Chapter 12: Part 9 - Broken

Darkness that had consumed the land fell to the rays of light peaking from the horizon behind our camp. Drops of water glittered when they caught the campfire’s brilliance before hiding away from the terrors of the dead land.

Angel stood confidently before her enemies. Golden strands fell around the armor on heavy shoulders. The norn’s stance told of her commitment to the battle ahead, almost beckoning them to try to take the first strike.

Flames burned through my body, melting my mind into something less afraid- less hesitant. With my fingers wrapped around my staff I felt like I had to prove all of my training here.

“Come on!” Angel flung the sword in her hand as her breath became like bear’s. “I’m right here.”

Tobih stepped forward, his staff readied in his hands. If anyone embodied grace in the battlefield, it was him. Though clad in sabatons, his footsteps were light and calculated. His emerald eyes caught mine, “You’re tired; be careful.” His voice was a firm whisper that delivered a stern warning.

I nodded, but it was him I was worried about, “You, too.”

A distorted roar claimed the air as the dirt rocked beneath us. The beast had decided to approach the warrior who had called out against it. Before I would have had any time to react, the horror’s club came bearing down on Angel. With my fingers stretched out, I pulled the fire from within, creating a line of lava between the horror and its minions after the norn had rolled out of the way.

Blue lines drew at her location, turning into a bright and beautiful symbol on the ground. Tobih studied the battlefield as he finished drawing it in the air in front of him.

Angel thrust her sword against the horror’s left leg, cutting through the bone completely in mere seconds. It stumbled, but wielded its weapon against her in the same breath. Tobih pulled from his power and I watched in between my own barrage of fireballs against the enemy squad as a large ephemeral shield glowed between the norn and the spiked club.

Her greatsword pulled part of the way through the club but didn’t make it through. In one jerk, she pulled the weapon away from the monster. Angel’s boot met with the right leg and pushed the horror back to give herself time to dislodge her sword again.

As my concentration broke so did the moat holding the rest of the mob back. I breathed out and cast the spell again. Those on the front line fell into it as the lava appeared underneath their feet. The fire I had pulled out to become my magic took its warmth with it. With each spell I felt the cold, wet land returning to claim its place in my mind.

“We can win this!” Tobih shouted, “You’re doing great.” With his words, the flames burned a little brighter within. Maybe it was because of the moral boost. Maybe it was because I thought he was right, that we were winning. When the monster fell, I knew that Tobih was right.

I removed the barrier and an impatient but tiring norn advanced on the small army. With the barrier down, I could now focus on something more than just fireballs.

“Steer clear of your right, Angel!” I called out to Angel before summoning a firestorm from the skies. Her sword slashed through the enemies, but the blade had become bloodied and blunter from her previous monster. Before any sword, claw, or arrow could touch her, an air-colored shield appeared between the attack and Angel’s flesh.

Though the fires had struck down many of the enemies, it wasn’t enough to keep others from moving towards Tobih and I. “Angel!” Her attention couldn’t be caught and I knew it was because she couldn’t let her guard down. I needed her to know, though.

I abandoned the idea of multiple spells and focused on putting all of my energy and strength into fireballs. They came at the enemies hard and searing. Every bit of fire in every part of my body was focused into these until I felt myself exhausted.

Tobih cleared away the enemies before him, knocking them back with waves of magic as he aimed the head of his staff forward.

The enemies around me had become a lot closer, learning to dodge the fireballs I was taking so long to create. My magic became looser, smaller.

“Claire, look out!” Tobih shouted as a shield saved me from being pierced at the hip. In the distance, Angel growled, the enemies around her growing less by the second. I hoped that it meant she would have time to make it here.

I broke my stance and ran from the group, seeking shelter with Tobih. When I arrived at his side, the tip of a spear had pierced into the back of the distracted guardian

“Tobih!” The scream was cast in the same moment a large molten spike had struck through the skull of the attacker by my hand.