(Octobert '17) Prompt #1 - "The Cool Breeze" [Archive]

ArtisticVicu

10-20-2017, 04:15 AM

Magic crackled around her hands. It burned and ate at the appendages but she ignored it. She had to. She ran as hard as she could towards the fight as his magic curled around her and suddenly they were in the midst of the battle. She adapted to the sudden change in location and lashed out with magic that was foreign to her body and far more potent than the magic from her home region. She threw creatures about, delaying the inevitable of those around her as one by one every person she was trying to save - that they were trying to save - were turned to stone.

Suddenly, he was the only living thing not turned to stone that she could see fighting with her, rather than against her. Panic flooded her and she lashed out at the creatures trying to turn her to stone as well. It cleared the way enough for her to catch sight of two Magics in a losing fight against Orbicas. Every attack they sent his way did little and he only laughed, high and sharp, at their pitiful attempts to binding him. He zapped them of more magic, and she watched in horror as the eldest of the pair crashed to her knees, her once magic saturated hair limp and dull against her back as her legs started to turn to stone. The cool breeze was the only thing that made her hair move now and even that was not going to be enough.

"Solis!" the younger cried loud enough that she heard it even from where she stood so far away. But the sudden push from seeing the eldest fall to her knees slowly changing mattered little as Orbicas flicked his wrist and the younger was thrown to the ground, her own legs slowly turning to stone.

"Dissonance!" she yelled, lashing out at the surrounding creatures again. He was suddenly at her side, his magic wrapping around her as she reached out carefully with hers. The mental link was briefly formed, barely a whisper in both their minds, but it was enough to pass on the message of what had to be done, the plan she had roughly formed. It was enough and the connection snapped apart. He shot off like a bullet, slamming into Orbicas with a force that clearly surprised the overpowered lackey. She felt her heart go out to the region; to be tormented by someone that had normally been ranked as a lowlife and not the villain he was now was frightening. If the villain over Orbicas's head ever found out about this magic saturated region, the entire world would suffer and none of them would be able to do anything about it.

She shoved the thought aside as magic licked at her body, dragging her through space and relocating her just before the two Magics of the region, her hands starting to bleed. Dissonance was flung skyward but she had no time to worry. It would work out well in the end as she reached up and unleashed her own magic.

Orbicas was suddenly ensnared in chains far stronger than anything he could break out of, even with his sudden power boost. He glared at her, challenging, "You think you can do me any damage when the two Magics behind you could do nothing?!"

"Echo," the young Magic behind her whispered. Her name drew her attention but her magic never wavered and she couldn't spare the Magic a glance. Didn't seem she needed to as the young Magic pressed on in a strained voice, "Be....careful."

There was a final crackle before silence fell behind her. Both Magics were now fully stone and Echo allowed her eyes to slide shut in silent mourning. Orbicas cackled above her and she opened her eyes to glare at him. "See! Not even she was safe from my power!"

Echo gave a vicious grin as she took in the massive ball of magical energy Dissonance was collecting in his upturned palm. He was so small and the mass of magic was so large. Echo shoved Orbicas far out to the center of the crater he had originally made, magic humming through her body painfully. It ringed the crater as Dissonance finished off the collection.

"I'm not concerned for my safety," Echo spoke, her words soft but her ability to create mental links carrying her words for her as she lost a bit of her control. She had lost her finite control coming here and she could no longer care for its loss. The magic that had ringed the crater slowly edged skyward, slowly constructing a shield. "I'm more concerned about making sure there's nothing left of you to harm another soul again."

Dissonance threw his hand down. The gesture dragged him out of the way as the mass of magic descended.

"What?!" Orbicas squawked, his gaze snapping skywards. His eyes widened as the orb began to increase in speed. Orbicas suddenly started fighting his bonds and Echo grunted under the strain of holding him tight and waiting to throw up the shield. "No!"

She looked beyond the magical attack and made eye contact with Dissonance. She watched as the satisfaction on his face bled into confusion. The moment he realized what she was doing, the magical attack was where she needed to be and released her hold on her magic.

He screamed her name but it was too late and she gave him an encouraging smile as the magical attack first engulfed Orbicas before touching the ground. The shield solidified into a dome just as the ball of potential reacted.

The explosion ripped at the ground with nowhere else to go with the shield in place. She was slammed backwards into the solid shield wall behind her and, as Orbicas's screams mingled with the sound of the explosion itself, her mind was swallowed by white before being engulfed in darkness. She prayed as her mind slipped into unconsciousness that her shield held long enough for the damage done by the explosion was contained.

A once familiar magic burned across her being and the scream ripped itself from her throat. Consciousness did not bring coherence, and the body wrapped around her felt like a branding iron at every point of contact. She had so little strength, though, and while she tried to get away, all it did was cause her body to writhe in pain.

Eventually, eventually, the pain diminished and exhaustion threatened to pull her under again. But the form holding her was shaking and she could make out the sound of crying. She forced her eyes open with what strength she had left and frowned up at the blurry sight before her. She couldn't make heads or tails of what she was seeing but glimpses of color and the voice accompanying the crying had her drawing a tentative conclusion.

"Dissonance?" Her voice was raspy and weak, but he seemed to hear her just fine as he jerked around her. He cupped her cheek, his words washing over her without leaving an impression. She leaned into his hand and closed her eyes but couldn't give into her exhaustion quite yet. "Did it work?"

"Yes," came the choked reply. She was glad that the word didn't just brush her by. "Yes, the others are being freed now."

"I'm glad." She wasn't sure she had fallen asleep or not but when she opened her eyes again, they were moving, albeit slowly. "I'm so tired."

He shifted her about and she felt his cheek press against the top of her forehead. "Go to sleep, Echo. I've got you now. Everything will be alright."

She tried to hum in reply but it didn't come out right and she didn't care enough to correct it as she finally succumbed to her exhaustion.