Episode 4

Maria sprinted through the winding corridors of the war room, her heart pounding in her chest. She had been training for weeks, honing her skills and learning to harness the power of the elements. But she had never faced a real battle before.

As she turned a corner, she heard the sound of clashing steel and the roar of a beast. Her stomach twisted with fear, but she steeled herself and kept running.

She burst into the battle-scarred chamber, her eyes scanning the room for Erien and the monster. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and sweat, and the sound of battle echoed off the walls.

Erien was fighting for his life, his sword flashing in the dim light as he clashed with a massive, scaled creature. The monster's eyes glowed with an otherworldly energy, and its claws ripped through the air with deadly precision.

Maria didn't hesitate. She charged forward, her fists glowing with a soft, blue light. She had been practicing her elemental magic, and she was ready to put it to the test.

As she approached the battle, the monster's eyes flicked towards her, and it let out a deafening roar. Erien took advantage of the distraction, striking at the monster's exposed flank.

Maria joined the fight, her fists flying as she unleashed a flurry of elemental attacks. The monster stumbled backwards, its scales crackling with energy as it tried to defend itself.

Erien and Maria fought in perfect sync, their movements fluid and practiced. They had trained together for weeks, and it showed in their battle strategy.

As the fight raged on, Maria began to feel a strange, buzzing energy building up inside her. It was as if her elemental magic was growing stronger, responding to the intensity of the battle.

Suddenly, the energy burst forth from her body, unleashing a blast of elemental force that sent the monster flying across the room. Erien took advantage of the opening, striking the final blow that defeated the creature.

As the dust settled, Maria and Erien stood panting, their chests heaving with exertion. They exchanged a triumphant glance, and then Erien turned to Maria with a curious expression.

"What was that energy burst at the end?" he asked, his eyes narrowing. "I've never seen anything like it."

Maria shook her head, feeling a sense of wonder and excitement. "I don't know," she said. "But I think it's just the beginning."

Erien scooped Maria up in his arms, cradling her limp form against his chest. He had seen her use her elemental magic before, but never like that. The energy burst had been incredible, and it seemed to have taken a lot out of her.

As he carried her away from the battle-scarred chamber, Erien couldn't help but feel a sense of concern. Maria was usually so strong and capable, but now she seemed fragile and vulnerable.

He made his way through the winding corridors of the war room, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls. Finally, he arrived at the infirmary, a small chamber filled with rows of narrow beds and shelves lined with jars of healing potions.

Erien laid Maria down on one of the beds, gently arranging her limbs and covering her with a soft blanket. He sat down beside her, taking her hand in his and watching as her chest rose and fell with each slow breath.

As he sat there, Erien couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility towards Maria. He had grown to care for.

Erien scooped Maria up in his arms, cradling her limp form against his chest. He had seen her use her elemental magic before, but never like that. The energy burst had been incredible, and it seemed to have taken a lot out of her.

As he carried her away from the battle-scarred chamber, Erien couldn't help but feel a sense of concern. Maria was usually so strong and capable, but now she seemed fragile and vulnerable.

He made his way through the winding corridors of the war room, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls. Finally, he arrived at the infirmary, a small chamber filled with rows of narrow beds and shelves lined with jars of healing potions.

Erien laid Maria down on one of the beds, gently arranging her limbs and covering her with a soft blanket. He sat down beside her, taking her hand in his and watching as her chest rose and fell with each slow breath.

As he sat there, Erien couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility towards Maria. He had grown to care for her deeply, and he knew that he would do anything to protect her.

Just then, the door to the infirmary burst open, and a harried-looking healer rushed in. "Erien, what happened?" she asked, her eyes scanning Maria's limp form.

Erien filled her in on the details of the battle, and the healer's expression grew more and more concerned. "We'll need to run some tests," she said. "But for now, let's just focus on getting her stable."

Erien nodded, watching as the healer set to work. He held Maria's hand, feeling a sense of helplessness wash over him.

As the hours ticked by, Maria remained unconscious, her body fighting to recover from the exertion of the battle. Erien stayed by her side, watching over her and waiting for her to wake up.

But as the darkness deepened outside, Erien began to feel a sense of unease. Something was off, and he couldn't shake the feeling that they were running out of time...

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