Change my Destiny 11: The Fool Part 4
Feb 3 2021: Added an extra segment to the aftermath of the battle
Tabitha was able to grab hold of Avalon as he fell, but the brief second it took to stabilize herself was too much and she ended up breaking through the flooring as well. Pulling her close, Avalon shielded her from the ground as he conjured up a barrier, hitting the floor with a loud crash.
All pleasantries in the room ceased, many of the mages scrambling to prepare spells. Avalon immediately shifted his body to put himself in front of the blue haired girl, moving his barrier forward with his new staff as she lifted up her own and prepared a spell. The room became deathly silent, aside from the chuckling from a certain noble.
"Well well, it seems we have a few rats scurrying about. What are a couple of youngsters like yourselves doing around these parts?" Count Mott sneered, recognition spreading across his features. He was wearing red and brown robes, a black cape draped over his shoulders. "A Tristain student? And not only that, the Galian exchange student… What in the blazes are you doing snooping around here? I could have you both tried for trespassing! Who sent you?! Was it those Reconquista bastards?!"
"No, we aren't from Reconquista my good sir. My friend and I," replied Avalon, gesturing to Tabitha, "were hired by a local woman to find her daughter. That would be the soul of the one you used on… that, behind you. And considering what we've found down here, I don't think you'll be making much of a case against the crown."
Avalon was about to continue, but a sudden spike of magic from the monster behind Mott caught his attention. And yet, when he double checked, it was gone. What was that?
"Lucius' brat? I shouldn't have trusted that fool to get his job done quietly… but no matter. You won't be making a case, because you won't be making it out of here alive. You're surrounded!"
Another spike, this one bigger than the last. There was a light rumbling, almost unnoticeable among the current tension in the room, but to Avalon and Tabitha, it was clear as day. They shared a look.
"Then again… I suppose this is the perfect time to test our new weapon. Its such a shame that you will have to die here; I could have used your bodies for my experiments."
The explosion of glass and raw magic power that followed threw the nearby mages off their feet as clouds of smoke and dust filled the room. Tables were thrown over, papers scattered and glass shattered. A deep, menacing growl came from the shadows, followed by a pair of glowing red eyes. One of the mages screamed as the sounds of claws tearing flesh filled the air, with more following soon after.
"Don't let the count get away, Tabitha!" shouted Avalon, moving to intercept the beast. With a nod, Tabitha moved to find the count, who had escaped during the chaos. Avalon dodged and weaved around the beast's ferocious swipes, attacking with lightning spells, keeping its attention on him as the other mages ran for their lives. However, his spells had no effect, merely shattering on impact and leaving not a scratch.
"Alright, time to try something else!" Channeling his mana, Avalon fired off every variety of spell he could think of, and observed the results. When firing any element, something inside the creature would cause a chain reaction; fire would be cooled off with ice and vice versa, wind and water would cause its body to toughen up under the forces, and earth magic would only keep it temporarily held until its strength increased enough to break free. None of these reactions stayed permanently though.
"Damn…. it really is anti-magic."
"Ether magic should do the trick, but this thing has some tough skin,"replied Kavaid.
"So then, more firepower huh? On it!"
Avalon grinned as his power rumbled within him, his body glowing with a bright green light as he switched away from lightning. As the beast made another shout to the heavens the room tore apart as it rained fireballs from its hands, destroying it even further. Avalon expertly rolled, flipped, and bounced about like a professional gymnast, narrowly avoiding the explosions of fire. To counterattack, Avalon sent forward magic missiles, peppering the beast with small but concise explosions to its joints, head, and chest. The beast roared in anger as the white blasts of energy forced it back, allowing Avalon some time to charge more magic in his staff. It crackled with white energy, a low bass humming deep within.
"Here! Have a taste of the GOOD SHIT!" A beam of white ether blasted from Avalon's staff, smashing into the beast as it roared out in pain. The concussive blast sent it off its feet and pinned it to the wall, Avalon pouring as much energy as he could without destroying the building around them.
But even that wasn't enough.
The beast pushed through Avalon's attack with its incredible strength, putting an arm up to help it absorb the blast. Avalon swore, letting the spell wear off naturally as he prepared another barrier. The beast took its chance to dash forward and slam into the young mage, forcing him through the wall and into the hallway he and Tabitha came through. Making his way out, he couldn't help but grin. His body began to glow brighter.
"Alright then, time to kick it up a notch."
Meanwhile in the tunnels, Mott knew as a veteran of war that no plan survives first contact with the enemy, even more so a surprise encounter. So despite his delayed plans, he kept his cool as he made his way through the hidden tunnels beneath his manor, focused on escaping the wind mage following behind. She was a tough one to escape, but he had managed to delay her with his traps and spells to stay just one step ahead.
"That girl is extremely persistent, I should deal with her right away. She will no doubt be a hindrance."
Reaching the end of the tunnel and making his way out into the sunlight, Mott quickly sealed the way behind him, tapping his wand into the grass. The entrance collapsed inward as a rush of water burst forth from the ground. The tunnel began to flood. Tabitha, rounding the corner, heard the sound of water and immediately burst forward with a dash of wind. Turning herself into a spinning torpedo, she was able to pierce through the water, sending the rushing waves to the side. Mott swore. She was a triangle mage.
As Tabitha was making her way through the man made waterfall, Tabitha quickly cast a message spell.
"Kirche. Mott is running. Stop him at all costs."
On the other side of the hills where Louise, Kirche, and Teresa remained, as the sun began to set they felt the rumbles of battle beneath their feet. Louise sensed Avalon casting magic, fighting off…. something dangerous.
"We have to get out of here. It's not safe for you, Teresa," said Louise. She looked over to Kirche, who had an unusually stern look on her face.
"Tabitha just messaged me. The count is getting away and she needs help. Louise, you get Teresa back to the city. Meet up with Avalon once you get back. Tabitha and I will take care of the count."
With a nod, the girls went their separate ways.
As the count dodged the whirlwind sent forth by the blue haired mage, he countered using the water in the ground to control the plants around him, entangling her in roots. Tabitha quickly slashed her way out with razor winds, whistling into the air. The count dared not turn his back on her even as a blue dragon came flying through the sky, swiping its claws at the retired man. He dodged and used another water spell, sending another stream forward towards the dragon. Sylphid maneuvered out of its path, forced to retreat. The game of cat and mouse continued for a while longer, but the count knew that he was losing. Where was that blasted creation of his?!
His question was answered when the roof of his manor exploded, the beast tumbling through the air. Mott paled.
Avalon forced the beast back with another concussive blast, sending it through the roof. With a powerful leap he followed, sending forward a wave of ethereal blades that stabbed and pierced into the beast. With another wave of his hands, a giant spectral fist formed, matching the beat's size. The force of the fist plunging downward changed the beast's trajectory, sending it into the earth with a roaring crash. Seeing his creation easily defeated, Mott fell onto his knees with his hands tightened to fists.
"No… not like this…"
Avalon cast feather fall on himself, slowing his descent as he neared the ground. The beast was still growling, though it did not move. On the other side of the plains, Avalon saw Kirche approaching Tabitha and Mott, with the old man having his hands tied behind him with rope by the bluenette. Looking back down at the beast below him, it growled as its eyes glowed lightly, its gaze turning away from him. There was an undertone of sorrow in there, Avalon was sure. A look of fear was in its eyes, amongst the swirling hate and disgust, and Avalon could only give it a look of understanding and pity. It closed its eyes and whispered.
"Mama..."
"I'm sorry I couldn't save you. But I promise this won't be painful." He lifted his staff, and a spectral blade formed around the tip.
"Avalon, watch out!"
From the corner of his eye, he saw Louise and Teresa, turning their heads back to him as they ran away. It seems the beast did as well, because as Avalon thrust his staff downward, the fear and anguish vanished, and the rage remained. Howling into the sky once more, Avalon's bones shook and his spear missed. Taking its chance, the beast knocked Avalon off him and back into the mansion, struggling to its feet and racing towards the escaping pair. Louise's eyes widened in fright.
"RUN!" she screamed, pulling Teresa with her. The beast crashed and tore through the terrain behind them as they ran away, though Louise had no idea where to go. The city maybe? Would the knights be able to handle such a thing?! The panic began to set in, and in a desperate attempt she turned and thrust Teresa behind her. The startled woman let out a cry as the beast closed in, and Louise pulled out her wand. "FIREBALL!" she screamed without thinking, aiming at the beast's head. An explosion followed, blowing at the shoulder. The beast let out an agonizing cry as it was forced back.
Avalon, who had pulled himself out of the mansion debris, gave himself a one over. His head was bleeding and his clothes were almost torn in various places. The large gash on his head and the small scratches on his body closed on their own as the dizziness settled. He took a look at the runes on his hand and noticed that they weren't glowing. So he tossed the staff to the side, made a note of where it was, and summoned his spear into his hand. Magical power surged through him, and he felt his wounds heal faster, his body become stronger.
"Probably should have started with this. That thing is starting to get on my nerves."
"Well, no one is around now to see. The staff has served its purpose. Just don't forget it."
"It is a good staff, I'll give it that. Remind me to attune myself to it when this is over." Looking down at the spear in his hands, Avalon tapped into the mysterious Gandalfr power locked away inside him. He felt his perception become sharper and clearer.
He heard a distant explosion, followed by the roar of the beast. Casting fly on himself he soared through the air and searched, finding the beast reeling back from Louise and Teresa. From afar, he could see knights from the city coming, some on horseback and others on foot. Some miles west from the mansion entrance, he saw Tabitha and Kirche watching over the fight, Mott tied up between them.
Looks like this scandal was over.
He became like a green star in the sky, blazing forward towards the beast and slamming into it like a comet. His spear found purchase and pierced through its chest. As it roared in pain Avalon controlled the beast's movement, facing it away from Teresa and Louise even as it weakly tried clawing towards its mother. Teresa held Louise's hand tightly, her eyes shut and her lips trembling.
The wound on its chest began to close, strength returning to the beast as it roared again into the sky. It began a relentless chase after Avalon, the half elf just barely keeping up. He retaliated with various strikes and thrusts, but each empowered strike was just healed, so he upped the ante and attacked as fast as he could, hoping to outdo the healing.
The battle dragged across the plains. Dirt, sweat and blood poured off Avalon's forehead as he concentrated, putting more and more mana into his attacks but it still wasn't enough. No matter how hard he hit the beast, it just kept going. He used more and more spells of the elements, but none of them worked, and his frustration began to reach its peak.
But he had one more trick up his sleeve to end this.
"Avalon, stop! You can't use that magic! You'll kill yourself and everyone here!"
Kavaid cried out his warning, but Avalon ignored it. He reached out into the depths of his soul, feeling his body change. His magic began to hum audibly, his body heating up as the raw magic coursed through him.
"Open the door where power lives, and scorch the world with dragon flame!"
His hands became claws, his teeth became fangs, and his eyes turned from dark brown into a blistering red. Mana gathered in his hands, so hot it became white, and a sickening happiness made Avalon smile with inhuman glee.
"ALL LIGHT, FALL INTO DARKNESS! MEGA FLAR-
Then everything stopped, frozen in place.
"Spirits of time, hide us from the judging hand of Ethera."
A female voice carried through the nonexistent wind, reaching Avalon's ears. He strained to move any part of him; his eyes, his lips, but even his blood and heartbeat had stopped stone cold. He had seen this spell only once before.
A flash of gold hair passed his peripheral vision, and in front of him stood his mother, her katana out as she slowly walked towards the beast, who had also frozen in place. He couldn't see her face, but he knew that she was looking at it with pity.
"You poor thing…" Lovingly, she caressed the beast's face, sighing. "Oh Ethera, grant this poor soul your mercy, and take her into your arms. May she find peace with her loved ones."
"Disintegrate."
The beast slowly faded to ash, the remains gently drifting into the air, carried by a green light. From the remains, a copper pendant fell, and Sasha picked it up, watched the ashes fly away in silence. She turned back to Avalon with a look of walked up to him, and cast dispel on his mega flare. It faded away without a spark, his claws and teeth returning to normal.
"You damned foolish boy. I expected better from you." she pulled him into a hug, though he couldn't reciprocate. "You promised me that you wouldn't use Kavaid's magic. What were you thinking?! Worrying your mother like that."
Pulling back, she wiped away her tears, giving Avalon a tap on the head.
"Please… don't do that again. Don't make promises you won't keep. Can you do that for me?"
Time resumed, and she was gone. Avalon staggered to regain his footing, swerving his head left and right to find her, but could not sense her presence. Filled with shame, he bowed his head.
The knights came some time after, taking charge of the cleanup of the beast and the mansion. Louise, Tabitha, Kirche, and Avalon reported what they saw and found, shoving the now dead eyed count towards the authorities. None of them, save Avalon, knew about the time stop, only that after the beast chased Avalon it suddenly turned to ash. Avalon played it off as a spell of his own, pretending to be exhausted from the endeavor. The knights took the count away without issue. As the knights tallied the dead, bringing their bodies out of the mansion basement, Teresa frantically looked for her daughter, but did not find her. Instead, amidst the belongings she found her daughter's copper pendant, the same one Avalon saw his mother carry. Crying over it, the group brought her back to the tavern to be consoled by her family.
As the twin moons shone in the night sky, Avalon sat on the roof of the Charming Faeries Inn, staring up at the stars. Down in the tavern below she maids and customers cheered and sung and were jolly, but it was all dull noise to him.
"You have nothing to prove, Avalon. You ARE strong. You ARE talented. Why would you try and use a spell like that?"
"I was running out of options."
"That's not it and you know it. We could have easily overwhelmed it's healing with enough time."
"That didn't stop my mother from beating it in one go when I couldn't even kill it with my best spells."
"Your mother is in a different league from you. She's thousands of years old, of course she would be able to use spells like that! You can't keep comparing yourself to her! You are not your mother. You are you, and everyone else is already taken. You don't need to settle for more than that."
Not bothering to reply, Avalon sighed, sitting back up as he felt a presence approach.
"What's up Louise?"
The girl startled at the door to the balcony below him, spooked by his voice. Avalon chuckled as Louise coughed and regained her composure, turning around and staring up at Avalon. She took a moment to observe.
"Are you brooding? That's not like you at all. Aren't you glad that you had the beautiful Jessica fix your clothes?"
"What are you talking about? It was dreadful. I didn't even get a flash of her cleavage."
"You're disgusting."
"I'm disgusting and I'm proud."
"Maybe I should let you sleep with the animals."
"Maybe I should stop-" Avalon cut himself off, his words bringing back his mother's face in his mind.
Louise didn't continue, only stared up at her familiar, wondering what he was thinking. He could be all sorts of jovial, but seeing him like this made her uncomfortable. Like it was unnatural, even though he had human emotions just like her. Everyone gets sad, right? So what's got him down?
"As your master, I order you to tell me what's wrong," she tried.
"Nothing is wrong."
"You can't fool me Avalon," she pushed. I may not be the smartest or the most talented, but I can tell when my own familiar is distracted and frankly being a loner."
"I just need to think is all."
"Is it about when your mother showed up?"
That made Avalon sit up.
"You knew?"
Louise shifted uncomfortably, leaning back on the balcony rail. "It… it felt so surreal that I thought I was dreaming. But to think that elves are capable of stopping even time itself…"
"They're not. Most people can't do it. My mom is one of the three that are capable."
"Well… at least I don't have to worry about the other two. What did she say to you?."
Avalon looked up at the sky once more, and sighed.
"That she expected better of me."
Louise let out a hum.
"I understand."
"So why won't you leave me alone?"
"Because a certain someone wouldn't leave me alone when I was also brooding and suffering." Looking into his eyes, Louise gave him a smile. "So get down from there and come enjoy some food with us, alright?"
Giving in and returning back inside, Avalon scanned the crowd as Louise led them to the table where Tabitha and Kirche sat at. It was still business hours, so most of the patrons were older than the teenage high schoolers, but their presence had clearly subdued most of their antics. To help, Scaaron had given them an exclusive table away from the hustle and bustle.
"How's Teresa?" Avalon asked as he sat down with Louise. Kirche and Tabitha shared a look.
"She's still devastated, but Jessica is taking care of her upstairs. We informed her of what had happened," Kirche answered after a moment's hesitation. Avalon lowered his head.
"I'm sorry things didn't go well," he apologized. Kirche waved it off.
"There's no way any of us could have predicted it going the way it did, so don't apologize." The red head's expression turned sour as she thought back to the day's events. "Still, to think that even here, there are such depraved and soulless individuals… I guess nowhere is safe."
"Speaking from personal experience?"
"A little. Though nowhere near as tragic, I didn't come to Tristain on the best of terms. My family wanted to marry me off to a wealthy family friend to keep a good relationship, but my husband-to-be was nothing short of a pig," she spat, a vile look in her eyes. "I refused and it had offended the family, so they tried to take me by force. In the end I had no choice but to flee, and escaped thanks to my father, though my mother was at odds with me." Kirche leaned back in her chair, arms crossed and deep in thought. "When I laid eyes on that Count, he gave me similar chills. He had no remorse for his actions at all."
There was a moment of silence at the table, but to Avalon's surprise, Tabitha broke it.
"We did all we could," she said.
"Tabitha is right," Louise followed. "If anything… I'm…" Louise blushed in embarrassment as she stuttered, making Kirche grin as she relished in her embarrassment.. "I'm glad that you were there to help. If it had just been Avalon and myself like I planned, things might have gone much more poorly.
"What's this? Beginning to see me as a friend, zero?" Kirche playfully jabbed. Louise returned the grin.
"A friend? No, but I'm starting to think that maybe we could be allies, Zerbst."
"Allies indeed. At last, I am one step closer to stealing away my darling Avalon," she shamelessly declared, making Avalon laugh and Louise roll her eyes, smiling.
-Change my Destiny-
Mott sat quietly in his cell, observing the sleeping guard. He had been here for half an hour and was to see the crown in the morning for his crimes. However, he had no intention of staying here.
Pulling out a wand hidden in the sews of his clothing, Mott carefully cast a spell on himself, turning into water. He escaped through the cracks in the stone walls, reaching the outer castle walls. Transforming back he let out a deep gasp and struggled to catch his breath, forcing himself to continue on. He would escape. He would not die here.
"Going somewhere, count?"
The count spun with his wand raised but a large, firm hand grabbed him by the jaw, silencing him. The hidden man's other free hand twisted and snapped his wand hand, his muffled scream barely making it to his own ears. The figure stepped out of the shadows, revealing a white haired woman with red eyes.
"I've heard a lot about you from Lucius. My dearest Razel had thought that your experiments would be useful to him, but it turns out that you're just another failure. No better than that Fouquet woman. But at least she knows how to not get caught."
Her hand began to glow, and Mott screamed out in terror and pain as the magic within him was drained away, his body turning to a shrivelled husk.
"Oh well, we can't have someone like you running around. Your soul belongs to me now. Let's see what that pretty little mind of yours can tell me."
