Everything was happening so quickly, making it difficult for Rowen to be able to think straight about what he needed to do next. Spells flitted in and out of his head, spells to protect them and spells to prepare them, but Rowen was having difficulty concentrating on just one. Stop. Deep breath. Better.

Shendron's transformation gave him the first idea. He placed a hand on Shendron's leg and cast his spell. The lines of fire which had appeared all over Shendron's body began to spread down his arm, snaking over his skin and covering his body. Rowen now too had some of this elemental power running through him, though not half as powerful as Shendron's fire, but still effective.

Next, he cast a mass invisibility spell, reducing Shendron and himself to mere shimmers. Unfortunately the spell was not 100% effective as Shendron's pwers were somehow interfering with the spell, but it still gave them an element of surprise to use on whatever was coming to get them. It seemed that it would be better to concentrate on protecting himself though, as Shendron's body was attempting to resist the magical changes. And besides... Shendron seemed quite powerful enough now to handle himself.

Rowen removed his hand from the towering beast and raised both arms into the air. Without a word, a milky white light cascaded onto him, like a waterfall. The small stones at his feet and the dust particles in the air around him fanned out to his sides, standing on the outside of the light shaft. Even the hairs on Shendron's body seemed to be statically repulsed by the glowing ebb surrounding Rowen. Rowen's arms came down again, this time both surrounded in an eerie glow.

What more to cast... Rowen couldn't decide. Judging by the state Shendron had been in, these were no petty assailents on their way. It would take more than his standard enhancement spells to protect himself now. His mind settled on another spell.

His arms moved to his sides and started motioning in the air, gathering speed as they moved through their intricate dance. As they performed at his sides, a green bubble-like layer was forming in the air five feet away from him. For an entire thirty seconds Rowen stood stock still in one position, forming this barrier ahead of him. Shendron turned to look at Rowen, distracted for a moment from the trouble at hand while he admired the fluid movements Rowen was performing, and the potent effects they were creating. He had to admit, Rowen was no amateur. But even so, the upcoming battle was going to take all of their abilities and then some, if they were to survive the encounter.

Rowen finished his spell and paused to catch his breath. Realising that Shendron was staring at him, he turned to face the now enormous monster at his side. Shendron smiled at him, and in that smile he could see two messages: I'm impressed, but keep going!

It seemed unfair that Shendron had such a bird's eye view of the soon-to-be battleground, so Shendron lifted Rowen up into the air onto his shoulder. Rowen thought this a bit demeaning though, so he levitated slightly off to the side, staying at the same level Shendron had placed him. Shendron smiled knowingly. Pride. A source of strength at times like this, but also a burden when left unchecked.

Shendron's expectant ears picked up the noise of their foe advancing long before Rowen realised what was coming, but perhaps this was a good thing. While Shendron listened carefully to the noises coming from the other side of the wall, Rowen kept chanting, creating a blue glow here and a subtle vibration there, constantly preparing himself. If they made it out of this alive, thought Shendron, he might actually get to like this wizard. Might.