The Battle at the Valley of Shadows
General Atois was prepared for battle. Being one of the last to be appointed generals, he was assigned to the Western Border of Merxia.
At the Western Border, the Vampirae Army made camp close to the forest near the mountain range.
Between the camp of the Vampirae Army and the Wolvae was a long flat stretch of land called the Valley of Shadows. Dark clouds hung over the place and at the middle of the land was a line to the left and right direction.
Some myths explained the line as the result of the Ancient ones (who created the realm) not completely merging the floating islands.
The was not too deep, merely inches deep.
On one side of the Valley was the Vampirae Army, on the alert, fangs bared, shields raised. On the other side was the Wolvae, Wolven spirits ready, for the battle that was to occur.
Each general and his army stood on opposite side of the line, fierce expressions on their faces.
When the battle started, the clash of steel on steel could be heard, the swoosh of magic being used and countered , attack of a vampire by a wolf.
Bodies were building up; Vampires and Wolves were being cut down. Vampires mainly possessed speed, whereas Wolves were known for their strength.
As the battle continued, each side struggling for the defeat of the other, it seemed clear that the battle would go on for a long time.
Hours went by, and the battle was still being fought. Beings of the Realm were not ones to easily give up in a battle.
Suddenly, the tides changed.
General Atois was busy cutting down Wolves when he heard the roar of thunder. He looked up to see the clouds darker than they were before. As dark as night. A nervous energy ran through him.
A full moon was the next thing to appear, seen clearly through the clouds.
The strangest thing was that it gradually darkened and assumed a dark red colour. The color of the blood already spilled on the valley.
Magic engulfed the air and Atois could sense a transformation. But who was undergoing the transformation?
It didn't take long for the Vampirae to notice that their enemies were getting stronger, visibly increasing in size and transforming into their wolf form.
The battle was now between vampires and beasts; eyes red or yellow, growling and tasty for blood.
The whole Wolvae Army howled.
Their general was the last to transform.
In the course of the transformation, the battle had come to an almost stop.
But when the general of the Wolvae Army spoke and his wolves responded, the Vampirae snapped out of their daze.
"Destroy them" the Wolvae general shouted.
A unanimous howl came first, action came next. Wolvae, in the light of a red moon destroyed their enemies. The battle that seemed to be at an impasse was now a losing battle for the Vampirae.
Vampirae soldiers were cut down in hundreds and panic set in. They had no special enchantment they came prepared with for the battle.
General Atois watched his soldiers suffer defeat but they kept on fighting.
Where did the moon come from? This valley only saw moon once a year and that was six months away.
Realization dawned on him.
The moon goddess.
But why? he questioned himself.
Another part of him asked _why not?_
The moon goddess naturally favoured the Wolvae.
He was stupid to not have come extra prepared.
No time for regret.
He fought on and encouraged any Vampirae soldier who was still standing.
"Keep on fighting" he shouted.
On and on the battle went. The Vampirae reduced largely in number and at a time, defeat didn't seem so far away.
General Atois was getting exhausted, the Wolves were attacking. He was bloodied and injured and so were many of his soldiers.
Several wolves pounced on him, he fought them off, for two more hours he fought off Wolves. More of his soldiers were dying, few were injured.
By then, it was sixteen hours since the beginning of the day's battle, ten hours since the transformation of the wolves.
General Atois losed strength. Too many enemies against him, he received wolf bites and bruises. He couldn't... fight.. any longer.
The Vampirae were losing.....
He fell in another wave of attack from the enemy ( in the 17th hour ).The last thing he saw was an enchanted red moon staring down at him.
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The Queen moved in a haste. The Western Borders needed reinforcement.
She and the King already planned the course of action to take.
Soldiers were already mobilised, mages amongst them. The mages would provide the magic they needed.
She already donned her battle regalia, swords holsted at the hips and eyes bright.
She already knew that the battle at the Western Border would go sideways when she received the information from her spies.
And when the Crystal Orb glowed red, her suspicions were confirmed. Her only regret was not getting to the imperial City on time to mobilise a more effective force. The Crystal Orb was an emergency orb that would tell her if the other person holding another one was in danger.
Her reinforcements have been fortified with magic for protection. They needed to get to the Western Border in time.
The Queen had tried mind communication with Atois, but his energy was so expended he could not complete the telepathic link.
General Fien approached.
"Your majesty, the portal is ready" he said.
"Good. Ensure the soldiers move in groups of a thousand. " There were hundred portals at the outskirts of the Imperial city. The most powerful mages in the kingdom created the portal that would instantly transport soldiers to the Western Border.
"Yes, your majesty" he bowed, then teleported to the outskirts.
The Queen had the portals made because not all vampires could teleport. The Vampirae did not all have the same skill.
There was one last stop the Queen need to make.
She approached the Eastern wing of the palace and found her husband in the his study. He stood by the window and did not turn around when she came in.
"Am leaving soon. Came to say goodbye the Queen said
She approached her husband by the window and held his hand. She could feel his strength.
"I rarely see you this days" he said in a quiet voice.
The Queen laughed "What do you expect in a time of war" She got no reply.
"Hey, look at me" she held his handsome chiseled face. "I love you dearly, and you know I will come from this battle safe and sound. After all, I am not your best general for nothing"
That made the King crack a smile.
" Of course, you are my best general. I do not doubt your abilities". He kissed her forehead and held her for a while.
" Take care of yourself, and our child too." the King said.
The Queen looked down at her stomach.
It wasn't visible that she was pregnant, but anyone who had a strong enough magic could detect a magical being in her. The special child.
The Novatè.
The thought got her excited and scared at the same time.
" See you soon" the Queen said to her husband.
" My Queen" the king bowed and kissed her hand as she disappeared. He too had a battle to fight in the Eastern Region. And many other things to do, as expected of a king .
******************************************
The 17th hour
The Queen arrived at the valley. Most of her soldiers were dead. The few left were already weak and bruised. They were relieved at her appearance.She would make sure she rewarded their bravery, but for now, she needed to finish a battle.
She saw Atois surrounded by Wolves. She saw him go down. As his enemies were about to pounce, she appeared close to them and struck them with raw magic. They were incinerated instantly.
She summoned two healers to take care of him. Atois couldn't die, he was so dedicated.
The healers too him aside to tend to him.
Her soldiers were already in formation . The Wolvae wouldn't know what hit them.
When battle began, the Queen's soldiers came in full force. Magic was in air, wreaking havoc.
The battle waged on. There Wolvae still seemed to be growing stronger, but the Queen was prepared.
*******************
6 hours later
The battle was still in full swing when another portal opened up . Monsters of the underworld poured out, creating shadows and snuffing life out of soldiers; Wolvae and Vampirae alike.
The Queen froze. The portal was not supposed to be open. To the far left of the Valley, close to the Cold Desert of Vhanste( elven Kingdom) the Wolvae general just complete the ritual for opening the portal. Being a powerful magician, he felt her gaze and looked up. He smiled.
Was he that desperate that he would endanger his own soldiers? the Queen wondered.
This had to be stopped. She was very powerful, but her efforts alone would not close the portal. These monsters were dangerous.
Her best course of action would be to protect her soldiers. She would try, even if it killed her.
Retreat, she spoke in the mind of a soldier. The soldier, teleported about telling Vampirae soldiers of their Queen's order. The Vampirae soldiers who were already catching up were retreating. Wolvae soldiers were also confused and running.
When the Queen saw that all her soldiers were already getting behind the line, she raised a barrier against the Shadow monsters.
They had bizarre figured and grotesque faces, twisted bodies and powerful dark magic.
The barrier was being tested. She reinforced it with magic. It was taking too much strength. Her mages joined her. They held it as the monsters consumed the Wolvae. Some Wolvae were running towards the erected barrier but there was no hope for them.
They were destroyed by the monsters. Their general enclosed himself and his inner circle of seven Magaes ( Lords of extreme magic) in magic while he let his soldiers die. He didn't think that the Queen would try to save her soldiers or even succeed in doing so .
More monsters poured out and they pushed against her barrier. The barrier wouldn't hold for hours. There weren't powerful Magaes enough on her side. The barrier was at some point going to shatter.
***********
2 hours later
Cracks appeared on the barrier. The monsters were relentless. They wouldn't move further into Merxia (Vampirae territory) unless they destroyed the Queen and her soldiers first.
The Queen's energy was waning. She was the chief holder of the barrier and the large barrier she was holding up for the hundreds of thousands of her soldiers was draining her faster than if she had held up a barrier for ten thousand soldiers. But she wouldn't leave any of them.
It only a matter of time until the shield broke. Hell broke loose as the monsters sought to destroy her soldiers. Her soldiers were being fed on by monsters .
She was in agony as their anguished cries reached her.
Suddenly strength seemed to emanate from her. Strong light.
As a demon monster approached her , it's lightning speed became slow motioned to her. She couldn't understand this sudden source of strength at first.
When she realised she was astonished.
Her Novatè child.
In a split second, she flew up in the air and her powers clashed with that of the demon. The demon seemed to realised when it when it lost.
He shrieked as light emanated from the Queen's eyes and was destroyed.
The Queen was renewed. She gathered her striking and uttered strange words and spells she did not know before.
"Let the light take down the darkness.
Let the dark be no more. By the powers of the light"
Suddenly screams and shrieks were heard.
The demons were fleeing bit were being caught by the light. The sky became bright and for once, the clouds at the valley were clear.
The light, like flames engulfed the demons as they shrieked in their eerie manner. And dark, inky shadow blood rained down on the valley.
The Queen wasn't done. She sealed the portal and made it close up. The rippling energy that summoned the monsters disappeared.
The Wolvae general disappeared.
For a while silence reigned. Then the Vampirae soldiers cried out in joy, ululating.
As their Queen descended, they all knelt and bowed. The Queen still glowed.
She had to revive her soldier who were still breathing.
She teleported to where Atois was still being treated. The healers had revived him but his energy was still expended.
She restored his energy and his eyes fluttered open.
"What happened?"he asked.
"You were just revived" the Queen replied.
When he saw her, his mouth was agape.
" Your majesty, you are glowing" he looked at her in puzzlement.
The Queen laughed. The sweet peal of a bell.
"Yes, it is good to see you too, Atois"