Dread Mage

There was a scream beyond the door and wasting no time Vell kicked open the door and it flew off its handle.

Flying far it hit a giant red creature in the side. It held a man in its hand and had taken a bite out of him, leaving only the upper body.

The man was still alive but not for long as he flailed around in agony before quickly dying.

The sight was disturbing and Sonder and the Apprentice held their hands by their faces, shocked by what they saw.

The room was round and made of stone with only the door Vell had kicked open as an exit and entrance.

If they moved away from here they had no other way to escape.

There were a few other people here. Most of them were dressed in expensive robes with intricate designs on them. They lay on the floor, evident that the red demon had beaten them in combat not too long ago.

When the Apprentice saw one of them, an older gone woman, she yelled, "Master!"

She yelled back, "What are you doing here? Get out!" She tried to stand but faltered as she was weak.

The demon looked to the new intruders and spoke in a language Sonder didn't understand, but it was loud and clear with a lot of confidence behind it.

It was hunched over before and now stood up to its full height, reaching the ceiling.

Stretching its hand out, it opened a small portal, summoning a few of its demonic legion, to its left and right.

A thin demon, with long and razor-like claws, and a big one, like someone added armor onto armor on an already behemoth-like creature.

Vell turned to Sonder and the Apprentice fast, his voice very serious, "I cannot banish the head demon while the other two are distracting me. I need you two to take on the two summoned demons."

They were shocked.

"Us?" Sonder asked, "I can't fight."

"You can, you just don't know it yet. You are much stronger than you know, Sonder." Vell said, "And you," he said to the Apprentice, "I imagine you have some way to fight demons."

"I do," she answered, breathing heavily. She tried to sound confident but it was clear that she was as nervous and frightened as Sonder was.

"Great. It isn't just me who is relying on you two, but the mages here." Vell said and then swung his staff around, "Ver Bel."

Sonder saw that the mana he usually used was nowhere in sight, but something black and inky made its way through his body and into the staff.

A black but translucent barrier erected itself between him, the head demon, and Sonder, the Apprentice, and the two summoned demons, leaving the mages on Sonder's side.