Chapter 185: Escape From Widow’s Crag

 

  Callum Veres ran with what little energy he had left in his exhausted body. They had been moving since early morning, now it was dark and they were running for their lives. His classmates and the commoner families they were escorting, should have all been resting in their tents by now. This should have been a simple final exam. No one was supposed to get hurt.

  Callum looked behind him at the cliff in the distance where Stryg and Clypeus Gale had stayed behind. Callum wanted to kick himself. Here he was complaining to himself of his legs aching, while those two were fighting tooth and nail to save everyone.

  Callum glanced at the others; Kithina’s freckled cheeks were stained with tears and her eyes were puffy, she hadn’t said anything since they had run away. Kegrog’s eyes were dull, he carried the unconscious Nora Azol in his sturdy arms. The few other students that remained kept muttering to themselves, some prayed to the gods for salvation, others cursed everyone for their situation. 

  Callum couldn’t blame them. Half the students and commoners were already dead and the rest were at the brink of collapsing. 

  Defending against the evening ambush had used up practically all of their energy. And now, as if the universe was spitting on their misfortune, the infamous War Lord Marek had attacked them.

  “Excuse me, sir? Sir? Sir!?”

  “Huh?” Callum looked up.

  A middle-aged human stood in front of him, Callum recalled the man had been nominated by the other commoners to be their spokesperson.

  “My people can’t go on, two of them have already fainted from exhaustion. If we keep this going I’m afraid of what will happen.”

  Callum’s shoulders shook with anger, “If we don’t keep moving, we’ll die. Don’t you understand what my friends did back there!? They are going to die! They are dying so that we can have a chance to escape. And now you want to stop!?”

  The man looked down, “...I know, I understand, I really do, and I’m truly sorry for your loss. But my people will be left behind if we keep up this pace and then they will die too. You’re all magi, yes? I noticed some of you healing wounds earlier. Could you, perhaps, I don’t know, renew our stamina somehow?”

  Callum sighed, “Chromatic healing spells don’t work that way. Maybe if we had an actual elemental life mage… But, we don’t. We are alone. Our best bet is trying to reach the second sharp cliff a few leagues from here. Our professors should be waiting for us there, hopefully…”

  The man’s face fell into dismay, “A few leagues? We have children with us and older folk. They won’t make it that far.”

  “I’m sorry, there is nothing else we can do. Tell your families to hold on a little longer. For now, let’s just focus on climbing up this hill, we’ll figure out the rest afterward,” Callum said bitterly.

  The man opened his mouth to retort, but he stopped. He understood he couldn’t argue against a mage, let alone an aristocrat. He nodded glumly and walked back to his family.

  The world exploded in a roar of flame. Callum’s body was blown away, he tumbled to the ground in a chain of painful crashes as he rolled down the hill. His ears rang in a high-pitch squeal. Horrid screams echoed dimly all around. He blinked several times, trying to dispel the disorientating haze. Something warm dripped down his cheek. He recognized the scent of blood, but there were other scents in the air.

  Callum sat up with a painful grimace. A volatile swathe of flame burned at the bottom of the hill. His dazed mind slowly began to comprehend the horrid noise. A dozen people screamed within the flames, their bodies burned and crumpled, till only charred bone was left.

  “Cal, get up!” Kithina ran over and pulled his arm.

  “T-the commoners,” he muttered.

  “They’re all dead! So are most of our classmates. We need to move if we don’t want to end up like them!” Kegrog yelled.

  “I’m afraid that won’t be happening,” a voice called from above.

  The few remaining students looked up at the top of the hill. Two figures shrouded in grey cloaks stared down at them.

  “They were way behind us, how did they get up there?” Kegrog whispered with dread.

  The hybrid twins strolled down the hill.

  “We’re sorry you were all caught up in this, but we cannot allow you to leave,” Vaughn said.

  “Surrender quietly and we will take the few of you left as prisoners. Otherwise, you will die,” Dawn said.

  Callum glanced between the enormous fire and the twins. The flame spell had been far greater than he had ever seen. These people weren’t simple magi. They were powerful.

  “Cal, we need to run!” Kithina tried pulling him away.

  His feet didn’t budge.

  “There’s no point, Kitty... We can’t escape, we can’t even fight back,” Callum’s voice cracked. He fell to his knees and bowed his head in defeat.

  “Cal…” Kithina bit her quivering lip.

  A lone figure walked past them, “Stand, Callum. You are a Veres. You should never yield to adversity.”

  Callum slowly looked up and stared in wonder. A lone dwarf stepped in front of the others, she held a hammer and shield in her hands. Her legs were spread wide in a battle stance. The orange light of the blazing fire, bathed her golden bright. Her small figure seemed different, almost larger than life.

  “What’s this?” Dawn’s eyes gleamed with interest.

  The dwarf pointed her hammer at the twins, “I am Freya of the House of Goldelm! I will not run nor will I cower in front of you damn savages!”

  “Hm, your death will be far from painless, little girl,” Dawn’s fingers crackled with lightning.

  Freya swallowed, she stared up at her enemies with an iron resolve. “Kegrog, you may not be an aristocrat, but I’m placing my trust in you. Keep the others safe, you’re in charge now.”

  “...Understood,” Kegrog nodded.

  He put Nora over his shoulder, grabbed Callum’s shirt, and threw him over his other shoulder. Callum didn’t resist, his mind felt numb. What was Freya doing?

  The dwarf banged her hammer against her shield, “What are you waiting for, you purple-eyed freaks!?”

  “I see House Goldelm’s hubris lives up to its name,” Dawn curled her blue lips in an amused smile.

  Vaughn stared at Freya’s trembling legs, “Despite all your boasting, you are afraid, Goldelm. Yet you still taunt us? Are you a fool?”

  Freya smiled shakily, “Never. I just rather die protecting them than be your bitch.”

  Dawn opened her hand, blue lighting surged across her palm and formed a crackling spear, “I have no time for your quips and we really only need one prisoner. The rest of you can die here.”

  Freya’s face paled. 

  “You can still change your mind, surrender, and let us end this quickly,” Vaughn offered.

  Freya’s breath quickened. She shook her head, “I… I won’t let you past me.”

  “I don’t need to,” Dawn stomped her foot.

  A wall of stone rose from the ground and blocked off Kegrog and the others from escaping.

  Freya’s eyes widened in shock.

  “Maybe if you run now you might have a chance to escape?” Dawn taunted.

  Freya licked her dry lips and grinned half-heartedly, “Do you see me running?”

  “You would die? For a hopeless attempt to protect those cowards who were about to leave you to die? Why?” Vaughn cocked his head to the side.

  Stryg’s final words echoed through Freya’s mind. She gripped her hammer, “I made a promise.”

  “So have we,” Dawn pulled her arm back and hurled the lightning spear.

  The spear whistled through the air, Freya raised her shield and closed her eyes tight. The wind howled down on her, the spear splintered in a blast of sizzling light.

  “Well done, Freya. House Goldelm would be proud.”

  Freya opened her eyes hesitantly. A wall of red ward sigils swirled in the air. She slowly turned around. A drow in a white robe stood behind, a crest of black flames emblazoned on his chest.

  “Ah…!?” Freya’s legs buckled underneath her. “Lord Noir!” She cried in relief.

  “You’ve done enough, go rest with the others,” Elzri stepped past her.

  “Elzri Noir?” Vaughn whispered. He glanced up at the night sky, “Quite an entrance.”

  “The great arch-mage of Hollow Shade. How unexpected,” Dawn cracked her neck from side to side.

  “Leave before I end you both,” Elzri said calmly.

  “Did you really fly all the way here? From the City of Shades?” Vaughn asked.

  Dawn clicked her tongue, “You must be exhausted, your yellow mana depleted. Your body itself must be overheating from such a prolonged spell. Pity, I had hoped to one day face you at your strongest.”

  “You saw my sister’s storm spear, you know she is an arch-mage, yet you still wish to fight? You should be the one leaving while you can, Lord Noir,” Vaughn warned.

  Elzri said nothing and simply stared.

  “...Very well, you’ve made your choice,” Vaughn sighed.

  Dawn summoned a second storm spear and hurled it at Elzri. The spear shattered over his red dome in an explosion of thunder.

  “Your wards blocked it twice, impressive. Let’s try again,” Dawn casted two more spears, one in each hand, and threw them at the red shield.

  Lightning splintered across the wards, burning the ground all around. Elzri watched from inside the dome, unfazed.

  “You can’t keep this up, Noir,” Dawn sneered.

  “Neither can you.”

  “Then let me help,” Vaughn spread his arms wide. Two massive spheres of white light spun into existence over his palms.

  “Lux orbs?” Elzri furrowed his brow.

  “Did you think I was the only arch-mage?” Dawn created two more storm spears.

  The red dome faded away.

  Elzri lifted his hand, “Frankly, yes.” He snapped his fingers, five lux orbs formed above him.

  “W-what?” Dawn took a step back.

  The five lux orbs flared, beams of searing light firing out. Dawn threw her storm spears, the lightning splashed into two beams in a dazzling explosion. Vaughn fired off his own lux orbs, the light beams splintering against another two beams. 

  Elzri’s last light beam went straight at Dawn. Vaughn’s fingers shined with red light, he scribbled in the air with one swift motion. A ward wall appeared between his sister and the beam.

  Elzri flicked his fingers, the light beam curved around the ward wall and smashed into Dawn. She crashed back into the steep hill, the light beam bore a deep hole into the hill, leaving behind a crater filled with smoke.

  Elzri narrowed his eyes.

  Dawn dusted herself off and stepped out of the crater. Yellow durability scales crawled over her skin. Her robes were in tatters, but she seemed unharmed. She grimaced and stumbled a step.

  “...Not bad,” Dawn wiped the blood off her lips.

   “Sister!” Vaughn’s face contorted in anger at the sight of Dawn. He sent an icy glare at Elzri, “Bastard!”

  Vaughn threw his hands together and summoned forth all his orange mana. Fire curled around his body and concentrated above him in a scorching helix. The orange flames exploded in an immense wave of blazing heat and rolled down the hill.

  Elzri raised his hand, the air screeched as a seed of azure flame flourished in his palm.

  Dawn’s eyes widened, “GET DOWN!” 

  She tackled her brother to the ground and formed a stone sphere around them.

  The azure flame blossomed into an infernal flood of fire. It crashed into the orange flames and devoured them. The azure inferno roared and swept across the entire hill, cleansing the area of any life, and charring the ground black.

  The students screamed in fear, the sweltering heat of the far away flames reaching even them. Elzri threw a ward wall over them, without glancing. His eyes were focused on the scorched hill.

  “...Dammit,” he sighed.

  The charred earth shifted, a cracked dome of wards hid underneath. The wards fell apart, unable to hold any longer. The twins stood up shakily from within the crater.

  “So the stories were true, a drow who wields a flame spell surpassing all others… the Azure Flower,” Dawn muttered.

  “House Noir and its king live up to their name. This won’t be easy,” Vaughn took off his cloak and threw it over his sister.

  “I know,” she nodded.

  A dozen shadow tendrils curled out of Elzri’s silhouette, each one picked up sharp, jagged rocks. 

  Freya’s scream broke behind them. 

  “What the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck, WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK!?” Kithina yelled.

  “Gods help us,” Kegrog muttered.

  “Sweet Bellum,” Callum trembled.

  Vaughn glanced at the sky, “Oh no.”

  “Shit,” Dawn whispered grimly.

  Elzri looked up, “...What?”

  The silver full moon flew high in the evening sky, yet the impossible was unfolding in front of them. A crimson light crept over the edge of the moon, bathing its silver face in a wave of blood-red.

  A deep dreadful howl rumbled across the air in shattering waves. Its echoes dug sharply into everyone’s eardrums. The students cried out in pain, the twins covered each other's ears, Elzri winced and held his head.

  Four centaurs ran at a breakneck speed across the fells from a distance. A lone rider led them. As they neared, Elzri noticed the rider’s abnormally large size and the bloodied woman he carried.

  “Vaughn! Vaughn!” Marek called out from his saddle.

  “Marek?” Vaughn tilted his head.

  “Marek, you dumb fuck! What did you do?!” Dawn marched towards him, lightning crackling in her hands.

  “What?! It’s Nokuti! She’s dying! I tried to stop the bleeding but there’s so much blood... Vaughn, you need to save her! Please, I’m begging you!” Marek cried out in panic.

  “Let her die,” Dawn spat.

  “No, the master wouldn’t want that,” Vaughn sighed.

  “Goddammit,” Dawn grumbled.

  “Marek…?” Elzri stood still. 

  This was him. This was the man who killed his only grandson. The monster who had burned him to death. War Lord Marek was right in front of him. Elzri slowly clenched his fist.

  Vaughn ran up to unconscious Nokuti and laid his hands over her. A soft white glow seeped into her body. Dawn kept a wary eye on Elzri.

  “Nokuti’s injuries are critical and she’s lost a lot of blood. I can’t believe she’s still alive. This won’t be easy,” Vaughn frowned.

  “Can you save her?” Marek’s voice cracked.

  “I’ll try,” Vaughn nodded.

  “You’re Marek, chieftain of the Cairn Tribe,” Elzri said quietly.

  Marek glanced at him, “What? Who is the middle-aged drow?”

  “Elzri of the House of Noir,” Dawn said.

  Marek cleared his throat, “...Lord Noir, I have heard terrifying stories of you. But the woman I love is dying, I don’t have time for you. You want to capture me? In front of both my arch-magi? Good luck, you’ll lose, horribly.”

  Dawn coughed, “Shut up, Marek.”

  “You killed my grandson,” Elzir’s voice dripped with rage.

  Marek frowned, “Grandson? I have never met your grandson.”

  “I don’t care what you say, human. I will end your existence if it’s the last thing I do,” Elzri snarled.

  “Lord Noir…?” Freya whispered.

  Elzri turned around and was met with the few students left; they looked haggard and worn, but most of all they looked terrified. 

  Elzri paused. If he fought here to the death, what would happen to these children caught in the crossfire?

  He slowly unclenched his fists.

  “...Take your people and go, human. The next time I see you will be your last,” Elzri muttered.

  Marek bowed his head, “You are a man of honor.”

  Dawn didn’t wait for a response, she hopped onto one of the centaurs. Vaughn saddled up on another centaur. Marek gingerly placed Nokuti in front of Vaughn’s saddle as the arch-mage continued healing her.

  Marek clambered up on his saddle and sent one final glance at Elzri, “The young Gale warrior’s body is up on the cliff… He fought bravely until the end, he died with honor. He should be given a proper burial.”

  Marek and the others galloped away without another word.

  “Gale… Clypeus is dead?” Kegrog muttered.

  “No!” Kithina cried.

  Callum crumpled to the ground and slammed his fist into the dirt. “Dammit, I’m useless!” he screamed through tears.

  Nora lay on the ground, unconscious still.

  “...Where is the student known as Stryg?” Elzri asked.

  “He… He was with Clypeus, they stayed behind so we could escape,” Freya mumbled.

  “...Fuck,” Elzri sighed.

  He glanced up at the red moon. He had no idea what was happening. He needed answers and fast. But first, he needed to save these children.

  “We need to reach the nearest river town as quickly as possible,” Elzri said.

  “We can barely move, we’ve been running all night,” Freya said hesitantly.

  “...I see.”

  Elzri slowly sat down, closed his eyes, and focused on his accelerated heartbeat. That woman arch-mage was right. He had pushed himself greatly just to fly all the way over here. He was already nearing his limits before he even arrived.

  “We’ll rest for a bit,” Elzri nodded.