Caius raised the orb and peered into it at the Blood within, ignoring the intense glower Philip was giving him.
"Caius," Philip said, "Hand it over."
"Why would I do that?" Caius asked airily while still peering at the Helix-shaped blood within the Orb.
"Because I demand it!" Philip growled, "Hand it over!"
"No," Caius said.
"Now!" Philip yelled.
"No," Caius repeated.
Annoyed, irritated, and impatient, Philip dashed toward Caius. He was so fast that the movement appeared instantaneous to the peripheral vision of Fifth Circle Caius. Philip struck before Caius could react.
His blow, packed with his immense magical and physical might, and backed by his Emissary designation, struck Caius but never really made contact. The outline of Arcane Scripts around Caius blocked the attack, sending a portion back at Philip and forcing him to slide many steps away and almost fall off the platform entirely.
Caius blinked, seemingly realizing how 'close' to death he had just been.
