FrivYeti/CalinPg20
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For a timeless instant, the square was silent, as the two combatants leapt. Then, in a storm of metal, they met.
Bryce took the lead; as the raksha dove under his spear, he brought it around to slash at his enemy, keeping him a few steps away. Reversing its leap, the creature swung off of the spear, landing on the trough. It upended, and the horse spooked, neighing loudly as it broke for the safety of the stables.
"Foolish sunchild! I am Takash the Skin-Shaped! You are no match for me!" With a toothy grin, it somersaulted forwards, spinning tight into a crouch in midair and then straightening out into a spinning slash. Bryce raised his spear to block, and Takash grabbed it again, spinning around and down it as he swiped at Bryce's head.
Acting quickly, Bryce flung the spear down, diving to one side. His caste mark glittered on his forehead as he caught the spear on its upwards bounce, dislodging the annoyed-looking Takash. Spinning his spear, he thrust it at the raksha, who leapt backwards again. "Words are cheap, monster. If you can kill me, you can make that claim."
"If that is all that it will take..." Takash charged forwards, using his upper arm to block the first thrust of Bryce's spear. His right arm came around even at that moment, stabbing towards Bryce's head. Bryce ducked backwards with supernal speed, but the claw grazed his head. A single lock of hair was sliced cleanly off, and a thin line of blood sprayed outwards. Takash's dark grin was cut off abruptly as Bryce rapidly spun his spear around, bringing it down on the Fair Folk's head. Taking advantage of the momentary break, Bryce spun his spear in an arc of golden force, feeling power flow through him. His anima coiled around him, flowing down his spear and leaving glowing aftertrails in the air.
"You are the weak one, monster. You fight for your power, but I fight for this town. I will not let them down."
"How unoriginal." Takash smiled again, licking his claw clean. "If you can't think of anything more interesting to say than that, this will be a boring fight."
"I don't remember promising to make this fight entertaining for you." Bryce's spear lanced out from its wall of power, and Takash's claws turned each blow aside, one by one. The raksha grinned again, shrugging.
"Just making conversation. I wouldn't want you to die unfulfilled." Abruptly, the raksha stepped backwards, backing himself against the fountain. Gesturing to it, he smiled as water coiled upwards behind him, exploding outwards and coating the ground. Bryce charged forwards, but found himself slipping and fought to retain his footing. "After all, while this has been fun, I think we have to end it. We're getting witnesses."
Bryce glanced sideways, and bit back a curse. Townsfolk had come to see what the fuss was; now, they were crouching in shock, staring at the battle that was taking place. He had hoped to be done before now - things were about to become more dangerous.
He looked back just as Takash tore the top off of the floral fountain and threw it. Bryce's spear curved around, knocking the statue piece straight upwards, just as Takash leapt in behind it, using it as cover as he brought his arms around in two slices, designed to take the Exalt's head off. Acting quickly, Bryce ducked underneath the first cut, just as the second dug into his side. Gritting his teeth against the sudden spike of agony, he stabbed upwards, driving his spear into his enemy. Takash gasped in pain; a moment later, the fountaintop landed squarely on his head. He slid backwards, falling into a roll and backing away. Thick gray blood dripped from the wound, and he hissed in anger.
Bryce stalked forwards, bringing his spear around in a string of blows. Takash's claws flashed out, blocking them one by one. He hissed again, and the brilliant light that shone off of Bryce met the darkness of his blood.
"Something wrong? I thought we were supposed to be trading quips." Bryce stabbed forwards, his expression grim. "You're starting to look like you aren't having fun." He brought the spear around for a stab from the other side, which the raksha turned aside, leaving a thin gray line along its skin. "You are nothing but a pathetic sham, raksha. A shallow excuse for a person that lives by murdering true people. You killed my friends."
"Your friends? Hah!" Takash chuckled, then, falling back on his hands and kicking out at Bryce; the Solar stepped backwards with uncanny speed, just avoiding the blows. "They are mortals, you fool. They are fodder for beings such as you or I!" The raksha backpedalled, glancing around the crowd, and then paused with a toothy grin. Bryce followed his gaze, and his heart caught in his throat as he saw Lani, pushing her way to the forefront of the crowd.
Takash acted first. Leaping sideways, he was at Lani's side before Bryce could react. One claw grabbed her arm in a pincer-like grip, and the other caressed her throat. She froze, in shock and fear. "Come closer, Exalt. Let us see how important your friends truly are."
Bryce's eyes narrowed. "If you harm her..."
Takash chuckled darkly, as the crowd surged away from him. "You want her to live? I am willing to conceed that, in this place, with these weapons, you have the advantage over me. So I am going to have to fight you another time. I will go to the edge of the town, and then I will release her. You have my oath that, as long as no one follows us, she will not be harmed."
Bryce gritted his teeth. After a moment, he raised his spear and planted it in the ground. "You will die for your action, Skin-Shaped."
"Perhaps, perhaps not. What matters is that I will not die today." Takash chuckled again, and then pulled on Lani's arm, backing up slowly with her. "It was interesting doing battle with you, Solar. I find myself hoping that you survive my Lord's conquest of this place, that I may try you again."
His chuckle broke off abruptly as Lani's free hand came up, grabbed the arm at her throat, and twisted. With a howl of surprise, Takash was flung forwards, somersaulting across the ground. Bryce's hand tightened on his spear, and he leapt forwards. As Takash recovered from the roll, Bryce's spear, blazing with golden light, plunged down towards him. As it did so, his anima resolved into a great golden tiger, roaring its defiance at the sky before sending its paw downwards, matching the spear perfectly. The monster's claws raised to block the blow, which slammed past them in a shower of obsidian shards, burying itself in Takash's chest. For a moment, it just stared down at the spear, and then it looked up at Bryce. "It can't... you..." Bryce drew out the spear, and then slammed it down again, and Takash's eyes went dull. Sliding sideways, he flopped to the ground, oozing gray blood.
For a few moments, the square was silent. Bryce looked around at all of his old friends, who were watching him like they didn't know who he was. He looked to Lani, who looked back sadly. He sighed, and turned to Gerald's corpse. Kneeling by it, he touch the corpse. "Goodbye, Gerald. I'm sorry that I failed you. Find peace in the next world." For a moment, the body was outlined in golden light, and then it was ash.
Bryce stood again, and looked around. "Right. You've got questions, I know, but there's not much time. The Fair Folk are coming. I've got to get to the garrisons." He started towards the gates. "Lani, you're with me. We need to talk. Everyone else, get any weapons you have. This is the fight of our lives."
