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

The wing was quiet. Shadows stretched long across the polished floors as the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a soft orange glow through arched windows. Light spilled faintly beneath the doors lining the corridor—five rooms, standing side by side, each one holding a storm behind its silence.

In the first, Eddy lay sprawled across his bed, one leg dangling off the edge, the other bent awkwardly against tangled sheets. His limbs ached in places he didn't know had muscles. He stared blankly at the ceiling, eyes half-lidded, breath slow but restless. His hand rose to drape across his forehead, fingers twitching with every throb of soreness pulsing through his body.

What even was that? he thought, shifting with a wince. One training session and I feel like I was hit by a carriage. I don't belong here. Sword forms? Combat stances? I've barely thrown a punch in my life. And now I'm supposed to fight monsters?

He turned on his side, groaning into the pillow. His shirt clung to his skin with the stubbornness of sweat and exhaustion.

This is insane.

From the wall beside him came the muffled rhythm of pacing, uneven, relentless.

In the room next door, Aiden stalked the length of his floor like a trapped animal, every step heavy, each turn sharper than the last. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides, jaw tight, breath steady but forced. Tension rolled off him in waves, barely contained.

Inside his mind, Fenrik's voice didn't whisper. It growled, coiling around his thoughts like a storm held just beneath the surface.

You weren't focused today, Fenrik snapped. Our strength flared too suddenly. You nearly wasted it.

Aiden's lip curled, and he muttered aloud, "Yeah, thanks. I noticed," the sarcasm flat but bitter as he ran a hand through his hair.

You think you can keep ignoring me? Fenrik snarled. I'm done waiting, Aiden. You keep pulling back when all I want is to tear forward.

Aiden froze mid-step, his whole body tightening like a bowstring.

"Because I don't want to hurt anyone!" he bit out, voice rough with restraint.

Then you're not ready, Fenrik hissed. Power like ours isn't meant for hesitation. It's meant to dominate. Crush. Rip through anything in our way.

Aiden's breath stuttered. His nails dug into his palms, the skin over his knuckles going pale.

"That's not who I am."

Then become who you need to be, Fenrik growled, the words laced with something primal. Because I am rising, and when I take over, I won't hold back just because you're afraid to use me.

A subtle tremor vibrated through the floor beneath his feet, barely perceptible, but real.

"Enough!" Aiden shouted, eyes squeezing shut, fists trembling.

And just like that, the growl vanished. He pushed Fenrik out, slammed the mental door shut, and for the first time in days, the voice went quiet.

He dropped onto the edge of the bed, shoulders slumped, dragging a shaky hand down his face. His chest rose and fell unevenly, heart thudding against his ribs.

He stared at the floor, unblinking.

He wasn't always like this, Aiden thought, lips parting slightly as if the memory tasted foreign. When we first connected... Fenrik avoided conflict. He hated raising his voice, hated fighting. He was cautious. Quiet. Even a little shy.

His eyes darkened. He pressed his elbows into his knees, palms hanging open like they didn't know what to hold.

But now?

His breath caught.

Now he sounded like he craved the fight.

The idea slithered under his skin, unwelcome. The kind of thought you didn't want to believe, but couldn't shake once it formed.

It was like the power they were finally beginning to tap into was changing him. Twisting something. Making him hungrier.

And Aiden wasn't sure if it was Fenrik's nature emerging...

...or his own darkness being reflected back.

In his room, Thorne sat on the edge of his bed, elbows resting on his knees, eyes narrowed with silent tension. His gaze stayed locked on his hand, unmoving in the soft light. The fingers looked ordinary, calm—yet his jaw clenched as if expecting them to twitch or transform. A small furrow cut across his brow.

It remained still. Normal. But he could feel it—something coiled beneath the skin. Waiting. Watching.

His nostrils flared.

Why don't you come out already? he projected inward, shoulders tensing. You saw what Fenrik did today. You just want to hide.

A dry, cool voice slipped through his thoughts.

You keep saying that. But I'm not the one hiding. You are.

Thorne's scowl deepened. His hand curled into a fist, knuckles whitening.

"I'm not afraid."

Then why do you keep stopping? Pyrix replied, sharper now. You call, but you flinch every time I answer.

Thorne's lip twitched. A soft growl built in his throat, but he forced it down.

A muffled thud echoed from one room over.

Alice sat cross-legged on the floor, legs tucked beneath her robe, her back straight as she balanced Eryndor's spellbook open in her lap. Its ancient pages glowed faintly with intricate diagrams and looping runes that shimmered in the fading light.

Her brows drew together in concentration.

Noir perched high above on a wooden ceiling beam, tail curled around his paws, glowing eyes following every move with predator stillness. Near the desk, Ash twitched his wings, humming with impatience.

Alice's voice was calm, focused.

"Let's see... boulder conjuring," she murmured. "Focus mana. Ground-based release. Right. Easy."

She held her breath, lifting her hand slowly, fingers stretched and steady in the golden haze.

"Rise from stone and shape beneath."

The stone beneath her hand shivered.

A ripple of green light shimmered from her palm, smooth and fluid, like wind rippling over water. It coiled around her fingers, spiraling upward in a delicate dance. Her eyes widened slightly in awe as the light gathered, thickening into a pulsing orb.

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The orb darkened, taking form. Jagged layers stacked on top of each other—stone, forming from magic.

But then—

A sudden violet flicker sparked across her fingertips. Tiny. Quick. Unnoticed.

The half-formed boulder jerked violently, then shattered with a loud pop!

Shards of hardened energy burst outward. Alice threw up an arm, ducking instinctively.

Ash shrieked and flapped backward in a feathery whirlwind, knocking a candle over as he retreated to the desk with a squawk of outrage.

Alice let out a long groan, fingers sliding down her face in utter defeat.

"Would I ever be able to do a single spell without blowing something up?"

Above her, Noir blinked—slow, unimpressed, judgment thick in his stare.

In the room next door, a soft voice drifted through the wall like a breeze.

"You'll feel it again."

Lyric sat quietly on the edge of her bed, shoulders slightly hunched, her knees drawn close. Her fingers were clasped tightly in her lap, knuckles pale. She stared at the floor, unmoving, lost in the silence.

Astraea hovered beside her, casting a soft glow, pulsing like a heartbeat.

"I felt it once today," Lyric whispered. "Just for a moment."

Her voice cracked slightly at the end. Her eyes blinked hard as though holding something back.

But now… nothing.

The warmth that had flickered inside her was gone. Like a fire that had never truly caught.

"You just have to stop doubting it," Astraea said gently.

Lyric's lips curved—barely. She lifted a hand, brushing her fingers across the spirit's glow. The contact softened her face for a fleeting second.

Meanwhile, Elias lay stiffly on his bed, arms at his sides. His eyes, dark and unblinking, stared straight at the ceiling above. His chest rose and fell in shallow, measured breaths.

His shoulder bore no scar. No pain.

But his eyes burned.

Why do I always lose control? First with Damien, now Sentinel. It happens again and again. And when it does... something inside me ignites. Like fire. Like rage. I can't think.

His jaw tensed. One hand balled the edge of the blanket tightly, fingers twitching once, then stilling.

What is this inside me?

A loud voice shattered the quiet like glass dropped in silence.

"Noir! That was a gift!"

The shout echoed from the next room, Alice's.

Elias blinked, startled, then swung his legs off the bed.

His door creaked open. The other doors opened almost in unison. One by one, they stepped into the common room.

Thorne emerged with a sigh. Aiden stepped out tense and alert. Lyric followed, her eyes quietly scanning. Astraea hovered close behind, her wings casting soft glows on the wall. Eddy yawned as he joined them, rubbing his neck.

Their attention snapped toward Alice's room, still shut, but buzzing with leftover energy.

Then the door burst open.

Noir darted out first, wings slicing the air. He gave a dramatic flap, then soared straight up and settled himself smugly atop the chandelier, claws hooking into the metal. He peered down at them like a ruler above his court.

Seconds later, Ash followed, flapping indignantly through the doorway. He landed beneath the chandelier with a heavy thud and shot a fierce glare upward, feathers bristling.

Then Alice stepped out, carefully avoiding the shards near her door. In her hand was a strange rod, slender and polished, wood fused with copper, runes rotating gently along its length. It hummed softly, the tip flickering with faint silver sparks.

"Really?" she muttered, raising the object. "I literally pulled out the Whisker Wand for you."

Noir's ears flicked.

He blinked once, then launched himself even higher into the chandelier, tail coiling around the iron like a barricade.

Ash gave a satisfied ruffle of his wings and perched smugly beside the nearest armchair.

Inside Alice's room, shattered porcelain gleamed like bone in the light.

Thorne raised an eyebrow, arms folded. "Is that thing actually legal?"

Aiden stared at the wand, then up at Noir. "I'm not gonna lie, that's the most effective weapon I've seen all week."

Eddy squinted. "Wait, is that the one that once shocked a banshee out of the wall?"

Lyric's eyes widened slightly. "Poor Noir," she said, though a smile touched her lips. "But... also deserved."

"He broke the vase," Alice announced, lifting the wand slightly as if still aiming. "Ash is furious."

Ash cawed in confirmation, clearly pleased with her summary.

Elias finally stepped closer, his gaze flicking between the wand and the chandelier. "Remind me to never get on your bad side."

Alice gave a tight smile. "Then don't knock over my stuff."

"And he," she added, pointing up, "was warned."

They all looked up at Noir, who peeked down with narrowed eyes but made no move to descend.

For a beat, the room held its breath.

Then Eddy groaned, rubbing his face. "Can someone just tell me when things aren't exploding, flying, or hiding on the ceiling?"

Lyric gave a soft laugh, brushing her hair behind her ear.

"Probably never."

And for a moment, they stood there, beneath the glow of chandelier and mischief, shards and feathers scattered at their feet, the tension easing between them like the last breath after a storm.

Then Lyric stepped forward, her gaze drifting across the group, tired faces, bruised pride, and twitching familiars.

She exhaled, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear.

"If you all have enough rest and energy," she said lightly, "we should head to the Conceptorium before Cass shows up and does some fishy magic spells on us."

Thorne's mouth twitched. "Honestly, she probably would."

Aiden gave a snort, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve. "I've seen her use illusions on people just to prove a point."

Eddy muttered something under his breath and sagged forward a little. "Please no more magic surprises today. My soul's already sore."

They moved as one, feet dragging at first, then falling into rhythm. The door to the common room creaked open and the corridor beyond stretched ahead, bathed in gold and lined with soft tapestries. Astraea hovered above them, casting delicate glimmers of light that shifted along the walls as they walked.

Behind them, Alice paused.

She turned slowly, still holding the wand with two fingers as if weighing her aim. Her gaze flicked upward.

"Noir, I will enchant your whiskers if you touch anything else while I'm gone."

High above, Noir didn't move. Just blinked once, tail twitching in lazy defiance as he remained curled around the chandelier like a smug guardian.

"And you," Alice added, glancing at Ash, "no pecking the curtains again."

Ash fluffed up in place, gave a soft squawk, then strutted back toward the armchair like he'd already forgotten she spoke.

Alice rolled her eyes and turned on her heel, catching up with the others.

Their footsteps filled the silence now, a soft rhythm against the stone. Astraea glided overhead, her wings arching in graceful sweeps like folded glass, light flitting over their shoulders. As they passed through bands of gold cast by the tall arched windows, shadows painted fleeting lines across their faces.

Eddy lagged behind slightly, his pace slower, arms stiff at his sides. He exhaled sharply through his nose, then winced and clutched both elbows, his breath catching.

Astraea dipped lower, her glow brushing his shoulder like a concerned whisper.
"Looks like your first training session was a little too much for you."

The others glanced over, some smirking, some raising brows.

Eddy gave a sheepish laugh, rubbing one arm as if trying to soothe the ache.
"I'm not used to these kinds of things. I've never even been in a tiny fight before in my life."

Thorne's stride didn't falter, but he turned just enough to shoot a sidelong glance. His lips pulled into a slow smirk.
"Well, you threw yourself into the deep end."

Eddy chuckled through his wince, his hand now working over his other arm.
"I didn't expect the deep end to punch back."

Aiden let out a breathy chuckle, shaking his head as he rolled his shoulders. His steps were looser now, more relaxed.
"I respect the commitment. But maybe start with punching bags before monsters."

He bumped Eddy's shoulder gently, a teasing nudge. Eddy jolted slightly from the touch and grimaced in reaction.

Alice, walking just a step ahead, glanced over her shoulder. Her arms were crossed, wand snug at her belt.
"Or at least wear padding next time. Lots of it." Her grin spread. "Like full armor. With cushioning. And maybe enchantments."

Lyric's gaze found Eddy, and her smile was soft, amused warmth flickering behind her eyes.
"You survived," she said. "That's already impressive."

"Barely," Eddy muttered, lifting both hands dramatically over his ribs like he was cradling an invisible wound. Despite the words, his grin had widened with the exchange, the group's humor drawing him in like a blanket of comfort.

Their footfalls echoed longer now, growing quiet as the corridor deepened. The last streaks of sunset filtered through the high lattice windows, turning the hallway amber. The tapestries swayed gently with each movement they passed, trailing like breath behind them.

Ahead, a stone archway came into view.

The Conceptorium's door stood open.

Thorne's pace slowed. His eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward slightly as if reading the air.
"The door's open. She's already here. We're late."

He muttered the next part under his breath, barely above a growl.
"Cass is going to make us pay for this."

Aiden ran a hand up the side of his head, fingers dragging into his hair with a groan.
"She's probably already cast something terrible on the chairs."

Lyric tilted her head thoughtfully, her voice calm but pointed.
"If we sit and find our minds being read mid-thought, I blame you all."

Above them, a soft hum of magic stirred the air. Astraea swooped lower, wings glinting like glass dipped in moonlight as she hovered beside Lyric.

"You're all on your own now," she announced with theatrical flair. "Better to vanish before Cassandra starts hexing pixies too."

She gave an exaggerated shiver, then twirled once in midair, sparkles trailing in her wake,
"May the odds be ever in your magically manipulated minds!"

With that, she vanished in a swirl of silver light and stardust.

Lyric stared at the empty air, blinking.
"You're supposed to stay with me whenever I'm in danger," she called out, mildly offended.

A faint voice echoed back, airy and smug.
"Yeah, but you're walking into danger willingly. That's on you."

Alice let out a snort.
"Wow. Betrayed by sparkles."

Thorne raised a brow, dry amusement in his voice.
"She bailed faster than I do during family dinners."

Eddy looked around.
"Is it bad that I kind of want to follow her?"

Aiden sighed, already stepping toward the door.
"Too late. We're committed."

They stepped through.

The air shifted.

Cooler. Denser. Still.