Demon(#Wattys2017 Entry)

Chapter 16:Aurega Pride

Vaussten panted, feeling tired already. Valga had been completely unpredictable in his attacks. One second, he was dodging fireballs. Then, he had been fighting to keep his balance on ice. The next instant, the ice was gone, replaced with a puddle of electrified water.

A sudden brilliant light, slabs of stone hurled at him, blasts of shadow striking against him...It soon dawned on him that his for was using all different elements of magic. There was only one kind of person who could do this, but...people with that level of skill were even rarer than those possessed Lost Magic. Even so, it was the only logical solution.

"So...that's your magic....huh?"

Valga smiled."A Holy Mage, yes. My ancestors worked to include any and all magical blood they could into their bloodline, and...well, this seems to be the result." He smiled."Caused all sorts of trouble for your kind in the war."

Vaussten grinned."Oh? Whatever happened to 'One race, one people?' We are all Vrai, remember?"

He scoffed."A means to an end. Climb on top of someone, and you can expect to be thrown off. Make it seem as though you stand beside them...well, it's hard for them to complain about that, isn't it? Whole purpose of sparing noble children, the hope of someone rising above and making a change in their favor was enough to stop any revolts." He chuckled."The irony being that only those who accept our rule as it is are given back their titles."

Vaussten glared."Bastard..."

He smiled."Perhaps. But a bastard with power. Observe." He placed a hand on the ground."Moisture in the ground, mixed with flammable minerals from the mountains." The murky liquid flowed along his arm to his blade, completely encompassing it. He smiled."And now...fire."

The crystal sword lit up with orange flame."And now...a little lightening." He placed a hand on the blade, and electricity crackled on his fingertips, moving along the blade.

Vaussten glared."You....quit doing that. That blade isn't yours!"

He smiled."Mine by right of conquest. I did kill its owner, after all." He pointed the now monstrous blade at him."Come now, unless the previous fighting has you too fatigued. I'll take great joy in putting an end to the Aurega line!"

Vaussten glared and ran towards him."Well, the jokes on you then!" He said, punching at his face with his metal arm.

Valga ducked down, laughing."Did you really think that would-"

Vaussten placed a hand on the breastplate of Valga's armor."You can't kill me and eliminate my line." He continued, pushing him back as the armor turned cherry-red and singed Valga's skin, eliciting a scream from him.

Vaussten smiled and pointed to himself as Valga quickly unfastened the straps of his armor, letting it fall to ground."Whatever bits of Aurega within me died with my family, the day you slaughtered the rest. Vaussten Aurega is already dead. Vaussten The Ruin is going to avenge him!"

Valga held an icy hand to his chest, glaring."Shut up, you upstart!" He snapped, losing all composure."Aurega, Ruin, or whatever you seek to call yourself, you shall die by my hand!"
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Guiltare watched the fight from farther away."He shouldn't be fighting alone." She grumbled.

Morz, standing beside her and adjusting his borrowed mask, shook his head."From their speech, I can tell there is bitter history between these two. Interfere, or you'll only cause distraction at best, or inspire the rage of Vaussten at worst."

She sighed."...I will never understand why men always insist on this odd pride of theirs."

Morz chuckled."And I shall never understand how women often say one thing, hint at another, and mean something else entirely." He replied simply."In any case...let's hope he sees his advantage over the lord."