Chapter 23

It's quite hot today. And Hen wants to fight in these conditions? "There calvary will be tired the moment they step out the forest. And the fact we burned their horse's food the horse themselves will be tired. We will attack them the moment we see them."

Terra had mention that they have left part of the original path to Isabella untouched. "I want to see if this Servin fella is experienced in battle. I want to see what he'll do. Having a mage in this war is rather difficult."

"I don't see how this will test that?" "As powerful a mage is. There not above kings. And a mage would do anything to impresses a king to gain favor. Especially a rogue mage. And from he's young. He will make a mistake."

"But if they don't walk through the path?" "They will. Trust me, there exhausted. They want to get out of that forest. But if they do. I already have scouts pinpointed at every area of to get out this forest. Terra has given them a spell glass to give has a signal."

"A what?" 

"Its special type of glass smelted from moon sand to trap level spells in them. There used like lamps."

"Once we they break the glass my spell will cast into the air. Giving us their location." "Then we wait?"

"We wait now."

As such we waited. The tall grass and ditches were where we took our position. It humid like said. The enemy had shown up like Hen said they would. But something was strange about them though. They did not walk in formation like they did once. Are to tire to care of their dignity and chivalry code now?

Hen shouts out to rain arrows on them. The hundreds of archers shot down as many as they could but realized they did not scream from being hit with arrows. They fell down to easy. Hen order to stop firing on them.

"Swords now!" The knights had gotten back up like nothing had fazed them. They were dead knights casted with conjuring spell of revive. They charged at us like wild animals. Terra's fire killed them instantly of course but we still lost a few who were unlucky.

"Servin's, work, I guess. Just like back on the first day of this war." "Yeah. But don't think he's shown all of his tricks yet."

The dead knights started to fizzle and move sporadically. "General there getting back up!" A slova said.

But Terra tells everyone to run. The corpses exploded with poisonous gases that engulfed the entire area. Terra places her hands in a circle. "Morning halo!"

She blows into the open area of her hands where she had made circle. Intense flames spurred out like a dragon breath. The gases evaporated instantly. Fire seems to be strongest necromancy type of magic.

"What was that?" I asked. "I think Terra can explain it. Right Terra." "You smell that? Its smell of gases and animal fat. You can smell it right." 

"Yeah. So, like a fire spell?" 

"Yeah. But hand made. I can't say it was smart move, but it was not ineffective." "How so? Servin got us with this attack."

I say that but the general seems to know what Servin did wrong. "Servin is not stupid I can see that now. But making it so obvious that the knights were reanimated was something an amateur would do. And the bombs not all of them went off."

"He right. These alchemical materials were put together poorly and rushed in the mixture to make these gas bombs. He is inexperienced in war."

"But then where are they?" 

What are they doing? Are there trying to find a different path? "What if they cross the mountain path?" "Hm. They could but they would lose half of their entire force trying to cross it."

"Them there waiting?"

If they are waiting for something, then their waiting for the mage. Am I not giving him enough credit? "You said he had created a monster of his own. But was only able to create only a few." "You think that's why they have not left the forest? Servin is trying something to help them?"

"If he trying to create a monster if will be difficult to deal with. Either that or he's finding a spell that could work for him and his force. It took months or years to create a monster. I don't think the king of Lazare has that kind of time right now."

"What should we do then?"

Hen entered his deep thoughts. "Guess Servin knows how to play with the mind. We can wait and see, or we can leave. I said a mage is dangerous in a war and practically do anything with magic. I don't think staying is the best option right now."

"But!" 

"Ivalyo. I don't know what he's doing but I have to bring back as many men as I can to their families. If Servin is powerful he could take a lot of our men out. And staying here is not so good either. It is exposing our position and there is not hiding spots. Being out there in the plains will be better for us."

"They will have to come out eventually. I know you want to get at Servin, but you must set your feelings aside for now and think of the people we are fighting for. Alie is still waiting for you to come back."

"...Alie." 

"Let's go. We have to get in open field so we can see them, and they can see us. It's about time we fight them head on."

"Yes sir." 

Looking at the forest I know they were watching. I can smell them. I guess staying here is bad. Servin is preparing I know it. "I'll get my hands on you one day you monster."

From the forest Servin and the king have been observing us. "You were right Servin. knowing the unknown made them leave."

"Of course. But I do believe will leave their scouts to give our position away. "What do you suggest?" 

"Captain Loid. I believe you know how to approach this situation." The old knight did not like Servin but could not denied his capabilities. "Those beast men are a problem they can smell our scents. We need to hit the Slova hard. Maker understands who they're dealing with."

"Agreed." King Arnell said.

"The night close. We wait till then."

In our own camp we discussed where to fight them next. The river was close and was the very same one that runs through along the city boarders. You can just follow it and it will lead you to Isabella.

"They will want to stay near the river. We destroyed a lot of their travel resources so staying near a source of water is logical."

"They out number us. But they are tired. It's over a month now. After being stuck in a forest for so long their knights will be tired."

"That may be, but we must stay on edge. Servin and their captain are still there. Those two we must be wary of. We want them to come to us. We must fortify our position. Terra and the archers will take position on the hill. While me and Ivalyo and me stay on the ground."

"I already have beast-men sent to the area to fortify it. Though they might not be done when we get there. Their tired just like us though they have been doing all the heavy lifting."

"I see. Then." 

"Were being attacked!" 

Screams could be heard outside. We all stepped out to find our camp being attack. We wasted no time to repel the attack. But the sky had illuminated with white, grey light. "What that?" 

Near the top of the tree line was the source of the color change. A large power of mana was condensing like funnel. Servin held his staff steadily. This is a magic that was new to me. "Terra. What is that?"

"Something not good. Run!" 

"Stinger!" Servin casts the spell into the direction of the sky. The spell had broken apart in hundreds of pieces. It was like the entire world was brighten. Even the people of Isabella could see the bright specks from their view.

The sounds of falling mana were the only thing I could hear. The specks had fallen onto us not exploding but expanding in circles in large radius. Many slova and beast-men evaporated into nothing.

Servin was exhausted and leaning on a tree. I ran ahead trying to avoid the attacks. I was able to get as far away from the attack. But many were not so lucky. I watched as many could not make turn to nothing. Watching over the entire valley was reminder of when I climbed over teh mountain to get to the village. 

Where I meet Servin. I see now that what I thought was new beginning. Was still the same damn thing. War and death.

"Ivalyo...we have to go." 

"...The feeling of lost. I don't think I will ever get use to it." I turn to walk but look at the sight one more time. 

"Damn it."