Alisa glared at Lore for interrupting her, but before she could say anything Kalloron rose his spindly fingers into the air, signaling both indivuzks to hush.
Kalloron was a tall man, almost seven feet in height. His skin was dark and covered with scars from battle. He had long white hair that fell past his shoulders, and deep blue eyes. His deep set eyes fell on Lore and sat there for an extended period.
Before long, he questioned Lore. "How do you think I will be of any assistance in this matter? All of my pupils are addressing it."
"I'm sorry, Master Kalloron. But I believe your experience and knowledge will prove helpful in this case." Lore answered respectfully, trying not to sound too eager or anxious.
"Oh, what makes you think that?"
"Well, you see…" Lore paused, thinking back to when he had been told by the High King.
"What did he tell you exactly?"
Lore hesitated again, and thought carefully how to phrase his words. "The most obvious is your moniker, 'The All Knowing'? What else would I assume?"
"Ah yes, the title. Well, you see…the reason why I am known as such is because I have a very keen eye for things. Not only do I possess exceptional intelligence, but I also have a natural talent for seeing beyond the surface. My eyes can read the flow of magic"
"But you still haven't answered my question. Why do you call yourself the All-Knowing?"
"As far as titles go, it's rather simple really. It is simply a term used to describe someone who possesses superior skills and knowledge."
"If you can see the flow of magic, than you definitely could help seal the storm!" Lore shouted
"That there, is a fine point. You see, I cannot directly control the magic, but only manipulate the ever flucuating flow. That is something that only nature can do, but I can assist in creating a barrier between the storm and the land. This way, the damage caused by the storm will be lessened significantly."
"And how exactly does one manipulate the flow of magic?"
"There are many ways, but I prefer using my hands." Kalloron explained. "My own particular style involves a series of gestures, which allows me to direct the flow of magic in specific directions."
"Is that possible?"
"Yes, it is. I'll show you." Kalloron raised his right arm up high, pointing towards the sky. "First you must understand the basic structure of the universe."
"Wait, wait! Can't I just learn this stuff through books?"
"No, you won't be able to grasp these concepts unless you physically feel the flow of magic. To do that you need to let go of your ego. If you try to force the flow of magic, you will never succeed. Instead, focus on letting it come from within."
Kalloron made a fist with his left hand, he created a circular symbol with his finger, it then looked like the magic was flowing through his body, into his arm and down his fingers. The Magic began to spin along the ring of fingers. Kalloron spoke calmly as he did all this. "You should point your attention outside."
Lore hurriedly walked over to the window where he saw the cloud over head spinning like a tornado was forming. Just like the magic in Kalloron's hand. He watched as the clouds were moving faster and faster around him, until finally, the wind picked up and blew hard against the glass. Kalloron opened his hand and dispersed the magic, and the clouds in the sky disappeared too.
"Now, I've shown you a portion of my power, are you satisfied? I'll help erect a barrier too, now leave, I grow tired of your presence." Kalloron said coldly.
***
The next morning, the sun had risen and the rain had stopped falling. The skies above seemed clear enough, and puddles lay all over the ground.
Lore finished his morning routine, and quickly joined Valorum. He and all the other Knight Order members were to begin their march to seal the Magic Storm. They needed to travel west, towards the forested area known now as 'the Badlands'. This place was filled with dense forests, rivers, and mountains, making it difficult to traverse. There was only one road leading to the western part of the kingdom. To all the Knights and soldiers, this felt like Deja vu. Just a year ago, they were traversing this same road, marching to fight the Daemons. Now, another catastrophe strikes. It was almost eerie how similar everything was.
Valorum and Lore marched out together, followed by the rest of the Knight Order. They were armed with swords, shields, and spears. Some wore chainmail while others used leather armor. Each man was equipped with a helmet, and some bore a longsword strapped to their back.
They were about halfway to the 9Badlands when suddenly the sky grew dark again. A bolt of lightning shot through the air and struck somewhere behind them. Thunder boomed loudly causing everyone to cover their ears. Another bolt of lighting hit close to the group, and sent several knights flying. One of those fallen knights happened to be a member of the Knight Order. His shield broke upon impact and he fell unconscious.
A few minutes later, the thunderstorm returned. Lightning flashed brightly, striking trees and rocks. Trees toppled over from the force of the electricity, blocking the path ahead.
Lore and a few other Apprentices worked to clear the path of the fallen trees. Once they were done, they continued on their journey.
As the day progressed, the weather became worse. Rain poured down in sheets, soaking the earth beneath them. Fog rolled into the Badlands, obscuring vision for miles around. The Magic infused into the weather also assaulted the bodies and minds of the army.
After a few days of travel, and weathering the battering of the storm, the Knights had finally reached the center of the Badlands. On the opposite side stood the Daemon forces also there to steal the power of the storm.
Both sides gathered in front of the massive wall of fog. The misty barrier blocked the sight of anything beyond its reach. Both armies prepared themselves for battle.
On the Daemonic side, the Daemons appeared in full regalia.