A duel for magecraft.

Birch was busy sorting herbs when the attack began, and was as confused as everyone else when he heard the screams of the first victims, but he would know soon enough.

He went out to see what was happening, what he saw brought horror, disgust, and momentary fear...

It also brought seething anger.

He went back inside to bring back memories from his days of youth, before going back out.

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He joined battle with a burst of flames, turning five of the monsters to ash. he then summoned holy light and struck out at several Brain-Eaters, who collapsed, the Dream-Flayers within purged.

He continued on like this for a time, until he noticed one of the Brain-Eaters, he at first didn't know what made him notice it, with all the other Brain-Eaters around, but then he realized why it stood out from the others.

It looked just like how Gem had described the man from her dream named Logar after he became a monster.

He also knew it was no normal Brain-Eater.

He hid himself till the Thing was nearly alone, and then he let it see him. It noticed him nearly at once, and Birch knew that the thing hated him.

Then it charged at him, as expected, and Birch stood still, waiting for the right moment, at the last second he moved, throwing the evil thing off guard. "Uaralioe" he muttered, and instantly the evil thing stopped moving, powerless against the magic.

Then Birch summoned his greatest magic, holy flame and started towards the creature.

He would stop it before it could gain full power.

Then he was attacked from behind. And he knew he would die.

unless he did something quick.

He spoke words of magic that would make it seem as if he were dead. "fae ui deat, bale ten uae noe uore uy btrife"

And then he was unconscious.