Fifth/Twilight2

by Fifth

I drove forward, driving Seeker through the Air-Aspects chest. Going to one knee, I glance around, gasping for air. I was in a slight calm in the storm of battle.

I see my Circle-mate Gerrald in a ring of death. The invincible Dawn-caste had killed two dozen already, but I knew he was being worn down. To anyone else, he would have appeared to have slowed not at all, but I was Gerrald’s sparring partner, and his Circle-mate. He was tiring. Pretty soon he would be overwhelmed, just as I would be.

The last member of our sad Circle landed beside me. West; Shining Joy in West was his full name, but we never called him that; was grinning. The Night-caste had blood streaked across his face, his smile a cruel reflection of what it had been but a few days earlier. He lifted me up with one hand, absent-mindedly flinging essence-knives back and driving our foes a few feet away from us, granting a few precious moments.

My mind went back to our fallen fellows; Trian, killed at the very first ambush, and Noell, who had fallen two days ago while we tried to get to safety among the Lords and Ladies. With her, our hope of sanctuary had faded… and we were left with this stale vengeance.

I looked up to his face, and knew mine reflected his. I checked my reserves. Fifth/Yes, I have enough…/ Turning to West, I said, “Can you grant me few seconds of time?” He looked at me questionally, and then looked at the shadowy figure we had both seen some time ago. I nodded. “We both know the Terrestrials couldn’t have done it alone. His kind participated. And he will pay.” West just nodded, and then sprung into action. I saw his banner, huge and massive in the sky, the quick motions mirroring his. He laid a circle of death around me, protecting me, but I knew he couldn’t keep it up for long. Those few attacks that broke through, Seeker itself drove away from me.

I withdrew into myself, into the land of essence flows and eddies, of movement and lands where a thought can kill. I drew up all my essence; everything I had, and more, too. I brought Seeker up to my lips and kissed it, knowing that it was the last time I would feel it.

And I let the magic go.

It raced through our enemies. I saw the Dragon-spawn explode as my essence turned their bones to molten metal, and I laughed. I saw the shadowy figure turn to flee, and I turned my magic on him, and laughed as he was rent into nothingness. I felt the blood froth to my lips, and my heart explode in my chest, and I laughed.

I woke up in a cold sweat. I could remember how my heart exploding had felt; it was as real to me as the bed I was in now.

The phrases swirled through my head. Dawn, Night, Circle, Seeker, Aspect, Terrestrial, essence. Names and faces moved through my mind, each as real as if I had seen them moments before. I could still feel the contempt I had felt for the “Dragonlings”, and the rage I had felt at being humbled before them. I was shaken. Had I really been like that?

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