The Necromancer was rounding on the lightning witch, his staff glowing as his undead swarmed towards him to form a barrier.

"Damn you, you bi-"

There was a flash of light and wind as Cecilia's arrow found its target, striking him in the left arm, the one clutching his hostage. The tissue of his shoulder was severed in an instant, the burst of air sending him staggering back with a strangled cry of agony as he lost both his living shield and one of his limbs, blood spurting through the air.

It was at that very moment, as he stumbled back with a gasp, that his control faltered.

While the mindless, rank and file undead continued to due their critically wounded master's bidding, it was evident that the legendary corpse did not, sending Gerard hurtling towards the bleeding masked man as he struggled to stay upright.

There was a wet crunch.

Sir Gerard's mace found its target, and Fanilly slowed to a halt as she watched the crushing force strike their enemy square in the chest. Almost certainly, his ribs were shattered, and it was quite likely his own bones now skewered his internal organs as he was lifted clean off his feet and sent hurtling backwards from the impact.

Blood splattered across the wall as he struck it, from the severed stump of his left arm.

It seemed like a moment or two passed before he slid down the wall and hit his knees.

He didn't move.

Fanilly lowered her sword, eshaling heavily, as her blue eyes travelled over the trembling body of the conspirators' prisoner.

"... Check the prisoner, and unbind her," she said, swiftly. While the nem didn't appear to be seriously harmed, there was no way of being certain that was the case until they got a closer look. She noticed the voice from behind hem, from what could only be a demon, but she simply couldn't focus on it any longer.

They'd managed to stop it. To save the prisoner, and bring an end o this conspiracy.

The remaining undead now stood still, swaying slightly but otherwise entirely unmoving.

Shouldn't they have fallen by now?

"Kh... kill... you... I'll kill... I'll kill you... I'll..."

The ragged voice came from the slumped body of the necromancer.

He wasn't dead yet, but it wouldn't be long. The head of his catalyst was flashing, magical energy gathering around it and fading as he tried and failed to breath properly. Blood ran from his mouth and nose, down the front of his clothing, from his severed left shoulder.

There was no way of knowing if he was truly able to threaten them in his last moments.

Fanilly resolved to do what was necessary. 

She approached, and the staff glowed just a little brighter.

"Kill you... I'll kill y-you... I'll-!"

The Knight-Captain's blade flashed.

The necromancer's head hit the floor, and he spoke no longer.

The Lightning Witch didn't speak, at least not immediately, as the undead collapsed around her. Instead, she walked over to the axe, slowly sinking to her knees.

Taking it in both hands, she clutched it, embracing it to her slim frame.

When she finally spoke to Lein, her voice was soft, and quiet. Her face was hidden by her hat.

"... It was never supposed to go this way, not until he showed up," she murmured, the 'he' left ambiguous, "Then those bastards came, then it ended up like this, taking a prisoner and killing a princess and..."

She trailed off, still holding the axe tightly.

"... I... I-I need to take care of him... He needs me to take care of him."

[@Rune_Alchemist][@HereComesTheSnow][@Raineh Daze][@ERode][@PigeonOfAstora][@Conscripts][@Crimson Paladin][@Creative Chaos]