Chapter 3
Alec was only used to training and a few odd missions.
This kind of combat was new to him. It was not long, drawn out battles. It was
savage. Alec swung his blade against a shield. The owner of the shield
proceeded to swing his axe over the top of the wooden shield. Alec responded by
hammering his blade against the wood again. This continued for seconds, not
minutes, before the attacker missed and Alec cut his weapon arm. The man
dropped his guard and Alec opened a long gash on the man’s leg. He fell to the
ground writhing in pain. A young boy ran up to the fallen man. The boy pulled
out a dagger and thrust it into the man’s heart. He then retreated to find the
next fallen soldier.
Alec took a deep breath and tried to focus with all the
things going on. Sounds and sights gave hit him like a hammer. He felt the very
ground tremble with the cries and stomping. And the smell! Stale blood, steel,
sweat, and fear mixed into a toxic concoction. Alec rushed ahead to clear his
head. He spotted a Col Honor Guard having trouble. He rushed over and dug a
blade into the attacker’s back. “Are you alright?” The guard nodded and held
his chest. “Fine. Thanks.” Tyrell charged up to Alec. “We are moving up. Magic
Corps; to me!” About twelve mages came up to the Gran Magus. “Alec, head to
Norton’s side. He is attempting to execute the commander. I’m going to attack
the shield wall.” Alec saluted and ran off.
Norton grunted and punched the shield in front of him.
Behind him, a spear reached over his head and into one of the men Norton was
facing. A gale pushed on the shield wall’s side, knocking them aside. Norton’s
men made short work of the fallen soldiers. “The magi are clearing the way!
Move up.” The men he was leading ran ahead with a rally cry. Norton happened to
glance to his side and saw one of his own laying on the ground. A rebel with a
war pick raised his weapon. Norton adjusted the hold on his sword and tossed it
like a javelin. It stuck into the man. Norton moved to the man, finished him, and
extended his arm. “Get up; you have work to do.” The soldier took it and stood
up. She was shaky on her feet. Norton sighed. “Sheesh, is this your first day
in plate armor?” The soldier nodded. “I hate people like you.” Norton noticed
another ally running over. “Alec, good timing.”
Alec saluted. “Boy, stay here and help this lay-about out
of the plate armor. Give her your jerkin.”
“But I-”
“You wouldn’t survive more than one blow anyway. And
believe me, you’ll be fine.” Norton drew his side sword and cursed. “I hate
this. Get a move on! And don’t you dare die on me, boy.” Alec cursed as well,
tossing off his leather jerkin. He was careful to travel light on the
battlefield, but going shirtless was going too far. However, orders were orders.
He moved behind the soldier. “Okay, look: I’m just going to take off the
breastplate. Take off the gauntlets.”
“What off the greaves?”
“Keep everything else on. We don’t have the kind of time
to completely strip you.” He tugged on the straps and the breastplate fell. The
woman tossed off the gauntlets and helmet. She grabbed the jerkin from Alec and
put it on over the padding she wore under her armor. Her brown hair tumbled
down over her shoulders now that it was free from the helmet. “Hold still.” He
said. Alec gathered her hair into a ponytail, then drew a knife to cut it off.
The newly cut hair fell just past her ears. “Sorry, had to do it. Now then,
grab your sword, and let’s go!” The woman grabbed her sword and followed Alec.
“Now, stay clear of any shielded foes. I’ll knock ‘em off balance, and you take
them out.” The woman nodded. Alec found his first foe. He backed away from the
first swing. Then, he hammered his sword into the shield multiple times. Once
the man staggered, Alec’s partner drove her sword into his side.
“Good kill.” Alec reached down and pulled off the fallen
soldier’s shield. “What’s your name? I’m Alec.”
“Just call me Chris. The introductions can wait.” Alec
agreed and hastened to keep up with Norton. Chris was holding him back, but
they were still making good speed. Norton turned his head to rally the troops
as they collided with the captain’s shield wall. Alec and Chris joined the
Loyalist’s side in the pushing match. “Good to see you Alec. I hate waiting.”
Weapons glanced by Alec, a few opening shallow cuts on his exposed torso.
“Norton; you said I would be fine!” Norton elbowed him lightly. “Dead yet? No?
Then stop complaining!” The struggle kept up for a few more moments. “Now!”
*****
Tyrell heard Norton call out. “That’s our que boys. Let’s
go.” Tyrell activated both his foci and gave the orders. The mages, all
remnants from the dragoons, burst forward. Each man took down one of this
battle’s key leaders. Then Tyrell moved. With a rush of speed, it would appear
to the commanding officer that he had just appeared out of thin air. His new
cloak fluttered from his sudden stop and Tyrell raised his scythe. The captain
froze. Tyrell’s blade clove through his neck. The paralyzing fear was forever
captured on his severed head. Tyrell used his magic to escape.
Once the captain fell, the soldiers scattered and called
a hasty retreat. Norton gave the order to let them leave. The men cheered as
the battle came to a close.
*****
Alec and Tyrell met up after the battle at the infirmiry.
Alec had to get his bleeding cuts bandaged up. “So, how did the first battle
go?” Tyrell asked as Alec threw up into a bucket. “Awful. Why did I ever…?” He
gagged again. An elderly woman walked over and put her hand on Alec’s forehead.
She hummed. “That’s good. No infections, Alec. The nausea will pass soon.”
“Thanks, Celica.” Celica was the Col Army’s most capable
healer, and she did not even use wind magic. Wind magic was once thought to be
the only element capable of healing. Since meeting Celica, that has been proven
wrong. She was a dual mage that used both space and water magic. Tyrell
acknowledged her skill, so Alec did as well. “And you, Tyrell.” He bent down so
that the little lady could feel his forehead as well. “You as well, Tyrell. Get
some rest though. You used a bit too much magic. And don’t say so much, or you
will hurt your vocal cords. Understand?” Tyrell nodded and smiled in response.
She slapped him lightly on the stomach. “No one likes a joker.”
“Yes ma’am.” The woman chuckled a bit and walked around
to the other wounded. “How does she do it, Tyrell?” Tyrell sat down across from
Alec. “She uses water magic to surpass her physical limits, then uses space
magic to seal wounds and fix internal injuries. It is more effective than wind
healing, but requires much more time to master than the typical person has in a
lifetime.” Celica was getting older. She was already in her late seventies, and
that was quite old here in Col, where the average life expectancy was mid to
late fifties. Her hair was mostly white. She was a northerner, and her dark
skin testified to that. She walked without the need of a cane. That came from
years of living in the desert sands of Ken Isle. She was very short. As was her
temper. But she was a kind lady, and was always eager to help others.
A younger woman entered the tent looking for Alec. Tyrell
stiffened up and Alec felt his nausea coming back. Before them stood Princess
Chrystal. She wore common clothes and some sandals. But her once long hair was
cropped up to her ears. “Alec...so this is where you were.” Alec gulped and
nodded. “Y-yes, lady Chrystal.” She smiled. “Calm yourself. I’m not mad. You
saved my life today. You and Norton. I’ve come to return this to you.” She tossed
his jerkin on his cot. “Thank you for your help. I won’t be going into battle
in a full suit of armor for a while now. I hope to work with you again soon.”
Alec was caught with his jaw hanging open. “Did you think
I came to yell at you?” Alec shook his head. “N-no. I just…well, I did cut off
a lot of your hair.” She dismissed his objection with a wave. “It will grow
back. Like I said, thank you for help.” Alec composed himself then stood. “Yes.
Anytime. I look forward to working with you again.” He extended his hand and
she shook it. There was a cry from outside. Alec ran outside and was soon
joined by Tyrell and Chrystal. A lone Siren had appeared. His mask had three
red triangles drawn on it; one coming from the forehead down to the eyes, and
two more around his mouth. They looked like the fangs of some beast about to
close. It swung, cutting down two soldiers then turned. The Siren saw Alec and
ran forward with its scythe drawn.
Alec was unarmed. In fact, no one around him had a weapon
either. The Siren closed the distance and raised the weapon to strike. “And
what do you think you are doing?” The accusation came from Celica. The Siren
paused his attack as the group parted to let the healer through. The Siren
remained quiet. “I asked you a question, brat.” She slapped his mask. The
impact left a palm-shaped dent in the metal. All eyes went wide. “Answer the
question, boy.”
“I am here to kill Alec. Let me pass or die.” She slapped
him with the other hand. Alec saw a flash of violet as she did. Then Alec
realized that she was using space magic to somehow dent the metal without
hurting herself. “I don’t think so.” There was a tense moment as she grabbed
the Siren by the collar. She jerked him down to her level and looked him
directly in the eyes. “Now, you scurry on out of here before I shove that
scythe down your throat.” He pulled away from her and swung his scythe. Another
woman darted over and caught the blade with her bare hands. “Are you alright
lady Celica?” The elderly lady nodded. “Thank you Lou, but I’ll take it from
here.” Lou let go of the blade and took a step back.
The Siren sized up the old woman and moved his scythe.
The blade stopped when it hit her neck. “Ohoho. You will need more than brute
strength and Dark magic to beat me. As I recall, our magics don’t mix well.”
The Siren swung multiple times, each blow as useless as the first. He charged
up a magic claw and thrust forward. She grabbed his wrist and twisted. He dropped
to the ground, then used a blink spell to appear behind them.
He
rushed Alec with his claw. “Hmph. Such stubbornness.” Celica mumbled as she
turned. She pointed a single finger at him. “Alec, move.” Alec jumped to the
side and dodged the Siren’s first attack. The Siren looked up in time to see a
jagged blue-green line travel from Celica’s finger to his chest. The Siren flew
back as though he was hit by a battering ram. He hit the ground and kept
sliding. He lay on the ground twitching as electricity arced around his limp
body. All eyes turned to Celica. “He will live. Now, git out of here.” She
turned to walk away. The Siren struggled to his hands and knees before warping
out of the area.
The
group exchanged odd glances at Celica, who had casually returned to mending
wounds and seeing to the needs of the injured. Alec took a few more deep
breaths. That was the second time that someone had tried to kill him recently.
But all thoughts were on the even greater display of power that Celica had
shown. She not only treated the Siren like an ornery child, but she had also
crippled him in a single blow. “That was…the real power of magic. Was it not?”
Chrystal asked. Lou nodded. “And she was holding back.” Alec raised his hand a
bit. “I vote not to make her angry.” Tyrell raised his hand. “I agree.”
Chrystal did as well. “As do I.” Celica called from inside the medical tent. “I
need to check you as well, deary. Come in and bring the princess with you.” Lou
nodded and took Chrystal with her.
Tyrell
shook his head and walked off. Alec remained standing next to a circle of dead
grass where the Siren had been electrocuted. The blow had not seemed so spectacular,
but the point of impact had been scarred by the power. If that had been any
stronger, the Siren would have been charred like the grass in front of him. And
he possessed a different form of the deadly power the Celica had displayed. He
shuddered. Alec had seen magic heal minor wounds and used it to inflict injury
on others. But his was on an entirely different scale. This was true magic.
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