CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

Battle of the Red Ruin

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“Hajime,” Bridget sighed exaggeratedly, “why’d you have to tempt fate?”

“Eh?” Hajime cocked his head to the side. “When did I do that?”

“You said we were running out of enemies,” Bridget reminded him. “What about now, huh?”

The party was gathered at the mouth of the Red Ruin’s entrance, though they’d yet to step outside because they weren’t sure if there was anything they could do.

“I didn’t make this happen?!” Hajime protested.

“You tempted fate.” Bridget pointed a finger outside. “This is fate showing off!”

A battle raged beyond the steps of the Red Ruin. One so bloody that remnants of it were present even in the passage the party had just come through. The dead bodies they’d passed along the way belonged to House von Galen—soldiers whose leather jackets were torn apart by savage claws and ravenous fangs. Surprisingly, not a single wearg had fallen inside the Red Ruin. In this, Scarfang kept his word. On the other hand, the opposite was occurring outside the dungeon for the roar of dying weargs grated on the party’s ears.

In the hours since they’d last seen them, von Galen’s forces seemed to have doubled. Over a hundred soldiers were now locked in battle against the Flametail Tribe throughout one side of the verdant clearing beyond the dungeon’s front steps.

‘Boom!’

‘Boom!’

‘Boom!’

A round of explosions struck the clearing, causing an elemental storm to wreak havoc on the ground. Weargs unprepared for the assault were devoured by elements driven wild by cannons’ sorcery. Those who managed to escape the bombardment struggled against the swords and spears of soldiers seemingly more seasoned than the ones Bram had slain in the fog.

“This adventure’s starting to feel like a day at Biosoft,” Chris chuckled tiredly. “It’s one crisis after another…”

“We didn’t even have time to rest…not really,” Bridget commented.

It wasn’t just Bram feeling the fatigue. His friends had used up their magic and abilities in the many phases of their battle with Loveless. They were running on fumes.

Still, the prince, who watched the death of future allies with a grim face, couldn’t help but turn the cogs of his brain.

“Ravi,” he called, “do you have enough magic for one more Falling Star?”

He calculated that a chunk of burning rock crashing onto the deck of a brigantine could help turn the tide, but Ravi dashed Bram’s hopes with a shake of his head.

“I no longer have enough magic to cast a fifth-level spell,” the Shamvalan admitted. Then, as if he guessed what the prince would ask next, Ravi added, “And I don’t have a summon that can deal with that…”

Ravi’s gaze was fixed on a second skyship that had arrived to reinforce the one already patrolling the sky. This second skyship was a slightly larger brigantine with its hull painted in the pale blue colors of House von Galen.

“I cannot stop the skyship either,” said Master Mina, her voice stronger now, “but I can help the weargs defeat the army on the ground.”

Bram glanced sideways.

Under the orange rays of the late afternoon sun peeking in through the entrance, Bram could see a face that seemed to have aged a decade in the short time it took the party to leave the mad nymph’s lair and arrive here at the entrance of the Red Ruin. Of course, the reason for her change was obvious. A while ago, the Stargazers’ coven master and the few survivors of their expedition saw the main hall that had become a tomb for their companions. The young sorcerers had wept and wailed, though fate didn’t give them much time to grieve. Wounded weargs retreating into the Red Ruin had reported the situation outside.

“We’re outnumbered and overpowered,” reported the tall woman with reddish skin and braided hair who’d been the same one to report when the enemy first invaded. “Our tribe needs aid!”

“We’ll go reinforce them,” Bram had promised.

After choosing to leave the young sorcerers behind to tend to the wounded—Master Mina had begged Bram not to involve them in any more fighting—the new party of seven raced to the entrance to help prevent a massacre of their future allies.

Now, Bram’s gaze drifted back to the battle.

A wall of shields kept a line of weargs at bay, leaving their leader, the mighty Scarfang, isolated on the other side of the wall while surrounded by spearmen. To his credit, Scarfang refused to go down. He fought on, his claws tearing through steel and flesh even as sharp blades cut at his hide.

“We need him alive,” Bram insisted.

Without Scarfang, the Flametail Tribe might not honor their verbal agreement of an alliance.

“I’ll take care of it,” Master Mina promised. She then turned to Ravi. “Vice Master, please assist Elder Bashar in protecting the weargs.”

Not far from the steps leading up to the ruin, Kazem Bashar wielded his wooden staff to erect an arcane shield formed of glowing lines and intricate patterns. He’d raised it over the heads of a wearg cluster like an umbrella that protected them from the cannon fire raining down on the field.

“Yes, this I can do,” Ravi answered just before he turned to Bram. “The Loom guide your fate, Your Highness.”

“It guides us all,” he responded. Then, before Ravi could leave, Bram added, “Take Chris and Bridget with you.”

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

He turned to the two otherworlders and asked them to protect Ravi and Kazem with their lives.

“We’ll lose more weargs without their shields…”

Truthfully, neither Chris nor Bridget was in any position to protect anyone. They both looked as tired as Bram felt. Still, neither objected to Bram’s order even though they knew the prince was asking them to die in Ravi’s place if things turned dire. It wasn’t such an inhumane request though. Ravi had only one life to give while the otherworlders could survive a death on Aarde.

“I’m still not planning on dying today,” Bridget reiterated.

“Ditto,” Chris agreed.

On that encouraging note, the three brave souls left the Red Ruin’s entrance to join the battle outside.

“What about me?” Hajime asked.

While he considered options, Bram’s gaze returned to Master Mina.

She looked away from him, and he couldn’t blame her. The guilt she’d had when they first met was still there. Just more prominent now. No doubt, she blamed herself for the death of her coven members.

Earlier, after he’d returned from Loveless’ husk, Master Mina had also confessed to Bram that she’d witnessed some of the mad nymph’s atrocities while a prisoner in her own mind, so Bram had little doubt that she had more scars than those physical ones hidden by the pale green sorcerer’s robe Ravi had given her.

Bram couldn’t blame Master Mina for feeling the way she did. After all, she’d made choices that led to the expedition’s tragic outcome. Only, as someone who couldn’t do anything but watch Loveless’ past ruin her future, Bram thought Master Mina deserved a chance at redemption. It’s why he offered her his hand now in a symbolic gesture.

“Hajime will help you rescue Scarfang, so please show him the power of a true master of the sorcerous arts.”

A word of encouragement might not seem like much, but it was a gulp of fresh air for a woman drowning in self-pity. When Master Mina’s gaze turned to Bram’s, a small ray of hope was alight in her eyes.

“We can’t change the past.” Bram placed a hand on her shoulder. “What we can do is make sure the future doesn’t end in tragedy… If not for us, then…”

Bram’s gaze drifted to the outside where Ravi had just finished raising another intricate-looking shield over the heads of more weargs, ensuring they were protected from another bombardment from above.

“…Perhaps for those who come after.”

“You possess a wisdom that belies your age, Your Highness…”

Bram didn’t think he was wise at all because what wisdom he had now was earned through the sacrifice of another. This thought made him glance down at the bag slung over his shoulder and the pine cone kept inside it.

‘Your next life will be a much better one. I promise…’

He was so focused on his thoughts Bram didn’t see the expression of expectation flitting across Master Mina’s face. If he had, he would have been quite embarrassed. Only one other Aarder still looked at Bram with hopeful expectation even after most of his former courtiers had abandoned him.

“Novice Hajime,” she called.

“H-Hai!” Hajime stood to attention.

“Stay within five feet of me,” Master Mina instructed. “My Ophiotaurus will protect us as we break through the enemy lines.”

“Ophiotaurus…?” Hajime frowned. That frown was quickly replaced by surprise. “M-Maji?! W-We’re going to attack the enemy lines from the front?”

Master Mina nodded.

The hand whose fingers were regrown through Sprite’s healing arts was already twirling in the air, drawing lines of starlight across space—lines that reminded Bram of Rowan’s summoning circle though this was more intricate and detailed.

“I-I don’t have enough magic left,” Hajime protested. “Isn’t there another way to—”

Master Mina’s other hand latched onto Hajime’s wrist. “We need to hurry.”

This was true enough. Scarfang’s life hung in the balance.

“After we save the wearg leader, we’ll head for the riverbank,” she explained. “If we can make it there, then Ophiotaurus can turn the tide of battle. Literally.”

Hajime had just enough time to glance in Bram’s direction, but the prince pretended not to see his plea for help as Master Mina pulled him along. In Bram’s defense, Hajime often complained about things but never failed to step up when needed. The prince didn’t doubt that this time would be no different. Such was the trust that had grown between him and the Japanese man. Chris and Bridget as well. All three otherworlders have exceeded his expectations, repeatedly proving to Bram time and time again that enacting his great undertaking had been the right choice.

“We were fortunate,” came Rowan’s voice.

The trickster who was quietly observing from behind stepped out of the shadows. Rowan cast a dark look on the outside, her gaze fixed on the back of the Stargazers’ coven master.

“If Loveless had tapped into Wilhelmina’s true power… You might not have won your duel, My Prince.”

It didn’t take long for Master Mina to arrive at Scarfang’s side with Hajime in tow, because the soldiers who’d tried to block her way succumbed to a strange malady that caused their bodies to go into shock.

“I disagree,” Bram said. “I wouldn’t have lost.”

The prince could see the half-visible apparition rampaging at Master Mina’s side. It was a large creature with the top half of a bull and the lower half of a thick python’s trunk. This tail whipped back and forth, passing through the bodies of unsuspecting soldiers, and taking from them the telltale sparks of sorcery that Bram guessed symbolized their magic reserves.

“I barely have any magic in me for her to siphon off.”

Bram’s attempt at a joke earned him a harsh laugh he wasn’t used to hearing from Rowan.

He glanced sideways.

Rowan’s face seemed strange.

There were dark circles under the eyes that glowed like burning coals. She was frowning impatiently too, which wasn’t like the trickster who preferred to smile even when she was vexed.

“Are you all right?”

“A bit of indigestion has me feeling listless…”

“Ah.”

Though he’d shared her burden earlier, Rowan had taken in more of the Midnight Shard’s dark elemental energy than he did, and that much darkness would give anyone heartburn. Small wonder she hasn’t acted up until now.

“I think I know a way to alleviate your discomfort.”

As a frequent victim of uncontrolled anger and pent-up angst which he often hid under the guise of a smile or a tune, Bram knew just the kind of outlet Rowan needed.

He looked up, his gaze drifting to the larger of the two ships, to the baron’s banner billowing alongside its prow.

Rowan, who was privy to his mind, couldn’t help giggling, yet even this laughter seemed darker than usual. “I suppose that is why you and I remained here?”

“I promised I wouldn’t ask you to fight…but you look like you need one.” He offered her a sheepish grin. “Besides, I can’t foresee our victory without—”

It happened so quickly that Bram’s jaw barely had time to drop before Rowan had her arms around his waist.

“My blood is boiling, and you’ve offered me a chance at release,” She whispered into his ears. “You do know how to woo a maiden in heat, My Prince.”

They gazed at each other for a long moment. Then, before Bram’s inner desires could become reality…

“Clench your jaw,” Rowan instructed.

A blink of an eye later, the Red Ruin was gone, and they were soaring into the sky faster than even a cannon’s shell in flight. The harsh winds buffeted his face while the chill of the late afternoon air seeped into his bones. Bram didn’t mind these inconveniences. Like the first time he’d flown with her, he enjoyed the sensation of flying. The voyage was short though, and soon enough, they touched ground on an unfamiliar deck surrounded by knights clothed in full-bodied plate armor and eyes eager for conflict. Unfortunately for these brave fools, Rowan was hungrier to spill blood…and the knights of von Galen were all on the menu now.

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Greetings, Fellow Otherworlders,

I just wanted to take this moment to wish you all...

A Happy and Healthy New Year!!!

May 2025 Bring you joy, love, and fortune!

- G.D. Cruz

P.S. I believe there are a couple of people who want to wish y'all a happy new year too...

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