Max fell back a pace, but the red cloud came on too fast. It engulfed Max. He felt a wave of panic—was he about to suffer a suffocating attack like he’d received from the dark whirlwind? But the moment the billowing red cloud surrounded the party, it evaporated, dissipating in an instant and revealing the Red Mage Gorgoron Redfist. He walked towards the party smiling broadly.
Gorgoron made Max shiver, but Elderon walked towards him, arms outstretched.
“Welcome, brother,” Elderon said.
As they clasped hands in friendship, Gorgoron looked over to Max. “And how is our young Mage brother shaping up? Learning fast under your expert tutelage, I’ll wager.”
Elderon looked back at Max and smiled at him. “Max is brave and smart. He is turning out to be a very capable young apprentice. I foresee him becoming a great Mage one day.”
Max didn’t like the way Gorgoron Redfist looked at him. It was a mixture of admiration and disdain.
“We need to confer, brother,” Gorgoron said.
Elderon walked a few paces with Gorgoron, away from Max and Jahrod, deeper into the trees. Gorgoron cast a Mage Sphere that surrounded the two old Mages, making sure any conversation was kept strictly between the two of them.
“Janet, can you hear me?” Max said. He looked around this way and that for Janet, willing her to appear.
“Where did you find such an interesting, mysterious, and powerful spirit ally?” Jahrod said.
“I was trying to steal something from her,” Max said, and he felt a twinge of guilt admitting that he had once been a thief. The fact that it had all been against his will, that it had been forced on him, did little to assuage his guilt. He would make amends somehow, and freeing Janet from the dark portal was a great place to start.
“If you were trying to steal something,” Jahrod said, “I’m sure it was with good intentions. I know you to be an honorable Mage.”
Max shook his head. “Alas, it may not have always been the case, my stout friend. I was forced into bad behavior by dangerous men. I always wished I could have defied them, but they had power over me. I was compelled to work for them.”
Jahrod smiled up at Max with his huge crushing teeth. “Then you will know better than to use your Mage powers to manipulate those less powerful than yourself. All things have a meaning in Eveirea.”
Janet appeared out of thin air between Max and Jahrod. A dark spot grew with a white, glowing center. It grew until Janet stood before Max, her white coat billowing around her, looking more and more like a set of robes and less like a lab coat. Her red hair floating around her like flame.
“I heard you admitting your thievery,” Janet said. “Admitting you were wrong is the first step towards making up for your offense.”
“I never wanted to steal from you,” Max said. “I knew I had feelings for you the first moment I saw you. I have seen all kinds of magic here in Eveirea, things I would never have believed. Do you believe in love at first sight?”
Jahrod looked up at Max in surprise. “I like you, too, Max, but I wouldn’t call it love. You are maybe like a brother to me, but that’s all.” Jahrod looked at Max with a stern and slightly puzzled expression.
“I’m sorry, Jahrod,” Max said. “I was talking to Janet. She is here with us now.” Max pointed.
Jahrod looked around but clearly could not see Janet. She was invisible to all except Max, trapped in the dark portal between Earth and Eveirea.
“Can you let me hear inside the Mage Sphere, Janet?” Max said.
Janet nodded, and instantly Max could hear the conversation between Elderon and Gorgoron.
“I have been sent by the Mage council of Essillt to observe the army of Castle Deadtide.”
“You move fast, brother,” Elderon said. “We have seen the army. They are indeed driven by darkness. We were returning to Castle Ralynn to warn King Glyn about their advance into the Kingdom of Faregent. Ralynn City is in the Deadtide army’s path. The city is in danger. And if Ralynn City falls, then all of Faregent is lost, and the Deadtide army will have a clear run into the Breamor Kingdom.”
“This is true,” Gorgoron said, nodding. “We cannot let southern Awen fall to the Deadtide army. I will travel with you to Ralynn City.” Gorgoron glanced out of the Mage Sphere towards Max. “The roads are treacherous these days, brother.”
Elderon hesitated. “One of our party has been kidnapped. I don’t believe I can persuade Max to return with me to Castle Ralynn without first finding our missing party member.”
“He is a novice,” Gorgoron said. “We can compel him. He will come with us. We will assure him scouts will be sent to find his missing friend.”
Somehow, Max didn’t believe that Gorgoron would send any scouts. Max would find Anita himself. And time was running short. He needed to move now.
Elderon looked over to Max and then back to Gorgoron. “There is more, brother. The Dark Mages are back.”
Gorgoron grumbled and rubbed his pointy black beard. “Yes,” he said, “the Mage Council has seen signs of the reappearance of the Dark Mage coven. Darkness is indeed abroad in Eveirea. The dark portal is active and spreading darkness.” He looked over at Max. “We must not let the power of the Mage council diminish any further. This dark portal must be contained.”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“It must be closed, brother,” Elderon said firmly.
Gorgoron nodded in earnest agreement.
“And it is not just the dark portal,” Elderon went on. “There are dark shards scattered over Eveirea, spreading the dark influence.”
“Yes,” Gorgoron said, “the elves of Deepwood have conferred with the Mage council on this. They have a natural immunity to the ravages of these dark shards. The elves have been gathering them from northern kingdoms of Awen. They have almost completely cleared them from Ragewind, Deepwood, Essillt, and Eastwind. It only remains for the darkness to be cleared from the Hinge. It is clear it has taken root here. The men of southern Awen cannot withstand the dark shards or the influence of darkness. I am sure we can learn more from Max.”
“I’m sure Max has more to teach us,” Elderon agreed.
“I must report back to the Mage council, inform them that the Dark Mages are indeed active once again. I will use the Mage Stone on the borderlands between Faregent and Breamor. I fear the Mage Stone here between the Hinge and Faregent will soon be overrun by the Deadtide army.”
Gorgoron dispelled the Mage Sphere, and the two Mages were standing in the open again.
“Take care, Elderon,” Gorgoron said and shook Elderon’s hand. “Take care Max,” Gorgoron said, looking over to him before turning and moving off into the trees.
“Danger close, Max,” Janet said as she faded away.
“Danger,” Max said.
“Where?” Jahrod said, spinning his axe and looking all about.
“There,” Elderon said pointing into the trees.
>
>
> Death Knight attacks Elderon.
>
> Death Knight attacks Jahrod.
>
>
Crossbow bolts whizzed away from the two Death Knights. Elderon threw up a Mage Shield just in time. The bolts struck the shield and then fell harmlessly to the forest floor.
Max checked the stats on the Death Knights.
>
>
> Name: Death Knight
>
> Status: Hostile
>
> Attack: Heavy Crossbow. Longsword. Dark Terror
>
> Threat level: Insidious
>
>
The two Death Knights dropped their crossbows, and they ran, one towards Elderon, the other towards Jahrod. They each grabbed a large shield that they carried on their backs. Max was stunned at how fast these heavily armored Death Knights could move. Their armor clanking, their feet tearing up the forest floor.
>
>
> Max casts Magic Missile.
>
> Death Knight takes minor damage.
>
>
Jahrod ran towards the Death Knight that was advancing on him. Their weapons met with an almighty clang of steel on steel. Jahrod barreled into the Death Knight with a shoulder charge as he followed through his attack, but he bounced off the Death Knight’s shield without moving it an inch backwards.
Elderon cast Strength and drew his silver-white longsword. With his longsword in his right hand and his staff held halfway down its length in his left, he walked forward, his staff and sword crossed in front of him. He brought them down quickly to the side and cast his Shout spell. A powerful sound wave blasted out from Elderon and slammed into the Death Knight, stunning him momentarily.
Jahrod ducked under a swinging sword of the Death Knight and performed an over-the-shoulder roll. He came up to his feet and swung his axe hard into the back of the Death Knight. The dark armor clanged. The Death Knight lost his grip on his shield and staggered forwards. He recovered after a couple of steps, turned swiftly, and moved in on Jahrod.
Max cast another magic missile, and two glowing orange orbs slammed into the Death Knight attacking Elderon. The dark armor glowed briefly where the orbs struck.
>
>
> Death Knight takes minor damage.
>
>
The Death Knight attacking Jahrod moved in fast and swung his longsword. He caught Jahrod with a heavy blow on his right shoulder. The sword bounced off Jahrod’s heavy plate armor, but the Death Knight had still managed to deliver heavy damage to the mighty dwarf. Jahrod looked stunned. He brought his axe up to defend against the secondary swing but took another heavy blow knocking him sideways.
Elderon cast a spell of dual wielding on himself. He twirled his staff and sword in superfast spinning arcs and advanced on his foe. The white-silver sword deflected the swing of the Death Knight’s dark sword. Then Elderon’s staff struck a blow, followed by a blow from the white-silver sword. The staff and sword twirled and delivered one blow after the next, driving the Death Knight backwards. Every strike Elderon landed delivered minor damage, but the rapid succession of blows built. Max checked the Death Knight’s stats and was encouraged to see he was heavily injured, his Health bar dipping to only a quarter full.
>
>
> Max casts Magic Missile.
>
> Death Knight takes minor damage.
>
>
Elderon’s whirling, dual-wielding spell ended, and the Death Knight swung his sword around and over his head before bringing it down on Elderon. Elderon defended with his sword and staff crossed before him, but the Death Knight caused Elderon heavy damage.
Max cast another Magic Missile. In the heat of battle, he’d lost count of how many he’d used.
>
>
> Max casts Magic Missile.
>
> Death Knight takes minor damage.
>
>
The Death Knight swung his sword at Elderon and got through his defense, dealing the old Mage another blow of heavy damage.
Elderon’s Health was reduced to half. Max had never seen his Mage mentor take so much damage. But Elderon was not out of the fight yet. He swung his sword and delivered moderate damage with bonus damage from his Strength spell. The Death Knight was close to defeat.
>
>
> Max casts Magic Missile.
>
> Death Knight takes minor damage.
>
> Death Knight defeated.
>
>
Max saw the loot spill out of the dark armor as the Death Knight collapsed. He cursed himself for staring when he realized Jahrod was still in trouble.
The Death Knight and Jahrod had moved deeper into the trees. Jahrod had delivered heavy damage to the Death Knight, but they were a well-matched pair. The Death Knight landed a blow that knocked Jahrod backwards and further from the support of Max and Elderon. Then the Death Knight attacked with a flurry of heavy blows. Few beat Jahrod’s determined defense, and Jahrod struck a solid blow right into the breastplate of the Death Knight. The axe bounced off the armor. Jahrod stepped back but could not avoid the incoming slashing attack. He raised his axe to deflect the blow. The axe was knocked from Jahrod’s hand, and he staggered backwards a few steps before tripping over a fallen branch. He scurried backwards through the leaf litter, drawing a small dagger from his boot as he went. The Death Knight was close to defeat, but so was Jahrod. The Death Knight had the advantage, on his feet, weapon in hand.
>
>
> Max casts Magic Missile.
>
> Death Knight takes minor damage.
>
>
The Death Knight raised the dark sword high above his head. Jahrod looked up, dagger held defiantly forward, but his eyes told Max that he knew he had been defeated, and he was prepared to meet his end.