The night was calm. At the inn in Mbanza, the air was heavy but still peaceful. Kimpa Vita, Alaric, Kael, and Luther, exhausted from the political tensions of the day, had finally drifted into much-needed rest. But at the heart of this apparent tranquility, a storm was brewing in the shadows.
Suddenly, a piercing scream shattered the night. Kimpa was the first to wake, her heart pounding. She immediately sensed something was wrong. The wind, once gentle, now carried an unusual chill. The magic of the city, so familiar, felt disturbed, almost corrupted.
"Alaric... wake up," she murmured, gently shaking her battle-weary companion.
Alaric, still recovering, opened his eyes, the fatigue etched on his face, but something in Kimpa's tone put him on high alert.
"What's happening?" he asked, slowly sitting up.
"I don't know yet... but it's here."
They heard hurried footsteps outside, then screams. The clash of weapons echoed through the narrow streets of the city. In an instant, panic gripped the inn. The city guards, who were supposed to protect Mbanza, had suddenly turned aggressive, striking anyone in sight. Their eyes gleamed with a strange light, and their movements were mechanical, as if they were no longer in control of themselves.
Kael, awakened by the commotion, quickly muttered an incantation.
"Someone's controlling them...," he murmured, his eyes scanning the scene. "This is dark magic—powerful and subtle. I don't recognize this magical signature."
Kimpa, her royal instincts on high alert, knew this attack was no coincidence. Mbanza was being targeted, and this mysterious force was anything but natural. Mercenaries, the ones described by the messenger earlier in the day, had infiltrated the city. They bore unfamiliar insignias, but their presence couldn't be mere coincidence.
"We need to get out of here and defend the city," Kimpa ordered.
Luther, weakened but determined, attempted to rise.
"I'm coming with you."
"No," Kimpa replied firmly. "Stay here. You're not fit to fight. Let us handle this."
Alaric, though still drained from his previous battles, gritted his teeth and stood, sword already in hand. His muscles screamed in protest, but he couldn't remain idle while the city fell into chaos. They rushed outside the inn and were immediately engulfed in the carnage.
Flames licked the sides of buildings as mercenaries and guards, controlled by this dark magic, clashed with Mbanza's citizens. The city, once prosperous and thriving, now resembled a battlefield. Cries of distress and the clash of weapons filled the air.
"We have to stop them before they destroy everything," Alaric said, determined despite his weakness.
Kimpa Vita, focusing her energy, closed her eyes and began to summon the magic of her royal lineage. Her ancestral power resonated within her, and soon, protective spirits wrapped in a green light materialized around her. They took shape in the air, vaporous figures ready to defend Mbanza from the invasion.
Kael, on his part, raised his staff, gracefully weaving a magical barrier around them in an attempt to repel the attackers. But the threat they faced was far greater than they had imagined.
Atop the city walls, a dark figure emerged. It was Sage Damba, his face illuminated by the flames engulfing the city. His eyes, once filled with wisdom, now shone with a malevolent glow. He watched the chaos below with cold satisfaction.
"Damba...," Kimpa murmured, realizing the betrayal. "It's him... he's handed us over to Alokta."
Kael, shocked by the revelation, let his barrier falter.
"Damba? One of the Sages?"
Damba slowly descended the steps of the ramparts, a sinister smile playing on his lips.
"Mbanza is weak. All of you are weak. Only Alokta can give me the power I deserve. This city will fall, and I will rule over its ruins," he declared arrogantly.
Alaric stepped forward, fury burning in his eyes, but before he could act, a new enemy appeared. A masked man, taller and more imposing than the other mercenaries, approached with confidence. Around him, an aura of darkness danced, and his power seemed to crush the air around them. He wasn't just a mercenary. His presence resonated with something ancient and sinister, as though he was tied to the very forces controlling the guards and sowing chaos in the city.
"Alaric, look out!" Kael shouted.
The masked man raised a hand, and a wave of dark magic surged toward them. In an instant, Kael's magical barrier shattered like glass, and Kimpa Vita, despite her strength, felt her protective spirits waver under this unknown force.
"I can't... maintain the protection," Kimpa murmured, exhausted.
Alaric, sensing the desperation of the situation, knew he had no choice. He felt the call of the Ancient's power burn within him, a force he had carefully kept buried since the battle with the entity. But now, he had to release it. He closed his eyes for a moment, then, with a deep breath, unleashed part of his sylvan power.
Nature itself seemed to respond to his call. The trees surrounding the city trembled, and roots burst from the ground, striking the mercenaries with devastating force. The masked man, though powerful, was forced to step back under the onslaught of Alaric's unleashed power. But this display of strength came at a cost.
Alaric wavered, his body already weakened by previous battles. His legs trembled, and a sharp pain coursed through him as he continued to draw upon the power. He knew he couldn't hold on for long.
"Kael, Kimpa... leave... I'll hold them off," he said in a broken voice.
"No! You won't make it!" Kimpa protested.
But Alaric wasn't listening anymore. With a gesture, he forced the masked man back, using the last of his energy. The mysterious warrior stumbled, surprised, but not defeated. His eyes, hidden behind the mask, glowed with malice.
As Alaric, on the brink of collapse, prepared to fall, an unexpected reinforcement arrived. The protective spirits Kimpa had summoned returned, standing guard around him.
The fight, however, was far from over.
The masked man advanced once more, ready to unleash another wave of destructive energy. Alaric, already at his limit, knew he couldn't hold out much longer. But before the masked man could act, a shadow fell over him.
A distant cry echoed through the night.
Luther, weakened but driven by an inner strength, emerged from the shadows, ready to join the fight, while Kimpa, determined to protect her city, prepared one final incantation.
The battle for Mbanza had only just begun.