[b][i]Ashton Andrews, the Chosen of Stories and Flame Brooks, Operator[/i][/b]

Ashton instictively curled up to protect his face and front, crossing his forearms above his head in order to block the blows. Nevertheless, he wasn't ready for the pain as the guards hit him again and again and again.

Despite having duplicated Selphia's bloodline and powers, Ashton's body was still that of a child, and thus more vulnerable to getting hit than Selphia himself. Every attempt to start a magical counterattack was interrupted by a blow from the guards; same for any try at thinking clearly.

The boy would have given up then and there until he heard a voice shout, "Ashton!," as one of the four guards suddenly stopped, before turning around to swing his baton at a defiant Flame, who ducked beneath the blow as the other guards had their attention caught by the young redhead.

Regaining faith at this, Ashton stretched out his hand, blasting one more guard away with a burst of wind, before using three small blasts of Light to directly target the beings of darkness inside the remaining armor-guards. As the golden suits collapsed, the boy got up, breathing hard and saying, "Nice save, Flame."

Flame gave him a thumbs up, just before he whirled around and parried another guard's blows; more had gotten through their allies. Ashton, already feeling the effects of 'Rune intoxication' deadening the pain he felt, began blasting more foes, using his technique of going for the dark wraiths with light-based attacks instead of just targeting their golden shells.

A glance at Selphia; the latter was busy with some kind of... Incantation? Good; Ashton can use whatever glimmer of hope appeared right now. He had to divert attention from the 'Dragon in Human Form', but broadcasting his intentions was not going to do that as the enemies' Commander seemed to be competent. Plus, he was getting groggy with the constant use and flow of 'Rune energy'. 

He whispered a few words to Flame, "We need to protect the taller redhead; my plan has failed. But how -"

The other boy said to Ashton, "Can you control water, and therefore blood? Furthermore, can you use one last burst of power to release the winged woman from her wing-chains?" 

Ashton nodded at both questions, pointed at River ([@Veradana]), and with a burst of light, blasted off the clasp on the restraints on her wings, allowing the Winged Elf to spread them wide for the first time in forever. Here was hoping she could be a distraction.

Flame then looked at Lashiel ([@Eisenhorn]) and shouted,  "Lady with the burning blood! Come to us; we have a way to improvise a long-range attack and blast the enemy with it, but it needs your help!"

Should the 'Lady with the burning blood' come over to them, Flame will say, "All right, here's what we're going to do;  Burning Blood lady will bleed herself and Ashton will use water magic in order to lift, then acccelerate the large drops of blood faster than the speed of sound. We will then hit the Guard Commander as much as we can - if we can get his attention, we can do what we need to win!"

This plan relied on Lashiel actually listening, actually being there. If she wasn't, then Flame would command Ashton to rest because the latter was clearly wearing himself down by using too much magic.