The second lich raised its staff, and a circle of dark runes appeared beneath its feet. The air itself seemed to warp, and with a low, ominous hum, skeletal warriors began to claw their way up from the earth. Their bones clattered against each other, the eerie sound echoing through the vast chamber. The undead rose, a small army taking form, each skeletal warrior bearing a rusted blade or a shattered shield. Their hollow eyes locked onto Maris and Amberine, as if drawn to the life that still pulsed in the two girls' veins.
Maris steadied her wand, her heart pounding. "Amberine! Get ready!" she shouted over the noise of the clattering bones. The liches loomed ahead, their blue eyes glowing with cold malice. Maris had faced many enemies since becoming an intern with the royal knights, but she had never fought anything like this—two liches and now a horde of undead warriors. She knew the odds were against them, but they had no other choice.
