Aether Beasts

The Twin horn seemed to panic as the army charged down the hill and some even attempted to flee, but it was useless as they were blocked by their own allies and the steel heart saw this opportunity. They abandoned their defensive formation and went on the offensive, chagrin headfirst into the now panicking twin horn army.

As the steel heart charged into the twin horn and began to fight with renewed vigor and hope, I had to force myself to remain standing since I wanted to fall from relief, but even if we'd gotten help, there was still a war to win.

The army made it down in a matter of seconds as I engaged a nearby group of fleeing arcanists. I despatched them easily especially since none had been facing me, and although I felt a bit bad, I quickly pushed those emotions down and turned back to the army who had just crashed into the side of the twin horn.

Twin horn disciples were literally flung into the air and the screams and shouts of pain and panic intensified as the cavalry tore through their lines. The tactic of trying to overwhelm with numbers would have worked, but now we had allies, who had brought powerful beasts, and all the low-level arcanists were only at the first level of infusion, which meant they were only slightly stronger and faster than humans. Those closest to the army of Orton fell like wheat to scythe, and in no time the twin horn were in full retreat, but too bad for them, because there was no way they were outrunning mounted arcanists, not to mention the rest of the steel heart whose quality of arcanist was much higher.

Just like I had, every single arcanist of the steel heart had passed a combat test, so every steel heart disciple had at least some ability in combat, and it showed. Some of the twin horn arcanists tried to rally and push back, but they were neither strong nor skilled enough and we quickly made short work of them.

Me along with the rest of Kaylin's group led the vanguard as we mowed through the twin horn army.

There was a sudden loud crash and I looked up just in time to see Elder Hyphen and an armored arcanist wearing the colors of Orton clashing with what I guessed were two twin horn elders. The aether surrounding them made it clear as did their cores which they were not hiding at all.

I only watched for a few seconds before I turned my attention back onto the twin horn army. Now that I had more space to work with, I pulled my glaive from my ring, and let a grin spread across my face. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't going to enjoy this because I most certainly was. I'd been wanting to use this weapon in combat for a while, and now I had the chance.

My blade spun around me, and heads, limbs, and bodies were torn and sliced open. At this point, the twin horn army had stopped their retreat and were once again pushing back but this time with more of their elites, masked arcanists similar to the one I'd faced.

Two came for me, and I prepared myself, positioning the blade of my glaive low to the ground. One of the masked arcanists tried to smash me in with his hammer, and I scoffed at his idiocy. He must have thought I wouldn't be able to counter or dodge, but with everything, Zirani had taught me, and my years of practicing with the glaive, he didn't stand a chance. I dodged gracefully, and then my glave swung up in a clean arc.

He remained standing for a few seconds as he stared down at his torso which was now cut open and spilling blood and gore over the ground.

"Bastard!"

The other arcanist charged at me, and I didn't need to see his face to know he was pissed. He had a long curved blade in his hand which shone with red flame. He slashed wildly, and I had to wonder if any of these arcanists knew how to actually use their weapons. It was more like they were relying on just their brute power, and aether, and not skill. If that was how the twin horn worked then no wonder they were falling so easily. Against untrained low-level arcanists, they would easily mow through them, but while I was low level in a way, I was by no means untrained.

I waited patiently for an opening, and after a few swings, he left himself open and I took advantage. I sent a lashing vine to wrap around his leg then tugged. He stumbled and that was all I needed. My blade separated his head from his neck cleanly. I leaned down and placed his sword and the other arcanists hammer in my ring. I was sure I'd get some spoils of war when we won, but there was no harm in taking some now.

"Aiden!"

I turned to see Sandra approaching me, covered in blood like I was.

"You ok?" She asked, taking long deep breaths.

I sighed. "As good as can be. Happy we can win this."

She smiled then cursed as a drop of blood hit her lip. "Aah, damn it. I didn't think I'd get this messy, but yeah I get what you mean."

"How have seen Misty?" I asked

"Oh, she's fine." Sandra chuckled. "In fact, she's better than fine. She's like a wolf among a pile of sheep, actually no, a lion among a pile of chickens. She looks like she's having the time of her life. I've been watching her when I can spot her to make sure she doesn't drain anyone. We don't need to win this just to have people coming after her."

"Good thinking," I replied. "Well, we'd best get back to it."

We quickly re-entered the battle, and it was only a few minutes later I found Misty who was locked in combat against three masked arcanists, although combat was an overstatement. It was like a cat playing with a mouse. She moved too fast for them to see, and their armor did little to block her claws.

She sided stepped an incoming strike, and leapt back to dodge a fireball then swung her hand forwards, sending a ball of black and red at one of the arcanists. It stuck to a target and the masked arcanists immediately began to scream as the technique ate away at his flesh all while rotting their body.

The screaming arcanists two allies stared in horror and Misty took that opportunity to disembowel one and tear the throat out of the other.

"Damn," I muttered under my breath.

"Stick close to her side," Zirani said. "Make sure she doesn't lose herself to bloodlust."

I nodded. "Got it. Misty!"

The blonder turned to me and I noticed her eyes were not only glowing but dilated. When they met mine the glow faded slightly.

"Aiden?"

"You ok?" I asked as I made my way to her. A twin horn arcanist tried to take my head, but I easily parried the blow and shoved my blade through his chest. I pulled it out and a wave of blood poured from his open gut and stained the floor.

Misty eyes moved to the blood, and the glow intensified before she shook her head and sighed. "This is hard Aiden. I, I want to drink so badly."

"After," I said.

"I don't know if I can," She said with hunger in her voice. "It looks too good, so good."

Oh no. I needed to think of something fast.

"I'll let you drink from me," I said and Misty froze.

"Really?" She asked and now her eyes were glowing like crimson suns.

"Yes," Zirani prompted. "Say yes."

"Yes?" I said slowly, though it sounded more like a question in my mind.

Misty took a deep breath and licked her lips. 'Then I'll hold off for now, but remember your promise."

Was her voice deeper? More sensual? It sent shivers down my spine and I felt an odd heat bloom in my chest.

"More of her charming effects," Zirani said. "She probably does even know she using them. Stay focused."

I shook my head and tried to reorient myself as Misty ran off to another fight.

"Are you sure we're going to be able to handle her?" I asked worriedly.

"I have a plan in the works, we can talk about it later, but for now, the battle?"

"Oh yeah."

I glanced around and spotted a group of steel heart arcanists surrounded by low-level twin horn disciples and a few of the masked elite. Without hesitation, I charged towards them, my glaive spinning, and my blood boiling.

I'd worry more about Misty once this war was over, and we had won, but for now, I had more twin horn arcanists to kill.