Under the Light of the World at War: Early Chapter 35

“Keep moving!” The shout was starting to become a common refrain. The sun was dropping which was causing some concern, but I mean we were elves. 

We might not be Night Elves anymore, but the night vision was still exceptional. I just wasn’t sure how good Troll vision was, so I was once more at the back of the convoy throwing Caltrops in our path.

After the fight, we’d seen them a few times. Mama and Liennar had gone out a few times to kill the scouts, with only minimal success.

Reports of Trolls pulling arrows out of their flesh and vanishing away were whispered between the rangers.

I wasn't even sure if the Caltrops would help if they were healing that much, but I did it anyway, whenever I wasn’t casting maxed out Holy Light on people and animals.

We were getting tired. So very very tired.

I’d been on my feet almost nonstop for two days, and no amount of Holy Light was enough to stop my ankles from aching with every step.

Complaints were rising up constantly, and yet, the fear had become real. Even the complainers were still walking, still moving towards safety. 

“Dorah, you should rest.” Papa said to me, having slowed down enough to come check on me, his eyes more clear than I was used to, as he scanned the trees behind us.

“I will… When we are through the first Elf Gate.” I told him simply.

“Dorah, you need to rest. I don’t want you getting sick with exhaustion.”

“I know Papa… I’ll try.” I told him, but didn’t stop conjuring water and throwing more Caltrops.

He didn’t say anything more, simply falling in step to walk with me, his own eyes on the lookout for me as I did what I felt I had to.

I really wanted to just flop into my bed and sleep forever.

But my bed was on the other side of a horde of angry Trolls. My ears twitched and I looked up, as Mama came back avoiding the road and weaving between the trees with Chocobo. She rna up avoiding the Caltrops and checking on me, then on Papa.

“How is it?” I asked, and she just shook her head. 

“Don’t worry about that Dorah. I did see one of them step on our Caltrops. It’s working.” Mama said and I grinned weakly at her praise.

Good, only a million more.

“Dorah needs rest.”

“She does. Go rest Dorah, you are small enough you can rest in the cart, or maybe El’Tela’s carpet.”

“I will.” I said but once again continued conjuring water.

“Dorah, I mean now. It’s late. The Trolls are tracking us, but they won’t charge us in the middle of the night.”

I pursed my lips and sighed, crafting the last batch and throwing them behind us.

“Fine.” I said, and then continued to drink some water, and summoned up the Light. It flowed around me, and I cast Holy Light on Mama, and then after a few more moments of catching my breath and regaining my Mana, on Chocobo. 

Mama, well used to the routine, waited for me to do both of them.

“Go sleep.” Mama ordered and I nodded, I didn’t even have the energy to give her a salute or something. I was too tired.

I walked a bit faster, catching up with the convoy and heading to the carts. Many of the youngest were already being pushed onto the cart to rest.

Much to the complaint of some of the older elves that didn’t want to keep walking, but still.

As I approached Kimi noticed me, and she shifted creating space, and offering her hand. I took it and grabbed the edge of the cart and hauled myself up, making sure not to pull her off.

“Thanks.” I whispered, and Kimi instantly grabbed me into a hug.

She didn’t say anything, but I hugged her back. She was scared. We all were. I managed to eventually push her up a bit, and get a blanket, and pillow, and Kimi was soon stuck to my side as the cart rumbled along.

I looked up into the sky, the stars above were the same as always, not a single one of them had changed despite the horrors happening below them. 

Elune hung in the sky, bathing us in her light, but just watching as well.

It’s not like she would bother with us. She had the Night Elves her favored children, while we were the black sheep outcasts.

“Elune adore? I hope so. We could use you right now.” I whispered, staring up into the night sky. 

—--

I blinked awake sunlight poking into my eyes and I clenched them shut and rolled a bit, but I was stuck.

Eventually I managed to extract myself from Kimi who was a grabby sleeper, and I looked over the convoy.

People looked ragged. 

We hadn't stopped the whole night, and the sun was up.

I made to climb to my feet and hissed. My legs felt like one giant ache.

I clenched my eyes shut as I felt terrible. I should just lay back down, I could rest with the children and all of this could be over…

No. Forcing myself up, shifting down the cart until I was at the end, I stretched my legs a bit as I gathered Mana. 

I was full from a night's rest, and so a full powered Holy Light was dropped on myself.

It helped, most of the aching disappearing. I breathed for a few moments just firming my resolve.

Then with a quick conjuring of some water, I slipped off the cart. Stumbling as my feet hit the dirt and just didn’t want to quite hold myself up, but I ignored it and kept moving anyway. The feeling faded as I started walking, I was fine, especially compared to some of the people walking along, stumbling with every step.

“Holy Light.” I whispered, restoring the one woman, the one that thought high heels were smart. Her feet were bleeding again, but she walked on, fear keeping her going despite the obvious look in her eyes of wanting to stop.

Desperation would get even the most refined elf to realize how important it was to put their foot in front of the next one.

She jolted, sending me a look and then her look shifted into something grateful.

“We’re almost there.” I told her, and offered her the water.

She took it and drank from it greedily. 

Okay, get back to it Dorah.

I used Evocation, drank water, and kept up Mage Armor to do everything I could to keep the mana coming in as I healed my day down the convoy.

Papa had enough energy to send me a smile when I found him, but not much else.

He was even lazier than some of the other elves, and I did what I could to help him, but he, like everyone else, just needed to keep walking, exhausted or not.

I continued healing, returning at least a little pep to most of the convoy. Finally at the back I found Mama, and El’Tela. The fact she was taking up the rear…

I dropped a healing on Mama instead of a greeting. She looked like she needed it.

“Finally awake? Good. We’ll need you rested instead of trying to kill yourself.” El’Tela snarked at me, and I looked her over. Despite hovering around on her carpet, she’d been up all night too.

“How’s the hip?”

“Killing me, likely literally.” She admitted, and I nodded as I chugged some more water. To get enough to cast another Holy Light. The look of relief on her face as she shifted on the carpet into another position was just as powerful as the bleeding feet lady.

Either way. We all had to keep doing it. 

I looked back, there was nothing I could see down the road behind us. 

“Anything?”

“A few more scouts. They’re still tracking us, but the main horde hasn’t caught up.”

I nodded and then looked back towards the front of the convoy. “I’ll keep healing for now.”

“Good. The Caltrops won’t be needed anymore.” Mama said and I blinked.

“Why why?”

“We’ve passed more villages, yes we warned them. If they come they come, and we don’t want to be hitting them.”

“Oh.”

“Just keep Walking Dorah. We should make it to the Elf Gate before evening.” Mama said firmly, every inch the Ranger here to protect us

Hopefully it would be enough.

—--

I had done it.

Casting Holy Light over and over, through the last few days, and it finally happened.

[Holy Light Lv. 10 1/100] [Apprentice Mastery] [Mastery Benefit +5 Spirit]

I’d hit level ten, and as I walked along, I had been right in so many ways. The ability to convert mana into a different energy was integral to casting spells. Arcane was something I’d long since gotten used to, but with the Light I was still just desperately grasping at straws, which is why Holy Light had always cost so much to cast.

But not anymore. I felt it, deep inside me, mana converting into the light, and just… I knew. 

It wasn’t knowledge, not like Arcane. Arcane wanted everything to be perfect. 1+1=2. 

But the Light wasn’t like that. Two different users could end up with very different answers for 1+1, because the light wasn’t order, it was a fundamental different force.

I’d been misunderstanding.

Just like Arcane was based on Order, the idea of Holy was based on the Light as well.

Holy was the aspect we could actually use of the Light. I grinned as I let that light flow through me, the power flowed at my will.

More importantly, I knew how to shift the Light, how to use it in ways beyond just healing. I was sure of it, I could probably start throwing Smites or something around without much effort.

And my healing was expanded. No more struggling to get one or two heals out. I could cast it now. The apprentice knowledge had expanded my understanding fundamentally. 

“Dorah?”

“Huh?” I opened my eyes and realized I had just been standing there with my eyes closed for a while, processing what had changed. “Oh sorry Ma’Rika, got lost in thought.” I explained, and then because I might as well, I started casting Holy Light. The energy came to me so quickly like an eager dog wanting to be used, the light flowed around my hand deeper than ever before, and when I released it Ma’Rika nearly jolted a bit.

“You’re getting good at that.” She muttered, looking down at her legs and seemingly adjusting her footing a bit.

“I’ve gotten a lot of practice.” I admitted wryly, and then looked over the rest of the convoy. Better healing meant everyone needed more attention. 

—---

The noise was what made me realize the Trolls were here. I was near the front offering more healing trying to keep the exhausted elves moving when I heard the sharp crack of El’Tela’s lighting spell shooting off. 

I turned and rushed for the rear, already pulling out my bow and readying to draw and loose.

As I reached the firing line of wands, and bows twanging my heart squeezed.

There were a lot of trolls. They had caught up.

I pulled my string back and fired, launching an Arcane Arrow into the mass of Trolls that were throwing axes, and disappearing into the trees. 

They weren’t even trying to rush us, just harass us.

I shot arrow after arrow, mostly missing, but trying to fend them off when I heard it, a cry of pain.

One of the mages casting Mana Bolt down the line crumpled out crying in pain, an axe stuck in his chest.

I didn’t even know this guy, he was one of the Windhome Elves, but that didn’t mean I hesitated, I started casting even as I moved, maneuvering through the line as those near him had already grabbed him and started dragging him along.

I made it, even as he was clumsily trying to pull the axe out of his chest, pain and fear etched across his face.

I reached him and grabbed the axe and yanked as I dropped the light onto him.

He screamed, which turned into a moan, as the wound started closing. The other two continued hauling him back, to get him away and let him recover when I turned. The Trolls were quite happy to just throw axes at us from the tree lines. Even from here I could see their sinister tusked grins as they chucked the axe and ducked back from retaliation, watched as it flew across and was just ducked by Mama as she drew and fired another shot.

I looked at the axe in my hand….

“Grab the axes!” I called out, realizing what we needed to do, and then I rushed forward to do just that.

They were throwing their ammunition at us, sure plenty had already fallen to the ground and we’d walked right past them, but if we simply took all the weapons.

I tossed the axe ahead of us, as another elf went down, the axe slamming into their arm, and I winced at how bad it looked.

Rushing forward, I went to work. Holy Light, even as they were helped to their feet. Cal was one of them, and he waited for my nod as I cast the spell to yank out the axe.

Then another cry of pain.

And another.

Each person that went down was a chip in our armor, and it was growing quickly. But I was the healer, and I had to leave the defense to the others, all I could do was keep working. 

Ma’Rika got hit, but thankfully not a full strike, after healing she got back up and kept casting.

Kimi’s father went down, the man gasping as the axe slammed into him, center chest, practically in his throat. 

After a Holy Light, the fact he was able to stumble away to try and recover was purely due to the improvements in my healing.

Another, then another.

Mama! I gasped, hyper focusing as Mama cried out in pain as an axe struck her, but I was healing someone else.

No. Stay focused. Finish the heal, Mama was being helped up by Liennar. I would be at her side soon.

The heal finished and I was already running. Dipping and dodging. 

“Mama!” I cried out as I reached her, the axe had struck her thigh, and it looked bad. Blood was gushing out!

Focus! She’s hurt, but she won’t be for long! Because I wouldn’t let her stay hurt!

I brought the light to bear, gathering my power, focusing and honing it, and then dropping it onto her. Liennar helped pull the axe free, as Mama screamed at the pain, but I kept the spell going.

And soon she was limping on an unblemished leg, as she was handed her bow, and she stumbled along firing backwards.

Finally the scouts seemed to run out of axes.

Others, those not fighting, had been sent back carrying the axes up towards the cart to drop them off. One after another, dozens of them.

Even if each Troll had brought four axes, it meant there were dozens of them out there.

And yet the Trolls weren’t disappearing even as no more axes came. They jeered at us. Speaking in whatever Troll Language was called. Jeering, some were even mooning us, delighting in the pain they caused us.

A few more arrows, a few more wand strikes, but they were far enough away they were using the trees as cover.

They had no intention of breaking off now.

I shook it off, stop focusing on them, and focus on what I could do. I rushed around, rehealing all those that had been hurt, trying to ease some of the pain and making sure they truly were recovered. 

We would need all of them for what came next.

—---

Eventually even Mana and Liennar had stopped taking pot shots at the Trolls when they realized what was going on.

The rushed conversation from the two of them overheard with little elfling ears.

The trolls weren’t going down. Wounds weren’t killing them, and just like the Trolls we could run out of weapons eventually too. Or at least arrows. 

I a single arrow wasn’t enough to kill the trolls, and didn’t seem to truly fend them off, then all they were doing was using up their limited ammunition.

Arcane arrows had been denied since healing everyone was more useful, and even Mama wasn’t sure they would be enough.

So I wandered the convoy, healing everyone I could trying to do something to stop the draining morale.

Because the noise the Trolls were making was constantly slowly increasing, more and more of them were catching up, and every once in a while I would rush to the rear at the sound of fighting resume as the fresh Trolls had axes or spears to throw at us.

But the worst part was, it wasn’t just behind us anymore.

The trolls had caught up, and our convoy was large. Large enough they were coming in from the sides to attack us.

El’Tela ended up floating up to the center of the convoy and was blasting any of the Trolls that thought they could sneak around, but it was only a matter of time until they rushed in.

If they broke the convoy… If some of us started running around scared instead of holding…

A noose was slowly circling all of us.

“Dorah!”

“Coming!” I shouted out, running to the side, another Troll attack, El’Tela wasn’t using lighting anymore, or at least for now, so a bolt of Mana shot down and crashed straight through the tree the Troll that just attacked us had been hiding behind. He slumped actually dead from the side of the wound.

But I was more focused on the injured Elf. 

It was Kal’Etor, the woman that ran her little cafe, that had taught me her secret icecube spell.

She wasn’t…

I reached her, another two elves dragging her deeper in, to try and cover her, but…

The axe in her head was…

I could only heal. Don’t focus on the rest Dorah! I started casting, drawing deep in the hopes this would work, but as I cast the spell, it didn’t even make her twitch.

Holy Light didn’t work on someone already dead. That was a limit that the spell couldn’t break.

“Dorah!? Why didn’t it work?” I knew the elf that was cradling her, trying to wake her up. That was Mal’Etor, her son. The young man was popular in the village since he liked cooking, and he helped out at Kal’Etor’s cafe. 

He’d given me a tasty cookie once while I’d been on an adventure.

Right now he wasn’t winking. He was crying, his eyes practically glowing as the tears caused the natural glow to flow over his cheeks. It was like he was crying fluorescent tears. 

I just stood there.

What could I do? 

I didn’t know how to bring someone back… Back to life. Because Kal’Etor was dead. They’d gotten one of us. 

They’d actually managed it, the Trolls… Were going to-

“Dorah!” I blinked looking into the boy's eyes as he cried out my name. I was the healer.

I’d become that, I’d taken that role, and I was good at it. I’d saved lives. I brought my hands up, and lightning formed. 

Evocation refilling my Mana pool that was nearly empty, the energy startled Mal, but I didn’t have the heart to say anything.

If I told him she was dead, then she would really be dead.

But. But!

If I only had my Arcane spells this would be hopeless. It would take weeks, or months to figure out how to do this without something to start. If it was even possible.

But I wasn’t dealing with the Arcane.

As my Mana filled, I started pulling. Converting it into the Light. My hands filled with Light, it wasn’t a spell, because a spell was something you do that could be repeated. This was something else.

Please! This has to work! It has to! It must! I want it to! I believe it will, and so it will! So just work! It’s possible! This can be done!

I felt the light gather, growing stronger and stronger and stronger, and finally when I literally couldn’t convert anymore, when my mana had fallen to zero. I dropped to my knees, pushed my hands against Kal’Etor’s fallen form. Let the light flow, and willed it to happen.

It would work! 

The Light flowed, burning into nothing as there was nothing there.

“NO!” I screamed, pushing it into her. Bring her back! “NO ONE WILL DIE TODAY!” I did something more, I looked up to the sky and prayed. Begging for anything listening to just make this work!

“Ressurection!”

It wasn’t me that spoke. But something through me, something else, the Light I had gathered itself swirling through me in a way I had never felt before. 

And the burst of light escaped me, going from bright to blinding, flowing up and around and when it was done.

Kal’Etor coughed. She was injured. But instead of her skull being split open… She was badly wounded.

All I could do was fall forward onto my hands. Tears streaming down my face.

It had worked?

It had worked.

[Spell Learned: Resurrection]

No one would die! Not today! Not until we were safe! I could-

“Dorah, no time to rest! Up!” I was hauled up by strong hands, and realized they were right. Even as Kal’Etor was hauled up and put into a cart, the woman obviously weak, we weren’t done.

More Trolls were here. I rose up. Out of mana evocation just spent, but I had to help. We were breaking. The Trolls were toying with us from each side of the forest, pressing us in… They were almost in front of us now. No doubt ready to slow us down just long enough for the rest of the Trolls to catch up.

I grabbed some water, drinking deeply, as I hurried, there had to be something I could do! Something to break through, to get us through!

El’Tela above us blasted out another lightning spell, it jumped around catching multiple Trolls off guard and easing some of the pressure, but it only lasted a few moments, before it was right back on. The Trolls want us.

They were ready to finally kill us, and they weren’t going to be sent off again

“Doba quzhu ta tawbo! CHU!” A yell went out, something I couldn’t translate, but I understood the meaning.

It was time for us to die.

I grabbed my Bow, ready to fire with what little I had left, but them a horn.

And not just any horn. A Dragonhawk came up and over the treetops. An Elf on its back, and then another, and another.

A dozen Dragonhawks flying over the trees, magic crashing down into the trees pushing the Trolls back.

“Flee! The Gate is in front of you! Do not tarry! Flee!” The rider yelled out, and that was enough for us.

Hope kindled, and every one of us started moving.

It was a frenzy, pushing forward, trying to move as the Dragon hawk riders divebombed the trolls. As arrows and spells were loosed as quickly as we all could.

Injuries happened, the Trolls threw axes and spears, and then when it looked like we were going to get away they charged.

It was horrible. I barely got enough mana to be able to heal again when they clashed against us, and some of us went down.

But the Dragonhawks were there, El’Tela was above shooting magic down, and Mama Liennar, and Cal were active.

The injured were grabbed thrown over Hawkstriders and sent along, no time to heal them. Just keep moving because as we turned a corner there it was.

The First Elf Gate. The magically empowered gate was safety. And we ran for it.

The guards at the gate moved out. Armored elves, some rangers, and all of them angry, as spells and arrows were launched to fend the Trolls off.

And finally as the gate closed behind us, and the injuries from the flight were counted off.

No one from either village was dead.

Our death march was over.