Under the Oak Tree

Despairing, Maxi tried to gauge the size of the monster army. Though the ghouls that had breached the barrier turned to ash, the skeleton forces remained largely intact. Iron-mace wielding giants lined the field, while skeleton soldiers carrying spears, shields, ice swords, and axes dominated the hill behind them.

"Prepare for battle!" Princess Agnes's command rang out.

The soldiers swiftly regrouped, weapons at the ready. As Maxi maneuvered through them, she asked Alec, "Do we have more flaming oil?"

Peering through a crenel, Alec turned to her, shaking his head. "We've used it all. The Undaim mages are making more, but it'll be half a day before it's ready."

Maxi's gaze settled on the guardhouse attached to the rampart. It seemed some mages had remained in the workroom to synthesize oil and brew elixirs for the soldiers. She watched the white smoke rising from the chimney before sweeping her eyes over the mages on the battlement. The senior mages seemed poised to continue fighting, but the others must have drained their mana.

"The mages running low on mana should help make the oil. It may speed up the process."

"And the wall?" Alec asked.

"Without mana, they will not be much use there anyway. It will be better to have them create elixirs in the rear," Maxi replied firmly.

She directed all but five of Nornui's senior mages to the guardhouse. She tasked the remaining mages with focusing their barriers on the gaps in the shield. Climbing the watchtower, she inspected the magical device. It had mana for one more day. The problem was the day after.

Descending, she approached Alec. "W-We should ready magic stones to replace the used ones as quickly as possible. How many do we have?"

"We've got four sacks of lesser stones but under thirty high-grade ones."

Maxi bit her lip. For a vast shield spanning two thradions, a stone from a high grade monster like the basilisk was essential. And with fourteen magical devices guarding the city, thirty stones would last a mere week. She sighed heavily.

"We should...prepare those first."

"I'll stay here. You go work on them in the workroom," Alec suggested. Studying her face, he added, "I'm sure you're low on mana from defending the wall all night."

"I-I am fine. Besides, you would work much faster than-"

"Just go. A drained mage will only get in the way."

Hearing her own words used against her, she sighed in resignation and headed to the mages' workroom in the guard house. The air and the candlelit room was heavy with the heat of bubbling cauldrons, aromatic herbs, and the thick scent of oils.

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Maxi walked past the mages tending to the cauldrons and settled at a desk in the center. From a chest below, she retrieved a few basilisk stones wrapped in leather and began chipping away at the impurities with a sharp chisel. She then shaped the refined stones with a carving knife. Afterward, she created mana circuits within them, allowing mana to flow out. While she was in deep concentration, a sudden deafening noise shook the building.

Maxi instinctively gripped the table. She was not alone in her alarm; all around, the other mages glanced about in confusion as well.

"Don't tell me the barrier has been breached already!" the young mage Caim exclaimed in panic.

Another booming impact caused the walls to shudder. Realizing that something awful was happening, Maxi darted out of the building just in time to see massive boulders soar over the walls and crash into the city's outskirts.

Maxi staggered back as one such rock, tracing a huge arc in the sky, fell onto the roof of the building across from the guard house. She watched the scene in horror before jolting to her senses.

There was no time to spare. She sped up the stairway leading to the ramparts. At the top, she spotted the giants flinging rocks from the hill using their long, skeletal arms. Their projectiles hurdled over the eight-kevette barrier and smashed into the outer wall. Reacting swiftly, Maxi summoned a shield overhead.

Though she managed to protect the archers, the siege weapons on the battlement were not as fortunate. Catapults shattered, their arms tipping back and crushing the soldiers trying to load them. Maxi's legs buckled at the horrific scene, but somehow, she managed to remain standing.

Holding back tears, she shouted, "E-Everyone, inside the shield! Now!"

Panic surged among the soldiers on the wall. They jostled each other to find refuge within the shield. As the chaos intensified, Maxi was squeezed against the battlement, suffocating amid the armored bodies pressing into her. Try as she might, she could not push them away.

She was fighting for breath when Garrow elbowed his way through the men to get to her. He roughly shoved the soldiers aside, thundering, "Keep it together! Do you intend to crush Lady Calypse to death?!"

His fierce gaze scanned the troops. "You are to maintain your positions! I will personally throw anyone who dares to break rank off this wall!"

At his threat, the soldiers finally ceased their frenzied pushing. However, they cowered again when the next rain of boulders fell.

"Steady!" Garrow roared. "If we break, the city falls. Load the ballistae! Archers, target the giants!"

Soldiers snapped to attention. Recovering, Maxi extended her shield as much as possible to protect them from the incoming rocks. Glancing left and right, she saw the other mages doing likewise at intervals.

Yet, they could not defend the entire city's ramparts with only ten mages. Boulders smashed into the battlements and castle towers. Soldiers were caught in the barrage, with some flung off the walls. To Maxi, she was trapped in a nightmare.

Feeling numb, she gathered her remaining mana. Though she would soon be depleted, her shield had to stand; any lapse meant more death beneath the onslaught. She gazed beyond the wall as a coldness gripped her body, almost as if she had suffered severe blood loss. Arrows fell the giants, but they stood again and again, resuming their attack.

We are going to lose.

The moment Maxi closed her eyes in resignation, silvery rays swirled around the walls. A blue, translucent barrier enveloped the entire city. There was a crash above, and Maxi jerked her head up. The newly formed barrier was deflecting the rocks raining down on them like comets.

"My apologies for the delay. It has been a while since I last summoned a barrier of this size, so it took much longer than expected."

Maxi's gaze turned to the voice and saw Calto Serbel ascending the stairs, an ivory cane in hand. The elder examined the ruined rampart, exhausted soldiers, and pallid faces of the depleted mages.

"This barrier will stand for a day," he announced, "so be sure to rest. We must strategize our defense."

With that, he turned around and descended the steps. After staring at his retreating back in stunned silence, Maxi sank to the floor. Her excessive mana use left her feeling momentarily dizzy.

Garrow frantically helped her to her feet. "Are you all right, my lady?"

"I think...I managed to avoid mana depletion," Maxi mumbled weakly, rubbing her throbbing eyes.

"Still, you need rest. You don't look well," Garrow said, eyeing her pallor.

Before Maxi could protest, he picked her up and began walking. Flustered, she was about to ask him to put her down when she saw the concern on the young knight's face. She relaxed into his arms and allowed herself to be carried. In truth, after staying awake for thirty hours and nearly exhausting her mana, she no longer had the energy to even walk.

Upon reaching the mages' quarters, Garrow laid her on a straw-covered bed. "Please wait here a moment. I shall bring you food and water."

Maxi clutched his arm. "Th-That's all right. I just need sleep."

"You must eat to regain strength, my lady. I shall return shortly," Garrow coaxed before heading to the storehouse attached to the quarters.

He was back soon with bread and butter. Though her thirst was great, having had nothing for a full day and a half, she had no appetite. It felt as if all her senses were dulled.

She moistened her parched mouth with a warmed wine and forced down the food. Gazing out the window, she realized she could still feel the vibrations from the monsters' bombardment. They must still be attacking. Nonetheless, the shield created by one of Urd's greatest mages provided comfort. They could rest assured as long as it stood.

No, Maxi corrected herself. They would still be strong enough to defend the city even if the shield fell. With that reassurance, she drifted off to sleep.

When she awoke, the room was shrouded in darkness. Feeling a chill course down her spine, she sat bolt upright. Panic gripped her momentarily as she thought she had risen from her grave. At the sight of the faint light, her tensions eased.

How long have I been asleep?

Rising from the bed, she grabbed the lamp on the windowsill and ignited it with magic. As she prepared to climb the stairs to the rampart, a firm hand grasped her arm.

"Master Calto's shield is still in place. There's no need to go up there."

"A-Anette."

Relief flooded Maxi as she saw her friend. A moment later, she unleashed a barrage of questions.

"H-How bad were the casualties on the west side? Is Sidina all right? How many-"

"All mages survived unscathed. Three suffered mana depletion, but they're nearly recovered now. And we only have a handful of injured soldiers," Anette answered calmly. Then, "Most died before anything could be done."

Hunching her shoulders, Maxi tried to maintain her calm tone. "How many died?"

"Around thirty."

Maxi bunched her robe with her fist. With Vesmore surrounded, they had to divide their forces to defend the east and west sides simultaneously. Losing thirty soldiers was a huge blow. What could they do now? She was desperately racking her brain for a solution when Anette pointed to the stairs leading to the workroom.

"Master Calto said he wished to see you. He's in the workroom now."

Maxi looked at her friend in puzzlement. "W-What does he want?"

"Beats me," Anette said, shrugging.

As if her business with Maxi were concluded, Anette wandered off to the fireplace and laid on one of the beds. With a sigh, Maxi went downstairs. In the workroom, Calto Serbel looked up from the parchment he was studying before the brazier.

"You're finally awake."

Embarrassed, Maxi murmured, "Did I...oversleep?"

"I did not mean it as a rebuke. Come sit." Placing the stack of parchment on his lap, Calto let out a small sigh. "I shall cut to the chase, seeing as we are short on time. As things stand, our chances of successfully defending the city are slim. Vesmore will fall in fifteen days if this continues - hardly enough time for reinforcements to get here."

The color drained from Maxi's face.

"We have but one solution," Calto said calmly.

"W-What would that be?"

"Do you remember this rune?" he asked, handing her the parchments.

Maxi accepted them, eyes widening at the familiar diagram.

"It is your golem rune."