1 The War

A battle raged on as the sun above burned hot. Everywhere mages fought off the invading soldiers. Magic sent weapons flying in every direction. Blood was spilt upon a sandy beach as soldiers drove their swords and spears and arrows into mages' bodies. The stench of death was stagnant upon the battlefield.

"Push them back! We will not let them take our home! Fight for Sonic! Fight for each other! We will not be beaten!" Liana Davies roared to the other mages.

She was the most powerful mage on the magical island called Sonic, earning herself the title of Mage Queen. Named for the ancient history of mage rulers on the island, the royal family of Sonic, the Willows, was always the most powerful of all the mages.

She fought soldier after soldier, trying desperately to hold them off. Other mages fought loyally by her side.

Mainlanders who hated the mages had taken up arms against them, and the kerfuffle grew worse until it broke out into an all-out war. The mages had defended their home island bravely, but many were still dying in the process.

Liana had just magically snapped a soldier's neck when she heard a groan. Whipping around, she saw someone getting fatally stabbed through by a soldier's sword not too far away from where she stood.

"No! Vander!" she screamed.

Liana rushed to save her fellow mage. Powerful, brightly glowing, gold magic flared from her hands as she knelt down and began to heal his wound. He looked up at her and watched as the veins around her eyes turned black. Blood dripped from her eyes, nose, and out of the corners of her mouth. Once his stomach was fully healed, her eyes rolled into the back of her head. Vander caught her just as she collapsed.

"Liana! No, Liana. Liana, please. Stay with me. Don't leave me. Stay awake, Liana. Liana! Medic!"

A mage healer raced towards them, but it was too late. Vander watched in horror as the light left her eyes.

"No, LIANA!"

Then, everything went dark as she died in his arms.