Espex The Demon Mage. (1)

Chapter 17: Arch-Mage Tate

Tate watched as his students died by the hands of the knights but most importantly the eagle helmeted one. He looked on at the destruction he was causing to his beloved students. Jaq turned after smashing a steel runed fist into a poor novice and saw Tate. Losing no time he burst forth.

"An old man on the field, easy kill fool!" Jaq now losing himself to the lust of battle.

His fist was up ready to smash into Tate, as he reached a great flood of pressure hit him and everyone else on the battlefield. So much so the mage hit to their knees as did all the knights, even Kruem. Espex and Haya would have been on their knees also but were caged. Samth and Isis both hit the mud on their knees. It felt like a great weight was on all of their shoulders, pushing them to the ground. Jaq was in the same dilemma he was on his knees looking up at the old grey bearded man. His white robe draped over his body and the great brown walking stick twice his size holding him up.

Tate looked down at the armoured Jaq. "Silly boy you are not the only one who can surround himself in mana. Why don't you stand?" Jaq couldn't breathe or move. If his eyes could be seen they would show fear. "You were so confidant a minute ago as you killed my beloved students, or has my eyes been playing tricks on me in my growing age." The battlefield was silent everyone fixed on the old man, being knelt down to by the white knight Jaq. "You are guilty of attacking my students, taking two of my apprentice's hostage and for closing your mind to the full world of mana," Jaq just looked at his grey lips move. "How do you plead?" Jaq could not answer the pressure of mana was far too much he had never felt anything like it. What appeared to be tears dropped from his jaw, down his neck and onto his runed white knight armour. "Being a knight I would say you are an honest kind of boy. I believe you are guilty." The pressure did not let up, the closer to Tate the worse the pressure. Samth and Isis were but a stone throw away. The pressure pinned them down as if someone was on their backs, what weight could Jaq be feeling? "I will let you go, I am not a horrible man, but you shall be punished." Raising up his old veined hand he placed it onto the eagle steel helmet of Jaq. "First feel the pain of all that you have killed. Incubo Illusione!" Samth watched Jaq scream with pain and terror it echoed the Harrow, the trees even looked like they tried to escape. "This nightmare pain will not leave you until you have truly repented for your sins. This pain will come every night. Now as for your next punishment." Still screaming in agony Jaq cried. "You seem to like to hide that face of yours. I shall keep it that way. Ventus Mille Secat!" Wind swirled around Tate's old hand, it moved forward into Jaq's helmet. His screams got louder, Blood blew out of the darkened helmet staining Tate's white robe, with crimson splatters. "As I said I will let you go, but you shall leave my way." Still pointing his hand at Jaq. "Ventus Motus!" Jaq was picked up off the ground and flung up into the air and like a bullet blasted off into the distance screaming. The blood stained Tate turned round looking at everyone still kneeling from his mana. "All of you who wish to fight shall! But if you don't you are free to flee. We have won this." Tate slammed his staff on the ground and the pressure released and everyone stood up. Samth got to her feet her legs muddy same as Isis and all the others. She looked at all the shaken knights of one.

Kruem standing up just looked at Haya and Espex "You win today!" Kruem turned to his men "Retreat!" His word was law and all the white armoured knights ran into the Harrow dead woods. Samth stood disappointed. She had finally shown her bravery and commitment but only made it a meter into the fight.

Isis turned to Samth knowing what she wanted to say. "Don't feel bad, this will be the first fight of many I can feel it. Anyway your entire goal was to get back with Espex was it not?" Being reminded about Espex, Samth smiled with her skinny face glowing and her red lips shining. "Don't mention it." Isis added at the end. Samth turned and ran straight at the horse carriage holding the cell that held Espex and Haya. Espex sat within the cage with the bandaged Haya, both smiling as was Samth bigger than she ever had.

"Hello lass." Words Samth was waiting for.

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