Round 135

Jeane snarled arcane words, wings trembling as she fought to contain the energy. "I'm not leaving you alone," she snapped back at Halie. But Hera could see the strain in her shoulders, the way her wings shook with exertion even as they remained half-spread for escape. The wardstone pulsed again, fresh corruption seeping through the cracks. Halie gritted her teeth against the pain, focusing every ounce of will into keeping that barrier stable—structural integrity was becoming another concern now. The wood creaked beneath her grip. "Hera," she said without turning around, voice softer than intended, "stay behind me. I won't let anything happen to you."