The mage teetered as the candelabra was sliced, slamming the top end into the floor to keep him in balance. As he looked at his opponent, he realized how the situation was going.

The supposed agents of the dark sage had spent little effort on destroying him. While there was always the possibility of a trick, the impression he gained from the lioness in particular was one more weary and concerned for self-protection in this affair as compared to an all out attack to protect the sage's interests. He was no mind reader, but something was to be said by what appeared to be the use of a defensive rather than offensive spell in retaliation, not the typical response of someone acting to kill. He would be curious of the spell's origins in another situation.

As the lioness spoke, most of the words were ignored save for a name. [i]Zargon.[/i] It was a name he well knew from ancient lore, the name of the Dark One. Rewinding, he thought over the words spoken. It appeared he was suspected of working for such a demon, even as he saw the sage as working for the very same demon. Assuming it was not all a trick, of course, something for which he prepared by phasing out his current spell and bringing his talisman to the side even as he mentally set it to collect energies in a discreet fashion in the event any sudden move was made. He had two roads: Fight and lose a perfectly good golem form and leave the talisman behind, or break some words and better determine his opposition. He kept one eye on the doorway as he adapted a slightly relaxed posture but every bit ready to attack at any sudden move, eyebrows furrowed slightly and the dark blue of one keeping contact with that of the lioness.

The long scrape caused by the dragged sword widened very suddenly, creating a maw prepared to consume both the lioness and the sage as it expanded across the floor. He sent the strongest strong gust of air yet towards the lioness as he rolled to the side, just as the ceiling buckled and sent the contents of a room filled with everything from gold to wine bottles downwards to crush most of the room's center and to partially block the doorway.

[@The Harbinger of Ferocity][@Belwicket][@IcePezz][@Jon Y][@vietmyke][@Zero Hex]