Chapter Four: The Fall of Naiyth
The Hellfire Division of Uragoth Uratt was quite literally raising hell on earth. Armed with fire runes, they proceeded to blaze everything to the ground. The tree-wall was quickly burning to a crisp; homes, shops, and manors throughout the city were quickly catching flame as well. Goblins with black armor and dark blades raced to and fro cutting down elven citizens as they found them.
Two of the goblin rune bearers prepared to burn the legendary Library of Naiyth when Anwen the Poet slammed open the doors and cut them down with a curved elven shortsword. "Soranna, come on! We have to save as many townspeople as we can!" Soranna exited the Library nervously, but still armed with an elven shortsword.
The two elven librarians stealthily navigated the burning streets, utilizing wet clothes to cover their mouths and noses. "What happened to the rangers?"
"Given that we received no warning of this attack, I'm assuming they've been taken out already. And if the guards had no warning, we can assume that the Allied Army isn't coming either. If this city is going to be saved, it's going to have to be saved by a pair of librarians!" Anwen snuck up behind a goblin and slit his throat. "We're going to get you to the center of the city so that you can best utilize your water rune."
"What? I'm still a novice with this thing!" Soranna teared up with distress.
A young elven boy ran straight into Soranna, sending them both flying. A pair of goblins, filled with villainous laughter, came bolting after him. They raised their blades to kill the helpless pair when Anwen stabbed one in the gut and knocked the second out with a devious elbow to the nose. The master librarian slashed both of their throats for good measure.
Anwen the Poet helped both Soranna and the boy up from the ground. Soranna was simply stunned. "How do you do that? How do you just go from librarian to warrior in an instant?"
"Look at this city. This is our home, Soranna, and it is burning. Sometimes, we can't be who we are. Sometimes, we have to be who we are needed to be. Right now, Naiyth doesn't need a Master Librarian. Right now, Naiyth needs warriors ready to give their life." Anwen handed Soranna back her blade. "Now take up this blade and be who Naiyth needs you to be." Soranna nodded, took the boys hand, and the trio was off towards the First House of Naiyth.
A score of elven guards protected the gates of the First House of Naiyth. They were the last line of defense for the capital of the Golden Realm. Two guards armed with water runes fought off fiery blasts from members of the Hellfire Division. The other soldiers fought with blade and spear to keep the scores of goblins at bay.
Two precise arrows put a quick end to the two elven rune bearers, and it seemed that the center of power in Naiyth would soon feel the flames of Uragoth Uratt. That was when a Breath of Ice attack took out several of the Hellfire Division.
Anwen the Poet and Soranna ambushed the goblin forces from behind. Their blades flew with grace taking life and limb from any goblin unfortunate enough to be within their range. The elven soldiers, their morale boosted, surged forward.
Within moments, the goblin force at the First House was quelled. "Now, Soranna! Use your rune to bring rain to this burning city!" Anwen shouted.
Soranna raised her right rand to cast when a certain ten-tailed whip wrapped around her like the grip of demon. "I dare you to try that, little girl!" Grokuk the Red laughed. "You too shall burn with Naiyth!" The goblin king used his fire rune to set his weapon aflame and cause Soranna to scream and writhe with agony.
Grokuk released the prone crisp form of Soranna as his primary force began to advance up the street behind him. "I have with me fifteen thousand goblin warriors and ten thousand mutated Imperial Knights. You have eighteen elven soldiers, a little boy, and a librarian? Maybe a school teacher?" A laugh bellowed from his throat. "Surrender now and die later. Or you can die a much more painful and humiliating death now. Your choice."
Before Anwen or any of the soldiers could speak, the little boy strode forward. His eyes were bold and fierce for one so young and small. "You're going to die."
Grokuk patted the boy on the head. "I'm glad you think that, little one." He knelt before the boy and looked him dead in the eyes. "But if you don't get out of my way, I will eat you alive."
The little boy pushed his face close enough to Grokuk's that their noses touched. "You are going to die," and then the boy smacked the goblin-king across the face.
Grokuk the Red's face filled with rage, and he raised his whip to strike the boy. Anwen ran and launched herself on top of the massive goblin. While the two wrestled, the elven warriors moved quickly to get the boy out of the way.
Anwen struggled to maintain control of her shortsword and pressed the blade closer and closer to Grokuk's exposed jugular. Finally, Grokuk laughed and pressed his free hand to Anwen's forehead and set her aflame.
The Allied Army found Naiyth as the flames were beginning to die down. The sky and air itself was filled with ash and smoke. "We're too late." Hyzin noted sorrowfully.
"NO! There is still work to be done!" Lyreth shouted and bolted forward. Arnwyn, Aeldeth, and the other thousand elves of Naiyth followed.
"Era, get your gliders in the air and provide cover fire! Glenn and Alinor, get your archers into advantageous positions! Hyzin, Cate, and I will lead the remaining infantry and cavalry into the city!" Kyu shouted valiantly, and the armies moved accordingly. "Aria, summon a dragon to carry Lana over the city! Lana, use your True Water Rune to drench the city! Belle, use your True Wind Rune to contain the flames!"
Hyzin, Cate, Kyu, Boar, Kite, Leon, and Swisher met together just outside where the gates of Naiyth used to be. "Stick together. Find Lyreth and Arnwyn." Kyu was about to turn to enter the burning city when rain began to pour from the skies due to Lana. "One more thing. Let's make these goblins pay for what they have done to Naiyth!"