’Hhh…Let’s hope this works.’, Samantha inwardly sighed, nervously looking over to the small sword of elven guards that protected the entrance to the gigantic green tent.

“Bladauro!” Samantha carefully nodded at the eleven guards. Filled with hope and adrenaline as she walked toward them.

“Bladauro!Paswar?” The guard in the centre nodded back.

“Ugh…” Samtha stunted out, unsure of what to do.

“Passwar?”The guard's eyes locked expectedly at her.

“Ughh….” ‘Wait, I’ve heard that word before, haven’t I?’

“Passwar!” The elf asked yet again, this time shouting, threateningly tightening his grip upon his sword.

‘Think, think’Samtha thought trying to remember where she’d heard this elven word before.

“Paswor!Paswar!” The elf screamed, threateningly, stepping forwards, now pointing his sword upwards directly at her, his two male elves quickly doing the same as they went to follow his lead.

‘Wait, what if.’ Samatha abruptly thought, suddenly remembering the note that she had found in the tent where she gained this infernally uncomfortable suit of amour. Having subsequently forgotten all about it somewhere between the fear-induced walk through the eleven camp to here.

‘Ugh, It’s my only hope’ Samtha inwardly muttered, silently cursing the fact that it had taken her so long to remember.

“Ugh, paswar, passwar, agh,” Samtha moved her arms apart, fumbling with her words, attempting to make it show how she had forgotten the password, giving them the truth or at least a version of it, thinking it might make them more willing to let her in. With one sudden final effort yelling the password out loud. “, Manoshava lastosha!” Samtha shouted only to be shocked as they began to laugh.

“Hah-hah..ha…” The elves laughed. Samtha filled with nerves, unsure of herself, just about stopping her hands from thrusting forwards with her elven-made sword and shield.

“Lasheto, Manlara Ra ba,” The leader said, stepping backwards, waving her on, his men doing the same, even as they all continued to laugh.

“Manlara Ra ba”, Samantha said, using the elven words that she both heard and used a thousand times already this day, and so with one final anxious nodding glance at the guards, she began to march.

P.P.1’st step.

Matching ever forwards,

P.P.2n’d step.

, anxiously counting every step that she took.

P.P.3’th step.

Samtha, ever putting one foot in front of the other.

P.P.5’th Steps

Holding tight as she could onto her elven-made weapons.

P.P.6 Steps

Anxiously looking up, awaiting the moment.

P.P.7 steps

The moment that was sure to come.

P.P.8 Steps

When one of these elven guards looked up and used some examination spell, skill or ability of some kind and saw through her disguise.

P.P.9’th step.

Only to be surprised.

P.P. 10’th Step

As suddenly with 2 more steps.

P.P

.P.P

She arrived.

‘Hhh, What, That worked’ Samtha sighed, shocked out her mind, feeling like she had dogged an arrow as she with the flick of her hand pushed aside the tent flaps, and entered the rather large tent, filled with surprise, and, more than a bit chipper about herself, manically looking about expecting to see a legion of elves awaiting her in ambush only to see nothing.

‘How, how did they not realise my race?’ Samtha wondered, shocked to see nothing but a rather genetic-looking green tent that appeared to be even larger on the inside out, filled as it was with a gigantic bed, desk, and study chair.

, Surly one of them must have had a divination spell, skill or ability, of some sort, lords even an enchanted item would have annihilated me’ Samtha wondered, happy that it hadn’t come to a fight as fun as that might have been, confused as to how this had come about as she looked about the rather large tent.

.‘Still, how, surely they must have possessed something, even if they weren't true Guards, Unless….’,

,’.....Unless this is a trap,’ Samtha paranoidly thought, renewing her search with a vengeance only to find the same as before with nothing of great importance having changed.

‘Well if you don’t count that’ Samtha thought, suddenly looking up as what appeared to be a green throne made out of the same vines that made up the tent suddenly sprouted out from the ground. A robed figure sitting atop it.

“Oh, and who are you?” The robed figure dressed in full green robes suddenly spoke out, his eleven heritage hanging by the sides of his neck.

“Well answer me solder, why are you in my tent,” The druid, for who else could he be, dressed the way he way he was, ordered. Drawing his staff out towards her.

“I, am, Salero, sirenous” Samtha, seeing no other way, sputtered out, intentionally slowing her words, using what little elven words that she had managed to decipher, attempting to appear as just yet another elf endeavouring to practice her common, having not so far yet to meet, bar one elf, in this camp who could artfully rattle off but a word or two of common.

“I, am, to give, masego.”, Samtha said slowly stepping forwards toward the exasperated grump-face-filled elf. Her every action takes her ever closer to the druid.

“Aghh, a message, from the humani,” The elf said, seemingly not minding the poor use of common as if saw it all the time and had gotten used to it, something Samtha had counted on.

“Y,” Samatha said, using the one word, one letter, that she knew he would know. Seeing as it was one of the first two letters that everyone in a system-governed territory ever saw in their little non-cultivating lives. Taking another quick step. Stepping even closer towards the robed-laced elf.

“Well, where is it?” The elf impatiently held his hand out.

“Here,” Samtha said pulling out a blue marble that was all too familiar to her by now. Stepping forwards, looking straight into the elf's eyes as she did so.

“Wait….” The elf said, something seemingly tipping him off, his eyes suddenly filled with dread as she looked at him. But it was too late.

“Here it is,” Samtha said. Taking a final fateful step. Now as close as she would ever be to him. Immediately dropping the teleportation stone onto the greenery-filled floor and forcing her sword out. Attempting to take out the elven druid with one single swift hit as she thrusted her sword towards him. Only to abruptly stop, a green vine having unexpectedly appeared out of nowhere, blocking her attack.

“Hah, humani scum, I should have realised from the stench.” The elven druid said, laughing, Samtha feeling the sudden surge of prickling against her skin, indicating that an examination skill was being used against her.

“Ashra!” The druid waved. Green vine leg's instantly materialising out from his chair, pulling him swiftly away to safety, even as dozens of guards abruptly emerging out from the tent flaps as they did their work.

“Though what is this, it intrigues me” The elf said stupidly holding up the small round globe of pure spatial energy.

“Well, it’s my backup plan of course” Samtha grinned. ‘Is he stupid or what,’ “Huh, time to go to plan B I guess.” Samtha murmured, pulling her finger up to her chest.

“Wait, stop! What are you doing?” The elf demandingly yelled. Waving his petty little arms about. Waves of green vines threateningly lashing out. Samtha thinking quick, swayed from one side to another, avoiding his attack.

“Oh, Don’t mind me, just looking for something,” Samtha said. Not even looking up as she continued to search.

‘’Stop whatever you are doing at once!” He pompously yelled.

“No!” she replied, not looking up for a second, paying him no mind as she continued her work. ‘No, Nope, no, not there either,’ She thought, groping various spots of her breasts to no avail. Not even attempting to look up as she gave her answer.

“Then die! Atero!” The elf yelled. Various vines instantly coming out from the ground as the guards suddenly began to charge, attempting to take her from all sides simultaneously.

Swish. Swash.Swash.Swish. Samantha instantly went. Turning right to left. Left to right. Using only her elven sword to avoid the various attacks that suddenly came her way.

“How are you…I don’t even….” The little Elfling who presumed himself a bandit king said. Seemingly baffled by his ongoing defeat.

“Get used to it!”Samtha muttered, yelling the words for the suckling of an elven druid benefit.

‘Aghh there you are’ Samtha grinned, defiantly gripping the hidden amulet that had, till now, had been safely tucked away behind an invisibility field. Giggly ploughing tightly down upon the centre gem. The blue glass diamond core finally braking a few seconds later. A golden blue wave of light instantly emerging outward from it as it did so.

Pop. The blue marble in the elven druid's hand went. Cracking into brazilian pieces of glass as the wave hit it. A golden portal of light instantly materialised, the pieces forming together into a blue arch as they hit the ground.

“Aghhh!….…” The elf suddenly screamed, crying out in pain, one or more of the pieces having seemingly popped through his hand, as they broke.

“Portal….now is our time! Charge!….” Samtha suddenly heard, Lance's voice abruptly yet not unexpectedly instantly echoing out from the portal's other end.

‘Hah, you’ll never change’

“Slamp”“Weeee…..” Samtha heard, sighing, shaking her head as with a slamp a horse unexpectedly jumped outwards from the gate with Lances' very smug face upon it the very next second.

Slamp.Wee……Slamp.Wee……Slamp.Wee……Slamp.Wee……Slamp.Wee……Dozens more of his men instantly following out behind him.

“Commander” Lance yelled. “We’ve got this. Go!” He said, pointing towards the elven druid who was even now attempting to escape. Samtha, not needing to be told twice, as, with her sword and shield in hand, she turned into a sprint, chasing after the druid before he could make his grand escape.

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“Stop!” Samantha incessantly yelled, continually running, shouting the same words over and over again as she continued to run. Swiftly reaching the druid’s position in short order and blocking him off.

“Stop!” Samtha shouted for the one thousandth and one time. Keeping her stance wide. Prepping for a fight. “It’s over druid! Ether give up now or,”

“Or what!” The druid yelled. “You’ll kill me, hah, I’d like to try Humini” He arrogantly yelled, laughing, seemingly having no self-doubts at all about who would win between the two of them. Aiming his green staff upwards, with half a dozen of the vines spontaneously arising out from the ground as he did so.

“Hahh, really this again,” Samantha sighed, swish, Samantha swirled her sward, going as cut the vines away. Only to meet unexpected resistance on the very first vine.

“What the inferno….”Samantha muttered, eyes wide, shocked as she with a sudden thudding sound, found her sward stuck. Attempting to push forwards, thrusting all possible strength through the block, thinking that all she need do was to push more effort into it and it would break only to be proven entirely wrong when it did not.

“How!” Samantha. Looking up. Shocked. Managing to say but that one single syllable as before she even knew it the vines were upon her.

Block.Block.Block. Samantha instinctively blocked. Moving about. Abandoning her sward in favour of her shield. Blocking vine after vine as they continued to run at her.

Block. Slam.

Block.Slam.Block.

Slam. Block. Block.

Block.Block.Block.Block.Slam. Samantha blocked. Twisting and moving. Ocshanlly using her shield as a battering ram. Slamming her shield into several vines at a time, whenever they grouped up, forcing them back.

“Hah-hah-ha-haha…..” The elf druid lagged, laughing as he had done since the very start of the battle. “You see now, nature is my sword, my shield, my army, you can not win!” He yelled, arrogant as ever, the same smug smile upon his face.

“Grrr” Samantha grunted. ‘I, Lord's dam, smite this bastard, he’s right, I’m not going to win this, not without help at least,’

Samantha snyfully turned to the right.

“Though whether said help will arrive to be of any assistance, is up to fate it seem’s” She mumbled. Turning only to find Lance and his men in their own battle for survival, the druid monstrous vines who were backing up the otherwise simple guards that continued to spew through the tents evidently giving them a runner for their silver.

Lances only saving grace being the fact that more and more of Samatah’s men, cavalry and infantry alike, continued to exit through the portal with every single second.

‘Hhhh, Alright,’ Samtha sighed. Blocking yet another vine, ‘I can do this, just need to hold out long enough for the numbers to prevail’

‘Or’ She thought. Samtha spontaneously looked up, spotting the vine that held her sword. An idea popping to mind.

‘I can grab that sward and kill that son of a Lintch’ Samtha thought. Immediately blocking yet another vine. Instantly putting her plan into action without another thought, as, with a slam from her shield, Samtha jumped. Leaping as high as she possibly could. Immediately thrusting her right arm forwards and grabbing a tight grip as she could onto her sward’s wooden pommel as she reached the vine.

Samtha, institutively twisting and turning with the vine. Keeping as tight a hold as she possibly could even as it attempted to push her off, continuously moving from one way to another. Twisting and turning. Upwards. Downwards. Left to Right. Backwards and forwards. Samantha just about holding on even as it and its comrades did all that they could to throw her off, bashing about with her shield every time one of its friends attempted to attack.

“Ughhhhhhh….” Samantha grunted, grunting her teeth. Ever struggling? Continuously pushing more and more wight into her hands.

“Aghh…” She screamed. Ever pulling more and more from both her stamina and mana pools and endowering it into her body. Increasing both her strength and dexterity considerably even as she continued to hold on. Labouring all her effort into pulling the sword free.

Till finally. Finally. With one final thrusting tug. She did it.

“Aghhh…..”Squash. The blade suddenly went. Samtha screaming, holding on for dear life itself as the sword cutting through the vine as if it were butter continued to go ever further downwards.

“Hah, finally!” Samtha grunted, triumphantly riding the sward downwards and reaching the ground, instantly with a swirling chop cutting what little remained off the vine and pulling the sword free.

‘Your next’ Samtha grinned and, turning, narrowly dodging yet another vine with the help of her shield, looked upwards to where the druid now lay, maniacally laughing in his self-made flower vine throne, directing the most evilest of intense looks that she had at her disposal.

“Yes it worked, I killed, one, I killed one, everyone fire kill’s them, use fire energy if you can!” Samtha suddenly heard Lance's smug voice yell. Numerous cheers echoed out after him.

“Hmm, Fire, so that’s your weakness,” Samtha murmured, Twisting to her right, narrowly avoiding a vine attack. ‘Makes sense, I suppose.’, Samtha turned, blocking off yet another vine with her shield. Thrusting with such force that the vine fell backwards onto the floor.

“Haha, Look’s like I don’t need fire after all!” Samtha manically yelled. Laughing. Filled with glee as the vine hit the floor with a sudden thud standing up a few seconds later, a slight limp in its step or at least it seemed that way to her.

‘Hmm, seems I need fire after all, too bad I’m no fire cultivator and no other way to create it, Or. Wait, no, that's not right. What about the staff’ She thought, suddenly remembering the enchanted staff that she had taken off the apprentice elven mage.

“Well how about that, I do have something for you!” Samantha happily grinned. Immediately concentrating, glancing into her dimensional bag and locating enchanted staff, swapping out her sword for the mage's staff.

“Have this!” Samantha yelled, just about crossing her finger that it had enough charge to get the job done as she pulled it out, pushing the staff forwards and channelling the tiniest amounts of energy into the staff.

“Wooo….!” Samantha screamed, screaming with joy as fire generated outwards from the staff, hitting the vines that she was aiming for centre mass, quickly spinning, turning onto the next one, happily watching the vines burn.

‘Dam, that’s a rush’ Samantha grinned, continuously spinning, burning one vine after another as they came, looking upwards, to the druid mage, expecting to see defeat on his face only to be displaced by the sudden smile upon his face.

“Hahh-haha-haha-haha-Haha…..” The druid laughed. “So you killed my traitorous apprentice, I see, Good, now I won't have to do the job myself. Oh, you thought I’d be scared.” The druid made a face and started laughing.

“Hahaha-hahaha-haha….”, The druid laughed, filled with smugness as pointed to the staff. “ Just because of that little thing.Haha-haha-ha…..Oh humani.” The druid shook his head.“My apprentice was many things, but a master craftsman was not one of them, I’d say you have one, maybe 2 charges left, Then you’ll be mine, haha-ha” The druid irately laughed, irradiating Samtha with his smugness.

‘Ugh, he’s right, ’ Samtha inwardly muttered, hating to admit it, knowing that from what little she could sense from the staff’s aura that he was telling the truth.‘, Still, that doesn't mean I can let him get the better of me, it’s better to live in glory than to die in shame after all’ Samtha thought, remembering one of her fathers more favourite sayings that had stuck with her after all these years.

“Your right! But that,” Samtha yelled, admitting her weakness, attempting to draw him into a conversation just as she had been trained.

“Ughh…” The druid stopped laughing seemingly stumped by her admission just as she had intended.

“But, That doesn't matter. If I die. I die! If I live. I live! I don’t care” ‘Well I would prefer to live but he doesn't know that,’ Samtha thought, attempting to keep all of his attention on her, seemingly succeeding from the look he was giving her.

“But…But…” The old elf druid said, seemingly confused.“You! You…”

‘Good, just keep talking, keep talking, at least long enough for those dam reinforcements to get here.’

“Aghh, I see, you're attempting to trick me, well good try humini but your fear betrays you.” The old elf said. Laughing yet again.

“Yes, well, I was never that good at acting,” Samtha said, sighing, keeping her calm in the face of adversity.

“Now Fighting on the hand, Now. That.That I am good at, Die!”Samatha yelled, dropping her shield and putting both of her hands onto the staff, aiming the staff upwards, Fire echoing straight at the old elf only to be stopped as a sudden blue-green barrier suddenly appeared over the elf, blocking off the fire before it could hit.

“Haha-haha-haha, I’m disappointed. I thought you had more brains than that but it seems you’re just like the rest of your wretched species. All brawn.No brain.” The elf laughed, sputtering the side of his head.

‘A shield, Dam it,’ Samtha cursed, her worst fears coming to life before her very eyes, not shocked at all, having long since foreseen this as a possibility which was why she had held off for as long as she had.

‘Ah well, At least I tried, When are those dam reinforcements getting here” Samtha wirily muttered, fatigued beyond all belief, dropping the now useless staff, having used the last of its charges on her desperate attack on the druid, turning her head to the side where her men continued to fight in an ever-raging battle that was continuously going on behind her. Her people and the elves both seemingly in a deadlock, with neither side possessing the upper hand. ‘No vines though I see, hmm, interesting, could it be,’

“You're running out of energy,” Samtha smiled, turning back to the old elf, exhilarated at the mere possibility of this news.

“Preposterous!” The Druid yelled, twisting his head to the side.

“Ha-Ha.Ha-ha. Ha….” The elf Madly laughed. “I can keep this up all day long!” He yelled. Threateningly waving his wooden leaf-covered staff forwards towards her. His every word and action convincing her even more.

“haha-No you can’t!” Samtha suddenly laughed back. Her suspicions confirmed.

“You must be a what, Expert, maybe an Adapt. But certainly not a Master though.”‘No, No, If you were, you would have killed me already.’ “So, that means you can’t hold this forever. Can you!” ‘No. That would be impossible. Not at your level at least’ Samtha inwardly muttered, her smile growing ever brighter with every word.

“Haha-Haah-Hah…Correct Humini. But so what! I may not be able to hold this shield forever, but it will last for more than long enough for my creations to kill you! Ha-ha-ha” The old elf yelled. His smile returned as he started to laugh.

“Yes, maybe,” Samtha mysteriously smirked. Just about praying to lady luck that she was right.

“Maybe, There's no maybe, about it, Humini scum!” The elf yelled.

“Yes, well. We’ll see. Now as I see it. You have two options. You can either surrender and live to see another sunrise or you can sit in that shield and wait for it to fail, which it will, once you finally run out of energy, Your choice”

“Or third option!” The old druid yelled. “I kill you and your army both! malpap …shsh…lamamaepa...” He started to chant.

‘Agh…mages, why do they always have to be so dramatic’ Samtha sighed. Recognising the words for a spell anywhere.

“Malagdhva-madash…..Dasha-lashshem….” The druid continued to chant. The whole platform suddenly shaking as Vines began to come out from the ceiling, floor and everywhere else they could possibly come from, Samtha just about keeping her feet, even as he continued to chant.

‘Damit!, Damit!, Damit!’ Samantha cursed, dropping her staff, having used up the last of its changes on her latest attack, thrusting out her sword in its stead and began to spin. Moving Left to right.Right to left. Avoiding swipe after swipe from the now various vines that now surrounded her. Concentrating all of her energy and effort on one thing and one thing alone, staying alive.

‘’“A little fire would be very helpful right about now” Samtha muttered, looking downwards at the elven staff, cursing her lack of firepower as she continuously spun. Suddenly spotting her shield. Spinning and swirling her hand to the floor, going as to pick it up from where she had left it. Avoiding yet another vine as she did so.

“Hahsgshsgdfgewhfla….Ha-ha-ha….!” the elf laughed seemingly having finally finished with his spell. a green blatch of mist suddenly reverberating outward from him as he spoke the last syllable.

“You think a sword can destroy my creations! Ha-hah-ahahahh,” The elf lagged, the green mist suddenly hitting the closest of his green monstrosities. “Think again!” He yelled and suddenly the vines began to grow becoming larger and larger, their skin seemingly tightening before her very eyes.

“Ohhhh, Keep the noise down!” A voice samtha was all too familiar with suddenly yelled. A blue mist appearing over the battlefield. “We're trying to have a party here. Ohhh…What is this?” Canta asked, instantly exiting the mist and curiously looking up upon the vines.

“Hmmm, A level 5 transfiguration spell, Lower Adapt tires if I’m not mistaken but still I congratulate you sir on a job well done!” Canta said, turning to the druid whose face was as filled with confusion as Samatah’s own.

‘What, what is she doing here’ Samtha inwardly muttered, mystified by this sudden turn of events.

“Uhh, Yess, I created it myself, uhh, who are you humini,” The old elf druid said, a clear hint of fear reckoning out from his voice.

“Oh hush, you're letting your testosterone show and no you didn’t create that spell, I can see Tyrone's work anywhere”

“Ugh, well, yes” The druid looked around, scratching his head, clearly scared out of his mind. “Well, I may have borrowed a piece or two but still, ugh….I will not listen to this trickery, humani I demand to know who you are'' The druid said, seemingly sputtering for words.

“Oh I’m archmage Canta, and you are?”

“Archmage. Archmage….” the druid babbled. “Agh, I am at your service, what may I do for you Archmage…” He said, clearly worshipping the ground that she stepped in.

“Well, I was just going to leave you off with a warning. We were playing a game of mage canters you see when that spell of yours went off, you see.” The druid's face filled with relief. “But now.Now that I’ve heard about your stealing of my good friend's work. Well,” The druid's face fell. “Now I have a more permanent solution in mind, Abrabamala” The archmage yelled, a cube of light appearing in her hands.

And suddenly. A miracle occurred before her eyes as Canta’s spell hit the druid in the chest, the druid and his creatures both disappearing in a wave of light.

“What, what….” Samantha sputtered. ‘It’s over.’

“Dear, when you can, would you would be so kind as to join me in a game of chess,” The archmage said. “I find myself in the mood for something mortal right about now,” The archmage said turning back, muttering an unrecognizable word, disappearing, a new wave of blue taking her place.

‘It’s finally over “We’ve won!” Samtha swelled. “We’ve won!”, “Yeah….!” Her men suddenly cheered, joining her in celebration.