The rain drove down heavily on the land, even the stonework of the castle was made treacherous under that downpour. The imposing silhouette waited not indoors, but on the ramparts. The cascading water was of no consequence to her, it hit the air just before striking her skin and deflected away. Elisa Tourmaline, the greatest threat known to the world, stood waiting for the challenge of the band that seemed to think themselves heroes.“So you made it, after all. I am surprised, and I suppose, a little impressed. However you’re too late if you were here to stop me claiming this keep.”

The leader of the band, a man in his thirties looked up unflinchingly at the woman. “You bested us before, but we are prepared, we cannot allow you to blight this land any longer, Overlord!”

“Ah, Vaggard, I see your crew is diminished. Three of your companions deserted you? And so what, you hope to beat me with Rasten and… an elf? Really, after how you failed them I’m surprised any of them listen to you.” She shrugged “You know, I let you all leave last time because you were a nuisance that was easily moved out of the way, but if you insist on being a thorn in my side, I will make sure that this lesson quells any of you that survive it.” Her cloak billowed behind her as she thrust her staff before her, the tool for her magics flashed as she began her attacks. Searing heat waves that turned the rain into steam flew to blast the stones. The three figures split, Rasten running to the side to take the stairs to the battlements, the elf, Ayden, raised the hilt of his sword as he jumped backwards, channeling his own magic. Vaggard leapt forward, dodging the blasts which were sent to follow him, vaulting off a low wall, the straw covering of which burst into flame despite the water. He made it to the battlements and straight into the fray.

Elisa clicked her tongue in frustration as she had to raise her staff to block the thrust, speaking out the words that caused it to hover from her hands and crackle with electricity, but Vaggard had expected the attack, baited it out. Ayden’s magic caused a wall of earth to erupt from the stone between Vaggard and Elisa, just as the lightning struck from the staff.

“You’re mine!” Rasten yelled, his code dictating that he give his opponent ample warning of his presence rather than striking them from behind. The sorceress was still imbued with her own sources of power and so her hand was enough to catch the giant blade that Rasten wielded, but this too was all according to their plan.

“Quinn! Now!” Vaggard shouted to the sharpshooting girl. A specially tipped crossbow bolt shot out from the tower behind Rasten, soaring over the overlord’s head and exploding. The wall of earth was enough to prevent Vaggard taking a hit, and while the staff was made of stern stuff, the force sent the implement flying away toward Ayden.

“You dare?!” Elisa yelled, snapping the blade in her grip. The blademaster staggered backwards and Elisa ran through the shards of metal, her other hand grabbing Rasten by his tabard and holding him over the walls. “My attacks may not be able to harm you, but let's see you manage a fall from this cliff.”

A second bolt fired from the tower aimed at Elisa herself as the shooter tried to save her team-mate. Though like the rain, the bolt bounced off the air on reaching the sorceress, deflected harmlessly away. Vaggard however, leapt over the earth-wall and dived forward, his attack succeeding as his blade thrust forward, piercing through the sorceress.

“What?! H-how?!” She said, her hand releasing Rasten, but rather than throwing him free, as she had intended, he was close enough to grab the battlements. She snatched the point of Vaggard’s sword in her hand, trying to snap it or force it backwards, ignoring the pain, but with his grip she couldn’t push it out. Instead she spun, throwing a savage backhand to Vaggard’s helmed head. He fell from the battlement towards the courtyard, landing heavily on his shoulder, his hair spilling free and quickly becoming drenched in the downpour.

Light glowed to the side as Ayden gripped the staff, his own mind occupied in a war against the primal forces that fuelled the tool’s power, their whole gambit relied on keeping her distracted long enough, but she’d noticed and was stalking closer.

“You think I was abandoned?” The weakened Vaggard yelled. “Those you don’t see just claimed that accursed fountain of yours. And it’s all thanks to your daughter.”

Elisa’s eyes grew wide with rage at that last comment, and she stalked over to Vaggard, pulling his sword from her own body she brought it double handed over her to finish him.

The flash from behind showed that Ayden had done his part, the head of the staff fractured and broke.“It’s over witch!” Vaggard cried, and a third bolt was loosed, this one struck true, lodging in the back of Elisa’s shoulder. The shield, gifted to her by the focus of the staff, had been broken. She’d gone two decades, untouched by any manner of projectile, and was stunned at the impact. Before she could finish her stroke, a second missile, the hilt of Rasten’s broken blade, flew into Elisa’s hands, knocking the blade she held free. The honour-bound swordmaster having managed to pull himself up that same second.

Vaggard pushed himself forward, catching the hilt of his falling sword as it spun toward him and lunged straight through Elisa’s heart. She glared in pure rage and defiance as she saw at last what it was that had let him best her. Vaggard’s pupils had changed since they last met, and she knew what that meant. “So… you went to them for a blessing, just to destroy me. How pathetic.”

The dreaded overlord Elisa let out one last gasp, before her eyes clouded and her body weakened. Vaggard himself collapsed in exhaustion, but he had won… they had done it, they had saved the world, the cost to him could come later. It didn’t matter...