As my magic attacked the artifact I felt something. Devour magic had always been a curious and slightly creepy spell. It was not a normal dispel. It really ate magic. And right now it was eating a divine artefact. The second one, since I had used the spell against the staff during our last encounter.

  But this crown had been compromised in some way. Beira might have used it to become the creature she was now. It was connected to her. Could I direct devour magic? Could I somehow influence the spell, beyond unleashing it?

  The lightning I had used against Beira was still coursing through her body. Maybe I could use that. I was the storm, after all. I focused my aura, trying to get hold of the electricity. I wanted it to enter the crown. I wanted it to direct my other spell.

  Devour magic was a fire and forget type of spell. You had no control over what happened once cast. But if my intuition was right, the magic was not entirely mindless. Maybe I could convince it to simply eat the corruption inside the crown and spare the artifact. I certainly did not want an explosion like last time.

  I focused on my aura. I focused on my element. I imagined myself becoming the lightning. I wanted it to enter the crown and convey a message to my spell. Eat the corruption.

  The first part of my plan worked. My lightning made contact with devour magic. But all I felt was hunger. A desire to eat, to consume. That was not acceptable! This was my magic. I was the storm! It would obey.

  More lightning rained down from the sky as I cast storm bolts directly into the crown. Beira was barely alive at this point and her body was paralysed by lightning. I put all my might, all my will, all my determination into the magic. I was the storm. I felt my mind race through the crown. Devour magic was mine and it would follow my commands!

  Beira managed a final scream as her body turned to ash. The crown shattered, leaving a pristine diamond behind, which dropped to the ground. So did her staff.

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  The wolf wailed in distress and tried to run, but Lucy did not let him. She had grown since her last encounter. As the wounded creature tried to flee Lucy pounced and caught its neck. Soon the wolf stopped moving.

  The death elemental was losing to Shani. It was caught in chains of electrified blood and screamed as Shani hacked at it with a scythe.

  “You think you are cute?!? I WILL SHOW YOU CUTE. YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE BUNNY EARS!” Shani shouted as the death elemental slowly dissolved.

  The remaining undead on the field had lost all cohesion and wandered randomly around as Lily and Adhira finished them off.

  I felt exhausted. The whole fight had taken quite a bit out of me. I also realised I had used more spell slots than intended. Somehow my control of my aura had consumed two tier nine spells. Was I able to convert spell slots into additional aura power? Certainly something to explore later.

  As I looked around I saw Lilith on the ground, kneeling next to Erin, who was lying in the snow. I quickly flew downwards.

  “Is she alive?” I asked.

  Lilith nodded. “Yes, but she is wounded.”

  Erin spit some blood. “I… No reason to…” cough “No reason to concern yourself. I…”

  “Shush. Save your strength and rest. You will be fine.” Lilith said, while stroking her hair. Then she looked at me. “How did you protect your people? Sir Francis is fine. Being a former paladin he is rather resistant to death magic. But Erin had no such protections. I underestimated Beira’s spell.”

  “Our bond helped to protect us. Lucy and myself managed to protect everyone through it.” I replied.

  Then I touched Erin and cast my low level healing spell. Healing was certainly not my strength but I could do a little. Erin’s breathing stabilised and she fell asleep.

  “So, you can heal.” Lilith observed.

  “Only a little. But she should be fine, I think.” I replied.

  “Is Beira dead?” Lilith asked.

  “I don’t know. Her body was destroyed. So was the crown. But was that really her phylactery?” I shrugged. Then I looked around and found the diamond. I picked it up and went back to Lilith, who was still holding the sleeping Erin.

  “What is that?” Lilith asked.

  “That was the centerpiece of the crown.” I replied, while holding up the gem and studying it. I could feel some magic inside.

  “Is… is that divine magic in there?” Lilith asked.

  “I think so.” I replied. “It certainly has some power. I wonder what we can do with it.”

  Soon the fighting ended and all remaining undead were destroyed. Lilith had a spare tent where Erin could rest. Lucy’s three tails wagged excitedly as she dragged the dead wolf to the camp. Shani was all over the corpse, pleading with Lucy to get some of the blood.

  We had won this fight. But was Beira dead? What should we do now? And what could I use that divine gem for?