As the orcs surged forward, the city guards, though inwardly dismissive of their foes, knew better than to underestimate them. Battle-hardened and disciplined, they formed up, their shields glowing with the shimmering aura of battle energy, creating a protective barrier larger than the shields themselves.
The orcs collided with the shield wall, the impact sending a series of jolts through the guards. But the soldiers stood firm, shoving back with practiced precision. The clash of steel on steel, accompanied by the bone-crunching force of the aura shields, sent the orcs sprawling, their bodies twitching on the ground. The city guards moved swiftly, their spears finishing the job before the battle aura dissipated, leaving the shields to their ordinary state.
"Why do these orcs keep coming in waves?" one of the guards muttered, frustration edging his voice as more orcs appeared on the horizon.
"We've stirred up a hornet's nest," another replied, wiping the sweat from his brow. "But the civilians are safe for now. We need to fall back and regroup."
"We can't let them follow us to Rapid City," the captain said, his voice firm. "We'll make our stand here, but we need to figure out how to shake them off. Our aura reserves are nearly depleted."
As they discussed their options, a distant howl pierced the air, causing every man to tense.
"Wolf cavalry!" The words were barely a whisper, yet they carried a weight of dread. Everyone knew that these were no ordinary orcs.
The guards quickly formed a tighter circle, layering their shields and raising their spears. The howl was followed by the appearance of warwolves, their riders' eyes gleaming with predatory intent. Relief swept through the guards as they realized these were not the elite wolf knights. Still, the sight of the approaching cavalry sent adrenaline surging through their veins.
"Hold steady!" the captain barked. "They won't charge head-on!"
The wolf cavalry circled, growling and snapping, but they did not dare approach the bristling formation of spears and shields. After a few tense moments, the orcs, recognizing the futility of an attack, retreated into the wasteland.
…
Back in Rapid City, Roland approached Mage Ladir, who was enjoying a rare moment of peace, basking in the winter sun.
"Your Highness, what brings you here?" Ladir asked, though his relaxed posture suggested he already knew.
"I need your help reinforcing the city's defenses," Roland replied, getting straight to the point. "We need magic stone bricks to strengthen the walls."
Ladir sighed, sitting up and giving Roland a serious look. "You realize how much magic it takes to create those bricks, don't you? And without a holy spring or moon well, my power is limited."
"I understand," Roland said, a bit awkwardly. "But I don't expect you to do all the heavy lifting. Just make the bricks—we'll handle the construction."
After a moment of contemplation, Ladir nodded. "Alright, I'll do what I can. But this will take a toll on me, even with help."
"Oh, and one more thing," Ladir added as Roland turned to leave. "A small group of Lagrandian city guards should be arriving soon. They might be able to assist."
Roland nodded, grateful for the information. "I'll send someone to meet them."
…
The Lagrandian city guards arrived at the gates of Rapid City, their eyes widening as they took in the sight of their king standing on the city's damaged walls, a figure of defiance against the harsh winter sky.
"Welcome back to Lagrand's glory," Roland said, gesturing for them to forgo formalities. His words, spoken with conviction, inspired the guards, who had seen little but hardship in recent months.
Among the onlookers was Ivy, who couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at Roland's dramatic display. "He certainly has the makings of a high priest," she muttered to herself.
With the guards now assembled, Roland wasted no time. "The city needs your help," he said, directing them to assist with moving the stone bricks. At first, the guards balked at the idea of doing manual labor, but when they saw the knights already hard at work, they had no choice but to join in.
Mage Ladir, exhausted from his efforts, sat down heavily, his breath coming in short gasps. Before him lay a pile of magic-patterned stone bricks, each engraved with spells to fortify the walls.
"That's all for now," Ladir said, waving a hand at the bricks. "Take them and start building."
The knights and city guards, now united in purpose, began the arduous task of transporting the bricks to the construction site. Without carts, the work was slow, but under Roland's watchful eye, the city wall slowly began to take shape, brick by brick.
Ladir closed his eyes, sinking into meditation to restore his depleted magic. The air around him shimmered as he drew in energy, preparing for the next round of work.
As the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows over the busy workers, Roland allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, things were finally moving in the right direction.
The wall was rising, and with it, the hopes of a city on the brink.
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