Zoe POV
Channeling my mana through my hands I shot it forth in the shape of a raging ice dragon. Brock, slamming his foot down conjured up an earth wall; colliding together, the two elements battled furiously. The immovable earth, versus the rage of a dragon. Brock, not standing idle ran to the side of the battle and flanked me while throwing boulders and earth spikes. Getting caught off guard, I was thrown across the field as a boulder slammed into my head. Coming to a stop after rolling on the ground a couple of times, Brock’s hand was at my neck with his hand covered in mana. Tsk, after all these years of waiting and and training I get my ass kicked by a guy that doesn't seem to age.
“Good job Zoe, the ice swords were a nice touch but their not as strong as metal swords so be careful of when you use them. The dragon was strong, but it lacks in mobility. If it can only go in a straight line then your at a disadvantage than most things. Try creating appendages that reach out or something.”
Grasping his hand as he helped me up, I walked away to where mother was standing.
“Zoe, what did I say about using your mana?”
“Don't use it against anyone except an expert. But mom, Brock is an exper-”
“No he is not. He’s at the intermediate stage.”
What? He’s not an expert or above? Just how big is this world. As I shudder at the thought.
Mother, healing my wounds, said this while shaking her head,
“If your father were here to see this, he would be amazed at your progress.”
“That arrogant bastard has no right to be anywhere except hell. He left you for what? Just so he can have a son? What a joke. If I see him again I swear that I will cripple him in the worst way possible for a man.”
“Zoe, I appreciate it, I really do but you shouldn't talk about your own father that way.” she said with tears in her eyes.
“Im sorry mother, please forgive me?” I said hugging her tightly. Hugging back, we separated after a couple of seconds, and proceeded to walk up the hill to our house.
After eating dinner with just mother and I, we both went to bed.
The next morning there was a commotion in our small town.
Knocking on the door, standing outside was John,
“Zoe, there are soldiers here asking for every girl boy and girl from the age of twelve to thirty that has been trained by Brock to report to the plaza.”
“Mother what's going on?” putting her hand on my shoulder, she beckoned me to go down to the plaza. Tsk, pesky people interrupting my seren life.
Reaching the plaza, it was filled with young nervous boys and girls.
I overheard the town chief talking to one of the soldiers,
“Everyone is accounted for m’lord”
“Good, so we may now begin. Everyone listen up! I will only say this once. There is a war brewing in the South. The demons are invading our lands and are raiding our towns. This is unacceptable. We will push back the demons and gain the kings land back; our land back! I will not stand for the innocent slaughter of our brethren nor will I stand for the demon scum on our land. As I have heard, some of you have received training from the heads son. Those of you who did will join our army. You have till tomorrow morning to say goodbye to your families and then you must report back in this spot.”
A war? Will this has to be good.
“Mother? Why are you crying?”
“Zoe! Your going to war against demons! You might get hurt or, or even worse…”
As she trailed off I hugged her in a tight embrace.
“Mother, I can take care of myself. Plus, I got John with me and ever since we met he would never leave me alone; I doubt he will leave me now. And you taught me magic, so i'm a step above everyone else in our town, so I might get a safer spot in the war.”
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As I tried to reassure her we walked up to our house. The night quickly passed as we both slept without any dinner.
Waiting in the plaza I saw John walking in my direction as he waved to me.
“So what do you think about this situation?”
Not even recognizing him, I looked around and saw that the soldiers were beginning to come back into town with wagons i tow. Unloading the the cargo I saw that it was swords and armor.
“Everyone! You all must equip these armor plates and ready your swords as we march in ten.”
Before anyone else moved, I grabbed John's arm and ran to the armor. Whispering to him, I said,
“Hurry up and pick an armor set that actually fits you and then do the same with the swords.”
Nodding his head we both grabbed a set before anyone else got there. Quickly putting on the armor, we both ran to the swords and picked out one that suited us the best.
“Thanks” John said as we made our way back to the middle of the plaza.
Minutes later, everyone was wearing their own set of armor.
Looking around I saw that some people had armor too big or too small.
“Now that everyone is protected, we move out to the South!”
John, talking to me said,
“Stick together.” nodding my head as we walked out of our town.
Walking through the flatlands for days proved to be very annoying, especially with the extra weight of the armor and sword. Walking was all we knew was for weeks, constant walking only to break at sundown to sunrise; then walk to sundown.
“Do you think we are almost to the South?” John said.
“Were always to the south.” I responded, well at least I think we are…
Hmm something's wrong, were slowing down.
“Battle formations!”
Quickly grabbing John’s arm and the soldier next to me arm as well, I assumed the battle formation. The battle formation was all the villages people first and then the real soldiers in the back. This was an assholes formation for the newbies to gain real battle experience.
The reason why they ordered this was because one could see smoke towards the South. The cause of the smoke was a village on fire.
“Charge!!” whoever is the leader of this army is really mentally sick. Having fresh bloods run in like that when the veterans stay back. Wait, why are they not coming with us?
“John stop! Something's wrong.” not hearing me he kept rushing like the idiot he is. Ughh, running after John I began screaming his name like a madwoman while keeping my eyes on him.
By the time I reached John, was when we were at the village gates and the front lines were trying to funnel in the small front gate. Grabbing his shoulder, I turned him around started to yell at him
“Something is wrong so stay with me!” Nodding we held hands and entered the village. Seeing dead bodies piled ontop of eachother in a burning pile was very interesting. Not the first time i've seen this but this definitely is the worst constructed. While the ones that i’ve seen were much larger and well put together, like bodies neatly piled ontop of eachother; this was as if whoever had done this was in a hurry. Anyway, John threw up with some other soldiers; while others looked ill.
“John, get your shit together and lets go and see if there are any survivors. Then you can puke all you want but don’t do it where I can see you.” I hate throw up, it smells worse than rotting corpses. Barely recognizing what I said John stated,
“Their all dead,” no shit dumbass,
“Who did this”
“Probably bad guys.” Hmm something is up here.
“John, follow me.” grabbing his hand I led him to the pile of burning bodies and we went the the back of it so that no one could see us. That noise… shit we have to go now!
Still holding his hand I ran into hut near the pile and I threw down a shelf with books on top of us