THE THIRD MAGE 25 Time's Up

She watched the knights who were hiding behind ruins of the once beautiful buildings in Oniro. She watched as her birds flew and circled the vicinity. When she decided it was safe, she turned around and faced the remaining crowd.

"We will wait and pray they will arrive safely. In the meantime, we have to get ready if we will be attacked. Who here knows how to fight?"

Several men raised their hands. "We're good at combat. We were trained as foot soldiers before the attack."

"Good. Any attack magic wielders? Defense?"

Many raised their hands. Denaire smiled. They might have a chance if ever it happens. "Okay good. Reserve your magic. Take note of the things you have to conjure up if anything happens not in our favor. We have several knights here, but we should not depend on others."

Everybody else nodded, understanding that that was the best for their situation now.

They all sat down and waited for General Luther and his squad would get back after guarding the convoy.

Just then, Emong came running. "Denaire! Exoshan army from the north! They're coming here!"

Denaire stood up, the gears in her mind started to move.

"General Luther hasn't come back yet. We are left with a few knights. How many are they?"

"Maybe a whole legion."

'Oh G.o.ds help us,' Denaire thought.

She faced them. "Are there a.s.sa.s.sins here?"

Two people raised their hands.

"Okay, your task is to identify the support in the legion and take them down. It doesn't matter how, but you have to take them down. Anyone here knew archery?"

There were three people who responded. "I'll forge your weapons; it won't be the best but it will make do.

"Water and earth magicians are our best defense here. Do whatever you can to prevent them from breaking our ranks. Those good in combat, you have to stay in front. Emong, brief them.

"Prepare yourselves. Do you want to leave behind the families and people we loved behind? Let's stand up and fight for a greater tomorrow."

And with that, all of them started working. Emong gathered round the soldiers. Water and earth magicians congregated to create better defense strategies. The air and fire magicians joined to suggest better ways, as air magicians can help redirect the fire and the fire magicians reveal the secrets of their magic to make better defense.

Denaire smiled at this rekindled hope. 'Oh G.o.ds, I hope we can withstand this attack until the knights come back.' She immediately took out some wood and started sawing and cutting. Raj helped her find wood and make the weapons, and if time permitted it, armor. But she knew she couldn't make it. The Exoshans are fast approaching, and they could only do what they can. She hoped it would be enough.

***

General Hiro rallied his troops towards the reported sighting of Onirons. He glanced at the map in his hands. He could feel the victory in the wind. Eliminating these ants and then they could conquer Perifaenia; and after that the whole Aenario. Oh how he wished for that time to arrive.

Captain Yuno went up to his General. "General! I see you're smiling from ear to ear now! Are you excited in our loot for today?"

"On our loot in the end of this worthy battle we're facing."

"Ah. You're seeing the bigger picture. Why don't you indulge yourself in the small funs after a conquest? Remember in Nomosyne? Those women were so good; I wanted to ravage them all."

General Hiro ridiculed his comrade. He thought that only animals would have that comment on human beings, most especially woman.

"General, after this battle, I will give you a gift. Expect it to be the best." The Captain moved behind ranks to talk to his subordinates; leaving General Hiro shaking his head.

"I will only have one woman in my life. I hope someday, I could find her and keep her beside me always."

***

Emong found Denaire attaching strings to a bow. He was panting when he reached her.

"Denaire."

"What is it?"

"They should be here in a half hour. General Luther and company were nowhere in sight."

"It is understandable. The travel to the sh.o.r.e going to the island takes about two to three hours. It has been just two hours when they left. They are probably on their way back, I hope. We have to fight for our lives then."

Emong's body shook all over. He doesn't want to die here. But having Gina here with him eased his fear a bit. He was glad that he would see Gina before he dies.

Denaire held Emong by the shoulder. "We are all afraid. But please be stronger. A lot of people look up to you. If you show a tiny bit of fear and hopelessness, the morale of our entire group would spiral down."

"I know. I'll do my best. Best of luck." He nodded at her and ran back to the group.

Denaire finished the bow and arrows and ran back to them. She then called the archers. "I have enforced here the power to volley ice. Use these limited arrows in the best way possible. Enforce them with your magic so it could release its full potential."

The archers' faces were full of determination. "Of course. We will not fail."

And then Denaire rallied everyone. "They are near, with a thousand of them. We are but a few and small, but we will fight until we could see the dawn again. We will fight until reinforcements come back. We will fight to see the smiles of the people that depend on us. We will fight to see our loved ones again. We will fight until we could not fight no more. We are Onirons! We are dreamers of a bright future!"

"Reign Oniro! Reign!"

And then, the half hour came to an end. The ground shook of a legion's running.

It was time's up.