As Eilis send Umbra racing towards the ship she could feel the tremble of Arn’s magic behind her, the trapped Aether building up ready to be unleashed upon his picked target. As the Aetherial mass seemed to build Eilis could not help but fear that Arn was going perhaps too far with it.
It was almost as if he was purposefully was copying her and if that were the case Eilis could never forgive herself for what she had inspired the master mage to do.
A quick glance behind her brought pain and tears to her eyes. Worry flitted through her mind, not for her, but for him.
"Arn." She whispered her voice pleading, knowing he would not be able to hear her, when so enthralled in the arms of such powerful magic.
A voice softly spoke to her, one she had heard many times before in the back of her mind and hidden away in the shadow of her memories.
“There will be an end to all of this my dear, life and death’s struggle will continue long after we have passed. We are but fragments and specks of dust, scattered through time and wind. Our existence is nothing more than a drop within the pool of Aether, to expect anything more is selfish, unnatural and ultimately drowned in its own madness.”
She watched Arn fire off his attack in shock and horror, bringing such destruction to the frigate that its own fate was sealed, groaning and creaking it started to plummet down.
She couldn’t help but feel an involuntary shiver witnessing all of it. Not but seconds after feeling the man collapse behind her, his arms wrapped around her waist and feeling him lean against her exhausted, breathing raggedly, but still stubbornly protective.
]“I hope that is enough to pull the captain from the fray….If you see an opening Eilis, we must head out. I will not be much help for a little while.”
“You know what is to come my dear…you know it is all pointless.” It spoke again.
Eilis bit back sharply.
“Shut up! I won’t listen to you.”
She focused on Arn again, forcing her eyes and mind back to him and back to the battle before them.
She pulled Umbra’s reins, making the beast halt its progress as a collision with one of the ship’s turrets needed to be avoided. She could now see Tobi and Tyrhallan, only a short distance away.
“The harder the struggle, the tighter the noose around their neck grows. Only acceptance of the inevitable will focus us on our one true goal.” The voice kept speaking.
“Your own soul is not going to be able to hold me back and you know it my dear. Neither will you be able to protect any of them…you are not much use for anything really.” It pointed out.
She felt herself inwardly agreeing on that count. What bloody use was she? She constantly was in danger or a danger to those she claimed to call friends. Those whom she professed to…
She tried not to look behind her feeling the warm protective hands still around her waist.
To love...
Shaking her head she dismissed the self-deprecating argument.
“I won’t let you erase me.” She whispered back stubbornly. “I want to live…even if that means living in pain. I won’t let you just take over my body and execute whatever it is you’re planning.” She spoke as determination filled her.
“Only one of us can win this dear and you neither have the knowledge, nor the skill to defeat me. You barely are able to fight me now.” The voice spoke in a calm and collected manner. “All I have to do is wait…and once I am done with you I can finally focus on fulfilling my goals.”
Eilis saw the image of a man in dark satin robes, his eyes blind as he walked towards an underground lake surrounded by crystals. No, not a lake, but something else, something thicker, more unnatural and haunting as it seemed to emanate its own light.
“To stop the destruction of our world, we need to make sacrifices sometimes…”
“Sacrifices are nothing but murder when people don’t have a choice.”
“Exactly my point my dear. I didn’t do anything of the sort though. There are those that claim I mercilessly and unthinkingly scattered a myriad of lives to the wind. I am no general though…my motivations always have been to safeguard Ith and all those living on her.
Now what is one life in comparison to say a thousand or even a million? Those that were offered always went willingly…They offered hope to the hopeless and strength to the powerless…”
"The rite has always been performed. Always."
At his words an image formed of a terrifying construction, the shadow looming over her as she widened her eyes in disbelief.
A gargantuan monstrosity of black steel and wires. Whirring and whizzing as the energetic spark of life fizzed through it, seeming like some giant mouth to an endless tunnel, with strange amber light stabbing her eyes with its intensity. This thing seemed terribly out of place.
As it lumbered about her the limbs and claws on it were pure nightmare fuel and as she heard the whirl of cogs, gears spring into place. The heaving, rise and fall of arms connected to pistons and gods knew what else almost sounded like breathing, the creaking and clacking of metal upon metal caused it to vibrate and move of its own accord.
It’s shadow seemed reminiscent of that of some sort of titanous crab or spider.
She felt herself being pulled in by its rhythm, bit by bit, getting closer, moving towards the thing as its closeness now allowed her to see within the gaping entrance.
Something had been obscured and blocked by the alluring light, her eyes widened horrified with the realization.
Attempting to turn away and leave made her clash against a glass wall that had conveniently shut itself behind her. Trapping her as she felt and heard the snapping and cutting of sheers and scissors, as the sharp fanged wheels and blades started to slowly spin into action.
“Let me out!” She heard the voice of a young male as the machine sprang into further life behind her, watching as a young handsome man barely out of his teens slammed with his fist against the glass next to her.
“All things end eventually…think of how your sacrifice will save all of Ith, you will help save all of us…” She heard Tourmaline speak. “And don’t worry…your brother will join you soon…” She watched as Tourmaline calmly smiled at the man, almost to reassure him. “What have you done?” She breathed in horror and worry, but he seemed to pay her no mind.
“Soon you’ll give me the strength to set things right again.”
Eilis wasn’t sure what Tourmaline meant with it, nor who he was speaking to at that moment and that thought frightened her more than all what she had experienced and seen before.
Had it not been for Arn’s concerned whisper of her name. Hearing his voice drew her back from her visions and back to the battlefield again
or she might have seen the horror that she presumed to have happened to the young man.
She could kiss the master mage for his interference and told herself to do exactly that after they escaped this whole ordeal.
Still first things first…Tyrhallan.
She watched a female knight sprint toward Tyrhallan and the other knight fighting as the body of Uilles started to slide off the deck and fall away.
Bringing Umbra in close she forced it next to Tobi and his vehicle.
“This ship is going down…you need to get airborne again!” She told the young mage before worriedly
looking into the direction of the other three, before unbuckling herself and removing Arn’s arms from her waist. “Keep him safe.” She pleaded, before she jumped off the dragon and allowed herself to skid downwards across the deck towards the trio.
Ravros watched the crazed blonde coming holding Fatebringer aloft.
That wench is mad.
"Tell your princess to fuck off!" He roared at Tyrhallan, using the knight captain to shield him from the incoming blade. He used his body weight to throw the knight captain off balance, a risky move that brought the blades close by, but startled his opponents enough to be able to swat the girl, by knocking the man into her. Forcing her away and on her heels. Releasing the blade he gave her a swing from the back of the arm and elbow of his cut off arm, forcing her off balance again.
Feeling the ship keel over to one side, its speed increasing as it started to plummet down faster and more rapidly, clearly having engine failure, he knew time was set against him.
Using this sudden change in balance he allowed himself to slid down the side and avoid the Knight Captain’s incoming swing, before he grabbed onto the girl. Harshly pinning her against him, so she couldn’t use the blade, locking her in a tight embrace and forcing her to be his literal shield as his hand clamped down on her neck.
Ravros’s gamble paid off as he watched the red speeding blur stop instantly, the Knight Captain’s weapon but inches away from the both of them.
Literally a breath away from driven into their chests.
Feeling the deckrailing behind him as a support, Ravros dared to smile as he watched the unrivaled hatred in Tyrhallan’s eyes staring out from underneath and through the silvery locks. Angry at this untimely stand off.
“What are you going to do now boy?” He asked as his hand clamped down further on her throat, choking the life out of Alexa.
“If you move or she moves she’s dead. Believe me, I’ll easily crush her windpipe or snap her neck before you even take a step. And with nothing to lose I have no qualms in sticking it to you and the old man. You’re not going to be quick enough to save her. If I am going to die, she’ll join me.” He promised.
Tyrhallan snarled in fury, before with clenching teeth he lowered his weapon. Too many had died today, Brightwind's was avoidable, therefore as a proper knight he should attempt to save it.
“You don't want to die, I know that and so do you." He allowed a little silence to fall between them. "A trade then… let her go and you can have your vengeance on me. See if you can flee and live afterwards though.”
Ravros’s smile widened in a sickening manner as he spat.
“Your life for hers? My, my how honourable of you Venray. How 'knightly' of you...Too bad I ain’t buying it! Your Uncle did me dirty once and cost me dearly! There will be no wiggling out of this deal! So you first Venray! Take her blade and run yourself through! And after I see the light leave your eyes, she’s free to leave and die in whatever manner she deems worthy.” He said holding her struggling form.
Tyrhallan considered this and nodded.
"Deal." He let his weapon to fall from his hand, before looking into Alexa’s eyes with a calm almost gentle gaze.
Shaking his head to silence her protests he softly he told her.
“Don’t worry Brightwind, you’ll be fine. It will all be fine.” He promised as his gloved and armoured hand gently took Fatebringer over from her hand, hearing her on her protests with a wistful smile.
As he raised Fatebringer up he steadied himself turning the blade towards himself.
He had not intended on ritual suicide to be his end, but he doubted many that had died this day had planned on dying in the first place.
Still he would do so standing with the dignity and honour that befell a Venray.
He, Alexa nor Ravros noticed the trembling blade Tyrhallan had held before. Raised inches from the floor, floating there, before a cry drew their attention as a familiar face of a tattooed female mage slid towards them with quite some speed.
“Try this on for size!” She yelled as she had zero control over her own behind and legs sliding across the deck, but her arms were outward stretched towards them, crackling with magic and lightened up as she had done before. Drawing eyes away from the actual target.
The blade tilted with a snap and flew upwards stabbing Ravros in his wrist.
With a anguished cry he pulled back his hand, forced to let go of Alexa, whom Tyrhallan instantly pulled close and behind him not wanting to risk a similar situation again as Eilis slid up to them and managed to latch herself onto one of the metal rings on deck.
Ravros roared in pain as the blade was buried deep enough to not just come loose with some violent shaking and with a final slice of Fatebringer across his neck, the three watched Ravros attempt to grab his neck before tumbling backwards into the depth below.
Eilis turned to Tyrhallan who quickly sheathed Fatebringer.
He in turn grabbed onto her and Alexa, knowing there would not be much time left.
“Hold on!” He said pulling both women close and activating his jetpack and boosters, hovering in the air and watching the Vaimese behemoth of a ship fall further down.
Eilis sighed loudly in relief.
“For a moment there I was afraid I would not make it…”
“How am I supposed to admonish you two… Still...Never, Ever, do that again!” Tyrhallan said with a sigh looking at both women before making his way towards Umbra and Tobi’s vehicle.
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