Elementals

Epilogue-Beaten, But Not Defeated...

•Korallis's P.O.V•

My body hit the ground with a painful *thud*. Just about every muscle in my body ached. I tried to get myself onto my feet, groaning in pain as the fatigue washed over my body. I felt sick to my stomach.

"Need a hand, my lord?"

I looked up,a and as my vision cleared I saw a hand outstretched towards me, a warm, relieved smile plastered on the fave of its owner.

"Bliss..." I whispered.

I took him by the hand and he pulled me to my feet with ease. He examined me, putting on a look of concern.

"You look like you got torn to shreds by terrawolves. What happened back there?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I pulled the mind elemental in for a hug, wrapping him in my arms tightly. The entire room, whichever one we were currently in, fell silent for a moment.

"Oh...well, this is new."

I pulled away and looked him dead in the eye. My voice was one of pure concern. "Are you hurt?"

I examined him. His clothes were torn, bruises on his lower arms and a few cuts and scratches on his face and other parts of his body. Bliss sighed.

"Not much." He replied. A wave of relief washed over me. I looked around, finding myself in a room I didn't recognise.

"Where are we?"

"One of the chambers under the castle." Replied Bliss. "It was the first place that I had in mind when I opened the portal to help you escape."

"Makes sense."

The room fell silent again. I looked down at my hands, noticing the veins running along my hands pulsing with my corrupted energy.

My faint corrupted energy.

"...what happened?" I whispered bitterly. Bliss looked at me, confused.

"What do you-"

"I thought I was strong enough." I cut him off, my voice a low growl. "I thought I had returned to full power; to my peak. So how...? How was I overpowered so easily?"

"My lord, I don't know what-"

"You told me I was strong enough to handle them!"

"Yes, I-"

"THEN WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED BACK THERE, ANDREAS!?"

The sudden outburst forced a startled yelp out of Andreas as he took a scared step back. My anger and frustration only grew.

"You did not inform me that the entirety of Fier's team was tagging along. You did not inform me that they had planned an ambush! You did not inform me that Alexander Fier was gifted with power that could rival my own! Hell, surpass it!"

"I-I didn't know, my lord- I swear-"

"And where were you anyway!? I thought I told you to make sure that those elementals don't come close to my castle in the first place!"

"The spell was breached, my lord! There was nothing left I could do-"

His eyes emitted a soft, fearful glow as I glared at him. I was ready to attack him right then and there, but given how drained and fatigued I was, I just let out a sharp, annoyed breath and turned my back to him. I felt cracks begin to form under my feet.

"Believe me, if I knew, I would have warned you. I tried to hold them back long enough to get to you, but I-"

"But you what?"