Elara’s breath hitched as the first creature broke the water’s surface. The grotesque form, its twisted body glinting wetly in the sunlight, sent a chill of unease through her. Then another appeared. And another. Soon, the horizon was a writhing mass of monstrosities. Her grip on her staff tightened, her knuckles whitening.
‘Focus,’ she told herself, heart pounding in her chest. Her master’s voice echoed in her mind: Fear is natural. Control it, or it will control you.
“Lady Elara,” Cedric called, his voice steady as he stepped onto the platform nearest hers. His sword was drawn, its edge gleaming. “Stay behind the line. You’re the key to holding this formation. We’ve got this.”
She nodded quickly, her eyes flicking to the mercenaries bracing for impact. Their confidence was reassuring, but her nerves remained. She had trained for this, prepared for this, and yet the sight of those creatures made her feel small.
‘This is no different than practice,’ she reminded herself. ‘Just more chaotic.’
Raising her staff, she planted it firmly on the ground, drawing a deep breath as she began channeling mana. The air around her cooled, frost forming in delicate patterns along the platform.
“Hold the line!” Captain Eryndor’s voice boomed, cutting through the cacophony of snarls and crashing waves. “Defend the mages!”
Elara’s fingers moved with practiced precision, tracing intricate symbols in the air. She focused on the first wave of creatures surging toward the platform, their forms growing larger with every moment.
“Freeze,” she whispered, releasing her first spell.
「Frostveil Lance」
A crystalline shard of ice materialized before her, gleaming with sharp edges. With a flick of her staff, she sent it hurtling toward the nearest creature.
SWOOSH!
It was a 2-star spell for the Magic Accumulation art she was using.
CREAK!
The lance struck true, piercing through the monster’s scaled hide and freezing the water around it. The creature screeched, its movements slowing as frost crept across its body.
The impact bolstered her confidence. She adjusted her stance, steadying her trembling hands. Her fingers tightened on her staff as she steadied herself for another cast. The success of her first spell gave her a fleeting sense of control, but the writhing horde advancing toward them reminded her that this battle was far from over.
“Focus,” she whispered, her breath visible in the cold air forming around her. Her gaze fixed on the next creature surging toward the platform, its grotesque body propelled by unnaturally powerful limbs.
She shifted her stance and drew a deep breath, channeling mana into the staff once more. Frost swirled around her feet as she raised her hand, forming a new spell.
「Frostvine Snare」 (1-star spell)
From the water beneath the creature, frost shot upward in curling vines, twisting around its limbs with a harsh CRACK! The vines locked the creature in place, freezing its movements as the icy tendrils tightened. The monster roared, thrashing against the bindings, but the frost held firm.
“Good!” Cedric shouted over the chaos. “Keep them contained!” His sword flashed as he cut down a smaller creature that had darted past the front line.
Elara nodded, sweat forming on her brow despite the cold. The strain of constant casting was starting to weigh on her, but she couldn’t let up now. She pivoted toward another part of the battlefield where a larger creature was pressing dangerously close to the platform.
“This one’s tougher,” she muttered, raising her staff again. Her mana surged, and she began forming a more powerful spell.
「Glacial Edge Barrage」 (2-star spell)
Above her, jagged shards of ice formed in a slow, deliberate arc. WHIRR-CLINK! The sound of cracking frost filled the air as the shards hovered, glinting in the sunlight. Elara swung her staff downward, releasing the spell with a sharp WHOOSH!
The icy projectiles shot forward, slicing through the air and embedding themselves into the creature’s hide with a resounding THUNK-CRACK! Each shard exploded on impact, spreading frost across the monster’s body. It bellowed in pain, its movements sluggish as the frost seeped into its joints.
Elara’s chest heaved, the effort of the spell leaving her momentarily lightheaded. “I need to conserve mana,” she muttered, shifting her stance to prepare for the next wave. “Shorter casts. Faster.”
Around her, the battlefield was alive with noise—mercenaries shouting, steel clashing, and the guttural snarls of the creatures. She focused on the sounds of her allies holding the line, grounding herself against the chaos.
A smaller creature darted toward the rear of the formation, its sharp claws glinting ominously. Elara turned quickly, her staff already glowing with frost.
「Icy Flicker」 (1-star spell)
With a flick of her wrist, a thin, precise beam of ice shot from the staff. ZING! The beam struck the creature’s legs, freezing them solid and causing it to collapse with a muffled THUD!. A mercenary quickly stepped in to deliver the killing blow.
“Nice shot!” the mercenary called over his shoulder. Elara gave a brief nod, too focused to respond.
The relentless waves of creatures kept coming, their grotesque forms breaking through the surf like shadows against the horizon. Elara shifted her attention again, spotting a group of smaller monsters closing in together.
She gritted her teeth, channeling mana once more.
「Frostbound Cascade」 (2-star spell)
A stream of frost shot from her staff, spreading across the water with a sound like shattering glass—CRASH-CRACKLE! The ice surged toward the group of creatures, enveloping them in a growing sheet of ice. Their snarls turned to muffled howls as the frost immobilized them, locking them in place.
The battlefield gradually quieted as the last of the creatures collapsed under a coordinated assault from the adventurers and mercenaries. Their guttural snarls faded into the rhythmic crash of waves against the icy platforms, and a collective exhale swept through the defenders.
Elara lowered her staff, her arms trembling slightly from exertion. Frost clung to her fingers and the hem of her cloak, a testament to the spells she’d cast in rapid succession. She inhaled deeply, trying to calm her racing heart as the adrenaline slowly ebbed away.
“That’s the first wave down,” one of the mercenaries nearby called out, his voice rough but relieved. Cheers rose from a few others, though most remained focused, their eyes scanning the horizon for signs of the next attack.
Elara let herself relax for a brief moment, feeling the strain of her magic settling in her core. Her reserves weren’t depleted yet, but the heavy spells had taken their toll.
“Lady Elara,” Cedric’s voice came from behind her, steady and reassuring. She turned to see him approaching, his sword sheathed but his sharp gaze still scanning the area. He held out a small vial filled with a shimmering blue liquid.
“A mana potion,” he said simply, extending it toward her.
Your next read is at empire
Her eyes widened slightly. Mana potions were rare and expensive, usually reserved for emergencies or the wealthiest of mages. “Cedric, you didn’t have to—”
“You need it,” he interrupted, his tone firm but gentle. “No point in holding back when there’s more to come.”
Elara hesitated for only a second before taking the vial. She uncorked it and took a small sip, feeling the cool liquid flow through her, spreading warmth as it replenished her mana reserves. The tightness in her chest eased slightly as her core responded, the potion’s effects enhancing her natural recovery.
She let out a soft sigh of relief. “Thank you,” she said, her voice sincere. “I really needed that.”
Cedric gave a small nod, his expression softening for a moment. “You’ve been holding your own out there. But don’t push yourself too hard. There’s still a long way to go.”
Elara smiled faintly, his words grounding her. “I’ll be careful. Promise.”
Sliding the potion back into its protective casing at her belt, she reached for her water flask. The cool, fresh taste was a welcome relief against the dryness in her throat, and she took a few measured gulps before capping it and slinging it back over her shoulder.
“Ready for the next wave?” Cedric asked, his eyes watching her closely.
Elara straightened, her grip tightening on her staff. “Always,” she replied, her tone carrying a quiet determination.
Cedric smirked faintly, his confidence in her unwavering. “Good. They’ll be coming soon enough. Stay sharp.”
As Cedric moved off to check on the other defenders, Elara turned her attention back to the open sea, her eyes scanning the horizon. The icy platforms glistened under the dim light, their stability a testament to the mages holding them together. The lull in battle gave her a brief chance to breathe, but she knew it wouldn’t last.
*******
‘What do you think?’
On the other hand, Lucavion was watching the exchange between the two.
[Humph…..She is quite good.]
And Vitaliara was honest.
‘Really?’
Though Lucavion would disagree with her this time.