Harmony Aquila bolted toward the decrepit tower, a black-scaled monster hot on her trail. Her burning lungs didn't slow her. The wind whipped her dark hair across her face as she spun, sneakers skidding on dry grass. The beast’s fifteen-foot shadow devoured her comfort.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyS6bamB686
I’ll show Emberlyn I’m capable—even if my Aspect isn’t answering.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWstDQgiFQv
She thrust her arm out, eyes narrowing as she stared into hollow red ones. A periwinkle aura emanated from her arm, spiraling toward her open palm. The light floundered as the ground vibrated beneath her feet.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC13VpchAGl
The beast lunged, its claw swinging forward. Black ooze spilled from its jagged teeth, the spray hissing as it roasted the blades alive. She flinched, the claw inches from her nose. Dropping her arm, she cartwheeled to the side. Dirt blasted into the air, stinging her elfin ears as the creature’s claw shredded the earth beneath where she had just been. Dropping low, she slid between its tree-trunk legs, the coarse dirt scraping her olive palms.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2RmZOtW0J
Her hand anchored to the ground, she winced and looked up as the monster twisted to face her. Another claw whistled through the air, missing her once again. She scrambled to her feet as her gaze darted across the desolate field. A few yards to the east, a crumbled wall encircled the tower like a serpent’s discarded skin. Perfect! I can use that for a few moments of—19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡar5fSYHWDd
A rumble shook the ground as the beast roared, rearing onto its hind legs. Her heart pounded as she dashed to the masonry, diving behind it. The beast’s claw bashed into the stonework overhead, peppering her dark brown hair and periwinkle off-the-shoulder crop top with mortar.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXo2OyfoA4
Leaping out, she cartwheeled through the hail of debris as stone shards hurled past her. So much for hiding. She backstepped out of reach of another swipe. If it can’t see me, it’ll sniff me out—might as well knock it down to my level.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94KwyI3ihn
She stuck the landing, her eyes unwavering. “Good. I wasn’t looking for an easy fight.” 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPcywyFhcD
As the beast stormed forward, she dug her heels and launched herself directly into its path.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvAbbNP03b
She jumped into the air, putting her leg out. She drove her shoe into the monster’s midsection. It backed away with a guttural groan, staggering. Landing, she hammered rapid elbow strikes into its legs until the beast buckled.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAi8UFtK4d
She sprinted to the fallen creature, using its slanted skull as a ramp. Racing up the curve, she launched herself into the sky. At the peak of her jump, she twisted and drove her legs down in an overhead kick.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RGvxUjamt
As the beast’s final roar faded, it disintegrated into dust. She hopped onto the grass in front of the dusty gray ash pile. The wind picked up, and a woman’s velvety voice cut through the sudden silence.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPgcuFrGwa
“A job well done, Harmony.” 19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNgyuox5HO
Harmony stiffened. Her emerald gaze snapped up, locking onto eyes the color of cold moonlight. The tips of her ears twitched as the woman approached. The grass crunched beneath her open-toed black stilettos as she offered a slow clap.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0skmVhwjDk
“But I’m afraid you may have forgotten... a certain... tiny little detail.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMIXk6EaHb
The woman stopped just out of arm's reach, her eyes fixed behind Harmony’s right shoulder. She rested one hand on her black, ankle-length slacks as the other tightened the button of her collar.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZiMpJLYaC
“Forgotten?” Harmony asked, breath still uneven. “Forgot what?”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiE1CZaC1Hb
“My first lesson, for one?” The woman brushed a strand of luminous silver hair over her black sleeveless shoulder, a sapphire-encrusted gold bracelet jingling at her wrist.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXClexXtQT
Behind Harmony, the dust pile glowed with a nauseating light. Thick smoke reeking of rot flooded the air. Harmony slapped a hand over her nose.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZ00zjseuP
The ash rose into the sky, weaving itself back together. The beast’s roar tore through the air, the loose dirt shifting underfoot. Harmony froze as the shadow devoured the light once more. Akuryōs can only be defeated by Aspects.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGoMso3pmG
The woman stepped forward, exhaling a low command. Her slate-colored eyes focused ahead. Blue light erupted from her bracelet, bleeding into the air and hardening into a silver rod tipped with a sapphire. She tightened her grip as the beast reared up once more.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsIrXObkVb
“Get behind me!”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0umiDU2Yp9
Harmony sprang into the dirt behind her. With a sweep of her rod, the woman scorched a rune into the grass. A gray energy barrier erupted around them just as the beast’s claws slammed downward. The shield held, but the shockwaves rumbled the earth outside it.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2niaTqsQaJ
The woman’s gaze locked onto the creature, her knuckles whitening as the sapphire lit up and released a wave of steel-gray light.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fh7Vpzbir
“Emberlyn, what if it gets through?” Harmony squinted against the glare, using her hand’s shadow for cover.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljdaBlE4LH
“It’s not up to me.” Emberlyn regarded Harmony. The light intensified, and the barrier rippled as if it were disturbed water. “That’s your job! Prove Lady Aurora didn’t make a mistake!”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGeVwz0K0x
Harmony inhaled sharply. She stood, thrusting her arm forward as she snapped her eyes shut.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OrvVl1kyW
“Wish, answer my summons! I call for your power of hope!”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0D2tmKboZE
Her voice strained, cracking at the end. The gray barrier hummed frantically, rippling violently as the beast struck it again.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxnhmGk22P
Harmony’s eyes shot open, darting left to right. No! Damnit!19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeAh7qPKFD
Emberlyn glanced at Harmony’s twitching fingers. With a sharp sigh, she flicked her wrist and dropped the barrier.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDF51dBLS8z
“By Aurora, Harmony.”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTDTgCm9p0
The beast charged, a rush of cold air bursting past Emberlyn. Harmony froze as it closed the distance, staring down at her trembling hands. As the beast leapt, Emberlyn fired a bolt of white light into its chest. The field ignited, and Harmony flinched, covering her eyes.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBthKITJ5l
The monster disintegrated into matter, its shriek lingering long after its body vanished. Emberlyn exhaled, lowering her hand.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9cx5Agpfm
“Well, it’s a good thing I was here,” Emberlyn turned to Harmony, pressing her lips together as the rod dimmed back into the sapphire on her bracelet again.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWizC6LCz8
Harmony nodded, staring down at the scorched grass. She yanked the edge of her lantern sleeve back up and clenched her jaw. Damnit! I was this close, and she still needed to save me.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mgnTIsGD0
Emberlyn smiled and leaned in, patting her shoulder. “Next time, listen to my lesson before running off on some hopeless endeavor.” She stepped back, turning away.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGH7CuA9T8f
and then Add to home screen.