We maneuvered through the scattered ogres and ruined buildings and made our way to the eastern gate.
"Quick! Get on outside!"
I urged Jonah and Shanny once we arrived at the gate.
[Davah Shashanam]
As we exited the garrison, I enchanted the rest of the ruins around me and piled them on the gate, impeding the ogres that were trying to chase us.
I swung my hands, closed the gate behind me and joined my two comrades who were already outside the walls.
They were both looking struggled by what was in front of them.
Right outside the garrison lied a huge moat filled with water. Seeing the moat stretched from horizon to horizon, it would be more appropriate to call it a river.
There was a bridge connecting us across, but it had weathered down so badly to the point it would crumble the moment a leaf landed upon it.
"How do we cross? We can't use the bridge!"
Jonah spoke out.
"But I can't swim!"
Shanny replied.
"Me neither!"
He said back to her.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Behind us, the ogres were doing their best to break the eastern gate down.
Kraahhh!
Hordes of ogres were also approaching us a few distance to the north and south.
They were the ones who got around the garrison instead of forcing their way through the gate. Luckily they did not surround the place before we got out.
At any rate, we could not stay here much longer.
Given the circumstances, I waved my hands around, threads of mana flowed out and formed another magic symbol.
[Akarshanam]
All of our legs were suddenly glowing with soft blue light.
"What's happening?"
"What is this?"
Jonah and Shanny looked down in confusion.
I hurriedly ran to the river and stepped on the water as if it was solid surface.
"Stop talking and run! The ogres will soon get here!"
I ordered them as I ran on the water.
"W-what?"
"Amazing sorcery…"
Jonah and Shanny were astounded by the sight of me stepping on the water surface, but the sound of the gate crushing down behind them woke them up immediately from their daze.
"Y-yes!"
"W-we're coming!"
The two of them quickly followed my steps and crossed the river.
Once we got across, I deactivated the spell and observed our surroundings.
We found ourselves once again at the edge of a plain.
However, instead of a never-ending horizon, this time we could spot a range of hills and forest at the other side. The very far other side.
"We need to cross the plain and get to the hills. We should be able to tell where we need to go from there."
I instructed my comrades.
"Understood!"
They replied to me promptly.
I looked over to the garrison and found the ogres scrambling outside.
They quickly jumped into the river, the water reached up to their shoulders.
With a snail-like pace they treaded through the channel and tried to reach us.
"It'll take time before they cross the river, but we shouldn't loiter around. Let's move!"
We began running through the plain.
As an effort to separate us from the ogres even farther, I casted a spell. Our legs were now glowing with green light once more.
['Serafina (★★★★)' is casting temporary enchantment.]
[Enchantment casted!]
[Party 1's agility has increased by 15% for the next 20 minutes.]
With the speed of a galloping hare, we sprinted through the plain toward the hills in the far distance.
As we ran through the open field without any enemies within close proximity, we finally had a somewhat leisure time to chat among ourselves.
"That spell you did just now, what was it?"
Jonah asked.
"Yeah, I never knew there's a spell that allows you to walk on water!"
Shanny remarked.
"It's just part of enchantment magic. I merely manipulated the surface tension of the water using my mana so it could be solid enough to walk on."
I replied to them.
"Amazing…. You're an incredible mage, Serafina."
"We would've been long dead in this trial if it weren't for you."
"I was just fulfilling my role. In fact, I'm starting to approach my limit. So I would need you two to step up. Casting a spell on that huge orc earlier took a toll on my mana."
The two nodded at my words.
"Don't worry! We'll give it our all!"
"We'll die if you die. So I'll do my best to back you up."
Dun! Dun! Dun! Dun!
A faraway rumbling sound distracted us from our conversation.
We looked over our shoulders and found the ogres were stampeding our way from far distance behind us.
Quite a number of them had crossed the river.
Thankfully we were soon approaching the forest we saw earlier.
Just over the forest lied the hills we were making our way to.
Kekeke!
As expected, the path to our destination was not without obstacles.
Dozens and dozens of goblins were waiting for us from all over the forest.
They were lying in wait inside the shadows of the tree canopies.
[Goblins Lv.4 x28] [Goblin Archers Lv.3 x26]
Seeing those creatures, Jonah and Shanny readied their weapons.
"Wait! Don't engage them yet!"
I quickly ordered my comrades.
"Why? What's the matter?"
Jonah asked.
"The ogres are chasing us and these bastards are in our way!"
Shanny said while pointing her sword back-and-forth at the monsters on either side.
"Exactly. We can't waste time taking down all of the goblins. So I'll open up a path with my fire magic first then we'll break through them. You two will take care of any remaining monsters blocking our way after."
Jonah and Shanny immediately understood my instruction.
They took positions beside me and prepared to charge into the forest.
I raised my hands forward and started casting a Third Circle spell.
[Maha Jwala]
Trails of fire manifested on the ground around me. They encircled my dress and coiled their way up to my palms.
In few seconds the trails fused together into a blazing ball of flames, I activated the spell right then.
[Ignite]
A blazing inferno burst forth and blasted through the trees in front of me, charring the goblins standing within its path.
[Burn]
The blaze exploded into this dome of fire which engulfed a portion of the forest whole. Decimating the ground, trees, and rocks within.
[Arise]
The raging fire danced around the ground forming a spinning maelstrom and rose to the sky like a blazing tornado, spreading fire throughout the landscape of greeneries.
Trees around it were uprooted like mere dandelions passed by a gentle gale in the plain.
Our path in front was wide open and ready to be tread by us.
I looked to Jonah and Shanny and swiftly gave them my next order.
"Charge!"