29 The Queens Journey, pt. 9 (2/2)

Careful not to bring any attention to herself, she dragged the two girls over to the caravan, lifting them one by one and placing them inside, hopefully out of harms way.

”Stay here.” She said to Mariana, who hadn't even opened her eyes yet.

Turning back towards the field, she saw how this yargoth who resembled an elven man, had brought Decena to her knees.

Immediately, she launched a [White Fireball] towards the monster.

He staggered back, caught off guard, which gave Theresa the time to run towards the redhead.

She held her palm out, stopping the yargoth from rushing her, as it looked at her tentatively.

”Thank you.” Decena whispered. Theresa looked at her with the corner of her eye. The girl had clearly been pushed to her limits.

”You're not out of the woods yet.” Theresa replied honestly.

”You're right.” Decena said, stabbing her sword into the ground and slowly rising. ”But I needed that.”

”Another insect joins the fray?” Theresa heard a guttural voice say from in front of her. ”I am pleased. I had thought my kin would steal today's entertainment from me as they had begun fighting the Saviors and I was stuck with this mutt. I am glad to see that is not the case.”

”Pal,” Theresa replied, ”I've had a long day. Can we just get this over with?” She smirked at it.

Immediately, it scowled. Its glowing red eyes seemed to intensify their brightness.

It charged.

It moved so fast, Theresa almost couldn't react to it.

She took a step back, but that movement was not enough. Luckily, Decena got between the two of them, and deflected its attack.

As it staggered back, Decena placed her sword in front of her, almost looking like she was still fresh.

That yargoth is surely stronger than the Commander I defeated. I would have been obliterated by a single attack from it. And, yet, Decena has not only been fighting it in a head-on battle, but she can deflect its strikes like it was just another soldier. Theresa tilted her eyes, looking at the heavily breathing redhead.

She had known Decena was powerful, of course. She'd heard the stories from the court mage of Nova, about how she had helped the girl grow in strength through... Creative means, though she never explained.

How powerful is she? Theresa wondered.

”Are you just going to stand there?” Decena whispered through gritted teeth, reminding Theresa of the present situation.

”Right. Here.” Instantly, she cast [Assist] onto Decena, a green stream of light connecting the two of them.

”Ohhh...” Decena nearly moaned. ”Now, that feels good.”

”Oh, no you don't!” The yargoth yelled.

It flew towards them, raising its black, sharply curved sword and swinging it at Decena's head with no flair or elegance to its form.

She raised her sword, clashing with it.

The two of them traded blows, all the while, Theresa made sure to keep Decena energized.

”How are you...” The yargoth muttered. Then, it turned its red eyes towards Theresa. ”I... I see. What an interesting spell.” It said with a smirk.

Immediately, it spun and ran towards Theresa.

Instinctively, she boosted herself with magic and narrowly dodged a decapitating blow.

The yargoth clicked its black tongue, before hopping back to avoid a strike from Decena.

Again, they were at a stalemate.

If I were any older, I'd be dead right now. Theresa almost laughed. I pity the old man who has to face these things.

”I appreciate the help, but I'm alright now.” Decena said. ”I think this would go better for us if you help me on the attack.”

Theresa nodded.

The yargoth didn't miss how the elf's posture suddenly switched, where here hands were raised in the air, aiming at Decena, now, they lay by her side.

”Planning something, are you?” It spoke. ”Good. Make this fun for me!”

Theresa spun, moving away from Decena as the yargoth pounced on her.

They began a sort of, pincer attack. As Decena slashed away, Theresa threw one [White Fireball] after another.

However, where earlier, she'd hit it, this time, it dodged every projectile now that it was aware of her casting them.

After another unsuccessful exchange from both parties, Theresa had an idea.

She carefully positioned herself beside Decena.

”Listen, do you remember the time we went to investigate that town?” Theresa asked. Decena's eyebrows crunched together, but she nodded slowly. ”Remember how we fought that yargoth from before? Well, why fix what isn't broken?”

Decena remained silent for a moment, taking in Theresa's suggestion, until again, she slowly nodded.

”Alright.”

Decena breathed in, and raised her sword, aiming it at the monster's chest.

”Oh? Now, this looks interesting.” The yargoth said.

She stepped towards it once, then again, and again, until she was full-on running at the yargoth.

Its eyes went open, wide like a giddy child.

All the while, Theresa began casting one of the strongest spells she knew. She was aware that it would leave her with no magic left for the remainder of the battle, but she trusted Decena to finish this. She trusted Jin, Floren and the queen to avoid any unnecessary risk. She trusted the Saviors to defeat this enemy that seemed weirdly familiar with them.

She trusted them all, and so, she charged up one of her best abilities, [Stormfire].

As Decena approached it, she pushed off one foot and jumped into the air.

Seeing this, for the first time in the fight, Theresa witnessed it harden its head, like the other, more primal yargoth had.

She nodded to herself and cast the spell.

From her palms, a dance of white lightning and white flame surged. It spun, twirling around itself as it lunged forwards with one target in mind.

”... Do you take me for one of my lesser kin?” The yargoth said grimly.

Theresa shuddered when she saw it harden its entire body.

With this, it completely tanked Decena's slash, and turned towards Theresa's incoming spell.

As the spell hit it, it screamed. A mixture of ecstasy and pain could be heard in its voice.

Theresa, so shocked, finished her spell prematurely, closing her palms and letting it go.

The last of the stream hit it, and Theresa gasped when she saw that the yargoth, though not unfazed, was certainly still in condition to fight.

”That was good, I'll admit.” The monster declared. ”But not good enough.”

Then, a scream rang out. Decena and Theresa both looked to the right.

Then, Theresa fell to her knees when the view of Olyneces being stabbed through the gut by one of the yargoth appeared in her vision.

W... What? She thought, as a black blade appeared in the corner of her eye, ready to decapitate her.