[right][color=1462ba][i][h2]Mariette[/h2][/i][/color][color=57a345][h3][i]and Eli[/i][/h3][/color][/right]

Mariette had simply intended to grab that projectile and send it somewhere else. However… it was far, far more powerful than she had initially estimated. Hearing that laughter and suddenly recalling what had happened back then, Mariette’s visible eye widened as she realized what kind of power she was dealing with. … Which only made it that much more important that this attack did not hit her current allies. Geesh, and she was already strained. She noted the predicament which the girls on the Bastion was facing, and could but hope they would be able to handle themselves. Right now, it was imperative this sun bomb did not hit.

The Reflective Witch called upon her powers as Curie sent her ball of massive power forth. Through the hand-mirror still in her hand, she charged her magic, widening a great portal before the sun bomb, redirecting it at Doris. There was enormous strain as the portal took damage from the mere proximity to this massive energy, and Mariette fought to maintain it. She called on the Mana Font which Asengav had given her, letting the river of magical power flow within and power her portal-

-And then the Mana Font promptly dried out.

Mariette jolted like a physical blow had been struck against her, deep within. It was what it felt like. All the dependency on the Mana Font to draw power suddenly struck back against her, and the spell instead struck power directly from Mariette’s force of life, as how the Blood Magic of Asengav’s champions worked. Regardless, she had to maintain the portal for a bit longer, even as it sucked on her internals… and there it was through, and the portal whiffed out, and Mariette gasped. She was… completely empty.

[color=1462ba]‘… Well, this is terrible,’[/color] she commented before almost collapsing, but Eli showed up at her side and caught her. Then, the splash of Bastion’s descent into water flowed past them in large waves, but Eli held onto them both and ensured they’d hold off the flow. Left alone, it was Mariette gasping in Eli’s grip.

She had either completely drained her Mana Font, or Asengav had closed it. Given what had happened very recently, both were possible.

[color=1462ba]‘… Okay, now I’m out of tricks,’[/color] Mariette complained, holding onto Eli.

[color=57a345]‘They’re going to need you to get back, mistress,’[/color] Eli informed her, looking a bit worried.

[color=1462ba]‘… Ghk, guess that means I need to stay alive,’[/color] Mariette frowned, looking over the scene. [color=1462ba]‘We’re not getting over the lake.’[/color]

[color=57a345]‘No, we aren’t, mistress,’[/color] Eli confirmed.

[color=1462ba]‘… We’re waiting, I suppose.’[/color] They were certainly not heading down into the dungeon when she was drained, and neither were they heading into the lake-battle. [color=1462ba]‘Pick up the mirror, it’s our only escape-route, now.’[/color]

[color=57a345]‘Yes, mistress,’[/color] Eli confirmed, letting Mariette slowly steady herself on her own legs while the harpy went over and picked up Asengav’s mirror. The girl was very calm and collected, almost like she felt everything would be fine, far less troubled than Mariette felt. The mistress briefly eyed her enlightened servant, noting that it appeared she had overcome whatever was ailing her. … A bonus from the previous altercation, she supposed. Good, because Mariette was going to need Eli at her best if something bad happened now.

Mariette looked over the rather terrible battle-scene, unable to affect it due to being out of mana. It wasn’t in Mariette’s nature to trust others, but right now she was drained. Because of Blood Magic, she had a last reservoir in the shape of her own life force, but because of her frail form she had very little of that. She was going to save that for the escape, but that escape was meaningless if Sonia was after her, as even with Eli in this state it was meaningless against someone who wielded their bane with such efficiency.

[color=1462ba]‘… Well, then,’[/color] Mariette sighed, sitting down to rest for now and looked out over the ongoing battle. [color=1462ba]‘Guess my life is in your hands, now, girls and boy. Have fun with that.’[/color]