Chapter 3: The Blood Moon Battle
The sky above the Land of Creation darkened as the moon, once a silver glow, turned a deep crimson, casting eerie shadows across the village.
I clutched the vial of Stardust in my hand, ready to return to the wand maker. But something felt off. The air was thick with tension,
and an unsettling silence had descended over the land.
As I approached the village's outskirts, the faint sound of marching caught my ear. The ground trembled beneath my feet, and soon, the cause of the disturbance
came into view a battalion of the Kingsguard, their armor glinting in the blood moon's light. At the head of the army was none other than Günther,
his dark armor reflecting the crimson sky, and beside him, the Chimera I had faced once before.
My heart pounded in my chest. They had come for me.
I quickly ducked behind a nearby rock, trying to assess the situation. The Kingsguard were not here to negotiate they were here to eliminate the magic-born,
just as they had done to the witches in Andromeda's Bay. I couldn't allow history to repeat itself.
I had learned so much since our last encounter. I wasn't the scared boy anymore. I was a witch now, skilled in curses, hexes, and combat magic.
The time had come to confront Günther and the King's forces, but this time, I wouldn't run.
As I stood, preparing to face them, the first arrow flew toward me. I quickly cast a shield spell, deflecting the arrow mid-flight.
The Kingsguard stopped in their tracks, their attention now fully on me. Günther, recognizing me immediately, smirked, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
"Well, well," he called out, his voice dripping with mockery. "The boy who fled. You should have stayed hidden."
"I'm not that boy anymore, Günther," I replied, stepping into view. The vial of Stardust glowed faintly in my hand, a reminder of the power I now wielded.
"This time, I'm ready for you."
With a flick of my wrist, I conjured a ball of fire and hurled it toward the Chimera. The beast roared in response, dodging the attack as it charged forward.
Its lion head snarled, and its serpent tail hissed, venom dripping from its fangs. But I didn't flinch. I was ready.
The Chimera lunged at me, its claws outstretched. I sidestepped, casting a freezing spell as I moved. Ice formed around its legs,
stopping the creature in its tracks. I summoned another spell, this time sending a bolt of lightning toward the beast. The Chimera howled in pain,
but it wasn't defeated yet.
Before I could strike again, Günther was upon me. His sword swung down with deadly precision, and I barely managed to block it with a conjured barrier.
The force of the blow sent me staggering back, but I quickly recovered, using my magic to propel myself forward.
Our blades clashed, the sound echoing through the battlefield. Günther was strong far stronger than before but I wasn't the defenseless child I had once been.
Each of his strikes was met with calculated parries, and I countered with my own magical attacks.
As we fought, the Kingsguard formed a circle around us, watching as the battle unfolded. But I had no time to focus on them—Günther was relentless.
His sword moved with deadly grace, each swing aimed to end me. But I could see the fury in his eyes, the frustration that I wasn't falling as easily as he had expected.
With a quick incantation, I unleashed a barrage of hexes. Dark tendrils of energy shot from my hand, wrapping around Günther's limbs, slowing his movements.
For a moment, I thought I had the upper hand.
But Günther was not so easily defeated. With a roar, he broke free of the hex, his sword glowing with an ominous light. He swung it down with tremendous force,
and I barely had time to raise a barrier. The impact shattered my shield, and I was thrown to the ground, gasping for breath.
The Chimera, freed from the ice, charged at me once more. Its serpent tail lashed out, striking toward my throat. I rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding
the deadly strike. My heart pounded in my chest, but I couldn't afford to be scared. Not now.
With a burst of energy, I cast a spell that sent shockwaves rippling through the ground. The Chimera stumbled, and Günther was momentarily knocked off balance.
Seizing the opportunity, I lunged forward, my sword aimed at Günther's chest.
He parried the blow at the last second, but the force of my attack pushed him back. I could see the surprise in his eyes—he hadn't expected me to come this far.
But this wasn't the end.
Summoning all the magic I had learned, I chanted a spell under my breath. The vial of Stardust in my hand glowed brighter, filling me with power.
The air around me crackled with energy as I raised my hand toward Günther.
A beam of pure light shot from my palm, striking Günther square in the chest. He screamed in agony as the magic overwhelmed him, sending him crashing to the ground.
The Chimera roared in fury, but before it could reach me, I cast a final binding spell, trapping the beast in chains of enchanted light.
Günther lay on the ground, defeated but still alive, his breathing ragged. I stood over him, my sword raised. Revenge was within my grasp, but something inside me
hesitated. The blood moon hung heavy in the sky, watching as I made my choice.
I could kill him now, end it all—but was this the path I wanted to take? Would this make me any better than the man who had slaughtered my parents?
I lowered my sword.
"This isn't over," I said, my voice cold but resolute. "But I won't become the monster you want me to be."
With that, I turned and left the battlefield, my heart still burning with the desire for justice. The fight had been won, but the war was far from over.
