Chapter 10 – Journey to Ellinia

It was morning again. Yesterday’s battle had cost some lives and weakened many others that survived. Charlie was out still burying some of his companions with a few others. Mark and Zep were cooking something at the campfire. Chibi was cleaning his spear. Athena was carving some arrows. Dark Lord was staring off to space, thinking of some matters, which was unknown to Wendy. It seemed like everyone had something to do. Sighing, Wendy climbed to her feet and went towards the campfire in the middle of the camp. A good smell filled her nose as she got near. It was beef stew. Wendy nodded approvingly at the two cooks. Zep and Mark smiled back. Wendy decided to talk to Athena about Thanatos. As she neared Athena, she saw her reading a book while carving a few arrows at once. It was a strange sight indeed. Athena noticed Wendy and stopped her activities.

“Hello Wendy.” She said. “How are you feeling today?”

“Fine.” Wendy replied. “I came to ask a question.”

Athena turned her attention towards Wendy.

“I’m listening.” She said. “What is it?”

“Do you have any info on Thanatos?” Wendy asked.

Athena looked up into the clear blue sky.

“We fought his kind once before.” Athena replied. “It seems like he is the last of his kind. There must be something he seeks for him to come to Victoria…but what is it? Their kind comes from Ludibruim. It’s a world made mainly out of toy blocks. They guarded a sacred treasure for many years with the Gate Keepers. But it seems as if their numbers were diminishing sharply and I guess this one here in Victoria is the last of its kind.”

Wendy tried to absorb the knowledge into her head. It all seemed so weird. Why would a creature that protected a sacred treasure be all the way here in Victoria?

“Mistress Athena…” A soft voice said from behind Wendy.

Wendy turned around and came face to face with an assassin. She was a young girl. On her forehead she wore a Blue Pilfer. Wendy examined this assassin from head to toe. Most of her attire was mainly blue. Behind her was someone who looked almost identical to her. The only difference is the color. The twin wore mostly red instead of blue.

“Who are you?” Athena asked.

“I am Silver.” The blue assassin replied. “The one behind me is my twin sister, Ruby.”

“Twins…” Wendy thought.

“What is it?” Athena asked.

“Dark Lord asks that you should take shelter in Kerning City for the moment.” Silver replied.

“Nonsense.” Athena said with a flick of her hand. “I don’t need shelter. I can still fight.”

“We are under strict orders to bring you to him.” Ruby said moving forward.

Wendy stood up. Alarmed the two assassins’ went into position. Wendy quickly cast the most basic magic she knew of, Magic claw. It hit Silver in the arm and she shouted out in surprise and pain. Ruby wasted no time and quickly threw two steelies at Wendy. The steelies hit the ground near Wendy. Then Wendy noticed a word on paper wrapped around the steelies. “Explosive” was on the paper. Wendy cried out in shock as the steelies before her blew up. Wendy was knocked against a tree. Weakened she slowly got to her feet. Wendy muttered a few words.

“Spirits of the dead…bind my enemies to the ground.” She said.

The ground around the two assassins’ sprout up and wrapped themselves around their arms and legs, disabling them from moving any further.

“Enough.” Someone said.

All eyes turned towards the voice. It was Dark Lord.

“Athena.” Dark Lord he said. “Go to kerning. This invasion is too dangerous.”

“I can still fight!” Athena argued. “Don’t worry about me!”

Dark Lord looked at Athena.

“You still say that even though we had bad experiences with them?” Dark Lord asked. “Don’t forget that your fear might not be gone yet. I can’t let you risk your life. I will go in your place.”

Athena mumbled angrily.

“Wendy.” Dark Lord said. “Travel to Ellinia with the army you have now. I will go notify DancesWithBalrog.”

Wendy nodded and without a word she headed towards camp.

“We are leaving in five minutes!” Wendy announced. “Pack everything up and lets get moving!”

The camp suddenly became very active. Soon enough the tents surrounding the main campfire disappeared. In five minutes the entire army was assembled.

“Are we all ready?” Wendy shouted to the army in front of her. “Know this now. Some of us might not return from the next battle. If you are too scared I understand and you may seek shelter in Kerning city. Anyone who wants to leave this army now may step out.”

Not one person did as much as twitch. Wendy nodded in approval.

“Victoria will remember this.” Wendy said. “Now…TO ELLINIA!”

The clearing erupted in a unified shout, “FOR VICTORIA!”

The march towards the final battle was about to begin.

Chapter 11– The Strange Outcasts

It’s been almost 4 days since they left for Ellinia. They were lost in the forest of Ellinia. Their food supply were diminishing as well. As they were walking Wendy felt two sets of eyes spying on her.

“I’ll go check out the surroundings.” She said. “I’ll be back.”

Chibi and Zep nodded. Charlie turned around and signaled the army to stop for a rest. Exhausted, the small army sat down. Wendy walked west for a while. She stopped when she knew that she was quite far away from the group.

“Come out.” She said. “I know you are there. Show yourself.”

Two shadows jumped down from a nearby branch. Wendy could see that one was a female while the other was a male. The female wielded a bow. The male brandished a staff like her. Wendy narrowed her eyes at them.

“Why are you following me?” She asked.

“We heard that you were in the surroundings.” The male said. “I am Bob. This here is my friend Juliria.”

“Never heard of you.” Wendy said.

“We are also outcasts like you.” Juliria replied. “We came to challenge you.”

“I am in no position to duel you fool.” Wendy said. “Now will you excuse me…”

Wendy quickly put up magic guard when Juliria shot a hail of arrows quickly at her. The arrows flicked harmlessly off her. Bob nodded in admiration.

“Truly, you are what people say you are.” He said. “Worthy wielder of the Kage. But can it face my Dark Ritual in a duel?”

Without waiting for an answer, Bob swung his staff in a circle.

“Dark energies of the Forsaken Realm!” He shouted. “Open your gate and unleash your horrors!”

A gate materialized behind the mage. It opened up and shadows came forth and slithered around Wendy. Shocked for a second, Wendy quickly cast a counter spell.

“Spirits of the Flame!” Wendy shouted. “Pry this wretched magic off your caller!”

Wendy burst into flame and the shadows binding her were flung off. Wendy came out of the fire and pointed her staff at the gate behind Bob.

“Thor…Lord of Lighting!” She said. “Grant me powers to destroy all who oppose me!”

Lighting energies piled up and formed a giant spear of lighting. Wendy flung it at the gate. The gate exploded as the spear came into contact with it. Bob was thrown back. Without warning arrows came fast towards Wendy. Surprised Wendy was unprepared. The arrows pierced her staff arm. Shouting in pain she let go of her staff.

“Check.” Juliria said with a grin.

Bob got up and chanted a few words. Fire shot from his staff and flew towards Wendy.

“This is the end!” Wendy thought. “I failed you…”

Wendy closed her eyes waiting for the fire to hit her. After a while, Wendy opened her eyes to see the back armor of Chibi. Zep and Mark were on the treetops firing away. Frightened by the sudden reinforcement, the two outcasts ran into the forest.

“We will meet again…Wendy…Wielder of the Kage…” Bob said as he disappeared.

The last thing Wendy saw was her friends worried looks as her vision blacked out.

In the distance the same two shadows with crimson eyes were staring at them.

“Bob and Juliria failed after all…” One said. “What do we do now?”

“We wait…it wont be long…” The other said with a hint of frustration. “Let’s go.”

The two shadows shuffled away into the quiet forest of Ellinia.

Chapter 12 – The Grim Phantom Watch

Wendy woke up to see the ceiling of a tent. Then Zep’s face came into view.

“Your awake!” He cried.

He ran outside hollering like a mad dog. A few minutes later Wendy could see Zep with Chibi, Mark, Dark Lord, and Charlie rushing toward her. Everyone had a relieved look on their face.

“Are you feeling alright?” Dark Lord asked. “Your arm was bleeding badly. The arrow pierced one of your vital points.”

Wendy looked at her staff arm and saw a nasty hole. Surprised Wendy moved her arm. Immense pain shot into her arm. Gasping for air she jumped and rammed into Zep.

“My arm…” Wendy said. “It hurts…can I use it?”

“Yes.” Dark Lord replied. “But you need rest for a while for it to fully recover.”

Wendy nodded and lay down on the bed again. Charlie saluted and walked out of the tent. Chibi and Mark muttered something about inventing a new type of toothpaste and Zep went to cook her a meal. Dark Lord went off into the woods again. Sighing Wendy returned to sleep. She was dreaming of the time she was a child in Ellinia. She loved everything in sight and was curious all the time. This curious behavior got her into trouble many times. She remembered the time when she tried to eat Grendel’s apple book because it looked so much like an apple. She failed to notice that it had pages on the side and it was flatter then a normal apple. She was watching her play around the village when suddenly the image vanished before her eyes. Shocked, Wendy looked around for something familiar. She then saw a giant watch in front of her. Then a voice came into her head.

“Are you ready to embrace death?” A hideous voice asked her.

Without warning a spirit bounded by chains popped out of the watch. It had a hideous face. It looked as if it has suffered many days of torture. One gold tooth gleamed at the side of its mouth. Tiny blue horns stuck out on top of its head. Wendy then saw herself in her battle gear. Without waiting for the monster to attack, Wendy attacked. She quickly cast fire arrows. The arrow flew at the monster at high speeds. Without so much as a twitch the monster was hit. Wendy waited to see if it worked. The smoke vanished and the monster was standing there waiting for something. Angered, Wendy chanted some words. She pointed her staff at the monster and ice materialized and shot forth towards the monster. The monster opened its mouth suddenly and swallowed the ice. It then spoke.

“Fool…” It said. “The weak will never defeat me.”

Then Wendy remembered the three mages she had seen in her dreams. She looked at the mage wearing the pure white clothing.

“It fears happiness…” She said to Wendy before disappearing again.

Wendy pictured the first day she became a mage, the first time she met her friends, the first time they shared meals together. The feeling of happiness flowed into Wendy. As Wendy opened her eyes she saw the monster shrink back in fear.

“Lea!” The monster shouted. “How dare you interfere with my affairs!”

Wendy heard a voice but as she looked around she saw no one. She was suddenly bursting with energy and she saw herself wrapped in a bright white aura.

“She is under my protection.” A voice issued. “You have no right to attack her either…Grim Phantom Watch.”

Snarling the monster leaped forward. Without thinking Wendy pointed her staff at the monster and shouted, “Spirits of Heavens! Spread your influence upon the wretched beings that oppose you! Thousand Needles Of Redemption!”

The sky glowed bright. Needles shot out of the sky and attacked the monster. The monster roared in pain as more and more needles pinned it to the ground. As the last needle found its place the monster started to disappear. As Wendy watched the chains on the monster were broken. Its hideous face started to disappear to reveal a peaceful creatures face in its place. After a while it disappeared.

“Do not be afraid young one.” Lea’s voice said in her head. “We will always be there for you. You are not alone.”

Wendy snapped away as she saw Zep shaking her continuously.

“Your meals ready!” He said. “Its my special carrot soup today.”

Wendy nodded and started drinking. She was still wondering about the mage called Lea. Who was she? Why was she helping her? Then as she stared outside into the dark sky, the stars shone bright and told her the answers are not far from being known. She will have to patient for now. She finished drinking her soup and went with Zep towards the campfire to share stories with the beginners.

“Lets hope this peace will last…” Wendy thought before rushing towards Zep to keep up with him.