Chapter 4

Princess of Valoran, Asterisk Nimblelight, watched from the peak of the castle. Behind her, thousands of knights, some mounted steeds only for the commanders, clad in honorable shining silver armor, and sorcerers, dressed in elegant woven silk, stood banded in formation.

The lush green field that stretched far and wide into the distance was no more but a patch of darkness.

Even with the fire torch burning desperately, it barely shredded vision.

The putrid stench of death corroded the air and Asterisk immediately raised a hand.

Loud cheers burst from behind, piercing through the howling wind as the knights raised their sword and cheered in unison.

"For chivalry, for our king!" they repeatedly echoed.

Asterisk closed her eyes and mumbled ancient language beneath her breath. Golden light eminated from her body and penetrated the darkness, but it fought back immediately, struggling for territory, like the sea and the shore devouring each other.

The sorcerers began chanting their spells too.

Red, blood-thirsty eyes bore through the darkness at the princess. Their saliva slided past their fangs and drooled down the side of their lips. Claws, razor-sharp, stretched with a cry for the sheer feel of tearing flesh apart.

"Now!" Asterisk screamed.

Rows of archers emerged beside Asterisk and began pelting rain of arrows down on the demons rank.

The castle gate opened with a loud growl, and the knights stomped in united formation towards the demons.

The two force clashed, knights bringing their swords down on the demons, and the demons digging their claws into the knight's armor and into their flesh.

With the archer's support, the demons were being pushed back but Asterisk's grim expression had not changed. As long as it is not here. As long as it hasn't shown itself...

A sudden cackling sound snapped her out of her thoughts and Asterisk glared into the darkness ahead.

Creatures, their bulging butts raised, crawled rapidly on eight legs. They were swift and of lower height, allowing them to maneuver easily, dodging the knight's slashes and slipping around their back, piercing their venomous fang into their victim, paralysing them instantly before they even had the chance to scream.

The appearance of these creatures gave chills to Asterisk and she knew it is near.

"Rain fire upon them!" she cried.

The sorcerers raised their hands high and echoed, "Rain fire upon them!"

Wind, orange and burnt, swirled around their hands before forming a fireball and bolting into the sky. It rained upon the battlefield, crushing and burning only the demons. The sorcerers were of high mastery and was able to calculat accurately so as not to hit their allies.

A few managed to slip into the castle and everything descended into utter chaos.

"Shall we begin ours too? Princess of Valoran?" a voice echoed in a low and seductive tone.

Asterisk raised her head. A gigantic spider, almost the size of the entire castle, loomed above, crawling on the clouds. It's glowing eight pairs of eyes bore down at her.

She cursed herself for not noticing it earlier. "Today will be the end of this battle."

"I agree." The spider laughter reverberated, so loudly that Asterisk could feel her eardrum throbbing. "And you will be the one falling!"