A Bored Lich

Doevm strode out of the flames; His expression was calm despite the battle unfolding around him, like the eye of a storm. 'Give artifacts to those who can use them, and you can make anyone dangerous,' he thought. 'For example, being trapped within a barrier gives one time to think.'

Doevm glanced up at the descending arrows, flicked his wrist, and sent them flying back with an arcane gale. 'As expected, they aren't switching tactics,' he thought. 'The only thing they've done is throw artifacts at us. It's as if they know we're stronger than them.'

Doevm followed on his suspicion by funneling his mana into an expanding, red membrane, which outlined the invisible enemies. Despite the momentum he was building, he cursed. 'Only amateurs get caught by that,' he thought. 'Amateurs aren't this coordinated, nor are they able to afford a barrier. They must be working for someone who knows that they'll fail. We're dealing with scouts!'

Everything clicked into place in Doevm's mind. He knew nothing about the enemy, yet the enemy had learned much about them: Elero's wings, Doevm's spells, Frey's weapons and strength, Olpi's magic, and last but not least, their Dwarven ally. To say he had never before been so humiliated was an understatement, however that was not the reason as to why he surrounded his enemies in lethal magic circles.

The assassins froze, staring into the magic circles. Even Frey, bleeding and injured, looked back in shock. Doevm had formed the magic circles before he knew what he was doing. All he could think about was the burning forge, the image overlapping with the last memory he had of his library, his private docile. For the first time in his life, he experienced empathy. 'It doesn't matter if I use magic or not, they need to die,' he thought.

"D-Doevm," Frey hesitated, much like the rest of the group. "What are you doing?"

"Hold your fire!" The enemies screamed at one another.

Kilot seemed confused as he knew more than anyone what Doevm was capable of, which was why he didn't dare charge in recklessly. Instead, he alternated his gaze between Doevm and the enemies with a crazed-look in his eye: "Kill them. Do it!" f𝘳𝚎𝐞we𝐛𝑛𝐨𝘃e𝘭.co𝘮

'Would these amateurs even put up a challenge if I let them live?' Doevm thought.

His answer came in the form of a stray arrow, which struck short of its intended target. Everyone stared at it and, for a few moments, the only sound was the gentle sway of the bloodwood.

Doevm looked back at his opponents…his victims. "You people can't even hold your fire right," he chuckled.

He slaughtered them like sheep.

Black tendrils reached out of Doevm's magic circles. Those lucky few who survived screamed as they watched their companions be ripped apart, limb from limb. The bloodwood creaked out in joy; It rooted itself in the bloody remains.

Kilot spat on the ground. "Serves you bastards right."

Frey stormed up to Doevm and tackled him to the ground: "Why!?"

"Frey, I can't see. Some of them are still alive," Doevm said, trying to worm his way out of Frey's grip.

Elero signaled to Kilot and Thomas to follow her as she drew her new weapons out of their sheaths. "What are you waiting for? Let those two lovebirds fight it out." Their life essence flared and they marched onwards.

Frey pointed his kopis at the site of the ongoing slaughter. "You only use magic when your life's on the line. You told us you don't want to rely on it. Isn't that the point of all of this?"

Doevm grabbed Frey's collar. "The point is that I get as strong as possible, Frey. They aren't worth my time. You don't understand what's at stake."

Frey wrestled Doevm's hand away from him. "Have you done something like this before, ever?"

Doevm hesitated. "It doesn't matter."

"Yes it does."

"Retreat!" The survivors yapped. After Doevm's display, they knew they were outmatched. One by one, they vanished as the artifacts around their necks buzzed to life.

Doevm gathered soulmana into his throat: "Halt!" As his voice traveled outwards, muscles tensed up, artifacts lost power, and everything went black.

Doevm blinked.

The bloodwood…no the entire world was still, with one exception: Maker. She looked down at Doevm, exuding radiance, yet missing her usual smile. "Hello again, Doevm."

"I'm in the middle of something here," Doevm coughed. "Can't you shut up and stay on the sidelines?"

Maker sighed. "Oh Doevm, how much I would like to, but don't you think that remark is rather rude when you are the one who called me out here."

"Me?"

"Yes, you just died."

Although Doevm was held down by Frey, thus making him unable to check for blood, he felt no pain anywhere on his body. "What game are you playing this time?"

Maker smiled. "No games, you forced the soul out of your body. Look." She waved her hands and the souls of all present lit up like flames.

Doevm looked down at himself, surprised to find himself black as night. The air around him, however, had a faint shimmer to it.

"Ah, the voice of one's soul, that's the power you gained," Maker nodded. "It seems you have been reluctant to experiment. You failed to realize the cost of using all your soulmana at once: instant death."

"I expend more soulmana the more people I command?" Doevm guessed.

"Correct," Maker nodded. "Now, before I piece your soul back together, I should warn you. I am neither your enemy nor your ally, but there are rules, Doevm. Hiding your cards from my offspring is very important, but you are my champion. I will disguise your power to the best of my ability, so do not be afraid to use it. I will not betray you. I hope you understand this."

"And when the time comes that I kill you, after killing your children?" Doevm rolled his eyes.

"I will not betray you," Maker repeated. "Not ever."

Doevm blinked and she was gone. Everything was still, except the bloodwood. His only indication that time had begun again was a bead of sweat slowly rolling down Frey's chin. 'That's right, I panicked and told everyone to halt,' he thought, glancing at the frozen forms of Elero and Kilot. 'I guess there is no way to spare my allies from its effects.'

"Doevm, why is everyone stopped?" Thomas asked, looking back.

Frey looked over his shoulder. "You can move too?"

Thomas nodded.

Doevm scratched his chin: "Frey isn't surprising but Thomas is new. I really do need to experiment more…Run you idiot!"

"Right!" Thomas snapped out of his confusion and bolted towards the immobile assassins, spear at the ready.

"Keep one alive for questioning," Elero yelled out, having already broken out of the paralysis.

Doevm could feel his heartbeat against his chest as the distance shrunk between Thomas and the nearest enemy. Necklaces buzzed with renewed vigor, and they vanished. Thomas slid to the ground, empty handed. By the time he sprang to his feet, the others were gone.

"We did it!" Olpi yelled for joy.

Even Frey knew better. He slowly lifted Doevm to his feet. "Are you going to say I let them get away?"

Doevm found it hard to look him in the eyes as he shoved Frey away from him. "We will discuss this later. We need to move."

"Guys?" Olpi asked. "Didn't we win?"

Elero put a hand on Olpi's shoulder. "Read the room."

"Oh, right."