Hope you like the chapter!
With Baelkor dead, the demons and warlocks had little fight left in them.
Across the battlefield, their formations collapsed. Demons that moments ago had fought frantically with Chosen trapped at the edge of Baelkor’s domain now appeared lost. Many were dead, betrayed by the giant’s own poison. Some fled immediately, searching for the rifts they had arrived in, but already they had collapsed, the Trees of Damnation withered and dead. A few had the wisdom to make for the crack Karlac had made when he’d first arrived in the sky, but there were a whole lot of very angry soldiers to get through before they could escape through that, and it had the small requirement of flight.
Most warlocks stood frozen, staring at the place where their master had fallen. There were few of them left now. The main group were a cluster of about fifty. Powerful, but they were still only practitioners. None had surpassed the seventh rank and formed a Soul Domain.
Demon Lord Draevor was their only remaining chance. High over the battlefield, distant flashes of blue lightning and blood-red lit the sky as Yunillia battled him amongst the clouds. Dragon Keepers rose to join the fight, their mounts weaving through the air in pursuit. Hump spotted Igni amongst them, Tess directing him from the saddle.
Without the Trees of Damnation, the rifts anchoring Baelkor’s invasion collapsed one after another. Cracks of crimson light shrank and vanished. Escape was suddenly impossible for all but the strongest demons and warlocks.
The rest were trapped.
And there was no mercy for such beasts. No negotiating. Too many had died. Too much blood had been spilled.
Now was time for vengeance.
Hump did not move from the palace gate as he watched Chosen and soldiers sweeped across the battlefield in organised formations, cutting down resistance wherever they found it. The warlocks attempted to rally, hiding behind barriers and wards, shoutoung orders at one another as they desperately tried to establish some semblance of control. Hump could already see the makings of a gateway spell at work, but it wouldn’t be ready in time.
Wizard Aldric mustered a force and left them no opportunity. The man strode toward them, stone cracking on the ground as he leaned heavily on it. Silver Rain spiralled around him in a constant storm, hammering against their defences without pause, shattering barriers and creating breaches for others to wittle away at the numbers within. Bit by bit, their defences fell, and the people inside soon followed.
Many died, the unlucky few were captured. Hump did not want to think about the questions the Inquisition would ask them later.
With the tide of battle decisively in their favour, Hump finally allowed himself to focus on something he’d been ignoring for far too long.
Himself.
The moment he stopped concentrating on the fight, the exhaustion hit him like a hammer to the skull... and the knees... and pretty much everywhere else.
His legs buckled. He caught himself on his staff and leaned heavily against it. Celaine hurried to help him keep to his feet, supporting his weight. The cold of essence overuse ran through him like winter itself. It wasn’t merely a chill, but a bone deep cold that felt as though his blood had turned to ice.
He couldn’t stop himself from shivering. His domain faded around him. The lava at his feet was absorbed back into the ground, though the cracks remained with no will to guide their restoration. The White Flame had faded, and now the price for wielding it to its limit had to be paid.
“You’re freezing,” Celaine said, worry in her voice. She had one arm around his waist, keeping him up, the other still holding his hand.
“M-might... have overdone... it a bit,” he stammered, teeth chattering so badly he could barely force the words out. “We n-n-need… to tell them.”
“It can wait for General Korteg to return,” Bud said. “Nobody is going deeper into the palace until then.”
Hump gave his best attempt at a nod.
Dylan was suddenly at his side, concern on his face. Nature essence flowed from him in gentle waves. Hump felt the warm brushing against his skin, but it felt distant. His cold existed somewhere even the druid’s power could not reach.
Nishari breathed a gentle pink flame over Hump, the dancing light warm and comfortable to the touch, but almost as quickly as it began it puffed out, his dragon’s strength faltering.
I’ll be alright, Hump ushered her. Just rest.
“Master,” Dylan said. “This isn’t good.”
Vivi pushed past him and pressed a hand against Hump’s forehead. It felt so hot against his skin that it burned, like holding freezing hands against a fire.
“No,” Vivi agreed. “It’s really not.”
Nishari pressed up against Hump’s side, lifting her lip to expose a row of gleaming teeth, giving her a warning growl.
“I’m here to help,” Vivi snapped at her.
“Hey... Vivi,” Hump managed to mumble out.
“Oh, Hump,” she said softly. “It is good to see you, my boy. We’re going to get you through this. Seth would be so proud. He’d also call you a mud-headed idiot. This is going to hurt.”
Hump sighed. “I-i-it... already hurts.”
“I think I can help.” The voice came from further into the gates, amongst the injured, and a wizard Hump recognised emerged from the crowd—Jentris. It felt like it had been a long time since the days when she had shown him around Elenvine Academy. Hump attempted a smile of greeting, though his face was too numb for him to tell if it was working.
She rushed forward. She had her left arm in a sling and a dangerous amount of blood across the torn robes of her stomach, the whatever wound may have existed was healed.
“Bad case of essence overuse?” Jentris asked after a single glance.
“Y-y-y-yes.”
She immediately began rummaging through a pouch at her belt, producing a potion vial and four golden bracelets engraved with intricate runes.
“Put these on.”
“Maybe I’ll do that for him,” Celaine said, snatching them before Hump could fumble the task himself.
“One on each wrist and ankle,” Jentris instructed. “Make sure they’re touching skin.”
Celaine rolled up his sleeves and fastened the bracelets into place. The effect was immediate. Warmth seeped into his body, penetrating deeper than any ordinary heat. It carried essence with it, spreading through frozen pathways and bringing feeling back to numb limbs.
Hump studied the runes on the nearest bracelet. There was no doubt they must cost a fortune.
“Where did you get these?” Vivienne asked.
“They are a new design,” Jentris said. “Or rather, and old one. Something the Three Eyes provided us in preperation for the battle.” She looked at Hump. “They should make sure you don’t lose any fingers or toes.” She held out the potion. “And this will warm up your soul. Drink it. Hurts like Wizardsfire but works.”
She handed over the potion.
Celaine held the vial out for him while he drank. Then... he waited. A faint warmth appeared somewhere deep in his chest, but that was all.
“I-it wasn’t... enough,” Hump said. “Do you have more?”
Jentris stared at him. “That doesn’t hurt?”
Hump shook his head. “Not really.”
The wizard’s expression became considerably more concerned. “That’s not good at all. Your channels may be damaged. If it’s not absorbed properly, it could burn a hole through your stomach.”
Hump shook his head. “J-just hand m-me another. My soul was always u-unusually strong.”
Jentris glanced at Vivi who nodded, then handed him a second vial. This one worked slightly better. The warmth spread further through his soul, enough that he could finally stop shaking quite so violently.
“Does that still not hurt?” Jentris asked, stunned.
Hump shook his head.
“you must have undergone quite the change, Wizard Humphrey.”
Hump laughed weakly. “So I’ve been... told.”
Celaine let out a long sigh.
Hump raised an eyebrow at her. “That sounded like relief. Or am I dying.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed, letting out a laugh. “Relief. The colour’s returned to your face. You were white as a ghost.”
Bud clapped Hump on the shoulder and laughed to, louder than Hump had heard from the knight in far too long.
As Celaine released him, Hump tried to stand up on his own when Vivi grabbed him into a fierce hug too. Tears shone in her eyes.
She let him go, holding him by the shoulders at arm’s length and staring into his face. For once, the usually composed wizard looked entirely overwhelmed.
“You’ve turned into a fine young man,” she said. “And achieved more than I could ever imagine.”
Hump smiled. This time he could actually feel his face moving. “Good to see you too.”
Count Daston stepped ahead of the crowd. His missing arm was no longer bleeding. “Wizard Humphrey, we need to speak. Your words when you opened the gates, were they tree?”
Hump sighed. “I know you have many questions, Count, but let us wait for General Korteg and anyone else in command returns. There’s a lot to talk about and I only have the strength to do this once.”
Count Daston gave a nod. His face was stern. While the soldiers around him cheered of victory and whispered about the White Flame Wizard, the count knew better than that.
For even if Baelkor had fallen today, two facts remained: The gods were dead, and the old gods were free.
***
As the battle concluded, cheers of victory echoed across Heaven. Thousands of voices joined together in celebration. Soldiers embraced. Chosen raised their weapons high into the air. The battle was won, and there was hope in the air.
Hump found no comfort in it.
He watched the celebrations from the palace gates. Everywhere he looked, people smiled. They spoke of victory, returning home, and of course, their service to the gods. All eyes were on the palace, but none of them knew.
The injured had long since been moved from the entrance hall by order of Count Daston, leaving the space around the gates clear. In their place gathered officers, Chosen, priests, nobles, and wizards. More arrived with every passing minute.
Too many approached Hump. Some to thank him, others to praise, a few looked at him with outright awe. The White Flame Wizard was on many lips. Hump was far from comfortable with it all, and it was only made worse by the fact that he could barely stand on his own. Not exactly the heroic White Flame they wanted.
Count Daston seemed to notice his discomfort. The count positioned himself nearby, intercepting those that tried to approach too closely.
A portal opened nearby as General Korteg, the Dastons, Wizard Aldric and Melissa, along with many other important figures gathered around.
Lorissa emerged and immediately threw herself at Dylan. “I knew you were alive!”
Dylan nearly stumbled backwards as she wrapped her arms around him.
Bud laughed. Celaine and Emilia had warm smiles on their faces.
“She never had doubts,” Marcela said. “Nor Vivienne or Wizard Aldric. They never stopped looking for you.”
Hump managed a weak smile. “Good to know you were so confident in me.”
“You’re the Bearer of Infinity,” Aldric said. “I suppose there is little point hiding it now. You breached the seventh rank. You did it, Hump!”
“Congratulations,” Melissa added, a sly smile on her lips. “I dare say the youngest in our history.”
“Thank you,” Hump said quietly. “I only wish Wizard Charles had lived to see it.”
“He died bravely,” Melissa said. “He would have been proud.”
Hump wasn't so certain.
“Cela.”
Both Celaine and Marcela turned as Vamir approached through the crowd, a grin on his face. Ado walked beside him, Hump’s teacher from Drakalyn.
Before either could speak, two more portals opened nearby, more priests, Chosen, and nobles arriving. Wizard Starrick of the Three Eyes was amongst them, High Priest Alagthar, and so many other old men in fancy clothes that Hump didn’t recognise. And finally, Prince Gregory.
Hump couldn’t help but smile to see the man had lived.
“Prince Gregory!” Bud said, grinning. “You surived then.”
“And you, my friend,” he said. “And it’s King Gregory now.”
Bud's expression immediately fell. “My condolences.”
“Not today,” Gregory said. “Today we celebrate survival.” His gaze swept over Hump and his companions. “It is good to see you all alive. I never imagined it would be the five of you to welcome us to the Great Palace! Shall we go in? Have the gods permitted it.”
“We have yet to speak with them, your Majesty,” General Korteg said.
Gregory frowned. “They have not made an appearance? Why have we not gone in?”
“Why have the gods not shown themselves?” Another asked.
“The temples have remained silent,” a priest said. “Our Chosen have lost sight of their bonds. We must speak with them.”
“Not all of us have,” High Priest Alagthar said. “Lady Light is still the shining beacon she always was. A light we must follow. Whatever has happened, I’m certain it shall be resolved swiftly. Though we must go inside. With your permission, your Majesty, I would like to go ahead.”
Many of the priests began to shuffle forward excitedly.
Hump drew a breath. “Wait.”
He hadn’t intended it, but a little of his intent slipped out alongside his word. The priests all stopped where they stood.
“I suggest only a select few enter the palace for now,” Hump continued.
“On whose authority?” High Priest Alagthar demanded.
Other’s let out an outburst of words, too many voices for Hump to follow.
“What is going on, Hump?” Gregory asked.
“It will be simpler to show you,” Hump said, beginning to make his way back into the palace, staff cracking on the ground beside him. “I suggest that you leave those that are not needed here to wait.”
“This is absurd,” a priest said. “Why should we listen to a wizard when we stand in Heaven itself.”
“Because this wizard knows what lies inside,” Bud said. “If you will not listen to him, then listen to me.”
“We will trust Wizard Humphrey,” Gregory said. “He is the Saviour of Alveron. Whatever waits for us, I’m ready. Lead on.”