The forest had grown thicker, the trees casting long shadows under the rising sun. Sukai's eyes scanned the ground and treetops, every instinct screaming that his sister was nearby.
"Lily… where are you?" he muttered, voice tense. His fire magic flared lightly, just enough to sense residual heat traces. His brow furrowed. "She was just here… the signature—it's fading fast."
The faint glow of heat left by Lily's magic was like breadcrumbs, guiding him deeper into the forest. Every step he took was cautious; the terrain was uneven, and monsters lurked around every corner.
Meanwhile, Eclipse Faction pressed on. Kairo's crimson eyes swept the battlefield, calculating the next move. Riven's sword struck with surgical precision, exploiting openings Kairo created, while Lily's Heat Spatial Magic pinpointed every remaining threat.
"They're fast, but we can manage," Kairo murmured. The forest floor quivered as he unleashed a small array of bone spears, eliminating a cluster of fast-moving monsters before they even reached the trio.
Lily, still slightly shaken from being separated from Sukai, focused harder on controlling both her fire and spatial magic. She could sense Sukai's heat signature faintly in the distance, giving her a silent reassurance.
"He's close," she whispered, voice barely audible. "I just… need to hold on."
Backtracking, Sukai's pace quickened. "Come on, Lily… I won't let anything happen to you," he muttered, scanning every shadow, listening for the faintest sound of movement.
The forest's quiet tension was broken by the distant calls of monsters—growls, shrieks, the scuffle of paws and claws. Sukai's senses sharpened, each heat signature telling him which creatures were a threat and which were simply passing by.
Finally, in a small clearing, he spotted her. Lily's fire flickered faintly, and her spatial magic shimmered. Relief flooded him, though he didn't let his guard down. "Lily! I've got you," he called softly.
Lily turned, eyes wide but calm. "Sukai… I'm okay. I'm… with Kairo and Riven," she said, letting her gaze sweep the trio briefly. "Don't worry… I'm safe."
Sukai approached, still tense but visibly relieved. "Don't wander off like that again. I can't always find you so fast."
Kairo's crimson eyes met Sukai's briefly from a distance, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. "She's strong, and she's learning fast," Kairo thought. "You don't need to worry, not yet."
Even as the forest continued to echo with monster sounds, and Eclipse Faction pushed its kill count higher, the sibling reunion reminded Sukai that focus, strategy, and trust were as important as power.
"We'll finish this hunt," he said quietly to Lily, "and then I'll make sure you stay close."
And for the first time since the hunt began, the tension eased slightly, a small moment of calm amidst the chaos of monsters, strategy, and growing rivalry between factions.