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.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com
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.
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."