One morning, the Ministry of Magic in Italy received an urgent call for help from the Ministry of Magic in Jerusalem. They requested reinforcements, as the fairies had launched a massive attack on Jerusalem and the entire city was in grave danger. As a result, all magical headquarters located relatively close to Jerusalem, along with the forces of the allied army, rushed to Israel to provide assistance. The same was done by Depate's Cyan headquarters, who also considered asking the elves whether they could aid them in the battle in Israel.
Thus, Depate first sent immediate reinforcements to Jerusalem through magical portals, and then notified the young Phoskyr that he was assigning him the mission to travel to Knosaion and request help from the elves, if possible.
"Nophivos, you must go to Knosaion immediately and ask for help, because a bloody war is unfolding in the region of Israel. Take the metal coin of the unicorn and go find your people quickly. The situation is critical—try to convince them to send military forces."
"Yes, Commander. I'll do the best I can!"
He left the commander's office and immediately teleported through a portal to Thessaloniki, near the ancient Rotunda temple. From there, using the magic of his ring with the embossed Pegasus, he flew toward the forests of Donedous. As he approached the elven territory, he landed so as not to be detected by any Vyrsonian creatures, who often roamed those lands. Now on the ground, the young mage moved swiftly using rapid shadow-leap transitions toward the rock that led to the hidden entrance of Knosaion.
The young mage had greatly developed his magical abilities. Wrapped alternately in black, then blue, and then golden auras, he moved continuously. It was truly a sight to behold—impressive how he combined shadow-leap techniques of the Cyans, the Augerines, and the dark aura of Xodeinos that he had been taught. Over the years, Phoskyr had improved significantly, constantly remembering and practicing everything he had learned, whether alone or on the battlefield. And with the Asovi ring, he was now almost untouchable and tremendously powerful—despite being only sixteen years old.
He soon reached the rock and pulled the magical coin from his pocket.
Phoskyr loudly uttered the spell "Asikaor!" and half a minute later he was magically teleported into the assembly hall of the palace. Present were the entire Senate, the King, and the renowned mage Elanor.
"Greetings, my friends. Thank you for receiving me at Knosaion."
"I hope your reason for arriving is sufficiently serious, young man, otherwise we will take the coin from you and end our cooperation with the human Ministry of Magic."
"It is, King Begalor! At this very moment the Onia have begun their invasion of Jerusalem. Chaos reigns, and the Ministry of Magic sent me—"
"So war has already begun in Israel?"
"Yes! Our commander, Mr. Depate, said that Jerusalem must not fall into the hands of the Onia under any circumstances. It is absolutely vital that we save it!"
"Your request is understood. You must return to your headquarters, and after we deliberate on the matter of the war, we will inform you. You may leave."
The clever Nophivos sensed from the tone of Begalor and the council that the elves were not particularly eager to intervene in this war, so he devised a plan to persuade them.
"My King Begalor, in Jerusalem lies the last significant source of ancient magic. If that city falls, the Ministry of Magic will lose all hope against the Onia. Moreover, it would not be beneficial for such powerful magic to fall into the hands of our enemies."
All the elves rose in alarm at his words.
"You should have told us this from the very beginning! Return immediately to your headquarters and inform your commander that the elven army is preparing to reach the front as quickly as possible!"
The Senate also instructed the young mage to relay that, in the event of victory over the Onia, they must be granted access to that source of aether magic in order to destroy the enemy permanently and once and for all.
Thus, the sixteen-year-old Adathos departed to inform the Cyans and convey the elves' condition in case of victory. On his return to the headquarters, Nophivos again moved swiftly using magical aura-leaps—but this time, a surprise awaited him.
Suddenly, an Onio in the form of a werewolf, clad in a black robe, blocked his path. The Vyrsonian attacked with a curse of green flame, and Phoskyr, with sharp reflexes, responded with the spell "Nefoulso." Their spells collided, forming a merged clash where green and white flames erupted simultaneously from the Vyrsonian's staff and Phoskyr's wand. Both mages strained to overpower the other, the clash shifting back and forth between them.
Refusing to retreat, the Vyrsonian used his free left hand to cast the spell "Revioso," lifting the young mage into the air and briefly disrupting his control of the battle. The green flame began to creep dangerously close to Phoskyr. Yet, just before the Onio's curse touched his wand, Phoskyr swiftly invoked an ancient and powerful spell taught to him by Eskeinthos.
This spell was "Rizard Sihar," granting him two flaming wings on his back while his entire body shone with light. He soared upward, narrowly avoiding the enemy curse at the last possible moment. Then, with his free hand, Phoskyr cast another spell, creating a dark rift into which the green-flame curse fell. The rift vanished—and reappeared directly behind the Vyrsonian, unleashing the terrible magical attack upon him. The Onia did not even realize what had happened; everything occurred so quickly that he fell dead by his own spell.
That spell of the dark magical rift was one of many useful arts taught to him by the dark spirit Eskeinthos. The spell was called "Skotintro," capable of absorbing an enemy curse and turning it back upon the caster. Likewise, "Rizard Sihar," with its fiery wings, was another gift of magical knowledge from Xodeinos—one that truly saved him from the jaws of death.
Phoskyr wasted no time. He immediately used the magic of the Asovi ring to flee the battlefield as fast as possible. He did not wish to linger, fearing that other Onia might be nearby and detect him. His entire body became enveloped in a white aura, and he took off, heading back to his headquarters to report the elves' decision.
Within minutes, he reached the Rotunda, entered a hidden underground passage, and was transported via a magical portal to the Cyans' headquarters in Rome. Upon arrival, he recounted everything that had happened at Knosaion, not forgetting, of course, to describe his encounter with the Vyrsonian.
The Cyans listened as the young mage explained that, in order to persuade the elves, he had been forced to lie.
"King Begalor and the Senate were not willing to rush to Jerusalem, Commander Depate. That's why I told them—falsely—that there is a great source of aether in that city."
Depate and the other Cyans laughed at Nofivos' clever lie, and then their leader, Giovatori, asked him how he had come up with such a fabrication.
— The truth is, he said, that during the time I have spent in your world, I have read many books—both of magic and of the history of ordinary humans. That is how I learned that Jerusalem has, throughout the centuries, been the site of countless wars between peoples, and a place where events of immense importance to human history have unfolded.
— So what exactly do you mean by what you read?— Among many things, Leader, I read that one of the greatest religious miracles of humanity occurs every year in that region. I mean the miracle of the Holy Sepulchre, where Jesus is believed to have been buried and where the Holy Light appears in a miraculous way. Based on what I had read about this city, the idea came to me to tell them that a very powerful, ancient magic exists in that place…
— So all this time you were among us, you were studying human magic and history… I see…
Depate then smiled, placed a hand on his shoulder, and said,— My young friend, quite paradoxically, you should know that you did not lie to them—not even in the slightest. For indeed, in Jerusalem there exists an artifact of extraordinary magical power.
— This artifact is a magical vessel of ancient magic, in the form of a cup. It is referenced both in magical grimoires and in the classical myths of humans, and it bears many names. One common name for this vessel is the Horn of Amalthea.
— Yes, I have read about that Greek myth. So the myth is real? The magical object truly exists?— We do not know the absolute reliability of the myths concerning its magical properties. However, it is a fact that countless wars have been waged between nations in order to obtain this object for themselves. Therefore, my cunning friend, know that you did not lie to your elven friends—and now you also understand just how serious the situation in Jerusalem truly is.
Phoskyr smiled and replied,— In the end, I got off cheaply… I wouldn't know what to tell the elves if they had found nothing of importance in Jerusalem. They would certainly have exiled me permanently from Knosaion…
— Fortunately for all of us, your lie will not cost us. Moreover, the Ministry of Magic believes that the Byrsonians did not launch this full-scale attack on Israel by chance. They must somehow know of—or have detected—the powerful magic of the artifact that exists there. That is why we must not lose this war. Otherwise, that important magical cup will fall into their hands.
Meanwhile, the battle in Jerusalem was unfolding, and soon the magical forces of the elves arrived as well—battalions of the Dawnwardens. At the same time, the headquarters of Rome prepared to send yet another Cian detachment, in which Phoskyr would take part, to aid in the battle against the Onia. Through teleportation gates, the Cyans were transported to Athens, and from there to the ancient Rotunda of Galerius in Jerusalem. Nofivos' detachment moved to the front without delay and took up battle positions.
The allied army vastly outnumbered the enemy, and thus initially deployed infantry and war chariots on the front line against the Onia. Behind them followed battalions of enormous, terrifying Giants alongside the Hundred-Handed Ones. However, the Byrsonians unleashed a massive magical green cloud, poisoning the atmosphere and killing a large portion of the allied forces on the front lines. Those who endured were only some of the Giants, the Hundred-Handed Ones, and the war chariots.
At the same time, the allied forces launched a coordinated aerial assault with fighter aircraft to counter the magical beasts of the Onia. The Onia had summoned flying creatures through magic—demons, chimeras, and various other spirits. The fairies had also somehow gained control over the planet's fearsome legendary beasts: the dragons. Thus, terrifying clashes erupted across the skies.
On the ground, the allies regrouped and prepared for a second charge. The chariots unleashed their firepower against the forces of the Onia, providing cover for the Giants and the Hundred-Handed Ones as they closed in on the Byrsonian beasts. As a result, the allies managed to eliminate many Trolls, Golems, and other magical creatures that formed the enemy's vanguard.
The allies regained morale and secured significant ground—but then the Onia executed an immensely powerful form of the spell "Telavnor." Several Onia cooperated, releasing the dreadful magic in unison. The sky darkened above the allied lines, and lightning bolts began striking relentlessly. After several minutes, the sky cleared and the dark clouds dispersed, revealing the horrific devastation inflicted upon the allied forces.
Charred bodies of Giants and Hundred-Handed Ones lay everywhere, alongside shattered remains of war chariots. In one place, so many lightning strikes had fallen that a massive crater had formed in the ground, as if a comet had impacted there. Yet the Vyrsonians did not halt their assault. They decisively sent magical creatures to annihilate the allies while they were still reeling from the devastating attack.
It was at this stage of the battle that Commander Jonathan's group arrived alongside Nofivos. Phoskyr and the red-haired Jonathan formed ranks near the Dawnwardens—the only forces that appeared to have suffered no significant losses from the Onia's previous assault. At that moment, the elves organized themselves to perform a form of higher magic in counterattack.
Their combined assault manifested as a massive wave of fire, controlled from afar and unleashed with precision upon the advancing spirit armies of the Onia. This action gave the allied forces the courage and crucial time they needed to reorganize and re-enter the battle with renewed strength.
Thus, the Cian battalions from all headquarters performed a collective spell of immense power. In the sky appeared a colossal flaming sphere, like a meteor. The Cyans hurled it at high speed toward the vyrsonian beasts. Seizing the opportunity, the elves and Phoskyr's detachment reinforced the meteor with their own magic, enlarging it even further.
The Vyrsonians fled in terror as the enormous mass of fire descended upon them. Their lines were nearly obliterated, yet most of them managed to survive by transforming into spheres of light, evading the destructive impact. They ascended high into the sky and prepared their counterattack. The Vyrsonians then transformed once more into angelic entities and began gathering clouds high above.
Dark clouds amassed, completely obscuring the sunlight. The angels unleashed another terrible lightning assault, lasting half a minute——but this time, the elves intervened in time. With the help of the Cyans, they organized the allied defense against the Onia's destructive power. Through the spell "Megadrax," the mages together created an invisible shield above their heads. All lightning and thunderbolts were absorbed. For half a minute, they crashed upon the unseen barrier, producing deafening roars and blinding flashes that filled the defenders with terror.
Nevertheless, the magical defense endured, and thus the majority of the allied forces managed to survive the fairies' dreadful assault. The elves, together with Phoskyr and several other Cyans, began summoning winged spirits and demons to attack the Vyrsonians, who remained high above at a safe distance. At the same time, the allies launched several combat helicopters to assist in the aerial battle unfolding between the magical creatures of both factions.
As the battle in the skies reached its peak, the Onia attempted once more to attack from the ground with a new wave of monsters—a vast host. However, once again the elves were not caught unprepared. With the spell "Elops," they manifested a magical lattice before the advancing enemy beasts. All the magical creatures of the Onia that charged through the lattice were instantly reduced to half their size. Thus weakened, the beasts became far easier for the allied forces to fight.
In the air, the allied forces began to gain the upper hand, gradually seizing control of the battle and forcing the Vyrsonians—who had suffered considerable losses—to retreat even further. The fairies, witnessing their companions being slain and their magical creatures routed, began to succumb to fear. As a result, the Onia descended once more, attempting to shield themselves behind their monstrous armies on the ground.
The elves then invoked a more powerful form of the spell "Girma," combining their magical energies. A violent earthquake followed, and the majority of the enemy creatures fell into vast fissures that split open the earth. The Vyrsonians, however, took flight and escaped the enormous chasms. The Onia attempted another lightning assault, but this time it was weaker and shorter-lived. Even so, another battalion of fairies created a colossal tidal wave and hurled it toward the allies as they struggled to defend themselves from the lightning.
By combining their water-based attack with the lightning—now spreading through the flooded allied ranks—the Onia amplified the destructive power of their strikes. This caused heavy losses among the allies. The Onia then escalated their assault further by freezing all the water, trapping several allied battalions in ice and leaving them vulnerable to curses. Indeed, the Onia opened a dark rift above the frozen formations, from which thousands of razor-sharp blades rained down upon them.
This attack inflicted devastating losses on the forces defending Jerusalem. However, the elves and Phoskyr's detachment managed in time to protect themselves—and several nearby allies—using the spell "Megadrax." Thus, they avoided annihilation by the Vyrsonian assault, which had been masterfully orchestrated. Now it was the elves' and Phoskyr's turn to counterattack. They transformed the falling blades into a molten, lava-like mass and unleashed them upon the Vyrsonians in the form of a fiery rain.
The Onia transformed into flames and took flight, attempting to escape the searing downpour. Seizing the moment while the fairies were disoriented, the allies bombarded them simultaneously with curses and artillery fire. In this way, the allied army finally managed to deal decisive blows to the Vyrsonians and drive them completely out of the territory of Jerusalem. They then pursued the fleeing enemy, exterminating and capturing many more as the Vyrsonians broke into chaotic retreat.
The victory of that day was truly an achievement, though it came at the cost of significant losses in both lives and war materiel. Nevertheless, the allies did not forget to thank the elves and Commander Jonathan's detachment, who had been a crucial cog in the final triumph over the Onia. Together, they celebrated their success, and on that occasion the elves requested that their demand be fulfilled.
Thus, the officials of the Ministry of Magic later led the elves to the secret underground vault where the ancient magical artifact—imbued with immense power—was kept. This deepened the bond of friendship and trust between the elves and the allies even further. Subsequently, the elves agreed to commit additional Dawnwarden battalions to join the allied army and the Cian forces, in order to protect all major cities of the planet and any sources of ancient magic held by the Ministry of Magic—on the condition that the Ministry reveal all its knowledge and resources concerning aether magic.
Furthermore, the elves requested to jointly examine, alongside the Cyans, the properties and magical powers of the Horn of Amalthea. The Ministry, in turn, asked to visit Knosaion, but the elves politely declined, reminding them that only Nofivos held that privilege—and only as an emissary of the Ministry, and only under exceptional circumstances. Thus, they all proceeded together to the secret crypt where the magical cup was kept, so that the elves might show it to their valuable allies and dispel any notion that they had been deceived.
Upon their arrival, Elanor and five other elves examined the magical artifact and indeed confirmed the powerful aetheric magic emanating from it. Through a magical ritual, they succeeded in measuring the quantity of ancient magic contained within the enchanted vessel. Filled with joy, the elves concluded that it possessed sufficient magical power to seal the Magical Veil for many millennia—should they choose to draw upon its energy.