A/N: Sorry for the long wait on this, I admit it took longer than I thought. Enjoy…

Chapter 6: Orion

Lloyd pointed his sword at the elf that was confidently standing in the middle of the room. Genis and Raine began charging their spells, readying for the coming fight. I wasn't sure what the best course of action for me would be. I was sure that my magic wouldn't be enough to do much, and if I tried using my sword, I'd last about two seconds, if I was lucky.

Apparently, the swordsman saw my apprehension and turned to me. "It would probably be best for you to stay out of this fight," he instructed.

"I want to help though," I protested, trying to feign courage, but I knew he was right. It was true that I didn't want to just be a burden, but I had to admit my weakness. "I understand; I'll stay out of your way."

"I'll be back soon," Lloyd said with a smile as he charged at the elf.

"Your arrogance will be your downfall," Orion proclaimed as brown runes surrounded him for a brief second. Before Lloyd could react, spears burst forth out of the ground, nearly impaling the duel swordsman. I couldn't believe how fast Lloyd could dodge when I saw him jump off the first spike of what was obviously grave. He managed to use the spell to propel him even faster at Orion. Lloyd swung his blade down at the elf, but his staff blocked it. I would have thought the swordsman would easily cut through the wooden staff, but somehow it held firm. "Not bad," the elf said as he smirked, "but now you're mine."

I felt powerful mana fill the air around Lloyd, and obviously, he felt it to, but before he could get away, the ground came up and latched onto his leg. I couldn't just stand there doing nothing, so I began charging my fireball. Even if it wasn't much, I had to do something other than just stand a watch.

Looking over, I saw Genis about to unleash his spell, but with Lloyd in the way, he couldn't attack yet. I thought about charging at Orion to separate the two but even if I could have done something, we were too far away to save our friend.

"Thunder Arrow!" Orion called as the spheres of lightning appeared in a triangle around Lloyd. Within seconds, an incredibly bright flash of lightning consumed him.

It took what seemed like forever for the light to finally die down, but once it did, we could see Lloyd on the ground with Orion happily standing over him. I couldn't believe that someone would be strong enough to take Lloyd down so fast. "He's still alive," Raine said, but that didn't ease my fears any, especially with the elf heading toward us.

"Stay back!" I yelled.

"And what does a pathetic Halfling thing he can do?" Orion replied arrogantly.

That was enough. How could he just destroy so many without feeling any remorse? I would make him pay! He might think he was so strong with his spells, but he wasn't the only one who could use magic.

I concentrated on the energy all around me, and the mana flowed through my body, filling me with a sense of joy and power that nothing could stop. This is what it's truly like to wield magic, to command nature to bend to my will. The mana sang as it flowed through my body, but it begged to be let out, for me to unleash its great power.

I pointed my sword forward and funneled the blaze through it. The incantation came naturally from deep within. "Oh flickering blaze burn, fireball." I unleashed the most powerful spell I had ever cast right at the elf sending a concentrated ball of fire at Orion. I couldn't believe that someone such as me could have access to that kind of power.

The fire soared after him, but he made no attempt to dodge it. Instead, he just swung his staff down at it, easily dissipating the attack. I fell to my knees, exhausted after using so much power in one attack, but it was completely pointless. "Is that seriously the best you can do?" he said scoffing me. Unfortunately, he was right. That was everything I had. So much for being helpful.

I looked up, expecting him to counter attack, but instead I saw the dust and debris from around the room surround him. It started circling him faster. The mana in the air tinted the attack a light green, and I looked to the caster beside me. "Thanks for the distraction," Genis said, as I turned my glance to the mighty cyclone spell. "He was completely off guard." Maybe I wasn't completely useless after all.

On the other side of the room, I could see a circle of blue runes with a red clad swordsman rising from the ground. He mouthed a quick thank you to Raine before running back into battle. Genis' spell had calmed down, revealing the elf that appeared to have gotten through the attack mostly unharmed.

"Not bad, but I wouldn't expect anything less from you," the elf said as he began charging another spell. This time white runes appeared beneath him, and the concentration of mana around him signaled this would be the most powerful spell yet.

"Raine, we have to stop meteor storm," Genis said to his sister, who nodded in return. They canceled their attacks and ran beside each other.

Instead of using two different spells, it looked like they were combining their magic together, judging by the unified rune under them. That could only mean one thing; they were using prism stars.

Lloyd slashed at the elf, but the concentration of mana seemed to be protecting him while he cast. If this was anything like the game, we just had to hit him enough times and we could disrupt the attack, so I ran at him and began slashing with my sword. No matter how I attacked it just bounced of his mana shield, but that didn't stop me. I kept swinging my blade, knowing another strike could make the difference between a victory and defeat.

"Go!" the two other half-elves said, signaling their attack. Lloyd and I jumped back to avoid being caught in the crossfire (with me nearly tripping over my feet). The many shards of light tore through Orion. The brightness of the attack made it nearly impossible to see but through the blinding light, I caught a glimpse of blood running down his white robes. There was no way he could still be able to cast through something like that.

"Infinite power, grant me my strength."

Crap…

"Meteor storm!"

Double crap!

The giant fireballs began falling from the ceiling, pounding the entire room. I heard Genis scream in pain, signaling he was hit, a second before Raine too fell to the mighty blast. Lloyd and I tried running, but there was on way we could escape the meteor about the strike us. The swordsman shoved me forward as the attack connected. However, it wasn't enough to completely save me.

As the meteor fell, likely crushing Lloyd, it exploded sending shards of flaming rock at me, slamming me back several feet and into the nearest wall. With the exception of the flaming earth embedding itself into my skin, flying wasn't too bad; it was the landing part that hurt.

I pushed myself off the wall, freeing my left arm from the impact. If it weren't for the maniac about to kill us, I'd probably be worried about the snapping sound coming from my body. I was pretty sure that losing feeling through my body wasn't a good thing, but I guessed that was due to the blood loss. My legs soon gave out and I fell to the ground.

Through the pain, I gazed around, trying to see if any of the others had been able to dodge the attack. Sadly though, Lloyd was unconscious behind me, and both Genis and Raine appeared to be knocked out as well.

So, to sum up are situation, three heroes of world regeneration were just knocked out, leaving me the only one awake to face the most powerful mage I had ever seen. Granted, I hadn't seen too many mages, but we're screwed either way.

"Not bad, I'm surprised you are alive after that," Orion said as I used my good arm to try standing again. Maybe by some stroke of luck I would instantly learn a mystic art and destroy him, being the hero and saving my friends.

"Oh lightless tempest from distant regions," he began the incantation. I don't think I've ever heard this spell before. The probably meant that it was a spell so powerful that only elves could use it. "Stretch out thy tenebrous arms and lead my enemies to their eternal slumber." He held his staff and it felt as if all light in the room was being devoured by the darkness at the staff's tip.

I was able to get back to my feet, knowing I had to find a way to stop him. I saw my sword on the ground, so I ran to it, and charged at him. However, after only a half dozen steps, my legs went numb and I collapsed to the ground. All I could do was look on helplessly as he finished his spell. "Black hole!"

"Oh holy power of light, protect those I hold dear, Guardian burst!"

A light spell came from seemingly nowhere and battled the darkness for control of the air. The colors of white and black filled the sky, intertwining into one another, but soon the light surrounded the darkness and the two faded away.

I looked behind me, and saw Sydney standing in the doorway, pointing his sword at Orion. "Sorry I was late; he had more guards than I thought."

"And just who do you think you are?"

"I am Sydney, a guardian of truth, and your new opponent." He sent out four orbs of light from his hands, which honed in on the heroes and me.

The light filled my body, instantly making the pain dissipate from my body. Now I was able to get up easily, as if I was never injured, and the heroes of the game did the same. "All right, let's take him down now," Lloyd said.

"I'll handle this alone," Sydney said.

"We have a better chance of winning if we are together?" Lloyd said.

"My light is only able to temporarily dissipate the effect of your wounds, so you should get out of here while you can."

"Do you think you can handle it alone?" Raine asked.

"I think so," the guardian said, but I could tell there was some doubt in his voice, "I'll have to go all out though, so I don't want any bystanders to worry about." A bright light began emanating from his body, only to be replaced by dazzling white armor with hints of blue trim. "Now, get out of here," he ordered.

"And what makes you think I'm going to let them get away?" the elf asked.

"I didn't ask your permission," Sydney replied about a dozen small orbs of light began forming around him. Once the light faded, I saw instead of orbs, they were actually butterflies. I don't think I've ever seen an attack like that. "Now attack my friends."

I wasn't sure what they could do, but I knew better than to doubt the guardian's power, especially now that he had unleashed all his might. The creatures flew toward Orion firing thin beams of light at him.

"Now's your chance, go!" he ordered and the four of us ran out the door, while he stayed behind to fight. Orion tried turning to attack us, but the light piercing him rendered him motionless, letting us out the door

After less than thirty seconds of traveling, we finally reached the exit, which Lloyd nearly knocked down trying to get out.

"Fresh air!" I exclaimed. I don't think I've ever been this happy to see the sun.

"Time to find the reheairds and get out of here," Lloyd instructed as he and Raine led the way. Genis and I ran as fast as we could to keep up with them.

"What about the other prisoners?" Genis asked taking a quick look back.

"We'll come back for them soon," his sister said, "I promise."

With all the pain I had been through, I almost forgot that we weren't the only prisoners, just the ones lucky enough to escape. What had I done to earn the right to escape? I guess I'll have to live up to this responsibility and get stronger so I can actually help.

_

A/N: It seemed strange that they never showed an elf battle in the game, so I can only guess they would be strong, especially an elder. I must thank the tales wiki for the incantations for the various spells, and every where else I stole information from.

Also, the reason it took so long for the update is that I didn't know what some of the elder's spells looked like, but they were in Tales of the World, so I figured I'd get to the point in that, see the spells, then write the epic battle with them. Now review, since more reviews equal faster updates!