The atmosphere in the hotel room was thick with tension and exhaustion. The team collapsed into the sleek, minimalistic furniture that filled the hotel suite. The glowing mana-lamps cast a soft light over their faces as everyone let out collective sighs of relief.
"That was way too close," Marika muttered, slumping into the curved couch. "I thought those Grand Mages were going to tear us apart back there."
"Well, we made it, didn't we?" Jake huffed, crossing his arms. He leaned back, trying to mask his unease behind his usual bravado.
Ethan sat on the edge of a chair, his fingers pressed to his temples. His senses were sharper than anyone else's in the room, and something wasn't sitting right. That's when he felt it—a subtle, lingering presence of mana clinging to the space. His eyes snapped open, narrowing as his gaze landed on Jake's boots.
"Everyone, get up! Now!" Ethan barked, the sharpness of his voice jolting them to attention.
"What are you—" Marika started, but before she could finish, the door to their suite exploded inward with a deafening roar. Shards of mana-infused steel and reinforced glass scattered across the room as a blast of icy energy tore through the entrance. The shockwave knocked over furniture and left the walls splintered.
"Move!" Ethan shouted, grabbing Kalthorne's unconscious body with his telekinetic spell as the team reacted instantly, leaping toward the massive window. The glass shattered as they dove through, the frigid Arctic air biting at their faces as they landed on the roof of a nearby building.
Ethan landed with practiced ease, his telekinetic aura still keeping their captive floating securely. He quickly scanned the surroundings. The sounds of chaos erupted below as Ice Elf reinforcements swarmed into the district, their glowing weapons and frosted armor gleaming under the artificial lights of Frostveil.
"Lindiwe! Dispel the tracking spell—now!" Ethan ordered. His voice was calm but carried an undeniable urgency.
Lindiwe wasted no time. She knelt beside Jake, her hands glowing with blue mana as she closed her eyes. The air around them crackled as she channeled her magic into Jake's boots, unraveling the intricate script of the tracking spell. She started sweating as she worked hastily.
"It's done!" she gasped, stumbling back.
"Good. Everyone, we're heading to the old industrial zone," Ethan said as he looked around. "We can hide there, but keep it quiet. If we draw too much attention, the Federation will get involved, and we're finished."
They moved swiftly across the rooftops, their movements silent and coordinated. But it wasn't long before their pursuers found them. Supreme Mages, ten of them, emerged from the shadows. Two of them were Ice Elves, their pale blue skin and frost-etched armor blending seamlessly with the city. Their presence made Ethan's stomach tighten. Frostveil was their home turf, and they had every advantage.
"Split up!" Ethan commanded, his voice cutting through the tension. "Draw them away, but don't engage unless you have to!"
The next moments were chaos. Spells lit up the night as the team darted through the industrial sector. Marika sent bursts of fiery explosions toward their enemies, forcing them to scatter. Lindiwe conjured barriers to block incoming frost spears, Jake hurled fiery projectiles wildly, his attacks creating brief openings.
But the Ice Elves and their allies were relentless. Their spells were precise, their frost magic chilling the air and freezing entire sections of the rooftops. One Supreme Mage conjured a massive icicle spear and hurled it toward Lindiwe, who barely managed to dodge in time.
"Stay focused!" Ethan shouted, hurling his staff toward one of the enemies. The sleek weapon, imbued with Dwarven and Elven runes, extended midair, slamming into the mage with devastating force. The enemy crumpled to the ground, his body twitching before going still.
Ethan's mana flared as he summoned a series of glowing circles in the air. "Plasma Rain!" he chanted, and dozens of searing plasma bolts rained down from above, forcing their enemies to scatter. But despite their efforts, the team was gradually being overwhelmed.
"We can't keep this up!" Marika yelled, her breathing labored as she cast another fiery vortex to hold back the advancing mages.
"Just keep moving! Don't stop!" Ethan replied, his voice unwavering as he led them through the labyrinthine rooftops of the industrial zone.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally managed to lose their pursuers. They ducked into an old factory, its rusted walls and broken machinery providing some semblance of cover. The team collapsed onto the cold floor, their breaths heavy and uneven.
Ethan set Kalthorne down gently, the captive still floating in his telekinetic grip. He turned to Jake, his expression cold and furious.
"Do you have any idea what you've done?" Ethan demanded, his voice like a whip.
Jake glared back, his face flushed with anger. "I didn't mean to activate that spell! It was an accident!"
"An accident that nearly got us killed!" Ethan snapped. "You don't think! You never think! And now we've got Kalthorne's top gaurds hunting us!"
Jake clenched his fists, his voice rising. "Maybe if you weren't always barking orders like you're better than everyone, I wouldn't mess up so much! You're not perfect, Ethan!"
Ethan's gaze darkened. "Get out."
"What?" Jake blinked, startled by the command.
"Leave. If you're going to keep endangering the team, then go. You won't survive long out there, but that's your choice," Ethan said coldly.
Jake hesitated, his expression torn between defiance and regret. But after a moment, he stood up and stormed out of the factory without another word.
Marika and Lindiwe looked at Ethan with concern. "Ethan…" Marika began, but he cut her off.
"He's gone. He won't last long out there on his own," Ethan said bluntly. "But I have a plan."
Without elaborating, Ethan stood and exited the building. The air outside was still and heavy as he followed the trail of mana left behind by Jake. He found him soon enough.
Jake was fighting for his life against two Ice Elves. He was outmatched, his movements desperate as frost-coated blades sliced through the air. Blood stained the snow beneath him, but he fought on, his fiery magic flickering like a dying ember.
Ethan watched silently from a distance, his expression unreadable. He could have intervened. But he had enough of Jake. One of the elves' blades found its mark. Jake's head rolled to the ground, his body crumpling lifelessly.
Ethan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Domain Lock—Silent Sanctuary," he murmured, casting the spell that sealed the area from outside interference. The elves looked up, sensing the shift in the air as the dome surrounded them. They turned to see Ethan approaching, his staff glowing faintly with runes.
Ethan walked with purpose, his movements deliberate and cold. The Ice Elves readied their weapons, their mana flaring as they sensed his intent.
"Let's end this," Ethan said, his voice low and dangerous.
The battle that followed was brutal. Ethan moved like a storm, his staff whirling as he struck with precision and ferocity. The runes on his weapon glowed brighter with each swing, amplifying his spells. He conjured waves of fire and ice, using his extensive knowledge he quickly overwhelmed the elves despite their home-field advantage.
One of the elves lunged at him with a frost-coated blade, but Ethan sidestepped effortlessly, countering with "Mana Spike." The ground erupted with glowing spikes that impaled the elf, spraying blood across the snow.
The second elf unleashed a flurry of frost spears, but Ethan deflected them with his staff, spinning it like a shield. He closed the distance in an instant, slamming the staff into the elf's chest with enough force to shatter bone.
By the time the fight ended, Ethan stood uninjured amidst the carnage. Blood stained the snow, and the Silent Sanctuary flickered out as he released the spell. He stared down at the bodies for a moment before turning away, his expression grim.
Jake was gone. But the mission wasn't over. Ethan shouldered the weight of his decisions and began making his way back to the factory, the icy wind biting at his face.
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