Mana Wells

They were ready and the charge was to begin. Travis led the vanguard and the flanks would be charging in as well.

Once they had marched to position they began the charge to the castle. It was basically defenseless to what was about to happen. The wall would be broken easily by a few goblin shamans that had snuck up closer waiting for the timing.

Layla and Kurt held the rear to open the portal to Darien. An overwhelming show of force should cause everything to work out fairly quickly.

They charged in and about two-thirds of the way there Layla and Kurt stopped. And Layla began the construction of the large gate to bring Darien through. The chorus of goblins and Minotaurs roaring to battle droned on.

The gate appeared over the jungle and soon after the huge red dragon came out flying towards the castle. Everything was going on without a single problem.

"Now that's interesting," an unfamiliar voice echoed from the jungle around them.

"Be ready," said Kurt.

A simple man in robes came out from the jungle landscape, "Similar to our own way, but different." The man stared at the gateway. "Where is that? Though how did you get there?"

"The True Sorcerer, I presume," said Layla.

"Ohh is he still going around calling himself that, my teacher is always so dramatic."

"Teacher?"

"Yes, I wouldn't be caught dead calling myself that. It's kind of stupid that all sorcerers are true, and of course, it would probably piss off the teacher. I wouldn't want to do that."

"You seemed unconcerned about the army going to your castle."

"My castle? It's all ruble now. I don't care about whatever those shadows want."

"Then what do you want?"

"Well, funny you should ask. I'm looking for someone. Not sure who it is yet."

Kurt gripped his sword, what was wrong with this guy?

"Who are you looking for?"

"Whoever was able to move the fae wells of course, quite a feat. I tried but," he pulled out a cube, similar to the one that made Valentine's gate, but it was slightly golden in color instead of bone white. "I couldn't figure it out, you know, but I can't go wasting good material."

"You think I don't know what that is!" Layla screamed.

"I was explaining to you what it was."

A large bat-like object appeared in Layla's hands. It was simple, and inelegant, a coiling of metal and barbs encased its top. "I'm going to fucking kill you."

Layla's veins were popping and her eye had a murder stare at the man, the Student. He had never seen Layla so angry. Or really angry at all, flustered and annoyed maybe but angry.

Layla darted in the air directly toward the student. The man raised his hand and loftily held a small wand. A series of small round objects appeared. "No I don't think you will." And the series of objects all shot out beams of energy. Layla quickly dodged the first few. But the man sent out more.

Kurt was about to pop into action but Layla disappeared, and immediately reappeared a little behind and to the side of the man fully cocked with a swing for the bat, with a wicked grin on her face. And it swung violently at the man smacking his face, tumbling him to the side. "Gotcha!"

"Spatial Magic," said the student. "Of course. But I guess I'll need to give a bit of effort for this one." Rising to his feet and the jungle environment seemed to come even more alive trashing and whipping of vines and trees starting to cover the area.

Kurt ignored the jungle terrain change. He didn't want to get caught up fighting a forest that was a losing position. And came right toward the student.

"Two against one?" said the Student. Waving his hand at Kurt and a gust of wind came at him. Kurt swung his sword through the gust causing the magic to dissipate. "Well isn't that annoying?" But Kurt had lost his footing and a vine had slung up and tripped him up.

A large blast came at Layla and she dodged it. The student then flew up to the sky. Kurt gave him a few crescent slashes but an energy blast destroyed them before they could reach him. The jungle became wilder.

Harvey was busy with the jungle as well and the vines saw him as the largest and easiest target to grab. A roaring flame started erupting into the Jungle. Kurt cut off some of the vines so he could gain a bit of maneuverability. It was like he had turned the whole forest into golems in an instant.

The fires were starting to get large, but there was little anyone could do about them. Kurt saw Layla and the student fighting in the sky. Layla seemed to be much more defensive. Shouldn't use the short teleport to surprise him anymore.

Kurt leaped up towards the fight. Waiting until he was closer to start firing off more crescent waves. They were blocked by a shield the man had made.

They were getting nowhere with him. But Kurt saw the dragon had taken notice and had turned around to join their fight.

They had managed to get to a regroup.

"He's insanely powerful," said Layla. Breathing hard. "It's like he can keep firing off those things forever."

"I can't seem to get in at all either."

"I don't know how he even survived that first hit, I thought I got him."

"I can't get any leverage in the air, and it's easy to move for him and impossible for me up there."

The man set up what looked like the largest blast he had made while they spoke for a second. There wasn't even a plan to make. He fired it off and Kurt struck it with his sword and was pushed back. He couldn't split it. The deflection grazed his side.

"So there is a limit," smiled the man.

Kurt jumped and simultaneously split into five illusions at the man. "I can tell which one you are, idiot," and fired a single shot at Kurt. Kurt smiled and switched to a closer illusion. This time Kurt was able to get a swipe in. But he was so fast and the lack of footing made it fairly weak, barely able to draw some blood.

"Damn, I can't believe I fell for that twice." He turned to see a twin blast of Fire and Water coming at him from Harvey. He raised a barrage and the shot exploded and pushed him back.