It’s only Raith and me. And if we fall, nothing will stop the windborne from collecting our tokens and finishing us for good.

The windborne facing Raith moves like smoke, her strikes too fast to track. Raith’s skill keeps him alive, but just barely. Through our tether, I feel him drawing on every technique he knows, his mind calculating each move seconds ahead. Pyrin battles beside him, snapping at the windborne when Raith's guard falters or he's in danger.

There's a sudden rush of wind as Bastian appears on his steed made of pure air. It leaps for the man fighting Raith as Bastian jumps from its back and joins the fray, long spear stabbing fiercely.

I stare in disbelief as the blonde legacy throws himself into battle. If I had any doubts about his loyalty, they fade quickly. He's fighting side by side with Raith, trying desperately to save us when he must know his chances of making it out of here alive are slim.

Together, they're barely managing to buy time, but it's clear they're outmatched. Even Bastian and Raith together are outskilled. The windborne combines two short blades with rapid magical attacks that Raith barely burns up or deflects. Bastian has an easier time, using some kind of heavy wall of wind to disperse the worst of it.

But I can tell they won't last much longer.

Typhon is struggling against the combined might of both windborne elementals and the female windborne.

I feel useless as I stumble to my feet, searching for any source of elemental power. There's nothing left to draw from—I've burned through everything I had. Every last shred of power is gone and my body is completely exhausted. My only hope is to reach someone, to make physical contact.

The female windborne battling Typhon seems to be the greater threat. Her elemental is pushing him back, its form constantly shifting to counter his attacks. No matter how much power Typhon unleashes, the creature adapts. It fades from existence to dodge his power and reappears, making it impossible for him to land a single blow. All he's doing is keeping it busy.

I need to help him. I need to stop her.

With a deep breath, I charge toward the woman.

"Nessa, no!" Bastian shouts, but the male windborne takes his momentary distraction and uses it. He suffers a deep cut to his leg and is blasted away by a torrent of wind, flipping through the air like a ragdoll.

Bastian lands hard in the mud, motionless, even though the blue of his stasis token hasn’t flashed.

Gods. I hope he’s okay, but there’s no time to worry.

The female windborne senses me coming, whirling to face me with inhuman speed. Her elemental turns from Typhon, rushing to protect its primal.

I throw my rapier toward her as a distraction, then dive.