Chapter 19: Defense of Elmsworth
With their team assembled and spirits high, the group made their way to the Ethereal Gate. The gate itself was an intricate structure of shimmering, translucent crystal, adorned with runes that seemed to hum with energy. As they approached, a mage responsible for operating it, a middle-aged man with a graying beard and a friendly smile, greeted them warmly.
"So, you guys are the mages summoned to protect Elmsworth?" he inquired.
Luna nodded confidently, "Indeed we are. We'll do our best to protect the village and its people."
The mage gave them an encouraging smile. "Elmsworth is a small but thriving community nestled in the heart of a lush valley. The villagers are simple folk, mostly farmers, and artisans. They depend on the academy for protection, and they'll be grateful for your help."
The mage began chanting an incantation, and the runes on the gate started to glow brightly. As they approached the glowing portal, Kael and his companions exchanged nervous glances, each of them feeling a mixture of excitement and anxiety as they prepared to experience teleportation for the first time. Mirabelle goes so far as to close her eyes and took a deep breath, readying herself for the journey ahead.
The mage completed the incantation, and in an instant, the air around them seemed to vibrate with energy. A brilliant flash of light enveloped the group, and they felt their bodies being pulled through space at an incredible speed. It was a disorienting sensation, as if time and space were bending around them, leaving them suspended in a void between worlds.
As they emerged on the other side, Rorik let out an involuntary gasp. "That was... intense!"
Mirabelle, with her eyes still closed, slowly opened them and looked around. "We made it safely, thank goodness."
Just as quickly as it had begun, the teleportation process came to an end. The group found themselves standing at the outskirts of the village of Elmsworth. The sudden change in scenery was jarring, but they had successfully arrived at their destination. The students took a moment to catch their breath and regain their bearings, still awed by the power of the Ethereal Gate.
Once they reached the destination, Kael started surveying the surroundings, his eyes darting from one area to another as he assessed the village's geography and terrain. Elmsworth was nestled in a valley, with a dense forest to the north and a swift-flowing river to the south. Rolling hills flanked the village on the eastern and western sides, creating natural choke points. Kael knew that understanding the landscape would be crucial in formulating a defense plan for the village.
Kael and his friends approached the village chief's house, a modest wooden building adorned with various symbols of protection. Upon entering, they were greeted by the chief himself, a wise-looking elderly man with a long white beard and kind eyes. He introduced himself as Elder Hamlin.
"Welcome, young mages," Elder Hamlin said, his voice warm and welcoming. "We are deeply grateful for your help in defending our village from these monstrous threats."
The group exchanged polite greetings, and Elder Hamlin wasted no time in getting to the matter at hand. "Now, let me brief you on our strategy for dealing with these creatures. We've gathered information on their movements and have a plan to intercept and drive them away."
As Elder Hamlin explained the strategy, Kael couldn't help but think that there might be a better way to handle the situation. He hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "Um, Elder Hamlin, I have an idea that might be more effective, but it could also be a bit riskier."
The village chief raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Please, do share your thoughts, young man."
Kael spoke up, his voice determined. "I have an idea that might help us protect the village, but it will require us to make use of the terrain and take some risks."
The village chief looked at Kael with a mix of curiosity and concern. "What do you have in mind, young mage?"
"Well," Kael began, "Elmsworth is located in a valley, with a dense forest to the north and a swift-flowing river to the south. Rolling hills surround the eastern and western sides. We can use these natural choke points to our advantage, setting up a series of traps and magical barriers to funnel and weaken the approaching magical monsters."
Luna interjected, "That sounds like a good plan, but what kind of traps are you thinking of?"
Kael continued, "In the forest, we can create pitfalls covered with foliage to camouflage them. Additionally, we can set up tripwires connected to a netting system that would ensnare the monsters once triggered. In the hills, we can dig trenches and fill them with flammable materials to create a wall of fire to deter them from advancing further."
Rorik chimed in, "I can help coordinate the villagers and assist them in setting up the physical traps."
"Great," Kael replied. "Arden, I'll need your Water magic to manipulate the river's current, creating a temporary barrier that will slow down any monsters attempting to cross. Mirabelle, can you set up magical snares imbued with Earth magic near the riverbanks to immobilize them?"
Mirabelle nodded, her expression solemn. "Of course, Kael. We must do everything we can to protect the villagers and ourselves."
Kael continued, "Lastly, we should designate a safe zone within the village where the villagers can retreat to if any monsters manage to breach our defenses. We can set up additional barriers and traps there for added protection."
The village chief, visibly moved by Kael's plan, said, "It's clear you've put a lot of thought into this. We're in a desperate situation, and I'm willing to take the risk if it means saving our village."
As they prepared to execute Kael's plan, a heavy sense of urgency hung in the air. The villagers knew that their survival was at stake, and they worked tirelessly to set up the traps and barriers. With the sun setting, they could only hope that their efforts would be enough to withstand the impending onslaught of magical monsters.
As the sky turned a fiery orange, a villager came running from the outskirts of Elmsworth, his face pale and his voice frantic. "The beasts are here!" he cried, his voice full of terror.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone