"Get your filthy hands off him!" Emory screamed as she smashed her fist into Selena's face, sending her flying fifty feet away.
Before Selena even landed, Emory teleported beside Selena and slammed a kick into the wound on her chest. This sent Selena flying in the other direction while green blood exploded from her wound. Teleporting again, Emory dug her spear-hand jab into Selena's back which caused a resounding pop to echo across the battlefield. After Selena tumbled to the ground, she tried to roll over and get up before she realized her spider body had been snapped in the wrong direction. She spit up a pile of blood as she looked at Emory menacingly approaching her, knowing she was done for.
"How?" Selena murmured, "How did you improve so much from our last fight?"
Emory growled, "It doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is you lose." She brought down her hand in a slashing motion that cut deep into Selena's neck. Selena choked for a few moments before her head turned to the side and her eyes shut for the last time.
Without wasting a moment. Emory teleported back to Perceval's side and put her hands over his stab wounds.
"Don't waste your time," Perceval coughed, "I know this is the end for me."
"Don't talk like that. I can still patch you up," Emory commanded as a tear slid down her cheek.
"Emory, it is okay. I've made my peace with my life," Perceval wheezed, "I got to see the return of the Aurelias clan. The Witches are safe in your hands. What more can I accomplish?"
Emory wept, "No. You were supposed to enjoy your retirement, and instead, I got you caught up in this war. You had so much more wisdom to pour into us."
"Then let me give you one last piece of advice," Perceval breathed heavily, "When this war is over, and it will be over someday, take a long vacation and relax. Don't spend forever helping other people. You too need a break."
"I will, I swear," Emory struggled to speak as tears streamed down her face.
Perceval smiled, "I'm so glad I got to meet the fabled child of Merlin. You truly are a good child." A big grin covered his face as the life in his body faded. Emory held his body as she sobbed for a few moments. Then a white light erupted from her body like a beacon that could be seen for hundreds of miles. Magik began to cover Perceval's body like a cocoon while Emory's eyes glowed brilliant gold. The magik began to solidify, forming a crystal around Perceval's body. Without moving, yellow strands flew off Emory's body towards her friends scattered across the battlefield. In mere moments, their wounds were patched up, and they all started to stir. The field was finally quiet except for the weeping coming from Emory.
Slowly, everyone except Emory got up and walked over to her. When they saw Perceval's body encased in crystal, Gatrie and Tana gasped while Gwen and Sam knelt beside Emory and put their hands on her back. There were no words to be said; after all, what words could bring back the dead. Gwen whispered, "He was a good man."
"We were lucky to train with him these last few days," Gatrie gulped.
"He was a man of conviction," Sam agreed, "No matter what we faced, he gallantly led us forward."
Tana nodded, "He will be missed."
"Did you know he started helping me the first time we talked?" Emory sobbed, "Before he even met me in person, he stuck his neck out for me and gave me the teleportation tome."
"He believed in you from the very beginning, whole-heartedly and unashamedly," Sam patted Emory on the back.
"Now, he's gone," Emory cried, "And it's all my fault."
Gwen shook her head, "He wanted to follow you and see you grow. He chose this despite the risks. Look, even in his final moments, he was smiling. Because of you."
"The battles are winding down in the north and west," Myrrh whispered as she approached, "It looks like we prevailed here as well." Everyone turned to look at Myrrh with saddened faces. "Death came here as well for us, I see," Myrrh murmured.
Gatrie cleared his throat, "Lord Perceval fell after defending us all from the Laxtros."
"I'm sorry, Goddess," Myrrh bowed to Emory, "I know you were close to him."
"If I would have gotten here sooner," Emory sniffled, "I could have protected all of you. I failed."
"And what of the people you would have left behind? How can you say more of them wouldn't have fallen without your help? Unfortunately, some things are meant to happen," Myrrh tried to comfort Emory.
"Let's take his body back to the outpost," Tana suggested, "Then we can decide what to do going forward."
Emory wiped away the tears and put the crystal on a floating platform she created with her magik. Together, the group walked slowly towards the outpost. Since they weren't using magik to move faster, they arrived at the camp just as the rest of the army was arriving. Elffin was leading the army and ran over to them as they got closer.
"Lady Supreme," he bowed, "I didn't know you had arrived. I assume you all dealt with the Laxtros then?"
"Not soon enough. Lord Perceval didn't make it," Emory mumbled as she trudged forward.
"Oh no," Elffin's expression sorrowed, "He will be deeply missed."
The silent walk into the outpost echoed the weight of all the loss they had endured. Quietly, the survivors headed to the barracks to rest while Emory sat alone at the gates. With the threat of the Apleem gone, Sam tried to convince Emory to come get some rest as well, but she would not leave her post. Even as the light dimmed and night encompassed the outpost, she remained at the gate. She wouldn't let anyone get hurt anymore today at least.