Corrupted Dreams

A Resting Place

Rider didn't hesitate in his charge, the elephant hurdling towards us in an earth-breaking run. Emiya grabbed me by the waist, diving with me out of the elephant's path. I skid on the dirt-glazed concrete with him, turning my head back to Darius as soon as my body was stable. Battle ax pointing at us, the large emerald at its head began to glow bright as torch flame. I didn't wait around to see what would happen next, instead tracing the runes for a wall of branches to wrap over Emiya and me. Just after, I heard the deep blow of fierce flames rippling in hot waves at my wood wall. A few blazing strands seeped through the cracks, licking red burns onto my pale cheeks.

"Cu!" Emiya yanked me back before my very wall could collapse on top of me like the caving of logs on a bonfire just before the burst of flame. Arrows shot between the dancing fire that feasted on my branches. Bow drawn, Emiya was crouched above me, already pursuing an attack on the enemy.

I numbly sat up, sniffing at the distinct smell of burning fabric. "Oh shit!" With frantic pats, I put out the fire gnawing on my robe. A quiet snickered huff came from Emiya without his attention breaking for even a second from his aim. "Don't laugh!" I elbowed him in the knee but didn't waste my time on Emiya long.

Glowering at the Persian king, I aligned my runes. He dare try to smother me in flames? Ha! I'll show him what it means to burn! The runes glowed and fire burst from the fading images. Darius bent backward in an attempt to escape my burn. His elephant wasn't so lucky, the horn of his trunk billowing as it reared on its back legs. Unsteady already, Darius tumbled off the elephant's back, but I didn't have time to bask in the minor victory as the beast came charging towards Emiya and me, long tusks pealing up the ground as it ran.

Once again, Emiya was a step ahead of me, pulling me out of the charge zone. Though, Emiya's grip couldn't save me from the flying debris. A chunk of cement smashed into my shoulder, separating me from Emiya. The blow knocked me to the ground. I rolled a couple of times, but when I came to a stop, I didn't receive a break.

Summoning my staff, I flicked a hasty strengthening rune onto it just before Darius drove a heavy battle ax into it in a failed attempt to drive the sharp edge into my neck. The blade didn't slice through the reinforced staff but splintered the wood. Gritting my teeth, I swung the staff around, the ax sliding down the shaft, shaving the wood as it went. The head of my staff driving into his neck, Rider stumbled back from me. Emiya came in with a second blow, short swords drawn. Darius's attention was taken from me, giving me a chance to compose myself before entering the fight again.

With the combined effort of Emiya and I, we drove the king into a corner, a trap only short-lived. The deranged berserker part of Rider's mind held no restraint in his attack. Emiya's and my stamina right now were nothing compared to the war machine in front of us.

Flames burst from his axes, forcing the two of us back. Sending a wave of roots towards Darius, I caught him before he could pounce in another attack. Gripping Emiya's arm, I could feel my mana trickling away. Either we needed to end this fight quickly or pull out, because I didn't know how much longer I could last.

Emiya glanced at me as my fingers slipped from his arm guard. He didn't need any telepathy runes to understand what I was thinking. "I've got this, Cu." Stepping in front of me, he took the battlefront.

A switch flipped in Emiya as he dove in with blades drawn before Darius could escape the cage of branches. I analyzed the fight from the back, watching the fluent movements of Emiya. Even in his haggard fatigue, he somehow managed to keep a solid posture, gliding through the fight with a simple grace. There were moments when Emiya was far too angelic for his human status, and this was coming from a demigod.

Looking at the rubbled ground, I cleared my thoughts, then focused back on Darius. Taking the rear didn't mean I had nothing to do. Just one opening with the right attack, and we'd have him.