The Hedge Wizard

Bud gazed through the dissipated mist in awe, his eyes wide as the lava swept across the demon horde, turning the air red with heat. With a thought, Bud released Heart of Frostfire as the scorching air blasted him, manifesting his own aura of cold to protect him.

He couldn’t turn away as the creatures screamed in terror and agony as molten rock flowed relentlessly, consuming anything in its path. The ground warped, twisting as the lava cooled into jagged grey stone, creating a landscape of destruction. The demons that had not escaped the flood were reduced to smouldering, blackened heaps. Soon, the acrid smell of burning flesh and sulphur struck Bud.

As the mist began to close once again, Bud’s eyes turned to Hump. The wizard stood at the centre of Dylan’s sanctuary, his formation alight with blazing essence. The same essence shone in Hump’s eyes and pulsed beneath his skin, as if his own blood had turned to lava. His green cloak swept back in the wind, billowing out dramatically. His staff surged with essence, a beacon of bronze and red, glowing with a fiery intensity.

This was the power of his friend now—the power of the White Flame. Such raw, destructive strength was beyond anything Bud had witnessed since the Battle of Sheercliff. He recalled their fight against the gorger too, where Vivienne had unleashed her water serpent spell in the ancient temple of Fisher’s Lake. She had been a Rank 5 wizard at the time, yet even that paled in comparison to the sheer elemental fury he had just witnessed.

Hump had unleashed a force of nature, and the remnants of its power wreathed around him with such radiance that Bud could feel the power prick at his skin. His heart hammered—terror, bitterness, excitement, pride—it all raced through him. Hump had come so far in such a short time that it was astonishing. Once again, Bud had fallen behind… but he would not remain there. Clenching his sword tightly, eager to rejoin the battle, he swore that he would catch up. Not just for Kelisia, but for his party members too, and his company. He owed it to all of them to fight harder.

Just as Bud was thinking it, the residual essence of Hump’s spell started to dissipate. The light faded from his eyes, and he slumped heavily against his staff, barely keeping to his feet. Slowly, Hump fell to the ground where he sat, face pale and exhausted.

“Are you alright, Hump?” Celaine asked, rushing to his side.

Nishari headbutted him, appearing worried. He rested an arm on her back and scratched the top of her head, behind her horns.

“I’m fine,” Hump said. “Just a little tired. Did it do the job?”

“Oh, it did the job!” Emilia said. “Gods above, it was as if you’d unleashed hell itself.”

“Destruction specialist indeed,” Anara said cheerfully, as if they weren’t in the middle of a battle for their lives. “You’ve done well, Wizard. Aldric did not oversell you in the slightest. Incredible. Rest now. Leave the cleanup for us. Owen, go and get rid of this damned mist, would you?”

He smiled confidently, hefting his giant hammer onto his shoulder like an oversized lumberjack. “It would be my pleasure.”

“It’s portal time?” Marian asked excitedly, a wide grin splitting her face.

“It’s not funny,” Theodore said with a shudder. “I’m not sure I’m ready for another trip into the void. I’d rather just deal with the mist.”

“You don’t have to be so annoying about it, do you Marian?” Lani asked, returning one of her javelins to the quiver on her back. She strode over to join Marian, her body slightly hunched, an ethereal glow around her. Whatever aura she was releasing, it gave Bud the shivers. He supposed that was just an effect of being a Chosen of Rathlar.

Marian chuckled to herself. “I just can’t help myself when I know how much Theo hates it.”

Soren walked with her, golden cloak billowing behind him. He gave Bud and the rest of the squad an apologetic look, the lanky man clearly embarrassed by the rest of his party.

“Enough, everyone,” Owen said. “Wizard Humphrey has been courteous enough to lay the groundwork for us. Let’s not embarrass ourselves.”

“Yeah, Theo!” Marian said. “Get in the portal.”

Theodore sighed, his face pale as he joined the rest of his party. A violet aura rose from Marian, shrouding all five of them. She smiled eagerly.

“We shall see you shortly,” Owen said, addressing Anara. “Without any of this damned mist.”

Anara nodded. “Luck to all of you.”

“Here we go,” Marian said, hopping into the portal with the kind of smile that lit up Hump’s face whenever he was doing something magical and dangerous.

Then, the party was gone, the portal closing behind them until there was nothing but untouched red grass.

Isabella suddenly stared off into the mist, a frown forming on her face. “Something’s coming, Anara. I feel a deadly intent. Whatever it is, it’s powerful.”

“Everyone, prepare yourselves,” Anara ordered. “Isabella, see to Wizard Humphrey. We’re going to need his strength before the day’s end.”

The Chosen of Emirai approached Hump, seemingly wanting to help, when Nishari started to snarl. The usually sweet girl turned into a fearsome beast as she stood over Hump protectively. Hump gave her a look, and the dragon went silent, her body relaxing in an instant.

“Sorry,” Hump said to Isabella.

Nisha let out a soft whine. To Bud, it sounded apologetic. More so than any dog he’d ever had at least.

“That’s alright,” she said. She took a potion from a pouch on her belt, the liquid shining with brilliant blue. “Here, take this. It’s an essence elixir, and a particularly potent one at that.”

Bud watched with concern as Hump took the potion and drank it, then thanked Isabella. He appeared stiff as he returned to his feet, but his staff was ready and his eyes focused.

Time for me to do my part, Bud thought as he turned back to face the mist. He stepped toward it, positioning himself in front of Dylan and his sacred tree domain, his sword stretched out at his side. If an enemy were to come for the druid, they would have to meet Bud’s blade first. He felt strong in his armour, and surrounded by the auras of other Chosen, there was nowhere he would rather be. One of Lady Anara’s flowers landed in the gap of his chest plate, right below his neck. It was small, but its presence alone filled him with a surge of strength. Adrenaline coursed through him. His connection to Kelisia felt powerful, his blessings ready to be called upon by his whim.

“We focus on protecting Dylan,” Bud said to his party members. “So long as he stands, at least we have some shelter from this mist.”

“We’ll help,” Marcela said. Her long, curved blade was in its sheath, but Bud knew how fast she could draw it. “Get a shield up, Len. A big one for whatever’s coming.”

“It’ll exhaust me,” Len warned.

“There will be time to recover after this,” Marcela said. “What we need now is time.”

The Chosen of Avaroth gave a nod. Len’s face was one of concentration as he chanted under his breath. Slowly, a towering dome materialised around the squad. It started as a faint shimmer in the air, barely perceptible, but with each word he uttered it became more substantial. The barrier was translucent blue, its surface rippling like water disturbed by a stone. As his chant concluded, the barrier solidified and essence washed through its surface in shimmering streaks, like oil upon water.

“This barrier is designed to function in a single direction,” Len explained. “While your attacks will pass through it freely, be advised that should you leave its confines you will not be able to enter again until the barrier is dissolved.”

“Don’t leave the dome—understood.” Hump said, then Bud saw the wizard’s eyes find him. He knew what was coming even before he said it. “You got that Bud? No running off again.”

Bud laughed and shook his head. “Fine! Next time I hear you desperately screaming in the mist, I’ll leave you.”

Shadows continued to stir in the mist, but they didn’t seem so dangerous now that they were beyond Len’s wall. What had been so disturbing before were nothing but shadows and light shows. Enemy demons strode forward amongst them, prodding tentatively at the barrier. Bud stood at its edge, stabbing and cutting at those that came too close, doing his best to keep the enemy nervous. Nearby, Tamsin laughed maniacally as she was a whirlwind of axes.

There was a massive crash as a creature slammed against the barrier to Bud’s left, where Owen’s party had been defending. A crack spread across the dome. Bud rushed to that position, ready to hold back whatever beast had come now. There, beyond the crack in Len’s shield, loomed a monstrous behemoth.

Its gaping maw was a cavern of nightmares, lined with teeth as long and jagged as swords. Instead of a tongue, eight tentacle-like tendrils writhed from within, each tipped with a smaller, ravenous mouth. The creature’s hulking form was supported by four massive, muscular limbs, each ending in feet equipped with three razor-sharp claws that gouged deep into the earth with every step. Its skin was a sickly, mottled blue, pulsing with dark veins, and its eyes glowed with a malevolent light, fixating on Bud as he positioned before it.

The creature hunched forward, bellowing a thunderous roar that echoed through the mist. Bud’s eyes widened as he caught sight of an imp clinging to the beast’s back, its eyes gleaming with malice.

Behind him, Celaine didn’t hesitate. Bright, silver light flashed and she loosed a Power Shot with pinpoint accuracy, the arrow streaking toward the imp with a whistle. The figure let out a mocking laugh as the arrow passed through it, vanishing entirely, along with the beast.

“What was that?” Bud asked, suddenly feeling nervous.

“I do not recognise the mount,” Anara said. “But the rider on its back was the imp lord, or at least, an image of it.”

Before Bud could respond, a shadow descended above him, emerging from the mist as if from nowhere. The behemoth crashed through the barrier with a shattering clang. Behind him, Len let out a pained shout. The barrier was down, and the creature was barrelling straight at them with terrifying momentum.

Bud stepped toward it, planting himself between the creature and the rest of the squad, staring up at the monstrosity. He called upon his blessings: Ice Armour crackled as it formed over his plate; a wall of solid ice appeared before him as he unleashed Glacial Bulwark, Frostfire blazing from it.

All around him, the other Chosen released their auras, their presence energising the air. Bud felt a thrill just being among them. This was a battle alongside his fellow Chosen—it was the tale he had always wished to be a part of. He gripped his sword tightly, the blade raging with flame.

“Fire Beam,” Hump shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

A beam of intense heat erupted somewhere over Bud’s shoulder, piercing the behemoth in the chest. The creature stumbled, groaning in pain, its momentum lost just as it tumbled into his own barrier. Ice crystallised over its body, and it reached back. The others launched their own attacks. Marcela surged forward, her sword unleashing a blade of water as she unsheathed it with a devastating slice. The creature vanished again, appearing a moment later to the left of the attack, dodging it as it retreated into the mist.

A volley of spells shot from the mist and Bud stepped into them, smashing them aside with his gauntlet. Fire and arcane energy burst over his armour, but he felt nothing but warmth within its protective embrace. As the magic cleared, imps, bloodhorrors, demonic hounds, and all manner of other creatures piled in from the mist, their bodies scarred with burns and bloody wounds, their eyes furious. Bud carved through any that approached, Emilia fighting at his side. Tamsin was vicious with her axes, while Theron wielded the blood of his enemies like a bladed ribbon. Oversized crossbow bolts felled creatures in a single blow, along with the many arrows of Teff, Celaine, and Faelor. Even with so many bodies, the demons were not gaining ground.

“The imp isn’t on its back anymore,” Emilia called.

“Robert, be careful,” Isabella said. “Something’s—”

Bud’s eyes locked on a purple wisp spiralling toward him. It was upon him in a blink. He flew back through the air and crashed to the ground with the smash of steel. Pain erupted across his body. His head swam. His chest roared with pain and looking down he saw that his Ice Armour had cracked entirely, and his chest plate had a heavy dent from the force.

Hump stood over him, staff blazing with blue essence. “Blast.” A wave of blue swept forward, shattering the ranks of demons and sending them tumbling back. Nishari unleashed her fiery breath upon the incapacitated foes and they let loose agonised screams.

“You alive, Bud?” Hump asked.

“Just need to catch my breath,” Bud wheezed.

There was a great boom in the distance and Hump turned towards it. Bud forced himself to sit up and followed his gaze. The mist was stirring.

“Owen’s party must have succeeded,” Hump said. He turned, extending a hand to Bud. Bud took it and was surprised by Hump’s strength as he was hauled to his feet.

As the mist dissipated, the lake they had seen before was gone, replaced by a vast, flat plain of red grass and grey, smouldering stone where Hump had unleashed his magic. All around, the ground was littered with the corpses of demons, yet more continued to fight on, forming ranks where the lake once was and along the treeline of the demonic forest behind Bud and the rest of the squad. As the demons took in the sight of their fallen allies, fear seemed to ripple through their ranks. Some fled, others raced for the corpses, feasting.

“No!” came a frantic cry. The imp lord materialised out of thin air, standing amidst the demons on the plain, mounted on its monstrous beast. Its voice was shrill with desperation. “Attack! Kill them!”

Suddenly, a flower erupted from the imp lord’s back. Its eyes widened in shock as it clawed at it, but it did not budge.

Anara erupted with pink essence, her power radiating like toxic miasma. The air around her seemed to darken, and a triumphant grin spread across her lips. “Got you.”

From the ground, a massive flower sprouted, its petals unfolding to envelop Anara until she was cocooned within. The flower contracted, squeezing inward as if to crush her, but instead it suddenly released her, launching her into the air like a human arrow. Mid-flight, wings sprouted from her back, delicate as a butterfly’s as she soared toward the imp lord.

“Do we need to help her?” Marcela asked.

“No,” Isabella said with a fierce grin. “Once she has her target marked, there are few more terrifying than Anara.”