Order Clan: 3

The three empyrians weren’t sure how to gain the upper hand against Shira. Their magic mostly revolved around affecting the air and it was clear she had mastered how to maneuver around it. Shira shook out her body and stretched, preparing for her next move while the empyrians tried to think of something new to try. 

“Support me,” An unknown vayron said, stepping into the cavern.

The three empyrians looked down at the little chaser, they were uncertain, but they also knew they couldn’t think of another option. 

Shira laughed at the newcomer, “Back again?”

“I’ll take you down this time,” the chaser said with determination. 

Oeric looked down at the smallest chaser he had ever seen and then shifted his gaze to look at the largest haedian he had seen. 

“This isn’t going to go well,” Oeric whispered to his companions. 

“Might as well try,” Aule replied quietly. 

“I can use my magic to shield him,” Griffith started to strategize. 

Aule nodded, “I can create platforms so he can move around easily.”

Oeric wasn’t sure how he could help so he remained silent. The small chaser was glaring at Shira, but he seemed unafraid. Then, without warning, the chaser charged. However, it was almost comical how “fast” his fast was. The chaser’s small steps didn’t take him far and it gave Oeric an idea. 

“Jump!” Oeric called out and when the chaser did as he asked, Oeric enchanted to the air at the vayron’s feet. 

The chaser never landed and the enchantment made him move faster than he ever had. It took a second to get used to it and then another second to remind himself that he was fighting, not playing. As the vayron charged at Shira with his new speed, whenever he jumped Aule created a platform of ice to land on, giving the chaser even more mobility. 

“Your left,” Griffith shouted, as Shira tried to strike out with her tail. 

Griffith formed a small wind wall to block the hit, but like always, Shira adapted to the teamwork the group had managed to work out. 

Shira watched the group move the chaser around her and calculated her plan to counter their moves. It didn’t take her long before she started to act on the ideas in her head. When the chaser jumped, the platform appeared, and in an instant Shira shattered it with her tail. Griffith wasn’t ready to block the shards from hitting the little fighter and Aule was too surprised to form another platform. 

The chaser hit the ground, however, surprising everyone but Shira, the chaser stood up quickly. Aule quickly formed a shield of ice when he spotted Shira moving to strike before the chaser noticed. Shira bounced off the ice and roared. The chaser thanked Aule quickly before racing back toward the enraged leader. 

“We need a new plan,” Oeric said as he watched the small vayron weave around the haedian’s legs. 

His companions agreed while they all kept their eyes on the small fighter. 

“On your right!” Oeric shouted. 

The chaser leaped to the left and missed Shira’s attack. Shira was growing frustrated with the group, but the chaser was more than happy to have the extra set of eyes watching his back. Shira moved her body to act like it was going one way, Aule called out the anticipated move, but she shifted her movements to snatch the chaser out of the air. 

“Damn it,” Aule hissed. 

The three empyrians tried to think of other ways they could help and support their little fighter. They grew more anxious when Shira raised the hand that held the chaser as if she were going to throw him down the tunnel. 

“What do we do?” Oeric panicked.

“This is going to hurt regardless,” Griffith said quickly. 

Shira did exactly as they expected and threw the small chaser, or tried to. The second the chaser was out of Shira’s grasp, he released his own magic. Tendrils of water that looked like tentacles shot out of his body and wrapped around Shira, preventing the vayron from going too far. 

“Nice job!” Aule cheered. 

“Keep using your magic,” Griffith called out. 

Shira grunted her frustration was only growing. 

“You can do it,” Oeric added as he reactivated the enchantment from earlier. 

They regrouped and doubled their efforts to support the chaser with various uses of their magic. It looked almost like Shira was getting tired and the group was getting excited that the fighter was going to do it. However, Shira’s acting was a ploy that they fell for. As the empyrians pooled their magic on the chaser, they were getting exhausted themselves. 

Eventually, Aule slumped to the ground. He apologized for his missing platforms but offered his support by calling out moves. Soon, Oeric followed. He fell next to Aule tired, but his magic was the one the chaser missed the most. Griffith continued to shield, but like the others, Shira outlasted them all. 

The chaser huffed before Shira, still determined. 

“Maybe next time, Tal,” Shira snickered. 

[842]