They were walking down Pleasure Avenue, basking in the light of the Welkalite sun – Alex had experienced Lucaelian light and knew this to be inferior, but his little brother hadn't and enjoyed the feeling of sunlight on his pale skin; boy would he be impressed if Lucael ever was sunny. Alexander tried to appear relaxed, but couldn't halt the slightly increased beating of his heart, and the anticipation that coursed through his veins. He liked combat, testing his skill against others, but wasn't addicted to it like many of the members of Violence. He could understand now the reasons why little Cai thought differently, but when they were younger he didn't know why the runt wouldn't want to wrestle with his older brother – though they often had because of arguments and sibling spats.
Alex stared at the back of the boy's mop of brown hair for a second, he often got worried whenever they had to fight, despite there being plenty of that in the Lucaelian war. However, him and Cai made a good team, brought about by their familial bond and intimacy with each other's fighting styles due to many battles with demonic creatures – the older brother was more reckless, quicker and stronger which meant he almost always charged into battle, and while to someone who didn't know him Caiellis would appear dynamic and also quick, the junior Lucerna fought in a precise and calculating manner, methodically taking away his opponent's advantages and then striking the finishing blow when he was sure of victory.
When the younger boy became old enough to fight, Alexander always tried to prevent his little brother from getting hurt, which had often caused himself to get injured instead. He had taken the front with Tristram, while Tybalt and his brother provided magical support from the back. Now that Caiellis had his own angel, his fighting prowess would be amplified to levels similar to his older brother – though Alex had more experience and would still look out for the kid. He could never get rid of that instinct if he tried.
Caiellis suddenly stopped moving, cocking his head to one side as if listening to a silent melody only he could hear and causing Alexander to nearly bump into him. The littlest Lucerna had often done similar things before, one of his more peculiar talents in sensing imminent violence that everyone, including Alex, had attributed to his magic. Maybe the premonitions were more innate, but he supposed that his brother had detected Aksua's call even through the mana inhibitors. Was Caiellis's mana really that powerful?
The younger boy turned around, his green orbs full of expectation and excitement, which was unusual – Cai usually detested bloody and violent fighting, so this was something different.
"It is going to start," he stated simply, and Alex took that moment to squeeze the younger boy's shoulders. Urrgh, he's so thin. Someone like him shouldn't be fighting, he thought, before pushing them from his mind. It was distracting enough for him to be trying to protect Caiellis in the midst of combat, much less considering the implications of what could happen to him.
"I finally get to see Orzhova in action." he said enthusiastically, which made Cai smile. "You know the drill, little bro – no unnecessary risks, back me up when we are fighting. Remember that this isn't a competition"
"The same applies to you. I can handle punishment," he responded evenly, latching onto Alexander's previous thoughts, just as a loud explosion echoed in the distance. They both spun towards the sound, a huge plume of smoke rising up in the other side of the Hedonist's Quarter, quite close to them. Several civilians – Cai reminded himself that only the corrupt and wealthy were allowed access to the area, so shouldn't start feeling sympathy for them – started screaming in panic as several more detonations boomed in different locations of the city. Those still locked in their own pleasures were knocked out of the way as the general population of the Avenue charged away from the explosions.
A pool of molten metal began coalescing at the side of a nearby sewer grate, and both boys grinned as the familiar form of Messa's Oread began to construct itself in front of them, holding a sinister metal device in her hand that seemed unaffected by the scorching heat she emitted. It passed the thing to Alexander without comment, as yet more discharges shook the earth. The older boy touched the thing to his mana inhibitor, sighing when the block on his magic was removed, as he quickly cast White enchantments upon himself. He brushed the device over Caiellis's own bracelet, the younger boy started laughing as his magic returned to him. Satisfied, the Oread dissipated into burning embers that slowly fell to the ground, no doubt returning to Messa's side.
"Alexander. Let us show these Welkalites the true meaning of the word power," he unsheathed the Sword of Glass, the blade lighting up with a mixture of golden and shadowy energy as his mana coursed through his veins, a revitalising feeling that made him wonder how he could have existed in the short time without it.
"Got it, squirt," he replied, as a group of gold-clad Enforcers ran round the corner, one of their mages gasping in surprise when he sensed the sudden released of mana. There was five of them, wreathed in Red auras that probably augmented their speed. Caiellis analysed the situation quickly – there was only a single supportive magic user, who was beginning to Summon, while the rest of them wielded halberds that crackled with crimson lightning.
"Alexander and Caiellis Lucerna. Stand down before we are forced to subdue you," one of them declared, and Cai picked up on the note of fear in his voice. He pushed a few guilty thoughts out of his mind, recalling how the Enforcers abused the populace and took pleasure in it. Alex rolled his shoulders, knowing that his brother would be suffering from a slight moral crisis because of the fact they had to kill these guards.
"Sorry, that's not going to happen," he replied, Red and White mana flowing through his limbs as circles of the same colour radiated across the floor. Caiellis felt his brother's familiar strong magic rising in power level, a comforting sensation that made him feel safer. The Enforcers then rushed them, the mage shrieking at his subordinates to take down the prince before he Summoned, conjuring up his own devil which launched itself at them.
"Aurelia!" the boy cried, as the patterns of the ground flashed upwards, disintegrating the devil and forcing the Welkalites to stagger back to avoid its fate, covering their eyes at the intensity of the incandescent light. The angel swept her fiery gaze across her cowering foes, glowering in disgust at their opulent armour.
"I am going to give you one chance. Flee now and avoid my wrath," the Warleader spoke, her voice suffused with an otherworldly resonance. She ignited her twin swords for effect, and the Enforcers took one look at her and fled quickly.
"That was easy," Alex boasted, and Caiellis said: "They were obviously in the job just for money. We will have to face much more debased and corrupt enemies before we can escape Usnaan, and I fear that they won't take the chance to flee."
"We will show them now mercy, young Caiellis," Aurelia stated, the beating of her wings blowing the boy's hair behind his face. Cai always felt a feeling of awe whenever his brother Summoned, but now that he was capable of doing it himself their abilities weren't so far apart. Aurelia knew him quite well, and also knew just how much Alexander wanted to protect his little brother. She felt sorry for the youngest Lucerna, having to deal with the disgrace of the First Sisterhood – the child was pure and innocent; Orzhova certainly didn't deserve him.
.*.*.*.
Aksua lounged in her cell, absently twirling her long fingers through her silken hair to try to distract her mind from the frustration she felt. She might have been able to convince the brothers to aid her, despite the little one's severe misgivings, if Tradax hadn't appeared. Once more she wished that she had just drained the man when she first met him, instead of entertaining his notions of gaining more power in preparation for her vengeance against the Lucaelian monarchy.
When the vampire had first heard the reverberating detonations in her underground cell, some rubble being shook from the walls outside (the interior was far too secure for that to happen), she contemplated Caiellis's final words from the morning: "We already have darkness on our side. We don't need yours." Aksua mused that the subliminal message present in the statement was that the boys already had an escape plan. Well, that was unfortunate. Aksua could easily wait a few more years, but was starting to get incredibly bored of the monotony of each day, and being trapped in a cell away from the pleasures of life definitely wasn't how she wanted to spend any more time. Her patience was ending, and she thought about how else she could escape.
Caught up in her own thoughts, it took Aksua a few minutes to notice the figure stood outside of her cell. Startled and annoyed at herself, she quickly examined the enigmatic woman – she wore clothing of a design that the vampire had never encountered before, a red kimono speckled with midnight black spots. The figure had her identity concealed by a bone-white mask in the shape of some sort of fox, and her heart rate was perfectly normal. That irritated Aksua, it wasn't unheard of for women to fall for her charm, yet those that didn't usually felt slight trepidation in her presence – even influential figures like Kalitas, Marik Ensis and Johnias Otium Lucerna had elevated their heartbeat when looking upon her beauty.
"And you are?" she inquired casually, moving to sit in a more comfortable position while regarding the mysterious figure with indulgently curious eyes, tossing her brown hair to one side. Sea-green eyes, much less impressive than young Caiellis's emerald splendour, glared out of the mask, and a hard voice scowled: "Your saviour."
Aksua stifled a snicker, amused by her proclamation. The self-righteous were always the most fun to pervert from their path, of so her demonic mentor had told her, saying: "The pious will choke upon their sanctimony." The vampire rose to her full height and looked down haughtily at the masked one, who ignored her sneer and pulled out a key from the folds of her outfit. Normally, Aksua would have responded with something sarcastic and demeaning, but considering the unknown girl was freeing her she refrained from doing so. Maybe she would drain the little bitch after she was let out. She hadn't feasted on blood in years.
Aksua heard the metal door clang open and she swiftly stepped out, revelling in the sensation of her magic returning and flooding through her veins, the immensely potent Black mana. The vampire laughed loudly, and then looked around, mildly surprised. Her inscrutable saviour had disappeared, leaving not a trace of her presence there. Interesting. Aksua wondered what her motives were for a second, and then soon realising that she couldn't care less. All that mattered was that she was finally free.
The vampire sensed a gargantuan amount of hated White and also Red mana released above her in the city, assuming that this must have been one of the princes, Alexander if she was correct. She licked her lips: despite being a very formidable opponent herself, Aksua didn't want to risk being obliterated by a First Sisterhood angel. No, she would wait to confront the heirs after they had escaped the city, eliminate the inevitable pursuers that the Master of Rapture would send, and wait for the princes to be tired out. Then, she would strike. Then, she would finally taste Lucerna blood.
.*.*.*.
Aurelia crashed into the gore-covered horror, the blood-drenched creature raking her silver armour with bony protrusions jutting out from its raw and crimson skin. Her curved blade burnt through its flesh as she drove it downwards, while the straight-edged sword in the Warleader's left hand blocked a brutal club that was swung down at her. The spawn of Red and Black mana screeched in a crazed frenzy as she stabbed her weapon in further, purging the corrupt flesh beneath it. Aurelia snarled in angelic fury and pressed the attack.
Alexander swung a fist of flaming rage at the Summoner of the horror, a brutish mage wearing the gladiator's mask common to those in the Order of Violence. The patrol had intercepted the two boys and the angel just after the Rapture Enforcers fled, sneering at their cowardice. Two other warriors were battling with Caiellis, both wielding savage and heavy weapons. The youngest prince hadn't deigned to Summon yet, and was holding off the fighters and their shrieking minions with delaying and numbing White mana. The man that fought the middle Lucerna dodged the incoming blow, and swiftly riposted, his cleaver slicing through the air and thudding into the adolescent's arm.
Grunting as the metal bit into him, Alex twisted at the impact, managing to force the cleaver to slide upwards instead of cutting into the arm. When it brushed over the Swords of Flame on his right bicep, a flare of mana automatically blasted out and knocked the gladiator back. He let out a bolt of flame that burnt into the man, making him howl in pain, and roughly shoved the leader away from him. Alex clasped his hands together and conjured a hammer of Red and White mana, charging at the recovering gladiator. The Welkalite sent a pulse of rippling shadow in the prince's direction, who responded with dispelling light emitted from his whole body.
Noticing its Summoner in peril, the horror-spawn roughly knocked Aurelia aside and ran at Alexander, but not before a helix of blazing energy shot from the Warleader's crossed swords. It slammed into the back of the creature, making it scream in agony as its raw flesh began sizzling in the purity of the magic. Stunned, it failed to notice Aurelia diving at it from above, and with a cry on her lips the angel swept her twin swords into its throat, decapitating it in an explosion of blood and ash. She then went to the aid of Caiellis, who was busy avoiding the relentless attacks of the other Welkalites, knowing from years of battling alongside Alexander that this was what the big brother would want him to do.
The Violence magic-user growled in pain and fury as its Summoning was brutally murdered, and Alex took this chance to arc his sun-hammer at his opponent. The gladiator instinctively raised his cleaver, and the hard metal cracked off when the crushing weapon came into contact with it. Continuing on with his momentum, Alex swung the hammer further downwards, slamming into the man with a thunderous crash that crushed him into a bloody pulp. The weapon vanished, and the Order mage-warrior groaned as he died.
With the help of his brother's angel, Caiellis easily finished off the rest of the Welkalites, his face blank as he participated in the killings. The boy flicked the blood from his sword and nodded in thanks to Aurelia, who flew back the short distance to her Summoner's side. Cai could feel a significant release of mana, predominantly Red, a few hundred metres to the west of them, and assumed that it must be the Ja'an Guard occupying the vast majority of the military. He felt like maybe the Resistance hadn't thought it through much – the whole thing seemed a little rushed. Maybe they had done it to avoid the mysterious person that had wanted to see the princes, getting them out of the city beforehand – but where could they have got that information? Even Tradax had said at breakfast that he didn't know exactly when said person would arrive.
"Cai, you ok?" his older brother asked, walking past him and patting his shoulder. The smaller boy hadn't sustained any wounds, he fought too carefully for that to happen, considering his movements to ensure they were safe enough before enacting them. He noticed the cut on Alex's right bicep and his eyes lit up with concern – his healing magic, while better than his brother's and father's, wasn't very powerful, despite having often used it to patch up the more reckless older boy in the past. Cai instructed: "Let me see to that, it looks painful."
"It's alright," he responded, brushing off his little brother's concerns. However, the boy could be quite persistent if he wanted to, and pulled his sibling's muscular arm towards him, his palm lighting up with soothing mana. The older boy was about to knock his sibling away when Aurelia cut in: "Alexander, you need to be at maximum fighting efficiency, and I know that wound is hurting you more than you are letting on. Let your brother help you."
"Thank you," Caiellis exclaimed, a victorious grin breaking out on his face. Alex sighed at the kid's wilful perseverance, letting the slender male heal his arm. He didn't want Cai to waste his mana repairing the older boy's wounds: his little brother shouldn't have to worry about him, although Caiellis tried his damned hardest to worry about everything.
"Let's go," he pulled away when the pain stopped, and began walking briskly towards the north of the town. "So Cai, when are you going to Summon? I think it would be best to wait until I can't sustain Aurelia anymore."
"Uh-huh. I'm going to keep her in reserve until we need her. And we will need her soon," he replied vaguely cryptically, leaving Alex wondering whether the younger prince had sensed something. He dismissed the thought – despite his little brother hiding things from him in the past month, Cai wasn't stupid enough to try and keep potentially important information from him in the middle of a battle.
The streets of the meeting point of the Hedonist's and Glutton's Quarters were mostly empty, apart from those too distracted to bother with fleeing the battle-zone, and they were far too intoxicated to pose a threat. Alexander walked next to a brightly-coloured stall covered with intricately designed cupcakes, and began taking a few of the most appealing ones, packing them into one of the bags and then fastening it at his waist. There was no telling how far they would have to go, and the cakes would provide short bursts of energy to keep them going.
"This Glutton's Quarter must be perfect for you. I swear all you think about is food," he sniggered, though he was glad that Alex had the foresight to think about sustenance – Cai himself was pondering whether the Resistance had arranged transportation or not, because although Civitas Sol was relatively close it would take them the best part of a day to get there at a fast pace, and would be easy prey for any Welkalite hunters.
"Hey, you know that's not true," he grinned back, lightly shoving the younger boy – both of them were still alert, but it didn't hurt to participate in some banter to lighten the tense mood. Caiellis snickered, "Actually, that's right: Food and girls!"
"I live inside of Alexander's mind, and I have to say that I support these claims," Aurelia added, which made both boys laugh. The angel must of known that she was making a joke, but her deadpan delivery coupled with her serious gaze made it all the more hilarious. Alex shook his head in mock indignation when he noticed his angel winking conspiratorially to his younger brother. Aurelia did have a nice side.
They paced through the colourful streets, the boy's agitation steadily rising every time they entered a new, and empty, avenue. This was starting to get strange – yes, the Resistance was providing an excellent distraction considering the sheer amount of mana that was being released in the east, but surely some soldiers should have followed them into the Glutton's Quarter? Surely someone must be trying to prevent the Lucaelian captives from just leaving?
As if in answer to his thoughts, both Aurelia and Caiellis immediately tensed, halting in the middle of the street. Cai shut his eyes and then opened his left, the Lens of Guilt clouding his natural vision with darkness and blotting out his older brother and the angel, as their intents were pure and good-willed. He had definitely felt a potent source of Black mana approaching, mingled with less powerful flecks of Red mana, and he looked through mundane objects, clearly viewing what he had suspected: a huge, bloated mass of corpulent scarlet sat like a diseased heart at the centre of pulsing tendrils filled with malicious intent.
"Cai. I'm assuming that you can detect that?" the older boy inquired tensely, sensing the enemies blocking their path a few streets away, probably located on the central pathway through the Glutton's Quarter: Banquet Street, where the vast majority of the more renowned food establishments were located. The thirteen year old nodded quickly, opening his right eye so that he could see the physical realm of Innocence. Alex had only see his brother do that right after he completed Orzhova's trial, and could feel Cai's innocent and pure White mana welling up with him, as well as a more sinister but not evil dark energy. Maybe he was going to finally get to see the Angel of the Black Sun, and couldn't help but notice Aurelia suppress a scowl of severe resentment.
"So the little princelings have finally arrived," a deep, gurgling voice jeered, and Alex narrowed his eyes as a vibrant palanquin carried by tall and unnaturally muscled Enforcers each with a faceplate that concealed their identity, came round the corner. Inside the brightly coloured carriage sat a gigantic fleshy mound, a human so far removed from normal bodily proportions that Alexander would have found him ludicrous if they weren't in the middle of the Glutton's Quarter. Swathed in golden robes, the plump man was sat in the centre if the carriage, while a decrepit and thin Unbound creature help up a bowl of food. Occasionally, a fatty limb, pink like a newborn, would pop out of the fabric and grab a handful of the foodstuff, dragging back towards a bald head that sunk into the blubber of his shoulders. The man's chins wobbled as he spoke, and Caiellis would have laughed if the circumstance wasn't so dire – he could detect a deep and potent corruption emanating from the Welkalite, corruption that reminded him of the dark days of the civil war – the corruption of demons.
"Ershun, I presume?" he responded civilly, a crimson clump of impurity superimposed over the physical image of the man in the Lens of Guilt. He slowly paced backwards, intending to get enough space to Summon and hoping that his older brother would pick up on that. Cai was taking no chances when demons were involved, they would probably need two First Sisterhood angels to defeat it. Greater demons differed greatly from lesser ones and devils, manifestations of sin and corruption and Black mana incarnate. Despite his utterly non-threatening appearance, the Master of Gluttony would be able to Summon a demon, which could be potentially catastrophic for the boys.
"Did my good friend Tradax speak of me?" Ershun asked, and was greeted by unflinching silence from the two Lucernas. Shaking his head, he took a moment to grab a handful of biscuits and stiff them into his gaping maw, chomping on them as his robes were covered in even more crumbs. When he had finished, the Master of Gluttony said: "Anyway, Tradax told me to offer you a final chance to surrender peacefully. So what'll it be? I personally think you should take his kind offer, there is much of Usnaan you haven't enjoyed yet. You haven't even eaten from my own Glutton's Quarter yet! You especially, little Caiellis, you could do with having some meat on those bones of yours."
Seeing the final Master of the Orders of Passion completed Cai's mental picture of the political situation of Welkas – as Tradax had said, the Master of Rapture was indeed the de facto ruler of the New Empire. While Jarred mourned of the loss of his family, (the youngest prince wouldn't put it past Tradax to have manipulated the Protector into staying that way), Tradax had slowly tighten his stranglehold over the Empire – Ershun was clearly a blubbering fool, eager to take orders from his "equals" and having no ambitions of his own, resorting to petty insults to try and rile the youngest prince, whereas Arendus Draal was enigmatic and utterly unconcerned with politics so long as he could continue to participate in violence.
Finally, that left the now-dead Gretia, and judging by Tradax's colourful choice of words when mentioning her she had been the only other Master capable of rivalling him, opposing his manipulation of the Empire with her own motives of doubtlessly similar intent. So he had ordered her assassination, assimilating the influential Order of Wealth under his leash, likely electing a new Master that would follow his commands. Cai pushed the thoughts deep into his mind for further reference, for now focussing on preparing himself for his Summoning, letting Alex do the talking.
"While my little brother may be thin, I think he would prefer to eat Lucaelian food in the comfort of his home. As would I," Alex replied curtly, letting his anger rise to amplify his Red mana, also sensing that this Ershun could call upon a demon.
"Very well. You force my hand. Though dear Tradax will be very disappointed if I damage you," he laughed, as titanic amounts of Black energy began to swirl around him. Alex felt a sudden need to eat, a primal and ravenous desire erupting in the forefront of his mind making him want to gorge until he was sick, and then continue. Just as the mad flow of thoughts battered as his barriers of self-control, a feminine hand was placed on his shoulder, pure and righteous hatred reinforcing his own determined emotions and fortifying his mind.
"A demon's temptations can be very captivating," Aurelia's furious words burned through his mind – all angels, without exception, hated demons with a passion reserved for them solely, and when Alex was freed from the pull of Ershun's magic he could clearly see the mass of shadowy mana building up around the palanquin. The older boy's eyes then instantly switched to his little brother, remembering that the younger Lucaelian hadn't yet Summoned and so could have succumbed to the temptations. Caiellis gave him a disapproving glance when he noticed Alex's gaze resting on him, however the fact that his left eye was pure midnight whilst the other was filled with luminosity meant that none of his emotions were transferred.
The tempest of dark delight grew in power, swirling around the Master of Gluttony and pulsating with the need to indulge and consume. To match the force of the Welkalite's mana, Caiellis started his own process of Summoning, the twin opposite forces of light and dark finding a balance within him as the Black Sun on his cheek blazed with energy. The fact that he had Summoned once before meant that the ritual would be much quicker this time around, although it was still dramatic and slow compared to others. He focussed upon positive energy first, waiting as swirls of golden radiance began to twirl around him, and then ignored the White and pulled negative thoughts to the forefront of his mind. Cai felt Orzhova bolster his own hatred of Johnias with her loathing of demonic entities, the Black mana generated in enough force this time to almost equal his White, tendrils of shadow wrapping around the right side of his body
The boy ran shining energy through his Lucerna birthmark, grinning in satisfaction when once again it became an orb of pure tenebrosity. He tossed it into the air, pouring both types of mana into the sphere of abyssal un-light, and as it expanded the simultaneously familiar and unknown choir of his lonely mind-cathedral filled the air. Alexander watched in fascination at the kid's actions, proud of how the younger boy wielded Black mana with such skill despite it being inimical to most Lucaelians – despite the evil nature of the magic, he felt no sinister intent from his brother, no threat directly towards him, just an unadulterated detestation targeted at their new foe.
Just as the haunting hymnals were beginning to eclipse all other noise and the luminosity of the Black Sun rose to gargantuan levels, a burst of much more corrupt Black mana released from Ershun's carriage. Whilst Caiellis was finishing his own Summoning, etching the symbols of Orzhova's scythe in the air with the thrumming Sword of Glass as yet more mana pulsed around him, so too was a bloated figure emerging from a dark portal that ripped open reality and plunged the street into malevolent blackness.
Finally, two immensely powerful Sancturia beings stepped into the world to join Aurelia, the first being Orzhova, the Angel of the Black Sun, who smiled down at her Summoner. The second was a huge demon with a distended stomach of corpulent grey flesh, kept aloft by the beating of malicious bat-shaped wings. Golden and opulent sigils decorated the black skin, rising up from the swollen abdomen and framing its muscled pectorals, bracers of the same ostentatious material encircling its large forearms, as massive clawed hands extended from tree-trunk wrists. Wisps of indulgent purple light floated around the demon, promising eternal delight in the form of endless banquets, majestic golden horns curling up from the creature's head reflecting the blasphemous glow. The most terrifying feature of the personification of Gluttony were its small eyes that twinkled with a decadent gleam that couldn't quite conceal ravenous, uncontrollable hunger.
"So nice to see you again, sister," Orzhova smiled mockingly, as Aurelia shot a glare of smouldering aversion that clearly showcased the First Sisterhood's detestation of the dark angel. A wet, rumbling laugh erupted from the demon, and both angels turned their hatred-filled gazes upon it as it guffawed, the disturbing noise brimming with false mirth.
"Two little seraphim of the First Sisterhood?" it chuckled in baleful incredulity, his eyes filling with primal hunger and lust as they took in the beautiful angels. "My my, I am flattered. You would make fine guests at the Everlasting Banquet, if you just ignored the instructions of these pathetic princelings and joined me."
"Are you honestly that stupid, demon scum, or is food all you can think about?" Orzhova snarled back, opening her ebony wings to their fullest extent as twin contrails of White and Black whirled around her golden scythe as she spun it languidly. "That disgusting offer of yours didn't even entice me, a much more individual angel than my boring sisters, so Serra knows what effect it had on puritanical Aurelia."
"Orzhova," the fiery Warleader growled impatiently, evidently less interesting in verbally sparring than her heavenly sibling, "Do not invoke the founding mother's name in vain."
"Boo-hoo, I broke one of your ridiculous rules. What a shame," the Angel of the Black Sun feigned an over-exaggerated gasp and smirked petulantly at her sister, who looked as if she was about to retort angrily.
"Ladies please, can we stop our bickering and focus on the more pressing issue of a Greater demon?" Alexander flashed a charming smile at his own Summoning and then at Orzhova, who snorted and grinned back. "Isn't your big brother just charming, Caiellis? I like him," she laughed.
Caiellis wasn't listening. In fact, the boy was no longer stood in his former position. Alex gulped in shock as his brother leapt into the air, wings of stained glass reflecting the colours of light and darkness augmenting his ascent, and swooping down at the demon, who up until now had looked thoroughly bored. He opened his palm and a rotting mass of bloated limbs vomited out from a rift in reality, slowing down the prince as he swung his shining artefact blade in a sideways arc, annihilating the obstructions and pressing on at the demon.
Ershun then fired out a bolt of flame, the Master of Gluttony obviously able to utilise the Red mana of Welkas as well as his demonic Black magic. A shield of singing energy appeared in front of the boy, as Orzhova flew alongside him and elevating his already prodigious magical strength.
Despite only fighting together once before, the two shared a bond of teamwork that matched the one Alex had with Aurelia. The demon growled in frustration as Orzhova swung her large scythe into him, swiftly dodging his counterstrike and dragging her blade along its flesh, purple blood leaking out. A chain of debilitating shadow wrapped itself around Caiellis's thin leg, and Ershun pulled on it, sending the boy tumbling to the ground. His palanquin bearers watched impassively as the Master's dark magic was met by a force of equal intensity, Cai's own Black mana bolstered by the opposite energy of his White, their strange harmony smashing through Ershun's combined Red and Black.
Determined not to be outdone, Alex conjured up his sun-hammer from earlier and charged at the bulbous denizen of Sancturia darkness, his battle cries in unison with Aurelia screaming war-shout. Orzhova gasped as thousands of tiny beetles began to swarming out of the Master of Gluttony's Summoning, buzzing over to her in a surge of malignant chitin. A ball of purifying silver flames washed over the dark angel, and she grudgingly nodded her thanks to Aurelia, who had ignited her twin swords and was carving into the demon.
The beast roared in anger and spread its wings, occult sigils forming out of its malevolent desire wisps and two simultaneous portals into the nether opening wide. The gaping maws then vomited out a tsunami of some vile substance that looked disturbingly like half-digested meals, forcing the Lucaelians and their Summonings away from the demon to avoid being melted by the acidic bile. Caiellis jumped into the air, and then yelped in surprise as his wings spontaneously shattered, Ershun grinning with vindictive glee as he completed the destroying spell, the ruinous forces of Red and Black combining to obliterate the boy's enchantments. Utterly unprepared for the burst of sudden speed the demon put on, Cai felt immense pain shoot through his nerves as a large hand grabbed his waist, squeezing with crushing force and then flinging him into a nearby stall. He crashed through the wooden table, splintering it, and hit the wall with a sickening impact.
"Cai!" Alex shouted, and shot to his little brother's side, his rage at seeing the younger boy hurt and potentially mortally wounded gifting speed in the form of Red enchantments to the middle Lucerna. He skidded to a halt as his younger sibling got to his feet apparently unharmed by his collision, despite the fact that Alex had definitely heard bones snapping. Life-giving energy swirled around the smaller youth, who swayed unsteadily as Orzhova conjured an orb of darkness, using it to channel a draining ray that sucked life the enemy Summoning, who snarled in anger.
"We cannot lose," Caiellis uttered calmly, an incredibly confident grin gracing his normally shy features as he cocked his head to one side, staring straight past his older brother. Alex wondered whether the kid had hit his head and suffered a concussion, but Cai looked perfectly lucid – he couldn't actually check the boy's eyes to see if they were dazed or not as they were still suffused with alternate energies.
"Do not fear for your brother, young Alexander," Orzhova's soft voice called, "The main principle of White and Black mana is to, above all else, keep the mage healthy and draining life from foes to accomplish this. Cai might have sustained significant damage in his little tumble, but nothing a bit of extraction magic can't handle."
"Arrogant child! I am Azarklak, Lord of the Everlasting Banquet, Arch-Patriarch of Gluttony, the Father of the Feast!" the demon shouted, making the air shake with its anger as it beat its wings furiously. "I will show you the meaning of true pain!"
It clasped its hands together, a storm of violent magic conjured around it. Ershun wailed in panic as his palanquin bearers suddenly collapsed in the presence of the spell, their minds not capable of withstanding the pressure and dropping the carriage.
"Empty threats will get you nowhere, Azarklak," Orzhova tutted admonishingly.
"Enough with words. Let us end this," Aurelia declared, letting go of her swords and animating them, the flame-wreathed blades orbiting around her as she channelled White and Red mana into her palms.
"Hurry up and kill them!" the Master of Gluttony shrieked in sheer panic as he sensed the fiery angel's mana levels rising to obscene levels, crawling out of his downed palanquin and beginning to drag his morbidly obese body away from the battle. Orzhova also began a spell of her own, as alternating circles of tenebrosity and light expanded out from her black wings. Both brothers added their power to their Summonings, and eventually it became then pitted against the magic of the Lord of the Everlasting Banquet.
In the end, there was no way that the demon could win. The might of two First Sisterhood angels was far too powerful for it to handle, and although Azarklak hand acquitted itself favourably Caiellis had been right: there was no way that they could lose.
A release of immensely potent corrupting energy was matched, and then overcome, by a wall of purifying flame that Aurelia summoned, bolstered with crackling purple lightning gifted by Orzhova. The Angel of the Black Sun had sensed that her sister was preparing one of her finishing moves, Aurelia's Fury, and as such wouldn't have to use much more of Caiellis's mana in completing the Culling Sun or some other such ritual that would leave the poor boy unnecessarily exhausted – Caiellis would most probably be tired enough without that.
Azarklak bellowed in impotent fury as his magic was burnt by the purifying flames, screaming in anger as he was incinerated and forced back into Sancturia. Ershun yelled in agony as his Summoning was forcefully annihilated, whimpering in pain and trying desperately to move his bloated body away from the vengeful angels. A sea of pleas babbled from his mouth as the ominous figure of Orzhova landed next to him, but they were ignored as her golden scythe swept down into him.
Summonings in this chapter:
Order of Rapture mage: Vexing Devil
Order of Violence mage: Spawn of Rix Maadi
Ershun Firefist: Master of the Feast