Legon Restoration

by Taylor, Nicholas

  Iselin altered her wards, stretching them out to the area just around her as the pink wall came down. Again pale blue balls popped around her, this time the surrounding air glowed pink. More spells popped around her and she swore. I hate elementals she thought. She was being forced into a small area, if she left where her wards protected she would be subject to the air changing density. This can't happen in close combat she thought. She cast more walls avoiding what spells she could. Cynta came to hover behind her staying behind Iselin's wall, using it as cover, allowing her to fire on the Iumenta. Iselin took a moment to shoot looks at the rest of the battle; others were doing the same as she and Cynta.

  It was no surprise to hear Sydin's voice. "Perimeter!" he ordered.

  Iselin rolled her eyes making her wall bigger along the line of Ascended; other Energent's like herself moved forward doing likewise. Other dragons cast stationary wards on both sides. The Elves and Iumenta entered a standstill in the air.

  * * * * *

  Barnin looked up at the darkening sky, fighting the urge to cover his ears. As the surroundings grew darker it threw the glowing white dome and battle in the sky into sharp contrast. Missiles flew between the two land armies but Barnin couldn't take his eyes off of the formations of dragons. The two groups were separated by what looked like a river of flashing color and sound.

  "What is it?" he asked more to himself.

  Heath responded. "It's a perimeter," he said almost in awe.

  Barnin looked at Heath, on his other side Ankle did likewise. Heath looked at the two men like they were terribly out of the loop then looked back up. "It only happens when there are large enough groups of Ascended fighting. Use your seeing eye glass," he said.

  Barnin held the glass to his eyes bringing the fight into view.

  Heath went on, "You see the space between the two, on either side of that separation wards are erected along with other spells, that forms the perimeter. Each side is trying to break the other side’s wards, above this main line and to the sides other dragons will try and flank the perimeter. It won’t last too long I think."

  "Why's that?" Ankle asked.

  "From what I understand it takes a lot of energy to hold a line like that, and once one side breaches it they gain a lot of ground. From what I understand they are very rare and only happen with extremely large forces that are trying to hold a small amount of air."

  Barnin was about to ask more when a horn in the distance sounded. So much for watching others fight. Barnin barked orders to his men, and they moved to their assigned place on the line. His was one of the front line units, something Barnin wasn't overly happy about. Before them looming was the white dome. Fiery missiles shot from it along with magic. Its light lit a massive ground force, in the center of which was rank upon rank of Iumenta. The immortals aren't your concern he told himself.

  He leaned forward in his saddle waiting for the command to charge. He could feel the order coming; the night seemed to grow silent, the battle field looking oddly calm lit in the white of the dome and flashing color of the dragons above. Barnin could almost hear his heart beat and then a horn sounded and with it the clamor of the army.

  "CHARGE!" he yelled spurring Poison forward.

  Fear vanished, replaced by adrenaline induced confidence. The wind rushed past him as he galloped forward, a pike held in front of him. To his sides were his men, next to them were hundreds of other mounted units.

  * * * * *

  Ankle swung his blade. It clanged against another and he kicked at the man he was fighting, their mounts biting and kicking at each other. Ankle blocked with his shield feeling his arm vibrate with the force of the blow. He parried another few attacks before lashing out with a few of his own. He rammed his shield into the other man’s, all but pushing him off his horse. Ankle used the opportunity to stab the man, killing him. He yelled a handful of orders before engaging another. Over the sounds of fighting he could hear the shuffle of infantry they'd moved fast. His own side’s infantry wasn't anywhere near the line yet. As he used his horse to knock over another soldier’s horse he looked at the oncoming infantry.

  A pit formed in his gut. They jogged in perfect formation, black fabric over their faces. The enemy horsemen retreated as the infantry came to a halt. Shields lined up making a silvery wall, pikes lowered. To their rear several men on horses wore light black armor. They thrust their hands forward and magic rushed at Ankle and the others.

  * * * * *

  Heath felt his power take a hit as one of his wards failed and another man died. The enemy Venefica was the best he'd ever fought. They didn't mix with the main fighting group but stayed well back using only magic. He saw some of his comrades fall as the infantry pushed them back never breaking formation. The scene was the same all around, the units of Dark Warriors moved forward slowly, but moved forward none the less.

  Heath dodged a few more spells how can they have this much power...and then it hit him. The infantry units were moving at the speed of normal men, all be it very well trained. Unlike Heath, the other Venefica were not using magic to support their units. Heath hated to do it but he stopped strengthening the men, finding that he was able to hold his own against the other Venefica.

  * * * * *

  Legon climbed above the perimeter trying to out-flank the Iumenta, other dragons were doing likewise. Legon would get into small engagements but after a bit he or his enemy would move on, ever striving for position. He leveled out and that's when he saw him, the Iumenta class eight. He was looking at Legon. Legon looked up, the green taking his lead. Both sailed upwards moving further and further away from the main fight. Up high there were fewer dragons and most of them sixes. Upon seeing the two eights they cleared away not wanting to be in the center of Legon and the Iumenta's fight.

  Legon leveled out and the green charged at him, Legon did likewise pushing himself forward. Legon veered to the side at the last moment, the green having the same thought, they didn't touch in the air but spun coming back at each other. Legon blocked a tail attack countering with one of his own. Neither put much into their attacks, instead drifting apart hovering in circles. We both want to see what the other is going to do Legon thought.

  He decided to test the green. Legon flung a breaking spell from his left paw, it moved fast. The green didn't move, letting the spell hit him full on in the chest. Legon let go of the magic hmm either you know I'm testing you or you're cocky...Legon couldn't decide which. Ok Green your turn he thought.

  Almost as in reply Green roared sending a river of emerald fire at Legon. Legon folded his wings, dropped in the air a few feet and then opening them again. Legon used magic shooting up at Green, catching him off guard. Legon came from beneath Green moving round behind him, raking his claws along his tail. Green spun, breathing fire. Legon pushed a ward out costing energy but sending the blinding flames away. He launched himself forward connecting with Green's left wing, making the other dragon totter. Legon's wards flashed as the green froze the water in the air sending chunks of ice at him. Legon folded his wings in, focusing his wards. Green came in for a close attack, Legon blocking several swipes and tail swings. Green changed styles at a rapid pace and Legon found himself having a hard time keeping up. He's good at adaptation.

  Green came in ever aggressive, Legon tried to break apart but couldn't. He was starting to take minor injuries. Legon could tell that Green was older than he and a more skilled technical fighter, but seemed to lack experience. Years ago Legon wouldn't have been able to accept that he wasn't as good of fighter as another; he would have tried to hold his own but not anymore. I need to out think him he thought. Green tried to blind Legon again with fire, which seemed to be a favorite of his. This time instead of dropping in the sky Legon held fast waiting for the flames to stop. When they did Green seemed surprised that Legon was still in front of him. Legon sprayed Green with minor stinging spells, most of which hit ineffectually on wards, but Green backed away.

  Legon moved sideways cutting with
his tail, catching Green's right paw. Green launched forward again, this time Legon dodged getting another hit in. He's only good straight on Legon realized with joy. If he could keep moving he could wear Green out. Sadly Legon too had always depended on brute strength in fights. It was only in the last few months that he'd started to learn otherwise.

  Legon's moment of introspection cost him, Green was back on him and Legon was again taking damage. Green didn't seem to use much in the way of magic so Legon sent more energy to his muscles and healing wards. As he got faster he took less damage and was even able to fight back. Legon couldn't decide if Green just was unskilled with magic or if he was saving his energy waiting for Legon to weaken. It was likely the latter. There was only one way to test. Legon glanced down at the perimeter far below. He folded his wings dropping in the sky. Green dove after him but Legon only angled himself downwards towards the middle section of the two groups of Ascended.

  Legon fell like a rock sending spells at Green; he took almost every one not even trying to dodge. Right above the divide Legon breathed a blinding jet of fire, opening his wings. He lashed out at Green sending the other dragon tumbling out of control. Legon tried to slow his decent not wanting to go between the two forces. Magic shot between the two like a river. A river that Green was about to fly into. Green tried to slow himself but right before he entered the cross fire his whole body glowed and a spell rocketed from him, hitting Legon's right wing. Legon felt his wards buckle and the membrane of his wing rip. He cried out in pain, his right wing unable to slow his decent. Below Green entered the melee of magic still trying to climb. Legon saw him getting hit by spells from both sides, only the spells of the Elves doing any damage. He got hit by dozens of spells.

  Legon was still falling, his wing not healing in time; he too was going to fly into that danger zone. He swore, folding his wings to his body and pointing down. He saw the damage that Green took, Legon was amazed it hadn't killed him speed will be my only chance he thought.

  He wanted to close his eyes but didn't. Pain exploded all over his body as he was hit by spells. He tried to weave but it was no use. He felt his magic drain but then it was over. His speed carrying him through much faster than Green and therefore he didn't take anywhere near the damage. Legon's wings snapped back open, his right now healed. The wind was knocked out of him as he was hit by a one of the missiles of the Iumenta artillery. Then he was smacked by one from his own side. He was too far below the battle of dragons, his decent still moving him down. Legon was forced down again, dodging missiles, the battle field a mess of men below him. He opened his wings leveling off near the ground, he was over the Iumenta but he didn't pay them any attention. Green was down here somewhere too, both of them trapped. He found Green in the distance covered in blood.

  Legon sprinted forward meeting the other dragon in the air. This time Green was hurt badly and was unable to fight back as well. Legon felt himself winning. Legon felt a small prick in his tail and then hundreds of stabs of pain. He looked down, seeing Iumenta anti Dragon entrapments below firing at him. Another ballista buried itself in Legon, this time in his leg. It blew, sending shrapnel all over. Legon had to break away from Green; he couldn't take him along with the ground units. He turned angrily in the air, flying back towards the Elves.

  * * * * *

  Sara finished healing a soldier’s cut arm. "How does that feel?" she asked.

  The man flexed his arm. "I'm good, thanks Doc," he said getting off the bench he was seated on.

  She dismissed him, beckoning the next man forward. "Heath?" she asked in surprise.

  He smiled. "Hey Sara, any chance I can scrounge some bandages from ya?" he asked sheepish.

  She eyed him, "Why can't you get some from your supply depot?"

  "Back log" he said.

  She nodded standing up. "This didn't happen," she said poignant.

  He smirked, "I have no idea what you’re talking about."

  Heath walked next to her as she left the healing tent. Ash fell lightly, the surrounding forest and fields burned to sunders. The noise of Ascended fighting was common to her now. It had only been a week since the battle for the Bailaya Dome had begun and already Sara had seen more destruction then she had in the entire war pervious. Heath next to her was example enough, his armor was blackened and stained with blood, be it his or others she didn't know or care to know. She wanted to ask him about the fighting.

  "Heath..." he turned to her. "What's it like?" she asked. He raised an eyebrow and she refined her question, "What's different about this battle. I see so many injured in such a short time."

  His face showed understanding. "This is so much more intense than any other battle; we aren't spread out like we were at Salez or other cities. Plus here the Iumenta and Elves are fighting so much harder and the Dark Warriors..." he said with a look of amazement.

  This got her attention, every other man that she'd heard talk about them seemed scared but not Heath, he seemed...respectful?

  "How do you mean?" she asked

  "What do you know about them?"

  "Nothing really," she answered honestly, "other than that they are good at what they do, all I seem to do is fix the damage they cause."

  Heath grunted, "Hardly, they don't injure so much as kill." He went on, "They are amazing really, I don't mean in a 'I like them' sort of way but in a ‘respect your enemy’ sort of way."

  "How so?" she prodded again.

  "They specialize like nothing I've seen. For example, you can tell by the way they fight that infantry are only trained to be infantry, to the exclusion of all else. They don't seem like what a normal person would be. Given that I've seen where they are bred, I have a better understanding. But whatever a unit does is all they've done their whole life. And they fight as one, making their formations and ranks near impossible to breach. Behind their front line are Venefica, but they never come close to hand to hand combat. The Venefica are skilled in the extreme and where the infantry units seem to think only in terms of the team, the Venefica are not that way. They are smart and adaptive. Behind ranks will be horse mounted Iumenta with two human Venefica, it is they who command."

  Sara felt goose bumps on her arms, "Tell me about the Venefica. I thought you didn't see them at Mors."

  He shook his head, "We didn't see them, but that doesn't mean much. Mors had one purpose; Umbra figured that Venefica must be bred in a different camp."

  But not raised the same as the Dark Warriors Sara thought.

  They were at the depot. Sara grabbed Heath a bundle of bandages then paused. "Why do you need these, why aren't you using magic?" she asked.

  "Like I said, the Venefica Dark Warriors are good, they also don't support their men, I can't spare magic like I used to, I have to save it for battle or we'd all die. Thanks Sara, I've got to run," Heath said.

  She wished him luck and started back toward the healing tent, thinking about what Heath had said. She had truly under estimated Mors and what the Iumenta were trying to do there.

  * * * * *

  Legon gritted his teeth against pain. He backed off, feeling his tail knit back together were Green had sliced him. Legon flexed wards in the air around him as Green shot spells under his wings. He wants to be in close combat Legon thought. Legon backed off more and again Green tried to thin the air around him but this time just on his right side. Fine. Legon let his wards fail, seeming surprised. Green shot forward trying to take advantage of Legon's unsteadiness in the air. Legon used magic of his own, making the air dense on his right side, pushing his wing up. Folding his left wing Legon rolled in the air opening both wings, solidifying the air. Too late, Green was unable to change course, Legon infused his tail blade with a pain spell and swung. The blade crashed against Green's hind side, his wards only stopping magic not metal. Legon's blade dug into flesh and bone moving past wards, he flexed the magic and Green shrieked in pain.

  Legon jerked the blade out of the other dragon’s bone, breathing lavender fire, pushing on mult
iple wards of Green's. In his distraction Green didn't focus, instead losing control and rushing at Legon who dodged him by again playing with the air. Green's biological wards weakened, in his rage the Iumenta seemed not to notice. Again Green rushed Legon, this time getting a grip on his shoulder. Legon felt his muscles burn as they were cut, blood running down his chest and belly. He kicked out at Green and snapped at his neck. Green blocked both, seeming to be getting his focus back.

  We can’t do this all day Legon thought I need to end this.

  This time when Green rushed him Legon was counting on him to expect Legon to faint. It worked, Green darted to where Legon should have gone, but he didn't. Legon made no move to dodge. Green exposed his neck. Legon lashed out his blade, slicing Green's neck but not deep. The dragon reared in the sky, Legon spewed a river of magical fire. Green did likewise, the two torrents of flames mixing in the sky. Legon sent a breaking spell, finishing off Green's biologic wards. Green's fire stopped and Legon didn't take time to register the look of horror on his enemy’s face. Legon reached down, feeling the well of power in him, tapping his minor. His body glowed, the power running down the length of him flung out in a orb of amethyst energy. It collided with Green.

  Time slowed as Legon felt his magic wane drastically, his breath leaving in a whoosh. The spell hit only minor wards which crumpled. Legon watched as all of Green's exposed flesh ripped, shredding into thousands of pieces. The spell wasn't a shredding spell but rather one to vaporize blood. There was a dull pop as Green exploded, scarlet droplets turning the horizon crimson.

  All that was left of Green was bloody armor and bone, which started its decent to the battle field below.

  * * * * *

  Barnin gripped Poison’s reins tightly. To his side the bloody bony remains of a giant dragon thudded to earth. He didn't pay it any attention; the sky had been raining gore all week.