The Dark Order 1.16: The Golem Market Pt.2

The group is currently heading toward North Finrel, this section of the Golem Market is known as the Garden District.

Alexis is sweating profusely as he staggers forward, and the group weaves through the crowd of citizens as their hysteria peaks. Maggie holds up the wanted poster. He grabs it. Balls it up and throws it on the ground. "Alexis! This is a big deal."

"I know that... But we've got more important things to worry about right now." He eyes the elves. "We need to get out of here." He grabs her and pulls her through the crowd to the right, away from the elves. They get to the sidewalk and make their way through an alley.

Maggie finally yanks away from him. "Alexis, stop! They said they were trying to help us."

He scoffs at this. He’s aggrevated. “Don’t be so naive! People say things!” She’s taken back, pulling away.

“We don’t have time for this, let’s go!”

“What’s gotten into you?!?” The two elves land in front of them after jumping from four stories up. Alexis’s eyes flicker green but they die out as his condition worsens. He stumbles before his shoulder slams against the wall— his crutch.

“Alexis!” She immediately notices the black blood seeping through his shirt. “We need their help.” He looks to them, his gaze meeting gemlike peridot eyes. “Who are you?” He forces himself upright. The two elves look at each other before they decide to remove their hoods. Magnolia has never seen an elf before, her anticipation was secretly high but that quickly subsides as she stares at two very human elves. Their features, all aside from their eyes are human.

Alexis bites down, bearing the pain, he stares at them. “What help can two first birth elves offer?” His words are forced. “More than you at the moment.” The female elf snaps back. Alexis smiles.

“We can get you out of the country.” The male chimes in. As the female goes to touch Alexis, Magnolia strikes at her and she back pedals, she moves in front of Alexis. “Who are you?” She pulls out her blade. “And why are you helping us?”

“Who we are doesn’t matter.” He replies.

“We were sent here, ordered to protect you.” She adds. Magnolia glares at them for their vague responses. Her eyes glow orange, she coats her blade in mana. “By who?!” She demands an answer, however, before she can get one, she’s hit in the right shoulder by a ball of mud. Without time to react, she’s instantly pulled to the ground, as the mud absorbs into another. They look ahead, standing in the alleyway are a Holy Bishop with mud dripping from his body. Behind this Mud mage are a group of six Holy Knights with weapons drawn. The mud mage sends a mound of mud crashing toward the group. It builds like a growing wave.

Alexis wills himself up, commanding his magic, ready to die keeping his promise. “Branched Barrier.” His ring glows green as a tree trunk violently blows through the street, growing rapidly as large branches crush the sides of the neighbored buildings, obstructing their enemies path. The wave slams into the wall, destroying the wall before the wood in a mere instant grows back. Maggie takes hold of Alexis, he’s barely able to walk. She looks to the elves. “You said you’d help us…”

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In West Finrel, this section is known as the Cloth District. Leading a group of twenty knights are two Bishops, a Black male and Hispanic female.

Holy Bishop Esther Starr— User of Shadow Magic. He is six-three and stocky with a salt and pepper fade. His blue suit is snug but comfortable. He is newly promoted and his first assignment is managing, improving, and protecting all World Government interests in his region. The assignment includes the five countries bordering Finrel.

Holy Bishop Abigail Vincent. She doesn’t possess magic abilities but this low-ranking Bishop is destined to be one of the most prolific swordsman in Valon. The wielder of the mythical sword, Her katana rests against her back. The hilt is wrapped in black and red cloth, her sheath is blacker than darkness, which gives off an ominous scent. She’s Esther’s subordinate, who he believes could be his successor.

Their unit has secured the border and are standing by. “Would it be wise to start a fight here?”

“We may not be given a choice.” He cracks his neck. “Why must you always be a pain in the ass, Jubilee.” Out of nowhere, a building blows in the garden district, the quake shakes the very foundation of the Earth around them.

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Alexis having been blown back by the force of the explosion, crashes through a window, tumbling out into the street. A thick cloud of dust sweeps over the area like a sand storm. The infection from his wound drips onto the ground as he struggles to his feet, looking around but unable to see clearly. Sweating uncontrollably, frightened patrons blindly crash into him, attempting to flee the area. Alexis stumbles forward through all the smoke and dust, trying to get himself away. Ahead of him, there’s screams before the clashing and sparks of steel are all around him. “Alexis!”

He hears his name faintly. “Alexis!” His head snaps back and forth, searching desperately for the direction of the voice. The green glow in his eyes rapidly flicker away, standing in the middle of chaos, vulnerable. Out of the blue, an orange mana blade cuts through the dense cloud, traveling with enough velocity to split the cloud in two.

“Alexis!” Finally, he sees salvation as Maggie swiftly roundhouse kicks a holy knight in his neck, sending him crashing to the ground, knocked unconscious. She rushes to his aid, dropping to one knee, “Alexis!” As the number of voices around him continue to increase, his attention lies with Maggie. She clenches his arm, forcing him upright. “We have to get out of here!” He’s unable to respond, his condition has worsened and he’s having difficulty breathing, yet, he and Maggie move toward a pavilion. Nearly there, Alexis is grabbed from behind and launched away by an eight foot, bouldering, brown scaled troll. It’s a senior Holy Knight. Maggie whips around just in time to be hit in the ribs by a club and she’s sent violently crashing through the pavilion wall.

Alexis barely able to raise his head, looks toward the pavilion, he desperately tries to pull himself forward. Through bloodshot eyes, his focus lies with getting to Maggie, however, the troll returns, its massive hand wraps around his neck and lifts him into the air. They are now face-to-face. “Alexis Jubilee.” Its voice rasp. It’s breath carries the stench of a decomposed corpse. Even in his condition, Alexis is Alexis.

“Your breath…”

His vision is too blurry to make out the trolls face; he begins to lose consciousness as he’s unable to fight back. His back is slammed to the ground by the troll, producing an agonizing scream. “By order of the World Government, you’re under arrest.”

The knight is completely unaware of the orange mist free flowing from beneath the pavilion rubble. Still gripped by the neck, the now limp Alexis is carried away. “Secure the girl!” He bellows out the command before releasing a heavy growl. They are not given the opportunity to react before an orange mana blade amputates the trolls right arm, it along with the club drop like a weight. It turns its head, eyes now filled with murderous intent. Maggie having risen from beneath the rubble has the same disassociated gaze from her battle with the Holy Knights in Godrick Square. It can sense her bloodlust.

Throwing Alexis toward its subordinates, a junior Knight tumbles over as he attempts to catch him. “Take him back.” It reaches down and picks up its club, slamming it against the ground before it roars. Maggie appears more demonic than human as she walks, almost transfixed on the only thing in her path. As three Knights rush to carry Alexis away, others now stand behind their superior. Some draw a variety of weaponry, while others eyes begin to glow. One against an army, Maggie stands alone momentarily as the two elves leap out from the shadows, however, she does not react. Dottie having remained hidden, reveals herself, leaping out landing on Maggie’s shoulder.

The female draws two elvian steel knuckle blades. Inscribed with the language of her people, the blades have a purplish tint. The male pulls a silver recurved long bow. The bowstring is made from triple wrapped steel, the grip a mixture of gold and silver. There are no arrows on his back.

The troll smiles. “Two first births have no place here.” They don’t say a word, they take battle stances.

“We’re completely outnumbered.” The female stating the obvious.

The male looks to Maggie, whose focus rests solely on the troll. “What’s our plan?”

As an explosion of orange mana escapes from her body, the elves and the knights tremble, Dottie screeches. Maggie’s intentions are clear, she has but one goal…

“I’m going to kill them all.”

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….To be continued

Start with Chapter 1.1

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Chapter 1.15

New Chapter Coming May 2, 2025