In the depths of the haunted forest, Robin signaled to the senior enchanter archers surrounding the towering, gnarled root. Her voice was firm, though urgency quenched its bravado. “Seri, activate the Glyph of Silence right away! Don’t let that Gamma monster call for reinforcements. Channel your energy toward the western root; that’s where the ground is dampest, and our magical power will surge to its peak.”

  Seri nodded swiftly, pressing her palm against the rough bark of the tree. “The Glyph is ready, Robin. But we need three soul markers to stabilize the field while the glyph is active. Who’s going to—”

  Robin didn’t give her a chance to ask further. “You, Eldrin, and Kaelis. I’ll handle the remaining distractions. Remember, don’t let anyone approach you during this activation process. If the glyph breaks, use the spiral arrows. Set that area ablaze with blue fire—better it be destroyed than let Gamma seize it.” Robin’s voice quaked, asserting her courage amidst the looming threat.

  As the three archer mages bent down, tracing the glowing green glyph pattern on the surface of the root beneath their feet, Robin darted to the edge of the battle. She drew the monsters' attention to herself. The spiraling magic burning on her arrow emitted a blue light, glimmering faintly through the rolling fog.

  “Eldrin!” Robin called, her voice cutting through the oppressive chaos like a blade.

  “Prepare the Ward of Reflection! If Farisat tries to conjure an illusion, reflect it back to her shadows!”

  Eldrin quickly pressed the runes on her bow, her voice a hoarse whisper tinged with anxiety. “I only have two wards left, Robin. If this fails—”

  “Running out of wards is better than losing your life!” Robin interrupted sharply, her eyes glimmering with fierce determination.

  From behind the sprawling tree, Farisat al-Lail sneered, aware of the active magic swirling in the air. “Do you truly believe this ancient Valenwood glyph can withstand Gamma’s power?”

  Robin hid momentarily behind the roots of a massive tree, her voice unwavering despite the heavy silence. “Valenwood has stood against more than just Gamma, Farisat. But do you know of the poison that flows from dragon roots? Do you not wish to feel its effects come the moonless night, when the shadows of the forest reveal their darkest sides?”

  In an instant, the Glyph of Silence activated, enveloping the battlefield in an extraordinary silence. The monsters’ heavy footfalls, their breaths filled with fear, even the crack of branches that typically filled the air, vanished abruptly. Just as the Gamma monster prepared to roar, their voices disappeared as if swallowed by the earth, leaving them stunned and lost in their uncertainty.

  Seri wiped the sweat from her brow, her eyes wide with deep anxiety. “Robin, this glyph absorbs their life force—if we don’t act quickly, the roots might demand blood from the powerless activator!”

  Robin took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing mind before launching a spiral arrow that struck one of the Gamma monsters directly. “Just give me two more minutes. After that, leave the rest to me.”

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  As the glyph pulsed with power, Robin reached for Valenwood’s heritage artifact: the Pendant of Verdant Memory. With profound concentration, she whispered the ancient incantation that had been passed down to her, summoning the dormant power within, channeling that energy into a wave of thought that surged with strength to her entire force.

  Robin's voice resonated within the minds of every Valenwood soldier:

  “Do not let fear erode your true selves. Remember who you are! Each arrow loosed, each spell cast, is a reminder of our identity before this forest buries us.”

  Farisat watched the glyph's light roar towards her. She raised her spear with unwavering confidence, chanting the words of the Gamma incantation, “Dark spiral, void energy! Destroy the roots that corrupt life!”

  With a cold expression, Farisat threw her sharp words at Robin, “An old trick, Robin. I was raised in lands that have crushed thousands of roots, long before Valenwood even knew its name!”

  Robin fixed her gaze on Farisat with determination, her voice quivering with deep emotion, “Do you not understand? This forest is a part of our souls! Those who forget its essence will never return, and history will curse us if we surrender to the darkness of Gamma’s power!”

  Amidst the raging battle, their spiraling spells clashed—green light from glowing roots battled against the suffocating black mist. Around them, blue fire arrows soared swiftly, striking monsters ensnared in their own illusions. Meanwhile, the Valenwood forces used the darkness as a cloak, deceiving the enemy and drawing them into the living snare of roots.

  Kaelis lowered her voice, her gaze never leaving Robin, “She must end this fight soon. If not, every soul in this forest will be lost.”

  Seri nodded slowly, her face tense, “Trust me, Robin will not fail. There’s still a sliver of magic left among the ruins of this forest.”

  In the final moments, tension hung heavily in the air. The glyph began to crack at its edges, and Robin, summoning every ounce of her spirit and strength, leapt high towards the highest branch. With a swift motion, she drove the last spiral arrow deep into the center of the glyph, unleashing a torrent of magical energy that surged like a river freed from its dam. In an instant, the network of roots around them writhed and reached out, drawing in the remnants of the slain monster, incinerating the chaos in a mesmerizing green-blue light.

  Farisat stepped back, breathless, bitterness clawing at her heart. “This forest... it won’t allow us to give up. We’ve lost.”

  Standing tall, Robin’s breath was heavy, filling the tense nighttime air with a mix of dread and hope as she gazed at her dwindling forces, her eyes alight with unwavering determination and pride. “We endure not only because of our strength but because we understand how vital our names are to this forest, to every soul that has fought and sacrificed everything.”

  Darkness crept in slowly as the final glyph faded away. A soft wailing, mingling sorrow with relief, echoed among the remaining Valenwood soldiers drawn together in embrace. “We survived, my friends,” Lira said, brushing away tears that streamed down her cheeks. “They will never be forgotten.”

  From the corner, Eirik bowed his head, his breath ragged as if the winds of battle still cloaked his heart. "We have lost so much. Every name we utter—" He gestured to the ground where shadows of the departed now lingered, "holds an unforgettable story. We must not let these sacrifices be in vain."

  Darkness crept slowly once the Glyph of Silence faded. A soft wail, mingled with sorrow and relief, echoed through the remaining Valenwood forces as they embraced, celebrating life amidst death. "We endure, my friends," Lira said, brushing away the tears that flowed down her fair cheeks. "They will never be forgotten. Not until the end of days.”

  Eirik nodded, feeling a new fervor ignite within him, rekindling forgotten resolve. "We will return with greater strength. For them, for every soul that sacrificed themselves for this forest." His voice flowed with determination, rich with conviction. "There will be time to mourn the lost, but for now, we must prepare. Other foes may already be on the way, and we must be ready to face whatever challenges arise.”