Under the Light of the World at War: Early Chapter 34

“Okay, it’ll last a day or so, and then melt away, so it won’t hurt people later on.” I explained looking at the spell. It did make it a bit more expensive, but that was just the trade off.

“Acceptable.” El’Tela said having been watching me make the spell refinement and judging me the entire time.

“Glad you find it acceptable.” I said a bit sarcastic, but then I shook it off. With a bit of work, I conjured some water, and then with a wave of my hand a handful of Caltrops flowed into my hand.

“What do you think?” I asked, looking up at Mama, who had been watching me work. 

“I think it’ll slow our pursuit when the Trolls hit it.” Mama said confidently, and I nodded. 

“Okay, you got this Grandma? I’m going to start laying these.”

“What?” She said, blinking in surprise at my words.

“What? Teaching someone to make them will take time, and instead I can start placing them right now. You teach them, get some extras, and I’ll start littering every step the Trolls will take.”

“Fine. Get to it.” She ordered me, and I just nodded and hopped off the Flying Carpet. I walked to the back of the convoy, and just started conjuring water, and pouring it out a moment later a batch of caltrops were there. Then I did it again, and again.

Mama watched as I slowly followed behind the convoy just splashing water and conjuring the trap.

“Make sure you throw some in the woods around the road as well.” Mama said, and I nodded but I smiled a bit sinisterly. 

“I want to make sure they know about the Caltrops before I do that. They’ll probably test it out a bit and then start hurrying again only to run right into more Clatrops.”

Mama dropped a hand onto my head.

“That’s sneaky, but don’t overthink it. When laying a traps, place the trap, hope for the best, but placing traps where you think they’ll go after usually just ends in wasted time.”

“Got it.” I said, I looked over the road, I could barely see the Caltrops. The second refinement I’d done was try to make them as clear as I could. Considering the conjured water was clear, the ice could be as well, and so each caltrop was more like glass than ice. 

Hopefully it would be enough.

Slowing down the Trolls, at least until we hit the first Elf Gate. They wouldn’t flow over the first gate in minutes, it would give us protection for a time, long enough to make proper distance to Silvermoon, and behind the actual shield.

For hours I created the caltrops, walking mostly backwards behind the convoy, stopping every once in a while to turn around and jog to catch up, before starting again.

Mama was sticking close to me, her bow always at the read just in case the Trolls caught up, and yet things were quiet.

“Hey kid!” Liennar called out after hours of non-stop work. Evocation more than enough to cover the mana costs of the water and the icecube spell. I turned to see him jogging up. “The Magistrix says you should come back. She’s got a few students making the caltrops now.”

“Good.” Mama said, reaching out to grab my shoulder and pushing me towards the convoy. “I don’t like how quiet it's been. The Trolls… We should have seen a scout or something by now.”

“Unless they got stopped by the Caltrops.” Liennar said smiling. “Maybe they stopped to figure out what was going on.”

“Maybe.” Mama replied back but never stopped pushing me along. 

Honestly it was okay. I was getting tired of casting the same two spells over and over anyways. 

Hurrying back. I noticed Ma’Rika was also helping out along with Sav’Kinara, and Kal’Etor. Kal’Etor looked annoyed over the whole situation, and as I approached she shot me a look.

“I expected you to keep the spell at least somewhat quiet. If everyone can make it, they don’t need to come to the cafe for a cool drink.” She snipped at me, but I felt my eyebrow raise up as I shot her my flattest look, and eventually she looked away first. “Oh I know its an emergency, but this is part of my livelihood. Let me complain.”

“You know, I have modified the spell enough that the icecubes will last a lot longer… You could always take that part of the spell and end up with never melting icecubes, as part of your draw.” I offered, walking past her, we’d been walking for hours and someone would be complaining about sores or something by now.

“That’s… Not a terrible idea.” She muttered thinking it out, but El’Tela snapped out.

“Focus on the task. Imagine pleasant times later.” And Kal’Etor snapped back to the bag she was dumping Caltrops into. Cal and Liennar, looked like they were taking over the duty, hauling the bags over and spreading them out behind us.

I sent one last look at that. Hopefully it would be enough. Until then, I needed to continue helping keep people moving.

“Holy Light.” I whispered shooting it at Ma’Rika, who was looking tired, and nearly instantly her walking flattened out a bit.

“My thanks, Dorah, my ankle isn’t happy with me.”

“I thought a certain someone would be keeping an eye on you?” I asked, and she shot me a look then smiled.

“Without your help, he’s been busy. His healing isn’t quite as effective as yours.”

“Really?” I whispered, then shook it off, he was just a sort of healer from time to time. A guard that knew some basic healing magic, I guess it made sense.

Whatever. Hes’Tara not being a master healer, just meant I would have to pull up the slack.

I hurried around, and once more started casting full blast Holy Light on people. Even if they weren’t hurt, clearing out aching muscles was helpful to keep their lazy elf asses moving.

—---

There was a crossroads in the road. We kept going, or at least the convoy kept doing, taking one road.

But down the other.

“There are people down there. They probably have no idea what is going on.” I said. I looked around and yet no one seemed to care. The tired adults kept walking down the road that would lead to the Elf Gate, leaving behind another village…

My heart beat in my ears. I didn’t know anyone down there. The village was a bit out of sight from the road, but it was there.

I turned and hurried to the back of the convoy. There, I faced Mama, who had stopped heading out to scout, with the caltrops it was a bit too dangerous, and more importantly, she was worried the Trolls were right behind us.

“We have to warn them!” I called out as I arrived pointing forward, and Mama and Liennar both turned to look and then their faces shifted.

“I’ll go.” Mama said after a short look passing between them. “At the least I can warn them and catch up.”

“We can’t leave them.”

“We can’t wait for them.” Mama said instantly and I realized she was probably right. 

It took hours to get Windhome moving. Hours to get our village moving too.

Hours that might be too late.

Mama was heading over to grab Chocobo, but I wasn’t going to just stand here. 

I had to do something!

I followed as she headed down the road, jogging to keep up. I was tired, my legs hurt, I’d been walking for two days now, running back and forth along the convoy trying to keep things moving, but did any of that matter in the face of someone dying? Not just someone, but a lot of people.

Mama ran Chocobo into the center of the village, as I raced along behind her.

“Dorah.”

“No time!” I argued, and Mama just sighed and nodded. 

“Hey you!” Mama yelled in her Ranger voice. “Gather everyone! There is an emergency!” Mama called out as sternly as she could, but the woman that was minding her front garden looked at Mama and then scoffed.

So Mama slipped off her Chocobo, and walked over, and then to my shock punched the woman across the face.

My jaw dropped as the woman crumpled into her flowers in a crash.

Her shocked scream echoed out. 

“H-How you! You dare!?”

“I said there is an emergency! I am trying to save you! Get up!” Mama yelled, and with that I noticed the commotion had caused more than a few rubberneckers…

We needed more, we needed everyone.

I picked up a rock, and then tossed it

No flash, just noise.

“GET OUT HERE!” The alarm went off loudly, not as loud as I could make it, as we were still worried about Trolls, but still.

Mama nodded at me, and then looked around.

“Everyone needs to get here immediately! Who is your Village Leader!?” She called out and there was a hissed scream from the woman that Mama punched, but a moment later a Magister came out of a tower a bit further into the town. Or at least he looked like a Magister with the fancy expensive robes, and a floating cup following after him.

“What is the meaning of this!?”

“Ranger Felomin Dawnspear. You need to immediately evacuate the entire town. Trolls have pushed up through-”

“Are you saying this is all because of Trolls?” He cut Mama off with an offended sneer. “Have you lost your mind Ranger? That you-”

“Trolls are coming!” Mama yelled, cutting him off this time. “I have the backing of the Rangers, and an elder Magistrix currently guiding our evacuation to Silvermoon.” Mama got right in his face. “If you wish to argue with me, please head to the convoy and Magistrix El’Tela will happily explain to you the situation. Until then. You will gather everyone in the town right now, and get them moving. There is no time!”

The Magister, or Mage, or whatever went silent, his jaw clenching he obviously didn’t like Mama interrupting him. 

“I will not be spoken to in such a way. Silence yourself Ranger. You said you were Felomin Dawnspear? I will remember this name, and I assure you your name will be reported!”

“Whatever! Report me after! You need to call everyone here and move them!”

“I will do no such thing! What utter tripe! If a few Trolls come to my home I’ll wipe them up and then enjoy a nice brunch!”

“You fool! It isn’t just a few! The Trolls are invading! Every border town is under attack, either gone or under siege! The numbers I saw are in the hundreds! Just on their way here! We need to move!”

“I don’t know what game you are playing, but if this is some scheme from Dale’na I assure you any protection he might offer you won’t be enough!”

“What are you even talking about! Listen to me! A horde of Trolls are almost here! There is a convoy moving past your town right now! We have a Magistrix with us! Gather your people and move!”

I realized it wasn’t going to work. This guy wasn’t listening, and Mama was just falling into his rhythm.

I turned away from them, and ran to the nearest person, the ones that were just listening.

“Listen! There is a Magistrix and rangers escorting us to safety! Grab your family and run to the road, and join up, now! There is no time! Don’t get stuck arguing, move! Move!” I urged them on, repeating myself over and over, but getting only a few concerned looks. It was obvious some of the elves were getting worried, but not enough to actually move!

My shouts didn’t push anyone. There was no crutch I could use to convince them, this town had never heard of me. They weren’t listening.

They were all going to die.

I looked around, anything! Something! Nothing. I had nothing to convince them!

Looking at Mama hoping for something, but she was busy arguing. Fine. Running back up the road. El’Tela, or maybe Ma’Rika, one of them could convince them, could override this arrogant village leader's voice.

The convoy wasn’t even past the village yet when I arrived already out of breath.

I was tired.

“The village elder isn’t listening!” I gasped, explaining to El’Tela, who just sent me a look.

“Then there is nothing we can do.” She said back, and I shook my head. 

“No, there has to be something. You or Ma’Rika, you can tell him to listen!”

“They will not listen to me, girl. Nor will they listen to Ma’Rika. They will agree, and then argue behind me regardless. If you can’t get them moving, then ignore them. You’ve done what you can.”

“No… No, I can do more!” I argued back practically pleading with her. “We can do more!”

“Perhaps. But not in the time we have.” She reached out and placed a hand gently on my head, as I was leaning on her carpet pleading with her. “Sometimes things are beyond our control.”

“Then you aren’t using enough force!” I snapped, and then turned.

Fuck it.

I was tired.

I was tired of these stupid arrogant elves not listening!

Down the road I ran, El’Tela calling out to me, but I wasn’t going to listen. I was done listening to them! 

Mama was still arguing, and a larger crowd had gathered, and honestly it looked like Mama was losing. There were a few semi armed villagers gathering, surrounding Mama, and the Magister, looking like they were listening to him.

Fuck that noise.

I raced through, the Magister seeing me, and instantly looking away, labeling me a non-threat.

Which was a mistake as suddenly his voice cut out.

Silence.

The look of outrage lasted half a second as I hit him full tilt.

My shield slammed into the side of his leg with an almost sickening crunch, he instantly fell, arms flailing, but I was there. 

Spinning around his body I wound up and every inch of power in my body whipped around and smashed my shield into his stupid face.

The crunch startled half the village as they took a step back.

The next moment I was on him, pushing his bleeding face into the dirt my shield pinning his head down, and my blade out flaming sword licking at his neck.

“Now you will all listen!” I roared, I was a child, but damn them all for making me do this! “Trolls are coming! Don’t you understand! We hundreds! Thousands of them! We have only a dozen Rangers in the entire area! We have seen dozens of villages burned down, the people in them captured, to be eaten and sacrificed for their evil gods, and now you want to stand here and argue! There will be no arguments! You will gather together and walk! Now! If you don't, we will break you, and make you walk!”

The whole crowd was looking at me, the two goons that had weapons, just a wood axe, and a sword up front were glaring.

But then the sound of a bowstring pulled back.

“Don’t even think about it.” Mama growled with complete threat. “You heard the junior Ranger. Grab your families and move! Now!” 

“I’m not going anywhere! You can’t threaten us like this!” A voice shouted from the back, and I nearly wanted to scream as that sent the crowd over the edge in the wrong direction.

They were going to fight us, because they didn’t know, and in doing so everyone here would die!

“Don’t you get it!?” I shouted. “Trolls are coming, thousands of them! What are you talking about you fools!? Do you want your family to die?”

“Trolls are nothing!” Another voice called out scoffing. “A bit of magic and they flee like cowards! This is my home!”

“Yeah! I’m not going anywhere!”

I was just staring trying to understand the foolishness I was seeing, when Mama’s hand dropped on my shoulder. 

“Come on Dorah. We’re leaving.”

“What!? We can’t just leave them! They’re going to die!”

“I know, but we can’t force them. We don’t have enough people to get them all moving, and we don’t have time to try anymore. Come on.” She tugged, me, and I couldn’t resist as she hauled me away from the Magister who groaned as I got off him, and pulled towards Chocobo….

This was stupid.

This was so stupid!

I wanted to scream, but that wouldn’t solve anything. No if these people had any hope they would need their defenses…

Light flowed through me, and I dropped light upon the Magister, a moment later he jerked back away, as Mama and I were already heading away.

“Good luck.” I whispered, what else could I say, what else could I do? I was only one elf. I couldn’t grab them one by one and force them. 

I turned away and felt like smashing my head into Mama’s back, but resisted, that wouldn’t feel good for her. 

There was nothing to do, so do what I could.

The bitter feeling of failure remained though. We left the village, the shouts of the angry magister in our wake.

We made it back to the convoy, which had passed the village. All that time and for nothing.

I angrily jumped off Chocobo when we arrived and just stood there, behind the convoy watching it slowly move past, slow elves walking slowly, and yet the creeping certainty of death behind me.

“Dorah, my Light.” Mama said, sliding from Chocobo’s back and walking over, throwing an arm over my shoulder and tugging me into a hug. “You did good…. Mostly. Next time don’t knock out the Magister, but, no I should say it like this. I'm proud of you for trying. You acted like a real Ranger… But we can’t always protect everyone.”

“That’s why.” I mumbled, into her side, taking a breath. “That’s why I don’t want to be a Ranger. I’ll save everyone. I’ll protect them all. Always. If a Ranger can’t do it, then I want to be something more.” I said pulling away and wiping my eyes. Anger and frustration always did more to get me crying than anything else. 

My head shifted, looking down the road towards that small village I didn’t even know the name of, and I knew that soon it would be empty and haunted like the other villages I had seen. I didn’t want to see any more like that. Anything but that.

“Prepare!” The shout startled Mama and I both as we looked up. Cal was racing up the road on a Hawkstrider, looking frantic. “They’re here! Forty or more! They’re here!” He shouted, and Mama gasped. Suddenly grabbing me and pushing me forward. 

“Get with the convoy! Now!” She demanded, as she raced for Chocobo.

So it was too late… Could we have gotten the village moving fast enough? Could we have done something. Made El’Tela help, or…

I shook it off. I needed to prepare.

Rushing to the convoy, I joined the rear guard, who were already starting to panic. Bow out. Shield and sword ready. Whatever came I’d be prepared for.

“You should go up to the front Dorah.” Ma’Rika said as she reached the back, her hands already spread like she was ready to start casting. I saw a dozen more join us, clutching the wands I’d made. And more. A few others that knew some spells all moved to the rear.

“I’m exactly where I need to be.” I said, stretching my arms. My archery wasn’t perfect, but it would have to do to start. I could switch to shield and sword when they got close…

If they got close.

I could hear it already. The twang of bows. Mama, and Cal, and Liennar as well. They would do what they could to slow and weaken the Trolls, but they were Rangers.

They weren’t trained to stand and fight. 

The sounds of battle kept up, screaming trolls and twangs of bows. The fact we could hear it told me everything I needed to know.

The Trolls were close. Just a bit further…

The sight of a rider startled me, but… It wasn’t Mama. Cal came rushing back, he was okay. Not injured, but his quiver was empty, and he was panicking. 

He raced through our lines to the cart where a crate of arrows had been laid out, he gained more ammo, and then took even more.

He raced back out. Not saying anything, but just his pace told everyone how serious this was.

“Fool boy.” I jolted, and relaxed. El’Tela had floated back.

“What are you doing? You should get back to the front.” I said without looking.

“Who do you think you are talking to? I may be old, but I can send some trolls straight to their foul spirits. Calm yourself. This isn’t the battle that we have to worry about. These are just the scouts.” She said with such utter confidence, it actually did help, not just me, but plenty of others. 

We were all quiet for a while until there they were. Mama, Liennar, and Cal, and rushing back up the road, while shooting behind them…

I jolted, when I noticed there was blood. They’d been wounded!

I wanted to rush forward to try and heal them that much faster, but they were coming, just wait, I tried to look over Mama, but she was facing backwards, arrows twanging.

And then there were the Trolls. 

“Try not to let any of them escape. If they see the convoy and retreat, it will be a mess.” El’Tela grumbled, and then I felt it, the prickling on my neck as magic was cast. I didn’t look though. My bow raised, and as Mama and the others passed us, I pulled, an Arcane Arrow appeared and I loosed. It shot off, but the hulking figures of the Trolls just managed to avoid it.

I pulled the string back and fired again. And again.

By the fifth arrow one struck, slamming into the chest of a Troll that was loping along, and it knocked it back a step, but then it just kept coming.

The trolls just kept coming, and more kept appearing. It was obvious they were hunting us, as they shouted in delight at seeing the convoy. At seeing their prey.

Then the others fired. 

Wands shot out, bolts of Mana that smashed into the Trolls, and Ma’Rika started blasting a barrage of Arcane Stars, the smaller attacks launched rapid fire across the distance and each one shifted to hit their target no matter what the Trolls did to try and dodge.

And then there was a noise as power was unleashed, and a blast of Arcane, like lightning blasted forward, slamming into the leading troll, and bouncing, burning a hole through him so large even at this distance I could see through it as the light faded and the Troll fell forward dead.

That stemmed them but more were just behind them, and I could hear El’Tela panting in exertion, but then a horn blew…

And the Trolls reversed course, running backwards, escaping our barrage for now.

I lowered my bow and turned. The rangers had been hurt. Mama could have been hurt! Heal them, then think about what that meant.

Whether they decided to regather themselves… Or if they had discovered the village.

I don’t know.