Every beastkin living in Whifur knew that it was a hot city. It was something they couldn’t change no matter how much they wanted it. Even though nature thrived and harvests were bountiful despite the warmth, it didn’t change the fact that beastkin had a hard time here.


    It was especially true for Nocturna who had a weaker constitution compared to her peers. This led her to sleep in her underwear most of the nights. Normally this wouldn’t be a problem as she was in the safety of her home but when her home was broken into by demons in the middle of the night she was shocked, to say the least. It was even worse as demons pointed and giggled at her body with perverted gazes.


    She was groggy from waking up suddenly, ashamed of her body, and panicked because of the gates suddenly appearing in Whifur. Yet, none of them changed the fact that she was the second-best mage behind Amaterasu and she was able to dispatch the demons with no difficulty and went to look for her clothes in the wreckage. This, however, allowed a demon to sneak behind her and take her by surprise. If it wasn’t for Poyraz appearing out of nowhere and tossing the demon off her like a rag doll, she would been in trouble. He also let her borrow his cloak and allow her to wear her clothes before he picked her up as if she weighed nothing and brought her to the safe zone.


    While it sounded like she was a damsel in stress being rescued by a knight and Nocturna would be lying if she said her heart didn’t skip a beat when Poyraz causally lifted her up, she had a job to do. Even though the barrier protecting the safe zone was established before it wasn’t perfect. It was a large barrier that was constructed to house hundreds of beastkin and allow beastkin to enter while blocking outsiders. It was a fairly complicated and large barrier which made it more prone to cracks, especially as it strained to hold off the demonic incursion from entering inside.


    As Poyraz took care of the demons outside the barrier she worked inside to perfect the barrier, stopping from time to time to heal the wounded coming in. She was the only mage there, there were already only a handful of mages in Whifur which made her get tired quickly. That was when elves arrived, one male and one female. Poyraz seemed to know them. Female elf, Methild was a mage and she took some of the responsibility of Nocturna’s shoulders. While Nocturna was grateful for that, Methild was also very… enthusiastic, which made her very different from Nocturna.


    As the hours passed, more and more wounded entered the barrier and Nocturna noticed one of them. It was Blaria who she worked with before. His right leg was severed below the knee and a large gash ran across his torso. Nocturna quickly cast her healing magic but she wasn’t sure if it would be enough.


    “What happened? Blaria? Talk to me!”


    Despite his grievous wounds, he was conscious.


    “Grizzon… Arslan is fighting…”


    His body went limp after barely managing to let those words out. Nocturna bit her lip. What was she doing here? Everyone else was fighting and she had been inside this safe barrier all this time! She had the get out and fight too!


    She was ready to move but she felt a hand on her shoulder. Not being used to physical contact, he jumped a little. When she turned back, she saw Methild.


    “Sorry. I called out to you but you didn’t hear.”


    Nocturna took a deep breath, trying to calm the racing thoughts in her mind.


    “I think… I think I should go and join the fight outside.”


    Methild nodded understandingly, her expression a mix of sympathy and encouragement.


    “Poyraz said that you were a good mage and you are a good mage. I am sure you help a lot if you join the fight outside. But…”


    Methild pointed towards the beastkin who were huddling together. Some were crying, hugging each other while others silently suffered because of their wounds.


    “We are the last line of defense here. Our role is also important too.”


    Nocturna looked down. She knew that Methild was right. But she still wanted to do more.


    “Nocturna! Amaterasu is here.”


    People called her name. Nocturna rushed and saw that Elandris, the male elf carrying Amaterasu. She looked roughed up and tired but she was alive.


    “I will join Lily. He needs help.”


    Elandris left while Nocturna healed Amaterasu.


    “Are you okay?”


    She asked her heart pounding with a mixture of relief and concern.


    "I''m fine," Amaterasu replied, her voice weary but determined. But before the healing magic could take effect and Amaterasu could recover another voice rang out.


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    “Combatants! Do we have anyone who can fight?”


    All three mages turned to where the voice was coming from. Rushing there, Nocturna saw that it was Ursara. He was sweating and out of breath.


    “Someone. Someone attacked us just outside the barrier. Morrigan held them off but he looked strong.”


    Amaterasu rose to her feet.


    “I will take care of the barrier. You two, go and help her.”


    Nocturna looked worried but Amaterasu nodded with a hardened expression on her face.


    “Let’s go, Nocturna. We will help her and return back in the brink of an eye.”


    Nocturna nodded, her determination resurfacing as she prepared to face whatever threat lurked beyond the barrier. Together with Methild Nocturna moved towards the source of the disturbance. As they approached the outskirts of the barrier, Nocturna could sense the tension in the air, a palpable aura of danger that set her nerves on edge. The demonic energy that was coming was massive, even greater than she felt from the demons.


    At first, Nocturna thought that it was coming from the man who attacked Morrigan but as she got closer, she only saw one person:


    “Morrigan?”


    Even from a distance, Nocturna could sense the raw energy crackling around Morrigan, a potent blend of darkness and malevolence that sent shivers down her spine. But how could that be possible? Morrigan was their protector, the daughter of the man who founded Whifur. Why did she have demonic energy? And where was the enemy who attacked her?


    “Nocturna, move!”


    Methild jumped between them, pushing Nocturna back while she erected stone walls. Before Nocturna could understand what was happening, the stone walls were cut into two and Morrigan was in front of them. With her form now close, Nocturna could see clear signs of demonic corruption. Dark sparks constantly crackled out of her body while her golden eyes were tinged with an eerie crimson glow. The markings on her face were twisted and unnatural.


    Morrigan hit Nocturna with a fist while kicking Methild. Both mages were able to erect barriers yet it only dampened damage as Morrigan’s hits sent both of them flying to the side. She then looked at the sky and let out a roar while releasing massive amounts of mana.


    “Her soul is surrounded by demonic energy! If it intrudes to her soul she will be gone forever! Hold!”


    Methild recovered from the hit she took quicker than Nocturna. She sent circles made out of green mana towards Morrigan, each one trying to bind her. Yet Morrigan’s form suddenly disappeared out of Methild’s sight, not even her elven senses being able to track her down.


    Her experience screamed for her to duck and Morrigan’s claws infused and elongated with demonic energy barely missed her neck. She flicked her index and middle finger, raising the ground beneath Morrigan to several meters high. This didn’t even slow down Morrigan as she jumped down, landing on her four limbs like a cat. Methild clapped her hands together, raising walls to trap Morrigan. However, just as the walls were able to fully trap Morrigan in a rocky prison her body blackened and lost its solidity, melting into shadows. Those very shadows moved as if it was alive, squeezing through the tiny cracks left, heading straight to Methild.


    Morrigan’s form materialized out of shadows before the elven mage could do anything. A vicious kick sent her flying. She screamed as the bones in her right arm shattered into several pieces.


    "Morrigan, stop!" Nocturna shouted, her voice shaky and fearful.


    "I trust you. I respect you. You are better than this. Please!”


    For a moment, it seemed as though Morrigan hesitated, her gaze flickering with uncertainty.


    “You were beautiful, strong, and cool. I… I always envied you. You always knew what you were doing. Please.”


    Nocturna held her breath as Morrigan scrutinized her down with her eyes. And then, with a guttural growl, she unleashed a wave of dark energy, forcing Nocturna to brace herself against the onslaught. She quickly formed a rectangular magic barrier in front of her and sent several magic missiles to Morrigan. She dodged them as she closed in, her claws making quick work of Nocturna’s shield.


    “Moonlight Blast!”


    A surge of brilliant moonlight energy erupted from her palms and surged toward Morrigan who was just one step away from Nocturna with blinding speed. The radiant blast collided with Morrigan''s dark aura, causing a violent clash of energies that illuminated the night sky. Despite the massive amounts of light it created and point-blank hit, Morrigan was unharmed. Her claws tore through Nocturna’s stomach, causing her to fall to her knees. Morrigan stared down at the fallen Nocturna and growled.


    “Rock Sling.”


    Two head-sized rocks flew towards Morrigan as Methild rose to her feet with gritted teeth. Her right arm was limp but her left arm moved to control her magic. Morrigan let out a growl before effortlessly smashing the rocks into each other, causing them to split into pieces.


    “Whirlwind.”


    The wind caused all the rock shards to hit Morrigan, stunning her for a second.


    “Mage Hand.”


    Despite her wounds, Nocturna joined in, an invisible force wrapping itself around Morrigan.


    “Hold!”


    Green mana circled around Morrigan, holding her into place. She roared before stomping her feet down, causing countless shadow blades to exit out of the ground. Nocturna gritted her teeth against the pain, her body aching from the wounds inflicted by Morrigan''s claws.


    "Keep her restrained!" Nocturna shouted, her voice strained with effort as she maintained her hold on Morrigan with her mage hand.


    Methild nodded in determination, her face a mask of resolve despite her injured arm. With a flick of her wrist, she erected additional barriers to deflect the onslaught of shadow blades, protecting both of them from receiving fatal damage. Yet, it wasn’t enough as Morrigan broke through their restraint with a wave of dark energy. She aimed for Nocturna who was immobilized because of her wound.


    “Blink!”


    Methild teleported to her side, tackling her out of harm’s way.


    “Blink!”


    Taking Nocturna with her she blinked closer to the safe zone, putting some distance between them and Morrigan.


    “We need some kind of front liner to keep her busy! She is too strong!”


    Nocturna knew that Methild was right. Both of them were squishy mages and Morrigan was too fast and strong for them to defeat.


    Speaking of her, she was there. Just like a predator stalking their wounded prey, she caught up to them. She swung her claws in the air, sending shadow blades towards them. Both erected magic shields but it wasn’t enough. They were sent flying inside to the safe zone, causing the beastkin inside to scream.


    Those screams worsened when the beastkin there saw their protector’s corrupted form.