Tension

((Book 2 is finished and can be found here if you want to read ahead: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CBZR49Q7?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_1&storeType=ebooks or https://books2read.com/u/4jNkQX

Book 1 can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BZZBHBMF?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_0&storeType=ebooks orhttps://books2read.com/u/bPLPjd))

I jump up to the walls. A massive cloud of dust was forming in the direction of the woods.

"Remember, our goal is not to kill them all but to hold out until help arrives."

Joel, the ex-Green Beret tells the group of humans. Nyt repeats this order right before the Ir hops up onto the walls next to me. In the distance, through the kicked-up cloud of dust, we could spot the forms of many people marching toward the outpost. Nyt holds its feline hand toward the archers in the back, as she reaches for the wand at her side.

"Hold until I call." She yells back.

I pull my wand from my pocket and check to make sure the old, long sword in a wooden sheathe hanging by my side was tight in place. I steady my breath.

I point my wand at Nyt.

"You that binds them all, protect from all that might cause harm."

The Ir jumps a little as the shield forms around its body.

I tap my forehead and use the spell again. As the army approaches, I cast the spell over and over again on as many of our forces as I can. After a while, the Ir picks up the incantation and recites it to success; helping cover our forces with invisible shells of gathered aether, after that, Nyt and I get back to the top of the walls.

The apostle glances between Nyt and me and moves its robe to the side. It stands at the forefront of the large army — a thousand was an underestimate. There are at least 3, if not 4 thousand. Large beasts flank either side — like wolves made of braided wood and stone, and in the air flew several mounted soldiers on large, bellowing crows flapping wings large enough that the subtle breezes could be felt from our perch on the walls. In the air toward the back of the forces are the black-winged serpents that I've sometimes come across.

"For now, you focus on attacking, and I'll defend, okay?"

Nyt says as the apostle raises its arm, and the army comes to a stop at the very edge of the clearing.

"What do you mean?"

I glance over to the Ir; the wand shakes in its small grasp.

"Not matter what happens, Lawrence, know that it's been an honor to fight alongside you tonight. Thank you for giving all of us hope." The Ir says; the words barely drifting on the air.

"Don't talk like that. We're going to get out of here just fine."

Nyt smirks and leaps off the walls and toward the nearest large spike, and wraps her prehensile claws around the round of the edge at the very top, she points to the spike opposite of her; across the gap that I had intentionally left open. I follow suit, wrapping my toes around the edge of the spike, overlooking the battlefield.

The Ir lowers its body and spreads its feet apart so that it is set as solidly as it can against the round surface. The wand is held in her right hand, pointed forward like a fencer might point a foil, and her other hand is behind her. Mana shifts through her. Two different streams at once, suddenly shifting. Fire, wind, then water, and earth. Fire, wind. Water Earth. The apostle steps forward and stretches out his arm toward his forces before stepping away into the opening.

Rather than the cane he had earlier in the day, he now carries a staff that's a head taller than him. Though I can't see much about it, the top is crooked downward like the head of a cobra.

"When it starts, focus your attention on the army," Nyt calls out.

"Especially those Constructs."

"Constructs?"

Her wand flicks between the two large creatures of wood and stone, their forms hidden already by the dust still floating in the air like a brown fog.

"They'll do the most damage if they're allowed to run wild. Once they're in range, make sure you take them out as fast as you can. For now, help me." The Ir says as her pointed ears lower against her skull.

I nod and get ready myself.

Once more the streams of mana shift inside of her. Survive. That's the only goal for now. Survive, and wait for the other chosen of the Icarian Corps. The hooded apostle taps his staff against the ground as he steps forward and stops.