Obel Tower, Belfast
10 May, 2011
00:05—Yuvraj's Perspective
:-:
Every corner of Belfast is plagued by Father Kerrigan's territorial laws. The windstorm it incites… It's cold, a deathly chill. Breathing alone presents a challenge, much like the final moments before one passes away.
Despite the odds pitted against him, Yuvraj endures the pressure: The archmagus' defenses have cost him dearly, just as much as they have his opponent. Father Kerrigan's offenses have expended a large portion of his souls; thus, his releases have weakened. "Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home,
Your house is on fire, and your children are gone;
All except one, and that's little Anne,
For she crept under the frying pan." The necromancer recites a rhyme that invokes souls from the roofing beneath Yuvraj. Fortunately, the magician is a man of many talents: In an instant, Yuvraj fades from existence and reappears behind Father Kerrigan, surprising him! "W—What is this!?"
The only answer the cleric gets is aggression. "Hah, ah—!"
Yuvraj initiates a close-range struggle with him, testing Father Kerrigan's martial prowess… His approach mainly consists of calculative kicks, and a varied counteroffensive assault with his maduvu; a method that serves well against the seasoned necromancer. Father Kerrigan is undeniably skilled: He outmaneuvers his opponent, proving he's more than just nursery rhymes and ghosts.
As expected of a vampire: A breed feared for its primal instinct. Killers…nightwalkers that know only the pleasure of the hunt.
What a pathetic soul… This diviner of death struggles not of his own accord. His heart is bound to the Old Man, Count Valdo. Should the Nightlord will it, he would sacrifice himself without a second thought.
"Fall…accursed magician!" Father Kerrigan tries to power his way out of Yuvraj's attack pattern, which is a daring move. However, this backfires on him: The magician fades from existence once again, escaping the brutality of his claws, and reappears to the necromancer's left… He capitalizes with a fierce left-hand chop to the back of the necromancer's head. "Doh—! Guh…hah…"
The magician takes a moment to observe the grounded cleric.
To fall this easily: Father Kerrigan has indeed expended a sizable portion of his souls. His ghostly territory has also weakened, proven by its dying winds. Yuvraj pities him to an extent, but not enough to forgive him of his sins.
"If you are the church's #2, then its #1 shouldn't be a problem. I had hoped my words would reach your heart, but I was never good at convincing others. As a magician, this is the only trick I can't perform… Goodnight, necromancer!"
Mercilessly, Yuvraj stabs Father Kerrigan through the back with one one of his blackbuck horns, piercing through his heart! However…
—something is wrong: His horn should have parted the cleric's flesh and struck blood, but it hasn't. Instead, an empty space is there.
It's as if Yuvraj has pierced through a cluster of air.
I have the ability to erase time and existence, and I can also piece these things back together again. But never have I seen such wonders.
This man… What has he done to himself?
The magician receives an alarming answer: Father Kerrigan's body becomes transparent, no more or less lighter than air. He then stands and walks forward, cool, calm and collected. Yuvraj observes his opponent, confused and curious.
"That…was one of your releases, I presume?"
His curiosity brings Father Kerrigan to a halt. "Yes, magician."
"I'm impressed. But now you're too weak to fight."
"I know that, I won't deny it. You've pushed me to the limit, and garnered my respect. Personally, I enjoyed this… Unfortunately, I haven't earned the right to know your name." The ghostly cleric turns and gives Yuvraj his attention, as his windstorm completely dies down… The remainder of his collected souls returns to his body, becoming one with his spirit. "But could you…
—will you tell me where you hid those boys?"
He's referring to Dead Motion.
…I won't tell him…
After our battle, he's lost at least 85% of his reserves. With his power in such a critical state, he won't be able to sense their presence for a few days… This will give them enough time to heal and make a decision.
"I know you feel responsible for them. But after allowing their people to die… Leave this place, necromancer. Return to your 'master'." Yuvraj strikes the chanter of elegies once again, speaking nothing but truth.
This gravely offends Father Kerrigan.
"And should I choose to attack the city?"
"If you do so, you would risk losing your soul. Therefore, should you choose to *die,* I will not mourn… Azrael will be happy to add you to its collection." With that said, Yuvraj has definitely won this battle. Father Kerrigan retires by disappearing, becoming one with the wind and escaping the scene. And…
—not a moment too soon.
Yuvraj finally calms his existential force, and reveals his wounds: Throughout the course of their battle, he protected himself by erasing every critical strike he suffered from existence. He knew that once he lowered his sync rate, the wounds would return… He risked these odds to ensure everyone's safety.
I'll be fine. These wounds opened because… This is what happens when one fights for others: You risk your life…like a fool.
That pathetic man is powerful: If I hadn't erased time and faded from existence for those moments, I would have died… These wounds are *scratches* compared to what could have been. That I cannot deny, sadly.
"Divy logon, mere ghaavon ko changa." The magician beseeches the divine via his contract, and erases the time it took for Father Kerrigan to injure him. As a result, it never happened; thus, his wounds are no more.
Suddenly, he feels a familiar presence…
"Boy! You really know how to impress." —one that lifts him from prostration, turns him and reveals a pleasant sight: Stephen, Natalie and Theodore have joined him atop the building. The mother steps forward and extends her hand. "You just saved our keesters from the fire. Thanks a lot, Dhesi."
The magician is a bit confused. "Aren't you suffering?"
"Not as long as the doctor is around." For their wounds to have healed so quickly: Stephen is undoubtedly a masterful healer… Yuvraj refuses to disrespect them any further. He shakes Natalie's hand, but his expressions are doused in guilt.
This is awkward… Even after I attacked them, they're showing me kindness?
How embarrassing.
Infinity is a strange bunch. But I shouldn't complain.
"Are you alright, Dhesi?"
Yuvraj is awoken from deep thought by the sound of Theodore's voice.
He takes a moment to think, but… "Yes, I'm fine. My spirit is at ease.
My apologies about before. I hope we get along from here."
—he doesn't have to think at all. This is the path he has chosen: To realize his contract's desires… Yuvraj will start by reclaiming his place among his friends.