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All That Glitters

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Lokintr
Dec Member 2014

Lokintr

Posts: 2,432 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
As he roared curses in many tongues, some of the modern world, others so ancient so as to passed out of all knowledge, the master’s spell dove around him, strange images forming within the magical flames: dragons and serpents.

This happened within seconds.

“Power is lessened, you fiend?” screamed the Master. “Have at you! Die!”

And then he directed his staff at those below. The magic coalesced into one massive fireball, then, with a crack, it flashed downwards as fast as lightning. There was an almost supersonic boom, a blazing explosion, and a huge crater dropped into the earth with a crash.

The cloud of dust drifted for a moment, and all was silent below.

“Master ...” someone whispered. “How did you do that?”

He was breathing heavily, leaning on his staff. The winking blue light faded from the jewel as the crushing concentration of his power gently dissipated. “Don’t tell me you expected me to roll over and play de—”

He was stopped short by a gasp and a cry of “Look!”. He turned his face downwards; the cloud had slid gently away in the gentle wind. Revealed below, now standing in a perfect ring around the crater, were tall, cloaked figures, standing motionless with their arms outstretched. In the centre of the crater stood another. He had cast aside his cloak to reveal surprisingly normal garments, thought fine in their make: a white shirt, loose and open to his midriff with the soft glimmer of silk, and black breeches with their tops tucked into elaborate, knee-high boots that were decorated with wrought silver. His hair hung loose across his handsome face; his eyes glowed blue like the Master’s spell.

With almost insulting informality he swept his hair from his eyes and stared up at the battlements with a condescending smile playing on his lips. “Old man!” he called. His voice was surprisingly youthful. “Old man! You are weak. A performance such as that should have done more than scorched the earth.

14-Jun-2011 17:29:42 - Last edited on 14-Jun-2011 17:45:32 by Lokintr

Lokintr
Dec Member 2014

Lokintr

Posts: 2,432 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
See now how easily you fall.”

The young man twitched his hand; just that, the tiniest of movements, and the Master’s chest exploded. The students around him screamed as they were sprayed with blood and tiny fragments of bone, and then he collapsed backwards, crumpling pathetically down to the stones.

The Master’s favourite, the young boy with so much resting on him, felt something stir in his gut. Like a wild, ravenous beast that had just woken from a hibernation lasting ages, it reared its great head and thundered its bloodthirsty roar. “Gods! Give us strength!” he screamed into the night, “and help us best these monsters!”

A ragged chorus was taken up by those on the wall; runes vanished into puffs of light as their power was awoken. Having no need of runes, he used the very essence of the elements around him: his power was such that he could manipulate them with his bare hands. Waves of fire erupted from the walls, pouring downwards like an unstoppable volcano, while below cracks and craters splintered the ground like the shattering of glass. Miniature tornadoes streaked back and forth, dragging the sudden rain into waterspouts.

They became aware that it was having a minimal effect, if any; the circle had barely moved, and the young man stood in the centre with his hand raised. The air was warped around his fist; light glinted from a curved bubble that arched over the heads of the assembled. He was smiling still.

As they all realised this, the spells from the wall slowly died away. Fear was tangible in the air. They all knew what was about to happen.

His smile firmly in place, and widening by the minute, his next words sealed their fate.

“Raze it to the ground.”

The protective bubble vanished and a massive rush of power streamed out, slamming into the walls.

14-Jun-2011 17:29:50 - Last edited on 14-Jun-2011 20:46:47 by Lokintr

Lokintr
Dec Member 2014

Lokintr

Posts: 2,432 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
They shook violently, huge slabs of stone gouged from the surface. Slowly the ring began to advance, splitting around the side of the crater, their arms moving in unison as they slammed magic into the walls, sending cracks scurrying across the surface and straight through to the inside at an alarming rate.

Soon enough someone yelled to retreat. The student mages and their teachers that remained, all sense of discipline forgotten to them, threw themselves at staircases and ladders, all racing to the ground, where they were for a moment safe. All hope of rallying them was forgotten, but some of the teachers tried. The thundering booms from the outside of the walls was creeping closer, a slow yet unceasing advance. Clouds of dust billowed outwards from the hideous scars that were opening on the inside.

Suddenly, as though a huge fist had performed the final blow, the wall collapsed open, huge slabs shearing straight off. A few unlucky ones were caught beneath them. Screams split the night, harrowing screams that would haunt the survivors for years to come. They came through the gap, cloaked and cowled, striding confidently with their black robes swirling around them. Magic flashed from their hands; wounds opened, blood spurted, and the massacre began.

The mages fought back to the best of their ability, but few had the strength to survive. Lucky spells from the defenders struck the assailants and seemed to injure them, but the damage was so minimal that the advance could not be halted. Eventually they broke and ran, bodies falling left and right. Behind them buildings were smashed and broken down to the foundations; the falling masonry shattered against the ground. Windows exploded into glinting shards as the walls that housed them buckled; groves of statues toppled, gardens vanished in clouds of fire.

A small group of survivors had reached relative safety. Among them was their champion.

14-Jun-2011 17:29:57 - Last edited on 14-Jun-2011 17:48:28 by Lokintr

Lokintr
Dec Member 2014

Lokintr

Posts: 2,432 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
He was shaking with cold fury, his hands clenching into fists so hard that his nails pierced his palms and drew blood. “The passage is near here,” he said quietly, voice quivering. “If we are quick, we can make it – all of us.”

His eyes travelled around those assembled. It was a meagre number: including himself, there was nine. Only nine remained of the original fifty students. The rest, they imagined, were now dead. Of these nine three were girls; they stood together, drawing comfort from each others’ presence. Every eye sparkled with tears for those lost. His gaze took in their injuries, mild burns, cuts and scrapes, and their dusty, dishevelled hair and robes. They could hear explosions, frequent and loud, and getting closer. The air was filled with the coppery tang of blood. It was nightmarish; some of them wished they could just wake up and find that it had never happened.

“We need to go,” he said. “We all know where the passage is. We can make it. Let’s go!”

They broke from their hiding place and sprinted for their lives. There was a cry from behind them. One of the girls screamed. They had been discovered and were being pursued; fireballs hurtled over their heads as they ducked and swerved. He stopped, shouting to the others to run. All of them did so, apart from one. She stood at his side with determination as a fierce glint in her eyes. “We can hold them here,” she whispered. “Give them time.”

He squeezed her hand. “I’ll need your strength. Don’t let go.” They both looked forward. Three hooded figures stood before them, arms crossed inside their sleeves. “You have no right,” he shouted. “Go back to where you came from!”

There was silence for a moment, then a guttural hiss. “The arrogance of the youth. Yield, child, or we will destroy you now.*

*You killed my Master. I will stop you.”

A menacing laugh. Then, “We have power beyond your ken, boy. Beyond even your wildest dreams. Prepare to witness them.”

14-Jun-2011 17:30:20 - Last edited on 14-Jun-2011 17:50:10 by Lokintr

Lokintr
Dec Member 2014

Lokintr

Posts: 2,432 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
In perfect synchronisation the three figures threw their hands out. Scarlet fire ballooned out in a great billowing cloud. It filled the street in which they stood, superheating the air and giving the walls a melting veneer. Squeezing her hand tightly, he threw his free palm up and screamed. Like smoke against glass the fire stopped. He closed his fingers and the flames contracted into a single ball. He flicked his wrist, and it sped like a cannonball back to its conjurors. There was a massive blast as it struck the middle figure. It was vapourised instantly, the two at the side thrown apart into the walls. One slid to the ground in a crumpled heap, its neck broken with a vicious snap. The other stumbled to its feet and attacked again, sending a twisting vine sprouting from his wrist across the gap between them, aiming for their hands. He pulled her to the side, a fiery blade appearing from nowhere and slicing the vine as it snaked towards them. Then he pointed the sword at the figure; like a missile it flew towards it, piercing its chest and slamming it back against the wall. As the flames consumed its body it shrieked in a high, shrill voice – then was silent.

A wave of fatigue washed over them. They stumbled for a moment, and he dropped her hand. He turned towards the hidden passage and safety, shouting, “Let’s go!”

“I think not.*

Fear paralysed them.

It was the voice from before, the voice that had killed the Master. Slowly they turned, and saw the young man. He was smiling still, a snide twitch of his lips that oozed arrogance.

“Your power is impressive,” he said, calmly surveying the bodies. “Improvised attacks and manipulation of elements without the use of runestones. You are talented, certainly. Far too talented to remain as a mere student, much less a dead student. What say you to joining us? I could you show how to unlock your full potential.”

“I’d rather die.”

“Unfortunate. But, if you’d prefer it.”

14-Jun-2011 17:30:38 - Last edited on 14-Jun-2011 17:52:40 by Lokintr

Lokintr
Dec Member 2014

Lokintr

Posts: 2,432 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
They moved at the same time, but the evil spell was the quicker. It engulfed the other and rushed towards the two young students; black, billowing smoke that took on the form of a hideous demon. At the last second, she pushed him to the side, sending him sprawling against a wall, and leapt into its path. “Run! Run!” she screamed desperately, and then it hit her.

“Alyca! No!* He watched in horror as the demon latched onto her arm and began to devour her, almost inhaling her limbs. As it reached her chest she shrieked horribly as her ribs splintered and her blood spewed in all directions. Her crazed eyes found his; blood bubbled from her mouth. Her last breath was accompanied by two words: “Run ... Daren ...”, and then she was gone.

He ran, bringing a building down behind him to block the path, and ran and ran, away from the ruins of the city and the school he loved, away from the death and the demons, and away from the girl that it had taken him until now to realise he loved.





~ End of Chapter ~

14-Jun-2011 17:30:45 - Last edited on 14-Jun-2011 17:54:05 by Lokintr

Arkkataka

Arkkataka

Posts: 4,327 Adamant Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
good chapter, personally I don't see much wrong with it. This is except for the first attack by Daren on the men in black robes which seems rather confusing, was it supposed to be very chaotic? or did he use the attacks in turn

17-Jun-2011 00:29:02

Lokintr
Dec Member 2014

Lokintr

Posts: 2,432 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Uhh ... the way I imagined it, the three hooded figures attacked as on, and he basically just caught their spells and threw them back. I'll try and make it a bit clearer? Thanks for reading though! :)




Edit: Ohey, 50. Nais!

17-Jun-2011 00:33:30 - Last edited on 17-Jun-2011 00:35:08 by Lokintr

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