The rasping sound of Malrik's blade, sharp and scraping, collided with the cobblestones of the square as Liam blocked yet another punishing blow. Sparks flew from their clashing weapons, and Liam felt the strain in his arms. This power was unnatural, dark energy pulsing in Malrik's veins.
He groaned, clutching the wounded side, and staggered to his feet. "We can't keep this up, Liam! He is just too strong!"
He rolled to the side, dodging the downward strike. Liam glanced at Nyx. "Just keep him distracted a little longer! Kael and the rest need the time!"
Malrik sneered, his red eyes shining. "You think your little friends can stop what's coming? The Princess is way out of your reach now. You're just bugs crawling in the dirt."
Liam tightened his grip on the sword as Malrik raised his hand to summon a wave of dark energy. The faint magic that he had learned when learning rune script invaded into his sword, making the weapon look brighter by the moment by its very glimmering faintness.
Malrik noticed the change and hesitated. "What is this?""Something you won't see coming," Liam growled and lunged forward.
There was a tremor that ran through the square from the clash of weapons, where the light of Liam's blade shone brightly through the dark energy that was Malrik's. For the first time, Malrik fell back, and surprise flashed across his face.
"This is impossible," muttered Malrik. "You are merely a mortal bloody warrior! You cannot wield magic like that!"
Nyx grinned in pain. "Underestimated us, I guess."
But Liam was far from smiling. The glow from his blade flickered, and he could feel the strain of magic maintenance. "Nyx, retreat! We need to regroup!"
In the Sanctum's Resistance
Meanwhile, down deep in the castle, Kael, Elira, and the youngest prince faced their challenges in the sanctum that throbbed with darkness as the glowing crystal in its center pulsed an aura of malevolence.
Elira flipped pages of the Queen's book, furrowing her brows in concentration. "This crystal is the anchor for her magic. If we destroy it, we'll sever her connection from the life force of the kingdom."
Kael stepped forth, sword drawn. "Then let's smash this."
"Wait!" Elira called, holding up a hand. "It is not that simple. The crystal is adorned by ancient wards. Direct attack would bring a backlash great enough to kill us all."
The prince beat his fists against his thighs, frustration glaring across his face. "Then what do we do? We can't stand around doing nothing while she saps the kingdom dry!"
She placed the book on the ground, hands glowing with magic. "I will weaken the wards, but I need time. You two will have to protect me."
Kael nodded, taking the position between Elira and the crystal. The youngest prince drew a small dagger, unsteady but firm all the same.
As Elira began her incantation, the air turned icy, shadows began to flicker across the walls, and whispers suddenly filled the space around them. The crystal pulsed in answer, shining more brightly.
Suddenly, dark figures emerged from the shadows, hollow eyes fixed on the intruders.
"Wraiths," Kael muttered as he lifted his sword. "Stay behind me, Elira."
The prince moved forward, his voice shaking, but firm. "No. I'm going to help."
Traps of Malrik
Malrik was back at the square, composed again. He smiled and added that it was cold and cruel. This has earned him the description of being clever. But this game is far from over.
Before Liam could even think or anything, Malrik drove his sword into the ground. A wave of dark energy exploded from where the blade was stabbed into the ground and forced Liam and Nyx to leap back to avoid it.
Malrik laughed as his voice echoed down into the square. "You think you're buying time? The Princess doesn't require more time; The summoning is just now in process."
Liam felt the chill set in. "What the devil are you talking about?"
Malrik lifted one hand, and at that point, an image popped into the air above him. It was the projection of sanctum where Kael, Elira and prince were battling the wraiths. The crystal in the middle was pulsing quite violently, while intensifying the light.
"She's tied up her magic with the sanctum," Malrik said. "And now, every second that passes, the life force of the remnant kingdom flows into her. By the time your friends manage to destroy the crystal-if they can-there'll be no time left. She'll be unstoppable."
Nyx swore under his breath. "Liam, options are running out here."
Liam's mind was now scrambling. He could not allow Malrik to stall them any further but could not leave Kael and the rest, either.
He bared his teeth and looked at Nyx. "You go to the sanctum. Help them finish the job."
"What about you?" Nyx asked.
Liam returned to face Malrik, tightening the grip on his sword. "I'll take care of him."
Nyx hesitated for a moment and then nodded. "Don't die, Liam."
And with that, Nyx slipped away into shadow before leaving Liam alone with Malrik.
The Startling Revelation
In the inner sanctum, Elira shouted out the chant. The wards around the crystal began cracking into pieces as the cries of the wraiths turned frantic with angry scraping and pounding.
Kael grated through another wraith, trails of sweat going down the contours of his face. "How much more time, Elira?"
"Almost there!" she yelled. "Just keep them off me a little longer!"
The prince fought with Kael, his clumsy movements not so effective. Though he had no training, he pierced one of the wraiths, which dissolved into shadows because of it.
The last wraith hit the floor, and in the same instant, the crystal burst into blinding light. A voice echoed through the sanctum, cold and haunting.
"You think you can stop me?", it said.
Kael's eyes dilated. "Thats... the... Princess."
The luster took an incarnate shape of the Princess, whose once beautiful face was now twisted in malevolence. "Well done for coming this far. But your efforts are in vain. The kingdom is mine, and soon, your lives will be as well."
Elira trembled with his hands raised to face the apparition. "We'll see about that."
Crystal pulsed again, and when it broke, dark tendrils shot out, wrapping around the entire group.
To be continue...