#USER. thelightofcreation

[bladebrecher]

[ CASTAWAYS ]

“Ah… How are you feeling?” The storm had left a good many worse for wear, and until the rain lets up, Sephiran cannot see any of them making it back to the mainland without a great deal of luck involved. 

Thus comes the more important task of keeping everyone well enough to wait until that occurs. “I have healing magic if you need any-”

A small jingling sound as he gestures towards his staff, and he glances down. Out of everything to remain- 

He cannot help but smile, somewhat amused, “Or a charm, if you’re still in the mood.”

By the feet of that black-haired man lies Jeralt, on the sand and drenched in seawater like an idiot. He’s, fortunately, still alive and kicking, though his body is quite sore from all of this mess.

“I’m good. Thanks.” Jeralt coughs out as he slowly pulls himself up to his feet. He runs his fingers through his hair, trying to ruffle the moisture out of it. There's no injuries that need any healing, aside from the fatigue that's settling in.

Do people still care about these little things when there’s an ongoing storm? At the mention of those charms, he lets out a proper laugh. “If you’re willing to take mine as a token of appreciation, then why not?”

[fluxrspar]

No reprieve lasted in this place, it seemed, for as soon as Selena had settled back into reality, she and her teammates were thrust into the next match. (Only enough time to catch their breath, she supposes. Real battles do not wait for your comfort anyway.)

When the battlefield forms itself next, it is the scene of grand, rolling plains. It is dawn, if just barely, with the sun still pulling itself over the horizon and casting long shadows for the hills and the trees that surrounded their arena. In the center the ringing of blades connected echoes, and a monstrous beast morphs into existence. Before it stands four knights—one winged, the others grounded.

So these are our opponents.

Selena finds herself with two tomes—the flaming Ragnarok (warm and reminiscent of the spell Elfire) and the familiar Bolting, her hallmark and her home. (It was good to be in possession of her magic once more—arcane weapons can only come so close.) Her horse, too, beckons of familiarity, though she locks away the darker memories of her demise.

She mounts in one swift motion, arming herself and eyes gazing at their enemies. No doubt, their objective was to fell that unholy draconic beast, but the knights between them were staunchly positioned to defend it; they would have to fall first.

Mind takes note of their equipment: an archer on horseback, a pegasus flier, another mage like herself, and the last—armored. (The axe he wielded was of no inconsequence either.) Though it meant he was limited to short distance combat, so too were some of her allies. Selena had the aid of magic, however, and she would hold the advantage thus:

Channel flames.

“Take out the axe wielder first!”

BACKUP (Sephiran) activates! Sephiran assists! Gautier: 9/10HP

Ragnarok flickers in her fingertips, bursting into a blazing sun of fire. It is brilliant and it is awesome, harkening back to the Fluorspar at her peak. She lets Sephiran strike first, using the time to put in all her past ability into the strike—

(It is just like Elfire, just on a larger, grander scale.)

Selena attacks Gautier with RAGNAROK: Roll: 20 + 6 = 26—CRIT. (Ochain Shield converts this to a HIT.) Gautier: 6.5/10 HP

—and it is with that experience (that confidence) that contact is made: perfectly on point. Though her accuracy is waned somewhat by the shield he raises, it matters no less:

No more failures. (The flames are slow to die.)

TRAMPLE activates! Gautier: 4.5/10 HP

Still, the axeman stays atop his horse, signaling his life yet remains. Only just barely—but that meant he was still a threat.

“One more strike and he’ll be over!” And with no casualties on our side either. (This was how a general was supposed to command a battlefield; with minimal bloodshed or loss of life.)

‘We will only do better moving forward.’

The monster roars, cacophonous; Selena remains focused on the task at hand.

@thelightofcreation (let's go twinnnnn)

in this household we STAN lance users — (team 8 silver round)

[fluxrspar]

She hears Lilian’s outburst—a vendetta against the knights they faced and the monster they protected; or perhaps, this illusion shows her a sight the rest do not see. (Though Selena does not understand why that would be the case—then again, what of her ‘mother’s grief’ could Lilian be witnessing here otherwise?)

Nevertheless, Lilian fires—two shots that bring the opposing archer to a heel. It is with ease, then, that Alear finishes them off. It is as swift and sudden as Selena’s own attacks, she muses, unrelenting in their power and the utter decimation of their foes.

It comes not without retaliation—flier and mage strike down at Lilian and Sephiran respectively—but where Selena’s heart catches for a moment, the both of them continue to stand. This is good. (A deep breath.) No casualties.

Yet.

Though perhaps there is nothing to worry about when Lilian defeats the flier all by herself. (To think; this was the same woman who claimed she would stay out of the way—a beginner who would do her best to ‘not drag them down.’)

Selena also remembers how she had turned away—‘I would advise against swearing oaths you may not be able to keep.’ (How she had wished then to prove earnesty; to have lost that chance may have just been protection from this.) Céline finishes the final knight.

Well then—the winged monster was all now that remained. It had yet to fight them here, the battle being then focused on their side and the monster’s defendants—but now its capabilities were a real concern. (Their final horizon—the foe they must defeat.)

She had always had a penchant for lightning.

Selena attacks Apotheosis Husk with BOLTING: Roll: 12 + 0 = 12—CRIT. Apotheosis Husk: 11/15HP

Time had yet to wither away that familiarity—that practiced ease of use she had grown accustomed to with the tome. The electricity conjures itself in her fingertips, crackling bolts that soar across the field; the dragon shows recognition of the threat but still falls to it—a piercing jolt that grants no mercy to its target.

And here, Selena would relax, ready herself for the next strike; but the dragon is swift, lacking pardon for those who would dare to harm it. Though she fires from across the plains, the beast reaches her in nigh an instant.

COMMANDER activates! Apotheosis Husk counters with SEIROS SWORD: Roll: 12 + 4 = 16—HIT. Selena: 6/10HP / Apotheosis Husk: 15/15HP

The blade cuts into her, missing her vitals and yet—yet still strong. It did not take a commander’s wisdom to recognize the monster’s strength; nor did it take a connoisseur to recognize the sword it carried (a weapon of fine making—a divine shimmer in heretical hands). The wounds she inflicted are smoothed over with the glow, a terrifying realization made as the creature passes her by.

But the Fluorspar does not let it go without a shock.

TRAMPLE activates! Apotheosis Husk: 13/15HP

It is not as powerful as even a full Bolting—remnant crackles of an almost formed spell—but she does not face retaliation then. (Perhaps it looks down on her, or has simply chosen another target.) Those injuries remain, however, and that is all that Selena can ask for.

“Be warned: it’s fast!” she exclaims, already guiding her horse to a safer location (the beast is gone as quickly as it came). “And that sword it carries—it seems it can heal its wounds with that!”

@alyration

in this household we STAN lance users — (team 8 silver round)

[fluxrspar]

She had expected, in her command, that another would’ve taken up the deed; yes, she had been the one to begin it, but that did not mean she had to be the one to finish it.

…And yet, Sephiran speaks to her—a confidence placed that invigorates her spirits. Yes, she could leave this work to another, but to learn from the past—to take responsibility for the future—she could (and would) finish this now.

(In all that she was able, she would protect her allies.)

“Thank you, Sephiran.” (She nods: a display of determination.) “Once more!”

BACKUP (Sephiran) activates! Sephiran assists! Gautier: 3.5/10HP

The knight knows what is coming for him—he readies his shield in anticipation. A futile move, but Selena cannot fault him for it. It is the only thing between him and his imminent destruction, after all. The least she could do is acknowledge his survival instinct.

Selena attacks Gautier with RAGNAROK: Roll: 14 + 6 = 20—HIT. Gautier: 1/10HP

It matters not, for Ragnarok blazes once more, eager to destroy (yet eager to protect), and when it strikes him next—he falls, and then he stills. His blood mixes in with the early morning dew.

TRAMPLE activates! Gautier: 0/10HP Gautier is defeated!

Good. (That was one less enemy to worry about.) Three yet remained though—not to mention the behemoth they sought to defend.

This, too, was akin to war—both sides fought by people who wished to keep someone (or something) safe from harm. Though the ones in charge may command them for property, prosperity, or merely to preserve a way of life, battles could be waged because the everyday soldier wished to protect something; their lives, their families, their freedom.

Their foes here, however, were not innocent. (One could even argue they weren’t even real, though that did not make the question any less potent.) They fought to protect a creature that should not exist; for if it were a part of reality, it would no doubt bring terror and destruction.

…Perhaps she did not know the whole story here—it would not be the first time either—but to Selena, it didn’t really matter; not when the objective was given to them so clearly. They were to fight, and they were to win. That was what mattered.

(Further, as she had self-determined: they were also to live.)

@divinecrest

in this household we STAN lance users — (team 8 silver round)