Running wasn’t his thing, and it wasn’t even a great secret. Nor was it the last in every race, but it was easy for most to overcome Finnian. In Elthea, it was no different, although there was a big contrast: his partners. After that radical change in what would have been a casual dinner, the first step was for Rune to evolve. Going out by their current means was not a solution when that presence harassed them at such speed, and although they would draw more attention than they intended, their alternatives were relatively scarce.

After a few minutes flying over his back, having Leith nearby doing the same thing, they didn’t take long to see that elthean had advanced much more than expected. A dark energy vortex that shed purple electricity chased them, throwing energy blades into the sky where they were. And although not much had happened since their encounter in High Sword, they were not the same as when they left the castle.

“Are you sure that by reaching the river, we can get rid of it?” Rune shouted as she dodged in the air, making that journey much busy than they would have liked.

And although Aer was safe, even more so since he mounted on Leith to advance himself, fear increased as much as to oppress their throat. With the Esendil River getting closer, his friend sought the standard passage, which everyone went through even though there was a little water. But before reaching them, Rune dodged several energy blades once again, although they did not cease their pressure. They both collided, combining into a sphere of purple light that lit the sunset, giving it a malevolous and less welcoming appearance than they had previously thought. Then, a rain of needles spread through the sky, extending its range beyond where they were flying.

“Get ready!” Rune exclaimed.

With a war cry, the eagle stopped moving in the air to rotate in circles. Her plumage began to fall, suspended by the wind around them, creating more than a protective barrier. The needles impacted on these, intercepting them and preventing them from piercing them in mid-air. The horns of Rune shed black light, guiding what until now had been a shield to become a whirlwind, taking advantage of the power of both elthean in their support. Shaking heaven and earth, the combination ceased to be lethal, if not merely distracting toward its true enemy. Then they returned with their friends, landing and being splashed by the water.

“That won’t stop him,” said Leith, ready to act if the time came.

“Our best chance is not to confront the Eroder, not directly,” Finnian said.

A dozen alasdair were defeated, and that without those elthean who would have suffered a similar fate. The only difference is that it focused on them, which made their journey considerably more complicated, but less elthean would suffer. They just had to worry about going forward. Aer had been standing a couple of steps ahead, bent over the water. His green eyes gave off a bluish glow, although he could not understand what he whispered. His senses only could capture the chaos, the noise around them and even the humidity from the river.

After a dry blow, the whirlwind of feathers and needles ceased, leaving them to see the same creature that attacked them in the castle, but not as they remembered it. Although they should see him more clearly at that time of the day, something prevented them from identifying his whole appearance. He was thin, perhaps the same height as Finnian, but his skin or fur alternated between reddish, brown and purple tones, the same as those of the magic that had just counteracted.

“No one would come out of something like that unscathed,” Leith murmured, incredulous at such an opponent.

“Get out of the water, hurry!” Ead exclaimed.

Staying there in the middle wouldn’t solve anything, although the Eroder barely flinched. He watched each and every one of them, almost as if he were analyzing them. Just like in their previous encounter!

“If you dare, come for him,” said Aer.

His voice, clear and determined as his standing, not even he was able to hold the composure in front of someone who could break them with a gesture. But there he was, his little companion emitting courage and hope. That challenge made the other elthean react, who did not hesitate to move toward them. He entered the river, causing the energy surrounding him to electrify the area, although he was not the only one using its powers.

Aer’s blue coat shone, but differently than the evolution he had already seen on three occasions. He couldn’t understand his whispers, and yet something in him called him, asking him for help in his effort. Then he did the only thing that happened to him: crouch and touch the cold water with his fingers, just like Aer seconds before, feeling the call of the liquid element.

“Magic is everywhere. In the air, the earth, the plants. It is part of our life. You just need to listen to it.” Those were the words of his colleagues as they tried to awaken theirs, and although they still did not understand how it was, they were clear that they were not alone.

The flow of the river soon changed, increasing amazingly. The water was coming at a fast level, just like if someone had been preventing it from following its way. Aer jumped and retreated to their position as the Eroder tried to reach them, although the water ferocity. For a moment, he wanted to fight him with his strength. For a second, they feared that everything would have been in vain. Then, from the river were born horses, bears, dragons, creatures of that element that dragged the elthean without any mercy.

The dark energy disappeared, and they soon realized that the river had protected them, setting off their enemy with cold brutality.

“What has that been?” Finnian said.

“There are forces in this world that rival evil,” Aer said, widening his smile.

“How did you know they would help us?”

“You trusted me, just as they did.”

Aer’s words, though cryptic, did not go far from reality. Some elthean controlled the water, possessing a strong affinity with that element. They had many names, most of which he could not pronounce. But they were strong and came to the help of those who requested it, just as in this case.

“The news of your arrival involves changes,” Rune reminded, reversing level and releasing a sigh of relief.

“Many will want to help you as best they can,” Leith nodded.

“Don’t take anything for granted, but value what others contribute,” Ead added.

“It’s been the most magical thing I’ve ever noticed,” Finnian said, pronouncing a slight smile. “It’s…strange. “

“Maybe you should stop forcing your magic, at least until we get to the Galya,” Aer said. “That creature was looking for you and will continue to do so.”

“The more stealthy we are, the better,” Rune nodded.

To help them evolve was something different. It was a capacity that many elthean possessed, that he as a Signer also helped them develop, and that could not be traced in the same way. Instead, any other magical act that came on his part would be like a roar that everyone, allies and enemies, could hear. They were not in a position to continue looking for a fight at every step they took, no matter how well things were going for them. Sooner or later, his luck would run out, and someone would have to pay for it.

“Let’s camp here. Keeping us close to the water will protect us from the Eroder… more or less,” Aer said. “We will not abuse their help. Relax.”

“I would prefer not to have someone like them as enemies, whoever they are,” Finnian admitted.

Although he didn’t have the option to choose, didn’t he? Nor is it that he could go for life looking at everyone as possible threats because he would find it only inconvenient. But, as the Sensitive told him, he should appreciate what others did with his help. He was in their world, after all, and the elthean would also want to fight for it, wouldn’t they?

“You’ve been incredible, Aer,” Finnian said after a few minutes when he made sure that calm was not a lie.

“You avoided a bad encounter,” Leith said. “And all without evolving.”

“Well, I hope to achieve it one day,” Aer admitted with shyness, turning his eyes away.

“Even without changing, you have done what others have not been able to,” Finnian said, tightening one of his legs. “I know you will get it, but no one should underestimate you.”

Two days. He knew them two days old but already considered them as his friends, even when there was still much of them that he ignored. But he would find out, just like everything else. He had plenty of time or that wanted to think. After all, he couldn’t defeat the villain without some training, couldn’t he?

“By the way, could someone lit a fire, please?” Aer said, releasing a sneeze.

“The only thing we need, a good cold,” Rune said. “Just how nice we would have come to go to Valifall and sleep in a comfortable bed.”

“As if our tent was so bad,” Finnian said.

“True, but something hot would have taken us to the stomach,” Rune said.

“Maybe we can improvise,” Leith said, looking at the sign this time.

An infusion with local plants to help them relax. Because that night, if they were to agree on something, it is how much they needed to rest without feeling that they had to watch their back every time. At least, near the river, their worries would disappear with the water until they were found in a new place. Because he could not run away from the problems, not forever, because they ended up reaching them in his case.