The sun shone from directly above on the Mellow Lands, providing a little too much heat to be comfortable in the early summer months.
In this part of the world, a party of five rode at a walking pace, three in the front and two lagging behind.
And Kage watched.
“…and just then, when it seemed all hope was lost, Jacob pulled himself up from the dirt, with his bloody and mud-covered left hand grasping the Book and his right raised to the sky, he proclaimed the spell to summon fire! And even though the rain was pouring down, even though his physical strength was surely at end, his mind was resilient as ever and the fire burst forth upon the battlefield! And-“
“Battlefield? It was just a riverside.” Jacob muttered. “And there weren’t that many of them-“
“Shush. Let him have some fun. You’ll thank him when you go down in history as a legend.” Finsch whispered back. He grinned “And give yourself some credit! That was quite the victory back there! At least thirty soldiers versus the four of us!
“Technically thirty-two.” Kage muttered, but of course no one heard her.
The half-Mythsian girl floated alongside the five companions as they rode through the Mellow Lands, a vast plain that stretched from Forrstrew in the south, where they had fought the aforementioned battle, to the mountains in the west, and their destination: the Forest Sheir in the northeast.
“Imagine how easy it’ll be next time when we have Praela with us!”
Finsch leaned forward on his horse, looking past Jacob to the lady riding with the twins, currently held hostage by Case’s storytelling.
Six days before the enemy had caught up to them, Praela had insisted on making a trip alone to the city at the foot of the mountain. She had returned to the camp early in the morning without any kind of explanation for her departure.
Jacob looked over.
Praela had changed somewhat since they separated at Durnsdale. Her usual scarlet robes were replaced with icy blue, and her hair was braided around her head instead of flowing down her back.
She wore her usual expression of amusement, but at least this time her face showed some semblance of being impressed by Case’s retelling of events.
He glanced back at Finsch. Still staring. He was one hundred percent head over heels.
Jason grinned
“Oh my gosh, she just looks so cute with her new dress and her new hair~” he mocked.
Finsch jumped, his face turning bright red “Shut up! She’ll hear you!” he hissed. “You know she has ears like a rabbit!”
Jacob laughed. This time the other three did turn, Praela inquisitively, Case perturbed since it disrupted his epic tale, and Grell simply curiously.
Kage smiled. They were a good bunch.
It had been a long journey. Five months since Jacob and Finsch left their small village in the heart of the southern mountains, four months since Praela appeared and forced herself into the party, two and a half months since they recruited Case and Grell, and five days into the journey across the Mellow Lands after the battle in Forrstrew.
Of course, there were all kinds of trials, battles, and challenges in between, but at this point it all seemed to blend together. After all, this was one of hundreds of worlds Kage had watched in her lifetime.
At least when Kage didn’t think about it too hard. Because when she did think about it, when she really willed herself to remember, all those details flowed back into her brain; the ability of her race, Mythsians.
The name of the bartender who gave directions as they left town, Case and Grell’s parents and their tiny house, the ringing tone of Jacob’s voice as he called out the spell calling fire on their enemies at Forrstrew.
Every last detail engrained in her brain.
As she floated alongside them, she saw all the little things.
Jacob was unsure of himself.
He was always at ease with Finsch, but whenever his mind wandered, his expression grew serious again, and his hand rested on the Book at his waist.
Finsch noticed this and wanted to help, but he wasn’t sure how so he just tried to lighten the mood.
Plus, he was preoccupied with Praela.
The witch girl was as mysterious as ever, at least towards the party. Kage knew exactly what she had been doing in that city, and why she kept so many secrets. Unfortunately for Finsch she was probably too oblivious to notice anything emotion-related, and even if she did, she probably wouldn’t care.
There was always a chance though…
Kage mimed pushing their heads together for a kiss.
Case was the one talking Praela’s ears off. The saga was complete with hand gestures and weird imitations of battlefield noises which would have startled normal people, or horses for that matter, but this group was definitely used to it by now.
Grell was the quieter twin, unless he was arguing with his brother, but when he did speak, his words were thought out and often insightful. Kage could tell he heard every word spoken around him, and not just heard, but listened and understood all of it.
Also a fantastic liar when the occasion called for it.
“You know you’re supposed to be paying attention right? Not just daydreaming?” A voice spoke from somewhere to the right and Kage’s head spun around.
Her heart sank when she saw the figure floating alongside her.
Of course it was another Mythsian, what was she expecting? None of the humans could see her in her ghost form. It was Mytha, not an Elder, but in some position of authority.
“I’ll remember it all anyway” Kage replied, slightly sulkily.
“Not if you don’t pay attention. You know that.” The ghost replied.
She wore the traditional garb for a Mythsian woman: a white gown that hung loosely over her arms and flowed down to her ankles. Her long, wavy, blonde hair hung down her back, unaffected by the wind in her ghost form. Her appearance was a stark contrast to Kage’s black slacks and shirt, complete with short cropped black hair that flipped up around her ears and covered the space where her right eye used to be.
Kage smiled wryly and pointed to her working left eye. “I always have one ear and one eye open!”
Mytha sighed. “I’m just here to check up on you. Everything going okay? No problems?”
“Yep, no problems. Another day, another adventure. I’m not getting sent back or anything?”
“No, no. Just…making sure. We're still worried about you after what happened. Those kinds of things don't just disappear. You've seen it many times in the full humans.”
“Pretty sure “worry’s the wrong word.” Kage sighed “I get it. I’m not going to fly off the handle or anything.”
She paused.
“Well, as long as she’s not around.”
“You won’t have to worry about that” Mytha reassured “And you’re right. The correct word is “concerned”, not “worried”, but that’s beside the point. We’re still going to be checking up on you from time to time. And if you need another assignment, you’re welcome to summon one of us to take over.”
Kage gave a small smile. “Thanks. I’ll let you know.”
Mytha passed a hand in front of her face as the Mythsian’s way of greeting, and disappeared.
Kage dropped the smile and turned back to Jacob
“On with the show”
Sometimes in this infinite universe, the stars align just right. And not in a superstitious kind of way, in a beautiful kind of way.
In this world, tonight was one of those nights.
Every world had its own constellations. In some of those worlds, people even knew that they were gigantic fireballs whose light was reaching them after traveling halfway across the galaxy.
This world had fewer stars visible than say, Earth, but they were bigger, or closer if you were feeling nitpicky.
Kage lay in the dirt, not really thinking, just watching.
She made no indent in the grass, but she could feel it if she wanted to.
Peaceful.
A couple squeaks and chirps from small night animals, the wind, a quiet rumbling in the distance. That's odd…Wonder where that’s coming from.
Kage rolled over to face the group.
The party was sound asleep. It was too risky to light a fire, since they still had pursuers, so they lay wrapped up in whatever blankets and spare clothing they had.
With the exception of Jacob and Finsch.
A small orb of light floating in the air beside him, Jason slouched over the Book, trying to gleam even one more secret from his pages. After all, time was running out. If their luck held, they would reach their destination tomorrow and a new “chapter” for the group would begin.
It's also why he has such bad eyesight, Kage noted.
“Hey. Jacob.”
It was Finsch, usually a deep sleeper, so he must have something on his mind.
Jacob turned his head quickly “What’s up? Is it too bright?”
“No, no, doesn’t bother me.” Finsch replied, propping himself up “But if you don’t get some sleep you’re not going to be any help, spellbook or not”
“Yes mom.” Jason smirked, then his expression grew somber again.
“If I get even one thing wrong…If I forget the right phrase at the wrong time, this will all be for nothing. I’m no prodigy like Praela.”
“Better you than me” Finsch replied. He pulled his blankets together and wormed over towards Jacob. “If it was me memorizing all those spells and whatevers this quest would have been over before it started.”
“But without talent I-”
“There’s no such thing as talent! Just people with more practice than you! Praela’s been at this for years!”
“If only that were true,” Jason mumbled. He propped himself on his elbows as his head tilted up to the stars. “She's right over there. If she’d take it, I'd gladly hand the Book over.”
“Look, I’m not gonna argue. We’re both too stubborn. But when we get there, you have to know that you did everything you could do, otherwise you're gonna bite your tongue or something. You studied till you ruined your eyesight, gave up everything you cared about… We would have never even started without you. You took your life into your own hands. That’s all you can do. All any of us can do.”
Jacob grimaced a little. “I wish I had your positivity. That’s why I keep you around I guess” He smirked.
Finsch grinned and gave him a solid punch to the arm “Damn right! I’m the moral support! And the muscle. All the things you still need to work on.”
“Speaking of being the muscle, you're awfully talkative. Any luck in planning your confession to Miss Prodigy over there?”
“Shut up! I'm working on it!” His face was definitely red again.
Jacob smiled. “She doesn’t deserve you, you know.”
“Hey, hey, that’s my line! I don’t deserve her! She’s sweet on the inside, you just gotta see it! Sweet and talented. And smart. And beautiful”
“Sure, sure, if you say so. Why don't you tell her how sweet she is and see what happens.”
“When the time is right, I will! You'll see.”
As if on cue, Praela stirred in her sleep, rolling over and pulling her blankets tighter.
“Guess we’re being a bit loud.” Finsch dropped his voice to a whisper
“Probably”
“Well, g’night. Try not to stay up until the sun rises”
Jacob grinned “Yeah, yeah. Don’t be laying up thinking about Praela all night or she’ll probably lay some crazy curse on you”
Finsch gave a thumbs up, wormed his way back to his place, and was soon fast asleep.
Jacob spoke a magic word and extinguished his lamp. He locked the Book in his pouch, tucked the key into his shirt and settled himself on the cold grass. As always, there was some rock or lump of dirt right where it was most uncomfortable.
He drifted off to the rumbling thunder in the distance.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTBfke67QO
When Kage awoke, the sun had not yet risen, leaving a dark sky. This should be just been a dreary morning, but something wasn’t quite right. Something in the air, or perhaps in the earth itself.
Was Jacob up? She got up and bent over him. Still sound asleep.
She was tied to the party, she should have awoke with the first of them.
So why had she woken up?
Kage surveyed the area around her. They had camped on the edge of a single large tree, a landmark that signaled the edge of the Mellow Lands. To her left was the path they had traveled, nothing but grass, shrubs, and flowers. Straight ahead were some more trees, and a large mountain in the distance. And to her right, the plain continued, gradually filling with trees until eventually, the Forest Sheir would appear in all its splendor. The plan was to travel into the heart of the forest where legend said a great hero slept. A hero this world desperately needed, and when he awoke, this world would see a new day. This was what Jacob was giving everything up for.
But nothing out of the ordinary.
Maybe it was just regret? Or a feeling of the quest coming to an end? She was going to miss them. A lot.
Jacob wasn’t exactly a leader, but his singlemindedness was everything. Whatever needed to be learned, he would find out. Whatever needed to be done he would work tirelessly until it was complete. And whenever Jacob lost hope, Finsch was there for him.
Finsch was like his brother. Best friends since they were twelve, they grew up in Foultergsht, the mountains to the south. Physically and mentally strong, his only weakness was dealing with people.
He didn’t like arguing and thought people were nosy and self-centered. The only person he could comfortably banter with was Jacob. Well, and Praela, to an extent.
The witch girl was fiery and uninterested in anything that wasn’t magic. This led her to be curt and easily fed up with people. Her actions were spur-of-the-moment, and it was Case and Grell’s designated job to make sure she didn’t kill herself doing something stupid
Those two were nothing special. Twins, one handy with a spear, the other with a bow and arrow, but they were devoted, and Case brought a sense of light-heartedness and energy while Grell was down-to earth and resourceful.
“Humans are something else, aren’t they?” she said aloud.
She reached out her hand and felt the invisible String connecting her to her world, her own world, Islestar. This thread traveled through the net of connections known as the Universe and grounded her to her own World, so that no matter which planet she visited, she could simply pull that connection to return home.
But there was nothing wrong there, as far as she could tell.
Just a terrible, foreboding feeling.
The party was used to meals without fire, but it was still a flavourless affair.
The sun was still rising on the horizon, blocked out somewhat by their destination in the southeast.
“If we keep up the pace, we should reach the edge of the forest by midday.” Praela was saying. “We could push the horses, but we don’t even know how far into the forest we’ll be going. Besides, there’s been no sign of pursuers for a while now.”
“But you’ve been here before though right? Don’t you know where it is?” Case inquired
“I told you, it shifts. The hard part is going to be missing it and doubling back. It’s going to happen five or so times before we actually hit the shrine.”
“And we can’t split up.” Jacob confirmed.
“Right. If we do that, there’s going to be no way to contact each other. That place eats up magic like nothing else.”
“And did you find what you were looking for in the city? Something to help us?” Grell’s voice had an edge, and everyone noticed.
Praela scowled. “Nothing. I said it was personal. That means none of your business. Now we have more important things to discuss.”
She faced Jacob again, ready to change the subject, but Grell wasn’t going to give up that easily.
“None of our business? Every time we’re near a city you disappear without the slightest explanation. Or when you have one, it’s an obvious lie.”
“Don’t play around with me. If you’ve got something to say than say it to my face.” Praela shot back.
He smiled. “Nothing. I just need an explanation. A short one will be fine, after all you know I can smell a lie.
“Half a day’s ride from our destination and you decide to bring this up now!”
Kage flinched. Praella’s voice was getting louder. That was a bad sign.
“Exactly. This is the tipping point of history. Whether we wake this hero or slit his throat while he sleeps is our decision when we arrive. Now is the time when we have to know who to trust.”
“Sons of Sulphur Grell, who do you think I am? You and your brother wouldn’t be here if not for me!”
“Granted. An explanation, if you please.”
Praela’s head swiveled around. Case wouldn’t meet her eyes. He was on his brother’s side.
“Dang it, Grell.” Kage thought.This couldn’t have happened at a worse time. If he saw fit to doubt Praela, it was over.
“Enough”
All eyes turned to Jacob.
Uh oh. He didn’t often turn on his “leader” mode. He must be reaching the end of his rope.
“You think we have time for this? Grell, Case, Finsch and I have been with Praela for longer than you, and we’ve come to trust her.”
Praela lifted her chin, satisfied, but Grell’s frown remained, leaving Case and Finsch looking unsure and uncomfortable.
“However”, he continued, earning a brand new scowl from Praela, “Even you can’t deny he has a point, Praela. I’m trusting you to not stab me in the back, but an explanation would certainly help your case.”
Only wind and distant thunder responded. The group’s eyes rested on Praela.
“I can’t. You’ll have to take my word but…” she paused, expressions softening a little from her scowl. “I promise, it was necessary. And no matter who believes it, ” the anger returned to her face “this quest has my absolute loyalty.”
Kage’s head shot around towards Grell. His anger was obvious, but in an almost visible motion and with no small effort, he swallowed it.
His normal serious expression returned, with a hint of irritation, and he said nothing more.
The discomfort in the air was palpable. Case scratched his head and shuffled his foot, and Finsch stood awkwardly with his hands in his pockets. Praela’s unhappiness was visible on her face, are rare occurrence for the stone-faced witch.
Jacob broke the silence. “Right, get packed up. Praela, am I right that, barring interference from the Forest, we could reach the layer today?”
“Correct.” She replied without emotion. “Most likely today or tomorrow.”
“Alright, then we’d better get going.” We came here to do this thing, let’s get it over with! I, for one, would rather our pursuers didn’t catch up before we reach the forest.”
“It must be the forest.” Finsch said.
“What’s that?”
The five continued across the plain, trees appearing more frequently. They were perhaps and hour or two from the deep forest, which they understood was recognizable from the changing of the trees colour from their regular green to a darker, turquoise colour.
“That rumbling.” Finsch replied. “It must be getting louder, I could barely hear it this morning and now I can hear it even on horseback. You must have noticed it?”
“I haven’t. I’ve been studying in my head, and thinking…especially about what Grell said.” He turned to look back at the party.
The twins brought up the rear. Grell was offended. His chin was up and he ignored the pleading looks from his brother, who was trying to get some conversation out of him.
Praela was dead center, and disgust radiated out of her face.
She too was lost in thought, she wouldn’t be noticing anything for a while.
Jacob sighed. “Why can’t things ever just be simple? You know, a break after all the nonsense we’ve been through.”
Finsch scowled. “The twins joined later. They don’t know her. And I’m sure we’ll find out when this is all over.”
“Maybe. But just the chance…Why can’t she just say it?”
“I’m sure there’s a reason.”
“But now! I can’t be having doubts! I have to do this even if it means riding in there alone. We’re almost there, I can see it getting closer by the minute!”
Finsch didn’t reply. There wasn’t much he could say.
Then his expression changed.
“Jacob…we’re on horses, so we can’t feel much of the ground, but just listen for a second.”
Kage paused. That’s true, she was floating, she wasn’t feeling anything of the ground. Her mind jolted into focus. The rumbling. It was louder, stronger, no question about it. She too had been preoccupied with thoughts of the group and their loyalties. Reaching down, she touched the ground. Though still in her ghost form, she could feel it if she desired, and she placed her palm flat on the earth.
Tremors. So that sound from this morning wasn’t thunder. No…it wasn’t from this morning, or now, it started the night before. Had it been stronger this morning? Why didn’t I notice?
Jacob too stopped for a moment. Just focused, listened, and felt. “What is that… Praela!” he shouted, concern growing on his face.
Her head shot up, broken out of her thoughts. “What?”
“Listen, can you hear that?”
She stopped for a moment, and her eyes widened. She could hear it too.
In one movement, she was off of her horse, standing, listening. Case and Grell slowed their horses as they approached from the back.
“What’s going on?” Case asked
“Quiet.” Praela responded. She bent down and placed her hand on the earth.
“Listen. Can’t you hear that?” Finsch whispered across to the twins. They too, inclined their ears toward the earth, but the sound was unmistakable now.
Something large, beneath the earth, coming from the direction of the mountain.
Coming closer by the second.
“What the-” Case began, eyes widening.
“Could it be…” Praela muttered “How…” Her head shot up.
“To the forest! Run!”
She sprang up, vaulting back onto her horse in a single motion.
Grell was the first to move. “Yah!” He shouted, spurring his horse into motion. The party followed, Kage flying alongside.
“What is that? Did I miss something about this world? Praela knows, will she say something? Dammit, what did I miss?” She berated herself in her head. “There are earthquakes in this world, no, not an earthquake. What creatures do they have? What about the history for this area?” She snapped out of thoughts with Jacob’s shout.
“Praela, what is it?” Jacob called. “If you know, tell us!”
The thick of the forest was coming closer now, perhaps only a hundred meters away.
She turned her head back at him “It’s a-”
At that moment, her horse screamed and crumpled on the ground, an arrow piercing its chest and chucking her forward.
A cloud of dust sprayed up as they fell, Kage’s gaze shooting to the forest ahead, and that was when she saw it.
The glint of steel no longer cloaked by the coverage of the thick expanse of trees.
“No! Stop!” Kage screamed to the party.
They couldn’t hear her.
Grell, who had been in front with Praela saw them first.
“Soldiers! It’s an ambush!”
He pulled up his reins, trying to steer the horse away from the blockade emerging from the trees.
Finsh half threw himself off his horse towards where Praela lay, struggling to rise from the dirt and shielded her with his body as the first volley of arrows came.
Jacob’s hand flew to his Book, unclipping and removing it from the pouch in a single motion.
“Protect!” He screamed, before its cover could even be cracked open.
Half of the arrows reflected off of the thin dome that appeared above them for a split second, the rest making their mark in the ground around them.
“Turn! Run!” Grell called, riding back to where Praela and Finsch lay.
Finsch was already up, uncovering Praela. He picked her up and ran, straight away from the forest.
Kage saw Praela’s face. Her eyes were unfocused, but darted around trying to focus and her limbs hanging limp. Dazed, but recovering.
A horn blew from the forest, and as the archers released another volley a squad of horsemen emerged from the woods. Two dozen at least and…more? No, this wasn’t one small group. Another horn echoed the first, this time from where the forest stretched to the northeast.
She could barely make out the shapes emerging, but she didn’t need to. More soldiers, the red crest of the Kingdom standing out against their armor.
Then the second volley hit.
Jason’s “Protect” rang out once more, the Book now wide open. This time, most of the arrows deflected off of the momentary shield.
“Grell! Take Praella!” Finsch yelled as Grell’s horse reached them. Grell scowled, but said nothing.
Finsch half threw her body as Grell rode by, barely slowing his horse as he caught her limp form and pulled her in front of him on the horse.
“Finsch! Get on!” Jason called, his horse slowing as he approached him.
The ground exploded in front of them, it bursting from the depths of the earth.
Its size was immeasurable, and rose high above the ground with a massive cry, spraying earth and rocks in every direction.
The wrym towered above them, at least forty feet in height, spraying dirt and rocks in every direction.
Their horses reared.
Grell tried to hold on, but Praela's weight dragged the two of them to the ground.
The wyrm surged back and forth, itching to devour the tiny little snacks whole, but that was not it's command.
"If it attacks, it'll take out the soldiers too! It's blocking their exit instead!" Kage thought.
The party saw it too.
Jacob's eyes darted to his friends, hope draining from his eyes.
"We're so close..." His expression seemed to say.
Arrows thudded against the ground, cutting his thoughts short.
They were firing sporadically now, as the Calvary circled around them, ready to attack
No...
No, no...
Kage crouched on the ground, gripping her hair with both hands as the cries of battle filled the air. The horses thudded around, but she could not turn her eyes away from the last stand in front of her.
An arrow pierced Grell's shoulder. He went down.
Case's arrow took out another soldier, and he reached for another, but his quiver was empty.
He ran towards where Grell was struggling to rise, diving to avoid a mounted soldier with a spear.
Desperately, he grabbed Grell's spear from the ground and swung it in a mad arc to keep the horsemen/swordsmen at bay.
Not again...
How many of these had she seen in her lifetime? Groups who go through years of training, lone heroes who wanted to change the world, many succeeding and many failing.
It was easy for the Mythsians, with suppressed emotions and a curiosity that demanded to be satisfied, but not for Kage.
She had cursed her human blood many times before, and she cursed it again. Cursed mother's blood, that and her father's small amount of human blood made her more than half human.
And it was times like this that made her wish to be rid of it.
"Please" she prayed, "someone save them."
Finsch looked awful. Blood from a cut on his forehead was covering his right eye, forcing him to rely on his left.
He looked like an old rag doll, cuts and tears(tares, not tears, just specifying [could use wounds, rips, rends, slashes, lacerations]) all over his body.
But still, he swung his sword.
Left and right, he swung his blade, cleaving his way to Case and Grell, who were being surrounded by cavalrymen.
In an instant, Praela was there, left(i think, check) arm hanging limp by her side, blood streaming from a cut below her shoulder.
"Back!" she shouted, knocking them back with a force wave.
It was not enough to do any serious damage. The soldiers were rising again, joined by more and more men.
"Hold!" she shouted again, holding her arms up in support as a circular force field kept the enemies at bay.
Jacob pulled Grell to his feet. The Book grasped in his hand, it's pages stained with dirt and blood.
The words were not even legible anymore, but Jacob knew them. All of them, by heart.
And yet...
The soldiers closened, more slowly this time, waiting for those further away to catch up. A few of them hit Praella's force field with their weapons, but it was not so easily broken. However, she would not be able to hold it up for long. Her arms already wavered a little from the effort.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDC0fNQqwqe
He was out of breath. His arms tingled and head ached from the magic use.
Those who had been knocked back were up now, drawing their sword and advancing.
"Jacob, run for the woods." Grell muttered, trying to whisper while being heard over the battle. "There's still a chance. Get that book to the center of the forest. We'll break a path through"
Jacob's eyes shot briefly in his direction, not able to turn his defenses from the soldiers.
He said nothing. Grell was right, that could be their last chance, but it would mean leaving them all behind.
He batted away an enemy's weapon and swiftly decapitated him with his sword.
"Break!" He(or Praella) shouted
A circular wave pushed out from them, pushing away the enemies to a small distance. They stood their ground from there, surrounding them, waiting for the command to strike.
Kage approached, standing among the team. (where is she standing)
Jacob's head turned to the group
His eyes circled to meet theirs in turn.
Praella's face was sorrow and almost...begging for forgiveness.
Her eyes were bloodshot from holding the barrier, and her hands were shaking now.
"I'm sorry, I should have done more." she said.
His eyes passed to Grell, who grimaced, but tried to smile his support.
His eyes passed right through Kage as he turned to Finsch.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTpGvB94vN
"You can do this. Do it for all of us." Finsch said, "And for home."
Case, the last one, forced a smile. "Looks like you'll have to tell the story of this one."
"I'll tell it, too." Kage whispered, tears falling down her cheeks.
Jacob took a couple steps away from the group, and glanced back.
As Praella's strength began to falter, she raised her voice "On my command!"
Jacob's shoulders relaxed, and his head tilted upward, eyes closed.
Kage wiped the tears from her face as she moved away from the party towards Jacob. He was focusing, making a plan in his head.
"Three!"
Praella began her count, determination settling in her eyes.
"Two!"
Grell raised his spear, Finsch pushed himself up from leaning on his sword and raised it up in front, and Case stepped over and back to grab a discarded sword from the battlefield.830Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnLjDSSm4I
"One!"
Kage balled her hands in to fists and took a breath. "I will see this through." She promised.
"Give them hell!"
Praella's barrier broke, and the soldiers charged as the party stood to face their final battle.
And Jacob ran.
"Path!" He shouted. The ground split in from of him, shoving soldiers aside as the ground rolled over in front of him.
"Steed!"
A horse of dirt and stone arose from the earth beneath him, carrying him forwards.
Jacob's head lolled forward briefly, he pushed back his hair and his head with it. He was running out of steam.
Kage turned to the rest of the party. The soldiers had converged on them, but they were still fighting evidenced by the sounds of battle. Some of the soldiers had broken away to chase after Jason, but they were too far back at this point.
Suddenly, her heart dropped again. She felt a release of pressure, like the end of a thread being cut, which was exactly what it was. Her thread to one of the members of the team. The first of them had fallen.
The only danger to him was from the sides.
Kage broke into flight, catching up to Jacob in a second. His steed was build for speed, not endurance, and pieces were already beginning to fall off.
But not before he reached the woods!
Arrows scattered around him, from behind and the men scattered around the battlefield, but it was no use.
His horse took an arrow, to no damage other than a loss of its mass.
One hit its mark.
Jacob screamed as an arrow pierced his leg, but his concentration did not break. The horse rode ever onward.
Kage felt another release. The second member had fallen,
He turned his head for a second. Behind him, the battle had quieted. Only a few movements were seen, and then...
Another string was severed.
She turned her head forward again with Jacob, silently vowing not to look again.
The edge of the forest approached with every passing second. The cavalry had all noticed the escape by now, and were shouting orders to stop the lone rider.
Twenty feet, fifteen, ten..!
It was a long shot, from Kage's blind spot. A lucky arrow fired from behind to the right that pierced Jacob's shoulder, knocking him to the earth.
"No!" She screamed. Kage flew down to him, lying in pain on the ground. His horse collapsed into dirt, the book lying facedown in the mud.
"Jacob! Get up!" She tried to pull him up. While her hands didn't go through him, they still had no effect.
"Gaaah!" He exclaimed as he tried to lift himself off the ground.
"You can do it!" Kage begged falling to the dirt in defeat.
He struggled for a moment, blood gushing from his shoulder and leg, and then...
Jacob fell.
Kage's vision blurred.
They were coming, she heard the hoofbeats of the solders getting closer by the second.
"No..."
A shadow loomed over her, and she raised her head.
A soldier stood over her, mounted on a steed of brilliant white. A ranked man, marked with shiny armor and a golden crest of the country's symbol, a majestic bird in flight.
He dismounted and approached Jacob, drawing his sword as he did so.
"No..." Something began to pour out of Kage's heart. Her magic, seeping out of her in the form of shadow.
The soldier stood over Jacob, who rolled his head to meet eyes with the foe. He couldn't speak, there was no power left in his body. The magic had drained the first of his energy, and the rest spilled out with the blood.
The soldier smiled, a nasty, wicked-looking smirk.
"I'm a simple man. I don't give speeches." He said.
Jacob coughed in response.
"You got pretty far for a mountain rube. But this is your lesson for resisting the Kingdom. You couldn't learn it in life, so learn it in death."
He raised his sword with both hands, in a downward slant.
"Not like this..." Kage whispered.
The forest looked nearer than ever now, as if taunting how close they came to success.
The shadows grew, the tendrils beginning to streak out like a web around her. A couple of approaching soldiers turned their heads as her emotions took visible form.
Kage's hand reached out, mouth shaped in a soundless scream as the sword came down, piercing Jacob's heart.
The world stopped for a moment, Kage felt the sudden emptiness as Jacob's string was cut.
Kage screamed as tendrils of shadow shot forth from her outstretched hand.
The soldier turned as he withdrew his sword from Jacob's chest, eyes widening in surprise as he saw it.
Then, just as the blades of shadow were about to reach him, the world began to stretch into beams of coloured light. Kage felt her shadows recede as she was pulled into the vortex by her thread, the battlefield and planet disappearing far into the distance as she flew back into space.
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