They entered a secret entrance to the throne room, and snuck around looking for elements of the dark knight. With no sight of him they took a moment to relax, Camdia's wound had healed by now using special tinctures. Camdia took a moment to analyze the throne itself. In it was a skeleton is radiant moth eaten robes, the old king obviously who had been destroyed by whatever force of the imagination assumed. No physical weapons though had plunged into him, something more sinister had left him here to rot, and his kingdom with him. Dilo shivered face to face with death but with Camdia by his side he felt less scared. They wandered into the higher annexes searching and Dilo marvelling at all the amazing things he found. Reflecting on death Dilo realized he will not live forever, nor would Camdia even, all things would pass but he was ultimately happy for the time he was having with her. Even if it was scary and dangerous, for the first time it gave him meaning, gave him purpose. As the rose through the tower higher and higher Camdia felt a dark essence at the top, an ultimatum. She knew she blew her shot to know the dark knights weakness and her chances of retreat and counter-attack would waste the advantage they had so despite the foreboding energy she decided its was now or never. She came to the top of the spiral staircase and pushed open the final door.
She had appeared on top of the tallest tower in the castle, she could see the surrounding countryside and the swirling purple-black clouds that swarmed the castle like crows. Before her was the dark knight, his backed turned, no escape, no traps, no jesters, no excuses. The wind howled as she stepped forth, blowing her raven hair across her face and behind her. The knight looks back over his shoulder, moving to reveal his missing arm has been replaced with a new one, made of the same ether that emenates from his body. "A new arm of the same stuff means he's less than he was, his bluff won't shake me" thought Camdia, and responding with tossing her cloak aside to flaunt her wounded side. The knight chuckled "So, you don't fear pain, and arrogance decorates your frame?" "I'd say the same to you, did you like my kiss?" The knight bowed his head slightly "I did... I've had dozens of knights beg and plead to escape death but you revel in it. I'm almost going to miss it when the light falls from your eyes when my blade punishes thee." Camdia shifted her weight forward and drew her sword out horizontally. "Big talk, big man. I've seen it all before and I'll see it after this." "Coy sheepdog." Camdia gave a sardonic smile which blended into a determined frown as she bent her head down. The wind blowing hair and cape, waiting with Dilo for the overcast finale to start.
Camdia, letting go of victory and patience, blasted off her right foot and charging yelled as she lept through the air, striking down on the Knight's great sword. Testing his strength to hold it up he seemed weaker than he stood and took this knowledge to strike blow after blow, up, side, down, side as sparks flew, trying to break down his strength which he had allowed fail him until suddenly he struck back. He grasped his own sword and pushed back on the small dark warrior, putting her off-stance and then doubling-back to feign into a massive round house swing that Camdia blocked at the last moment with a vertical guard. The blow was intense and revealed he has far more strenght, "DAMN HIM" she thought as his bluff had worked. Now Camdia was on the defence and being in close with the knight meant she couldn't dodge the massive range of his greatsword, she had to block, SLAM after SLAM, the cobblestones vibrating and shattering under the blows. She was in trouble, she was out of options, she just needed an opening.
Seeing Camdia get beaten back blow by blow Dilo felt his heart sink and get cold. His great protector was in danger and he could do nothing. "Could I?" he thought. Trembling at the idea of attacking this great foe he realized it was that or see his champion perish before him, to see her perish, and he realized he would do anything to stop that. Taking his torch, still burning, he rushed towards the dance of swords, almost tripping and in an act of selfless desperation he tossed the torch at the Dark Knight. It spun as if in in slow motion, and struck the knight in mid his lead up strike, the burning sensation caught him off guard and Camdia taking a moment between blows lazily thrust her blade up into the knight's armour. The knight responded with his gauntlet grapsing the defenless Camdia and plowing her head into the ground. She did not move, blood and hair draped across her face and the Dark Knight turned his gaze over the kobol. He moved toward him slowly, each step filled with contempt and punishment, the plates of armour clanking together. Dilo looked up at the knight in total fear and his mind went blank. Without a word the knight brought down his fist and crushed him.
Camdia coming back to consciousness from the loud noise was met with pain and blurred vision, realizing she was still alive turned over and wiped the blood and hair from her left eye. It took her a moment to realize what had happned, how the crater on the ground was where Dilo had been, how that innocence has become nothing. She had failed, she failed herself and Dilo and all those like Dilo who would be trampled on by evil. And then something burned inside her. Like a cold fire, it started in her heart, pulsing through her arms and legs, her pain flourished and then became so pointed it disapeared, sound and vision became a void and focused inside herself. Something, alien and eternal was coming out of her, from somewhere deep within. Then it happened.
