Macha's Journey

Luna flipped open her spell book, and the pages turned to the page she needed. She closed her eyes and her body began to shine with a golden aura. The golden light became brighter before shooting up into the sky. The brilliant, holy pillar expanded out, covering the field.

Sweat trickled down her temples and she continued, increasing the diameter until she ran out of strength. The spell she cast would last for twelve days and nights. It purified the area and made it so no creature of darkness would sp.a.w.n or step onto the affected zone.

Macha witnessed the spirits burn up from the holy golden light. They screamed in pain as their spectral bodies disintegrated into nothingness.

As soon as the spell was completed, Krystof caught Luna before she slumped to the ground. She overexerted herself by cleansing the lands that const.i.tuted the rest of their journey.

He gently picked her up and rested her spell book on her stomach. The charm he gave her three years ago still dangled on the chain. While he held her in his arms, he chuckled, "I"ve gotta get ya three more charms, I"ve been remiss in my gifts."

After the cleansing, Tyr"s clear order shouted, "Mount up." After a spell like that, troops would come to the area. He wanted the party to be as far from the spell"s epicenter as possible.

The group summoned their mounts and fled through the field as quickly as they could. When they reached the edge of the forest, they dismounted and Tyr ordered them to take to the trees. There were never traps in the tops of the trees, so it was a trade-off he always debated on. The sound of their feet landing on the wood was loud and required more energy to advance from branch to branch. While if they stayed on the ground, they could move stealthily and ambush approaching forces.

Macha saw Aila grab Mathis and jump up to the tree top. It was impossible for her to leap that high, so she tried to run up the trunk as Krystof did. She ran up six meters before falling. Seeing that she was unable to climb the tree, Tyr lept down and carried her on his back.

As he jumped among the branches, she peered up at the sky. It was difficult to see through the thick forest canopy, but she thought she spotted a few hippogryphs flying in the distance. "Tyr, I think I see something other there," pointing to their right.

After landing on the next branch, he scanned the area she pointed at. "Halt," he commanded. If they were moving around on the trees, then their movements would be seen from above. They all stopped and stared at a convocation of hippogryphs that flew towards them.

Tyr bent his knees to put Macha down. His voice was low and he warned her, "Stay here. Don"t move."

Krystof placed Luna down next to Macha. She was still tired and rested against the tree"s trunk. If fighting broke out, he wanted to make sure Macha could defend Luna.

The hippogryphs slowed down and circled the area where the group hid. There were ten riders, but they had the height advantage. Tyr weighed their options and decided to use the element of surprise and stealth. If they cast other flashy spells, it might attract more forces to their location.

They would probably bring this group down quickly and they did not appear to have other fighting units coming for now. Turning his head, his green eyes met with Krystof and Wideline. His cold green eyes narrowed slightly and he gave them a meaningful nod.

Krystof drew back his bow and three dark arrows formed. Wideline moved higher up the tree so she could jump up and attack the closest one. They both waited for their Captain to begin the fight.

The mounts came closer and Tyr held his lance in his hands. He steadied his breathing, waiting for them to line up for him.

Aži flew up, ready to herd the enemy into position. His onyx body rushed out of the canopy and startled the hippogryphs. With a breath of fire, he attacked one of the riders. The woman became black from the heat and the hippogryph disappeared. The sudden attack caused the other nine to chase after him.

At that moment, Tyr threw one of his lances. It pierced through a man, knocking him off his mount and continued on into another rider. Both enemies dropped to the ground.

When Aži began the fight, Krystof and Wideline attacked as well. Krystof"s dark arrows. .h.i.t the farthest riders and their bodies decayed within seconds. Their skin fell off of their bones in clumps and turned into dust before hitting the trees. The attack caused the veins in his arm to run black momentarily. He shook his hand to get rid of the cold feeling in it.

Dark magic was like poison for the body. Prolonged use was dangerous, but when he was drawing the arrows, he did not want the riders to notice the bright light that other types of magic invoked.

Wideline threw her kunai into the air and hit the rider in the heart and neck. The perfection in her attack caused her to smile smugly. Despite the war being a terrible nightmare, her skills had improved drastically in such a short time.

The other three riders, realizing their teammates fell in a matter of seconds, retreated. As they fled, Aži chased after them. If they reported back, then the group would be in more danger.

Before the wyvern reached them, Aži saw leaves being shot in the air in front of him. Two figures dashed from leaf to leaf, overtaking him.

His flying slowed as he watched Lord Gabris and Miriro catch up to the hippogryphs and slit the rider"s throats. He had never seen them in action before and always a.s.sumed they lacked fighting talent. Most of the n.o.bility did not bother learning to fight because they preferred enjoying their lives of luxury.

As the riders dropped Alcinous and his daughter grabbed the idols and resummoned the mounts. Bringing the hippogryphs below the treeline, they flew back to the group. Theodore had gathered the other figurines and handed them to his grandfather before returning to his position.

The leader of the Sathar held them out to Tyr. "Lord Valois, take these and use them after we meet up with the spy. My team can get back to Ma.r.s.eille safely without them." Alcinous"s words were stern but bore no disrespect. It was important that the spy divulge the information as quickly as possible.

Tyr took them, understanding how useful the hippogryph idols would be. Some of his members would have to double up, but it would not be an issue. He gave a nod and accepted them, putting them in a pouch that hung on his waist.

Aži returned and pa.s.sed him the lance he threw earlier.

Alcinous"s skills were suspiciously honed, and Tyr did not recognize the Miriro woman. As he bent down to have Macha hop on his back, he inquired, "Lord Gabris, where did you learn to fight? I don"t remember you fighting in the war."

Alcinous"s amber eyes appeared jaded. "I"m much older than you. I just dabble in fighting. It really isn"t anything I care about. I did other things during the war." He always gave this excuse because he found half-truths to be best. While he did train a lot, it was not his main area of concern. He also worked as a bodyguard during the war, not a soldier.

The skill that Lord Gabris possessed, obviously was not something one obtained from "dabbling". The man"s explanation seemed off, but he did not want to press the matter.

Tyr looked over his shoulder at Macha, who still did not hop on his back, "Come."

She smiled sweetly at him. "It"s fine, I can jump from branch to branch. I just didn"t know how to climb the tall tree." It was not something she ever did while growing up, and the fifty-meter trees intimidated her.

He glanced at the others before bringing his lips to her ear. He whispered in a soft and tender voice, "No one thinks anything of it. Mathis, Luna, and Zlatica are being carried as well. I want to hold you. Come."

A blush touched Macha"s cheeks. "Understood, Captain." She then spun him around and pressed down on his shoulders to indicate she was willing to be carried. She loved how shy he could be at times.