Hayes quickly sent ten of his men to scout around, as one of the soldiers beckoned Sami to follow him. The soldier led him to the back of the people pointing to a cart that was attached to the last two horses in the formation.
"Student, as requested by Lord Mercer you can place the injured one here for the ride back.", the soldier told them as they began to walk to the back of the horses.
"I'll show you an injured one", Lyra muttered weakly from Sami's back.
Sami just shook his head at her. "Behave", he replied.
"Ugh, whatever", Lyra stated.
Quickly Sami and Lyra reached the wagon. It was a decent size, big enough for Lyra to lay down on one of the benches without any issues. The whole wagon was mostly made up of wood with a little cushion for the bench.
"Make sure you're gentle as you place her down", chastised Poke as he followed behind the duo.
"I'll be gentle after I kick your ass for being so damned annoying", Lyra interrupted as she glared up at him from Sami's back.
"I'm just making sure you're okay," Poke told her. "After the death of our last teammate I don't want you to be hurt. It also seems like the more you're around this buffoon, the more danger you have been in."
"I'm not someone that you need to protect", Shouted Lyra. "Honestly, what help have you been? Even in missions before our last one it was Gin and I covering for you."
Sami tried his best to ignore the argument going on as he approached the entrance to the wagon. He kneeled down allowing Lyra to sit up on the bench, carefully placing her so she wouldn't annoy any of her injuries.
He sat next to her in case she slumped over so he could quickly catch her. Poke quickly took a seat across from them, his face full of annoyance as he finally replied.
"I helped as much as Gin did in missions", Poke argued, his arms crossed. "You act as if I didn't sacrifice as much as anyone else to graduate from the academy."
Sami just sat back and ignored their argument as words kept flashing across his eyes quickly.
+++
[Error: Danger Dected]
[Anomaly Noticed]
[Recommendation Protect Mind]
[Mind Protection Initiated]
[Incoming Danger 3 Minutes from Now]
+++
Sami, Lyra and Poke suddenly clutched their heads as pain shot through them. A dull ache that made Sami's eyes throb as a drum began to beat through his head.
"AHHH", Sami cried out the pain unbearable.
At the same time a voice began to speak, an unsettling echo in their heads. The tone was feminine, yet instead of anger it was intrigued.
"My poor monster sigh, I'm surprised you were able to damage the vessel it took for itself." the voice confessed. "Maybe my master was right about you, though if I listened to everything he said I'd be so utterly bored right now.
"Soon I'll meet you in person and then we'll see what really makes you so special", the voice finished.
+++
[Connection Terminated]
[Recommendation: Use Shield it will block out the signal for the other two]
+++
The pain abruptly ended for Sami as the words from O.R.A.C.L.E flashed across his vision. The voice went from his head as everything began to clear up.
Sami quickly formed a shield around the wagon, believing what O.R.A.C.L.E said. Soon both Lyra and Poke showed signs of the pain going away as well.
"What… what the fuck was that?", rasped Lyra. Her voice hoarse from screaming.
"I don't know", Sami replied as he looked at both Poke and Lyra.
"Sir, I have the students put in the wagon.", the soldier who led Sami came back and told Mercer.
"Excellent", Mercer complimented. "Just finish cleaning up these remains. I want them packaged so we can leave soon."
"Sir", the soldier saluted before helping the other soldiers to collect the remains.
Mercer approached the horse Poke rode in on, conjuring up an apple for it to snack on. He began to pet as he yearned for times where everything was simple. When he didn't keep everything in order.
Mercer sighed to himself, the price of being a leader is something most people couldn't pay. Rather most people would be unwilling to pay. One day everything will be back on track, until he can find out where his missing knights are. Or find out who's been targeting members of the academy, both will take weight off his shoulders.
"RETREET", one of the riders that was sent out to patrol the area screamed. "GET ON YOUR HORSES AND MAKE A HASTE"
Before he could move any further a giant boulder landed right on top of him. Squashing both the rider and the horse before they could progress any further.
"Shit, Men hurry up move!"Commander Hayes shouted.
BOOM!
Giant stones began to rain from the skies some bigger than the one who crushed the rider trying to warn them.
Mercer calmly looked at the men panicking around them. As continued to pet the horse with his right hand. With his left hand he raised his staff, chanting words as he raised it.
"Siste Tela, Dissipa(Stop Projectiles, Disperse", He shouted. Before slamming his staff into the ground.
A shockwave formed around them as the rocks flying through the air began to freeze before shattering into tiny pieces. Every new boulder that appeared shattered instantly before it got close to the soldiers.
Unlike Mercer everyone else was panicking as the ground began to shake around. The rumbling getting close as a tall head could be seen in the distance. Since the mayhem started Mercer finally looked nervous.
"Men move faster, get everyone moving back to the academy grounds quickly", Mercer commanded as he jumped on the horse.
Before Sami could get out the cart and warn Mercer, it suddenly started moving causing Lyra to fall into Sami. Sami concentration broke, dropping the shield he was using to protect everyone. Thankfully no voice came through again so that was okay.
After this situation he's really going to have to sit down and talk to Lyra about the helper Zoe made. Maybe there is a way for Zoe to make one for Lyra too.
"Ugh shit that hurt", Lyra gasped the pain shooting through her. Breaking Sami from his chaotic thoughts though he did agree with what she said.
Poke looked like the only one who didn't fall due to the sudden movement around them. The formation he rode in with gone as each soldier began to push their horse as fast as possible.
"So this might be a little um obvious but something is wrong", Poke stated.
"What was the first clue, the voice in our head, or the fact everyone is panicking to leave.", Lyra replied.
BANG!
A shockwave made the group grab onto the sides of the cart to not fall off. Sami noticed gray pieces of dirt falling on his skin. Looking up he noticed all the giant boulders in the sky dropping down before automatically breaking apart.
"Is there a spell that can stop projectiles?"Sami inquired as he stared at the sky.
"I mean probably", Lyra responded. Shrugging as she tried to think if she knew any off hand.
"If you have a decent handle on magic truthfully you can make a spell for anything.", Poke added as an afterthought.
"Huh good to know because we have giant fucking boulders break apart above us", Sami pointed out.
Lyra took a glance up at the sky and began to freak out. "What the fuck", She shouted out. "No really what the fuck is going on."
"I can answer that", the voice from earlier said. The voice was ethereal, almost magical in tone as it echoed around the three of them.
A green light showed up in the cart, blinding the group. Once their vision cleared they noticed the green light was replaced by a pale figure with a bald head. A large grin was on its grotesque face as it looked around the group.
"Wh… wha.. What.. the.. Hell are you", Poke stammered out. As he scrambled to the furthest side of the bench away from the intruder.
"Aww you poor baby", the voice mocked. "So scared yet I'm just sitting here."
"What the fuck do you want?", Lyra growled as she sat up quickly clenching at her side. Her ribs aching from all the movement.
"What I want is for the boy to show his potential", the voice stated truthfully. She turned her head to look at Sami. "You are special to my master though I feel you're unworthy of his gaze. I can admit you show some promise."
"And you want me because", Sami scoffed. "Do you like how my hair looks because it seems you're just picking on us because we have hair."
"Cute you have jokes.", the voice chuckled. "I wonder how long you'll be laughing once I take your little girlfriend here with me.
"WHAT!", the group shouted as they looked in shock at the lady sitting in front of them.
Her grin grew bigger as she rejoiced in the fear they were showing.