<div style="text-align: center"><i><span style="font-size: 18px"><span style="font-family: 'Didact Gothic', 'sans-serif'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(250, 197, 28)">Ian, The Teacher</span></span></span></i>​</div><br/>Dayyan placed a firm hand on Ian's shoulder.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(226, 80, 65)">"Sit this one out, professor. I want you to focus on saving Mystera and if needed, be the last line of defense if I fall." </span><br/><br/>Ian was about to argue but the spectral woman had stepped forward. Watching her warily, he saw her unleash wave after wave of deafening sound at the goblins. Staggering their numbers. And buying the group much needed time. One of the hobgoblins attacked her instantly, swinging it's huge bone sword in a killer arc. But the weapon harmlessly passed through her immaterial body, smashing the ground, and spraying snowdrift into the air. Watching in abject fascination, Ian saw it bombarded by her. Up close waves of sound tearing him apart. First, the rupturing of it's eyes. Then eardrums. The creature wasn't dead, but was severely crippled. It moaned in pain. A majority of it's senses gone. Stumbling in anger.<br/><br/>The other chieftain avoided it's partner and seemed unfazed by it's plight. Pressing onward with his group. The small goblins did their best to charge in. Yipping in bloodlust. Seeing them approach closer, Ian objected.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(250, 197, 28)">"Don't be ridiculous, i could never let you kids fight by yourselves. If anyone is to fall here, it'll be me. You have too much life to live."</span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(226, 80, 65)">"Professor I mean it, stay with the guards!"</span>Dayyan called out one more time before he forged onwards and called out orders to the students.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(226, 80, 65)">"Annie, goblin kid, pick out any goblins coming too close for comfort, I'll try to thin them out. Val, I trust you to be my comrade and kill any stragglers who escape my grasp. Mystera's 'friend' already helped us plenty, time we ended this so we can tend to our wounded."</span><br/><br/>Ian wasn't happy about it, but couldn't help the well of pride swelling in his chest. Seeing Dayyan take charge like this. It was a stark contrast to the quiet young man Ian remembered from before. Years ago in Enhancement classes. Ian crouched down to help Jasmine stabilize Mystera. Trusting in the other male. He only took occassional glances at the battle. What he saw was heartwarming.<br/><br/><i><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(250, 197, 28)">Or maybe that's the Heat overload kicking in. </span></i><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">He thought morbidly. </span><br/><br/>But experience would do that, turn a boy into a man. And a girl into a woman. Ian watched as Dayyan sprinted forth and bisected the first wave of goblins. The fog made it a bit difficult to see, but Ian could see enough to know it was going well. The goblins fell like leaves in autumn to Dayyan's sword. Waves of energy surging from the blade in arcs. And when Dayyan took the hobgoblin head on. And tossed him around. Ian beamed a wide grin of pride. Annie and Mue were doing well on their front, but he could see their rate of fire would never stem the tide for long. They would be run down in time. Valentine was swinging his weapon recklessly, and Ian feared the boy would take a fatal blow without sufficient backup. All three of them needed some. Raising his hand Ian used subtle Inertia to throw the goblins off balance. Where he could, sowing chaos in the enemy lines again. He needed to reserve what energy he had, so his tricks were only that. Tricks to tip the scales. But they were effective. The archer's couldn't seem to line up a shot as easily. Their bows seemed to have a mind of their own. Some of the melee troops were tripping over themselves or others. Swinging their weapons with too much or too little force. Hitting an ally in some cases. Ian was straining himself in doing this, but it was worth it.<br/><br/>Then tragedy struck. Valentine took a hard strike to his back. It was only a matter of time before their group would take more hits. They had been lucky to suffer so few, getting this far with little casualties. Still, seeing the boy go down, Ian almost threw caution to the wind. About to rush to the boy's defense. Before he could, Valentine was up, and attacking in a feral frenzy. His wild energy, unsettling the goblins. Swinging and hacking like a madman. Ian did his best to cover for the young man. And made sure to execute the goblin that'd hurt him himself. Flicking his finger in anger, Ian made the creature impale itself on it's sword.<br/><br/><i><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(250, 197, 28)">Good ridance.</span></i><br/><br/>Astrea was nearer the wagons now. Using Albert as a human shield. Cowering behind him in horror at the events before her eyes.<br/><br/>Albert was doing well. Fending off the goblins in his way. While also protecting and reassuring the Lady. Even helping Valentine, when the boy overextended or failed to watch his blindside.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(44, 130, 201)">"Mr. Ian!"</span>Jasmine cried in distress. Ian had given the battle his full attention for a few minutes. Thinking Jasmine had Mystera handled.<br/><br/>Looking down to Mystera, he saw her pale face even more ashen than before.<br/><br/>Dropping to his knees beside her and Jasmine. He looked to the young woman in askance. Concern written all over his face.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(44, 130, 201)"> "I don't."</span>Her voice wavered, overwhelmed.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(44, 130, 201)">"I don't know what's going on! She keeps getting more pale! I thought i had it, please help." </span>Ian inspected the wound. The arrow was removed already, and a thick poultice had been applied to the inflicted area. Masterfully packed considering the circumstances. A healing balm had been rubbed around the area as well, numbing pain. Mystera's body was littered in medicine, her clothes torn to shreds to check for injuries.<br/><br/><i><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(250, 197, 28)">Why is she getting more pale?! Is she still going to die after all this? </span></i>Using his Enhanced sight, he could see the leylines of the world around him. The glowing tattoo on her calf now drawing his eyes. Looking to it's tether he saw it connected to the spectral creature. And with each blast of sound energy, another bit of Mana was being pulled from Mystera's body. Ian needed to think quickly.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(250, 197, 28)"> "Fuck's sake! Get the Ninefarerroot powder!" </span>Taking the offered powder, Ian shoved it down Mystera's throat with a finger. Then practically drowned her in water from a nearby bottle. Forcing the powder in her system.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(44, 130, 201)">"Mr. Ian what does that stuff even-" </span><br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(250, 197, 28)">"Hush."</span><br/><br/>Jasmine clammed up and watched Ian work. Placing his palm on Mystera's chest. Right over her Core, Ian pumped Mana directly in. He wasn't the best when it came to a situation like this, but he was the best they had. The Ninefarerroot took only a few seconds to do it's work. Pulling Mystera into a fully lucid state. Out of semi-consciousness. Hopefully the pain numbing meds were strong enough.<br/><br/>Still feeding her his Mana, Ian make sure she was paying attention to him. Then explained conscicely what needed to happen.<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(250, 197, 28)">"Mystera. I don't know if that's your summon or demon, or what but it's syphoning your Mana to fight. It needs to stop right now. You don't have the Mana to recover and feed that thing. And i don't have the Mana left to keep you sustained forever. Tell it to stop. Or you'll die. Though i'll probably die first."</span>Ian could see a haze at the edge of his vision. His Core twinged in discomfort. Spazzing every few seconds. But he continued supplying Mana to the girl in hopes of keeping her a float.<br/><br/>Then another tragedy struck. Ian was so split in his multitasking he didn't even see it happen. He could only hear a crack of thunder, then a blood curdling scream. Looking up sharply, Ian saw Astrea sitting flat on her behind. Face lit up in a visage of pure shock.<br/><br/>She had been the source of the scream. Loud enough to pierce the fog of war. And at her feet. Lying in a slump, was the charred remains of Albert. Body marred beyond recognition. His head had exploded somehow. Only a smoldering stump where it used to be remained. Wafting a cloud of smoke.<br/><br/>In the distance, a goblin with a large staff was cackling in delight. Arcs of electricity dancing in it's fingertips. It had snuck through the fog, around their group to a perfect blind spot. It smiled in glee, and raised it's fingers now to Astrea. Ian raised his other hand. The one not helping Mystera, to the goblin, but his Core twitched warningly. He couldn't do it. He would go into a seizure if he so much as pumped a bit of Mana out now. He couldn't even supply Mystera anymore. Feeling the flow trickle to a stop. Ian was at his limit. Like a helpless bystander, Ian couldn't pull his eyes away. Compelled to watch her die. Astrea looked around for someone to save her. Tears streaming down her face. But the goblin was too far. Cunningly picking a spot furthest from Dayyan, Ian, and Anais.<br/><br/><div class="bbCodeSpoiler">
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</div><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(32, 178, 170)">"Plwweeassee i don't wanaanaaa dieee~" </span><br/><br/>The goblin burst into a fit of giggles at her plea. Ian could see the destructive Conductor Magic at his fingertips build up for release.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(32, 178, 170)">"SOMEONE PLEASE SAVE ME!" </span>She screamed at the top of her lungs.