Chapter 31: The Trial of the Crescent Moon Runes
Mountainside Overlooking the Battle for Falena, 338 Solar Year
Following Jeane's keen magical awareness, the two made their way to a low riding mountainside a few miles from where the main battle was still unfolding. They saw the trio of priests sitting on a cliff overlooking the whole battle below. All three were channeling their Crescent Runes and were communicating with each other about what tactic to use next. Moreover, someone had erected a forcefield around them and placed about 40 zombies between them and any would-be attackers.
Marcus could overhear them talking, "The fight is as good as won. We outnumber then nearly 2-to-1. They've lost the high ground and the element of surprise. Plus, their men are tired and exhausted from our first wave of pawns. I tell you the fight is as good as ours as long as we can press our advantage." spoke the left voice.
The right voice added, "You are correct. But still, we must not underestimate them. A wolf is always most dangerous when it's backed into a corner like this. They'll likely try something desperate soon enough." Now the middle one added in an eerie voice, "Look! They're main force is pushing Eastward. They must be trying to clear a path back toward the river in hopes to escape. Let's crush them."
"They're distracted! Good, let's make our move now. So, I'll still have an army to command tomorrow." Godwin whispered agitatedly. Jeane's normal pleasant demeanor turned into a more serious one, "Very well, Lord Godwin. I will dispatch their protective barrier. Their minions, I'll leave to you. Also, let's..."
Jeane was unable to finish her final sentence for Godwin had already rose to his feet and was already starting to cast a spell from his very rare and powerful Pale Gate Rune. This unique rune allowed him to summon various creatures from another world to destroy his foes. It was one of the most powerful common runes in all the world. Moreover, only the most experience and talented runic practitioners could use it.
The Pale Gate Rune's emblem started to glow on Godwin's forehead as the glyph likewise appeared above his head. Next purple spirals of energy formed around the man's body until a small horde of centaurs, clad in iron armor complete with spears, seemed to appear out of nowhere. This small mystical battalion began to charge the undead forces that stood between them and the three magicians.
Charging at full force these unworldly centaurs plowed through the squad of undead guards like a stampede of destruction. Trampled and broken corpses now littered the ground between them as these half-horse creatures vanished. Whatever dark magic had animated their dead bodies back to life prior was undone by Godwin's spell as the corpses were now motionless as the grave.
Concurrently, Jeane in all her voluptuous form approached the trio's shield. She raised her magician's rod as something resembling a lightning bolt appeared above her head as she channeled the Thunder Rune in her left hand. She declared in a soft voice, "Furious Blow!" As the second most powerful spell in that element's family was being summoned a type of vortex about a meter wide appeared in front of Jeane's staff.
From this cloudy opening in space and time waves of electricity came pouring forth directed at the barrier. The waves of electricity were concentrated together like a beam of light emanating from a lighthouse on a dark night.
As it struck, the barrier started to glow with a darker hue of red as Jeane's attack buffeted the forcefield as stormy waves batter a ship at sea. The shield grew even darker red until it was no longer transparent at all, but fully opaque covered in reddish hue that was so dark it looked more like sanguine.
At last, Jeane's attack broke through as a sound like glass shattering filled everyone's ears as the barrier fragmented into a million pieces and its shards fell to the ground like sparks from a blacksmith's hammer hitting hot metal.
The husband of the future Queen looked over at Jeane. Both had pleased looks on their faces as they each had quickly dispatched the obstacles before them. Now the real test of magical acuity was about to begin.
Only the left one, who seemed to be the more arrogant of the three based off the previous conversation they had overheard rose to his feet saying, "I alone will handle these interlopers. You guys press our attack and crush these Falenan mongrels!" The other two said nothing, but remained sitting down and channeling their Crescent Runes more intently to compensate for their missing party member.
Marcus was never one to test the waters to feel out his opponent's strengths and weaknesses, but rather had complete confidence in his own abilities. Thus, he preferred to overpower his foe right from the start.
Also, seeing Jeane cast such a powerful attack with so little effort, while his attack while formidable was still the weakest of all his Pale Gate's spells. And while that spell was enough to overwhelm a few dozen zombies. He knew he would have to use a much stronger attack against this dark cleric.
After he drew his blade, he placed both his hands on the hilt of his rapier, and raised the sword high aloft his head. He began murmuring an incantation rather quickly. In an instant, the fiery symbol of the Rage Rune appeared as the words Final Flame left the man's mouth. This was the most powerful common attack spell in the Fire Rune family.
The unyielding spell began to materialize itself. Large clouds began to form around them as out of nowhere several dozen meteor-like objects began to fall from the sky and came burning and crashing to the earth around the first commander of the undead. Yet, he stood still as plumes of magically generated smoke and fire burned everything around him in a hellish consumption of heat and flame.
"How did you like that one!? Or are your ears too full of ash and smoke to hear me?" yelled Godwin boastfully. As the smoke cleared, Godwin's smirk quickly turned to one of dismay. There before him in the mist of the still burning grass and scorched earth was the, likewise, overly confident magician. He had his right arm bent and lifted in front of his face as though he was using his arm to block out the intense glow from the fire from blinding his eyes. Moreover, the Crescent Rune symbol was shimmering luminously upon the back of his hand.
Now it was this man's turn to bluster as he came stepping forward and in a dark and menacing voice gloated, "Is that all you got!? Was that your best? Fools! You have no chance then. Just like my master's Half Moon Rune, this type of rare lunar magic has several amazing abilities. Not only do we control the undead, but this rune allows me to mitigate several magical attacks. Even ones as powerful as yours. Now it's my turn."
The magician quickly summoned his unique rune's power as the crescent emblem appeared over his head and in a moment's time the area around them grew dark as night and an artificial magically created waning moon appeared over them, and shot a beam of pure blue light at Marcus. It was traveling so fast that he had no time to dodge it.
However, Jeane the old, but ageless in appearance, sage didn't miss a beat. As though she was expecting him to cast this spell, she was already channeling one of her own. As the dark rune bearer had been gloating, she used her Flowing Rune to erect her own type of magical barrier.
With the aquatic magic, she casted, Protection Mist. This spell absorbs and mitigated most incoming magical damage, but only for one attack. That combined with Godwin's own very high magical defense, the once powerful lunar magical spell had only a minor impact on Godwin.
The Queen's Knight glanced over at Jeane and gave her a small nod. It was the closest he had ever, or would ever, come to saying thank you in his whole adult life to another person. Marcus Godwin was not in the habit of needing to be rescued, nor did he like the idea of owing someone. He wouldn't be so careless again he thought.
While these ideas were going through his mind, Jeane cast three back-to-back minor lightning attacks of Thunder Runner in rapid succession. The first two were deflected as Marcus' previous powerful fire attack had been, but the third one was different. While most of the bolt of lightning was absorb, however some of the magic got through to its target.
This did a small amount of damage to the spellcaster. It didn't hurt in any significant way, but his face took on an expression of concern as he realized his rune was not as invincible as he had previously thought.
Jeane's calmer smile returned. Then, she looked over to Godwin saying, "I thought so. His rune's defensive abilities are nowhere near the strength of its parent's. He's vulnerable now." Godwin's eye's filled with glee again at these words from his attractive and informed companion.
Neither said a word, but seemed to be reading the other one's mind as in an instant both again lifted their weapons in the air and called forth very powerful elemental spells. Marcus summoned his Final Flame spell again. While Jeane falling back on her Thunder Rune summoned its strongest attack Thunder Storm and both spells combined into one.
Such a unity of spells is only possible if combining the strongest attacks of certain elemental types (such as water and wind, earth and fire, lightning and water, or in this case fire and lightning). This combined elemental attack was known as, Flame Array, it was famous for delivering maximum destruction and damage.
Quickly, a fiery tornado began spinning all around the dark magician as bolts of electricity began also surging through the spinning force onto the man. The combined fire and lightning spells unleashed total devastation on him, but still his two other companions did nothing to try and help their dying comrade. Instead, they maintained their meditation on using the force of about 20,000 zombies to defeat Alen's forces in the valley below.
When the storming holocaust was through. Both Jeane and Marcus took a moment to catch their respective breaths after using such a powerful attack.
After the dust had settled a bit, they saw the results. All the previous zombie corpses that had littered the ground had been burnt to ash and dust. Yet, the magician was on his knees still alive somehow, but barely. Most of his skin was burnt and the cloak that had once covered his body was entirely consumed. He was taking in slow and deep breaths as well.
The left priest had placed all his magical energy into a single defensive spell from his Crescent Moon Rune, but still it had done him no good. His time was quickly expiring. He turned toward his two allies and in a hoarse voice, coughed, "Brothers, avenge me!" He at last fell over dead.
The middle brother remained stationary still unconcerned with what was unfolding behind him, but the right one however stood up and looking at Jeane and Marcus laughed scoffingly. He raised his left hand and rod, sending his two adversaries flying backwards into some nearby trees by means of some transparent magical force.
Godwin grabbed his forehead as he slowly stood up using the tree behind his back for support as he was still woozy from the sudden blowback. Shaking his head, he asked Jeane, "What the hell was that? I've never seen such an attack before."
But after hearing no response, he looked over to see Jeane was unconscious. With her sparsely worn attire, Marcus could see her chest moving up and down gently. She was breathing lightly still for now. Godwin picked up his rapier before rising to his fullest height and walked forth slowly to his newest opponent.
The right magician laughed again, "Weaklings, it took your strongest combined runic attacks to defeat the weakest of us three. Even if you had the strength still to cast such an attack again it would do you no good. As my powers are far too great to be done in, by such a feeble spell."
The nobleman used some Mega-Medicine he had in his pouch. This helped clear the fog he had in his head. Again, Godwin grinned before spitting on the ground. The saliva was mingled with some of his own blood. The newest Queen's Knight mocked him, "My best attack, please! You stupid little hooded-man. I've casted that same level of spell by myself as part of my daily training for years now. Much like you, it is nothing!" Both men sneered at each other's words.
Despite his bravado, true as it maybe, Marcus was hurt and he knew he had to buy time for Jeane to wake up. Even if he could defeat this one on his own, he would need her help to beat the third one. Because if this second magician was indeed as powerful as he was boasting, and judging by what Marcus was sensing it didn't seem likely he was lying.
While Godwin was a great magic user his swordsmanship was about average. However, that morning before leaving and, also, knowing Jeane was a master Thunder Rune user, he elected to bring a Mother Earth Sword Rune instead of his normal Lightning Rune, which he kept in his left hand. No point in being redundant, he reasoned.
This simple rune would charge his rapier with elements of an Earth Rune as a sort. Meaning it would increase his resistance and defensive skills while infusing his blade with earth-type magical damage with each hit upon his enemy.
The second magician raised his staff once more in an attempt to blow his opponent back. This time, however, Marcus was ready for it. The symbol of the rune appeared as he raised his sword in a defensive posture. His protective spell worked like a charm as the burst of energy was successfully reflected back at the caster.
The experienced conjurer, however, would not be done in by his own attack though, as he lifted his rod like a batter and swung the reflected ball of energy off into the distance as easily as one would swat a fly.
Even an average swordsman like Marcus was able to recognize a good opening when he saw it. While the enchanter was smashing his own attack away, Godwin began his charge. Bringing his magically infused rapier high in the air he brought it down fast striking at the magician clean across the chest.
In truth, had he been more experienced with the sword and pressed his blade a little harder the blow upon the distracted bearer of the Crescent Moon Rune would have been a mortal one, and not just a graze as it had actually been.
Jumping back, Nyoka's servant lifted his own staff in the air a bit and brought the end of it down on the ground and something like green energy resembling ripples formed all around him in all 360 degrees. They began to pulsate outward just like waves in a pond only a lot faster.
Marcus raised his sword once more in a defensive posture. The earthly enchanted rapier stopped the damage, but the spell was strong enough to force Marcus back several steps losing his short-gained advantage over this dark priest.
With his free hand, he touched his chest to feel the wound. The fallen clergyman could feel the blood on his hand and laughed beside himself. "I guess you're not as weak as I first thought Falenan. No, you're dangerous, indeed! I shall not let you get so close to me again!"
Godwin never one to refuse a compliment even from an enemy, took a mocking sort of bow before adding, "Underestimating me was your first and last mistake today!" "We shall see," countered the Nagarean, "I've had enough games."
Removing his cape and hood, the magician revealed his face and body, which was pale and gaunt. Godwin was immediately repulsed by his appearance and had no problem showing it in his facial expressions. The deformed mage snickered to himself before declaring loudly, "Feel my master's wrath!"
His Crescent Rune started to shine upon his albino-like hand with a pale blue light. However, unlike his predecessor's magical attack, this one was channeling all his rune's offensive and defensive magic into a single beam of runic energy, which was being gathered and concentrated through his staff.
Realizing this, Godwin, again, moved forward but slowly this time with his sword and other runes at the ready. "Die, Falenan!" the other roared. The emaciated figure extended his staff and a blue beam of pure power from his rune shot out like lightning.
Godwin stopped. He placed both hands on his hilt, and channeled the full power of his Mother Earth Sword Rune into the rapier. The defensive magic alone was no match for the unique and powerful magic pressing against him from the Crescent Moon bearer.
Immediately, Godwin used the Rune in his right hand, the Rage Rune, to give more power to the other rune in his left hand. For the moment it was enough, but he couldn't keep this up forever and Marcus knew it. His mind began racing for ideas. That's when he had one. It was a crazy idea. A stupid notion really, but what choice did he have.
It would require absolute concentration of all his skills. He had never dare to try and cast three powerful runic spells all at the same time. It could kill his enemy or kill himself in the process. Maybe, it would do them both in; hence the stupid part. He laughed slightly. "Oh, well!" he conceded to himself.
Godwin had only used this attack a few times before, back when he had first acquired the Pale Gate Rune. The final and strongest spell allowed one to summon a large powerful demon-like creature from the Abyss of Otherworld.
Yet, no matter how many times he tried to summon this creature it never appeared in front of him, but always behind his foes. As such, when the behemoth of a monster unleashed its deadly magical attack upon its target, it shot not only through them with great force, but the spellcaster, also, took some of the splash damage as well.
However, this attack from behind was precisely what he needed right now. Marcus only had enough strength left for this one attack. There would be no second chances. While still channeling with much of his concentration being in the runes in his left and right hands, he began channeling the third rune in his forehead.
He had never channeled three runes at the same time before. He wasn't even sure what would happen. Placing whatever reserve focus he had that wasn't being used to conduct his defensive spell he tried casting the Pale Gate's final spell, but it wasn't enough.
"Dammit!" he yelled, "I need more power!" Redirecting as much of his power from the defensive spell that he could without it breaking his sword and killing him. He began reapplying these energies into his Pale Gate Rune once more.
The loss of power, however, to his defensive spell was noticeable as the force from the lunar attack was now starting to drive him backwards. "I can feel you slipping!" squealed the ghastly priest with delight!" Now it was Godwin's turn to laugh, "Fool! Not slipping. Powering up! Come forth, demon. Empty World!"
A new runic glyph appeared above Godwin's head. Then, the ground started to tremble as a magic pit formed behind the distracted priest. Only out of the corner of his eye could he see this unholy image. It was a large beast of a creature complete with dark blue skin and a ferocious countenance.
He couldn't stop channeling his lunar attack as all his power was tied up into this single strategy. To stop would mean his doom. Pillars of purple lights started to form around the beast who was drawing energy from them into his chest.
The creature raised his arms in the air and the beams of power came bursting forth from its torso right into the back of the second priest. Whose own spell immediately stopped. Although, Marcus didn't stop channeling his own defensive spell for he knew what was coming his way.
Some remnant of the demon's deadly magic raced toward Godwin. His sword had had enough. Magically imbued or not the metal of men was not meant to handle such powerful supernatural forces and it broke into several pieces.
Likewise, Marcus fell down as well. His spell had protected his body from most of the splash damage, but it didn't matter. He was totally drained and surprised to be alive for the moment, but he could feel a darkness creeping up on him. He had used too much energy from his own body in order to cast three different spells at once. The knight was about to pass out and he knew it.
Just as he was about to drift off and lose all consciousness, he felt a cool glow begin to fill his body. He could feel it pulling him back from the brink of shadows. He had enough strength again to open his eyes. It was Jeane! She was again using her Flowing Rune to save him. This time she was using Mother Ocean. The strongest single healing magic of all the five elemental runes.
Marcus felt his full physical strength return immediately due to this spell's uncanny healing ability. But his magical strength was still exhausted as was Jeane's after this powerful spell. So, she pulled out two small items. They looked like some various mixed herbs tied together by some kind of leaf.
"Here, eat this." she prompted with her normal girlish smile, "It will help recover your magic. That spell I just used on you took up the rest of my strongest magical talents as well. I'll eat one too, I guess. Tee-hee." Marcus didn't know what he was eating, but he wasn't about to doubt her.
His only real question was where had she been storing these things? She had no pouch on her belt and it was obvious she had no secret hiding places on the rest of her slim amount of clothing. He didn't care though, because he could feel his magical strength beginning to recover immediately. Plus, even more importantly, the third and final magician had stopped channeling and was standing up surveying the battle below.
For a moment, there was total silence. Ever since this battle had begun, Godwin had always heard the sounds of fighting echoing from the valley below them. Men shouting and screaming. Beasts galloping. Steel clashing with bone. And most eerie of all, the sounds of 20,000 undead ghouls moaning at once. But now there was total silence!
The zombie army had stopped and apparently so had the remaining Falenan soldiers at this surprise turn of events. The final priest spoke nearly as coldly and hollow as Nyoka did, but only without the old fashion vocabulary, "So, you have bested my brothers, eh? Behold the true genius of my Master. Runes of the Crescent Moon reveal your greatest power!"
Suddenly, his rune started glowing and more surprisingly the two other Crescent Moon Runes of the two corpses of the former magicians did as well. The middle magician spoke up coldly again, "Mighty Rune of the Moon, I ask for one more chance for my fallen brothers. They offer their souls as payment for this power of another chance."
The other two runes started glowing as did the bodies of the two-fallen priests. Suddenly, they were both reanimated to some degree and started to move.
"How in the heck?" demanded Godwin flabbergasted. Jeane's face returned to a stern look once more before she responded with a question of her own, "I didn't think zombies could bear such powerful runes on their own?"
The final living Nagarean laughed a hollow laugh and replied, "Such is the power of my Master and the Moon Rune family. As part of its magic resides in these offspring runes. By forfeiting their souls, they have gained a second chance. Nevertheless, you're right woman. Zombies can't use runes, let alone runes as powerful as these. But they are not. They are now my stringed marionettes and I am their puppet master. Such is the extent of my power. Puppets controlling other weaker puppets! Hahaha."
He finished, "Brothers, you still bare the runes in your bodies so that army down there still has to obey you, but now you must obey me as well. Hear my words! No more formations or counter maneuvers or special strategies. Order those undead pawns just to kill them all! Leave no survivors!"
The two runic corpses of the former magicians obeyed their still living brother and ordered the remaining zombies below to just started attacking Alen's remaining forces at random. Again, great shouts of battle erupted from the valley floor below.
At the same time, Marcus and Jeane now heard strange new horns blowing from the valley below near the river. Yet, neither recognized who it belonged to. It didn't sound like any battle horn the Falenan Army or the Dragon Horse Cavalry used to Godwin's ears.
However, he had no time to ponder strange noises. This final opponent would require his full attention. As he now knew this guy alone was more powerful than both his brothers combined.
His sword broken; Marcus saw the long staff of his previous opponent near him on the ground. Somehow, it had survived his Pale Gate rune's powerful attack completely intact. Godwin picked it up.
He could immediately sense two things about it. One was the dark energy still emanating within it and the other thing was this staff was more than just a mere magician's weapon. No, it was much more. It felt like a magical tuning fork to Marcus.
In other words, this weapon would amplify any magical spell being channeled through it greatly. No wonder it took all three of his runes working together in order to beat the other guy's single rune. This staff had increased his magic greatly. The second magician was not more powerful than the first after all. He simply had had better equipment.
Perhaps this would help give the him and Jeane the extra edge they needed against this new opponent, thought Marcus. Because this guy had no special weapons. He just used his own two bear hands to summon forth his amazing and devastating magic. No doubt about it. This one was, indeed, far greater than the other two. He might even be stronger than them combined, supposed Godwin.
Just then, the third monk lifted his right hand in the air and about a dozen new zombies appeared beside him to improve his odds of winning. "Any ideas?" whispered Godwin to Jeane. "I'm afraid not this time. We'll have to just wait and see what he does first. Tee-hee!" she replied in the same whispery tone.
He rolled his eyes. He was tired of being on the defensive for most of these battles. Marcus said aloud, "Let's see what this little toy of your fallen comrade can do in the hands of a real magician! Rage Rune: Explosion!"
While not as powerful as his previous Final Flame spell. This fire-based attack was the second strongest in the whole flame family and was now being amplified through the enchanted staff. Thus, the powerful attack would at least give them an idea of what this demi-necromancer was capable of doing.
A dome of orange fiery energy encased the cloaked wizard and his undead minions as billows of fire began filling up the space in the dome burning everything inside it. The grass and undead creatures were burned into nothingness.
In fact, when the dome faded and the fire disappeared, only the lone Nagarean was left intact. His cloak had been consumed, but his equally pale skin like his previous brothers was exposed, but undamaged.
He smirked, "Now, Now, is that all you got?" The remaining servant of Nyoka clinched his fists to his head crossing his arms. He started glowing with the same pale blue light, they were familiar with by this point. The priest was channeling his Crescent Moon Rune into a powerful attack.
Moments later, he rapidly uncrossed his arms bringing them to his sides, while yelling out the name of some spell unfamiliar to Godwin. Like a flash, the charging energy left his body heading toward his two foes. Jeane was prepared for this and unleashed her Protective Mist spell again from the Flowing Rune.
At the same time, Godwin took his new staff into his left hand and channeled the protective spell of his Mother Earth Sword Rune. Even if it wasn't a sword per say, the spell would generate the same protective result. Actually, even stronger given the power of amplification from the wizard's new weapon. With both defensive spells in place, they thought they were prepared, but they were not.
His blue flash of runic power shattered both barriers and sent them flying backwards once more. However, instead of crashing into the trees again they only fell back a few feet. As their spells had manage to absorb most of the magical impact before shattering from its awesome power.
Godwin clutched the staff still in his hands and used it to pull himself up. Jeane was already on her feet and was casting another united elemental attack on her own using her Thunder and Flowing Runes.
She was determined to break this Crescent Moon's innate defensive barrier, just as she had broken the first guy's spell. She spoke in a powerful voice, "Water and Lightning combine your powers to give us the Thunder God attack!"
Suddenly, large icicles as sharp as spear points started to form above her and electricity began to circulate throughout the deadly frozen water; supercharging them. Then, with a flick of her wrist, they honed in on Nyoka's slave.
His magical barrier was also shattered just as theirs had been moments before from so powerful an attack. Plus, the other reason she had used this spell was for its secondary effect. It healed both her and Godwin once more physically speaking.
Liking the idea of using ice, Godwin used his Pale Gate Rune once more to summon the same ice dragon he used on the Nethergate assassins that Nyoka had sent to kill him several days ago; effectively breaking their secret deal. The area around the magician grew cold and stiff. He could suddenly see his breath as so cold was the area around him now.
A terrifying roar sounded and a pale green dragon materialized in the sky above him. It began flying circles around him like a vulture circling a dead animal on the road side. The great lizard contracted all the cold at her foe by using the blowing wind of subzero temperatures and aimed it right at him. Freezing and then shattering everything in her path before vanishing back into her own dimension.
The last time he used the spell on those failed ninjas, their bodies had frozen instantly, and shattered into pieces like a glass being thrown hard into the ground. But no such luck with this enemy. Though his defensive walls were gone thanks to Jeane. Yet, he was still very magically keen and stout.
The blast had injured him some, but was nowhere near strong enough to kill him. Again, the powerful priest charged up his body with power. And, again, sent a wave of energy toward them. By this point, both knew the attack well enough to dodge out of the way.
"He just stands there using that same dumb attack. Why won't he attack us more forcefully? He has had plenty of chances!" Godwin asked Jeane curiously as the two regrouped after their respective attacks.
The sage replied, "I don't know… Wait! (She looked over at the two undead rune bearers) That must be it! This guy, he is controlling those two who are in turn controlling all those thousands of zombies below to attack everyone else. I think he isn't attacking us like he wants, because it is too much for him to control. I think something has changed in the battle below that requires more of his attention to be down there then up here with us. He can't fully manage that battle and fight us either."
Godwin's face suddenly was filled with joy as a new idea at this latest revelation from the woman beside him entered his mind. He lifted his new enchanted staff high in the air and brought it slamming down into the ground.
"Hey, Nyoka's little whore! You might be good at taking a magic attack, but let's see how tough your undead brothers are! FINAL FLAME! FINAL FLAME!" The next Commander of the Queen's Knights used all the magic he had recovered since eating Jeane's mixed herbs to cast his two most powerful fire spells simultaneously.
Godwin had cast his chain of burning magic at the undead rune wielders behind the living puppeteer. Jeane had to shield her own eyes, because so powerful and bright where the dozens and dozens of fireballs falling from the heavens unto these poor dumb and defenseless puppets. The last wizard had no choice, but to give up his control of the thousands of zombies below as his two supporters were now ash. Their bodies were wholeheartedly annihilated by these twin flame spells.
Now able to use his full power and driven mad with anger at what had just happened. The dark magician called out, "Come, you two children of the Moon Rune! Come, join your power with my rune and let us lay our enemies asunder!"
The two Crescent Moon Runes that were laying in the ashes of their former masters seem to hear his words and responded. They started glowing and rose from the dirt and were moving in midair toward the priest and his own glowing rune.
However, before they could reach him, they stopped, changed direction, and headed toward the master Runemistress, Jeane, whose own rod was glowing a mystical yellow/white color.
This spell she used was the same kind used to place any common rune inside a person's hand by any average rune sage professional. It was a rather mundane spell. Marcus recognized the simple spell immediately.
As would any child who spent more than ten minutes in any rune shop in the city. Yet, Jeane was more than just a commonplace rune sage. Godwin had figured that much out for himself long before this battle had ever started.
In her same girly voice, Jeane spoke calmly, "You silly man, thanks for showing me that these runes could be commanded by simple rune sage abilities. If I had known that, then this fight could have been over a long time ago. Tee-hee. But since you like your lunar magic so much. Here! You can have a double helping of it!"
The two floating runes seemed to obey the voice of the unrivaled runemaster. Despite the monk's shouts and threatening words, the Crescent Runes obeyed only her voice now. "Destroy him!" she said calmly despite the severity of the command.
Both runes glowed brightly and sent beams of blue energy at the last servant. Concurrently, Marcus only had enough energy left to cast the simplest of fire attacks, but amplified through the staff it was stronger than most medium class fire spells. Jeane, too, had enough in her to cast one final Furious Bolt spell. As before, a small void appeared in front of her as the rays of electrifying energy came pouring forth.
The enraged magician couldn't withstand the onslaught of all four spells being directed at him. He could feel his control slipping. The runic spells consumed him entirely as his body was too exhausted from the strain. He fell to the ground defeated as the spells faded away.
Before he, too, faded into nothingness, both heard him say in a hush cold whisper, "Fools! You are all fools. Soon you shall all be dead fools. All of this was merely a distraction. By now, my master has finished the Ritual of Ascension. The Sun Rune will soon be his. A new god of death has been born. Master Nyoka remember your promise…"
With that his body turned to ash and eroded away. Only his rune remained where his right hand had once been. "What the heck was he babbling about? Becoming a god?The Sun Rune? The ranting of a fool and mad man. Indeed!" Godwin scoffed. Jeane said nothing. But secretly she was worried for her friends.
Moreover, she saw Godwin eyeing that rare and powerful lunar rune lying in the ash. She used her sage powers to summon it to her as she had done with the other two previously. Now all three runes were floating near her. She waved her white glowing rod in front of them.
The crests inside the orbs seemed to disappear leaving the orbs now utterly empty as the magic inside them rose into the air like smoke and vanished without a trace. She added, "These little things have caused quite enough trouble for one day. We can't risk them falling into bad hands again, can we!? Don't you agree, Mr. Godwin? Tee-hee."
Godwin said nothing. He only walked ahead of her toward the mountainside overlooking the whole battle while rolling his eyes callously at her. However, his mood quickly changed as shouts and cheers could be heard coming from the battlefield below.
Jeane joined him on the edge of the cliff and they gazed down into the valley. The fight was over. The survivors below were cheering at last in true victory. They could still seem many hundreds, if not thousands, of zombies still below though. But they were not attacking anymore. They were wandering around aimlessly and slowly without purpose or direction, since all three monks were now dead.
Marcus Godwin smiled brightly as a new thought, or rather an old one, had just returned to his mind. He was now officially and fully the Commander of the Queen's Knights. Furthermore, he would be heralded as the hero of the hour.
He would soon be recognized as the one who had bravely defeated those undead generals, which allowed the soldiers below to overcome these impossible odds. His family's place as a political powerhouse in the Queendom had firmly been planted this day as well as for generations to come, he told himself. A great and twisted glee filled his heart.