An hour or so before daybreak, Levine sat outside of the sanctuary looking up at the dark sky with the smallest amount of light barely peeking on the horizon. As she sat there, Levine heard someone approaching. It was Uahna with wet hair and the spare set of clothes she had in her satchel. She was stretching as she approached her friend and bodyguard.
“Good Morning, Uahna,” Levine greeted.
“Good Morning Levine,” Uahna greeted back, “Man, that was a crazy night. I don’t think even when we snuck out to the pubs in Aguila where that wild.”
“What happened at the Dry`Auta?” Levine asked.
“To be honest, I only remember up to a certain point. We had dinner, we drank an aphrodisiac cider, and we all fucked liked beasts. After a while, everything becomes a big blur of sweat, sex, and cum. It was pretty great. Never really been laid like that,” Uahna said smiling cheekily, “Cyril and Anthony even fucked an Alraune.”
“An Alraune? In the sanctuary? Isn’t that a little dangerous?” Levine asked.
“I asked Levoti the same thing in the baths just a few moments ago,” Uahna said, “She explained that Aila, their pet name for their alraune, is pretty docile for the most part and only really takes what she needs to survive when she can get it. She generally will have either a gardner or dryad screw her and provide her with her meals. Though, I think our boys may have been a little overzealous under the influence of the nectar. Both of them are probably drained. However, I think maybe with the right motivation, they’ll get up.”
“What about Ms. Mikhaela and Melon Flower?” Levine asked.
“They’re bathing right now. We were all pretty sticky when we got up,” Uahna smiled.
“I’ll bet,” Levine said knowing her friends’ perverse nature.
“How was your night?” Uahna asked.
“Oh pretty uneventful. Grenlan is rather lovely in the evening,” Levine said, “I spoke with Elder Aukram about my family.”
“Oh my,” Uahna said a bit surprised and concerned, “Are you alright? I know you don’t like to talk about that.”
“I’m ok. I was actually glad to talk with him about it,” Levine said.
Uahna smiled at her friend and sat beside her to see the light from the sun creeping on the trees. Back at Wildan, The Royal Casters and a small crowd of citizens stood in front of Magra Forest. Some of the citizens had concerned looks on their faces that spoke fear. Whether this was toward the Royal Casters and the reputation of their might or if it was toward the forest itself and fear that ghouls would sprout out of the forest to kill them. Icarnus turned towards the small crowd.
“Citizens of Wildan, The prince of your kingdom has been abducted by a mysterious group hiding in this forest. We of the Royal Casters of Cambino, will find the prince and bring the offenders to justice, even if we must burn this forest to the ground,” Icarnus declared, “I must request that you step back before we start.”
The Crowd stepped back and Icarnus placed his hands together. His hands began to glow with a particular aura and raised them over his head.
“Shield!” He cried and the aura shot from his hands towards the sky above the tree level. He moved his stretched arms in a circle, causing a large domed barrier of energy to form over the forest. The citizens were blocked from the forest and the royal casters.
“Seems a little large. I thought you were just going to do a barrier for crowd control. Why make it so big?” Asked Achaean.
“I’m making it so big to prevent any of the abductors from escaping or the fire that Helena is going to use to from spreading to the small surrounding woods or farms,” Icarnus said.
“Alright then, Helena. Let’s go get those buggers,” Achaean said and looked towards his female companion who looked off in a different direction, “Helena, what’s up?”
“I sensed a presence run into the forest before Aristedes brought down the shield,” Helena said, “Who would want to go the forest?”
“Probably one of the buggers who’s gone to warn his mates,” Achaean said, “We’ll get to them. Let’s go.”
Achaean then discarded his cloak and placed his hands to his chest causing his already muscular body to expand in size a little bit. He then wrapped his arms around the trunk of a tree, ripped it from the ground, and began swinging the tree around knocking down other trees as he advanced forward. Helena began to float above the ground and placed her hands out at her sides. As her arms were extended, they glowed with an brilliant scarlet aura and grew into the form of two large, blazing scythe blades.
“BURNING SICKLES!” Helena cried as she swiped her blades, slicing them in half and causing them to burst into flames. She continued doing so to make a path into the forest with Achaean.
As the two royal casters made their way through the forest, Mikhaela was checking on her student lying in the sanctuary. Cyril lay in the sanctuary, naked in front of the Alraune with her petals up. Much like Anthony, Cyril looked very pleased while also looking very tired. Mikhaela felt like she should be mad at him for going off to fuck some chlorophyl floozie but considering the fact that during the ritual, she had a foursome with some elves she just met, she really didn’t have the right to berate him. She kneeled down and rested Cyril’s head against her bosom. Despite the exhausting experience he went through the previous night, the altered position and sensation of his tutor’s massive breasts roused Cyril from his rest.
“Good Morning,” Mikhaela said.
“Good Morning, Mistress,” Cyril replied.
“I hope this doesn’t means you’re going to be into plant girls from now on,” Mikhaela said teasingly.
“No, I don’t think it will. As good as it felt in the moment, I was still spending most of my juices,” Cyril replied.
“You probably wouldn’t survive if you made a habit out of this,” Mikhaela replied.
“Wake up! Every Ranger, Wake up!” cried Levoti as she frantically came in along with Levine and Uahna.
Several Elves got up and began grabbing for their clothes. Karys came up to Levoti in a tunic and pants while looking disheveled.
“Levoti, what’s going on?” Karys asked.
“People noticed smoking raising from the direction of Wildan. A scouting party relayed via a scrying medallion that two sorcerers were advancing towards Grenlan. Both of whom seem very powerful and dangerous,” Levoti explained, “One of them was a tall muscular man who was ripping trees from the ground and using them like clubs and the other was a woman dressed in a cloak of stars using blades of fire to burn trees down.”
“A Cloak of Stars?” Cyril murmured as he and Mikhaela approached.
“Damn, Matrin. He must have employed mercenary sorcerers to do his dirty work,” Karys said and turned to those in the sanctuary, “Everyone who is a ranger must get prepared. Get your clothes and gear up for battle!”
“Yes, Sir!” The numerous rangers cried in unison before going to gear up.
“Levoti, You, Tiplu, and Dolaendin will accompany five parties to face the invaders. The rest will defend the settlement and the sanctuary. We will not lose our home!” Karys ordered.
“Aye, Sir!” The three rangers replied and ran off.
“Wait, Karys! I’m not sure these are mercenaries!” Cyril said.
“What do you mean?”
“The way Levoti described one of them, I believe these are members of the royal casters,” Cyril said.
“The Elite Mages who fight for the kingdom? Why would they invade our home?” Karys asked dumbfounded.
“I don’t know however we’ll try to do our best to help you,” Cyril said.
“How by the goddess’s pubic hair are we supposed to fight warriors like the Royal Casters?!?” Melon Flower asked tugging at a lock of Cyril’s hair.
“With our combined skills, we could be on an even level with them or possibly try to reason with them,” Cyril said.
He turned to Mikhaela and Levine who nodded.
Melon Flower sighed, “I must be nuts to want to be involved with you guys and be willing to do crazy stuff like this.”
Cyril smiled, “Then we’ll join the rangers and confront them.”
“I’ll come along,” Uahna said.
“No, Uahna. You stay here with Anthony. We may need his skill to fight these casters,” Cyril said, “Keep your scrying ring with you and be ready to wake him.”
Mikhaela got in her bag and tossed a bracelet to Uahna, “Here this is a teleport charm. It’s connected to our rings. If we need Anthony or you quickly, you can charge the charm with your mana and open a portal to us.”
After explaining this and getting their equipment, The four joined the rangers in combat with the royal casters. They found the rangers doing their best to hold off the Casters but it seemed like a difficult battle. Helena was incinerating arrows shot towards her and sent energy blasts at the warriors who shot at her in retaliation. Some tried to leap towards her or use spells to catch her with plant magic, but found themselves flung back by gusts of winds or their spells sent back at them respectively. Achaean received arrows to his body and cuts from blades but he simply brushed them off, attacking with powerful punches and kicks. The man even grasped a burning tree and swung it like a club, knocking down warriors or charring them.
“There are certainly a lot of these warriors, aren’t there Achaean?” Helena said.
“Yeah, who knew there were so many of these buggers,” The war mage replied.
The four heroes paired off upon seeing the two powerful mages. Cyril and Melon Flower went towards Achaean and Mikhaela and Levine took on Helena. Mikhaela approached the purple haired sorceress, floating to the same level as her.
“Kind of an odd choice for Royal Casters to assault a forest of elves,” Mikhaela said and sent a ball of lighting towards the caster.
Helena discharged the electrical sphere before it reached her by slicing through it with a Burning Sickle, “Odd choice for a powerful sorceress to side with these particular elves.”
As she said this, Helena senses something coming towards her and moved slightly as an arrow flew just past her head. She turned and saw Levine with a bow, which she had managed to grab along with a spare quiver of arrows before leaving the settlement. Helena fired a lighting bolt towards her but Levine narrowly dodged by leaping towards a branch. A few other elves attempting to attack her with spears that they threw but the powerful witch quickly produced a large flame which incinerated the shafts and charred the heads which fell to the ground. Mikhaela shot a volley of orange energy blasts at Helena who produced a small shield in front of her. As she did this though, Levine leapt from the tree branch bearing her staff in a stabbing motion. Unfortunately, Helena dodged fast enough only for Levine to stab her cloak but miss her body. Levine tugged down but only left a hole in the cloak. Helena attempted to strike Levine again but her attention was deterred when more elves leapt at her and flung back by Helena with another spell.
While Achaean was busy with a few elves, Cyril took his staff and charged his energy through it. The crystal at the tip of his staff glowed a dark gold before he pressed the tip to the ground and he cried, “Sink Sand!”. This caused Achaean to sink into the ground like rapidly consuming quick sand. Achaean found himself up to his waist when Cyril cried out, “Hard Soil!”, causing the ground to solidify again. When the rangers attempted to advance on Achaean in his moment of weakness, Achaean responded to these attacks by blocking and then swatting them away like flies. Achaean then tore himself from the ground and turned to face Cyril.
“Well, you’re a skilled sorcerer but not a very smart one for picking a fight with a warmage,” Achaean said throwing fists at the young sorcerer.
Cyril dodged as best as he could while speaking between each swing towards him, “Sorry - But I’m - Actually - More of - a distraction.”
Achaean got a hold of the sorcerer and got curious, “Distraction for what?”
“For me,” Said a gruff but feminine voice.
Achaean turned around to find a large female ogre with dirty blonde locks. The rotund, grey skinned, fanged female clocked Achaean, causing him to let go of Cyril and go flying into a large tree.
“Next time pick on someone your own size,” the Ogre woman said the royal caster.
“Nice work, Melon Flower,” Cyril said.
“Thanks,” the transformed fairy said before Achaean returned to the fray. He threw several punches at Melon Flower which she blocked and delivered a few punches of her own to him. Cyril added to a few attacks of his own with his short sword, striking him with his blade but barely seeming to produce much visible damage. Achaean attempted to attack him but missed him and juggled his focus between the mage and the ogre. He finally leapt up, punching Melon Flower in the face and bringing her down to the forest floor. He then pinned her.
“Hmm, you have the form of an ogre but I have a suspicion you aren’t an one,” Achaean said.
“You’d be right about that,” Melon Flower said and rapidly transformed to her normal fairy form.
She began to flit away from the skilled warrior sorcerer. However, Achaean snatched her out of the air before she could really get out of his range. She struggled to try and get out of his grasp.
“Argh! Ugh! Let me go, meathead!” Melon Flower demanded as she struggled in his grip.
“I don’t think so, Fae. Why would you join these traitors against the kingdom?” Achaean interrogated.
“What you talking about?” Melon Flower asked confused.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about-Oof!” Achaean grunted as a large rock was thrown at the him.
Melon Flower managed to get out the warmage’s clutches when he met the massive stone hurled at him. Cyril approached Melon Flower.
“You alright?” Cyril asked.
“For now. That guy thinks we’re traitors or something to the royals,” Melon Flower said.
“Traitors? Why would he-whoa!” Cyril cut himself off as he leapt out of the way of the rock he flung at Achaean to come flying back, with Achaean coming back angry.
“Uh oh,” Melon Flower said.
While Cyril and Melon Flower attempted to avoid getting mutilated by Achaean, Mikhaela and Levine did their best fending off Helena from advancing further towards Grenlan. Mikhaela continued to send spell attacks towards Helena while Levine attempted to make strikes with conventional weapons but found herself barely grazing the powerful sorceress. Helena was becoming frustrated by the whole thing.
“Enough of this,” Helena said using a powerful gust of wind to knock Mikhaela into a tree. She then turned to Levine and using telekinesis, lifted the elvish warrior up to her hand to grasp her, “Tell Me where Prince Anthony is, Elf.”
“Why are you after him?” Levine asked in reply.
“You should know as your group kidnapped him,” Helena said.
“What are you talking about? He came willingly,” Levine replied.
“You cannot lie to me, wood elf. Unless you want to find yourself frozen,” Helena said starting to cast a freezing spell on Levine.
“Kidnapped him?” Mikhaela said, “Hmm, I’ll help Levine first before we get to the bottom of this.”
She then shot a small lighting bolt towards Helena striking her in the back. Helena then dropped Levine in Mikhaela’s arms thanks to the shock to her system.
“Thanks for the save,” Levine said.
“No problem but you must contact Uahna. Something’s not right here and Anthony maybe the only one to settle this,” Mikhaela said, “Take cover while I keep this sorceress busy.”
With this suggestion, Mikhaela returned to mystical battle with Helena while Levine to shelter behind a tree and rubbed her scrying ring.
Uahna was still sitting in the sanctuary watching the dryads reside happily in the grove when she noticed the ring blinking. She rubbed it.
“Lady Uahna, please respond!” Levine’s voice cried.
“Levine! What’s going on?” Uahna inquired.
“These royal casters are very powerful but Ms. Mikhaela believes there’s some form of misunderstanding going on here and that Prince Anthony is the only one who maybe be able to quell this problem,” Levine said, “Create a portal and send him to our location!”
“Anthony?!? But he’s still unconscious,” Uahna explained.
“Awaken him anyway you can. We need him as soon as possible!” Levine said before cutting the communication to assist Mikhaela in battle.
Uahna grabbed a set of clothes for Prince Anthony and the prince’s sword, going to the sanctuary to rouse him. She found him still lying comatose on the ground in front of the Alraune. She placed her hands on the prince’s chest.
“Great God of healing and light, please give this man the energy to rise and more,” Uahna prayed as her hands glowed with a soft yellow light that surrounded Anthony and surged him with energy. Soon, the prince became fully awake and full of energy. He sat up surprised with wide open eyes.
“Whoa! What just happened?” Prince Anthony said.
“I just gave you a pretty rapid wake up call,” Uahna said handing him his clothes and and his saber, “Now get dressed quick! We gotta get somewhere fast!”
Anthony didn’t ask many questions as he read the frantic look on Uahna’s face. He quickly clothed himself and joined Uahna. The elvish cleric sent some of her mana through the charm, which caused it to produce a portal to the clearing. They entered and came at a moment which couldn’t have been more impeccable as their friends were in tight spots. Cyril and Melon Flower were both being pinned by Achaean while Mikhaela was performing a shield spell around her and Levine while Helena produced a barrage of flames. Seeing this Anthony spoke loud and true.
“STOP!” He demanded, “In the name of Callister, I command you to stop!”
Everyone stopped what they were doing and the two royal casters turned to the young man. Achaean released Cyril and Melon Flower while Helena stopped her fire spells.
“Helena, is that the prince?” Achaean asked as the two approached him.
“Indeed, I have seen portraits of him,” Helena said, “Your majesty, I’m glad you are unharmed. Please come with us to safety and then we will deal with these offenders.”
“Offenders? What are you talking about?” Anthony said.
“These elves kidnapped you and employed these sorcerers into their ranks to prevent us from rescuing you,” Helena stated.
“They did not kidnap me and those sorcerers aren’t captors either,” Anthony explained, “The light elves and mages are my traveling companions and the wood elves are my hosts and guided me to their settlement.”
“If that’s true then how did you lose your ring in the forest?” Helena asked.
“My ring? It was missing since the morning we left to venture into the forest,” Prince Anthony explained.
“Then how did Matrin discover the ring in the forest?” Achaean asked.
“Matrin?!” said Levoti who though wounded heard the conversation and came over to the group.
“Well, well. It appears the charade is over,” Matrin said.
The group turned to Matrin in a robe with demonic symbols on it and an imp on his shoulder.
“Matrin! This is your doing!” Prince Anthony accused.
“Quite your majesty! You provided the perfect bait for the royal casters to come and do my dirty work,” Matrin said, “Unfortunately, I never expected the Grenlan Elves to take you as a guest. So, it appears I will have to call on a couple trump cards instead.”
Matrin pulled two cards from his robe and charged them with his mana before throwing them to the ground. From the cards, two pillars of fire shot from the fire before subsiding and revealing two creatures; One, a large ape with fiery orange fur and the other a scarlet demon with large horns and bat-like wings. The creatures roared upon their release. Achaean and Helena identified these creatures.
“A Balgura and a Pit Fiend. Demons of the Infernal Realm,” Achaean said, “So Matrin’s an infernal caster. How did you not pick up on that?”
“I said his aura was clouded. He probably used a mask to conceal his energy from my senses,” Helena said.
“Um, maybe we should worry about that after the monsters are dealt with,” Melon Flower said.
“They should not pose too much of a threat,” Achaean commented.
“Destory them!” Matrin direct the demons who charged the group. The Balgura barreled towards the group while the Pit Fiend took to the skies.
“Oh man, some of us are almost drained on power and now we have to deal with monsters,” spotted Cyril.
“Stand back. Let the professionals hand this,” Achaean said as he and Helena stepped forward, “Helena, you take the fiend. I’ll take the ape.”
Helena nodded and flew towards the flying fiend while Achaean engaged the infernal ape. The Balgura leapt towards the war mage and slammed it’s fists down towards him. Achaean blocked the ape’s strike, pushed the demonic beast back and then head butted the ape. The Balgura stumbled back from the blow to the head before throwing a punch toward the soldier sorcerer and landing a blow to the face. Achaean was surprised and in his state, the Ape leapt on top of him, pinning him to the ground before repeatedly and savagely slamming his head into the ground.
Helena was having a little trouble with the Pit Fiend herself. As she got close, the demon breathed a torrent of flame towards her. She quickly threw up a shield and the fiend flew in closer before stopping it’s flame and slashed towards her. It’s claws raking across the shield though not causing much damage to the barrier of energy. Helena dropped the shield to deliver a strike to the demon by flinging a fireball at the creature. However the fiend showed no real sign of damage.
However, things took a turn when Uahna used her own magic. Charging her holy implements, Uahna raised her hands towards the sky and cried out “Holy Thunder!”
Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck the pit fiend causing it to cry in agony and with another guiding hand the thunder struck the balgura. With this attack, it gave the two royal casters an opportunity. The Balgura somehow knew Uahna caused the bolt to strike it and attempted to charge at the group beyond Achaean but was stopped as the warmage grabbed one of the ape’s legs. He then got up swinging the ape around and around before throwing it several yards away. As the ape started to recover, It found Achaean had grabbed a tree by the trunk as he slammed the large tree against the Balgura shattering every bone and organ in the beast’s body with a grotesque squishing sound.
Helena took the time to charge a new spell, forming a javelin of ice in her hand before launching it at the wounded pit fiend. “FREEZING LANCE!” She cried as the lance struck the pit fiend and ice formed around the pit fiend, freezing it solid in mid air. Frozen and immobile, the winged demon fell to the earth shattering.
Cyril and the others looked on in amazement from the power and might of the royal casters. The two reconnoitered and began to approach Matrin. Matrin grumbled to himself that he had underestimated the royal casters. However he grasped his imp servant.
“Wait, Master what are you doing?” Klamp cried out.
“One last ditch effort,” He said before clutching Klamp and reciting a spell, “Demon Gods of the Pit, Bind me with this lowly demon’s power and my body with it!”
A red aura surrounded Matrin and Klamp which enveloped them as their forms merged into one. As the aura died down, it revealed a shorted Saul Matrin with pointed ears, horns on his forehead, a grey tint to his skin, and wings on his back.
“A fusion with his demon familiar,” Helena commented, “However, he should have chosen a different partner. An imp was a poor choice.”
“Indeed,” Achaean said as they continued to approach. However, Matrin smiled and spread his wings and began to fly away.
“You shall not catch me!” Matrin cried.
Helena shook her head, “Why do they always try to get away?”
She attempted to fly after him. However, who should arrive but Icarnus who formed a sphere of energy around Matrin trapping him.
“What? No!” Matrin cried beating against the sphere’s walls.
“It appears you have some explaining to do, Mr. Matrin,” Icarnus said and looked towards Helena, “Helena, use your water magic to put the fires. Then maybe we can some things settled and understood.”
It took the better part of a day to get all the information from all involved for the Royal Casters to understand. Along with this, they were shown the majority of the Grenlan Settlement and discovered Matrin’s secret spell room in the cellar of the Town Hall. After the information was relayed and communication was made with The Royal Casters and Mobas, things began to settle. Helena and Achaean returned to Royal Caster HQ with Matrin in tow to face crimes of manipulation of others, use of infernal magic, withholding information from officials, extortion, and attempted genocide. Icarnus was placed in the role of temporary mayor until the new mayor would arrive from Mobas in a two weeks. As his first duty as Mayor, Icarnus negotiated an agreement with Karys and the elders council of Grenlan for trade between the two with an exchange of goods and services like techniques of Grenlan Healers being taught to the Wildan Town Doctor while younger citizens who showed interest were invited to train as Rangers and guards for the Fae Grove.
Our small group of heroes were honored and thanked for their help in stopping the potential catastrophe and bringing the two villages together. A feast was held by both towns honoring the group and in celebration of the two towns coming together. Much enjoyment was had by all and the following day, Our heroes set out to get back on their journey. They were transported by Icarnus, accompanied by himself, Karys, Levoti, and Elder Aukram to the farthest edge of Magra Forest. Levoti was carrying a large brown bag.
“Well, this is where we must part ways,” Cyril said, “We have a journey to continue.”
“Very much so,” Mikhaela said putting her hand to her breast.
“Then we bid you a safe journey but before you go, we wish to give some gifts in gratitude for what you have done,” Karys said gesturing for Levoti come forward and Icarnus came up as well.
“First, we wish to give you a little money for your troubles,” Icarnus said giving them a large sack of money, “This is from both towns and while it may not be as much as Matrin was promising you for your work, it should be quite a fair amount.”
“I’ll take that,” Melon Flower said snatching the bag with a greedy smile.
“We also wish to give some of you a few special gifts,” Karys said as Levoti opened the large bag. Karys pulled out three green bags and handed them to Cyril, Mikhaela, and Uahna.
“Cyril, Mikhaela, Uahna, these bags hold some of the herbs from the Fae Grove. I hope they will be of use on your journey and in your spell crafting,” Karys explained.
The three bowed their heads respectfully to the Elf Chieftain. Karys then pulled out a rapier like blade in a ornate sheath and presented it to Antony, “Your majesty, as one who played a large part in stopping the madness of battle and as a skilled fencer, I bequeath to you an Airosfanner sword.”
Many of Anthony’s companions were surprised and amazed.
“An Airosfanner? What’s that?” He asked.
“It is a special form of elvish rapier. In the common tongue, the name translates to swift fang,” Karys explained, “It is made of mythril and steel, making it very light, durable, and sharp.”
Anthony looked at the blade briefly, “I am honored. Thank you.”
Karys went back to the bag and grabbed a sealed bottle containing an orange yellow liquid. He handed it to Melon Flower.
“Melon Flower, your skills were most appreciated during the Dry`Auta and you provided great strength in battle,” Karys said, “I give to you a bottle of our special cider containing Alraune Nectar.”
Melon Flower’s ears perked up as she dropped the bag of money.
“Ooo! I like this a lot more than the money,” The fairy girl said showing her adoring of the liquor’s particular qualities.
Karys smiled and grabbed one more object from the Bag, “Levine,” He said calling her forth.
“You are a skilled warrior with amazing abilities. I would like ask you to stay with here in Grenlan as believe you would a ranger beyond compare,” Karys said causing some gasp slightly, “But with your duty and connection to your friends and the House of Anaqua, I instead give you this token, from one ranger to another.”
Karys presented Levine with a necklace with a jeweled charm in the shape of a leaf.
“It is worn by all of rangers of Grenlan. It is enchanted with a protection charm and an enhancement to a person’s connection to the earth. May it grant you help when you are in need.”
“Thank you,” Levine bowing her head.
“It’s time for us to go,” Cyril said.
“Fare thee well, young travelers. May your journey be long, memorable, and prosperous,” Aukram said.
With that our heroes left the group and the two villages behind, heading towards the horizon to continue their journey.
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