"Ardent wake up," I slapped his face lightly.
"Muha?" he roused himself and immediately clutched his head. "Ah… water, I need water."
I handed him a flask, "You know a person at your age shouldn't drink so much especially if they're not used to it."
"I was caught in the atmosphere," he coughed on the water. "Oh dear… what time is it?"
"About midnight," I said simply.
"Why did you wake me up?" he frowned. "I could use the rest."
"You've been sleeping all day, besides the Imperium are here."
"What!?" he gasped.
"Shh," I tried to quieten him. "A group of horned tribe visitors came but they were just disguises. They drugged the villagers and are grouping outside like they're planning something."
He tried to stand but staggered. If it weren't for my hand he would have fallen back over. "Damn my foresight. Like this I can't cast my magic properly."
"About that," I handed him a bucket and pulled out a syringe. "This is going to feel terrible but please try not make too much noise." I jabbed it into his arm and injected the serum. It was similar to the one I had used when I was overdosing on healing potions, something to detoxify the system.
A few seconds later Ardent fell to his knees and spewed out the contents of his stomach. The smell wasn't pleasant. He coughed and spluttered for a good minute before slowly rising.
"Feel better?" I passed him the flask of water.
He drunk from it greedily, "Yes… however I would ask you never do that to me again. It was not an enjoyable feeling. Now how bad is the situation?"
"I'm not sure. Taylor is keeping an eye out and the villagers won't be waking up tonight."
"I see," he nodded grimly. "Lead the way."
I led Ardent out of Miss Ula's house and into the street. Carefully and silently we sneaked closer to the village centre. Taylor was nowhere to be seen but several figures in black robes and red masks stood forebodingly. Standing above them all was the gold masked women.
"It really is them," Ardent cursed beneath his breath. "Why are they here?"
"They're probably the ones I saw attacking Axel," I replied.
"Yes I can see they have some of the instruments needed." He began to gesture towards them. A dull sound resounded in my ear and suddenly their far off voices where right beside me.
"Miguel are you ready?" a female voice spoke.
"Yes mam, the villagers have all consumed the wine. Your spell should take hold easily."
"Good, then we will begin now." A soft light glowed beneath her feet and after a few seconds a strange sensation pulled at my mind. The feeling ebbed away quickly. "Strange, something is wrong. I'm unable to take hold of any of the villagers. Miguel what have you done?"
"N-nothing mam! I swear it was the correct wine."
"Then are you saying my spell has failed for no reason?" her tone thickened.
"Not at all mam. P-perhaps something is disturbing the mana?"
"Hmm then I shall take this more seriously." A stronger light erupted from her body and in an instant I felt something pull at my consciousness. The feeling passed quickly.
Ardent frowned, "This women is stronger than I'd like. She must hold a high position among the Imperium. We may be in trouble, it is not a spell I can interfere with so easily if it takes hold. We need to act now."
"Wait," I held him back. Several more seconds passed and like I had planned nothing happened.
"Impossible," the women scowled and breathed heavily. "Even without the wine I should have been able to pull some." I couldn't help smirk at her plight. The truth of the matter was that the villagers weren't going to wake up anytime soon. There was no true counter to her poison. Instead I drugged the juice with a sleeping draught. The villagers would be getting the best sleep they had in years. It was just unfortunate that it didn't affect the Imperium. "Miguel investigate now!"
"Ardent stay hidden and make a barrier to block out the village centre. Taylor and I will take care of this for now. If things go badly jump in."
"Be safe," he nodded and stepped further into the shadows to hide himself behind some boxes. Still he emitted a dull glow as he worked his magic, one of the major problems of being a magician.
"Taylor?" I whispered into the wind.
"Yes?" her voice rang directly in my ear. I jumped back. My body had already been tense and I instantly went straight for the pommel of my sword. "Relax I've been here the entire time."
I calmed my nerves, "We'll take them out silently as they spread out."
"Yes sir," she saluted mockingly.
Five of the Imperium mages had left the village centre and begun to head into the streets. We targeted the closest two and hid in the shadows. They were about to check inside a nearby house. One waiting outside, one by the door. Taylor signalled to me, 'You take the one outside'. I signalled back with a shaky thumbs up. I drew my bow and prepared to fire as Taylor snuck to the eaves of the building. As soon as she descended my arrow flung free. In the span of a second their bodies hit the ground with no more than a light thud. I moved closer to confirm they were dead and gave Taylor the okay as we hid their bodies.
The feel of pulling the lifeless body was strange. It was like dragging a heavy sack grating against the ground. My heart felt heavy. Unlike before when my adrenaline had been pumping and every action was a fight for my life… this was too calm. I had killed him without a word. That was it. One arrow, one dead body. I wasn't going to kid myself and suffer in guilt. This man deserved it. Though I couldn't help think if it had been Lara, could she have done it another way? No, I resolved myself to take care of this before she arrived. She didn't need to see or be a part of this. As for Taylor, if she started whistling I wouldn't be surprised. The girl slit the Imperium's throat like it was nothing. I had to wonder just what her upbringing was like. Whenever she killed it had a graceful callousness that was frightening.
Taylor gestured to me, breaking me from my thoughts. I nodded. There were still three other Imperium we could take care of. They weren't far and we spotted two quickly. One inside someone's home and the other waiting.
"Did you find anything?" the one on guard asked.
"They're sleeping," the other replied confused, exiting the building. "Did we mess up the mix? I slapped the man and he didn't even stir."
"Shit Lady Blair isn't going to let us off easily."
"It's fine. We'll just drag them into the circuit. We won't get as much mana but at least she'll be satisfied. Come on help me with-," his voice cut off as an arrow pierced the side of his head.
The other man didn't even get a chance to react as Taylor slit his throat and they both fell to the ground. This was even easier than hunting wild animals so much so that it left a bad taste in my mouth. I stepped forward to help clear the bodies but just as I did something moved in the corner of my eyes. We faced each other in surprise. The last Imperium. I couldn't detect him at all and it was obvious he hadn't seen me either. Just when the hell had he gotten so close?
"What-," he tried to jump back but my reflexes were faster. His robe was in my hands and with a twist I threw him to the ground. My sword already drawn, it reflected the moons light into his eyes. "No wait-." It was too late. The blade descended and stabbed into his neck causing his final words to gurgle.
The sensation passing through my hands frightened me. The feel of my sword piercing his skin and breaking through his bones. Each one sending a slight snap through the steel. My heart beat uncomfortably hard. Killing like this had felt far more personal than a bow to the point that it scared me. I remembered going on my rampage killing the guards over and over again but back then I had been so numb. Now each slight response weighed heavily on my mind.
The man stopped twitching, the light in his eyes gone. I pulled out my sword releasing a clump of dirt beneath his body, staining his skin. I shook myself off. Now wasn't the time for this. There was no way they hadn't heard his scream.
"Who's there? Come out now or else I'll blow this entire village to pieces!" in the distance the golden masked women screamed into the night. There was no fear in her voice only annoyance and anger.
I came to Ardent's side and nodded to him. He nodded back and stood from his hiding place. With a quick dust he brushed off the dirt on his robe and walked into the full light of the village centre.
"A most intriguing night is it not?" he said casually.
The women scowled, "Ardent Val Tour, so you followed us even to here. Ha, I should have known those fireworks were a trap."
"Well I'd say it was more of a coincidence than anything else. If possible I'd like for you to surrender yourselves."
"Do you really think you can take us all?" The women's mana began to fluctuate.
"Five of your number are already dead," Ardent narrowed his eyes at her. "Leave it at that."
"But we are not. You might have stopped my magic from spreading but do you really think you've saved their lives? A flick of my wrist and I could kill dozens while they still sleep."
"That is incorrect," Ardent stomped the ground and a vast array of light engulfed the village centre. It spread across the ground and into the sky forming a sealed off dome protecting the nearby houses.
The women clicked her tongue, "So you prepared a little trick. It does nothing over your dead body."
"You still want to do this?" he frowned and sighed. "Care to at least tell me your name before I remove you from this earth?"
"I am the Imperium," she firmed herself as the magicians in front of her did as well.
"So be it," Ardent readied himself.
I chose to act now and released an arrow from my bow. It's target the back of the accursed women leading them. My aim was true, however an inch from her back the arrow suddenly broke apart.
"There you are!" she laughed and span her arm towards me. A powerful ripple of wind broke through the branches in front of me. I cursed as the tree I was hiding in fell apart sending me plummeting to the ground. Ardent attacked but the four other Imperium halted his advance. A sharp snap resounded as the ground and I collided. My leg broke.
Taylor landed beside me neatly, "Rain are you okay?"
"Get us out of here," I reached for her hand and she pulled me away just as another buffet of wind cut apart the earth. Damn it. I had underestimated her. I didn't think she'd be protecting her entire body with a barrier like Ardent could.
With the barrier blocking us in we were forced out into the open. A clear and easy target. The women smirked and raised her arm. Something slammed into her back knocking her aim as a blade of wind crashed into the barrier above us instead.
"Where do you think you're looking," Ardent huffed. It had barely been even half a minute yet all around him were the unconscious bodies of the Imperium magicians. A line of blood dripped down his head. "Surrender."
The women faced him angrily, "You think I'd let you take me alive?" She began to laugh crazily. "Ardent Val Tour candidate of the future Archmage. Your death will suit my life." I could only watch on in horror as she stabbed her own chest with her hand wrenching out her heart. She held it before her like a prized possession, "Everything for the Imperium!" Still laughing she crushed it. Her body hit the earth but I doubted it was over.
"Rain, Taylor get behind me!" Ardent screamed and a sudden force pulled us his way. "That crazy witch!"
Her body started to rise while behind her a jar began to shake. It popped open releasing a thick dark cloud that sucked into her body causing it to snap wildly.
"El Fiat!" Ardent roared and something burst from his hands. It collided with her body blowing apart her top half. He huffed tiredly. "This is not optimal."
The body stepped forward with a lurch as more of the dark smoke was drawn into it. The flesh that had been destroyed began to regenerate creating a disfigured creature nowhere close to the original. It stood eight feet tall covered in red veins and rippling with pulsating muscles the colour of flesh.
Ardent cursed, "And this is why I dislike the Imperium. Crazed fanatics who meddle with forces they barely understand."
"What the hell did she do?" my mouth gaped open.
"Monstrification. She let go of her humanity. It isn't the first time I've seen this happen."
"Can you kill it?" I asked still stunned.
"The last time I was with two other Masters…, your leg is broken and we're stuck with limited space. This may go badly. I would ask you to run but the barrier will stop you and I can't have that go down just yet."