Magic Index: Temptation's Risk (Completed)

Chapter 15: Veiled One Unleashed

Xune carefully explained the entire situation from the beginning. After her initial battle here, Ereldra never died, she was called back by her master, The One Who Dwells. An overpowering presence of evil that creates champions like Ereldra to do his bidding. He wishes to spread his chaos across Ciandra. He began with the Mages of the Hopeful, with their infinite stash of knowledge and forgotten secrets. Xune went on to explain that with all of his strength, The One Who Dwells created five champions to spread his hatred across Ciandra with Ereldra being the first. Whenever he feels she's been bested, he calls her back to his domain and revitalizes her. He does the same for each and every one of his champions. Malanie, Harfen, and Lelli were all engulfed by the unknowing fear. For such an entity to exist is beyond reality, and yet it was possible. They began to think of places where The One Who Dwells might strike next, but they would have to wait until this battle was over in their backyard. Lina and Arthur were still going hard, their weapons clashing with inhumane force while neither seemed to be tiring out. Soon, they found themselves in another stalemate, both of their eyes burning with a desire and a passion to kill the other and claim victory.

Lina then kicked the legs from underneath Arthur, watching as he fell to the ground before she began to drive her sword down into his chest. Arthur rolled out of the way as a huge blaze of fire roared up from the point of impact she made on the ground. Lina then grabbed the hilt of her sword with both hands, spinning her body and swinging her sword upwards out of the ground, firing an arc of searing fire at Arthur. The dark swordsman dodged out of the way of the incoming attack, watching as it basically disintegrated the structures in its wake. He smirked, seeing how serious this was getting. He rushed forward, sending a volley of magick missiles at her, all of them being either deflected or dodged before he slammed his sword into the ground, creating several golden shockwaves that blasted through the ground, heading right for Lina. The half-elf leaped into the air, dodging the devastating forces rushing towards her. As she turned around, Arthur was already in the hair as well, heading straight towards her with his sword raised. He then slashed at her, the force behind the attack seemed to have increased tenfold, sending Lina back into the ground with a horrific crash that caused a cry of pain to escape her lips.

    "Do you see now, mage?!" he called out to her, landing back on the ground, cracking the dirt beneath his feet. "You and me? We are destroyers! We weren't bred to save lives. We were made to become strong! I have realized that from my mistress, but yours give you false hope. She forces you to believe that what you're doing is for a greater good." Arthur watched as Lina picked herself up from the crater she created. "You're different than I am."
    "Wrong!" she yelled, looking over to her as blood was leaking from her head, her clothes tattered from that blow. "You wish to grow strong from other's misery and pain. I grow strong from their hopes and wishes. I will never be like you!"
    "Then tell me this. If you're a savior of the people, if you care for their hopes and wishes, justify what happened between us. Homes destroyed. Nature was damaged and turned to ruins. All of this to stop me and Ereldra. What makes your justification for death any better than mine?" he went on, clutching his fist behind his helmet with a sick and twisted grin. Lina slowly calmed herself, her face paint still vibrantly glowing
    "Even though I may have lost myself, that there is death and destruction happening all around me, there is one thing that I can say. A difference you or your order could never understand." Lina looked up at Arthur who was growing enraged the more she talked. "At the end of all this madness, I fight for the light at the end. While your kind creates and thrives in the darkness, my kind pushes through it to ensure there is still hope at the end. Yes, we kill to rid ourselves of our enemies, but you will never understand how it feels to revel in your accomplishments. You are surrounded by your failures. All of your actions have a consequence you will never escape."
    "ENOUGH!" Arthur shouted as he initiated the fight once more "It's time we end this once and for all, halfling!"
    "I couldn't agree more." Lina twirled her weapon, ready to end this fight and find where his leader stayed.