/\ Arawyn's Gate /\
~Chapter 3- The Conflict
...
And that glare was returned in kind, for she hated him just as much. There was a moment of silence as the dust settled, and then...
Why have you come here? Eriol shouted at her, having lost quite a bit of the composure he had had just a few seconds ago.
What does it look like? she slyly replied; obviously, they seemed to both have known this was going to happen.
Need I remind you how strictly you will be punished for this, Sakaita? Taking a snide attitude will not help your defe- But, he was cut off in mid-threat.
I am no longer under your jurisdiction, Karou. And now that he has returned, I won't have to be anymore. Now, release him. Or need I force you? she replied, a smug grin on her face. Something about her keeping a hand hidden by her cloak unnerved me.
Well, if he is as you say, why doesn't he just break out himself?
A strange look appeared in her eyes as he said this, as if, while it was something she hadn't considered, she also looked as if she were trying to remember something from a time long distant. Then, she just seemed to shrug the thought off.
That doesn't matter. I'm here for him, and you aren't going to stop me.
Oh, really?
Yes, really.... As she said this, her cloak billowed outward, and she raised the hand that had been covered by it. Her hand was glowing a deep crimson color, and as she pointed at the one who looked like Eriol, jets of flame shot out from her fingertips. At the same time, with her other hand, she drew her sword, which glowed a dark purplish-black color, violent, yet at the same time, soothing.
Eriol' simply grinned devilishly as the fire flew through the air at him. Just inches before it would have fried his face, which at this point, I was actually hoping it would, it hit against some floating rounded surface, as if a shield had just appeared in midair. There was nothing to see there, but whatever the fire had hit was undeniably a solid defense, and one that Eriol' had known quite a bit concerning.
Undaunted, Tomoyo' charged forward, sword held out, in a manner that looked rather familiar, which, from my experiences in this world, usually wasn't a good thing. Still a few yards away, she sliced at the air, and out from the aura of the blade shot spheres of the same coloration, one at each of Eriol's' arms. They bounced harmlessly off of more invisible shields around him. Eriol' just laughed.
I rather think I'm doing a decent job of stopping you.
No, just being a waste of my time, and with that, her free hand began to glow a deep yellow, firing off a blast of lightning at his chest. This time, the lightning completely dissipated inches before reaching him.
Perhaps I'll have to fix that then, ne? He grinned at this, and from the shadows behind him, a giant, two-handed sword rose off the floor. It floated past him, in the same position as if someone was holding it. Tomoyo' swung at it with her sword, but it clanged off the blade, and apparently did nothing at all to the floating weapon.
Before she had the time to pull her sword in for a parry though, with a flick of Eriol's' wrist, the blade swung downward into her leg. She stumbled backward, blood slowly dripping down her calf. She grimaced, and somehow, the blood just stopped flowing.
Tricks like that won't work as well on me, Karou.
That seemed to work fine to me...
Lifting her glowing hand, she shot a beam of white light at the sword, causing it to shine fiercely. The sword fell to the floor with the loud ring of metal on stone.
Now, Karou, let him go....
Certainly not....
Two more swords appeared behind him, one heading towards Tomoyo', and the other heading towards the defenseless prisoner on the wall, a.k.a., me. Spinning her sword around so the point faced downward, she touched it to the ground.
Spirits, I call to thee. Come to my aid, to save this one from harm...
A large rock fell from the ceiling, shattering the sword that had been coming towards me. I breathed a sigh of relief. Another rock fell and destroyed the other floating weapon. Eriol' looked quite annoyed at this.
I'm not finished just yet, Hiira.
I felt something on my feet and hands that hadn't been for a long time. Circulation. The metal binding me to the wall had simply evaporated. However, having no support, and heavily injured, I fell to the ground seconds after realizing this.
Or, I would have, if the air hadn't caught me. It felt much the same as one of my own air spells, only softer. I was buoyed over to Tomoyo', just as a large axe appeared behind Eriol'.
Is that all you can do?
No, Sakaita. There's this as well, he grinned evilly once more, and then the creature that was holding the axe came out as well. An eight foot tall minotaur. A rumbling came from the corridor that had been broken through, and she dared to glance behind her. Three more of the giant bullmen stood there, slowly advancing.
As you see, the exits are blocked. Care to fight the four of them? Or would you rather just simply give up now? I assure you, your death will be quicker than his, if you'd like.
Glancing at me, she suddenly brightened. A calm feeling washed over me, and I felt my magic aura suddenly cloud over. Tomoyo' sheathed her sword, and kneeled down on one knee, her head tilted downward to a point that her chin was only an inch from her chest armor.
Marvelous...wouldn't want too much more damage to come to this place... Eriol' stated triumphantly.
Now then, shall we- But he didn't finish, for Tomoyo' suddenly let out a loud wail, a hand against her forehead. He looked quite alarmed at this, and hastily gestured to the minotaur to stop whatever it was she was doing. Before the lumbering beast had taken two steps on its rather loud hooves though, it happened. A large ring of fire shot out around the room, it's center being Tomoyo' herself. The minotaurs, unlike their master, didn't have invisible shields, and were all heavily scorched, as well as pushed back quite a few feet as a side effect. While the fire passed over me, I simply felt a bit of warmth, and nothing more. I felt the cloud on my aura release. A fissure shot out from her next, heading straight for her main opponent, who just stood there confidently. The fissure opened under him, and he still stood there, looking smug.
Is that i- he began once more, but she let out another scream. This one was followed by a bright flash of light that was both purple and blue at the same time, and then there was nothing.