The night in the forest

Serenya and Casey struggled against the invisible force holding them in place, but it was of no use. The woman stepped closer, a wicked grin on her face as she appraised them.

"You two are quite a catch," she said, running a finger down Serenya's cheek. "I'm sure I can get a pretty penny for you at the slave market."

Serenya glared at her, her eyes blazing with fury. "You won't get away with this," she spat.

The woman laughed. "Oh, I already have. You think I don't know?"

"What?" Casey grumbled, trying to resist the pressure.

The woman raised her eyebrows. "I heard you talking to that pretty elf," she points her finger towards Serenya, "What was his name again?" She gasps as her palm clasps, "Mr. Lucius! You both are on your journey to the mortal village, right? No one will know even if you are gone."

Casey's mind raced, trying to come up with a plan. She knew that they couldn't rely on anyone else to save them. They had to do it themselves.

"What do you want?" she asked, hoping to buy some time.

The woman raised an eyebrow. "What do I want? I want money, of course. And you two are going to help me get it."

She snapped her finger and a map popped out of nowhere into her hand. "There's a small village not too far from here. It's full of rich merchants and traders. They'll pay some good amount for some exotic slaves like you."

Serenya and Casey exchanged a worried glance. They had to find a way out of this, and fast.

The woman's head snapped up at the sound of approaching horses in the distance. Her face twisted in anger as she turned to the entrance.

"Stay here," she snarled. "I'll deal with whoever's out there." With a sneer, she turned in the direction of the sound and disappeared into the dense forest.

As soon as she was gone, Serenya and Casey frantically looked around for a way to escape.

"Serenya," Casey slowly said, "Use your magic!"

"I can't!" Serenya said with disappointment. "Inside this circle, I am unable to use my magic."

As the minutes ticked by, Serenya and Casey felt despair creeping up on them. They were trapped in the magic circle with no hope of escape, and the woman who had ensnared them was coming out of the bushes.

"Guess those were your horses, quite annoying. I took care of them." the woman said as she grinned at both of them. "Then, where were we?"

A figure appeared from behind the trees, on a horse. His movements were swift and precise. HOPE. Thoughts crossed Serenya and Casey's minds, and slowly but surely, hope turned into confusion. He wore a hooded cloak that obscured his face.

As the man approached the clearing, his hooded cloak billowed behind him, revealing only the determined set of his jaw. He slowed his horse and surveyed the scene before him, taking in the sight of Serenya and Casey trapped within the magic circle.

The woman demanded, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to collect my payment," the man replied with a sly grin, his voice dripping with confidence.

The woman hesitated, unsure of how to react to this unexpected turn of events. But before she could respond, the man reached into his cloak and withdrew a small vial filled with a glowing blue liquid. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled the vial toward the magic circle.

The woman let out a scream as the potion hit the circle and began to spread. The runes etched into the ground glowed bright blue, then shattered with a deafening boom. Serenya and Casey stumbled out of the circle, free from their magical bonds.

The man dismounted his horse and drew his sword. His movements were quick and fluid. The woman snarled, reaching for a hidden weapon at her side. They circled each other, sizing up their opponents.

The woman lunged forward, her blade flashing in the moonlight. The man parried her strike with ease, then countered with a quick jab. The woman staggered backwards, her expression one of surprise and fear.

The man pressed to his advantage, driving the woman back with a flurry of strikes. She fought back fiercely, but it was clear that he was the better swordsman. With a final blow, he disarmed her, sending her weapon flying out of her grasp. With a quick movement, he lunged forward and grabbed her by the wrist, twisting her arm behind her back and binding her with a set of magic-restraining cuffs.

"You won't be using your magic again anytime soon," he said, his voice cold and hard.

Serenya and Casey watched in awe as the man effortlessly subdued the slave trader. It was clear that he was a skilled fighter, and they were grateful to have him on their side.

"Who are you?" Casey demanded, her eyes wide in disbelief.

"I'm a spy for Lucius," the man replied, a serious expression on his face. "He was worried about you two so he sent me secretly to watch over you both. Who knew I would have to reveal myself so soon in your journey?"

Serenya and Casey exchanged a look of surprise and relief. It seemed that they had found an unexpected ally in their mission.

The woman made a desperate lunge toward the man, but he dodged her attack with ease. "You've lost," he said, his voice cold and uncompromising. "Now surrender peacefully and face justice for your crimes."

"What's your name?" Serenya asked curiously.

"Rowan Moonstone," he replied as he removed his cloak. His features were finally visible, pointed ears and his hair was a deep shade of midnight blue, falling in waves down his back.

Serenya and Casey saw that he was indeed an elf, tall and slender with a confident grace in his movements. He wore a black leather tunic and matching pants, along with high boots that reached up to his knees. His eyes were a piercing green, like the leaves of a summer forest, and they glinted with fierce determination. "I would be assisting you with your journey. Hope we get along."

Both of them nodded as they started at the young man.

"Are all the elves so pretty?" Casey whispered to Serenya.

Serenya nodded, "Most of them are, I guess"

Rowan pretending not to hear them as he holds back his smile. He clapped twice and a few men from the bushes came out suddenly making Casey jump. "Take her with you, let justice be served."

The men nodded and dragged the women with them as they were about to disappear into the forest. Rowan called out, "Wait a minute, leave one of your horses here."

Serenya and Casey exchanged glances in confusion.

"what's with the confusion?" He smiled, "Are you guys planning to share a ride with me if not the horse?"

Serenya flushed, "We- We have our horses!"

Rowan replied as he gathered some fallen branches and twigs, and with a wave of his hand, he used his magic to arrange them in a perfect circle. "Apparently, that woman broke your horse's legs. They have to be treated, my people will take care of it."

Serenya and Casey watched in awe as Rowan chanted a spell, his eyes glowing with a faint green light. A spark ignited from the tip of his finger, and it caught the dry wood, quickly growing into a warm and inviting fire. "And as it's already late, we need to take a rest. A fire to keep the dangers away" he smiled as he used his magic yet again to drag a big log out of the nearby big fallen tree and drag it near the fire. "Please have a seat."

Serenya shifted uncomfortably, feeling suddenly self-conscious. She was covered in dirt and sweat, her hair a tangled mess. Next to Rowan, she felt like a clumsy, awkward creature.

Casey, on the other hand, was openly staring at Rowan, her mouth slightly agape. She had always been drawn to the handsome, heroic type, and Rowan fit the bill perfectly. She couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be rescued by him, to feel his strong arms around her, protecting her from danger.

As Rowan settled back against a nearby rock, gazing thoughtfully into the flames, Serenya and Casey exchanged glances. They both knew that he was their best chance of getting out of this alive. But they couldn't help but feel a little intimidated by his perfect appearance and effortless skill.