Dread Mage

Vell looked at Sonder; her broken form saddened him.

She had transformed into a ghastly beast.

Not just that but she also absorbed parts of a demon's soul.

Vell had her in an iron-tight grip from which she couldn't escape, no matter how hard she struggled to get out.

Her intangibility was useless as he was charged with powerful magic.

She looked at him without any recognition in her eyes began her wail and aimed the scream at Vell.

Skin flakes were peeled from his face but he didn't let go.

"Sonder," he said gently, and then again, "Sonder, my dear girl. Come back to me."

She gnashed but as time went on, she softened.

Vell didn't want to use any more force than was necessary to get her back to him, but it had to be quick.

The mages here were in danger as the dark mist that came from Sonder would kill them if they were exposed to it for too long.

He let go of her, and she quickly retreated.

Hovering for just a second a distance away, she then rushed towards him.

Her arm swung in a wide arc to rip off his face, but when it connected, as Vell didn't even try to defend himself, her arm broke.

Like a gong struck by a mallet which then shattered, so was her hand.

It was clear that she was stronger than a few low-class demons, and a few unconscious mages, but nowhere near as strong as Vell, even if he didn't defend himself.

In his mind he cursed Eraf. They were plebeian mages with a poor understanding of the other planes of existence and even less understanding of what should and shouldn't be done with power.

Why would they even consider summoning demons?

He didn't want Sonder to be exposed to any of this. He came to Eraf because this was their main focus. The forbidden and darker sides of the craft, not that they were exceptionally gifted or knowledgable but they were ready to delve deep, unlike most other places.

If Vell had come to any other place, he would have been declared a criminal and they would try to arrest him, and he didn't want to bother with all that trouble.

In Eraf, they would have peacefully figured out what Sonder was, but now he didn't need them anymore.

She was a banshee, a creature both beautiful and horrifying.

He was just thankful that she wasn't too powerful or else everyone here, except for him, and the greater demon, would be dead.

Taking his staff, he channeled the mana he had left in his body into it, without conjuring more. He thought it should be enough for what he wanted to do.

When Sonder tried to strike with her other arm, he touched the tip of the staff to her heart, released the mana, and spoke one of his magic words, "Cai."

In an instant, after Sonder had fallen to the ground, she shrunk and regained her lost flesh.

Her dress was torn and was missing many pieces, so Vell covered her with his coat and left her to carry her in his hands.

She needed somewhere to rest.

He shot a glance towards the mages and the Apprentice, who were all wounded and would die of their wounds if no one came to help.

He decided to heal the Apprentice. She was to decide what was going to happen to them. If she had the conviction and the skill then she could safe them, if not, then they would be dead, the least they deserve.

They should be thankful for even that; who knows what could have happened to the city if the demons had escaped from Eraf.