting duck. Perhaps, I need to remind myself to buy a sword next time. They really come in handy for this crap.

With another ferocious lunge, the hybrid's claws tore through the cloak, catching nothing but air as he spun away. Luckily, it missed his skin. So far, he had managed to avoid taking any actual damage, keeping up with the creature's blinding speed through pure adrenaline. He just needed some breathing room to cast a spell. Unfortunately, a vepus could only be brought down by a high-level spell, and he neither had the patience nor the time to build up that kind of magic. He was barely finding the time to breathe.

Landing heavily after another jump, Magnus lost his footing for a split second. That tiny delay was all the opening the monster needed. The hybrid whipped out a long, black tentacle, lashing it forward like a whip. Magnus tried to duck, but he knew he was too slow. Desperate, he threw up a magical barrier. It was useless. The tentacle smashed right through the shield, shattering the glass-like magic on contact and plunging straight into his side. The sheer force of the impact threw him onto the dirt.

Gasping from the sharp pain, Magnus clutched his bleeding side and immediately began chanting a healing spell. He kept his eyes locked onto his attacker. The hybrid simply stood there, a cruel smirk twisting its features as it enjoyed the sight of him writhing in the dirt. It probably would have laughed if it could, but the mutations seemed to have stripped away its voice. Magnus considered that a small mercy; he didn't need a monster mocking him right now. The healing spell was only half-finished when the shape-shifter raised its pointed tentacle again, aiming directly for his chest. Magnus braced himself, watching the limb steady itself before rocketing forward. He squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the killing blow. Instead of the agonizing tear of flesh, a horrific, screeching wail echoed through the clearing.

Magnus opened his eyes. Standing over him wasn't the dark, monstrous hybrid, but the last person he expected to see.

Xyra stood defiantly between them, her khukuri drawn and pointed at the beast. The hybrid was hissing in agony, clutching the stump where one of its tentacles had just been cleanly severed. The limb lay a few feet away, still twitching on the grass. The young thief looked fierce, her eyes locked onto the enemy, ready for a fight.

"Xyra?" Magnus choked out, his vision swimming slightly from the blood loss. His side felt hot as the spell desperately tried to knit his flesh back together. "Why are you here? What are you doing?!"

"What does it look like I'm doing?" she yelled back, not daring to take her eyes off the beast. "I just saved your life, so drop the attitude! You would've been a goner." She shifted her weight into a flawless defensive stance. The demon was already recovering, its red eyes burning with rage.

"Xyra, listen to me," Magnus pleaded, his anger giving way to pure panic. "You need to get out of here. I've got this, seriously. Don't get involved!"

"Bit too late for that, don't you think?"

"Please, Xyra. I'm begging you." He watched the vepus tense up, preparing to launch a massive assault. "Please... get back. You're going to get yourself killed!"

Xyra ignored him, bracing her feet against the dirt. Just this once, she thought to herself, knowing he couldn't hear her over the wind. I want to be the one protecting you. I owe you way too much, and I need to pull my own weight. I am not a helpless, weak, and little girl anymore.

A dozen black tentacles suddenly erupted from the demon's torso, flying straight toward her. Xyra moved like a blur, her khukuri flashing through the air. The sword was incredibly light and razor-sharp, allowing her to deliver swift, lethal cuts. It was a masterpiece of a weapon; any flaw in its performance lay entirely on the wielder. Xyra knew she wasn't a master swordfighter, but adrenaline carried her through. With a series of precise slashes, she severed every single reaching limb, landing gracefully back in front of Magnus.

"Xyra, just stop it!" he yelled again. "Please, I'm fine! You don't have to do this!" To his horror, even more tentacles began to sprout from the hybrid's body, regenerating instantly. 

The monster flashed a sickening grin, its crimson eyes narrowing. Magnus forced his healing spell to accelerate, ignoring the sudden wave of exhaustion and dizziness washing over him. If he didn't get up right now, Xyra was going to die.

Xyra raised her blade again, waiting for the next wave. Magnus stared at her back before a sharp spasm forced him to close his eyes. Internal healing was brutal, especially with deep wounds. He could feel his cells violently shifting and repairing themselves under the pressure of the spell. It burned like fire, but he pushed through it.

With a triumphant, gurgling screech, the vepus unleashed a barrage of attacks. Xyra managed to hack away the first few, but the sheer volume of the onslaught overwhelmed her. Her foot slipped on the loose dirt, and in that split second of vulnerability, a tentacle slammed into her wrist, sending her khukuri flying far out of reach. She was completely defenseless.

"Come on, come on," Magnus muttered to himself, unable to see what was happening as he poured the last of his energy into his side. The wound was almost closed. The agonizing heat was finally fading. "Just a little more..."

With a final surge of magic, the flesh sealed shut. Only the dried blood remained. "Done!"

Before he could even lift his head, a sickening sound tore through the air — the distinct, heavy splatter of blood and tearing flesh. It was a sound already permanently burned into his nightmares. Magnus's head snapped up, his heart stopping dead in his chest. The world seemed to slow to an absolute crawl.

Xyra stood right in front of him, her eyes wide with shock and unbearable pain. A thick, black tentacle had pierced completely through her torso, and a dark river of crimson was pouring down her back, dripping onto the grass.

Magnus couldn't speak. He couldn't even draw a breath. His mind went completely blank as his heart hammered violently against his ribs. His hands began to shake uncontrollably. When Xyra slowly turned her head to look at him, the sheer agony in her expression made his entire body lock up.

"Magnus..." she whispered, her voice barely audible as a faint, tragic smile touched her lips. "I'm... sorry..."

The demon brutally yanked the tentacle back out of her chest. Xyra gasped, her legs giving out instantly. She collapsed backward onto the ground, the green grass rapidly staining deep red around her.

In a second, Magnus was on his knees beside her. He didn't hesitate. Reaching into his cloak's pocket, he pulled out a healing talisman, slamming his hand over her bleeding wound. A blinding white light erupted from his palm and the talisman, illuminating the clearing.

The monster completely ceased to exist in Magnus's world; his entire world narrowed down to the girl bleeding out beneath his hands. He watched her face, terrified by how violently her body was trembling. He knew firsthand how painful it was to have a wound like this healed with raw magic, but as long as she was reacting to the pain, it meant she was still breathing.

Out of the corner of his eye, a dark shape shifted. The hybrid was grinning, raising another limb to finish them both off. It wasn't about to give him the time to save her. But before it could strike, a massive fireball roared across the clearing, smashing directly into the vepus' chest. While it didn't kill the beast, the explosion forced it back, breaking its momentum.

Magnus glanced over his shoulder to see Darren charging into the fray. The half-breed hunter’s wings were fully extended, his sword drawn and gleaming. Without wasting a single word on a greeting, Darren launched himself at the demon, drawing its full attention. He had clearly seen what happened. Words were useless right now; they both had a job to do.

Magnus turned back to Xyra, forcing an unprecedented amount of magic into her body. She winced, her brow furrowing, which gave him a desperate spark of hope. He just needed her to hold on. She had lost an immense amount of blood, and the wound hole was massive. Just stay with me, Xyra, he begged silently. I promise I won't let you die.

He pushed his magic to the absolute limit. Gradually, her strained features began to soften and relax. But instead of comforting him, the sudden lack of expression terrified him. If she wasn't reacting to the pain anymore, it meant she had either slipped into unconsciousness, or...

Magnus aggressively shook his head, refusing to let his mind go down that path. The spell was nearing completion, and he poured every remaining ounce of his stamina into the light. Please, Xyra. Just a few more seconds. I'm almost done.

The moment her body went completely limp, the brilliant white light flickered and died. The gaping wound in her stomach was gone, replaced by smooth, unblemished skin. Magnus immediately dropped his head against her chest, holding his breath as he listened. 

Seconds ticked by. His chest tightened in absolute horror. He couldn't hear a thing. There wasn't a single thud coming from her chest. He froze, absolute denial washing over him. No. This isn't happening. Pulling back, a manic determination took over. He placed his palms directly over her heart. He had only ever attempted this reckless technique once before in his life, but it was his last option.

"Forgive me," he whispered, his voice cracking. "This is going to hurt."

Tiny, brilliant blue sparks of electricity began to crackle from his fingertips, surging directly into her chest. The current rippled across her skin, jolting her body. He pulled his hands back quickly, terrified of stopping her heart permanently if the shock was too much. She didn't move. He tried again, delivering a shorter, sharper burst. Still nothing. Panic began to claw at his throat.

Pressing his hands down firmly, he delivered a steady, controlled rhythmic pulse of electricity alongside a physical compress. He wasn't going to stop. Even if he had to do this until his own hands burned to ash, he wouldn't give up on her.

"Come on, Xyra," he choked out. "Wake up. You have to wake up." He dialed up the voltage just a fraction. You can't leave me. I already lost Meryel. I can't lose you too. Please!

Suddenly, a violent twitch rippled through her shoulders. Magnus instantly cut the magic and threw his ear back against her chest.

It was incredibly faint, a fragile, distant sound, but it was there. Thump. Thump.

A ragged sigh of relief escaped his lips. "Thank God."

A monstrous shriek behind him snapped him back to reality. He had completely forgotten about Darren and the hybrid, but it turned out his concern wasn't needed. The hunter had completely handled it. The vepus was pinned to the ground, a broadsword driven straight through its torso into something vital.

Darren exhaled heavily as the creature finally went completely still, its limbs relaxing into the dirt. Yet, the hunter looked incredibly confused. Hybrids were notoriously difficult to kill; they shouldn't have gone down this easily from a standard physical strike. Frowning, he yanked his sword free, only to find the steel tip completely bent and ruined.

Curious, he kicked the demon's corpse over. When he saw what was embedded in its chest, his eyes widened. Fused directly into the monster's flesh was a Lazufeer talisman. It was just another puppet being manipulated by one of the ancient artifacts.

Darren pried the talisman loose, sheathed his broken blade, and let his wings recede into his back. He walked over to where Magnus was sitting on the grass. The sight brought a soft, genuine smile to the hunter's face.

The legendary, terrifying sorcerer was sitting in the dirt, cradling Xyra tightly in his lap, rocking her back and forth like fragile glass. A man who held the power to level cities looked incredibly small and broken at that moment.

"Hey, Magnus," Darren called out gently. "It's over. Take a breath. We won."

"...She almost died," Magnus whispered, his eyes never leaving Xyra's pale face. "She threw herself in front of me to protect me. If I had just been faster with my own healing, she wouldn't have been touched."

"It's a good thing you're Albus then," Darren said, crossing his arms. "Anyone else would have failed completely. You both would be dead right now."

"Still... it shouldn't have come to this," Magnus muttered, tightening his grip around her. "I don't know what I would have done... if I lost her."

Darren watched his friend, his smile softening. The sorcerer was clearly in emotional agony, but to Darren, it was a beautiful thing to see. It proved that Magnus was capable of deeply caring for someone, that Xyra was irreplaceable to him. Who would have thought the feared Devil's Upholder was such a softie at heart? Then again, no matter how terrifying a sorcerer's magic is, they're still just human underneath it all. I wonder if the same applies to half-breeds like me, Darren mused.

A playful smirk crept back onto the hunter’s face. "So..." he began, stepping closer. "I have one last question, and I expect an honest answer. Once you answer it, I'll leave you alone to sulk."

He waited until Magnus glanced up at him before dropping the question that had been hanging in the air for weeks.

"Do you love her?"