**Chapter 18: Betrayal in the Shadows**

The moment of relief that Mori felt as she walked away from Kaelith with Eira was short-lived. They had only taken a few steps when a group of rough-looking men emerged from the darkness, their faces twisted with cruel grins. Eira's eyes widened in surprise, and she tried to react, but it was too late. The men, clearly bandits, surrounded them, their swords drawn. Mori's heart sank as she realized they were outnumbered and outmatched. Eira, despite her powerful magic, seemed to be frozen in shock. One of the bandits, a burly man with a scar above his eyebrow, sneered at Eira. "Well, well, well. What do we have here? A little sorceress, and a pretty young thing to keep her company." The bandits closed in, their swords raised. Eira tried to defend herself, but she was no match for the number of attackers. Mori watched in horror as she was quickly overpowered. The scar-faced bandit turned to Mori, his eyes gleaming with malice. "And what about you, little one? You're a pretty thing. We might just let you live... for a while." Mori tried to run, but her legs were frozen with fear. She was trapped, unable to move or escape. The bandits turned their attention back to Eira, who was struggling against her restraints. With a cruel laugh, the scar-faced bandit drew his sword and plunged it into Eira's chest. Mori's eyes widened in shock as Eira's eyes went wide, and she let out a blood-curdling scream. The bandits laughed and jeered as Eira's body slumped to the ground, her silver hair spilling out around her like a river of moonlight. Mori felt a scream building in her throat, but it was frozen behind a wall of horror. The scar-faced bandit turned to Mori, his sword still dripping with Eira's blood. "And now, little one, it's your turn. We'll take you back to our camp, and you'll be our little plaything for a while." Mori's world went dark, and she felt herself being dragged away from the ruins, away from Eira's lifeless body, and into a living nightmare from which she might never awaken.