Malum Astra

Chapter 7 - The Charge

[Lanvi Afi]

I opened the door and threw a white cube forward. A woman was there. Sword a centimetre away from Kitty's throat. I smiled at her.
"How did you escape?" She asked.
"Escape? I didn't escape." I paused.
"What do you mean?" She glared at me.
"Well, I didn't escape because I wasn't captured. And I wasn't captured because I was smart."
"Smart?"
"Yep. Using my knowledge I took my day off to tinker."
"Tinker?"
"Yep, I was tinkering your charm. Finding it's secrets. Thanks to you I realised how powerful magic outside Vill could be. The blue cube is a reversion of your charm. It makes people obey without choice and then tells them to stay still for several hours."
"I want my charm back."
"Fine, here." I gave her the charm. "Now try to control me with your magic."
"Run into that wall." I stood there and smiled. "Now, where's Leon." I frowned.
"He's been taken deeper."

We had made a temporary camp at the entrance of the Kidnapper's Keep and discussed. We talked about how to rescue Leon.
"Guys." Said Leon's voice outside. Hang on, what? I got out a glass cube and looked through it. I saw Leon through the wall.
"It's him."
"Erm, open up please." I opened the tent door. He had his equipment. The armour has seen better days though.
"How did you escape."
"I didn't..."
"You were-"
"Yes." Then I knew. I put a red triangle on Leon's chest and a bomb spirit flew out.
"Prepare our defences." I told Kitty and Leon. "We're going to be sieged. A huge horde of horse-riding warriors came charging through. The bomb spirit realised it was no longer tethered to a commander and flew away. The warriors approached.

They stopped.
"They stopped." Commented Leon.
"That was obvious." Said Kitty.
"My security charm is awesome!" I claimed. "You see those poles? I put four around us to mark a square and then a magical barrier was sent to protect us."
"That's... I'm surprised. That's amazing." Whispered Leon.
"There are several flaws though." I blurted out. Way to ruin the moment. "High amounts of magic making contact to the barrier will shatter it. The bigger the barrier the weaker it's resistance is. It's quite small so I'd wager they will find out method two."
"Which is?" Asked Kitty.
"Oh, you just pick up the poles." Yeah, it's a major flaw. I didn't have time to have it magically use a glue spell on itself.
"That's a problem." Commented Leon.
"That was obvious." Said Kitty. "They have EnerCannons!" Shouted Kitty. EnerCannons are highly magical cannons that shoot a blast of elemental magic. Wind, fire, water and the ground itself in one attack. They have about ten aimed at us. Two is enough to shatter the barrier.

"We need to pack and leave. Like now." I commanded.
"Hang on. I got this." Claimed Leon.
"No-"
"I got us in this situation, I'll get us out." He picked up his bow. He aimed it upwards and walked out of the shield. He shot at the left cannon. It blew up and started a chain reaction of cannons blowing up. "You two run!" He shouted. "Just leave me behind I'll be fine!" They charged. We had to leave. Leon was picking off every warrior charging up the hill but they will get past.
"I'll fight by your side!" Screamed Kitty. Leon stood still dazed. "Err, Leon?" He snapped out and shook his head.
"No." He said firmly. "You'll die."
"But-"
"THEY'RE HERE!" I shouted. I grabbed Leon and Kitty by the arms and got out a light blue cube.

My body burned and melted. I sunk down into the ground and reappeared by the Keep.
"What the-?" Gasped Leon.
"Teleportation... Charm..." I replied. It followed with a cough.
"That was great." Exclaimed Kitty. "We're by the Keep..."
"Yep, we're taking it." I said with certainty. I got out a red orb.
"Stick close to me." I ordered. The red orb was a trap sensing device (T.S.D) I made a while ago. It could, as the name clearly suggests, sense traps. There were none in my first break in but one can never be too careful. I signalled an 'all clear' and walked onwards. No traps but we saw the cells. I opened the first door and unlocked the chains of an old man. I handed him a yellow key. "Use this to free everyone."
"Thank you." Accepted the old man gratefully. We walked up stairs to the roof. Leon took his bow out and started shooting at the Kidnappers. They only just realised what happened. I walk back inside to be greeted with pain.

A dagger. In my stomach.
"W-What...?" I ask weakly, gasping for air.
"Hello, Lanvi." Greeted a calm voice from the shadows.
"Who are you!?" I shouted.
"Ha ha. Who am I? I'm only your worst nightmare. Oh how the bards will sing of your defeat."
"You're.. Mental..."
"And you're near dead." The voice replied. "I see how not being 'mental' is doing for you."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Why-" He grabbed the dagger and twisted it. Pain rushed all over my body. "-am I doing this? It's simple. I hate you."
"I'm trying to save the world! See the sense in that!"
"I see and I disapprove. I want the world to end." It raised it's right hand and put it's palm towards me. Pain flickered throughout my body. I dropped to my knees. "Beg. BEG for mercy!"
"Not... Today... Not for... You..." The dagger went through to the other side of my body. I was lying on the floor.
"Pathetic." It spat. "Won't even fight me."
"Really...?" I challenged. I raised my left hand and electricity crackled through it's body. The light revealed a man in leather with short, silver hair. He laughed.
"I think I'll leave you suffering and let you bleed to death." He put a black square on me. It instantly took affect. I screamed in pain. The man left. I'm here in intense pain, too much pain to even describe, and bleeding out. If I could... I passed out.