Eight Intertwined

186 - Mattias

The darkened echoes of Mattias' laughter fell silent as soon as the objection was spoken. The rage in his eyes was only barely restrained when he saw Lianna step forward out of the corner of his periphery. "Ophilia?!" his vestal cried out, her hands pressed against her chest in a vain attempt to quiet their trembling. It didn't work in the slightest. 

Ophilia and the rest of the travelers had emerged from their rocky hiding place near the altar. Each of them held their weapons firmly in their hands, waiting for the instant they were given a reason to strike. Knowing Mattias, he would not make them wait for long. Sure enough, he glared down at the newcomers like he thought he could kill them just by staring at them. Ophilia could at least give him credit for that; if looks could kill, he would have made a strong attempt on her life even if it was destined to fall short. "What are you doing here?" Mattias demanded, his voice both too loud and eerily quiet in the deathly silence of the grotto. He paused for a long moment before turning his mercurial gaze on Lianna. "Lianna... You've been a bad girl, haven't you?" Lianna took a step away from him but otherwise did not answer. Mattias didn't need her to, and he bristled as he glanced back to Ophilia. "But it matters not. The ritual is all but complete. I will not let you interfere now." 

When Mattias retreated toward the altar, the three men in black flanking him rushed forward. "Loyal servants of the dark flame... Put a stop to this meddlesome woman once and for all," Mattias instructed. He reached for the blackened fire, and Lianna's eyes screamed of a desire to retreat, but her feet would not move. 

Ophilia would not let that fear control her sister for long. As soon as the men in black rushed forward, Ophilia reached for the dagger at her hip. She traded it with her lantern after blowing out the fire, and she was ready for the first assailant when he arrived. Ophilia avoided a swipe of the man's dagger before stabbing with her own. She opened a notable gash across his shoulder, but it did nothing to stagger him. Cyrus was more than happy to strike the man though, calling upon the dark energies of the cave to blast Ophilia's attacker with a shadowy spell. The grotto augmented the power of dark magic, sending the man flying. He collapsed to the ground at Olberic's feet, and the Unbending Blade raised his sword high before bringing it down into his target's heart. 

The second man rushed toward Primrose, but the dancer swiftly avoided his first three slices before retaliating with one of her own. She aimed for his abdomen, and blood smeared across her blade where her family's creed was etched into the steel. The man pressed his free hand against the wound to try and stem the flow of the blood, but it was all for naught. H'aanit struck him with an electric arrow, leaving him immobilized. Tressa sent the man crashing to the ground with a blast of wind magic, and Primrose tackled him in an instant. In one swift motion, she brought her dagger down into the man's chest, taking his life before he even had the chance to scream. 

Only one assassin remained now, and he was foolish enough to target Therion. The thief had noticed Cyrus casting a dark spell moments prior, and he decided to follow in the scholar's footsteps. The dark magic was enough to make his target trip, and the assassin fell right into a set of vines Alfyn had summoned. As soon as the man was restrained, Ophilia rushed in with her dagger at the ready. She did not hesitate as she dealt the killing blow. All she knew was that she would need to ask Primrose to help her clean the crimson out of her gloves once this was over. 

Mattias' eyes widened by a fraction when he realized how quickly Ophilia had disposed of his allies, but he did his best to not let his shock control him. Instead, he let out a low rumble of a chuckle. "You can hold your own in battle, Sister," he murmured. "How intriguing." 

"I will not fall to a monster like you," Ophilia quipped back. She leveled her dagger at him, practically daring him to make the next move. Ophilia could not say she enjoyed killing, but if it was to defend the people she cared about, she would do anything. She had made her choice all the way back in Quarrycrest, and even so many months later, it had not changed.