The bushes scratched against my arms as I crouched deeper into them, trying to keep out of the two captains' way.
From my spot, the vortex's pale light shimmered through the leaves like an eerie lantern, illuminating the monster's grotesque frame. The creature's wings twitched, its talons scraped against the soul, and its beak dripped red.
Claude moved. He surged forward like a shadow unbound—mist unfurling from his feet, rolling with him, and matching the sway of his blade.
The monster's head snapped to where Claude was, finally sensing the danger looming over it. It abandoned the corpse it was about to eat, and leaped into the air, preparing to lunge.
Claude's sword swerved in a clean, bluish line and sliced through the monster's first attack. A layer of mist spread along the slash, clinging to the monster's scales like frost, slowing its movements.
