The spellbinders and archers of the kingdom were the first in line at the watchtower. Underneath were the knights on their horses, they couldn't damage the Griffin but they would ride for the towns and take care of the wounded while the archers held back the Griffin. Infront of all the spellbinders stood our three heroes, Ruby and the magical advisor of the king. The advisor was a brilliant woman on her ground, Lea was her name. She held a spellbook in her hand just as Ruby did, her's however, was filled with stranger spells from all realms, she could access a world of magic, except for elemental, ofcourse.
"Mom, I have to ask, what's the wizard the king talks of? Also, when we met you, you teleported to us using a red smoke, then why didn't you use the same to teleport us back to the castle?", asked a curious Violet.
"The red smoke, my pretty Violet, was not to transport my body and rather to disguise it from the eyes of the mighty Griffin. I used a spell to hide myself from it's eyes as I ran out of the house when it stomped. As for the wizard, it's a long tale that involves years of my past life where I ventured to explore lost horrors of Arionis, on our path we met a wise wizard named Thea who helped us in our dire time of need, in exchange for a task of her own. After the journey she lended me an orb that would let me teleport at will, to any place that wasn't spellbound. Luckily for us, Theodore gave me access to the kingdom in our youth days.", she said smiling as she bent down to look Violet in her eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me any of this before?", she asked innocently.
"My precious daughter, I had to protect you from a world of pain out in the world. There's agony, pain and suffering, and to you I wish none of those. I only wish to see you hap-", she had only begun to spill her deepest desires until-
Brakadoom! In came a loud thundering sound that shook the castle, bringing the archers and spellbinders to their knees.
"nnnn.. The Griffin! It's here!", said Ruby as she weakly stood up.
There it was, flying midair with its muscles ever strong, looking upon the castle that it had once fallen to, rage filled it's eyes as it screeched a horrible sound and smashed its wings diving into the castle. It flew forward with its beak out, but it hit an enchanted shield and was sent flying back with the same force. It screeched again a horrible sound. Once again it charged at the shield, it clawed, bit and slashed the shield but it didn't fold.
"Now! Archers, fire!", said the leading bowman. An array of enchanted arrows left the castle tearing through the shield as it caught the Griffin in its belly. Screeching louder it yelled it's agony that shook the floor.
"Fire again!", said the bowman as another swarm of arrows caught the Griffin. It may have impaled it, but the Griffin shook them off with ease, for its bulk was too much.
"The arrows won't be enough! Administer Violet's plan at once!", said Ruby as she gathered all her girls and fled the watchtower back into the castle. The archers then pulled out catapults, laying on them the biggest rock the bowmen could find. Reading out in mysterious tongue from her spellbook, Lea chained the rocks with an enchantment ever strong.
"Hold! Fire!", said the bowman as a swarm of rocks landed on the Griffin. It shook the horrible creature, but a mythic wouldn't be so easy to kill. The Griffin again rose and charged towards the castle, gracefully avoiding the rocks as it did, and struck it again with its sharp beak cause a great deal of stress on the shield. The water that provided the enchantment started to rumble back and forth as the Griffin kept biting the shield. It was only for so long the disguise could be maintained, the Griffin at once realised it was infact the water that held it back, so it flew sky high, as far as it could and leapt back down gathering all the might it had suppressed. It once again slammed into the shield causing the water to rumble, and as it did, the Griffin pressed it's body against the lower weakened portion of the shield and started trusting its beak. Such mighty was it's strength that the holy water finally gave in, the Griffin broke the shield and crashed on the floor of the grassy meadow infront of the castle as it did so. As the shield was broken all the holy water evaporated leaving a trail of steam, through which only a large feathery beast could be seen!
"It's through the gates! I repeat, it's through the gates! Employ the plan now! Now!", said Lea. She then used all her energy to create a spell ever stronger, laying it on the great chains that had once held multiple lions in the kingdom of Veridia. This chain was tossed to spellbinders riding on their broomsticks, they took the chain and spun in circles around the Griffin who was weary from breaking the shield.
"Now! Drop the chain! Drop the chain!", a voice came from the bowmen as the spellbinders let go of the chain, it landed elegantly as it wrapped itself around the torso of the Griffin, chaining it locked in the meadow.
"Arrows! Now!", said the bowmen again as a swarm of enchanted arrows left the bows of hundreds, impaling the Griffin's torso as they went. The Griffin screeched again as the chains kept coming closer. It struggled to let them loose, all while being smashed by rocks and punctured by arrows. The plan was actually working. However, the mighty archers had forgotten about the Griffin's beak! The Griffin gained back terrain and bit the chains with all the strength it could gather, breaking parts of it, it flung them across the castle catching multiple spellbinders midair and knocking them off their broomsticks. Again it screeched it's horrible tone as it ripped apart the last of the enchanted chain, it's anger was ever growing and no rock could stop it anymore. It led out a cry and smashed its body into the main doors of the castle, breaking them as it did so. The Griffin was now inside the castle, determined to set a world of agony in the courtroom of the king. The Griffin grinned as it saw the terror in the courtroom, people fleeing it's might and toppling over one another, scared of its razor sharp claws. It had the castle all to itself, now it was time to cause it's rieng of terror on the people who once imprisoned the mythic. Little did it know that this was that plan of Violet! The Griffin in it's feat of arrogance would never assume it could be defeated in a closed room with nowhere to flee, but it hadn't met the mind of Violet yet.
"On guard! Chain that bitch!", a loud yell of Violet was heard from the halls as the spellbinders once again sprung a chain at the Griffin, holding it to the ground. This chain was enchanted by Ruby herself while the bowmen held the Griffin back, she was exhausted out of her mind and lied half concious in a safe space. The Griffin screeched as the chains wound themselves to its torso and beak on one end, and to the pillars of the castle on the other. It screeched again and again trying to flee, but with its beak dead-locked, breaking the chains was not possible. It could've managed to break the chains on it's beak with incredible force, but it was much too weary from the battle of the outsides, this was the brilliance of Violet's plan!
"Now! Spearmen! Bowmen! Spellbinders! Go all out!", said Violet boldly as an array of spells, arrows and enchanted spears flung themselves at the Griffin.
"Anna, Natasha, ready?", said Violet as her bracelets became the golden blade.
"Ready!", came a communal response from the two.
"For Veridia!", said the three together as they flung themselves toward the Griffin.
Violet leaped up high in the air with her elf legs, pressing the gold blade pointed downward she launched her body at the Griffin.
"Enchant it! Now!", she said midair.
"Enchanta-Protectey!", yelled Natasha as a mist surrounded the peak of the sword that Violet held.
"Eat this!", Violet said as the sword dug into the Griffin's back. It squealed and screeched, it couldn't even fall over for it was dead locked in its place.
"Combusto-Giganta!", said Natasha again as an array of pink and red mist smashed the Griffin in its face leaving it dazed.
"Anna! The Staff, do it!", cried Violet. Anneliese had been saving up all her energy to deliver a devastating spell. We have talked about elemental magic so far, but now Anneliese was about to summon it!
"With the blaze of Pyrothos, with the waters of Aquanox and with the life of Floriana, I summon this wand to obey my command! I am the hier to the greats who pulled our world together, and you will respond when I call! Show me of what I desire! Take that monster down!", said Anneliese as the staff begun to glow a bright white.
"Fiyera-Aqos-Vegitia!", she yelled as the bright light grew red, blue and green shining brighter everytime. With enough energy contained it let out a strong blast hurling it's way at the Griffin, a blast so mighty it sent poor Anna herself flying back. The dazzling beam struck the Griffin and caused it a great deal of agony as it screamed and cried. The Griffin flopped around in its awful agony and screeched horrible sounds. It's body was burning, ice cold, and infested all at the same time. It yelled and yelled, moved and crashed but the pain didn't stop. The interesting that was that the wand hadn't actually given itself into Anneliese just yet, this was her own magic that had struck the Griffin, yet so strong it was! Maddened by its absolutely soul crushing agony it gave a huge cry and started to move about more than it should have.
"Uh-oh! That thing is moving again! It's chained to the pillars, if it moves hard enough it could bring the whole roof down! Both on itself and on us!", said the king from the distance. He then leaped at the Griffin and caught it by the neck, he spun around and was aboard it. He reached the Griffin's head and slammed his sword into it's skull causing the Griffin to cry and whip it's head, tossing the king to the side.
"Guys, we need to do something quick!", said a scared Natasha. Anneliese was knocked out for that spell was much too draining, not just to her but to any living mage. The only flaw in an otherwise perfect plan was starting to be apparent. As the Griffin struggled even more, the pillars started to weaken, small chunks of sand begun to leak out from their ends. The Griffin was well aware that it's struggle could kill the entire courtroom, it was also aware that it would give it's life in the process, but it didn't care. It swayed side to side, smashing into the walls of the courtroom as more and more material was lost from the pillars, if it went on the roof would soon be upon all the people!
"Violet! Can you think of something?!", said Natasha trembling.
"No, not at the moment. I don't know what to do, I can't stop it from moving. We've done everything to restrain it but now it's using that against us! I don't know what to do!", she cried.
"Bindo-Maxima!", cried Natasha as the purple mist transformed into a chain, gripping the Griffin tighter.
"I can't hold this for long! I'm running out of energy and I'll soon collapse! You have 5, maybe 7 minutes, Violet! Do something!", she said with great strain.
Violet looked at the premise, she examined every inch as the Griffin resisted and cried. Nothing clicked her mind, everything in her reachable distance would be useless against a Griffin. Then, however, she remembered something.
"My mother's spellbook! Yes, my mother's spellbook!", she said as she made haste towards her mother.
There lie Ruby, unaware of any events as she struggled to stay awake.
"Mom, thank you for everything you've done. I'm taking this, I'll make sure to bring it right back!", she said as she slid the book off of Ruby's hands and into hers.
"My precious daughter...", a whispered voice came from Ruby's breath.
Violet made haste towards the courtroom as she flipped through the pages of the book.
"What's the plan, Violet?!", asked the king, he was gruesomely injured since he had fallen off the Griffin.
"I need to get near that thing's head. I'm going to use all the strength I have in me to build a safe bridge using my mom's book. Then, well then you'll see", she said as she slammed the book shut. Her eyes turned purple and mist surrounded the air again. Channeling all the strength she could find she aimed her hands at the Griffin and mumbled a voice under her breath. Natasha's chain gave out and the Griffin was more mobile than before, just then a purple rope tied it's neck and attached itself to the roof of the courtroom.
"My king! Is anyone in your courtroom strong enough to toss me up high, like really high?", Violet said turning to the king.
"You don't need anyone. I got you!", the king said mumbling a spell. A thrust hit Violet in the back and sent her high up in the air. The king had used all his strength, he collapsed on the floor, bruised and beaten. Violet managed to latch onto the thread just in time as she swung down from it at great speeds. The Griffin looked up above, it tried swaying itself out of the way. Eventually one of the pillars gave out and the ceiling begun to rumble. Violet managed to get ever close to the Griffin, she landed on its neck, gripping it's feathers she made her way up to its throat. It squealed and swayed trying to throw her off, but her grip was ever strong. Her bracelets once again slid out of her hands and formed the golden blade which she held inbetween her teeth. She dropped the blade and caught it with her right hand, while clinging onto the thing with her left.
"This better work!", she said muttering a last spell that would take away all her strength (elves drain easy when they practice magic). As soon as she muttered the spell, the rope she had made disconnected from the Griffin and wrapped itself around her blade, enchanting it, this way she had enchanted the blade by expending as less energy as possible! She then struck the blade with all her strength down the Griffin's throat, impaling it deep within and forcing the blade to poke out from the other side. The Griffin screamed for one last time, it then broken loose of all the chains and slammed at the ground with a strong force that send dust flying everywhere. The Griffin was down, for last and for good.
"Violet! Violet!", said Natasha, she had barely any energy left. "Someone please, check the Griffin's body and rescue Violet, she might be underneath it!", she continued yelling as a couple of spearmen ran towards the Griffin. They checked around its body where they found an unconscious Violet lying next to it. They picked her up and brought her near the king's throne, away from the Griffin.
"Oh thank God you're okay! I was about to burst into tears", said Natasha as her eyes moistened. Violet couldn't reply as she was much too weary from all that magic. Everyone once again gained their jolly attitude, the Griffin was down, mere men and women had slain a mythic. Such marvellous sights were rare, when they happened they would always be cherished in songs, books and tales. However, the threat wasn't all sorted just yet. While the soldiers made enjoyment of their great victory, the roof was rumbling ever more.
"Shit! Everybody out the kingdom, now!", yelled the head bowman as he escorted spearmen who carried the wounded out. One by one all the knights, spearmen, archers, spellbinders and mages left the castle, the king, Violet and Anneliese too were escorted out. The last to leave the castle were Lea and Ruby, carried on the shoulders of two spearmen. The wounded were laid down in the meadows outside the castle and taken care of. The castle roof finally gave out and smashed into the floor as it crumbled into pieces, the once beautiful courtroom of Veridia was now turned to dust.
That night they slept a deep sleep, for the tasks of the day were demanding that extracted every drop of will they had. Morning came as the light shone bright, the men and women were joyed at their victory but devastated at the loses. Hundreds dead, thousands wounded and multiple homes uprooted. The king decided to keep the story of the three girls and the Griffin to himself, for if the village folk found out they could try and kill the three and blame them for all the agony that had happened, however, the king did know that Violet would never forgive herself for doing what she did. The cost of rebuilding all villages, structures and the castle itself was mighty and the king didn't have enough to do so. Not to mention the cost of lives that were lost that day, a gift no amount of money can undo.
"This day will be written in both the bravest and the saddest day of Veridia. I don't know about all of you, my brave soldiers, but I choose to see it as a victory! Us mere men and women have slain a beast that walked Arionis for a millennia! I'm proud of you all, a well deserved rest is soon to come your way. Send out messages! Tonight I feast with my people! Everyone is invited; the villages, cities, towns, send messages everywhere! Tonight we celebrate Veridia! To Veridia!", yelled the king as he cheered his soldiers.
"To Veridia!", came a communal response.
Violet sat at the end of the river bank, which was now emptied of all its holy water. She thought and thought of how different the day would've gone if she had just listened to her mother. Tears rolled down her eyes which soon become bawls. She cried on and on until her pupils dried out, yet her agony wasn't mended.
"Let me wipe that for you.", said Anneliese as she picked away Violet's tear and laid her head on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry for what I said, my love. Seriously though, it wasn't your fault. You had no idea what could've happened there, don't beat yourself up. Plus you almost got yourself killed trying to stop that monster, and if you die, I'll kill you.", she said as she kissed her forehead. Violet didn't respond, but Anneliese knew she felt better, she just tugged onto her shirt and whimpered.
"Violet, honey, have you seen my spellbook?", in came a voice from near the gates of the castle.
"Oh crap! It must've been smothered by the Griffin's body! Fuck!", Violet yelled as she stood up and ran towards the castle.
"Violet, wait up!", Anneliese yelled following. The two went near the body of the Griffin, there was shattered brick and glass everywhere, yet no sign of the book.
"Anna, can you do something?", asked Violet politely.
"I can try.", Anneliese said as she closed her eyes and pointed her wand at the Griffin. The wand turned white.
"Alright, I sense the book, it's underneath the Griffin's head.", she said as she opened her eyes.
"Oh thank God! You're a peach, Anna.", replied Violet as she made way to the Griffin's head. There it was, pressed against the rotting corpse of the Griffin. She picked it up and dusted the cover, she gazed at the book for it had just saved the whole kingdom of Veridia. Just then, however, something strange happened. She gazed and gazed at the cover of the book, then she looked closely at the corpse, what she saw sent here back a foot.
"Holy shit!", Violet said aloud.
"What's the matter? Anything you see?", asked Anneliese approaching her.
"The cover of this book, the symbol, it exactly matches the eye of the Griffin!", she said.
"Yeah? So? It's probably a mythical code. That your mom's spellbook. I'm sure that used to be a language back then.", Anneliese replied uninterested.
"No, it's not that. Look at the symbol closely!", she said as she pointed at it. The symbol was a triangle with a line that ran transverse it's sides all enclosed in a circle. "Doesn't this place look familiar?!", she said excitedly.
"Holy fuck! No way! That's the mountains of Pyrothos!", said Anneliese.
A strong suspense filled the room. Why would the mountain of Pyrothos be imprinted on the eye of a mythic that was imprisoned for years? Why was the same symbol on many spellbooks? Something was about to begin, a legendary tale was in the making and the pieces on the board were our brave heroes. A tale so great it would be spoken for centuries was being written as they walked the dirt of Arionis. A tale that would change Aurelia forever.
