Illegalist Insurrection: An Unofficial TwoSet Adventure

Legalist v. Illegalist

It did not take very long until Illegalist found the two aristocrats in the barren space, waiting for him underneath a rather crusty-dry tree. He made his presence known with fierce, booming laughter. "Aha! So you really have decided to try and duel me out according to the rules of civil combat!" he bellowed. "Puny humans, who will take care of you now? What a terrible choice, to leave yourselves at my mercy instead of using help!"

He made his descent from hovering in the sky, kicking up a dust cloud all around, his smoke darkening the sky.

Legalist glanced at Aileana again. "Are you okay now?" he asked.

"I should be fine, thanks," Aileana said, brushing at the spot where Legalist had fixed the cut on her forehead. Illegalist had slowed down her healing process greatly. "Hopefully he doesn't slow the healing down for you too."

"Mhm," Legalist muttered, setting his jaw.

Aileana sighed. "Please, Le, let me fight," she said. "You can't do this alone."

"Ailea, he's my match, not yours," Legalist said firmly. "You need to stay here and sit back, where he can't get you. I don't want you to risk your life."

Aileana snorted, turning away. "Sure. And you want me to watch him break every bone in your body? Fat chance that's happening."

"It's a better chance of me lasting against him than you interfering and costing it for both of us," Legalist said, voice raising in pitch.

"Uh-huh. Yeah. And then what?" Aileana snapped, turning to speak in his face. "You haven't fought him. You don't know what power he has. You don't know what I know, that you could never stand a chance out there by yourself. You go down, and I go down with you."

"Ailea. Listen."

Aileana grabbed him by the rim of his hat. "No, Le. You listen to me, okay? You think he's a photocopy of you, but he's not. You know what the handbook said about him. You can feel the darkness radiating from him fifty miles away. How do you know that you're more powerful?"

Legalist pushed her arm off. "Stop speaking nonsense, you know we have Ling Ling on our side."

"Yeah, and what if Ling Ling doesn't help, then what do I do?" Aileana demanded, voice breaking.

Legalist didn't answer.

Aileana sucked in a shaky breath and turned around to face the crusty tree trunk. "I just... don't wanna lose you, okay?" she said, subtly wiping her face.

Legalist touched her shoulder gently. "I know, Ailea," he said softly. She didn't move as he put his arm around her and rested his hand on her head.

"I'm sorry," he said, cradling her on his shoulder. "But I'd rather it be me than see you out there in my place."

Aileana nearly crumpled.

Legalist stepped away. "I'll be back," he said, turning around to face the growing darkness. He took a few steps.

And then she spoke, softly. "Promise?"

He paused.

"Promise," he said.

He looked out into the barrenness and said no more.