The green-cloaked fae moved with lightning speed, and before Kael could react, the fae hurled his sword straight toward him, the blade cutting through the air. Its point gleaming in the dim light of the factory aimed directly at Kael’s heart. Kael pivoted, sidestepping at the last moment, watching the sword fly harmlessly past him.

  However, the fae was already in motion. The moment the blade left his hand, he vanished in a blink, reappearing behind Kael, grabbing hold of the thrown blade. Without a moment’s hesitation, he swung the sword at Kael, aiming for the head.

  The perfect execution of Dreamveil Slash.

  Gerry leapt into the fray. The clash echoed in the room as the fae’s blade met the heavy metal pipe that Gerry was holding. Sparks flew as the two forces collided, the blades locked against the golem’s weapon.

  Gerry pushed back with all his might, his gears grinding, his pistons pumping, his mechanical limbs straining under the force. But the fae was relentless, his strength and speed matching Gerry’s mechanical power. The two remained locked in a struggle, neither giving an inch.

  Then, just as Kael thought the stalemate would continue, he saw movement behind the fae.

  Jello, the largest of his slimes, charged toward the green-cloaked fae. In one fluid motion, Jello slammed into the fae’s side, sending him stumbling.

  It seemed as if the fae would fall but he leapt into the air, his wings flapping desperately. His twin swords slashed at Gerry and Jello as he escaped into the air. The fae’s maneuverability was too great and he hovered out of reach in the air.

  Kael looked on as the green-cloaked fae remained airborne, Jello and Gerry both lacking options to attack. He looked around, desperate for a solution when he glanced upon his latest summon, Mush.

  “Mush!” Kael shouted, “Fire at that fae.”

  His command rang through the din of battle and Mush and the other ice slimes heeded his call, a rush of cold air following them as they gathered round Kael.

  Mush was the first to fire. Several sharp icicles shot through the air, streaking towards the hovering fae. The fae’s eye widened as the projectiles neared and darted downwards away from the attack. The icicles missed their mark, piercing the metal walls with a soft hiss.

  The fae dived down towards Mush and the others, blades at the ready when Kael stood forward, parrying the attacks with the new techniques he had just picked up. The gold-level fae, however, was far from giving up.

  The fae landed, his feet touching the ground with unmatched grace and Gerry wasted no time. Gerry charged at the fae, metal pipe raised high, his arms swinging wildly. Jello followed close behind, his gelatinous form eager for battle. Kael’s two companions, one of steel and one of slime, moved and fought as one, each covering the other’s weakness.

  The blades of the fae were a blur, with slashes aimed at Jello that were deftly blocked by a sturdy pipe and blasts of lightning easily absorbed by Jello. Kael looked on, his companions edging closer to victory.

  In a desperate bid to overcome the newfound teamwork, the fae jumped into the air in an elaborate backflip, his right hand crackling with lightning and his left sparking with flame. The two elements that could spell defeat for his two attackers.

  Kael was not about to let him win.

  Kael rushed in as the fae was at the pinnacle of his flip and raised his Ice Sickle before bringing it across. The frozen sickle sliced through the air and Kael thought it was enough to catch the fae off guard. But the fae was too fast, his instincts too sharp. His blades had blocked the strike, as the fae flipped and landed back on the floor of the Factory. The spells were stopped but the fae remained standing.

  “Mush, get on me! All of you,” Kael yelled.

  The ice slimes clambered onto his shoulders as the cold touch of the slimes were sharp on his skin. Kael steadied his breath, Ice Sickle in one hand, Blacksmithing Hammer in the other and four Ice Slimes on his shoulders. He barely skimmed the surface of the Weapons Training Books but he knew enough to handle weapons. He hoped.

  His formidable opponents stood across, having avoid all the attacks so far. The fae was skilled, no doubt, far more skilled than Kael but Kael was not fighting alone.

  The green cloak rushed straight at Kael, his blades cutting through the air. Kael had barely managed to parry, but the blow pushed Kael back. The fae’s speed was unmatched but Kael kept his focus. He swung his Ice Sickle, aiming for the fae’s exposed side flank, but the fae had already gone, ducking below the strike with unnatural speed. The twin swords turned inward, both thrusted straight to Kael’s abdomen.

  Before Kael could react, Gerry lunged from the side, his pipe swinging downwards, the force pushing the blades down to the floor and stopping the fae’s Dualfang Rend. The blades were quickly retracted and readied for another strike when Jello moved in from behind, readying another hard blow to the fae.

  The fae seemed cornered but he spun once more and jumped out, easily escaping. Kael gritted his teeth, trying to keep up with the fae’s speed. He wasn’t as fast as the fae or Gerry or Jello for that matter, but he didn’t have to be. From a distance, he fired the icicles, each one flew through the air, only to be evaded by the fae.

  Kael knew he was the main target. He could feel the fae’s eyes on him. But that was exactly what Kael wanted. He was bait, to lure the enemy’s attention from his allies. Each time the fae lunged toward him, Kael would parry with his Ice Sickle or sidestep the strike, allowing Jello or Gerry to move in and strike from the fae’s blind spot.

  It was barely a plan but it was all Kael had.

  The fae charged again; his blades flashing but Kael was ready, he swung his hammer in a wide telegraphed arc, aiming for the fae’s head. The green cloak ducked under the blow and Kael had anticipated the move. He brought the Ice Sickle down in a swift arc, only for the move to be parried easily again.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  Frustration was building inside Kael. His attempts had failed and the longer the fight dragged on, the greater the chance of fae victory. He needed a plan. His eyes swept the tube room, when he had an idea.

  “Jello,” Kael said, “Lure him to the wall. Trap him.”

  Jello rumbled towards the fae, the green mass making wild jumps and slams in an attempt to trap the fae along the wall. Gerry, seeing this, joined the plan, cutting any escape routes from the fae.

  As Kael swung his sickle, the fae took a step back, moving towards the wall as he had planned. The fae’s steps were measured, the cloaked enemy aware of his enemies’ intentions.

  Just as the fae’s back reached the wall, the fae threw both his blades with deadly accuracy in a wide arc, aiming for Jello and Gerry who had positioned themselves to corner the fae.

  The swords spun in the air with a terrible hiss and Jello, with his wobbly form, managed to duck in time. Gerry, however, was not as lucky. The blade found its mark, striking a gear in his chest. The golem faltered but he was not done yet.

  But the green cloak was not finished. As his swords flew in the air, he turned, ran up the wall, his wings flapping as he twisted over their attempts to corner him. In one fluid motion, the fae drew his bow and fired an arrow straight at Kael.

  Kael tried to react, to raise his weapons but the arrow was too fast. He didn’t have time to dodge.

  The arrow had found its target.

  Gerry, damaged from the blade, had managed to leap in front of Kael. Gerry’s heart crystal was struck by the arrow, sending him sprawling to the ground.

  Before Kael could react further, the green cloak raised his bow again. He looked around the tube room, seeing his fae brethren dwindle under the combined might of Kael’s slimes and Avaris’s golems. The sentinels, while outnumbered, had managed to best the fae ambushers.

  The fae glanced back at Kael, his eyes filled with hate before turning and retreating out of the Factory, his wings fluttering with furiosity.

  Kael watched the fae escape before turning to the fallen golem. Gerry, the weapon loader golem, laid motionless, his steel form crumpled on the ground. His core, the crystal that was his lifeforce, was dimming. Three Arms stood nearby, his three arms twitching nervously.

  “Gerry...?” Three Arms’s high-pitched voice was softer than before.

  As Kael stared at the golem, an idea flickered in his mind. He had seen the power of the wisps before. The power of their detonation, the little shocks they can give. Could they be used to revive a golem? To charge a dimming heart crystal?

  “Blue, give him a shock.”

  The small wisp appeared in Kael’s hand and without hesitation, Blue darted from his hand and slipped into Gerry’s chest amidst the intricate gears and cogs. The wisp sent a spark of power into the crystal and the effect was immediate. The crystal was no longer dimming but began to glow, slowly at first, but then brighter and brighter.

  “Gerry!” Three Arms said.

  The previously still golem twitched, followed by the slightest movement of its arms.

  “I’m dead?”

  “Not yet, Gerry. Someone still needs to load these weapons.”

  Gerry turned to see Kael and a blue light, like a miniature star emerged from his chest. Blue hovered over to Kael and settled onto his open palm.

  It worked, Kael thought. It was a long shot but it worked.

  “Wisps,” Kael said. “Go! Heal the golems. Those that have fallen and give them the spark again!”

  At his command, dozens of wisps emerged from his open hand, filling the room with blue light. The wisps flew from one fallen sentinel to the other, their tiny forms a beautiful sight if not for the war. The golems, the sentinels began to arise again, their duty beckoning once more.

  Gerry stood, his frame fully functioning, his crystal glowing brightly once again albeit a couple scratches.

  “Thank you, Lord Kael.”

  “I am no lord, Gerry. Merely a Master trying to survive.”

  Kael gave a reassuring smile and Gerry twisted the steel plates on his face at an attempt of a smile back.

  The tube room was alive with magic, golems standing, wisps flying and Kael’s slimes bouncing. They had survived Highhaven’s attack and they were stronger. But Kael knew the battle was not yet over. Far from it.

  He closed his eyes and focused on a wisp he had sent on an important mission.

  Twinkle.

  Lira opened her eyes, her vision still blurry from her fall. She was on solid ground but the pain in her back was unbelievable. Her wings, those that gave her the dream of flight, were broken.

  She turned slightly to look at the wings. There was no obvious damage but her right wing was not moving as smoothly as it had. The other had managed to stay aloft long enough for her to glide her down to the ground, desperately avoiding a crash into the earth below.

  Twinkle began to flicker, her blue light a calming presence among the battle and the dead. Lira looked at the little spirit, thanking it for its aid and wondering where it came from.

  Twinkle drifted closer to her and began to move in precise movements, writing a script in the air: Lira, it’s Kael.

  Kael.

  In the middle of all the chaos of battle and war, between the clashes of steel and the screams and shouts, Kael was there. He had saved her. He had sent the wisp, her guardian angel, a small but powerful gesture, helping and guiding her along the way.

  Lira tried to move, her body aching from the rough landing, but she managed to lift herself, her eyes on Twinkle. The wisps pulsed its light, almost communicative.

  Twinkle continued to hover in the air, her trail of light forming the next line from Kael.

  Can you fly?

  Lira looked at Twinkle, doubt washed over her. She tried to get the mechanical wings to flap, with one still functioning and the other barely responded. She had been grounded. But Lira was not too quick to give up. She tried to flap again and she felt something stir.

  Twinkle’s light moved towards Lira and gently went to the back of her harness where the wings began to vibrate with energy. Lira looked at the wings, puzzled. Then, she felt it. A shock passed through the harness, a subtle and distinct charge through her body. Twinkle was helping her, pushing the limitations of her mechanical wings further.

  Slowly, her wings began to flap again, movement slow and hesitant then grew steadier. Lira gasped. It was working.

  Her feet left the ground, hovering a few inches above. The first time since her fall.

  Twinkle reappeared before her, another message from Kael.

  I have a crazy plan.

  Lira looked at the words, unsure of its meaning. Her mind was conflicted, Avaris was the conclave master and this was his invasion. As she had regained her flight, should she not rejoin the skirmish above? Follow the orders given?

  Yet, Lira thought, Kael always had good plans.

  Twinkle moved in closer and the words were written in blue will-o-wisp light.

  Do you trust me?

  Lira’s heart pounded in her chest. Trust. She had only been a Master for two weeks, she did not know who or what to trust. She did not know what Kael or the wisp had planned but she felt a pull of its energy, a sense of confidence that the plan would succeed.

  She had already committed to the war, what is one more leap of faith?

  Lira held Twinkle in her hands and with a deep breath, she whispered to Kael.

  Yes, I trust you.

  ******