Ruins In The End (We Three Mages, Book Two)

Chapter Two: Lost Republic

"And if we don't want to?" Jared stepped forward.

"Then I can only assume that you're all enemies," The woman narrowed her eyes. She appeared to be in her mid-30's and Lumstrish. Her blond hair was pulled back into a pony tail and her blue eyes had their sights set on Jared.

"Then I can only assume you're all going to get your asses kicked," Jared grinned.

"Ha! I would love to see you attempt that boy," The woman set her shoulders back.

"You won't be seeing anything," Nadia stretched out her left hand and a fog rolled in, obscuring everyone's vision. "We should run," She spoke too late. Jared and Calvin had already jumped into the fight.

"Gods, it's like those boys haven't fought since we last saw them," Mari said. "Let's follow them."

"Robes?" Nadia asked.

"Best not. These guys aren't worth the magic," Mari walked into the fog.

Devin's hand shook slightly as he heard his friends fighting.

Come on, this is what you've been training for! You're no longer a burden; you won't get in their way! Devin screamed inside his head. He reached behind him, pulled out his sword and ran in to assist his friends.

Jared and Calvin stood side by side and grinned like idiots.

"Haven't this much fun in a while," Calvin said as he punched back one of the unknown attackers.

"Not since we first arrived in Cooronolia right?" Jared agreed. He flipped over Calvin in time to land on top of a man who had been carefully sneaking up on the two.

"When we first began looking for the combat training," Calvin jumped and roundhouse kicked a man in the face.

"We need to take this outside; I don't want the only building left on Academy grounds to be destroyed," Jared shouted.

"Did you telepath the girls that yet?" Calvin asked just as he caught an arrow aimed for his chest.

"Just did, they're already on their way out. I'll teleport, you bait," Jared didn't give Calvin a chance to agree or disagree.

"Ha, he's so lucky I like him," Calvin chuckled. "Hey, wannabes! Follow the dancing ginger!" He shouted as he artfully evaded every attack thrown his way. As Calvin headed for the door, he caught a glimpse of Devin slashing away at some poor soul. "Devin, follow the leader!"

"Thought we were following the dancing ginger," Devin smiled.

"Then follow the dancing ginger leader!" Calvin grinned. The two lead what was left of the enemy's forces to outside the library, just as the Mages of Legend wanted.

"Calvin! Set it up!" Jared shouted.

"Now?" Calvin asked.

"No, tomorrow, yes now!" Jared rolled his eyes.

"Devin, get behind me," Calvin instructed. Devin was about to protest when he saw a certain sparkle in Calvin's eye. Once Devin was out of his way, Calvin formed a small, circular barrier in each palm then held his hands out so the barriers were set up vertically. He moved his hands away, leaving the barriers floating in place. Calvin then quickly extended his arms in either direction and the two small barriers became four, then eight, sixteen, thirty-two, until they encompassed the entire library in a dome. The enemy's forces were trapped.

"Nicely done," Mari whistled when she walked up next to Calvin.

"Cool right? Usually takes a minute or two to set up something this large. But I got this idea a few months back about replicating and just having those replicas connect-"