As we moved through the city, the ground beneath our feet began to tremble. At first, it was a subtle vibration, a faint buzz I felt in my boots, but soon the shaking swelled into a bone-rattling quake, as if the world''s foundation was unraveling. Out of the chaos rose a massive stone golem, its bulk silhouetted against the smoky sky. Its surface was pitted and ancient, glowing faintly with orange cracks, and each step sent fissures spidering through the street.


    "EVERYBODY SCATTER!" I shouted, my voice nearly lost in the earth''s growl. In an instant, everyone bolted—Laboritus diving behind a crumbled wall, Alythiel ducking under an overturned cart, Tschumo and his guards scrambling for anything solid.


    I drew both swords—Celerius and Mors gleaming faintly—and sprinted toward the golem. Instinct or desperation? I still don''t know. The air was thick with ash as I darted around its colossal legs, weaving through tremors. I struck with every swing, blades clanging against stone, but they barely scratched its weathered hide. Panic surged, sharp and cold—this thing was a wall I couldn''t breach.


    Desperate, I ran straight in front of it, heart slamming against my ribs. No plan, just motion. The golem''s arm rose, slow and deliberate, a slab of stone poised to crush me. I tensed, then dove aside—its fist crashed down where I''d stood, the boom deafening. A shock wave flung me into a wall, stone biting my spine. The ache still haunts me.


    "SOLARI!" Alythiel screamed from behind cover, her voice thick with fear, piercing the haze in my skull.


    I clawed to my feet, breath ragged, as the golem lumbered closer. Dust stung my eyes, and I froze—its huge foot lifted, casting a shadow that swallowed me. Defeat loomed, bitter as bile. Was this how I''d end—smashed flat, a speck under a titan''s heel?


    Then a lightning bolt tore through the sky, blinding and fierce. It struck the golem dead center, and with a crack that split the air, the beast shattered into a storm of jagged shards. Stone rained down, pinging off my armor. In its place stood a mage, cloaked in a blood-red robe, hood veiling their face in shadow. Before I could blink, a fireball roared in, smashing against an unseen barrier behind them, flames licking hungrily.


    An enraged voice rang out: "You destroyed my golem easily!"


    "For that, you shall pay," the enemy mage snarled. A barrage of fireballs followed, blazing like meteors. But the magic turned—the fireballs froze midair, trembling, then shot back. They struck their caster with ruthless precision, engulfing him in a pyre. In seconds, he was ash, a charred smear on the ground. Still one of my favorite mage fights—power eating its own master like that.


    "Who are you?" I demanded, voice rough, but no answer came. A whirlwind kicked up around the red-robed mage, swirling dust and embers, and in a blink, they vanished. I wondered if I''d cross paths with them again, that enigma in red.


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    Distant explosions rocked the city, a grim reminder of the fight still raging. Alythiel rushed over, silver hair dusted with soot. "A few broken ribs, internal bleeding—and you''re lucky that''s all you got," she scolded, hands glowing green. Pain faded as warmth seeped into me, mending the damage.


    I hauled myself up, legs shaky. "I TOLD YOU TO BE CAREFUL!" she yelled, landing a light punch on my cheek, more tease than threat.


    I smirked, rubbing the spot. "What kind of healer injures her patients?" I shot back, playing offended despite the lingering ache.


    Before we could spar more, Tschumo approached, his grizzled face etched with weariness. His armor was scratched, his limp barely hidden. "What are all these explosions?" he asked, alarm mixing with confusion in his gravelly tone.


    "Probably a one-dwarf army," I replied with a smirk, already picturing Torglel grinning through the chaos he''d unleashed.


    We moved fast toward the sound, boots pounding cracked stone. The air grew heavy with smoke and the copper tang of blood. As we neared, I saw Torglel finishing off the last of a group of enemy soldiers. He stood in a graveyard of bodies—armor split, swords snapped, the ground scorched black. "Solari, you sneaky bugger," he called out with a grin, wiping sweat from his beard, clearly in his element.


    I chuckled, shaking my head. "You dropped me right in the middle of a training ground for practice dummies," he teased, gesturing to the lifeless foes around us. "I actually had to use my fire magic to take them down."


    When Torglel pulled out fire magic, I knew he meant business—rare for him to dig that deep unless he had to. Faint embers still glowed on the corpses, winking out slow.


    I rolled my eyes. "Do you know how hungry it makes me using that much magic?" he joked, patting his gut with a groan.


    "So, did we win?" Torglel added, grinning wider. "Because I''m starving for some victory food." Always thinking with his stomach, even ankle-deep in the dead.


    Tschumo stared at the carnage, jaw slack. "There are fifty bodies here. How did you manage to survive, let alone win?"


    "It takes a lot more skill to pose a challenge to me," Torglel laughed, slapping Tschumo''s shoulder so hard the captain staggered. "It''s been a while since I had a battle that fun!"


    Tschumo''s disbelief deepened, his eyes flicking over the slaughter. I stepped in. "Torglel, this is Tschumo, captain of Soreanth''s guards."


    "And Tschumo, meet Torglel—arguably the strongest fire magic user in Thoringard," I said, nodding at Torglel''s smug nod.


    With introductions done, Alythiel cut in, voice sharp with purpose. "Now, let''s do something about the flames burning the city." She knelt, tracing an intricate circle in the scorched dirt with her dagger''s tip. "Uponyaji Plavium," she chanted, steady and sure. Dark clouds rolled in overhead, thick and sudden, and a torrential downpour crashed down. It smothered the fires, steam hissing as flames died. "This not only quenches the flames but also heals minor injuries," she explained, watching rain wash blood from the stones.


    "Thank you for saving us today. We are forever in your debt," Tschumo said solemnly, bowing his head, water dripping from his helm.


    "You''re absolutely welcome," I replied, clapping his shoulder, feeling the weight of his words settle.


    I turned to Laboritus and Alythiel, rain soaking my armor. "This seems like something bigger than we imagined is happening. Will you both continue to aid us?"


    Alythiel shook her head with a playful roll of her eyes, water beading on her lashes. "Someone''s gotta watch out for your reckless self," she teased, smirking through the damp.


    Laboritus grinned broadly, his towering frame steady in the downpour. "When a friend is in need, I''ll always be there to help."


    "Then it''s settled," I declared, voice cutting through the rain''s roar. "Let''s rest here for the night and head back to base." From that moment on, we were a team—forged in fire and storm, even if we didn''t know how long it''d hold.