The sound of a horn would call forth the villagers onto the town hall, yet, most of them were already there when it was blown. The hall was the church, a memoir of times long gone and religion abandoned. It was shaped like a circle, four entrances at the four sides. A stage was in the middle, built in such a way as if it was raised from the ground.

Countless chairs were placed inside, and if one asked the mayor how many there were, he’d most likely say “More than enough for us.”

Lisa sat at the front, with his father and her new companion, who was currently looking around with his mouth wide open. For some reason, Lisa couldn’t help but sigh at his conduct. It was as if he was a small child.

Several guards took the stage, clearly not from Stoneguard, apparent from their emblem on the armor. Stoneguard’s emblem was in the shape of a wall, yet theirs depicted a rose. That meant they were from the capital, and most likely Princess Kayla’s Brigade. It was an elite squad tasked with guarding the royal family, which meant she was here too, or at least a royalty. That was unlikely, however, as not many could protect themselves like her and weren’t allowed out of the palace.

For tradition’s sake, the guards stood on the stage for ten minutes before starting their speech. There was a paladin in their ranks, as he could amplify his voice enough to fill the entire hall, through magical means. There were three in total, one of them wearing a helmet and the other two were middle aged men with a fair share of beards.

“Citizens of Stoneguard, you may know this, but our king has gone missing during his last expedition to Aveilorn. His guard force is absent, and as you might know, Aveilorn has no monsters running rampant on their land. That only leaves a single suspect. AVEILORN!” He said normally, yet it resounded more than it should.

Another man, who could also amplify his voice continued the speech.

“It is without doubt our kingdom will take revenge, but we all know Aveilorn assassinates the king before all. As you might know, a day spent living is as great a revenge as a murder. We will protect our kingdom, and fight back the invaders. The Holy Realm has sent us their best paladins to teach our knight squires. The situation isn’t as dire as it may sound, dear citizens.” He says. “However, I think it is best for the princess to say her words in place of a mere guard.”

The two guards then leave the stage as the last one takes off her helmet. Golden hair swirls in the air as she shakes away the hair in front of her face. Even those who were now staring at her back were flabbergasted, and silence reigned for a few moments before noise erupted.

But as she raised her hand, everyone halted their speech. Her presence was simply that overwhelming. Princess Kayla was a martial genius, beating a knight at the age of twelve with technique alone. From then on, she underwent training to become one of the best warriors on the continent.

Even the battlemages of Aveilorn would give their respect to the said woman, her might enough to brute force a mage to surrender. She was beautiful, for sure, but that was a beauty of a weapon. Only admirable from afar and dangerous up close.

“Citizens! Marching onto their land is futile, the sea connects us, and as you might know, our navy is nearly none. So we wait. Crouch like a dragon and pounce on them as they appear in our capital. We will let them see the might of the Entente Alliance. They have ruled the world for far too long for any of us to like. So we fight! We stand! Our comrades of the Holy Realm are at our front, and for the first time in the history of our races… we have allied with the forest people.” She says with a proud voice, sparking the fighting spirit of many.

Even Lisa’s.

Theo tilted his head in confusion, and Lisa put her index finger over her lips, gesturing for him to be quiet.

The forest people were a mysterious bunch, some say they can cast magic without dust, but everyone says they are expert marksmen who would hit the eye of a mouse from a mile away. That alone would make none but the boldest enter their forest for talk, let alone an alliance.

“I ask that you join the fight, and quell the blotted pride of those so-called divines!” She shouted, the entirety of the hall following her. Her charisma was beyond mortal kin. Lisa tried to raise her hand, but kept it down. A hand was placed upon her shoulder, making her turn to her father.

The man that had raised him was now sitting with a gentle smile, and nodded his head. Lisa raised her hand with a smile.

Theo looked around, mystified, he also raised his hand.

***

The sound of hooves enters Adrian’s ears, and he raised his hand. The some thirty people at his back all ready their weapons, clutching onto their blades and bows. They had hid in the Graham forest, far from the road but close enough to hear the horses.

“Why do you even hide from these mortals?” A majestic female voice sounds out from behind, if not too arrogant. “Oh, forgive me. You are also mortals.”

Adrian turns to look at the back, noticing the thirty or so old woman, with black hair reaching her lower back held loose. She was a beauty, without doubt, but her attire scared away most of her courters.

She wore a blue robe which turned into a long skirt from her waist down, the glowing fabric surely enchanted. A wooden staff, with a ruby head, was held in her hand tightly. A pouch rested at the side of her waist, most likely containing dust. She wore several jewelry, ranging from rings to necklaces. They were all enchanted, surely, or were amulets.

“Charge.” Adrian said with a low voice. His company didn’t have new blood, and the common mistake of battle cries was destroyed on their first mission. They scaled the ground faster than thought possible, easily reaching caravans. The more than fifty guards with a rose emblem was rather dangerous looking, yet, they’d be set for life after this quest. The presence of countless civilians, numbering well over a hundred and fifty did nothing but make Adrian frown.

Kayla’s charisma was too great, to enlist so many squires in a single week, from four villages mind you. He looked back at the mage with hate in his eyes. She was too strong. Even Adrian wanted to join forces with them, but opposing a mage was plain suicide, if you couldn’t kill them from long range, further than their reach, then chances are you are doomed.

That was the exact same reason he lost half of his troops, after trying to claim the head of the mage, luckily after killing off her apprentice.

The fight starts with an arrow to the forth most guard, holding his head high and his chest swelling with pride. Several others land on some of the others, travelling through their brain and unto the woods on the other side.

‘These enchanted arrows are dangerous.’ Adrian thinks. Mostly used by the forest people, but now traded for certain goods due to the new alliance.

With soulless eyes and a straight face, he walks out of his cover, beheading a guard descending from his horse. Looking thorough the battlefield, the presence of hammer wielders were terrifying. There weren’t any paladins last year.

“The lord is with us! Charge!” An older man commands, raising his hammer high. Adrian’s blood runs cold when three arrows are deflected back. This man was a bishop.

“Charge!”

“Charge!”

“Charge!” The army sounds out their battle cry, answered with desperate shouts, of those fighting for their lives. Paladins were horrifying to their enemies in that they could heal their allies with divinity and arrows, even blades seemed to avoid them. But in the face of a mage… they’re merely fodder.

The charging bunch, consisting of about thirty, caught fire. They burned, for no more than five seconds, but were already nothing more than dust. The mage walks out of the woods, or rather, she sits on the top of a man, crawling on his fours.

It was Damian, the second in command. Adrian’s breathing increases as his eyes widen, barely sheathing his sword. He then walked away into the forest. That person was his cousin, and he’d much rather not look at him in that pathetic state.

“Kneel.” The mage orders, as everyone lies flat on the ground. Adrian had a first-hand experience of that tyrannical power. It was as if a mountain was sitting on him.

“Where is your princess?” She asks, as they all persist. Surely courageous people, but they’d die if they persisted.

Then she grows quiet, and from the woods, Adrian can barely see a boy, maybe sixteen, only of age within the year. Adrian’s eyes widen. She surely wouldn’t kill a child.

“That’s wrong.” The boy said loudly. “They are the good people.”

“Kneel!” She says louder. Yet, the boy still stands.

“Ah, thanks for the water. I’ve been thirsty for a while now.” The boy says, as even the crows go silent. The mage stares at the boy in surprise, grabbing a handful of dust in her hand. Clutching it tightly, she swings her hand, a flame bathing over the child. No matter even if he has magical aptitude. These people were merciless.

But… the boy still stands, his clothes in tatters, however.

“That feels good.” The boy said, but I think this is the right way to do it. A ball of flames danced above his palms, held up high. It was blue.

A god flame.

Bigger than a caravan.

He threw it at the mage, with a nonchalant face to boot. She grabs another handful of dust and swings her hand, now protecting herself with what appeared to be nothing. And as nothing protected her from the fiery ball, she was bathed in it.

A loud scream resonates through the forest, as the boy simply stares. The flame goes away, leaving an unharmed mage in place. With a wild smile, she grabs another handful when she stops.

Her eyes widen in horror as she looks around, and turns tail, running away.