The wind howled.
Quinlan cut through the clouds at the front of the formation. Air folded around him in clean lines, not turbulence, not drag. The pressure bent outward as if the sky itself had learned how to move aside.
Behind him, the others flew in a tight cluster, held together by controlled currents that never quite touched the ground below. Rivers. Forests. Roads. All of it slid past in a blur of color and shadow before their eyes.
He concentrated and called upon even more.
The wind obeyed.
Ahead, the land soon darkened. Smoke traced thin lines into the sky. Siege towers. Barricades. Cannons. A city wrapped in tension and steel.
Quinlan's mouth curved.
"We've arrived."
He dropped.
The wind followed his intent, carrying the group down in a sharp arc before flaring outward at the last moment. They landed on a hill overlooking the battlefield.
Bows snapped up at once.
Elven archers occupied the hill, spread in disciplined lines between rocks and shallow trenches. The strategic importance of this high ground was recognized by Elvardia, and they'd sent a group to ensure the enemies didn't occupy it.
Because of that, drawn strings and gleaming arrowheads weled their arrival, already aligned with throats and chests.
"Halt!" one of them barked. "Identify yourselves!"
He tilted his head slightly. "Didn't they tell you? We've allied ourselves with Elvardia. I'm Quinlan Elysiar, and we already helped you people bring about the end of Greyhaven. We're here to do the same once again."
Despite his words, the archers did not lower their weapons. They looked a mere moment away from shooting, and the only thing that held them back was not Quinlan's reasoning but the cold eyes they were receiving from Sylvaris Vaelorith, an elf noble they recognized. She was not chained, not collared.
Her being here and supporting the scary-looking man made them pause.
"Hm?" Quinlan raised an eyebrow. Behind him, someone staggered.
Lucille swayed with one hand braced against her axe as her boots scraped the ground. Feng doubled over, dry retching, Felicity barely managing to turn away before doing the same. Ria, the blonde assassin girl who became their new friend, moved between them at once. She had one hand on each girl's back while even her own breathing was uneven.
Quinlan turned, frowning.
"…Huh? What's wrong?"
Ayame stepped up beside him.
"Quin," she spoke up with her eyes on the archers and hand on the hilt of her blade. "You're getting really powerful."
He blinked. "Of course I am? I just got a new level."
The oriental beauty shook her head. "I didn't mean it like that. You're being powerful not just because of levels."
She glanced back at the sky they had crossed. A faint hint of disbelief was written on her delicate features.
Serika, his tanned redhead who wielded solar powers, stepped up next to them. Just like Ayame, she was displaying hints of surprise. As another user of the flame, she noted her observation.
"Your level of control and depth is frankly getting scary, Quin. The explosion you created back in Greyhavn was more devastating than ever before, but that's only the beginning. As you said, you are gaining levels, so bigger explosions are to be expected. But… They were concentrated and controlled in a way I never saw you manage before. You pressed the flames until the detonation became so powerful that warriors who should've been able to take it with the bination of their high Vitality and defensive armor were overwhelmed as well. You killed a thousand trained soldiers in a single attack…"
She spoke the words with a face that was a mixture of sheer amazement and excitement, but also shock. Serika couldn't believe the mastery Quinlan was starting to display.
Vex nodded as she stepped up. Just like the other two, she wasn't shaken by the wind but by the badassness of her hubby. "The same happened with your wind!" she chirped while hugging his arm close to her chest with both hands. "You were flying so quickly that you outpaced the speed of mand! Can you believe that? We crossed dozens of miles faster than the information arrived at the elven ladies."
The gorgeous Hexwitch's cheeks turned rosy as she spoke those words and squeeled like a schoolgirl who was overe with how her crush stood out among the other boys during the PE exercises as the girls watched from the sidelines.
Understanding settled in Quinlan's mind.
"Oh."
Before he could say more, hurried footsteps sounded from below.
An elf sprinted up the hill, armor half-fastened, breath ragged. Sweat ran down her temples as she waved her arms.
"Pay attention, everyone! mand says a new allied force will arrive within minutes. Do not fire on a man falling from the sky surrounded by dozens of attractive women of mixed races-"
She stopped.
Her eyes locked onto Quinlan and the group behind him.
Her face drained of color.
"You're already here?!"
The wind tugged at Quinlan's coat as he smiled, slow and unapologetic, parting his arms wide. "What can I say? I am eager to help my favorite new allies."
The elf's eyes went wide.
Her mouth opened, then closed again as she straightened, forcing herself back into mand posture. Behind him, several of the girls sighed.
Iris shook her head once, lips twitching despite herself. Feng wiped her mouth and muttered something under her breath. Felicity leaned against Ria, who rolled her eyes with practiced familiarity. Aurora pressed two fingers to her temple and exhaled slowly.
All of them declared at once.
Kitsara laughed.
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