Hurried footsteps echoed in the passageway. The doors to the Great Hall burst open as a figure fitted in white armor raced across the room. The conversation that was going on halted as the man in white stopped and knelt. “Sir Alister, what is the meaning of this interruption?” Asked the King. The Lord was still kneeling when he spoke. “King Rayne, there is an invasion force coming from the North, it’s the Council '' The King dismissed his guests and ran with the Knight to the window that spans from floor to ceiling. In the distances, they saw fire and smoke from the North. His Majesty turned and tapped his ear, a holographic image of the city appeared in front of him. The city was split into three sections with the castle in the middle. The Upper part of the hologram was covered in smoke and red enemy icons. Sir Alister typed a few commands on a panel and put his hand to his ear. “Attention all Knight of the kingdom of Orion, we are under attack!” Yelled Alister. “We are under condition red! Battle stations!”

The kingdom sprang into action and fired energy bolts at the invading forces. The royal army formed a line in front of the second section. Shields were planted into the ground, a solid blue shell lined the walls, covering the second and middle sections.

Energy blasts pounded the shell to no avail. Lord Black stood behind the shield bearers shouting words of encouragement. The Master Knight turned to see the aerial forces with his son who led the charge. They flew through the shell and engaged the enemy. Bolts of blue and red streamed across the battlefield as warriors from both sides fell.

In the Great Hall, the conflict was being managed and watched. Energy bolts crashed through the window next to the king as six figures flew into the room. Two of the intruders ran into the passageway while the four others stayed and drew their weapons. His Majesty and Lord Alister Dashed on opposite sides of the room and split the invaders. The King stepped with one foot, used it to push off, and darted to the nearest opponent. His foe crossed his arms just in time to block the King’s punch, they both slid a couple of feet. The other opponent appeared behind him and swung his leg towards Rayne, but the King caught the foot with his other hand. Twisting his hand to grab the first opponent, Rayne dragged then threw him into his new combatant.

They both hit the ground with such force, the floor cracked. After he launched himself in the air, The king brought down his fist on the invader that was on top and drove them further into the ground. He could hear combat behind him and as he turned Alister was just finishing his fight with the invaders.

They brought back the holograms to see that their forces were still holding off the attack. Lord Alister types a few more commands and a face appears.

“ Alister, good to see you’re still around.” Chuckled a hooded man, dressed in a blue tunic. “Grandmaster Donvir, we are sending the mages in, how many can you muster up in ten minutes?” “I can have my magicore ready in five!” Smiled Donvir.

The screen disappears and the King sighed. “Is it wise to send them out? They are... eccentric.” “They are strange, however, Don is one of the most powerful Knights we have, not to mention he’s absolutely crazy about fighting strong enemies.” Alister looked concerned. “Most of they’re magic users are range masters with the exception of the Red Core, I’m worried that the mages might get overwhelmed.” Rayne turned and put his hands on the Lord’s shoulder. “Don’t worry my friend, I’ll give them the support they need.”

Ten minutes went by and slots of the ground moved out of place. Two hundred thousand, Men and women dressed in different colors but all with the same white symbol on their chest, stood behind a man in a white hood and a gold tunic. The man turned and yelled words of encouragement then cheers and roars exploded from the mage ranks. In front of the magicore more slots of Earth moved. Walk out of the came seven hundred thousand soldiers, marching in file and rank. The common soldier was dressed in grey armor and marched with discipline. Each had leaders dressed in blue armor. Behind the soldiers marched eighty thousand mages dressed in red armor, instead of a helmet they had black hoods. On their chest plates was a white emblem that showed they belonged to the magicore. A man in Black armor and a woman in Gold armor walked up to the Grandmaster.

“General Ashburn of the vanguard and Master Laytir of the Red Core, I thank thee for the support.” Master Donvir bowed then waited as the General and master mage bowed in return. The Grandmaster turned to his students and teachers then walked away. “So do you think you’ll beat me this time, Lady Ashburn?” Grinned Laytir. “You will address me as General for that is my title.” Ashburn scolded. “And I will not part take in your childish games.” “Aware you still mad that I’ve beaten you the last three times?” THAT LAST ONE DOESN’T COUNT!” Ashburn turned to Laytir. “You know good and well that we tied and you killing the General doesn’t count as two.” Laytir shrugged. “Hey, he commanded the Imperial Army that definitely counts as two.” Ashburn folded her arms. “You better have tucked in Tanris, if we get home and he got out again I’m going to pound you into the ground.” Laytir smiled and kissed Ashburn on the cheek and strolled away.

The council’s forces lined in formations to challenge the Vanguard of the Kingdom of Braylin. Grandmaster Donvir raised his staff and shot a bright ball of light into the sky. The Vanguard and the Red Core charged toward the enemy while the mages shot fireball, ice beams, lightning bolts, and all other kinds of magic. The Council ran full speed and met the Kingdom’s Soldiers and began the new campaign. The sound of swords hitting armor and flesh could be heard for miles. Members of the Red Cores punched the ground to send shock waves and distrusted the earth with cracked, others slammed into the enemy sent them flying for several feet. Knights and soldiers helped their own, slashing all those that dared challenge them.

The battle went by for hours and tens of thousands of Council mercenaries lost their lives while the kingdom’s numbers were half that. The invaders were getting pushed back with no hope of gaining ground.

BOOM!

The sound rippled through the battlefield, striking fear into the Kingdom’s army. A giant crater now covered what was once the center of the Red Core’s mages. Lifeless bodies littered the crater, burned to a crisp. General Ashburn scanned the area but didn’t see him. She ran through the field hacking and slashing her way through. She looked up and saw streaks of a magic shot towards the airship that left orbit. The ship started taking damage then the light around it began to darken.

BOOM!

A bright blue bolt of energy zoomed into a mass of student mages. She made it to the edge of the burnt field and frantically looked for her husband. “LAY!” She calls. No answer. She flipped over a body, but it wasn’t him. She searched and searched, but couldn’t find him. She turned to walk away and stepped on someone. She glanced down and tears fell from her eyes. Master Laytir laid on the ground covered in burns and blood. With no energy left Ashburn collapsed next to him and hugged the man. A gasp from Lay and he bolted upright.

“Wow, that hit me harder than that Tyripon ale we had last year.”

“You fool, you had me worried.”

They stood up, the General still clinging to him. “I was so afraid that you had left me, and I couldn’t bear it.” Laytir pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her.

“You don’t have to ever worry again.” A grunt from Ashburn and blood poured out of her mouth. Laytir dropped her and whipped his dagger on her armor. She pushed a button on her gauntlet and left it flashing. His armor turned blue and a wave of blue scattered in the Red Core ranks. Classmates turned on classmates and began fighting with the mercenaries. The Master of the Red Core walked away laughing.