[b][i]Ashton and Flame (After Jest's Edits)[/i][/b]

As Ashton looked at his foes and activated Supernal Vision, taking a moment to concentrate as he did so, he found himself relying on Flame's [b]Shield of Force[/b] spell to protect both of them from the incoming 'Goblins'. What was this? Were more Loyalists after them? Either way, as more Security VTOLs and groundcars rushed through, some of the latter carrying heavy-duty laser weaponry, Ashton was only able to notice the faintest presence of Magic in these 'creatures' - Did someone use an aura-suppressing spell on them? 

Either way, as one of the creatures, bypassed Flame's shield, Ashton found himself parrying an ax with one of his curved daggers, before kicking the stomach of the 'Goblin' holding it with a booted foot. Whispering a spell of [b]High Enchantment[/b], Ashton felt his High Magic coat his blades to inflict unhealable wounds against any creature of Magic, giving him the confidence to counter his opponent's next attack with a swift roll and a series of strikes of his own, knowing that if he can inflict even one wound on the 'Goblin's body, it'd most likely be crippling.

Flame, meanwhile, had drawn his Perfected Electrum Bow and was aiming at the 'Goblin' which was his opponent. Whispering a spell of [b]Prenatural Calmness[/b] in order to banish all distraction from his mind, he allowed the creature to attack the shield of energy which he set - All the more time to ready and fire the [b]Bolt of Light[/b] which, amplified by his weapon, would strike the creature's rotten heart and disintegrate the body around it. Once he had dispatched the enemy which had tried to take him on in single combat, he'd look to see if Ashton had done so with his own challenger.

The other boy's enchanting grin, as well as the smoldering ruin of what was presumably the monster who had tried to take him on, confirmed that yes, his boyfriend had dealt with his mysterious opponent. So Flame asked next, "These things are magic and not just some weird science which looks like magic, right? If so, what type?" 

Ashton didn't know what to tell Flame, except that, "I myself don't know - I think whoever summoned these pricks is also capable of hiding Magic as I can. Either way, keep up your barriers, there might be -"

A laser bolt struck Flame's shield, staggering the other boy slightly forward. Ashton sighed, sheathed his blades, then thrust out his palm at one of the VTOLs, sending a gust of wind strong enough to shake it - [b]Aerokinesis[/b]. He then looked at the VTOL and said, making sure the crew had a clear reading of his lips, "That was a warning shot. Do not try and harm my boyfriend."

Then looking at Flame, Ashton spoke, "Anyway, the fact that these are [i]Goblins[/i] means that it must be a Human or someone conversant with Human myth and legend summoning them. A Human with Magic either means a Loyalist like [i]Crowley[/i]," he spat the name with contempt, "Or an Adult with Magic like that mercenary Nero, Iris, and Samuel spoke about." 

Flame cast a [b]Cone of Silence[/b] around the two, knowing but not caring that this made them look suspicious, before saying, "Or someone with a magical item like Mr. Winterborn - Remember his sword?"

Ashton nodded, even as Flame's shields withstood another shot - This time a tungsten shell from a Railgun. Then he said, "I wonder sometimes about that sword. I rarely got to see it in action, but I saw enough to know that it is a Kaisoken, one which willingly fought its own kind. I wonder what its motives were for that?"

"Mr. Winterborn himself is a noble person," Ashton said, "And if not for the fact that the mysterious mercenary was able to cast spells of his own, I'd assume the latter was like him, someone with a magic item. And from all accounts, the merc [i]did[/i] have magic items [i]as well[/i] as the ability to cast spells." The boy then paused to thrust out his palm again, causing a gust of wind to sweep more snipers of a nearby roof. "This means that the Ascendancy if they are the ones who employed the mercenary, must have more magical resources than we do - That we are not the last of our kind."

"As if we'd be the last of our kind anyway," Flame said, "The Ascendancy is in full possession of the resources to make more Star Marines - To torture more kids like us." He then fired a few warning shots at several Tayanen in armored shells who were walking towards them with riot shields in hand. "If we don't stop them, they'll just torture more kids or draft adults to enforce their tyranny on everyone." He frowned, "And so we will stop them."

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