Pulchra Arcanum

Part III (Finale)

Adina cut down her opponent before shouting to Leopold. Cover me! Im going up with Meggy. He took over her spot and climbed up onto the house. He wasnt sure what she was doing, but he hoped she did it quickly. Camelots new found rage against Domum was seeping more and more energy from him, and he wasnt sure how much longer hed be able to hold them off. He began praying to every deity he knew the name of, ancient and modern, hoping someone would hear him and save his home.

He heard Megaras voice magnified again. This is your last chance, Arthur! she said. Surrender, and we will let your men live. Continue fighting, and they will each meet the same fate Merlin did! Her voice cracked as she made the threat and Leopold would have flinched had he not been doing all he could to protect his neck. She had not sounded confident in the threat. He would never have taken her seriously.

But the men around him seemed to. The men of Camelot began fighting offensively, backing away rather than advancing. Theyre truly afraid, Leopold realized. The woman dragon had truly terrified them that night. At the risk of betraying their king, they were running from the fight.

Leopold heard screams of pain, different from those hed been hearing all day. These ones were tinged with terror. The smell of smoke filled the air and Leopold risked a moment to look toward the noise. A man was running away from the house Leopold was protecting, and he was on fire.

§Pulchra Arcanum§

Thats right, Meggy, Adina said with encouragement. Keep going.

I dont want to, she whimpered, her hands clenching in front of her. I cant do it, princess. I cant spread the fire again.

Domum can recover, we can survive a fire. We cannot survive this attack without using magic. Help us, Meggy. Please! Im begging!

Megara looked to Adina. Her dark hair was flying in a mane around her red face, her eyes were half crazed. I have to protect my home. Megara steeled herself and turned back to the men at the bottom of the house. She knew what had gone wrong in Camelot. Shed allowed her emotions to control the fires. She couldnt do that now, not with so many of Domum so near to the foes. She focused her energy on the man Leopold was fighting and spoke the words with all of her might. The heat spread from her fingertips and launched toward Leopold and the man, though she knew they would narrowly miss Leopold. The heat connected with the man and she could feel the impact. She could feel as the heat began taking from his energy and not her own. She allowed it to flow with his emotions, as he did not have magic, she knew it would not spread from him, because she told it not to. The words she spoke broke the connection between her and the man, igniting the flames.

She only had the chance to ignite one more man before the rest of the men began running from their fights. The people of Domum began cheering, the younger warriors chasing their foes from the village. Megara, rather than feeling her energy pulled from her, felt a throbbing of her energy pulsating through her body. Emaline was clutching Adina, tears streaming down her face in relief before she began to leave the roof, shouting instructions for how to carefully guide the injured to the healers.

Adina turned to Megara and placed her hands on her shoulders. Thank you, Meggy, she said softly. This never would have happened had you not helped us. You are our hero. Then she hurried after Emaline.

Megara stayed on the roof to watched as the men of Camelot ran from view. She was aware of the people of Domum doing all they could to gather the damage of their home without magic. She saw them embrace family, kiss loved ones. She watched as children ran from their hiding places and were embraced by their parents. The entire village of Domum seemed alive, despite the general broken appearance of the place. The people were saved, happy, and together.