The training that was subjected upon the mages grew in difficulty daily. They were expected to learn and be accomplished in at least four battle spells. For the leaders, they were expected to know six spells. Ethan and Arron were busy training them for eight hours a day at least so that the month of curriculum could be condensed into two weeks. Interspersed with them teaching some gnome mages also stepped in to give them a break. The gnomes didn’t teach much magic but helped increase the speed of learning and teach the mages formations and drills for the battle.

After the first week groups were assigned, and drills were followed. Different scenarios were envisioned by the pair and the mages followed. Ethan and Arron split their time evenly between the recruits so that they could take their own breaks to work on other things. Most of their other work involved helping with the trap work and brushing up on older spells that they knew would be useful in battle. Ethan spent his time reviewing the spells he had memorized from the necromancy book and trying to cast the useful ones form memory. Some of the ones he tried included a stronger version of [Banish Undead] and [Death Bolt] a stronger version of [Dark Bolt] which turned the target into a dried husk.

Some of their practice involved dealing with other mages but most of it dealt with fast-moving enemies and ones that could block initial attacks. The mages also learned some of the trap placements and positioning so that they knew where to be. As the second week continued they began to integrate into the rest of the army’s training. They were all assigned groups and commanders to follow. These groups would be the ones they would stick with during the battle.

Each group consisted of eight or nine fighters and one mage though some of the groups had more mages depending on their assignment. The fighters were then split up into swordsmen for half of the group and the other half made up of spearmen and archers. The archers made up a small portion but important part of the army units. They identified and dealt with threats from afar if possible. They also were assigned to specific traps that they could activate when the time came.

Ethan and Arron were assigned to direct their four direct students during the battle and assist them as needed. Ethan also had the responsibility of dealing with the strongest undead with his magic. For the immediate future, this would mean dealing with the spirit undead because only he and a few other mages could kill them. If anyone else tried the physical attacks would be nullified and other magic attacks had a lessened effect. Fighting the spirit undead was not a complete waste of time as a non-light mage but would stall other efforts during the battle.

As the midpoint went by Ethan and Arron evaluated Carter, Walker, Lewis, and Khan. Carter had developed well in using both his magic and a sword. The spells he had learned were [Stone Spike], [Stone Spike], [Iron Skin], [Sand Trap], [Strengthen Weapon], [Mana Shield], and [Mana Shot]. Walker had taken a bit longer to improve her skills, but she had memorized [Vine Trap], [Plant Sense], [Fungal Spore], [Entrap], and the two basic mana spells as well. Lewis had chosen [Fireball], [Multi Fireball], [Fire Shell], and [Field of Fire] for his area of effect spell. Lewis also learned slowly but once he understood the spell he fought efficiently and aggressively with it. Ethan had gone through the spell options with Khan and the best spells for him during the two-week intensive training were chosen for him. Khan learned [Banish Undead], [Holy Light], [Holy Fire], and [Lesser Heal].

Ethan had all of the light mages and a few of the other mages who could learn [Lesser Heal]. He found it to be one of the most effective spells to learn early and would greatly help when the battle went on. With the spell, he could avoid having his fighters turn into undead and help stabilize more seriously wounded fighters until they could get more help. Another part of the tactic was to avoid as many deaths as possible. Ethan knew that the battle would only stall the rest of the undead forces from rolling over this outpost. If he could leave this outpost with as few deaths as possible then he would be satisfied.

Two days into the second week he ran into Rich who was also on break from training his own recruits.

“How goes your training?” asked Rich. “Are you as tired as you look?”

Ethan looked over himself and sighed. “Am I really that bad? I guess I haven’t seen a mirror in a few days, so I’ll say yes to your question. How about you? I hear their yells from our training area.”

“The experienced ones will hold the lines and the rest will follow. They will need to bleed a bit more before training is over though. It is hard to train against non-human enemies unless you can capture them. It also doesn’t help that not all of the undead are easily identifiable by their looks you know.”

He had worked with the future frontliners and helped them prepare for their role. They would be expected to stand firm as the first undead reach them and then use their shield to guide them towards trap and push them back as the battle came crashing on them. He remembered their hesitancy to be assigned to hold the front but over the past few days he had forced them to get over their fears and face pain, struggle, and the effort required to be in the army.

“Yeah, I can only identify most of the types by sight because of [Mage Sense] and their patterns of walking or sprinting. Though you don’t have that advantage, and neither will they. How have things been going outside of the outpost? I haven’t been out since I initially worked on my traps?”

“I visited them yesterday evening. The stuff is all set up I think. No one is supposed to go near them now and only the druid mage is allowed to leave through the north exit. Apparently, their traps have worked well. The undead has slowed down a bit giving us an extra day or two, but their numbers are the same. Most of their forces that were injured were brought back if they could be or else they were transported back for other uses.”

“That is a shame. We need to identify the one controlling them. The undead would become less of a problem if they became a bit more mindless.”

“I would wish the same. Sadly, the situation hasn’t changed in that regard. I worry that the leader won’t appear personally until they have to bombard the gnome capital with their magic. If the leader is within the pack then they aren’t being flashy enough for us to spot them.”

“I wish we had more time, but I also know that that thinking is pointless. Hopefully, we can get our back up soon. The knowledge of Arthur my golem is already partially blown. We shouldn’t have any surprise from them soon, but I expect that the necromancers are preparing a return gift in response. We need to find out what it is before they send it.”

Ethan knew the outcome before the knowledge was released to the necromancers. He had briefly spoken about it to the gnome leadership, but their plans didn’t change much afterward. A few more scouts than usual would be sent out soon. The necromancers would be watched for larger moves they had told him. The plan was ultimately the same though. He would be out here fighting the undead until it was no longer advantageous to hold this outpost.

“It is a shame that the information got out, but it was never meant to stay a secret forever. As soon as your golem started fighting undead then the knowledge would spread. Now I am no magic expert but if I were them I would be looking at how golems are typically built and be looking for flaws I could exploit. I would also be readying an undead creature that can go toe to toe with the golem. The necromancers will be searching for something as strong as Arthur in its previous life and use that to destroy him.”

“That is the simple way to look at the problem I suppose. They will be more tactical than to raise the strongest dead thing they can find, but the effect will be the same. Raising a powerful undead requires a powerful soul which takes time and energy to create or find. If they can accomplish the same goal of killing Arthur with less energy and time then they will probably try it.”

“Now that’s why you mages stay up in your towers studying. You need to come up with all the bright ideas. Now you really should take some time to rest. You need to be all ready to fight. You can’t be half-awake when the bells start ringing and everyone takes up their arms.”

“I guess a nap won’t hurt just this once, but I also should get back to observing the training. The gnome mages training them aren’t bad, but I like getting them all into fighting shape. It will be a shame to see some of them die but the ones who make it through will be stronger and luckier afterward.”

“It is just a part of the battle. You will see your fair share of them soon enough and understand. I have been shaped by the fights I have been hired to fight and have learned from them. This struggle is just a part of life. But enough of this philosophical talk. I’ll see you after your nap during dinner you really need it. You better not have so much exhaustion all over your face.”

“I can’t promise anything.”

Ethan waved goodbye and they parted. He followed through on what he promised and took a nap. He did not meet Rich for dinner however and instead slept right through it. He woke up much later in the evening and cooked up his own food after the sun went down. He brought out some meat wrapped in his bag and used a small stove device powered by his mana to heat it up and add spices.

The next few days went by quickly with little change. The recruits of all types made steady progress and worked together well enough during their drills. All four of Arron and Ethan’s chosen leaders improved greatly as well. Some took up the additional practice and a spell as well to build out their arsenal. The other mage recruits learned how to wield a sword as well towards the end of their practice sessions. They only learned some basic stances and were taught how to block attacks from claws. Though if it came down to them or an undead it was more likely that the undead would be faster and more resilient. Regardless, they were expected to take it out when needed because they had relatively lower mana counts and would be put in situations where they could no longer rely on a ranged advantage to win the fight. Until it was used they would sheath them. None of the mages were given staves except for Carter, Walker, Lewis, and Khan. Arron prepared the wooden staves with basic crystals that would increase the range of their attacks, slightly reduce the mana cost for spells and help focus their attacks onto the right targets.

The bells rang out early in the morning an hour or so before the sun rose. The loudest and largest was the bell situated above the town center. They each rang out, in turn, three times. Everyone rose to the chimes and rushed to where they needed to be. The scouts watched the undead approach and rushed back. The outpost was on high alert. Everyone took up their weapons and dressed ready to battle. The undead bunched together in lockstep and the people in the outpost readied their response.