357: Conquering the skies and earth

Conquering the skies and earth

The shield exhibited visible cracks but didn't fully rupture.0

Adela was on the verge of voicing another objection when her son's hand suddenly found her amidst the chaos, gripping her arm firmly and effectively silencing her.

Noctavian...

Her son possessed a knowledge that eluded her, and the trust she placed in him on a battlefield was the same as the one she'd place in her father. Consequently, she abandoned all her objections, surrendering not only her arguments but also her heart. Her helpless gaze shifted to Egon who was now clearly on a one-way mission.

The Beast's next arrow traversed the misty brown sky, effortlessly slicing through the protective barrier that had shielded the two estates for good. The once firm dome now fractured like shattered glass, its jagged remnants giving passage to the warlocks' magic, a deep brown so intense that it nearly resembled black, transforming the morning sky into a nocturnal one.

Adela's breath caught in her throat as the third arrow streaked through the air, and with a resounding crack, the shield finally succumbed, dissolving into a shimmering wave that gradually faded into oblivion.

"Form a protective barrier around Her Excellency and His Highness with your bodies, men!" The Viscount bellowed, initially taking the forefront of the human shield formation, placing himself in the most exposed position before falling in line behind Arkin's broader shoulders as the former Commander reinforced the shield the Viscount had called for.

"May God show mercy on our souls," Viscount Mathew whispered grimly.

As the first malevolent energy ball took shape between the suspended wizard's outstretched hands, the morale of the knights, now easy targets, plummeted to subzero levels.

It was the moment Adela had prepared for over years with Rauul, fervently hoping it would never come. She knew exactly what she must do.

I will protect them all.

Harnessing every ounce of the white magic coursing through her veins, she allowed it to flow from her pores, creating an entrancing radiance that draped over the formation of knights like a protective shroud. It had a calming effect, leaving them in awe and filling them with pride and gratitude for their Archduchess.

A quick exchange of glances with her son earned her his approving nod before they both fixed their gaze upon the lone archer positioned on the rooftop. The fire of determination burned fiercely in Egon's eyes as they zeroed in on the warlock's lizard-like eyes, poised to release that destructive energy ball directly toward the von Conradie manor.

The Beast, in his deep and bone-chilling voice, uttered words that sent shivers down the spines of all who heard, except for Noctavian.

"Look at me!" Egon roared, his voice echoing with authority. "This territory is mine! And you shall not trespass upon it!"

With a shot of supernatural precision, an arrow streaked through the air, forcing the warlock to manipulate the space around him in a vital evasion maneuver. The energy ball he had conjured veered off course, detonating upon impact with the ground between the manor's entrance and the knights below in a loud explosion.

"We must bring them down!" Noctavian shouted.

Adela wholeheartedly concurred with her son. From their vantage point on the ground, they could only watch as the warlocks held the upper hand in the sky, wielding mastery over the manipulated air around them. The only reason the mansion atop Sasha's head remained intact was due to the relentless barrage of arrows raining up from the ground, disrupting the warlocks' deadly trajectories.

As war trumpets resounded throughout Lanark, Adela clung to the hope that more archers would soon come to their aid. Her hopes turned into prayers as the malevolent energy balls began to shake the ground beneath Adela's feet, forcing the cavalry off their troubled horses.

Just as the situation seemed dire, the grand doors of the manor flew open, and the Duke and Duchess von Conradie emerged protected in Kolhisan armor. Their eyes widened in astonishment as they beheld the sky, and Sasha leaned heavily on her husband's shoulder for support.

"It's me you want, you as*holes! Come down and face me like real men! Pu**ies!"

Sasha's expletive-laden shouts echoed through the chaos as she brandished her sword menacingly with her other hand.

The warlocks quickly turned their attention to Sasha, summoning dark magic that writhed through the air like serpents. The sky quivered as they unleashed their fury, suspended mid-air, avenging demons in the mist. Their frustration erupted into anguished cries as two well-placed arrows forcibly dispersed their colossal energy ball.

After a quick exchange of Varinthian words between them, one warlock descended like a spider navigating its web, while the other stayed in place, directing smaller yet more frequent energy balls at Egon. The one left in the air struggled to fend off the relentless barrage of arrows but effectively created the diversion the descending warlock needed.

"Viscount!" Arkin's shout carried the weight of command, and it took but a single word for Mathew to grasp the unspoken directive, even if it was one Arkin had no formal authority to issue.

"Stay vigilant and respond to the warlocks' movements," Viscount Mathew ordered, his tone decisive. "The platoon is under the command of Sir Arkin von Conradie until further notice."

Mounting his horse again, the Viscount left the protective shield formation surrounding the Archduchess and the Crown Prince, then charged towards the descending warlock, intercepting his path to the Duke and Duchess von Conradie.

As the warlock's feet touched the ground, the air around the Viscount's horse crackled with hot energy, terrifying the steed which promptly threw the Viscount from its back.

"No!" Adela's voice echoed with desperation as she pushed a portion of her protective shield outward, extending it to cover the gap left open. If not for the immediate surge of healing light that flowed into the Viscount's body, he might not have been able to rise to his feet again.

Mathew engaged the warlock in fierce close combat, his sword slicing through the dark spells conjured by his adversary and sustaining injuries in the process. Each swing of his blade strained his muscles as he battled against the warlock's magic, determined to prevent him from reaching Sasha.

In the distance, the triumphant blare of trumpets announced that the battle on the falcon's side had shifted in favor of Lanark.

"Reinforcements have arrived!" The cries of platoon leaders echoed as the knights galloped toward the von Conradie manor.

A momentary distraction of the sky-riding warlock's attention toward the approaching platoons proved fatal as Egon's arrow finally pierced his skull, ending his life abruptly. The other warlock on the ground, witnessing his companion's demise and the surging mass of knights converging from all directions, cast one final glare at Sasha before pulling himself back into the sky. He narrowly avoided the wrath of Egon's arrows and disappeared behind the mist.

There was a brief moment of silence as everyone looked at each other, seeking confirmation that the battle was over. Cheers of pure jubilation broke out shortly afterward.

"Hoorah!"

"Glory to Lanark! Glory to Emoria!"

"Glory to King Kaiser!"

"Long live the Saintess! Long live our Crown Prince!"

Amidst the loud cheers of the armies around them, Noctavian looked with concern as Adela's protective shield showed no signs of dissipating from above them.

"...It's over, Mother."

"Arkin," Adela's voice trembled slightly as she addressed her brother who was still poised protectively in front of her and his nephew, "Bring Sir Egon von Conradie to my study as soon as possible. I will wait for him there."

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