Page 138 of Magical Melee

“Not bad?” I shot him a quick grin. “You’re not the only one who can handle themselves, you know.”

He chuckled, but his expression quickly grew serious as another wave of dark figures emerged from the treeline.

Nova stood at the heart of the fray with her glowing staff releasing a fierce white light as she directed the gargoyles. They soared overhead, slamming into shadow creatures with such force they looked as if confetti had been released into the sky.

Nova raised her staff, and another brilliant arc of light shot toward a group of three wizards stomping toward her. The beam struck all three. The closest one disintegrated into nothing while the others spiraled out of control back into the woods.

The gargoyles didn’t hesitate, descending upon the fallen creatures with brutal efficiency. “Last of the wizards are nearly down!” Nova called, her voice cutting through the chaos.

“Nice work!” I shouted back, my adrenaline spiking as the tide of battle began to turn.

But even as we pushed the Shadowick forces back, my mind kept drifting to Twobble.

I hadn’t seen him since we parted at the tunnel, and the thought of him alone in the woods gnawed at me.

He might have been small, but he was scrappy—and stubborn. If anyone could handle themselves, it was Twobble.

Still, I couldn’t shake the worry.

A sudden roar from the woods snapped my attention forward. The remaining dark figures hesitated, their formation breaking as something massive stirred in the shadows.

The pines rustled violently, and then, out of the dense underbrush, an army of goblins burst onto the battlefield.

At their head, standing tall (well, as tall as a goblin could manage) was Twobble.

His wide eyes gleamed with determination. He clutched a small, sharp blade in one hand. His other hand gestured wildly as he barked orders, his voice carrying over the din like a seasoned general.

“Form up, you lot! Don’t let them flank us!” he shouted, his voice rough but commanding. “And for crying out loud, watch your step! No one likes a clumsy goblin!”

The goblin army moved with surprising discipline, their small but agile bodies weaving between the trees as they flanked the Shadowick forces. Twobble led them with a fierce determination, his blade flashing as he leaped into the fray. The little guys stopped to loot the lifeless bodies whenever possible, sticking to their goblin ways.

I couldn’t help but laugh, a mix of relief and awe bubbling up inside me. “Of course, he’s leading an army.”

Keegan followed my gaze, his eyes widening slightly. “Twobble brought reinforcements. They are what we call the clean-up crew.”

“And he’s bossing them around like he’s been doing it his whole life,” I said, shaking my head. “I love that little guy.”

The goblins attacked with ruthless efficiency, their small blades and crude weapons striking with precision. They swarmed the dark figures, overwhelming them with sheer numbers and tenacity. The Shadowick mages, clearly unprepared for the sudden onslaught, faltered under the relentless assault.

One mage turned to flee, but Twobble was on him instantly. Twobble leaped onto his back, wrapping his tiny arms around the mage’s neck as he dragged him to the ground.

“Not so fast!” he snarled, his blade flashing as he disarmed him swiftly.

The mage writhed beneath him, but Twobble didn’t let up.

“You picked the wrong cottage, buddy!” he growled before delivering a sharp blow that left the mage unconscious.

Keegan and I pushed forward, taking advantage of the confusion. I raised my wand, releasing a series of quick, precise blasts that struck the remaining wizards.

Keegan followed with his sword, cutting through their defenses with brutal efficiency.

The battle reached its crescendo as the combined forces of Stonewick drove the Shadowick invaders away. Dark smoke rolled through the woods as they attempted to portal off our land.

The air was thick with the smell of scorched earth and magic, and the ground was littered with the remnants of the enemy.

Finally, as the last of the dark figures retreated into the shadows, a heavy silence fell over the battlefield.

The gargoyles perched on the cottage roof with their stone eyes scanning the treeline for any signs of lingering threats. The gryphons were gone, their screeches replaced by the distant calls of crows.