Chapter Twenty-Four: The Priestess and the Dumbass

Duryss, Iymp, Frederick and Lexiana move quickly as they distracted the soldiers as Lei and Okimi faced Jona while Aaron, Beau and Iolene snuck into the palace warehouse basement.

"Focus on running!" Lexi says to Fred.

"We can fight them!" Fred says as he aims his hammer at a soldier, who is still running after them. The soldier easily ducks and throws a spear at Duryss piercing him on the back. He roars in pain and agony. Duryss then releases a mag beam from his back and hits the soldier knocking him over.

It was in a moment the whole palace is after them. Fred waves his hammer around failing to hit anyone.

"There is too many of them! Don't be a moron!" Lexi shouts, Iymp nods in agreement.

Fred groans with annoyance. "I don't take orders from anyone, especially from women!"

The four had no idea where they were going. They are unfamiliar with the palace. But they are glad it is almost large as Lan-Se, the dragons easily navigate racing through the halls.

The chase felt forever as they finally reach the palace's front garden. Unlike Lan-Se full of greenery, their garden is made from pebbles and rocks. It is surprisingly beautiful and peaceful to look at.

It was at that moment Fred steers Duryss to face their opponents. Lexi rolls her eyes as she debated in her mind to leave him behind. She hates him... She hates everything he stands for. His father a tyrant, killed her Emperor, his attitude is selfish and self-serving. He is a creep to Iolene in the worse way and she will have no qualms about castrating him. However, he is a person and leaving someone to die will haunt her... Even if it is from his own stupidity. He is after all known as an egotistical, stupid man child.

"Come on Iymp..." she says as Iymp turns around by her command.

"Do we have to?" Iymp replies in human tongue.

Lexi sighs and says yes. "You don't want his death on your conscience, do you? I am sure Mali wants him alive..." She says annoyingly.

Iymp rolls his eyes, maybe... He thinks as he mags Lexi high into the air. Creating small red draconium orbs in her hands she shoots them at the soldiers. The orbs unlike usual mag bolts bounced on the ground like rubber balls. The soldiers look confused at the orb as it suddenly exploded causing them all to fly backwards. Destroying much of the garden. Some dragon soldiers receive intense burns as the draconium melts into their skin.

Fred looks at the red priestess as she floats in the air her hair glows intensely red. Iymp has a similar transformation as his eyes and bonemark glow with immense red power.

What the fuck!? Did she randomly conjure bombs by will?! Fred thinks as he sees her land gracefully on the ground. Fred's eyes glow green with power as he wants to compete with her. He waves his hammer. He wants to recreate the earthquake smash, an attack his oldest brother Grand Prince Arman Kaiser uses. Smashing a hammer on the ground and causing massive cracks can devastate an entire city. Breathing slowly Fred raises his large hammer of Alcuus high, it glows with green draconium. Making the designs of the hammer stand out. Lexi, Duryss and Iymp waited to see what he was doing.

"THIS IS AN ATTACK!" Fred shouts as he prepares to smash his hammer onto the ground.

However, it did not end the way he hoped... His hammer hit the ground. It cracked... But nothing followed.

Lexi and Iymp began laughing uncontrollably. The enemy soldiers couldn't help but laugh along with Lexi. Even the dragons were laughing...

"Wow... Now that is an attack!" A castle guard laughs.

Fred attempts it, again and again, getting more frustrated with every blow.

The enemy soldiers laughed as they watched Fred wave his hammer around. But they soon got bored and began to attack again.

Iymp raises Lexi again with another mag beam. She uses simple mag bolts and explosive ones against the soldiers. Fred and Duryss had no choice but to stand back. She has killed at least six soldiers and injured many. Fred tried to count as the soldiers and guards fight against her. But he couldn't help but notice... Where are the warriors who can use mag skills like Lexi? Unmei's priests?

However soon Lexi gets shot by an arrow from behind. Hitting her on her left shoulder blade. Iymp lowers her quickly as she groans in pain. Iymp looks at the dragons and humans in front of him. He then glances at Lexi intently as lays her on the ground gently. She lies on her side trying not to rest on her back.

I need Iolene... She thinks as she tries to yank the arrow out but couldn't reach it. Iymp growls at the soldiers and roars as Iymps bonemark glowed as he wraps himself in a red draconium bubble. He then unleashes a massive amount of energy pushing everyone back!

Fred and Duryss slam into the palace walls. They look at Iymp glowing as he defends his rider from any more harm.

But the fight quickly ends as an earthquake can be felt on the palace grounds.

Everyone almost lost their footing as the ground shook. The remaining castle soldiers looked at the Heiwa palace. The earthquake came from there!

The soldiers without hesitation shouted for their Emperor as they ran back into the castle. Lexi stands up and walks to Iymp as she watches them all rush inside.

Something is wrong...

Fred and Duryss shake off their injuries. Being pushed into the wall like that hurt. But their bodies are heavily built to withstand such force.

Lexi grabs her injured shoulder and collapses to her knees. Iymp gently nudges her with his nose. He is worried about her... She looks at his nose and kisses it.

But before they can sigh with relief a rush of citizens began to flood to the castle. Iymp mags Lexi onto his back and races away from the crowds. Duryss does the same with Fred as he chases Iymp. They reach the city square, the whole place is quiet as the people and dragons group at the palace gates and the streets before it.

"Well... Nice to see you lot here..." A familiar voice is heard.

They all look down and see the small man. He is wearing a velvet purple cloak. He drops the hood to his shoulders, it is Mali. Having his usual cheeky grin.

"What have you lot done?" Mali asks.

"I don't know..." Lexi replies.

"How did you get here mouse?" Fred asks.

"Oh, I just flew over... Like a bird. I spread my arms and flapped as hard as I could and I flew!" Mali smiles and he flitters his hands like a hummingbird. But in all truth he travelled alone. He followed a similar trail to the group. However, he experienced quite a few battles on his travel. Easily handled using his mag abilities. A skill he mastered without dragon help.

The north is clearly winning, but the battles still carry on. Mali spoke to Stein about battle plans. Steins' plans have been mostly successful. But one of the strategies went awry... Two hundred soldiers were killed. Both dragon and human... Mali met up with the captain quickly. It was odd... They have never seen a slaughter like it. Their bodies looked as if they were struck by lightning. Mali has seen it before... He hopes it is not what he thinks it is. Mali then rushed as fast as he could to Unmei. He needs to get everyone out of there...

Lexi, Iymp, Fred and Duryss turned to face the palace. Its foundations are crumbling.

"STAY HERE!" Mali demanded as he ran off. Then with both his hands. He creates two mag streams and launches himself high into the air. He glowed gold he glided to the palace.

"Wow... he can fly..." Iymp says in human tongue.

Lexi winces in pain as the arrow remained embedded in her. Even if she wanted to fight she couldn't. She had no choice but to wait.

After staying in the same spot for a while they see Aaron, Iolene and Beau. Accompanied by Mali and a few others. They all looked like they came from hell... However, Lei, Ponderrah and Okimi were not with them.

Lexi races to Iolene to give her a quick hug. Quickly forgetting her injured shoulder.

"Oh my goodness!" Iolene shouts. As she starts tending to Lexi's shoulder.

"I need you to remain still!" Iolene says without giving Lexi enough time to prepare for what Iolene was going to do. Iolene with a sharp pull yanks the arrow out of her shoulder. Lexi screams in agony. Iolene then places her hand over the injury and uses her healing magic. Lexi felt instantly better. It is not a full cure, but the bleeding would have stopped and the pain is numbed.

"Thanks!" Lexi says as she heavily breathes.

Mali helps Aaron get off Beau. Aaron slides off groaning in pain, waking up from exhaustion. He looks around as he sees Iolene tending to Lexi. He smiles. Iolene is okay... Aaron sighs with relief.

Mali gently rubs Aaron's arm. He didn't know what to do. Aaron saying it is his ribs. There really isn't anyone can do.

Beau shakes to remove dust and debris off himself. He regains his blue draconium disguise. As he knows it is too dangerous to keep revealing himself like this. He looks down at Aaron in pain. He is unsure as to what happened between each other. But he didn't want to talk about it now. He gently nudges Aaron's back. His brother did this to him... If Ironclad held a moment longer. He will be dead now...

Aaron looks up at Beaus' face and scratches his nuzzle.

The mysterious general looks back at the collapsing palace and sighs.

"To think... We thought we got them all..." He whispers as he turns around and glares at Iolene and Beau.