The emeralds exploded.

It wasn't a small, pretty sparkle, it was an explosion that could make even a volcano blush. A blinding green flash consumed the entire room. The air shook. The floorboards cracked. Every sound came together in a thunderous roar that rattled teeth.

"Shield!" Alina shouted, her voice sharp. She slammed her palms together, and light burst outward, forming a glowing dome just in time. The emerald's energy smashed against it like a tidal wave of fire and glass.

Liliana moved before the light could reach Elrin. She grabbed the trembling woman by the wrist and yanked her back behind the barrier just as the emerald shards flew through the air like shrapnel. The crystals hit the golden barrier, hissing as if alive, before they dissolved into green mist.

The ground quaked.

From a distance,across the village,Aithur sat in a small tea room with a cup half-raised to his lips. The windows trembled violently, and a low rumble shook the floorboards beneath him.

His hand froze mid-air. His jaw tightened.

"...That was not thunder," he muttered darkly, eyes narrowing.

One of the knight's distant voice would have told him not to panic, but Aithur was already on his feet, gaze locked in the direction of the explosion. He didn't even put down his cup; the porcelain cracked slightly under his grip.

Back in the room, the blast died down. The air was thick with dust and glowing motes. Broken wood and shards of glass rained down. Alina's shield flickered as she held it firm, but sweat ran down her temple. The entire ceiling creaked dangerously overhead.

"Hold it!" Liliana barked, sword drawn as she scanned the collapsing beams. "Alina, are you—"

"I'm fine!" Alina hissed through clenched teeth. "But it would be nice if someone helped me before my barrier decides to retire!"

Luther groaned, already stepping forward. "Fine, fine… can't even heal in peace these days." His tone was dry, his hands already glowing green with magic. He stretched both arms outward. "Move."

His own barrier unfurled from him , unlike Alina's, his was translucent green and shimmered like glass dust. The instant it formed, the debris that had piled atop Alina's shield lifted and flew backward with a thud as his magic reinforced the space around them.

Liliana blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the sheer pressure of it. "That's—"

"Limitless magic, remember?" Luther said with a tired grin, wiping dust from his hair. "If I don't use it, I might start glowing from boredom."

He pushed more power into the barrier, forcing the debris back toward the corners of the room. But some of it, the heavier beams near the door, refused to move.

Luther's eye twitched. "Why can't anything ever be simple?"

Then, a loud creak echoed beneath their feet.

The demonic sword dangling from his neck, now back in necklace form, let out an impatient groan in his head.

"You realize we're on the second floor, genius? The floorboards are about to collapse. Maybe hurry up with the 'saving' thing?"

"Why are you even here if all you do is complain?" Luther shot back aloud.

"Emotional support!" the sword snapped.

"Oh, great. The demonic version of a therapist," Luther muttered.

Liliana gave him a sideways glance. "Are you… arguing with the sword?"

"It's called multitasking," he replied flatly.

The sword grumbled again, but this time, its voice echoed not just in Luther's head, but in everyone's.

Liliana froze mid-step, blinking. "Wait. Did… I just hear that thing?"

Alina turned her head sharply, eyes widening. "It's speaking to us?"

Elrin gasped softly, clutching her chest.

"Finally!" the sword's voice boomed in all their minds. "Took you all long enough to tune in. Now listen— we don't have much time before the floor gives way."

Luther rolled his eyes. "Oh no, please, go on, oh wise blade of complaint."

"Shut up and listen, boy!" the sword snapped. "Alina, drop your shield. Luther, expand yours. Liliana, you'll cut through those blasted beams blocking the exit. And you—" it turned to Elrin mentally, "snap out of your guilt trip and get the villagers ready to move. If any danger appears, run back inside. I'll handle the plan."

Luther smirked despite the chaos. "So you do have a brain. Good to know."

"Barely," the sword snickered. "Now focus, shiny boy."

Luther inhaled deeply, pressing both palms to the ground. His barrier swelled outward, widening like a growing bubble until it stretched near the door. Alina hesitated, then dropped her own. She turned to Elrin, who still stared at the floor, pale and motionless.

"Hey," Alina said firmly, shaking her shoulder. No response.

"Elrin!" she snapped again. When that failed, Alina sighed, muttered, "Sorry about this," and slapped her.

The sharp sound snapped the woman out of her trance. Elrin blinked, wide-eyed, clutching her cheek. "W-what—?"

Alina pointed toward the panicked villagers. "Your people need you. Be a leader, not a statue."

Something in her tone lit a fire in Elrin's eyes. She drew a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and nodded. Then she moved, fast, kneeling beside the terrified villagers, whispering calm, firm words as they huddled together.

Meanwhile, Liliana was already in motion. The moment Luther's barrier reached the door, she lunged out, sword in hand. Her blade gleamed as she cut through the splintered beams one after another.

Sparks flew. Wood cracked.

"Move!" she shouted, slashing down a thick support beam that shattered into fragments.

The air rumbled again. The ceiling gave another warning groan. A heavy slab of plaster crashed down beside her, barely missing her shoulder.

"Okay, that's enough excitement for one day," she muttered, rolling her eyes.

"Door clear yet?" Luther called.

"Almost—" she started, just as another loud crack split through the floorboards near her boots. She leapt aside, slicing one last piece away. The path to the staircase opened at last.

Liliana turned and shouted, "The door's free!"

Luther grinned. "Perfect. Now for the upgrade."

He slammed his palm down, and his magic surged. The green light expanded again, this time forming a bridge of barrier energy extending all the way through the door and into the hallway beyond.

He turned toward Alina and shouted, "Get everyone out! Alina, take Elrin and the rest downstairs! Liliana,help carry those still out cold!"

Liliana didn't argue this time. She sheathed her blade and ran back into the room, helping Alina lift a barely conscious villager.

The ceiling above trembled again, this time worse. The chandelier, long cracked from the explosion, snapped and came crashing down, slamming against Luther's barrier with a deafening clang.

"Go!" he yelled. "I'll hold this up!"

His golden eyes glowed brighter, strands of hair floating slightly as the pressure built. His magic rippled across the barrier like liquid glass, steadying it.

Alina and Liliana moved as fast as they could, guiding the last group out the door and down the staircase. The villagers stumbled, but Elrin was already directing them toward safety, her voice now clear and commanding.

Outside, the crowd of townsfolk gathered in confusion as smoke and dust rose from the upper floors. Some of Aithur's knights had already arrived, helping steady the wounded and calling for healers.

Back inside, Luther's barrier was cracking under the strain. He could feel his magic pulse in protest. "Stupid ceiling," he muttered. "Stupid exploding gems. Stupid holy job. I should've stayed in bed."

The sword chuckled in his mind.

"At least you're earning your saint title the hard way."

"Yeah? Then I want a raise. Preferably in the form of silence."

He adjusted his stance, arms trembling slightly from the magical load. "Everyone out yet?!"

"Almost!" Alina's voice echoed from below. "Just one more—"

But before she could finish, a faint glow pulsed through the cracks in the floor near Luther's boots.

He frowned, glancing down. "Oh, come on…"

Liliana looked back up from the doorway. "What now—?"

The glow intensified, burning green through the floorboards.

A single emerald crystal,missed in the chaos,was wedged beneath the planks, humming louder with each second.

"Everyone—get back!" Luther shouted.

"Wait, what is—" Liliana began, but the words never finished.

The crystal erupted.

This one was smaller, but its magic was ten times more concentrated. The explosion tore through the floor like a lightning strike. The entire world seemed to tilt for a moment, then gravity reclaimed them.

"Luther!" Alina screamed.

He didn't have time to react. The ground beneath him splintered into dust. His barrier shattered under the force, shards of green light exploding outward.

The sword yelled in his mind, "You really have the worst luck!"

"Tell me something I don't know!" Luther shouted back as he fell, grabbing for anything, a beam, a piece of wall, but the debris gave way with him.

Liliana lunged toward him, but the second the emerald burst, the floor under her collapsed too.

The world turned upside down, fragments of wood, glass, and green light spinning around them. Alina's voice rang out faintly, calling their names.

Then came the final sound, a crack, a breathless instant of stillness...

And then—

They fell.

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