Lyrian and Reone
Reone and Lyrian hadn't realized how distracted they'd been—too caught up in their argument to notice the danger closing in.
Now, bound and kneeling on the forest floor, they understood the price of their distraction.
The crawling black-red veins under their captors' skin and the heavy gear humming with stolen resonance revealed them as Nullborn Extractors. But curiously, they hadn't been with the group Lyrian and Reone had seen earlier.
She tried twisting against the metallic coils wrapped around her legs, but the device constricted instantly, digging into her skin until she cried out in pain.
Beside her, Reone gritted his teeth and tried the same—only to have his binds tighten until his breath hitched.
Lyrian looked up to find that this was the Extractors' doing too, through the remotes in their hands.
One of them laughed.
"There's no use struggling, Resonants," he sneered. "Once that coil locks on, there's no escaping it."
"Let us go, Extractor," Lyrian snapped, her voice trembling with fury. "I'm warning you."
The man knelt beside her and brushed a hand against her cheek, mock-gentle.
"Awfully brave for someone so helpless. You're in no position to make threats, my Sylph friend."
"You fiend," Reone growled, thrashing against the coils. "Take your hands off her!"
The Extractors responded by making the coils contract further with one of their remotes, drawing a pained grunt from him.
They chuckled at the sound.
"This day's getting better," one of them said with glee. "First we find the Diviner who escaped last night and the Diviner's nest. Now we capture a Sylph and a Legion. That's how we redeem ourselves in front of the boss, Darel."
Reone's eyes narrowed. Diviners again? Why did everyone keep mentioning them like they were real? he wondered as he listened.
"Hold on—we, Randall?" Darel shot back. "I'm the one who saw the Diviner sneaking back into the cave. I heard these Resonants talking first."
The other man, Randall, scowled. "You only managed that because you were slacking off from your duties and looking for a place to take break."
"That doesn't matter! This is all me!"
"You're such a selfish idiot."
The argument escalated fast—two grown men snapping like children right in front of them. Lyrian watched, brow furrowing.
These must be the incompetent idiots the leader of the Extractors was complaining about earlier.
On one hand, she felt humiliated—getting captured by these morons. On the other, she was glad it was them. She could use their stupidity to her advantage.
She caught Reone's eye. He made a subtle motion with his chin, mouthing, The remotes.
Lyrian nodded slightly. A plan quickly began forming in her mind.
"Hey!" she called out sweetly. "Can I get the attention of you two geniuses?"
They ignored her, still arguing. She frowned, then raised her voice.
"Hello? I'm calling you. Are you guys deaf and dumb?"
Reone blinked at her in confusion, but she just winked at him response.
Reone immediately understood that she had a plan.
Trusting her, he joined in.
"We're dealing with idiots, Lyrian," he added dryly.
That got their attention. Both Extractors turned, faces dark with anger.
"What did you just say?" Darel snapped, storming toward them.
"Ugh, they really are deaf," Lyrian replied with an exasperated sigh.
"You two are awfully mouthy for captives," Randall growled. "Maybe we should teach you some manners."
He unhooked his remote and pressed a button without another word. The coils constricted sharply around them both.
Reone and Lyrian cried out in unison.
Reone hoped Lyrian knew what she was doing. Because if things continued the way that they were, then they were toast.
Randall leaned close to Lyrian, sneering. "Got any more smart comments now?"
Lyrian gasped for breath, then whispered, "Just this."
And let out a distorted sound.
Quiet—but full of sonic fury.
A sharp frequency sounded from her throat, piercing the air like a blade. Both Extractors clutched their ears and screamed, staggering back. Randall's remote slipped from his hands—straight into Lyrian's waiting ones.
Reone's smile widened in excitement.
Way to go, Lyrian, he thought.
Lyrian fumbled with the device, pressing a glowing green button, hoping against hope that it would free her. The coils around her torso dissolved with a whirr.
She didn't waste a second—kicking Randall squarely in the chest and flipping to her feet in one fluid motion.
"Transform," she hissed.
A shimmer rippled across her body as her Sylph form emerged, air swirling around her like living light. As soon as her wings appeared,she immediately focused on Darel, who still had the remote to the cpils around Reone's body. She thrust out a palm and released a sonic burst that sent Darel flying into a tree.
He hit the ground hard, groaning but still clutching his remote.
Lyrian stalked toward him, voice low. "Give me that."
"Not a chance," he spat, clutching it tighter.
She sighed. "Big mistake."
Her kick was fast, but he dodged and countered, blocking her next strike. He headbutted her, but Lyrian recovered quickly, punching him again. The two traded blows-the guy was physically stronger but Lyrian was twice as motivated.
"Careful, Lyrian—" Reone managed to caution, before Randall, regaining his senses, slammed a fist into his jaw.
Reone went down hard.
Randall turned toward Lyrian, rage blazing in his eyes. He picked up his Extractor rifle, practically itching with the need to use it on the Sylph girl who had dared to trick him.
Lyrian had Darel pinned now, his back to a tree, her hand gripping his throat.
"Drop. The. Remote."
"Never," he said.
She applied more pressure and Darel screamed. The remote clattered to the ground.
Lyrian then slammed his head against the bark—once, hard. Darel went limp.
She bent to grab the remote and pressed the green button again. Reone's coils vanished instantly.
But before Lyrian could turn to see this, she felt herself being struck from behind.
Randall's riffle had release a harpoon , striking her squarely in the back.
Lyrian gasped, knees buckling. Once the extractor rifle locked onto her resonance signature,it started draining. The vial on its side filled with glowing blue light—Lyrian's life force.
Her pained yells tore through the forest.
Reone stirred, disoriented, until the sound of her pain snapped him back to reality.
"Lyrian…"
Reone's vision swam—but he saw her collapsing, her body convulsing as Randall continued to drain her.
"No!" he roared.
He pushed himself up, weak and shaking, sword trembling in his hands. Gathering his strength, Reone charged.
"LEAVE HER ALONE!"
Randall turned too late. Reone was already upon him. The blade flashed—a clean, furious strike.
The Extractor froze, eyes wide, blood bubbling from his lips. Reone slowly withdrew his blade. Then Randall crumpled.
Reone staggered past him, panting, before dropping to Lyrian's side.
Her eyes were closed, skin pale and cold.
"Lyrian! Lyrian, wake up!" he pleaded, shaking her gently.
No response.
His breath hitched. He lowered his head to her chest—listening for a heartbeat.
Nothing.
Terror clawed at his throat.
"No," he whispered. "No, no, no."
He lifted her face in his hands, tears cutting through the dirt on his cheeks.
"Lyrian! Wake up! Please!"
Silence.
"LYRIAN!"
His cry echoed through the quiet forest—raw and grief-stricken.