The silver knight staggered to his feet, blood dripping from his blade and from his own numerous wounds. He lifted the blade again, determined to finish this. He pressed the blade against the chest of his fallen opponent, determined to finish this. He could feel the jagged, pained breath of the person reverberating through the metal, along with the gasps of pain. For a moment, he hesitated. But only for a moment; this one had done too much to deserve mercy.
The blade easily sliced through the black fabric of his cloak, through skin, and muscle. His back arched, and only drove the blade deeper. Blood pooled around silver blade, and the knight collapsed, and died not long after. But he died knowing that he had killed the person that would end the lives of so many others. And he died a happy man.
But his prey did not die so easily, nor so quickly; not to say that death was not approaching in its own cruel process. The blade was embedded in his chest, and through his pain, could hear, and feel everything, know everything. And what a terrible hell in its own right, to be completely lucid and unable to move a muscle.
The figure in black felt the air itself begin to buckle and warp, then it shattered. The presence was suddenly there, towering over the bloody person, soon to be a corpse, and its was powerful, so very powerful that its entrance shattered the world around its point of entrance.
Its spoke, voice proud and calm, offering a deal, to stave off death. But like everything, in every world, it had a price.
Without a spoken word, the dieing agreed, no matter what the price.
"Come on, Kuro-doggie!" Fai called, dodging the punch aimed at his face.
"Don't you call me that, you damn mage!" The ninja, Kurogane, replied as he pursed the blonde magician as he leapt cleanly over the countertop, and landed with the same light-footedness he always displayed. The ninja cleared the counter, only to barely miss Fai as he ducked away, and sidled towards the door.
"You're not getting away!" he picked up a pot, and hurled at towards the blonde man. That damn grin was the last thing the ninja saw as the mage ducked out the door.
"You know he doest that on purpose right?" Syaoron stated, walking calmly over to the door and picked up the pot. He placed it back on the counter, and the ninja replied, "Yeah, I know. But it still pisses me off."
"We should go look around." the boy stated, removing the olive-green cloak, and placing it, too, onto the counter. They were currently in a large penthouse, of which belonged to the mayor of the town. And in exchange, they had to investigate a series of gruesome murders. And, for the moment, they didn't have a problem with the arrangement.
But that didn't mean that they weren't pressed for time.
After a second of contemplation, Kurogane agreed.
As soon as I exited the penthouse, my customary grin faltered and my mood darkened.
I left the lapel of my coat move, and Mokona poked her head out from underneath the warm fold of cloth. "What's wrong, Fai?" she questioned. I reached up, and placed a calming hand on her head; I felt her heartbeat under my hand. "Nothing, Mokona." I hated to lie to her, but, even if they knew everything there was to know, breaking down the walls I had built would take a great deal of time. The ability to trust (or lack of) was the first of those walls. And I was trying desperately to convince myself that I was letting these people in but I knew that was not the case.
I could feel her tense under my hand, and it was obvious that she did not believe me. But, and gods bless her, she did not asked anymore questions. "It's cold, Fai." she stated, and jumped down from my shoulder, into my coat and curled up there. It was not nearly as cold as the land as I was from, but I did not point that out. However, I had to admit, that it was brutally cold, even in this huge building, on the top floor.
I reached the elevator, and once the ornate door slid open, stepped inside. I pressed the button for the first floor, and retreated to the corner. I buried my face in my hands; I could feel the beginnings of a migraine building and the blaring lights of the elevator car were doing nothing to ease its effects. "Fai…" Mokona whined.
"I am alright, Mokona." I replied, pinching the bridge of my nose before I looked down at her and smiled. "Fai's in pain…" The elevator doors slid open and the small space was filled with voices from a large party on the first floor. The building we were currently inhabiting housed a theatre, ballroom and bar, and anything else that supplied a party-going atmosphere.
I pushed through the crowd, not registering the foul looks, or smart comments. The archway called me, and suddenly I found myself outside, in the blessed silence and darkness. I stumbled, knees threatening to buckle as the migraine slammed into my brain with a vengeance, sending white lances of pain through my brain with every beat of my heart. A strangled gasp escaped me as I staggered over to the wall, in an effort not to go down.
"Fai!" My vision, in the eye I had so recently regained, flickered as the migraine doubled in intensity. I'd had migraines before, but this took the cake. Usually, my body only reacted like this when in the presence of strong magical power. I swept the area, in an attempt to locate the source of the magic. I felt it on the very edge of my vision, moving faster than any human and disappeared, and instantly the ailment was gone. I backed up against the wall, hands pressed against the rough marble surface in an effort to get back on my feet.
Once there, I swayed. "Fai…" I opened my eyes, and for the first time since we arrived, was free from pain. I once again reached out, searching; I traced the residual trail of magic from where it disappeared at the edge of my vision. It weaved back and forth for miles and faded to nothing when it reached the edge of town.
I slid out into white expanse that was the sea of perfect snow, the thin layer of ice crunching under feet. Black skeletons that were hibernating trees broke out from the snow, like some great sea beast breaching the surface. The tips of the trees scraped an equally black sky, peppered with brilliant white stars and a beautiful silver moon, high in the sky.
"Fai, where are you going?" As broke from the building and sprinted through the sleeping forest, feet barely breaking the surface of the snow, I felt, well, good. That was the extend of my feeling; for the moment there was no pain, no anger, no worry. I laughed, somersaulting in the air, the movements coming so easily that it would put even a bird to shame.
I flew through the forest, one of the few instances that I actually enjoyed myself. I felt the presence of the wolves, wild and free as they, too, flew across the surface of the snow, following just out of sight. I felt no aggression, only curiosity. For a while they were silent. Slowly, slowly, their voices filled the silence, a beautiful orchestra of howls. As their song reached its peak, they showed themselves, lithe bodies made out of shadow, flying across the surface of the snow and blazing suns their eyes.
The farther we ran, the bolder they got, until so close I could feel their warm breath and the boldest of them, the alpha, nudged my hand. I knew that, if I showed any fear, they knew attack, just like any other wild animal. But I did not fear them; for the moment, they were my steadfast companions.
The male alpha, jet-black against the white snow ran at my left; on my right the female alpha, a less-striking, but no less beautiful, shade of black. Her eyes were shining amber; his were green.
"Welcome, my friends, my companions," I laughed, and they howled in turn with me. From the rabbit's place on my shoulder, I felt her relax, and then, laughed too.
For several miles, as I followed the magician's trail, the wolves followed, silent companions. Then, one by one, the pack broke off and disappeared back into the woods.
I vaulted over the top of a ridge, and the magical essence suddenly increased in intensity. Knees bent, I landed hard, my feet sinking several inches into the snow. I felt an old injury from Outo beginning to ache from the cold, and the bad landing.
I scanned the area; all there was was snow and black trees. But I could not disperse the feeling that there was something; I could not pinpoint its source, the area was so saturated by magic.
"Looking for me?" A voice broke through the silence. I snapped; there, in the tree; a figure in a black cloak, which concealed everything. I could feel the magical essence dripping from this person, but nothing like before.
I smiled, "And what if I am?" A black-clothed arm beckoned; and the person said, "Then come at me, mage."
Magicks met in midair, coiling against each other as both vied for dominance. An instant later, both shattered, sending shards of blazing energy arching through the sky, like lightning bolts. An explosion akin to standing in the heart of a thunderstorm followed, rolling into the forest, breaking the silence.
But I could not concentrate on that - this other mage was experienced, launching attacks from every angle, and in every form. I dodged an attack, sliding up into the cover of the trees as the other mage strafed me. As I landed on one of the huge branches, the entire trees buckled forward, and snapped clean in two. I twisted out of the way as the huge tree slammed into the snowy ground, sending up a sheet of white.
Magic sliced through the snow; I replied in kind, and another boom of thunder shattered the night. I was honestly surprised at how strong these attacks were. The mage launched an attack, while simultaneously slicing in from the right, curving upward towards my chest.
I slid out of the way of the former; the second blast of magic sent me reeling as I crashed into my defensive wards.
"You are not too bad, friend." I commented, smiling, but received no answer. But underneath my façade, I built up a particularly strong spell, forming it as I realized just how much of an adversary this person was.
"However," I continued, "I fear we must end this dance, friend. I have business to attend to."
"Shall this be that last blow, then?"
"I regretfully have to say that it is. But this has been entertaining."
"Yes, I agree. It is not every day that I get to hone my skills against such a powerful mage."
With that, we charged. I muttered the spell that I had been forming. As the spell connected, the other mage muttered three words, but they their effect as massive. The spell slammed into me, and it was like being hit by a train. I stumbled backwards, breath knocked out of me.
I stumbled back against a tree, and tried to regain my breath. That spell, those words- they were from no form of magic that I had ever learned.
The black mage walked over and extended his hand. "Let's call this a draw, shall we?" I saw that he favored his right leg.
I smiled, and took the hand the mage offered. Far in the distance, I could feel the presence of people approaching. I scanned the area- trees were snapped in half, and scorch marks had sliced through five feet of snow the ground below.
"Well, it is about time that I was heading back." I stated, keeping hold the mage's hand, and I felt person tense, "And for such a worthy opponent, might I get a name?"
For several seconds, there was no answer. Then, a whisper, "Freya."
"Fai." She jerked her hand free, and bolted.
I turned away, curious and concerned; mostly about this strange woman. But also the magic she had used, the one I did not recognize. But all the damage I received was a loss of breath- no broken bones or lacerations.
For such a short phrase, it held such incredible power.
"Fus Ro Dah."
Syaoron and Kurogane had just entered the lobby went the first explosion rocked the building to its core. Screams erupted from the terrified partiers as the first wave hit, rocking the building and windows bowed inwards and shattered, sending a deadly hail into the building. The whole floor bucked, and cracks formed in its intricate marble surface.
That was just the wave of air proceeding it; then came the sound, a low rumble a first, and suddenly the full force of the sound wave hit. Everyone collapsed to the ground, holding their ears.
When they could finally stand again, Syaoron and Kurogane lumbered to their feet. "Kurogane…isn't that Fai's magic" Syaoron yelled, not even realizing how loud he was, as he reclined at the wall for support.
"Yeah. Its definitely that damn mage." The ninja replied, throwing open the door and disappearing into the night.
The second explosion hit several seconds later. And this time, they were not in the shelter of the building, so they were not protected from the full force of the blow.
With several spells, I managed to cover the deep wounds in the surface of the snow. However, there was nothing to be done about the trees that were snapped in half.
I finished the best I could, and began to make my way back. "Hey, Fai." Mokona spoke- I'd forgotten about her- "That lady was pretty strong, wasn't she?"
I agreed. "But she didn't hurt you, did she?"
"No, Mokona." However, the fact was, she could have. My final spell had wounded her; that I knew for sure. And I knew that she knew that I was going for it. As I sprinted back through the forest, I noticed that every single of the trees, the branches were snapped, or bent outwards from our fight, and their trunks were clear of bark, white bellies exposed, skinned cleaner than any knife could have ever done. Tons of snow had been thrown against them, creating a glass-like sheet of ice.
It was a shocking realization that brought me out of my stupor. I slammed to a stop, feet digging into the snow- if our fight could do this to these huge trees, what could it do to people? There was no doubt in my mind, that after the first blow, and the resulting blast, that my companions would come running.
If they were caught in the open….there was no way they could have survived.
"No…" They could be buried in the tons of snow. Or they could have been destroyed all together, and there wouldn't even be a trace.
"Fai!" Mokona's shrill voice broke the silence, and she tugged at my hair. She was pointing towards one of the trees and collapsed against them, was the boy and the ninja. I felt a surge of relief. I quickly scanned over them- they appeared no worse for wear, except Syaoron had a cut across his arm. But it had nearly stopped bleeding, so I assumed that it had occurred earlier. But no broken bones, no burns….
I heard movement and turned to find the alpha wolves watching me. Their pack fanned out behind him, eyes curious, ears alert.
"You've been watching over them?" I questioned, "…Thank you." The huge male wolf stared at me for a second more, then turned away and the pack followed.
"Fai…don't you feel that?" the white rabbit asked.
"What?"
"It feels like that lady." I tensed- now wasn't the time for another round. But I realized that the magic was flowing from Syaoron and Kurogane.
"I'll have to repay her for this, if I ever see her again." For the second time that night, I had underestimated my opponent. While we had been fighting, she had been weaving wards that had shielded my friends from the after-effects of our attacks.
What I fool I was.