บท 316: Sand and Starspawns, part 3

Cael raised his arms, protecting his face. His mana shot out, forming the flimsiest of force shields.

Then the Starspawn's arrow hit him straight in his crossed arms and exploded.

The force of the blast threw Cael into the sand slope of the pit. It was a strange thing to experience.

He felt his shield shattering, heard his bones crack, and saw the blinding light even through closed eyelids. He smelled burned flesh again and felt his breath being knocked out of his lungs. In the last moment, he twisted his body to hit the sand with his shoulder instead of his fragile wings.

Cael still had trouble breathing a moment later, when the disturbed sand fell down. A pile of it covered Cael's body, forcing him to close his eyes again.

Although he didn't feel pain, Cael's entire body was sluggish, and his arms barely obeyed his commands. His breaths were shallow—he guessed broken ribs.