Sometimes it takes all our strength just to see the next sunrise. A great triumph that—is.
Alumin beheld the most incredible battle. His brother's strikes, almost too fast to track, were a perfect flurry. He was keeping just the right amount of distance and exerting just the right amount of pressure on his opponents without opening himself up to attacks. The offense was Alith's defense as well. He was using their grandfather's fighting style. Ghedden would be proud to see his work perfected by his grandchild, by the pride and joy of their village.
Whenever his prodigal older brother fought, he couldn't help but stare. It was an art. His body was fluid. Like a master painter commanding the paint on the canvas, so did Alith command violence on the battlefield.
The grotesque assailants even seemed to be losing. Their disfigured forms didn't unnerve Alumin. Nothing really seemed scary when Alith was there. Particularly when he was fighting it.
The red one seemed to be the only human one. He was… laughing? He really seemed to enjoy himself. He said something to Alith. Alumin didn't catch it. Then he glanced at Alumin.
The lanky one turned its head toward Alumin too. Its unnaturally long arms stretched to grab him with great speed. Al dodged. He's alive! Not for long. It was coming.
Panic…
Panic?
PANIC!
Al stumbled back. His eyes watered. His vision blurred. He fell down. He was stuck, forgot how to breathe. Forgot how his legs worked. Forgot how to be brave—not that he ever knew.
Oh… here's Alith again. He knows how to be brave… I don't… Wow, he's moving well. Got in close to negate the range disadvantage. Such control over his breath too. His lungs must be made of steel or something.
"Get up."
"Get up, Al."
'What was that noise?'
"Alumin, you will stand up!"
Alumin obeyed.
Take control of your breath, Alith commanded. Alumin started flanking the creature from the sides. They were doing well. He even helped deflect some strikes from reaching his brother. His brother trusted him with that.
They always practiced together. Alumin was talented. Alith always said it. No one else really shared the sentiment, but what did they know? Look at him. Doing battle alongside the greatest Sarin warrior their people had ever seen.
The three mages stopped their advance. The red one was saying something. He seemed to have someone. Was that… Ghedden?
Alith saw it too and charged. His attack arrived first, though. With a sand-propelled kick to the chin of the humanoid mage and a wave of projectiles at the other two, he got to his grandpa. He seemed safe and sound. That was easy.
What was Ghedden even doing here? He probably left the girl at the shelter and rushed here. It wasn't hard to find them. This fight had fire and sand bringing disorder to the ashen sky.
Their usually chatty grandpa was silent. Al never thought of his grandpa as someone who'd crumble under pressure. He had a blank stare on his wrinkled face. His eyes seemed strange. Alith faced his opponents, who recovered quickly. He took a quick glance back.
He was met by a red-eyed demon wearing his grandfather's face.
Alith tried to react and twisted. Its claws wounded his side.
His white shirt was turning red.