Maybe he was rushing, but time was against them, and he couldn’t consider all his possibilities. They came out of the Galya’s boundaries even though they exposed themselves to danger, one that they had so far avoided. His conversation with Ailfryd had not left his thoughts, and he still thought they were not ready to face their threats. However, he doubted that his predecessors were prepared before him for what they had to face, so he hoped that this Signer’s strength would turn the balance in their support.

After a quick flash, Aer, Rune and Leith evolved almost instantly. The change was in a moment, leaving behind their forms of Rookies to show their spirit of Champions. They were improvising like him in the morning, but they didn’t throw to the void without a parachute.

He rode on Leith on this occasion, being led and flanked by the angel-eagle combo as they leave the Great Tree to where the troll informed them.

“Rune, can you get ahead? We’ll need visuals of the surroundings,” Finnian said.

By not having to carry it, the speed would be on her side, not to mention that her sight so far was far superior to his own. They simply left the protective dome to perceive too much movement around the mountains, but not through them and ignoring where their friends would be.

“Ailfryd’s defences,” Aer said. “They were not only limited to the tree, but to its grounds and entrances.”

Perhaps the Galya had a permanent shield, but that did not move to the roads. It was impossible to create an impenetrable field; it did not matter how powerful he was. It would take an unparalleled magic capacity to achieve something like that. Although he still understood how magic worked, he even understood that it was not wise to use the power. That’s why he had installed negative energy detectors and effective defence to protect themselves in times of Calamity, as it would help to warn from coming problems before anyone else. Although other elthean could go unnoticed without problems.

“He may need to polish those protections a little bit. Even magic like that can be manipulated,” Leith mentioned.

They ignored whether it would be the same, although they would soon find out. With Rune ahead, the northwest mountains was the place marked. Their partner could not determine where their friends were due to the presence in the surroundings making it difficult for her to see. At first sight, it seemed evil, similar to that of Ellery or the Eroder, but they could not be trusted either. If there were methods to hide, illusions could play with them too.

Then, an explosion of purple electricity hit the ground, and Rune’s gaze captured at a short distance what they were looking for. A small number of elthean ran, trying to avoid what they were chasing them, struggling to arrive as soon as possible to the security of the great tree. After a slight magic push, the eagle’s eyes managed to determine with accuracy the elthean that attacked them, being too similar to the one found in High Sword or near the river.

“It’s him!” Rune exclaimed.

“We have to entertain him while they escape!” Aer added.

This would mean taking care of him rather than avoiding him. Feeling that his breath was cut off by the air, the dragon quickly descended, conscious that she had caught the attention of those elthean. After an instant, when accumulated energy in his fist, Aer launched a golden beam that hit the ground, putting a distance between the alasdair and his persistent harasser.

“Go to the Galya. Don’t look back!” Finnian exclaimed.

It was not the time for a warm reunion, at least as long as that creature remained there. Enveloped in a dark aura, the Eroder fixed his gaze on him, just as other times. However, it denoted a different aspect than the previous occasions, not to mention its behaviour. It didn’t take long for the elthean to throw several energy blades at them no matter what happened.

“Wow, don’t you have any new tricks?” Aer sneered.

Because they certainly do. Coordinated, their colleagues did not protect themselves from their attacks and instead destroyed them. Some circles of energy caught several blades, preventing them from moving and getting them to implode. The angel’s sword managed to get rid of them with every move he made, dancing in the air as they disappeared.

As for the dragon, she created a wall of fire, preventing the destruction from reaching them. However, they did not perceive the brutality of their previous encounters.

“It’s not him,” Rune said.

And yet, it was almost identical, but even Finnian noticed that the energy used was different. If something had been learned was that magical acts needed to be maintained, just like evolution. But that elthean seemed a lot and only attacked if necessary.

“A copy?” Leith said. “Why would he bother with something like that?”

“Because he wanted us to make a move,” Aer said.

The Eroder moved, trying to use his speed to confuse them. Unlike on other occasions, not even the air or the earth was resilient with its presence, although its eyes will catch how it alternated in position every second. He ignored whether that creature was conscious or a monster that only intended to expand chaos, but understanding it did not seem an option within his reach.

Leith created a flame circle around them; although it did not impact the ground, it remained in the air. They didn’t want to be the cause of a fire, but that was nothing more than a way to defend them if they tried to get too close. That magical act was different from fire breathing because it needed a clear mind and control that its partner could not maintain until now. Then, Rune’s feathers danced by the air, and Finnian understood for the first time how he controlled them. Like the dragon with fire, the eagle maintained dominion over them, their hardness and movement. That’s why she could use them in so many ways, but it also influenced the training they received.

Unlike the other times where they evolved, the effort to maintain that level was hardly a burden, allowing him to focus more on what any of his senses captured. Would Ailfryd be right that his group was strengthened together? He was right for now. The Eroder’s electricity impacted the feathers, causing them to fade instantly but preventing the elthean’s magic from spreading further. Then, Aer raised his fist to the sky, channelled gold energy to throw it a second later, making a total impact on the evil elthean. That aura of darkness fluctuated, receiving damage while showing a more blurred vision of the creature they had seen so far. Those red eyes lit up, a gesture that remained in the air for a few seconds as if trying to keep that replica.

“It’s to send us a message,” Finnian said.

If that function had been to get them to abandon the protection of the Galya, it would have had several opportunities to counter-attack since they arrived there. However, there were no more elthean except those present, so only one meaning could be given. The Erosionador wanted to remind them that he would expect them, that there he would be, no matter where they were heading.

“Can we prevent it from disappearing?” Finnian said.

“It’s possible. Why?” Aer asked.

“We have to remind him something.”

Dropping, he shortened distances to where his enemy had found himself. The electricity from the environment erred his hair, especially now that they tried to maintain that presence with them. The Erosionador knew it; his red eyes danced an instant with the surprise to such an intense. But he would not approach, just as he did with the forest inhabitants. Even he knew it would be too easy to put him even when his elthean were there to stop him.

“Look for us if you dare. No matter how strong you come, we’ll give you everything you send multiply by four,” said Finnian, feeling how his hands trembled in an act he wasn’t sure to consider as bravery. “Do you want to attack our friends and allies? Do it, and you’ll see us appear.”

He was getting tired of feeling fear, panic because he would harm those around him. He knew he couldn’t help it, but he could remedy a situation in which his alternatives were minimal. The dark trail fluctuated, releasing some growls they failed to decipher. And, after Aer’s fist, that vision disappeared without a trace and left a gloomy sensation in their body.

“Do you think it has been sensible?” Leith said.

“We had no choice,” Finnian said. “It was either that or continuing to run away until he caught us.”

Playing cat and mouse exhausted anyone, mainly because they knew an end they wouldn’t like to experience. It was true that their encounter could not be avoided, only to postpone it until the confrontation was imminent. Anyway, that revealed something that until now they did not even consider. The way he had to spread so much destruction was with such a method, except when he was persecuting them, of course.

“Also, if we expect them to take us seriously, there was no better occasion than this to remind them of who we are,” Aer said, widening his smile.

“And at least we’ve avoided the worst,” Rune said.

Theri. He didn’t know how many alasdair survived High Sword, and although they would find out soon, they could at least return the help they received. They did what they could with what they had. After the climbing grounds, that was a significant change that, to his amazement, did not leave him so exhausted to lose conscience. Thus, after checking that there was no trace of his enemy, they headed to the Galya.

“Do you think he has caught the message?” Finnian murmured.

“Of course,” Rune said.

“As clear as it will now chase us more eagerly,” Aer said.

“After all, the more valuable your prey is, the more you’re looking for it until you get your prize,” Leith said.

Just for killing them? Why did an elthean decide to create so much chaos when it proved to be intelligent? Something else escaped them from the Eroder, but they would see him again to find out.