News travels fast around Needle Point when it wants to. News about mages being sighted in the area travels even faster. Shaw catches wind of it just before she finishes her assignment to guard the lab the General posted her at. She overheard some of the men talking about it before General Sherman returned walking over to relieve her. “Anything to report?” he asked quietly.

It was a long drive back to Needle Point. The convoy followed the secured route back, circling around the major cities along the way including Seattle. The city was confirmed to be overrun with mutations so the General had made a standing order for no one to venture into what was designated the Red Zone. As a result the roads are forced to divert their course to return home.

They collected everything off the Barracuda and set up camp in the ruined port town. They got lucky, the cove gave them a defensible position with the cliffs either side. Hanson sent a team of scouts to secure the lighthouse so they could survey the area, warning them not to interfere with any equipment they might find. Brunhilde set up a perimeter to protect the camp while they set up, unloading the ship and organising everything and checking for damages. Apart from some wat

The Barracuda limped towards the derelict port on the shoreline, the dock waiting to greet them as the ship turned sluggishly into position. On the deck the mages gathered their bearings, shaking off the adrenaline from the battle and checking each other for injuries. They had lost ten people in total and suffered seven serious injuries taking them out of action for a while. They were brought below deck where their medics could treat them while everyone else gathered up top t

It was approaching ten o’clock when Commander Jeffery finally determined the job was complete. The work crews started packing up their equipment, driving the machines onto the trailer where soldiers helped secure them. Clark finally sat down on a crate and wiped his brow, exhaling from exertion. It had been a long night. So much for a few hours he muttered under his breath. He looked up at the road they had managed to repair, fresh tarmac rolled out and cleared, stretching n

It was a long morning for the mages as they sailed over the choppy ocean. The sea calmed down after a few hours, the storm fading behind them as they ventured deeper into the Unknown Region.

Scarlett followed the foul smelling woman across the town nervously. This was the first time she’d been on her own without the others in almost a year. She kept having flashes to when she was taken away from her dad in the Realm by mages in armour. She wondered if this woman was going to throw her into a dark room like they did.

The sun rose over the horizon, though you’d never tell because it was obscured by the thick layer of clouds. Scarlett could see it though. She couldn’t explain how but she could feel it as the sky got brighter, rising over the horizon slowly. She could sense the heat, the power of the star billions of miles away, it’s light crossing such a vast distance to touch this planet only to be stopped by this blockade of grey. She looked out of the window to the barrier stopping her f

Emma was walking through a meadow, the warm sun beating down on her shoulders as she ran gracefully through the grass. She felt the blades tickle her bare feet making her giggle. Her dress was caught in the breeze, wrapping around her knees and she ran, her hair blowing behind her. She was laughing, playing, her hands grazing the flowers at they danced around her. She saw the figure in front of her, a tall woman, her face obscured by the sun behind her. She didn’t need to see

Ramous analysed the echoes of the spells used to destroy the gate from the inside, stepping over metal debris and shattered crates once containing artefacts. He didn’t want to contemplate what was lost in this unwarranted destruction, how many relics had been destroyed, but the damage seemed to have been contained to the exit alone. They didn’t break in, they broke out. Curious he thought.

She had never been transported by a teleportation spell before, but she’d heard the stories of how it was like being swept through a dark tunnel and deposited in a new location as if she’d been flushed down a drain. Nobody told her how much her stomach would do summersaults as she tumbled through this void, making her motion sick as she spun uncontrollably with no idea which way was up or down. She screamed but her voice was drowned out in the rush of air whipping past her fa

Kaleb Ferndale had never run so fast in his life, which meant he was falling behind Emma and David as they sprinted in front of him. He didn’t have as much experience fleeing for his life as they had. They heard the explosion of magic and metal from the archway they bolted out of, the hairs on the back of their neck tingling as they now sensed a group of mages downstairs giving chase. “At least we know none of them are Sorcerers” David cried optimistically, his keen sense abl

Night fell over the capitol following the High-King’s departure. Everyone retired for the night with mixed emotions. Some were hopeful, others were downcast, each wondering how the absence of the High-King would once more impact the Realm, for good or for ill?

The next morning was full of anticipation for everyone. Nasir had pinpointed the approximate location of the third relic deep in the Unknown Region, as close an approximation as he could get without a reliable map of the area. Valerius had everyone make preparations for immediate departure, planning to leave before sunset. He told him Royal Guard to make the necessary preparations, acknowledging their numbers would be limited as many remained injured. “We’ll follow you my Kin

Emma was speechless at her father’s proposition. She stood frozen in shock against the balcony as he waited for an uncomfortable moment. “Well princess? Say something.”

The Captain of the Royal Guard could always be found at the training arena in the Barracks. She was a fierce warrior and kept herself in peak physical condition. What made her formidable was she never trained with a wand, she preferred to use her sword and shield. Physical weapons were always an option for enchanters when they joined the Guard, but most always dismissed them believing their wands were all they needed. Hanson himself was just as brash when he joined the order.

Valerius wasn’t surprised when Emma started asking all sorts of questions about his adventure. She wanted to know everything. She always was such a curious girl, took it from her mother. He did his best to answer many of her questions while they walked to his office, describing the jungles of the Forsaken Isle and the Temple in as much detail as he could recall. Her eyes lit up as he described them, a childlike wonder he almost forgot was possible. Recounting his adventure fe

The bells chimed in response to the sound of horns echoing over the hills, the sentries bringing the instruments to their lips warning of the imminent arrival. Men and women across the capitol lifted their heads to the ruckus as the Guard mobilised, clearing the streets in preparation. Nobody had expected this today. There had been no warning, no advance notice. The first sentry to be alerted got word from a runner who raced down the road to hail their approach. Word travelle