Summoner's Second Chance

Chapter 44

As the three girls turned their full attention to the forest in front of them, they felt a shiver run down their spine. Fear of death had gripped their heart, clouding their eyes. Power had left them as they slowly fall to their knees. They felt their body shake as if an earthquake had plagued the land, but it was no such thing. Clutching their weapon tight, they used them to push themselves off the ground. "Our duty... is to attack the beasts that came too close to the wall..." Alice's trembling voice snapped Melody and Olivia back to their senses. With a small, nervous nod, the three pointed their weapon down the wall, preparing for any incoming attacks.

"So, they're finally here..." Trace stood bravely in front of his trembling friends and nervous troops. He turned his head toward the men following him, a brave and confident smile on his face. "Follow my lead, and I promise you will come out of this alive." Although his voice was gentle, unbefitting of a general, the confidence in his voice was more than enough to raise the troop's morale. Raising their weapons, the troops shouted at the top of their lungs, to dispel their fear and hopefully transfer them to the beasts.

"Right wing, fall back and provide cover. Use the fire papers at the designated area on my signal. Left wing, fortify our position with the barrier talismans I gave you. Do not let them through, no matter what. The rest of you, engage the enemy only with ranged attacks or with your summoned beast." Shouting those commands as he moved through the battlefield, Trace began to take out three papers out of his pocket. "I suppose I can't hide you anymore."

Trace threw the papers into the air, undaunted by the clouds of dust steadily approaching him. With a confident smile, he softly called out to his beasts. "Figo'Regul. Kiaro'Mairok. Geris'Irslan." The papers hovering above him began to spin as wind rages around him. "What is that?!" Gilbert had to cover his eyes, for the wind carries dust and dirt with it. For a moment, the battlefield fell into silence, but it was quickly cut off by the roars of gigantic bipedal lizards. The enemy was upon them.

"Trace!" As the enemy charge towards Trace, Fang couldn't help but to shout helplessly. He was too far to aid Trace in a battle. "Why do you sound so fearful, little one?" As the lizard closed its mouth to devour Trace, a large knight twice his size stood between him and the beast. Holding its mouth open with only their bare-hands, the knight then proceeded to lift the beast as if it was a mere pebble, and threw it back, carrying several gigantic creatures in its path.

The knight knelt down in front of Trace, lowering their head in respect. "It has been too long, Grand Master Trace." The sound of the beasts' roar blocked the knights voice before, but now, without any other noises above it, it was apparent that the knight was a woman. Her helmet magically disappeared, letting her long, golden colored hair falls out of her helmet. Her flowing hair reached her shoulder as she lowered her head once more. "I long for the day I can be of use to you once more. I see the time has come once again." A lance manifested itself on her right hand, and a shield taller than her manifested on her left. "Body and mind, this one is for Grand Master Trace to use."

Nodding to the woman, Trace rested his hands on her shoulder. "I am truly grateful for your undying loyalty, Geris'Irslan." The woman smiled as she slowly stood up. "Grand Master, you are free to use my true name, for you are the master I pledge my loyalty to." Trace chuckled as his mouth curled up into a bigger smile. "I understand... Ars." "Don't forget about us, Grand Master Trace." Turning his head toward the voice, Trace was met with another woman and a man behind her. "Figo'Regul, Kiaro'Mairok. It is a pleasure to see you doing well, even after all this time."

The man was covered in faded red scales that glistened under the sun. From his grin, rows of sharp teeth shone menacingly. The nails on his fingertips were sharper than the blade made by the finest blacksmith, and his feet was shaped like a dragon's claw. "Grand Master Trace, although it has been quite some time, feel free to call us with our true names. If anything, it would please us more when you do so."