Matilda pushed the chunk of obsidian with her foot, making the destroyed alvis roll to the side.
"It seems like the battle was rather onesided" commented the secretary as she turned to the Headmaster "there is no indication that anyone was hurt."
Osmond nodded "Motsognir has said the same. It seems that Colbert and the missing students managed to defeat the alvis, freed someone from the derelict tower and were ambushed by a large number of unknowns that came from the portal. Then they were taken to wherever this thing goes to."
"Why don't you simply send your mouse through it and we will know?" added the green haired woman as she hoped that the portal went someplace with a lot of cats. Normally she wouldn't wish any ill on a simple animal but this one has put its snout where it doesn't belong too many times.
Ever since the students warned them about the incident Osmond has tried to get the situation under control. First he had some of the academy's teaching staff gathered to help Colbert and the students that were left behind...that took almost a hour.
Most of the faculty staff had no combat experience and got cold feet very easily. The few dozen musketeers that were placed as a token force in the academy were also anything but battle hardened. Their only job in the academy was to stand at the gate and look like they did something...and considering how a few could hardly fit in their fancy uniforms it was obvious that even that was too much for them.
Then when they finally reached the summoning area they discovered that the situation had changed. There was no battle but there was also no trace of the missing mages.
Osmond stroked his beard as he contemplated something that wasn't related to her comment. He then turned to the gathered mages and musketeers "We need a few brave souls that will explore the other side of the portal and find Colbert and the children. Any volunteers?"
The gathered teachers and the musketeers looked nervously around themselves in obvious discomfort.
"Nobody?"
Again the crowd looked anywhere except in his direction.
Cowards the whole lot of them snorted Matilda and to think they guard some of the most prized magical items the kingdom has.
She was about to raise her wand when something raced out of the portal. Matilda was at first startled at seeing what came out of the pinkish vortex...the pointed ears didn't scare her as much as the strange bipedal monsters the elves were riding on.
Then she saw who was riding behind the elves. Before she could call out to them a musket shot missed a riders head and impacted on the arch of the portal behind them.
"Stop! Don't shoot!" shouted Colbert.
"Don't shoot!" both Matilda and Osmond ordered simultaneously.
"Like hell I wont! Those are elves!" hissed Kaita as he prepared to unleash a spell on the riders.
He didn't get far before Sylphids paw pressed him down on the ground making the mage curse the dragon in impotent indignation.
Tabitha nodded to her familiar before jumping down from the deep lizard.
"Everyone, calm down!" commanded Osmond as he walked to the newcomers.
"Headmaster" said the balding mage as he and the elven rider unmounted the deep lizard and placed Yrbeth on the grass "we need immediate medical help!"
"Water mages! We have injured here get to it!" was Osmonds demand but when none of the mages dared to approach the elves he scowled "if the healers don't immediately come here and help the injured they are fired. And if this incident provokes a war with the elves it will be your heads that will be handed over to them."
The threats angered the mages but in the end they relented and went to do as they were commanded.
"So what happened here?" asked Matilda as the dust settled down.
"I will tell you later, for now get the earth mages to block the portal entrance with a thick stone wall" Colbert demanded.
The secretary huffed in annoyance by the man's tone but did as he wanted and created a wall in front of the portal entrance. Nothing spectacular really just a bunch of rocks that any first year student could do.
Colbert then turned to another lizard rider "Will this keep them out?"
"For now" answered a unfamiliar dark haired woman "Jezebel isn't much of a mage and the Pit Lord's wont let themselves be degraded into rock diggers, so it will hold."
Osmond tilted his head a bit "Colbert whats this all about?"
The bald professor sighed "The dark elves were bringing us back to Halkeginia when we were ambushed by demons...they decimated our entourage and captured Miss Zerbst. I'm terribly sorry."
Osmond scowl deepened "I'm sure its not your fault but the von Zerbst might see things differently."
Colbert nodded dejectedly. He was supposed to protect the children and he failed in his task...but there was still a glimmer of chance.
"I'm going back to look for her" he said.
"You don't have the forces here to stop them and she is most likely on her way to Sheogh as we speak" said the black haired woman that carried Louise in her arms.
"And you are?" inquired Matilda.
"Anastasya Griffin" responded the necromancer, she didn't want to reveal anymore information since Colbert already advised her to keep it low key. Then she looked down to the unconscious girl in her arms "Louise needs the assistance of a healer as soon as they are finished with Yrbeth, she has a dislocated shoulder and a slight concussion."
Osmond looked at the mess this day turned into and sighed "Perhaps it would be better if we continued this discussion in the Academy."
Osmonds first tasks was making sure that Yrbeth and Louise were tended to in the infirmary and the students pacified after a short panic outburst caused when they first saw the elves and their mounts. After that things seemed to return to some kind of normality, though the surrounding atmosphere was still tense.
Guiche entertained his fellow students with grandiose tales about his exploits in the battles against the gargoyles, elves and demons including his visit to Ygg-Chall.
Anastasya took the time to learn more about the Halkeginian magic system, mostly with Tabithas help in exchange for helping her find Kirche.
Colbert and Osmond retreated to the headmasters office to discus the incident. After a few hours they called in both Anastasya and one of the senior elven riders to represent his peoples position.
It was very enlightening conversation, though not in a good way.
Osmond drummed his fingers on the sturdy walnut desk in his office. The relations between Tristain and Ygg-Chall was certainly something that had more than a few cultural barriers to overcome. Since Tristania wasn't that far away from the academy the messenger birds he send to the palace were swiftly answered.
Mazarin promised to send a diplomat later but Osmond doubted that it will be anyone important...not for a common soldier in any case.
Once the elf excused himself to return to tend to his mount Osmonds gaze shifted to the necromancer "Now that was a waste of time. So tell me miss Anastasya, what can we expect from these elves? I understand why Colbert offered friendly relations to them, student lives were at stake but you are familiar with our view of elves."
"Yes, the professor has explained it but I personally don't see a problem there. Dark elves are no strangers to using underhanded methods so that wont be a cause for hostilities. You have to understand that Ygg-Chall doesn't seek an alliance with your nation, all they want is that you don't attack them. They have enough enemy's as it is."
"Both Tristain and the elves could also benefit from this. You produce a great surplus of goods like food and wood, on the other hand the dark elves have a lot of gold and luxury items like magical artifacts for example."
"You could also hire certain commanders and their troops as mercenary's if you are in need of soldiers" added Anastasya "I have informed myself on both your magical and mundane capabilities and while you have a big edge in numbers and technology your magic is very limited and small scale."
"Limited?" asked Osmond, the necromancers words bruising the pride he had for Halkeginias magic proves.
The undead woman nodded "Experienced commanders on Ashan can use spell that have a much larger area of effect. Also necromancers can use your own dead troops, their equipment and weapons against you. Then there's the whole connection to Void magic you people have, I would need to talk with Sandro to get a better understanding of it."
"So you plan to return back to Ashan?" asked Colbert.
"Yes, tomorrow it seems. The blue haired girl is adamant about going to save her red haired friend, and she will need a guide to help her along."
Colbert was about to speak when she cut him off with a raised hand "I already tried to talk her out of it, she wont budge."
The bald mage sighed "Then take me with you."
"Colbert...its-" began Osmond.
"She is my student, my responsibility...I cant just sit here doing nothing!" he said with a clenched fist.
The headmaster sighed "Very well...when you have found her bring her back. And while you are at it bring a message to Ylaya explaining that Yrbeth will stay in our care until she is well enough to travel."
Colbert nodded...the dice is cast, there was no going back now.
A/N: Forgot I had these chapters for almost a month on my PC but better late than never i guess.
Question; should Louise recast the spell and get Anastasya again or should I give her that manticore she wanted? Or perhaps some other HOMM creature, a Black dragon perhaps?