Chapter Text
Knight refused to let himself stop to rest, he knew he was close, the powerful magic resting in his mind whispering how close he was.
He could rest when this was over.
So he continued through the forest, the trees getting thicker, he couldn’t see the sky anymore, and he had the distinct feeling that he would have gotten horribly lost had it not been for the magic guiding him.
A part of him wondered if that was the intention of whatever magic protected this place along with Wind Archer himself.
But soon enough, he stepped into a clearing.
A peaceful looking grove, with flowers and tree roots spread about.
And the thick roots lead back to one place, a large tree that reached into the sky, its bark twisting, almost forming a cocoon.
Knight could feel the magic radiating from it.
This had to be the Millennial Tree.
Slowly, he walked up to the base of the tree, the roots dug deep into the ground, he wondered just how far they reached.
Carefully, he put one hand onto the tree, and recited the spell burnt into his memory.
Moments after it faded from his mind, like a whisper.
And knight held his breath for it to take effect
Beats pasted.
Nothing.
Knight shook his head. No no he definitely did it right, then why was nothing happening?
He looked down at the ground, then noticed one of the large roots, some gold ruins were duly glowing, Pulsing with power. Was that like it before?
But he wasn’t given the time to think any further when he heard growling.
And then a cackle.
And creeping out of the darkness of the forest, approached a hoard of cake monsters, growling and snarling, eager for a fight.
And above them, riding atop her staff, was Dark Enchantress.
Knight's first instinct was to try and attack her, but the monsters below would have devoured him alive if he even tried, so he could only glare harshly at the enchantress.
She only cackled in amusement,
“Well now, I guess I should thank you. This old tree had been a real pain to find, but who knew it was as simple as following a foolish little knight.” The Enchantress grinned.
“Now I can destroy the one being who can stop my plans before he even knows what hit him! I can’t thank you enough~”
Knight stood his ground, albeit confused, How has she gotten so close? But then he processed what she had said,
Knight felt himself seethe
“You followed me??” He yelled, a few of the monsters growled louder at his outburst, they looked all too eager to rip him apart. But the enchantress raised her hand and they went silent, she tutted,
“You think I wouldn’t take notice of someone messing with my newest minions? I worked hard to corrupt them all!” She glared, knight wanted to squirm under that hard look, but he kept himself still, she continued, leaning back on her staff,
“That old tree won’t fall to darkness and he’s also the one thing threatening my Ambitions, so it’s better if he was dead” she waved her hand casually, then gave a dark grin.
Knight had heard enough, he had come too far to just let the Dark Enchantress get what she wanted, and what kind of knight would he be if he didn’t protect others?
Knight drew his sword.
“If you think I’ll just stand here and let you harm the Millennial Tree, then you must be the fool!” He declared, loud enough that he knew the other would hear, perhaps even more of the monsters too. Dark enchantress growled at that, scowling.
“And what can one messily knight do?” The enchantress challenged, Knight didn’t back down, standing his ground. She raised an arm,
“Kill him” she commanded, and the monsters pounced.
Next thing he knew he was fighting off cake after cake, blocking as many attacks as he was dealing, the horde eager to reach him and rip him limb from limb.
But he wouldn’t let that happen, he couldn’t, he couldn’t die here. A hound bit his leg, he kicked it away, attack after attack against his armor.
There was no end in sight to the monsters.
And the tree behind him still had yet to move.
Knight cookie huffed, raising his sword to block another attack, he shoved the cake hound away, only for another to take its place. It was hopeless, the monsters kept coming and surely they’d overtake the Millennial tree. But a part of him was sure... that spell had worked, it’s just taking a while...
he glanced back at the roots, they looked to be glowing brighter than before. Hope sparked in his mind,
The spell hasn’t failed, it just needed time to warm up.
Which means he has to defend the tree until he wakes. A new resolve burnt in his chest, hot as fire and raging like the wind. Knight dug into his armor and pulled out the final healing potion he had been giving. Ripping the cork off with his teeth he chugged the entire elixir, immediately he felt his wounds start to close and heal, knight pulled himself to his feet.
“As long as I can still fight, I will not allow you to harm the Millennial Tree!” He declared, a newfound power searing itself in his chest,
It burned like fire
It raged like the wind
A blazing fury overtaking his heart
His sword started to glow a mix of red and green. And as he struck the next cake monster to attack a beam was launched from his sword, slicing several cake monsters behind the one he attacked.
The Dark Enchantress blinked in surprise, then scowled.
“I should have known they’d have given you their blessing. No matter,” she raised her arm and more cake monsters appeared out of dark portals.
“You’ll fall all the same”
Knight was moving immediately. Going for the monsters closest to him he lunged and stabbed at them, a sharp beam of fire launching out from the attack, like an arrow being shot, it pierced the monster, as well as others behind it.
And without pausing, knight moved to swipe at the cake wolves to his side, launching a few away with a fiery wind that launched from his blade, more monsters falling to his attacks.
A few of the less brave cake hounds whined and scurried away, not wanting to face someone who was blessed by two forces of nature,
Yet others remained steadfast.
Fire raged, wind roared, claws scratched against his armor, weapons clashing together.
Even with his second wind, even with the strength of his partners helping him, Knight was still one man fighting an endless army.
He didn’t know how much time had past, he didn’t know how long it’d take for that spell to kick in, but he continued to fight.
Even when a werehound slammed him against a tree he continued to fight,
Even when a hound bit his leg, and he heard something snap, he continued.
Even when his own blood and sweat started to cloud his vision he continued to fight,
And fight,
And fight,
Until a blow to his head sent a ringing into his ears,
And suddenly his body recalled just how tired it was.
Knight couldn’t feel his legs
No...
Knight fell to his knees, his sword planted in the ground to try and support him
I can’t stop now...
Another Cake hound lunged at him, he swatted it away with his sword but lost his balance, falling onto his stomach. His many injuries ached
I have to protect...
His thoughts became clouded as his vision blurred, how much blood had he lost?
Fire spirit... Wind Archer...
He weakly tried to grab his sword, but his body wouldn’t move anymore. Exhaustion washed over him in a blanket of cold
I’m sorry
And as he faded from consciousness, he heard Dark enchantress speak.
“Is that all? Run out of tricks, little knight? Oh well, let's get back to business then” she hummed. Knight couldn’t fight back, he failed, he started to close his eyes, vision blurred from exhaustion and the blood no doubt leaking from his head.
He couldn’t help but wonder if this was how he’d die.
At least he can say he went down fighting...
There was a pulse of something powerful and warm. He was aware of a sound of panic amongst the cake monsters, maybe even Dark Enchantress herself. But that all didn’t matter as he felt a hand gently settle on his back, and then the warmth of healing magic flow into him. Tiredly he looked up
And saw the gentle face of the Millennial tree looking back at him.
“Rest now brave knight, you’ve done more than enough, let me handle the rest” he spoke, something ethereal yet comforting in his tone,
knight couldn’t help but agree, he closed his eyes and as he fell into a healing sleep, and for the first time in a while
Knight had a feeling things would be fine.