Chapter 88: Battle of the Plains (Part II)

Dawn blazed the skies over the fields of norband in bright red. Down to the ground, he lay bloodied and limp. The first sage to fall by the assailant sent the remaining four briefly into disarray. Hoisting Jushiro on his feet, Alvadir stood undeterred with his weapon in hand. "Stand tall, my lord," he said to Jushiro.

His vandar mask cracked from Raemous's blow, and his left arm was damaged and dislocated. Jushiro cursed, being unable to use his good arm. He stood next to Alvadir as the other two hailaverdir readied for a counterattack.

Alvadir asked them both to hold off Raemous while he went to work on restoring Jushiro's arm. However, Raemous denied their needed time and sent both men flying with one swing. Jushiro grits his teeth and chooses to fight on with one arm. Alvadir cast a wind spell that caught both men before they could hit the ground. Geir and Balvaetr found their footing and stood shoulder to shoulder.

With vigilance and desperation in their eyes, the hailaverdir charged. Unable to use Frost Pheoix's bow form, Jushiro lunged at Raemous using only its sword form. He managed to keep their swords locked on each other long enough for Geir to strike Reamous's head. The attack pushed him a few feet away as Balvaetr closed in from the opposite side, unleashing a ball of fire at him. Raemous nullified the blazing projectile into embers. Then he suddenly realized something when he didn't see Alvadir join them. Then a single word uttered from several feet away confirmed his hunch.

Alvadir activated his ve'blad's sverdsal. Thus the tables started to turn. But what Raemous felt wasn't dread.

"For over a decade had I not felt this sensation coursing through my body. My soul, and yet it seems familiar. Is it because I find myself in a position to break loose and go all out? I thank my master for granting me this opportunity,"

The thought of a battle to the death exhilarated the commander of Angloth. In an instant, he charged at Alvadir, who countered his attack with a shield. The two sverdsal-clad mages engaged in intense hand-to-hand and magical combat. Jushiro found it hard to act as the two moved extremely fast for either man to track. Like a pair of blue and red flashes on a field of blood, exchanging blows of fists and spells, Jushiro could do nothing but wait and watch.

Elsewhere, the armies of east and west remained locked in a bloody stalemate. The elves of Forminas and Imlanor managed to split the eastern host asunder, and orcs on the front started to flee. The knights of Avalon and Cardaloth lay bare the bulk of Angloth's siege engines and drove further past the boundaries of their fortifications. Morale emerged from the actions of the hailaverdir, and many assumed victory to be within arm's reach.

Ashara fought as close to the front lines, leading her friends and other knights into the thickest of the fray. She looked to the southeast and could see Jushiro with three other men fighting their foe. Hoping to be helpful, she rode ahead despite Zion's protest to let Jushiro handle it.

"Ashara, don't! Let lord Jushiro and the other hailaverdir handle it. We'll only be in the way..."

"My father's risking his life for all of us. Should we not do the same for the ones we love. My father means so much to me that I refuse to look away. If I can be of some help..."

"It's suicidal, Ashara!" Marie said.

But all the protests and warnings fell on deaf ears, and Ashara went in regardless. Cutting through lines of enemies proved time-consuming the closer Ashara approached. Soon she could see a bright flash and a long red beam of mana stretched high through the clouds. Feeling worried, Ashara doubled her pace.

Soon most on the field saw the bright red glow, and many thought about what was happening. The Lanc brothers joked in the belief that Jushiro's pissed and has taken off the gloves. But Hakbrand didn't believe it to be Jushiro. Arthoria felt the same and hoped for Jushiro's victory or survival.

"I dread the worst-case scenario. And if that turned to be the case, I fear I won't be able to look both Lashida or Lana in the eye ever again,"

The intense fight escalated, and the three hailaverdir struggled to aid Alvadir in fighting Raemous. Jushiro couldn't provide ranged support from his bow due to his damaged arm. Geir and Balvaetr found their time to be worst than Jushiro. Soon Alvadir managed to pin Raemous to the ground yelling to Geir, "Do it!" He understood what he meant, and Geir summoned lightning into his weapon. He shot a barrage of lightning at Raemous.

The attack found its mark as Raemous felt the painful effects throughout his body and screamed in agony. Balvaetr shot a fire spell, and Jushiro cast an ice projectile. The combined attack blasted Raemous several feet away, leaving him struggling to stand.

They could see how weakened Raemous was, and all four men started to feel weary themselves. They took a brief moment to catch their breath. Alvadir reverted to his original form and approached to heal Jushiro. Geir and Balvaetr headed over to finish off Raemous. Both men raised their weapons, channeling what mana they had left for the killing blow.

Alvadir walked over to Jushiro, who stared intensely, and yelled, "What are you doing? Look out!"

Alvadir looked with a confused expression until Jushiro swiftly dashed toward him. He shoved him to the ground, and Alvadir looked up as an extensive crimson spike impaled Jushiro's torso. Alvadir looked around and noticed both Geir and Balvaetr stabbed by the same mana spikes.

"Lord Geir! Lord Balvaetr!" Alvadir called to them.

Neither uttered a sound or moved in response to his call. Holding them in the air like rag dolls, Raemous threw the men aside. He shot a spell that knocked Alvadir away. Ashara saw what transpired and yelled in fright, "Father!"

Alvadir stood up and saw an unconscious Jushiro on the ground next to him. Seeing Jushiro as he was, caused Alvadir to tremble.

"No, Jushiro. My..."

Suddenly the sound of approaching horses caught his attention. Ashara, with a group of mounted knights, attacked Raemous. Alvadir called them fools and ordered them to withdraw. Before she could talk, Raemous wiped out five knights with a single blow, half the group. Ashara saw the power of Raemous and begged Raemous to help Jushiro onto her horse. Zion also helped and gave Alvadir a ride.

Ashara's group retreated to the safety of the hill fortifications, yet Raemous chose to let them go. Instead, he turned his ve'blad into its sword form, channeling what mana he could muster. Reaching into his pouch, he took out an item he fed into his weapon. Soon the ve'blad blazed and radiated as he aimed it at the western army in combat with his forces.

He uttered, "Skagsal,"

Then a colossal beam of pure mana launched into the bulk of the western host. The explosion shook the land, and all life perished in the blast radius of Raemous's spell. Much of the surrounding valley diminished to a barren wasteland. At the center of the strike, a large crater was all that remained after the smoke faded. All eyes stared with shock.

Raemous raised his sword in conviction and gave an order to all his forces.

"Hear me! Victory is within our grasp. The strongest mages are now defeated, and the bulk of our foes are no more. My army, forward! For our master's wishes, we shall open the path to triumph!"

The soldiers of Angloth got their second wind and followed Raemous. The full brunt of the remaining legions bared down the weary soldiers of the west. Fury and malice burned brighter than before in the eyes of the orcs and men of Angloth. Slowly they claimed inch after inch of the hill.

Most of the survivors retreated up the fortifications for one last stand. With no other options left, king Celbror ordered a full retreat. With the battle all but lost and the hailaverdir defeated, the only choice was to regroup in Imlanor. King Ericeth volunteered to hold off the east with the remainder of his army.

Prince Naemon and Arthoria protested the option, "Father, you can't! You're our king. The king of Aredain," Prince Naemon said.

"The throne is yours now. Starting today, you're king of Aredain, my son. Take care of the people and our family," King Ericeth said.

A tearful Naemon and Arthoria nodded their heads in reluctance and embraced their father for one final time. With his remaining 4,700 soldiers, king Ericeth formed a shield phalanx. Orcs swarmed the line, and the remnants of the western host retreated westward.

At the head of the army, king Celbror looked on, full of sorrow and regret. With his plans decimated, the only hope lies in the hands of the last two hailaverdir. Ashara felt distraught as she saw the current state of her adopted father, cold and unresponsive. With a broken arm and gaping hole in his chest, Zion helped place him into a wagon while Alvadir cast a spell that sealed his wounds. Zion tried to talk to ease her timid heart, but Ashara refused to take her eyes off of Jushiro.

A hand stroked her head as a deep and tranquil voice spoke to her, "It'll be alright, my lady,"

Suddenly she turned her head to see the magician sitting on the opposite side of her and Jushiro. She noticed how similar he looked compared to Jushiro. Seeing his brown hair and red eyes, Ashara wondered if he was a distant relative. Then, Alvadir introduced himself to her and asked about herself and Jushiro.

"I was aware my lord Jushiro had a family. Children. But I sense no intimacy between you both..."

"It's because he found me when I lost everything and everyone I knew. He brought me up as his daughter. I obtained a second chance to live and have a family I love today, thanks to him," Ashara answered.

"Sounds like quite the story, miss," A curious Alvadir said.

With the dreadful defeat in the battle's aftermath, Alvadir sought to relieve some of the damaging effects by sharing conversations. For the duration of the trip, Alvadir spoke with Ashara, Zion, and their friends to learn more about Jushiro. Though he struggled to explain it to the teens, Alvadir mentioned how he and Jushiro hail from the ancient bloodline that is the vandar race. Thus everyone in the wagon gazed with interest as the man explained the current situation of his kin and the possible reason the war started.

Elsewhere, the two elven kings contemplated their worst defeat in centuries. With more than half their original force dead, the need for reinforcements is a must. Morale is another factor that plagues the hearts and minds of the battered soldiers. Avalon endured the worst, with only a quarter of their army alive. Aredain's forces suffered near eradication, with less than a couple thousand of the royal knights remaining. Lyos and the elven realms suffered more than half the casualties along with the king of Lyos, who perished from Reamous's spell.

Prince Kaseth remarked how so many died in a single day. The death toll far surpassed any battle he partook in the last war. The Lanc brothers rode with the new king Naemon and dutchess Arthoria with neither uttering a word. They refused to talk about their wager from the battle. Only dispirited silence came about under the growing shadows of the night. None dared to speak nor look anywhere but forward. Unaware of the right path to take, the only one available was ahead. Thus remains one final chance to either win the war or succumb to the darkness.

In a land blanketed by white, he opened his eyes to see snow falling on his pale face. His crimson eyes blinked as flakes touched his lashes. He stood up perplexed until he recognized where he currently stands. He heard a voice call out to him as he closed his eyes and sighed, knowing who was speaking to him.

"Are you ready to die... Jushiro?"

He turned to gaze at the spiritual manifestation of his ve'blad. He remained reluctant and silent at first. He took a moment to observe his surroundings, then closed his eyes to recount every moment that ended where he stood. Every choice he regretted and thanked. The snow and wind brushed his hair like leaves on a branch. A glaring beam of light shined over him as the snow ceased to fall. Alas, he opened his mouth and sighed again, and this time, his mind was lost in conflict. His aura tensed from the sudden burden of choice. His tearing eyes opened, only to shine brightly blue.