Scourge

Chapter Two: Mount Fey

Nobody was prepared when the virus began. And good God did the fucker spread. It almost seemed like, overnight, the entire world was enveloped in a chaos. Countries immediately closed their borders, travel by plane or train was no longer a viable option.. though nothing helped. Armies upon armies rallied their troops, even with half of them infected themselves, to try and combat this horrible outcome. The only survivors were the mages, which the humans turned to desperately. But the hatred between the two parties was so vile and undying, the Empress refused to assist them. Eventually, all human life on earth stared face-to-face with a demise that billions jested about for thousands of years. 'A zombie apocalypse? Oh please!' they would say. Some called it evolution, that rising from the ground after death was more of a rebirth than a downfall. Cults rose, and quickly fell due to the implausibly swift spread of the virus, or whatever it actually was..

The group silently hiked, single file. Killiman was at the helm, though his age showed. The path was steep and strenuous. Vim caught up to the leader, his backpack bouncing almost effortlessly on his back, despite its' weight.

"How much farther are we travelling, Knowledge?"

Killiman's mind stretched further up the mountain, seeing a small plateau about a mile and a half further. He did not answer Vim, only sighing after also seeing an energy he did not recognize on the same small plain. Probably just another group of-

His thought was interrupted by an arrow-like fire spell spiraling hastily through the mist. The spell struck Vim directly in the chest, throwing him to the earth. He tried to scream, but only wheezed and studied the spell. Killiman knelt at his side and began suppressing the spell, though he could not remove the magic before he understood what it was, and the healing spell that would counteract it. It didn't take him long, and he began carefully maneuvering the burning hex from Vim's chest.

"We've got more incoming!" Storm declared, deflecting the same spell that was headed for Carlton.

The rest of the sorcerers prepared for more to come while Killiman remained busy attempting to heal the young magician, now unconscious on the hard mountain floor. Mandorium, Bensin thought, using his hands to sweep the heavy fog. This revealed at least ten mages, all wielding bows. Their bowstrings were pulled taught with the dangerous fiery spell ready to fire on every last one. Oh shit.. Lainy thought, raising her hands for a counteractive spell.

"Leave this place," one of them spoke calmly. "We have claimed the mountain, and will fight anyone to the death who attempts to trespass or vindicate it."

"I see sharing isn't exactly an option.. y'know, with a whole fucking mountain," Lainy snarled under her breath.

"Can we not combine our resources and strengths to benefit each other mutually?" Storm called out, raising her hands to reflect that nobody in their party wanted to challenge them.

The same voice laughed through a cloak and mask the mysterious wizards shared. "I assure you, we have all the resources and power we need. We've successfully protected Mount Fey since the plague began, and-"

All the while, Bensin had broken into one of the minds of the malicious group, forcing them to turn their bow slowly, slowly toward a different member and let loose. With a sickening craack, the fire arrow struck the skull of the nearby wizard, which caused the rest of the lot to release their arrows at the gang. Killiman stood up quickly, holding his hands before the flurry of magic and causing them to slow midair. Unfortunately, this caused Vim to wake up abruptly and begin howling, as the progress of his healing had been interrupted. Bensin unsheathed his sword as the rest of the magicians readied their most skilled spells.

"I can't hold them forever! And I need to treat Vim before it's too late!" Shouted Killiman, still holding up his arms to the arrows. This told the others that a battle was beginning, though they already predicted it, and were prepared.

In perfect sync, the unknown mages retired their bows and, from their cloaks, uncovered daggers and swords gleaming with electricity. The two gangs raced at each other, setting off sparks and flames ten feet in the air. Steel clashed with steel as Bensin took on two of the bastards, he thought. If Vim dies, I'll kill every last one of you.

Killiman released the arrows, which rocketed down the path and further into mist. Immediately afterward, he returned to Vim and alleviated some pain with a Creaminurie within his mind. Vim still writhed and panted, but the pain was at least bearable. You're going to be fine, young one, Killiman telepathically told him. This will take some time, but I will mend it.

One of the wicked sorceresses noticed the two further down the mountain, recognizing the most vulnerable link. She stealthily crouched and started toward them, while nobody altercating noticed, too busy countering spells and attacking with others.

She reached them and raised an electric sword to Killiman's head, who was too preoccupied with the spell to realize his forthcoming dissolution. Vim pointed and screamed as the blade came hurling down. Killiman whipped around and halted it just in time, and then muttered an awfully powerful enchantment, watching the cloak sway gently in the wind, dust being released as it landed. He turned back to where the boy lay, but..

He had vanished.