Until the Flower withers

"Hurry!... Descend faster!" Nyx shouted,The moss on the walls shimmered faintly with firefly spores as he led people down the massive spiral of stone stairs.

"We're close to the mid-section!" a Headmaster called, glancing over his shoulder.

He turned slowly toward Nyx, his light brightening the path even more. "Calm down. Theo reported no activity near the Great Forest—so they have to be here."

Nyx stared blankly ahead, his mouth slightly agape. "I hope so."

The Headmaster shifted his focus to the center drop of the spiral. After a brief silence, only the synchronized clanking of soldiers' metal footsteps echoed around them.

"…I hope so too," he murmured.

…

"Do something!" Luna shouted, her footsteps quickening on the stone floor.

BOOM. BOOM.

The wall to their right trembled with each deafening blow. The sound barely reached Luna's ears, but she felt it in her bones.

"What is his problem?!" she snapped.

"As if I know!" Niva barked back, sweat beading on blade as he eyed the wall warily.

"Pick up the pace—he's nearing!"

Luna dared a glance over her shoulder. Her breath caught. Thin, precise slices appeared on the wall—like a knife gliding effortlessly through warm butter.

"He's slicing through the wall?!" Niva exclaimed.

CRASH!

The stone burst into powder as Eyril burst through, landing in a crouch before lunging straight at Luna.

Luna spun, meeting his blade with a horizontal slash—steel clashed, her blade bouncing his aside with raw instinct.

Eyril reeled for a split second, then recovered with ruthless speed. He brought his sword down in a vertical arc.

CLANG!

Metal screamed. Luna's sword shuddered violently under the blow. Her arms buckled—she stumbled, hitting the ground hard.

"Luna—hold on!" Niva cried.

With a swift motion, he sliced the ground behind her with an ice spell. Cracks spiderwebbed across the floor before it caved in entirely.

The world tilted.

Luna fell—spinning midair, limbs flailing—

Whoosh!

Niva cast again, forming a slick icy slide beneath her just in time—

CRACK!

She smacked her head against the ice, stars exploding in her vision as she shot downward, spiraling through the collapsing structure.

They slid down multiple floors, ice screeching beneath them. Luna groaned, her vision swimming—but she grit her teeth, pulling herself to her feet as soon as the ice leveled out.

"No time. No breath. Run." she thought

She pushed forward, legs moving on pure adrenaline.

Above—

THWUMP!

Eyril landed on the same slide. He was gaining. Fast.

Niva's eyes narrowed. With a clenched fist, he shattered the ice.

The slide vanished beneath Eyril's feet.

CRASH!

Eyril plummeted, smashing through the floor with explosive force, vanishing in a storm of stone and dust as he plunged into the depths below.

"He fell down! Hurry up!" Niva shouted, glancing back as Luna's vision spiraled.

"I can't! You gave me a concussion!" Luna shouted—but to her own ears, it came out a weak whisper.

Niva turned fully to look at her—and froze. Blood, dark and thick, streaked down her forehead. Her right side was raw and torn, looking like frostbite where the ice had scraped her down to the bone.

"…"

"Just—move forward!" Niva barked, voice cracking with desperation.

Luna barely nodded. Her steps wobbled, but she staggered after him, legs trembling beneath her.

"Yes! That's it—forward, just like that!" Niva urged, his voice shaky, one hand gripping his blade, the other guiding her forward like she might collapse at any second.

"…mhm…"

"There! There it is—the gateway ahead! Just move!" Niva yelled, sweat pouring on the blade as his eyes darted between Luna and the way behind them.

Luna nodded again, barely conscious, but she kept moving—step after agonizing step.

…

"Young master! We've reached the bridge to the final section!" a soldier called out.

"Let's move!" the Headmaster shouted to Nyx.

"Alright." Nyx's voice was sharp with resolve. He stared ahead, eyes locked on the distant gate—and beyond it, Luna.

"Move, people!" Nyx roared behind him.

"Yes, sir!" came the unified cry from the troops behind.

Armor clanked and boots pounded the stone floor like thunder as they surged forward, charging through the arched gateway—toward Luna.