Imminent Danger----IV

In the dead of night, a crack in space spit out two individuals.

Within the budding meadow, Elias and Eset emerged out of the teleportation spell, a solemn aura enveloping the two.

[Is he telling the truth?]Eset asked. Seeing the visible confusion on Elias's face she continued [The merchant, could he be telling the truth, could father still be… alive?]

Angered by her question, Elias gave in to his impulses, letting loose some of the anger and stress of the day.

"OF COURSE HE'S ALIVE!" Elias yelled, his buried emotions bursting through his façade. He knew how much Eset loved their father, and he refused to let her give up hope, even if he had..

Elias tried avoiding the topic of his father for quite the while. He was not sure whether Isaac was alive or dead, but that was enough for him. It was enough that there was at least a possibility, the smallest of chances, but it was enough.

[I-I'm sorry Elias, You're right, he's definitely alive!] Eset stuttered.

Realizing his mistake, Elias brushed his short brown hair back and held his temple with his hand calming himself. With a short sigh, Elias's furrowed brows eased and his expression softened, turning apologetic.

[Sorry Eset, you know I didn't mean it right? I was just… stupid.]

Eset snorted, her head rubbing softly into her brother's as she graciously forgave his blunder.

[Apology accepted peasant. Bow down to this one's benevolence!] She said comedically, eliciting a small awry smile from her companion.

[And Elias, don't call yourself stupid.] she added.

[Thanks Ese-]

[Because only I can!]

Laughing into the chilly night air, Eset and Elias relaxed, throwing around jokes and talking endlessly.

###

The walk back to their home was peaceful, one routinely experienced. However, when they were but a short distance away, a spell of danger came about them.

Close to the cabin the duo's keen predatory senses noticed discrepancies in the environment.

It was not something the normal human or beast would notice.

Nobody would notice the broken blades of grass, or the soil's slightly sinking surface, not even the minute Aeter signature of malicious beings; demons.

[Get rea-]

Before Elias could ready himself to take action, a heavy blow landed on his side throwing him into the cabin's wooden structure.

Elias's body was a wrecking ball, smashing through the walls and letting a plume of debris and smoke to rise into the clear night sky.

Under the heavy wooden logs, Elias's body fell limp, showing the whites of his eyes. Not even a small grunt of pain was let loose from his mouth, as he was attacked mercilessly without even the slightest chance to fight back.

However, While Elias was not able to react to the blow, Eset was much more fortunate, her marvelous senses coming to save the day.

Right when the blow was about to connect, the side of her black beady eyes noticed a dark silhouette approaching. Unable to block it, her instincts moved her body involuntarily, teleporting her away immediately.

[ELIAS! Elias are you alright?!]

In panic, Eset used all her mental energy and wracked her brother's brain with her telepathic voice, trying to ascertain whether or not he was still alive.

Getting no response, Eset flapped her wings powerfully in Elias's direction yet a direct strike headed her way impeded her.

[Algiz! {ᛉ}] She chanted, trying to protect herself as her talons drew into the air. But she was too slow.

She watched as a dark lance like object pierced her half completed rune and shattering it to pieces. That very same lance bore through her wing, carrying her like a rag doll into a tree and pinning the owl on its thick bark.

Eset screeched into the winds, her voice carrying unimaginable pain and sorrow. She hung powerlessly from her wing, her once beautiful feathery body now marred by dark thick blood.

Eset's body was riddled with injuries; broken bones, damaged organs… Even her magnificent antlers were cracked.

As she hung there on the cusp of succumbing to her sudden death, a poisonously alluring feminine voice made its way to her ears.

"Hmm?~ still alive little birdie?~"