Freshman x Sorceress (GL)

Chapter 21 - The Great Mage War

The war occurred approximately 3000 years ago, marking a momentous battle that will forever be cemented in history.

Magic users rallied for their freedom against the entire continent of Ocoris. In an era where sorcerers and sorceresses were highly coveted for their magical abilities, kingdoms often resorted to kidnapping young magic users. These children were raised under the guidance of royal families, intended to serve the kingdom's interests.

However, after enduring 150 years of such injustice, magic users united to resist this oppression, sparking the monumental battle that is now known as the Great Mage War.

In those days, magic users were abundant. For every five regular babies born, two magic users were born in tandem, creating a delicate balance. However, the aftermath of the war drastically altered this equilibrium.

Only a small handful of magic users survived the conflict, prompting those remaining to disperse to the farthest reaches of the realm. Living in hiding, as they feared being hunted by the very kingdoms they once battled against.

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"Watch our left flank, don't let them through!" The commanding voice echoed across the battlefield, coming from Calliope, a formidable sorceress leading the vanguard of magic users.

Calliope bore an uncanny resemblance to Maeve – from her lustrous blonde hair to her undeniable beauty and petite stature. Anyone not in the know, could easily mistake them for twins.

"FIREBALL!" She shouted.

In her outstretched hand, a huge fireball erupted, hurtling towards a swarm of soldiers and engulfing them in flames upon impact. Amidst the chaos, the battlefield became a gruesome sight, where soldiers swung swords, cutting through magic users, while sorcerers retaliated with spells that froze off limbs and entire bodies or unleashed devastating winds, sending entire platoons into the air.

In this macabre dance, the death toll reached immeasurable heights, death became the only unyielding constant.

Calliope, a seasoned warrior, cast spell after spell on the battlefield. Despite the chaos, her beauty and elegance radiated as she gracefully dispatched knights approaching her.

With a resounding shout, "WIND SCYTHE!" she sliced her hand through the air, effortlessly severing ten soldiers in half, a testament to her mastery of magic amid the brutality of war.

A soldier stealthily approached Calliope, concealed within her blind spot, ready to strike. His sword poised for the deadly blow, he charged towards her, just moments away from piercing her back.

However, a familiar figure swiftly cast intricate hand signs, causing the soldier to split into small cubes that scattered into pieces upon colliding with Calliope. When she turned around, a smiling Cassandra stood before her.

"My love, what would I do without you?" Calliope expressed with genuine affection.

Cassandra, a youthful sorceress of 20 years, carried an air of vivacity about her. Her magic garments, tattered and stained with dirt and blood, billowed in the wind, revealing the graceful contours of her slender curves.

"How about a combination spell? Let's put an end to this and finally be free," suggested Cassandra.

"I couldn't agree mo-" Before Calliope could fully agree, blood dripped from her garments, signaling a fatal wound.

A golden spear stuck out from the left side of her chest, and a small stream of blood trickled from her mouth as she began to fall forward. Cassandra rushed to her side, catching her before she hit the floor.

She snapped the spear in half, still leaving the other end inside Calliope, for if she dared pull it out, Calliope would bleed out within seconds.

"No, no, no, no. Everything will be fine, my precious Chrysanthemum. I'll heal you," tears streamed down Cassandra's cheeks as she cast healing spell after healing spell.

However, the damage proved too severe, and despair settled in as her efforts proved futile, but this didn't stop her; she continued to cast healing spells. Calliope, with what strength she had left, grabbed Cassandra's hand, stopping her from casting.

"Conserve your mana, my dear, and just listen to me," she said.

"No! I can save you! Stop talking and save your strength!" shouted Cassandra.

"Heed my words, Cassandra. I'm not long for this world." Her voice was beginning to fade, but she continued, "Please, do not close yourself off from the world, do not shun those who despise you, but embrace them instead. Fall in love again, build a home, start a family. There is so much for you to see, and I'm certain your journey is only just beginning." She wiped away a tear on Cassandra's face and placed her hand gently on her lovers cheek.

Cassandra grasped the hand on her cheek, more tears flowing down her face, dripping onto Calliope.

"Oh, my sweet wisteria, you are going to do marvelous things, for that, I am certain. Allow me to bestow upon you one last gift. This way, I'll always be with you, no matter where you go." Calliope began speaking in an arcane tongue, a forbidden ritual known only to a select few.

This was a spell to transfer one's very mana force to another. A radiant golden glow enveloped the two as they lay on the battlefield, surrounded by the chaotic sounds of shouting and screaming. The light was warm, as if Cassandra was being embraced by the very sun itself. After the glow subsided, Calliope uttered one last thing.

"Do not lose that precious smile I adore so much, my precious wisteria. I'll always be with you," and with that, her hand dropped to the floor, her soul departing from that world.

There was a brief moment where Cassandra didn't know what to do. She knelt there on the battlefield with Calliope's lifeless body in her arms, her face completely shell-shocked.

Then, she let out the most harrowing scream ever to be heard, an agonising sound that would later be known as the banshee's cry—the very sound that signaled the end to the war.

Cassandra began to vibrate vigorously, and a burst of purple energy exploded outward from her, sending everyone on the battlefield, both friend and foe, flying through the air. This marked the conclusive end of the Great Mage War.

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Authors note: This marks the end of the first arc of 'Freshman x Sorceress'. Thank you so much for reading up to this point! As you may or may not know this is a slow-burn, and now that I'm done introducing Maeve & Cassandra, and a few other supporting characters, the story can now take off. So if you've made it this far, I commend you, but I promise it's been worth it.

I can't wait to show you guys what I've got in store for the next arc! Sit tight & strap in, because you're in for a read like you've never read before!