We make our way back worse for wear but with fresh goods.

I lead today and Gareth takes the rear with Subia at my back and Lovia behind her as we walk down the mountain side.

I try to keep my hood up but the wind blows in our direction from the front pushing us hard.

To distract myself I examine the iron crown of the Mountain King I had picked up the day before. I chuck it over to Gareth. "Is it enchanted or just fancy?"

He deftly catches it and starts to rub his thumb along it.

He casts a spell from the enchantment school that I do not recognise and mutters to himself.

"A powerful enchantment has been placed upon it. A spell called Shatter that has the ability to break a spell construct. I can’t tell without a more thorough search and the right tool but I imagine it has limited use between castings. A week maybe? Catch!" he replies and passes it back.

"Better than I expected. I will keep it." I answer and put on the band resting it atop my head.

The simple steel band covers my forehead. The intricate designs along the metal are eye catching. Fortunately, for a plain dresser such as myself, when my hood is lowered it goes deep enough to cover the crown.

The top of the crown covers my slicked back black hair that is long on the top and short at the sides. It is nice, I hope, against my dark red skin.

"It has a passive effect as well, harder to discern but some kind of mood altering charm. A double effect that encourges allies and frightens foes. What effect occurs it determined based on intentions. It is some seriously complex spellwork." He adds.

"Is that so." I reply.

"Look ahead!" Calls out Subia and Lovia at the same time.

I turn around and see a lone hooded figure climbing up the path. They are fifty feet away.

They get within twenty feet and I start to smile and try to think of a friendly greeting for what is likely a fellow adventurer up in these parts.

"Dragons blessing." they mutter.

I notice even beneath their robes the subtle lean in of their shoulder.

An attack?

I pull mana reacting on muscle memory.

Three bolts of mana fly.

Mine hits first sending the figure flying back, then Gareth’s hits while theirs flies off above our heads.

They grunt but are otherwise unharmed.

They cast some wards of the expert class.

Seeing the strength of their spell I realise we are outmatched as soon as the ward forms protecting their body.

Gareth and I dash forward looking to end the fight quickly with blades before this becomes a battle of spells which we are unlikely to win.

Gareth despite coming from the back gets to the Hooded magi first. They side step the attack and send Gareth stumbling back with a push spell.

I lunge forward trying to stab while they are focusing on Gareth.

They send me floating in the air for a few seconds before tumbling back down with a thud.

Meanwhile, after the failure of the initial assault, Gareth and I without communication cast wards over ourselves.

"Kill it." I call out.

A familiar warm flooding of energy courses through my veins and my focus narrows to the Hooded magi as anger sets in.

I scream "Shatter!" casting the spell from the crown. The spell breaks the Hooded magi's wards.

A crossbow bolt flies and grazes their cheek causing a deep ugly cut across the side of its face and taking the lobe of an ear with it.

The Hooded Mage howls with rage and pain.

In an instant while grunting with pain the Hooded magi recasts their ward forming it before we can get in another strike as a magic arrow from Gareth deflects off the rapidly reformed ward.

It forms greater magic still…

Mounds of earth and stone try to bury us but I roll backwards managing to escape.

I note with a quick glance, Gareth breaksingthrough the stone rocks and charging back at the magi.

The Magi chuckles contemptuously and floats off the ground out of sword reach.

Their robes billow with the wind, a spherical pulsing ward encases their body.

They start casting with their hands.

Gareth and I have form wards around our bodies both at the adept class. I am back to a very a few novice spells left in my mana pool.

Gareth still has one adept spell and a few of the novice class.

Taking in deep breaths I try to assess how we can win.

Already the Hooded Magi sends a stream of ice spikes which I have to roll out of the way of.

"Run you two!" I call out.

I ready my sword again hoping the Twins will escape this nightmare somehow.

Spikes of ice stick out of the ground all around Gareth but he seems to have easily dodge them with minimal effort.

The opening attacks were over but the fighting is just beginning.

The Hooded Magi fires off a bolt of lightning that arcs directly to my sword.

Pain bursts into my awareness.

I shake and tremble and I am brought to my knees.

A single lightning bolt managed to penetrate my ward's defences. At least I am alive.

I quickly reform my ward with the remnants of my old ward.

Gareth distracts the Magi to no avail.

The Magi holds Gareth in the air and is in the process of crushing his body.

It squeezes one hand together into a closed fist slowly, with its other hand lets off another bolt of lightning.

Anticipating the move I throw my sword ahead and away from me which attracts the bolts like before.

The Hooded Magi laughs and pushes Gareth off the cliff side.

My friend falls over the edge.