The Protectors: Rising from Ashes [Progression Fantasy | Action-Packed | Epic Battles]

Elias's hands dropped to his sides, fingers twitching once before curling into fists.

The chamber hadn't cooled, but the air pressed in, dense, tight, as if the walls themselves were watching. A vein pulsed at his temple. His jaw clenched. Still, he didn't look away from Maris.

A few feet off, Cassandra remained just outside the group's radius, her silhouette stiff and unmoving. Her shoulders pinched inward, like the weight of the moment might crack her spine. Her skin held a waxy pallor, lips flattened into a bloodless line. The tremble in her fingers was almost imperceptible. but it was there, threading through her like a silent alarm. She didn't speak. Didn't blink. Just stared.

Maris's gaze stayed on Elias. Her voice cut clean and hard.

"His parents," she said. "And his brother. Damien."

The words dropped like iron. Elias flinched. He swayed, just barely, like someone had knocked the breath from his lungs. His eyes widened, and he blinked too fast, too often. When he finally moved, it was to pivot toward Sentinel, shoulders tight, voice splintering.

"You knew they were coming too?"

Sentinel's brow creased. "No. I only knew the Elders were arriving. I had no idea about your family."

A breathless laugh slipped from Elias, dry, sharp, the kind that scraped up from somewhere raw.
"Of course. The Elders alone wouldn't be enough. Let's throw in the full tribunal of disappointment. Might as well make the humiliation legendary."

Thorne gave a long, low whistle.
"Whew. Family drama and world-ending stakes? Man, if my parents strolled in, I'd be under the table with a blanket and a fake name."

Lyric elbowed him again, smirking. "Timing, Thorne."

Cass blinked, slow and shaky, but didn't move. Her knees wobbled, just once, but she planted her boots firmer into the stone floor, like she was daring herself to stay upright. Her stare never left Elias. Her mouth parted like she meant to speak, then shut again, too tight. Every inch of her said what her voice couldn't.

Eddy's voice broke the silence. "Your family's here too?" He exhaled, long and low. "Yeah... that's gonna make things way harder for you than the rest of them."

Everyone turned.

Not a glance. A full stop.

Thorne blinked. Lyric tilted her head, suspicion flaring behind her narrowed eyes. Even Elias turned, blinking as if shaking himself back into the room.

Eddy looked between them all, then threw up his hands. "What?" His voice hitched with false innocence. "I told you, I know everything about all of you. Powers, past, and yeah... even family drama."

Thorne tilted his head. "Okay, creepy."

Then Maris's gaze shifted, sharp, appraising. "So this is the boy."

Sentinel moved, barely, placing himself between Eddy and her line of sight. "Yes. We found him."

"And you brought him here?" Her tone sliced cleaner now, colder. "You understand what happens if anyone notices what he carries?"

Sentinel's jaw clenched. "We're being careful," he said, low and measured. "But right now, we've got bigger fires to put out."

He turned toward Elias, voice softer now, but steady.
"You've stood in front of their disappointment before. Their judgment. But this time?" His gaze held. "You're not facing them alone."

Elias didn't reply, just blinked, once, slow. Something behind his eyes shifted, like the words hadn't landed all the way, but they'd cracked through.

Sentinel didn't flinch. "We're with you. All of us. And they're not just here to demand answers about Duskveil Mall."

His voice cooled. "They've got questions to answer, too."

That got attention.

A subtle ripple moved through the group. Even Lyric's brow lifted, and Thorne stopped fidgeting.

Thorne tilted his head, eyes narrowing. "What kind of questions?" His tone wasn't mocking this time, just curious.

Sentinel didn't answer. Not yet. His silence wasn't hesitation. It was intent.

Lyric stepped in beside Elias, voice steady. "Whatever happens in there, you're not the only one they'll be facing. We're chosen too. This is all of us."

Thorne tossed up a lazy salute. "And if it turns into a cosmic roast session, I brought extra sarcasm just for them."

That tugged the corner of Elias's mouth, barely. A flicker. But it was something.

Without shifting his eyes from the others, Sentinel's voice cut through the room, sharp and unyielding.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"Cassandra, stay with Eddy, Keep him close, and out of the Elders' sight." His tone was firm, no room for argument. "The vampires among them have a sharp nose for humans."

Eddy visibly stiffened. "Wait, what—?"

Cassandra's breath caught, voice barely above a whisper, strained.
"Yes, sir…"

The room instantly quieted. Every head turned toward her.

She stayed upright, but only just. Shoulders slumped forward, arms trembling with the effort to stay standing. Her face was pale, drained of color, and dark shadows clung beneath her eyes like bruises.

Sentinel's expression tightened, concern flashing briefly. He stepped closer. "Cassandra," he said softly, "are you alright?"

She tried to straighten but wavered, swaying on her feet. "I'm fine," she murmured, but the uncertainty clung to her words.

Elias stepped forward, brow drawn tight. "What happened to you?"

Her fingers twitched at her side, slow and unsteady. "The teleportation," she admitted quietly. "I pushed beyond my limit. Six people. It took more out of me than I expected."

Thorne let out a low whistle. "Damn, Sparks. You should have told someone."

Lyric's gaze softened, voice gentle but firm. "You need rest, not orders."

Maris, silent until now, stepped forward.
"I'll stay with her," she said, moving toward the crystal shelves along the chamber wall. "I can prepare some blends, elixirs to help her recover quickly. She will be back on her feet soon."

The others nodded.

Cassandra sagged onto a nearby bench, relief flickering in her eyes as Maris began her work.

Eddy blinked, glancing between Sentinel and Cassandra, mouth opening to speak but Thorne cut him off, half-joking but serious beneath the grin.

"You," Thorne said, narrowing his eyes, "stay right here. Don't wander unless you want to be Elders' next snack."

Lyric folded her arms, throwing a pointed glance at Eddy. "Yeah, if one of them recognizes what you are, we're going to have a hell of a time trying to save you."

A flicker of nervousness crossed Eddy's face. "Got it. Stick with the magic girl."

He glanced sideways at Cassandra, who gave him a weak, tired nod as she slumped back against the bench.

Sentinel straightened, his eyes sweeping the chamber. "We should go. The Elders are already waiting."

Before anyone could move, Thorne frowned, scanning the room. "Wait, where are Alice and Aiden?"

Maris paused mid-motion, her hand hovering above a corked flask. Her gaze lifted, eyes narrowing slightly.
"With the Elders," she said. "Alice and Aiden were summoned to the Solstice Chamber nearly an hour ago."

The words landed with weight.

Lyric's brows knit. Elias's jaw tightened. Thorne blew out a breath and raked a hand through his hair.
"Well… that's a recipe for chaos. Those two alone with the Elders? Hope someone brought a containment spell."

Sentinel's face remained unreadable, though tension quietly pulled at his shoulders.

Maris's tone turned firm, the weight of her reasoning clear.
"Someone had to be there when they arrived. Leaving the chamber empty would've been seen as disrespect—or worse, defiance. Alice and Aiden went ahead to explain why the rest of you weren't present. It bought us time."

Lyric nodded slowly, understanding blooming in her expression.
"To keep things from spiraling the moment they stepped in."

Maris gave a brisk nod. "Exactly. The Elders were already impatient. If no one had been there, they might've declared judgment before hearing anything."

Elias muttered under his breath, "And those two volunteered for that?"

Thorne huffed. "Of course they did. Aiden probably walked in like he was about to renegotiate world peace, and Alice's glare alone could keep a council quiet for five minutes."
He turned toward the door. "Let's go, before they murder us for showing up this late."

Elias winced, already moving. "I told them we'd be there on time. They're probably defending our absence right now while trying not to commit political homicide."

Sentinel didn't flinch. "Let's move. We've already kept them waiting long enough, and elders are not known for patience."

They all nodded and turned toward the exit, tension clinging to their movements like a second skin.

But Maris's voice cut through the air—sharp and unwavering.
"Sentinel... one of the High Elders arrived with the delegation."

Sentinel stopped. Mid-stride. Muscles locked, spine straightening like a drawn blade.

Behind him, footsteps faltered. Every pair of eyes in the room snapped toward Maris.

She didn't flinch. Her hand stilled above the vials she'd been packing. Her lips pressed into a thin line, eyes locked on Sentinel—not with panic, but with a grim understanding that said more than the words that followed.

He turned to her slowly. The set of his jaw tightened, but his voice remained quiet.
"Lord Veyrion."

Maris gave a solemn nod. "Yes. Lord Veyrion, High Elder of the Crimson Court and a ruling voice on the Vampire High Council that governs all of vampire territories in Zephros. He arrived shortly before you did."

Cassandra went rigid. The air seemed to thin around her. Her fingertips whitened against the table's edge.

Her gaze snapped to Sentinel, wide, anxious. "That's... that's going to make things more worse."

Sentinel didn't respond right away. The look on his face was stone, but something behind his eyes shifted, like the tightening of a bowstring.

Vaelthar's voice slipped into his thoughts, sharp and biting. Of course it's him. Veyrion never misses a chance to play the high game. You know how he loves to act superior, how he enjoys dragging us down in front of others.

Sentinel's inner voice was tense. I know.

He's waited for an opening to drag us down in front of the others, and now he's got one, Vaelthar hissed. The Chosen failed to protect their own. Innocent blood spilled in Duskveil. He'll shove that fact down every throat in the chamber. He'll twist it until the Council forgets who started the fire and only remembers who didn't put it out.

Sentinel's jaw clenched harder. "He'll try. But we're not standing down too."

Just remember, Vaelthar growled. He doesn't come to fight. He comes to humiliate. And today, he thinks the stage is his.

Lyric, Thorne, and Elias exchanged quick, uneasy glances. They'd seen Sentinel face down threats and enemies without blinking, yet now, something silent and heavy tightened the air between them.

Only Eddy stayed oblivious. He dropped his battered bag on a side table, peeled open a crumpled protein bar like any ordinary moment. Then he caught the freeze in the air.

His gaze lifted, scanning the tense lines of Sentinel's stance, the sharp set of Maris's jaw, and Cassandra folding inward, quiet and tight.

"Okay..." Eddy's voice was low, confused. "Seriously, what's going on?"

No one answered.

The atmosphere thickened, charged, shifting like the calm before a storm.

Sentinel's eyes drifted to the crystal-veined wall. Soft white panels along his cheekbones pulsed faintly, reflecting a cold resolve.

He exhaled, slow, heavy, like the weight of a gathering gale. "They came prepared," he muttered, voice rough as weathered stone. "Right down to the fangs."

He gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod inside, acknowledging Vaelthar's warning.

"We won't give them what they want so easily."

His gaze flickered to Maris for a brief moment, an unspoken question, a silent understanding. Then he pivoted, cloak snapping behind him.

The Alchemical Chamber doors whispered shut behind the group as they moved forward, stepping into whatever awaited beyond.