[h2]Tyaethe Radistirin[/h2]

[b]"Ahahah, but don't you know how this story goes, Rozenalt?"[/b] Tyaethe kept attacking even as the first blows got through, scratches torn open into unsightly gashes – only for shadow to flow out after the blood, replacing it with smooth skin like nothing had ever happened. [b]"You [i]always[/i] lose. It doesn't matter who tells it or who your enemy is, how it goes down. All anyone really needs to know about you is that the hero triumphs. What does it matter if you got some fairy backup? So did we."[/b]

When they got here.

Despite the thorns, Tyaethe initially kept swinging, but – well, even leading with one arm and sacrificing even more control to swing the sword with only her left hand, it wasn't like she was in a position to [i]stop[/i] Rozenalt from backing off behind his screen of thorns, leaving her with one shredded arm and blood everywhere. Ah, she really would have to push this until it came to [i]that[/i], then? He wasn't going to just stay in melee until she finally got a blow in.

That was a pity, but the vampire had always known that would be the case.

[b]"Oh, speaking of when I win… can I have your blood?"[/b] She lifted her still-bleeding arm, giving it a lick. Ah, almost tasteless, it was a shame. She could [i]hear[/i] Rozenalt's. Hear it too clearly… what was he like, under that armour? Was he really playing vampire? Oh, how she wanted to find out. Would it be as vile as he was, or would the magic and fae influence elevate it into something else? Bitter foods could still be savoured. [b]"I promised Reon I wouldn't take it, even from monsters, but you won't be needing it after, will you?"[/b]

Rushing him while he was preparing [i]that[/i] spell would be suicide. She would just be running straight into it when he swung. But as Rozenalt's arm came down, the vampire lunged backwards, freshly-healed arm heaving one of the Hunt's knights out of position from its current fight and into the path of the spell—

It wouldn't be enough, the wave would still chew right threw it and her. But she didn't need a barrier, she just wanted a convenient springboard to jump and kick off… and force Rozenalt right back on the defensive, using his own magic and ally as a screen long enough to get back into position.