Aer prevented it from ending up on the floor, although he also looked around him. After that light show, they couldn’t imagine that an elthean was looking for a fight at bedtime. However, his surprise was not just that, because it should not be more significant than Aer or himself. Or that’s what they could see under those conditions.

The lights began to move erratically from the sudden change. Then, they saw an elthean levitating in the air. With a double-tail, that rage fairy did not give the impression of having the ability to move at such speed, especially with those short arms and legs, but that didn’t stop them. The fairy pounced against Aer again at speed impossible to follow at those hours, although his partner perceived his movements. Dodging him every time he attacked, where he hit it created massive holes on the ground, banishing the lights and preventing them from seeing as before. Feeling dizzy thanks to those actions, he could appreciate how both elthean collided with their attacks, to be Aer who lost in that contest of brute force.

There was too much difference in power between the two, if not their level.

Running to Aer when he was rising, the courage of the little one was admirable, but now all his fear screamed him to hide, not to put themselves in danger, even when that wasn’t possible. The fairy levitated toward them but without showing off any energy because it was not necessary. His mere presence emitted such pressure that even the fireflies escaped from the battlefield. The elthean did not speak either, being very similar to the other they had faced.

“Get back!” Aer shouted, extending his arms in front of Finnian. “I won’t let you hurt him!”

Instead of a regular sphere, he threw what looked more like a bomb, only to watch his rival neutralize him with a swing of his tail, making a flame in the air. Did they not prefer to greet in that world before attacking? The eyes of the fairy were lit, first of a whitish tone and then turned pink. A red sphere similar to what Aer had launched headed toward both, ready to make them disappear. Then, a spectral shield emerged in front of them that absorbed the attack, which did not come from their companion but still protected them. Then Aer shone, suddenly evolving.

He left behind his doggy appearance to acquire a human way higher than him. He had muscular arms and legs, light-brown hair, and green eyes that characterized him so much. He wore a light silver armour on his chest, leaving both arms uncovered where black tights reached his elbows and covered the rest of his body. On his neck was resting a blue scarf, and on his forearms were a pair of bracelets. But what struck him most was not the radical change but the wings of white feathers that lifted him in the air, preventing his black boots from touching the ground.

The fairy stopped looking at him and refocused on the new Aer. He put both fists together and, when they opened seconds later, a magic sword appeared. Looking back at him, Aer smiled proudly at him, being the same positive elthean that would never give up no matter what situation they were in. With his bracelets shining, the magic gathered in his sword, throwing an energy slash that hit the fairy completely. Although that was not the only thing that happened and something else appeared in the form of a rain of feathers and flames. However, that fairy was unscratched.

“Do you want to fight?” Rune shouted.

“Then we will give it to you!” Leith exclaimed.

His pendant shone as in the other times; both elthean changed at the same time. He could be used to the Rune and Leith Champion form, but the current scenario was far different from before. All three had changed. With a chill electrified his neck, he felt closer to them.

“What happened? Are you ok?” Ead exclaimed as he approached him.

“He attacks us from nowhere.”

The fireflies disappear as soon as they fight. Was it a night show, or could it be something else? Rune waved his wings, lifting air while flying. Then, she threw circles of red energy, being dodged with ease by that fairy without disturbing his posture. Leith threw a burst of fire that disappeared in the same way as the previous attack. Aer passed the edge of his blade through one of his bracelets, making it shine in a bluish tone and faced the fairy, moving the sword as if it had been practising for years.

Not only did his enemy dodge every attack, but his small size also made him a formidable foe, especially at night. The three elthean took the fight into a mid-air battle where missing was expected and taking hit inevitable. Finnian blinked several times, feeling that his sight was clouded and that he suddenly saw what was in front of him, but also the battle from the sky. It was as if he was participating in it and not at the same time!

“It’s too fast,” Finnian muttered, rubbing his eyes. “I can barely see the enemy.”

“What... Are you seeing it?” Ead said, unable to hide the surprise of his words.

Something was going on beyond that fight, and it was happening to him. Not only did he see through his partners’ eyes, but he felt every blow they were receiving or the air friction when they moved. Was it good? Bad? He does not know any longer the difference, but his sight shift too much to focus. He first saw Aer’s sword perform flourishes, and just as the fairy counterattacked, he changed to Rune, feeling one-tenth of what his companion suffered when she was stamped on the floor. He then saw himself through Leith, who prevented the fairy from attacking Rune by breathing fire.

“Don’t get closer!” Rune said as soon as they tried to her aid, “He is too powerful.”

“Finnian? Are you ok!” Ead said, flying very close to him.

He wasn’t. His throat hurt, and he could not say a word, just like he was the one who breathed fire. Instead of making some gestures, he saw the battle again from Aer’s perspective. He then repaired in a detail that had been overlooked.

“Rune, come here! Aer, distract the Rage Fairy everything as you can. Leith, attack her as soon as you have a clear shot,” Finnian shouted.

He acted without thinking and without a word coming out of his lips. Even so, the affirmative answer of his elthean was enough for him to rush to the eagle. Rune picked him up, letting him climb on her back, just like on other occasions.

Why had Aer evolved if it didn’t make any difference? Why was he watching the fight in the first person? He didn’t have all the answers, but he was sure what to do now.

“Now we must draw your attention,” Finnian said, now in the air, surprised that now he used his voice, and he didn’t was hoarse for the fire he hadn’t thrown either.

“Are you serious?” Rune exclaimed.

“Trust me!” Finnian answered.

Rune charged against the Rage Fairy with her horns, moving it away from Aer’s path without saying a word. Then Leith threw the strongest flare he had seen so far, illuminating the sky. Although the fire extinguished quickly, it was enough for it to receive some injuries.

“It’s your turn Aer. From bellow!” Finnian said.

He had never fought by himself, but they could overcome whatever they proposed if they did it together. Or that he wanted to believe. Grabbing Rune’s feathers at the speed at which she flew, he now saw better than before. Aer had launched himself against the elthean, landing a punch covered in golden light that contained not only his strength but that of all present.

“No matter how strong you are. We will never give up!” Finnian shouted, still raised on Rune. “Do you think you can trounce us?”

“Why did you attack us?” Aer said, just after the roar Leith threw. “Where is Ailfryd?” Rune added.

“Ailfryd? I’m him!” the fairy shouted.

“Don’t you recognize us? We are Aer and Rune.”

His words had a more significant effect than any of the attacks unleashed. The fairy seemed willing to continue the fight, but instead, he looked at them more closely. The threatening power that emanated earlier became a sense of familiarity. Or that’s what Aer and Rune felt.

“Are you? For real?” The fairy said. “Have you evolved too?”

“Ailfryd, what happened?” Rune inquired upon landing.

Finnian wobbled as soon as he put his feet on the ground. His legs failed, feeling drained while his forces were disappearing speedily. He leaned on Rune’s leg, checking that his pendant hadn’t stopped shining at any time. She shouted his name; Aer’s arms picked him up before he ended up on the floor, getting surrounder by the elthean without understanding what was happening to him until he couldn’t see them anymore.