The Covenant Seal

The group moved through the darkened hallway, their footsteps muffled against the thick carpet as they left the site of the battle behind. The once-familiar house now felt like hostile territory, the air dense with the remnants of mana and the acrid smell of scorched wood. Luke kept his siblings close, his body aching from the fight with the Chimera Wolves. His mana veins throbbed, and the Bet symbol on his forehead had faded to an almost imperceptible glow.

He glanced at Lila, who hovered silently at his side. Her golden eyes were focused and sharp, scanning the shifting shadows of the corridor. Her glow was dimmer than usual, a sign of how much energy she had expended.

"How's the mana flow in here?" Luke asked, his voice low.

"It's thick," Lila replied, her voice quiet but tense. "The Riftwild energy isn't just lingering—it's growing. The house itself seems to be absorbing it."

Luke grimaced, glancing at his siblings. Sophia walked close behind him, her hand gripping Ava's tightly. Ava's face was pale, her wide eyes darting nervously at every creak and groan of the house. Aiden trailed at the rear, his hands balled into fists, his jaw tight with barely contained anger.

"We'll get through this," Luke said, his voice firm. He turned his gaze forward, focusing on the west wing where his parents often spent time. "Lila, do you sense anything?"

Lila floated to a halt, her glow pulsing faintly as she reached out. Her eyes narrowed. "There's something ahead. Strong mana interference. It feels like... a barrier. It's blocking the flow of energy, creating a bottleneck."

"A barrier?" Sophia asked, her voice trembling. "Could Mom and Dad be behind it?"

Lila nodded slowly. "It's possible. But if they are, they might not be alone. The energy feels unstable, like it's being manipulated."

Luke's heart clenched. His parents were strong—his father especially—but they had no training for something like this. He couldn't shake the image of them trapped, vulnerable, and surrounded by the same horrors he and Lila had faced.

"We'll get them out," he said, his jaw tightening. "Whatever it takes."

The air grew colder as they neared the west wing, their breaths visible in the dim light. The once-pristine walls were now lined with faint scorch marks, as if fires had danced across them but left no lasting damage. The ornate double doors at the end of the hallway shimmered faintly with a pale blue light, the barrier humming softly like a living heartbeat.

"That's it," Lila said, her voice grim. "The barrier."

Luke approached cautiously, the hum of mana vibrating against his skin. He reached out tentatively, his fingers brushing the surface of the shimmering light. A jolt of energy shot through him, forcing him to step back.

"It's strong," Lila said. "Whoever set this up knew what they were doing. I can try to break it, but it'll take time."

Luke nodded, turning to his siblings. "Stay close. If anything comes, we stick together."

Sophia gave a shaky nod, pulling Ava closer. Aiden clenched his fists, his expression defiant. "If something comes, I'm helping."

"Not unless I say so," Luke said firmly. "I mean it, Aiden."

Aiden muttered something under his breath but didn't argue further. Luke turned his attention back to Lila, who had already begun weaving golden glyphs in the air, her focus entirely on the barrier.

The minutes stretched into what felt like hours. The hum of the barrier grew louder as cracks began to spiderweb across its surface, each one a testament to Lila's efforts. The air around them seemed to hold its breath, the oppressive weight of the Riftwild energy pressing down on them like a vice.

Luke kept his senses sharp, his eyes scanning the hallway for any sign of movement. Every creak of the floorboards sent a fresh jolt of adrenaline through his system.

"Luke, do you think they're okay?" Ava's voice was barely a whisper, trembling with fear.

"They're okay," Luke said, glancing back at her. "We're going to find them. I promise."

Ava nodded, though her grip on Sophia's arm tightened. Sophia's expression was harder to read, but her eyes held a determination that mirrored Luke's.

"I've almost got it," Lila said, her voice strained. "Just a little more—"

A deafening crash interrupted her, echoing from somewhere behind them. The floor beneath their feet trembled, and the walls groaned as if under immense pressure.

"What was that?" Aiden asked, his fists tightening.

Luke spun around, his heart racing. At the far end of the hallway, shadows writhed and twisted, coalescing into a humanoid form. The figure was cloaked in darkness, its features obscured, but its presence radiated malice.

"Lila," Luke said, his voice sharp.

"I see it," Lila replied, her golden eyes narrowing. She didn't pause in her work. "I need more time. Keep it away."

Luke stepped forward, positioning himself between his siblings and the figure. He summoned what little mana he had left, the Bet symbol on his forehead flaring weakly. "If you want a fight, you've got it."

A whisper, suggesting horrible things, touched the edges of Luke's mind as the shadow figure glided forward. It emanated a cold, unnatural aura, making the air even heavier. It left no sound as it grew closer but a faint echo of its passing.

The shadow surged forward, its movements unnaturally fast. Luke barely managed to summon a barrier in time, the shimmering shield deflecting the figure's outstretched hand. The impact sent him stumbling back, the barrier cracking under the force.

"Luke!" Aiden shouted, stepping forward instinctively.

"Stay back!" Luke barked, regaining his footing. He focused his energy into his fists, his mana cloak flickering to life as he charged. He swung at the figure, his mana-infused punch connecting with its torso. The figure staggered, but its form twisted unnaturally, and it recovered almost instantly.

The fight was grueling. Luke's movements were sluggish, his depleted mana making every step a battle in itself. The figure lashed out again, its clawed hand raking across Luke's side. He grunted in pain, the wound burning as though seared by fire.

"I can't do this for much longer!" he shouted, his voice strained.

Behind him, Lila's glyphs flared brightly, the barrier shattering with a deafening crack. "It's down!" she called out.

Luke didn't hesitate. "Go!" he shouted to his siblings. "Get inside!"

Sophia grabbed Ava's hand, pulling her through the now-open doorway. Aiden hesitated, his eyes darting between Luke and the shadow. "Aiden, now!" Luke snapped.

Reluctantly, Aiden followed, and Lila drifted after them. Luke backed toward the doorway, his eyes never leaving the shadowy figure. Just as it lunged again, he slammed the door shut, the wood splintering slightly under the impact.

Inside the room, the air was thick with dust and the faint hum of mana. It was another study, mostly used by guests, its walls lined with bookshelves and its furniture in disarray. In the far corner, huddled together but alive, were Evelyn and Nathaniel Hale.

"Mom! Dad!" Sophia cried, running to them.

Evelyn looked up, her face streaked with dirt but filled with relief. "Sophia! Ava! Oh, thank God." She pulled her daughters into a tight embrace, her hands trembling.

Nathaniel stood slowly, his movements stiff but steady. "You're all okay," he said, his voice calm despite the exhaustion in his eyes. "We were trying to get to you, but…"

"There was a barrier," Lila said, her golden eyes scanning the room. "Something—or someone—trapped you here."

Nathaniel nodded grimly. "We were ambushed. The barrier went up before we could get out."

"What ambushed you?" Luke asked, his voice hard.

"Something like that shadow," Nathaniel said, gesturing toward the door. "It wasn't alone, either. They came out of nowhere. And they weren't just attacking. It was like they were… searching for something. One of them spoke. Just one word, but I didn't understand it."

Evelyn tightened her grip on Ava, her voice trembling. "We heard the howls, the fighting... We thought..."

"We're okay," Luke said firmly. He leaned against the wall, catching his breath. "But this house isn't safe. We need to get out of here."

Nathaniel's eyes narrowed. "The grounds aren't any better. Whatever's happening here is spreading."

Lila floated closer. "We need to move quickly. The Riftwild energy is growing stronger. If we don't leave soon, more creatures will come."

Luke straightened, his body protesting with every movement. "Then we stick together. We'll fight our way out if we have to."

Nathaniel stepped forward, his presence commanding despite the situation. "Agreed. We're leaving, but we're doing it right. No more surprises."

Luke met his father's gaze, a flicker of pride mixing with the tension. 

As they prepared to leave, the faint hum of the Riftwild energy seemed to intensify. But for the first time since the chaos began, Luke had his family back. Now, they just had to make it out alive.