Melisa’s heart hammered in her chest as she watched the dark energy swirl around Lady Belstadt, feeding off the fallen Shadow Mages. Her eyes widened as Belstadt’s aura grew, shadows thickening like storm clouds, her body radiating an eerie crimson glow.
[Alright, this just got worse. Way worse.] Melisa glanced around, desperately searching for help. But Isabella was locked in her own battle, flames roaring as she parried attacks from her foes. Armia was fending off three Shadow Mages at once, her sword flashing and her roar echoing through the chaos. [Great, I guess it’s still just me and this lunatic.]
Belstadt didn’t give her any more time to think. The Shadow Mage moved fast, her fingers curling in the air, her voice ringing out in a chilling tone.
"Sanguis, ferveo, corrumpe!"
A red-black wave of energy exploded toward Melisa, crashing through her hastily summoned shield like it was nothing.
"AGH!" The force of it sent her sprawling backward, her wand slipping from her fingers as she hit the ground hard.
The breath rushed out of her lungs, and for a second, the world around her was just a blur of colors and sounds.
Melisa struggled to push herself up, her vision still swimming. Her muscles felt like lead, her arms trembling as she reached for her wand. The air was heavy with the smell of smoke and blood, and she could hear Belstadt’s footsteps approaching, each one deliberate and mocking.
[Get up, get up, get up.] She clenched her teeth, trying to force her body to move. But her defenses had crumbled, her Essence had halved since the beginning of the fight, and the pulsing aura of blood magic sent shivers down Melisa’s spine.
"A bit disappointing, really," Belstadt said, her voice carrying an edge of amusement. "I only just started trying and you fold this easily? I thought you might actually put up more of a fight."
Melisa looked up, her vision finally starting to clear. Belstadt stood over her, a cruel smile curving her lips. The Shadow Mage raised her hand and drew a quick spellsign, a dark, red-black orb of energy forming between her fingers.
[Not like this.] Melisa’s mind raced, her heart pounding. [I can’t let it end like this.]
Suddenly, a flash of obsidian cut through the air, and Belstadt’s smile faltered. A knife embedded itself in the ground between them, a thrown projectile that Belstadt dodged at the last second.
"Hm?"
Both Belstadt and Melisa gazed upon the newcomer.
Raven emerged from the chaos, her two knives glinting in the dim light, her eyes locked on Belstadt. Without hesitation, she lunged, her knives aimed straight for the Shadow Mage’s throat.
Belstadt barely managed to block, her shield flaring to life just in time. The impact sent her stumbling back a step, her eyes narrowing in annoyance.
"You’re a quick one," Belstadt tilted her head. "Very well, then."
Raven didn’t respond verbally. No trading of verbal jabs, no, she just ran back in and tried to stab her again.
Melisa used the distraction to pull herself up, her hands shaking as she reached for her wand. She watched as Raven and Belstadt clashed, Raven moving with her usual blinding speed, a result of all that training she went through, her knives flashing like silver lightning.
But even with all her skill, Belstadt’s magic was relentless, tendrils of dark energy lashing out, forcing Raven on the defensive. Maybe it was too early to tell, but Melisa felt she could see it. If left as just a one-on-one between them, Belstadt would still win.
[She can’t keep this up forever.] Melisa’s mind was spinning, trying to think of something—anything—that could help. Then it hit her.
The blue-flame spell.
[Right!] It was one of the most powerful spells she knew, even if she didn’t know why that was the case, and it hadn’t failed her yet.
She just needed an opening.
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Raven ducked under a blast of blood magic, her movements sharp but slowing. Belstadt’s eyes gleamed, her smile widening as she pressed the attack, her fingers moving in quick, precise gestures that sent waves of dark energy crashing toward Raven.
Melisa gritted her teeth, forcing herself to focus. She raised her wand, the runes glowing faintly as she prepared the incantation in her mind. She just needed Raven to give her a chance—just one moment where Belstadt’s guard was down.
"Raven!" Melisa shouted, her voice cracking slightly. "Get ready to move!"
Raven glanced over her shoulder, her eyes meeting Melisa’s for a split second. She nodded, her expression fierce.
With a quick spin, she dodged another red-black blast from Belstadt, her knives slicing through one of the tendrils as she shifted her position, giving Melisa a clear line of sight.
[Now.] Melisa’s heart pounded as she raised her wand, her voice ringing out with all the strength she could muster.
"Illumi, nerca, var fal!"
The blue flame erupted from her wand, a brilliant, searing blaze that shot forward like a comet. Belstadt turned just in time, her eyes widening in shock as the flames smashed into her shield.
The impact was deafening, a shockwave rippling through the square as the shield shattered, the flames engulfing Belstadt.
As per usual, the damage became evident in the way the target screamed.
"AAAAAAAH!"
[...] Melisa blinked. [I really need to figure out what this spell actually does, one of these days.]
Raven jumped back, landing beside Melisa as they watched the flames consume the Shadow Mage. For a moment, there was silence, the only sound the crackling of the blue fire. Melisa’s breaths came in ragged gasps, her legs barely holding her up.
Raven glanced at her, a small smirk tugging at her lips.
"Nice shot," she said quietly.
Melisa let out a breathless laugh, her eyes still on the flames.
"Thanks. Oh, and double thanks for saving my butt like that."
Raven shrugged.
"You’re welcome."
Belstadt’s scream cut through their banter, her figure emerging from the flames, her robes charred, her eyes filled with fury.
The blood magic swirled around her, her aura pulsing with power, but there was a flicker of uncertainty now.
Melisa swallowed hard, her fingers tightening around her wand.
[She’s not done yet. But neither am I.] She inhaled slowly. [That said... She’s going to be wary of that spell now. I need to find some way to end this, fast.]
Before they could make their next move, another voice rang out across the square.
"Need a hand?" Javir appeared, smiling back at Melisa. Without waiting for a response, she sent a bolt of magic hurtling toward Belstadt, forcing her to retreat a step.
"Javir!" Melisa’s relief was palpable.
Belstadt glared at Javir, her sneer deepening.
"More fools coming to join the first. I suppose it takes a whole pack to try and stop me."
Javir smirked, her eyes narrowing.
"I guess we’re just trying to even the playing field."
Melisa caught movement out of the corner of her eye.
Armia was pushing her way through the chaos, her sword held high as she fought her way toward them. She looked fierce, teeth gritted as she cut down the last of the Shadow Mages in her way.
"Armia!"
[Alright, this is looking... Not as doomed, I guess. My chances of not being turned into a nim pelt or whatever have definitely gone up.]
Belstadt’s expression twisted, her lips curling into a snarl.
"A bigger pack of fools to help the biggest fool of them all," she spat, her eyes flashing with malice.
Melisa raised her wand, her voice steady despite the exhaustion in her limbs.
For a moment, she remembered why they were actually here. They needed to know where the Shadow Mage headquarters were.
"You can’t win this, Belstadt. Just surrender. Give us information on the Shadow Mages, and we might let you walk away from this."
Belstadt threw her head back and laughed, the sound echoing through the square.
"Walk away? You think I’d want to live after being beaten by you? No, little nim. If I can’t win here, then I don’t deserve to live." Her laughter stopped abruptly, her eyes locking onto Melisa, her glare as sharp as a blade.
Just like that, the fight resumed, the air thick with tension.
Javir, Armia, Raven, and Melisa moved together, each searching for a weakness, an opening in Belstadt’s defenses. Melisa tried to cast her blue-flame spell again, but Belstadt dodged, her movements swift, almost as if she anticipated it.
[Ohhh she’s watching for it now.] Melisa gritted her teeth. [I need to find another way to get through to her.]
Javir swung her sword, simultaneously launching a bolt of lightning toward Belstadt, but it barely grazed her as she sidestepped, her eyes cold and calculating. Armia charged, her own sword aimed at Belstadt’s side, but a tendril of dark energy intercepted her, forcing her to stumble back.
Belstadt smirked, her voice carrying over the clash of magic and steel.
"It seems you’ve forgotten something," she said, her eyes narrowing with a dangerous glint. "We Shadow Mages... are not just mages."
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[Eh?]
Before anyone could react, Belstadt reached into her robes and drew a sword, the blade glinting with a dark, enchanted light. She lunged forward, her target clear—Melisa.
Time seemed to slow. Melisa’s eyes widened, her body frozen as the blade rushed toward her.
[Oh shit, oh shit, fuck, fuck!] She tried to move, tried to raise her wand, but she knew she wouldn’t be fast enough.
Javir saw it.
Without hesitation, she moved, stepping between Melisa and the blade. The sound of steel meeting flesh cut through the chaos, and Javir gasped, her eyes widening as the blade sank into her side.
"Uggh!"
"Javir!" Melisa screamed, her voice cracking.
Belstadt twisted the blade with a cruel smile.
"Fools, all of you," she whispered, her eyes locked on Javir’s pained expression. "Doing all this for one nim."
Javir gritted her teeth, launching a spell that forced Belstadt back. Blood fell from her midsection to the floor as she glared at the Shadow Mage.
"You’re... not winning this," she managed, her voice strained but defiant.
"Eh, I beg to differ," Belstadt shrugged.