The grunts of soldiers could be heard as they held the gate in place. Glyphs coated the scene, malcore spent like air. "Damn it! How are we going to going to make it in time?!" The cave was a considerable distance from the town, by the time they would make it the situation would be far too gone to salvage.
"Uh, sir?!" One of his men pointed at Callista who hopped off her horse, her hand outstretched aiming towards the town. The glyph in her hand expanded by the minute from few inches wide to a be larger than her own bigger and keep on growing.
She aimed her hands at the sky, it's magnificence dazzling not only Neil but his men as well. Shimmering blackwater obsidian crystals shot from her glyph and covered the sky in darkness. Those at the town looking up seeing the sight felt the disparity, thinking that it was all over.
But to their shock, the crystals landed at the city walls and outskirts impaling the swarm of demons. The sight instantly renewed their hope, making them hold out. "Sir, at this rate she'll be able to wipe out nearly all of them with a single attack!" Neil who was downcast of the situation instantly cheered up.
However the smile on his face lightly wavered. The crystals as well as killing the demons also spilled over into the town and started to claim the lives of the soldiers holding their ground. "Callista, you have to stop! We can't afford to lose any more men." The caster however failed to heed, her gaze concerned with the amount of kills she could get away with.
The crystals that spilled over weren't due to miscalculation but deliberate. "Callista!" Ignoring Neil's command, her gaze narrowed at the city before retracting her glyph. 'Ten should suffice. With what he got I should be in the lead.' The deaths of the demons were secondary in her head, killing humans was her top priority.
"As much as you helped them, I had to stop you." He explained himself however her face showed no hint of guilt. "They shouldn't have gotten in my way." Her words cold as she mounted her horse and made her way back to the cave.
*BOOM*
Jarren's inferno filled the air making Neil pause in horror at the red flames. From where they were, they could feel the power and magnitude of the attack, clearly not what someone of his league should be capable of. 'Wait, neither should she. These glyphs... just what are these two?'
Neil wondered what freaks of nature had he been given to watch over. Neither seemed to need his help in any way save for information. "Sir, should we make our way to the town to assess the damages or chase after her." His gaze turned sharp. "Let's head back to the town, they should know where it is."
Hopping back onto his horse, he made his way back to Horshaw.
...
Jarren sat peaceful amidst the wasteland bathed in flames and ash. "So far you're lagging behind." She mused playfully with a cynical smile on her face. "Darling don't get too ahead of yourself." From the ash and charcoal, a monster thanks to his will was formed. It had the constitution of a ghoul, body of black ash and empty white eyes.
"No fair, you're cheating!" She groaned as she cut through the beast only for another to form. "No! You intentionally used fire so that you could use shadow in the darkness! You're breaching the rules." The more she pouted, the wider his grin grew.
His pinch of her cheek was light, making her yelp. "You should have been clearer with your rules. But to even the plane field it'll only be one, kill a few people and then disband it." Their words so casual as if they weren't planning to kill the very same people they were here to save.
Stretching out her arm, she was able to make crystal golems, eight of them all dark in color and the height of a two storey building. "Well I have to regain my image somehow." She snarled as she ordered them to go to the borders of Horshaw and patrol it. What made them odd was they had no glyphs, coming off as beasts rather than summons.
"If I knew that you would cheat then I wouldn't have played." She went on with her rants before looking at the cave. "Can I kill him? You can say that he died in the flames." A crystal orbited around her body ready for blood. "That's enough killing from you. We still have a month left so there's no need to rush it."
She paused as the crystal fell back into her glyph. "Fine, but I get double points for killing the traitor when I get my hands on him." Her smile faded seeing Geraint's figure emerge from the cave. His face was pale, his figure shaking as he saw the effects that waited for him.
"What... what happened?" He managed to squeak his thoughts out. "Defense happened. I had to get rid of the wave somehow. The forest was collateral." His words flat as the two stood next to each other, their eyes fixated on him.
Callista was annoyed, Jarren apathetic before the two hopped onto their mounts. "We'll meet you back at Horshaw." And with that the two left, Geraint still taking in what his eyes told him. 'Is he a Blood-wright?' The thought crossed his mind, baffled with the thought. 'Isn't he his middle twenties and yet he's a Blood-wright? Just what is this monster?'
...
The horses walked on the scorched earth without a care, the two in a relaxed pace towards Horshaw. "Do you feel the guilt yet?" Jarren asked, his tone poised. "After all it is common for humans to experience it after committing murder." She hummed playfully, swinging her head to side in contemplation.
"No, I know that it occurs with time but as of late I don't care. I could kill Neil right now if I wished and I wouldn't care." Her words bold as they finally made it past the area of effect. The refreshing smell of pollen and colorful foliage dismissed by the two.
"And Diana, what about her?" A question she had been asking herself for hours. "Yeah, I'd kill that bitch. After all I can't be the only one who tastes this euphoria alone." He let out a knowing hum. "What about your parents?" A silence followed by a ridiculing laughter.
"It's baffling that it has taken you this long to ask me whether I would kill my parents or not. And your answer is yes I would." His brow raised in admiration. "I didn't think that you would be so aloof to it all. Truly deserving of the title "The Indifferent Crystal Abyss." The two broke into a knowing laughter.
"I'm sure that it would be far grander. As an aloof a goddess as you so claim, it would go along the lines of "The Aloof Obsidian Crystal Petal Of The Abyss." His eyes narrowed at the title. "I'm sure that when you become a horror that title won't be as important." Their figures kept on bobbing on there horses, ever nearing Horshaw.
"A horror? Well I'm honored to be yours. Forever yours." Her chest filled with hubris. "Well it's a title not many can get. As for I, I'll make a promise as well that I'll be yours." His chuckle making a smile flash on her face. "Well if you're mine then I'll make sure that the world knows it."
Using the reins to bring the horses closer, the two shared a kiss. Soft and passionate that went on for far too long but neither seemed to care about the world around them.
...
"Ah!! The town is under attack!" The soldiers readied themselves for another wave but the crystal golems didn't attack but surround the town. "My commander, we have strange somewhat crystalline beings surrounding the town." Neil wasn't outright shocked as he had a hunch on who it would be.
"Don't attack , just let them be." His orders strange to his men but the order was executed regardless. From afar ignoring the screams of those maimed by the crystalline projectiles was Jarren and Callista, sharing a kiss. 'So those two are in a romantic relationship.' It was strange to see Callista open up given how cold she had been to him.
"Are these golems yours?" He asked Callista who had reverted to her cold fairy like temperament. "They're hers. An apology for the...damage she caused." Jarren mused as the two hopped off their horses. "A miscalculation on my end. I apologize." Her words short before letting the silence around her consume her once more.
"So far we've lost ten and thirty are injured. I hope that things were much more favorable on your end." His words heavy and grim. "It went well though two were lost to the horde. I couldn't get to them in time." His words and his actions contrasted as his hands remained pocketed.
"A shame but the gains far outweigh the losses." It felt like an insult to the injury. "I don't think you two value life. The way you move is too inhumane. I think it would be better for you two to take a step back from the front lines. Should you be required, we will call you." He finished before taking his leave.
Walking through the streets, screams of glory were directed at the two for their acts. 'I can't. This joke is way too funny to brush off.' Callista broke into sneers and half baked laughs. The very people they would be slaughtering were the same cheering them on about their feats.
The houses were well off but lacking in terms of development however when in comparison to the rest of Reuthar. The two finally came to a well built mansion. "Welcome to Horshaw." A voice brimming with energy shot through the air, the source, a man who seemed to be in his late forties. Well adorned and classy air, he was no simple person.
"I'm the bailiff of Horshaw town and it's an honor to have you two here at our humble place." Gesturing around him, servants reflected innocent smiles, pleased with the two. 'Does he count?' Callista mused, her mind already thirsting for blood. 'Well someone's ready to win this challenge.'
Pleased with her competitiveness, Jarren chuckled back. "It's an honor to be here and give out all to Horshaw. However we do apologize for the damages that we may have caused during the wave of demons." His tone soft and apologetic almost fooling Callista. 'You're definitely a great actor.'
He smiled it off. 'Well you get used to it.' "Dearie old me. I forgot to tell you my name. I'm Ulrich Storme." Ulrich's gaze shifted to Callista who remained cold as her eyes bore into his. "What elements do you dabble in?" She asked taking Ulrich by surprise.
"I used to professionalize in water and fire but I'm far too old to be engaging in such thrilling activities." His tone had an elderly charm to it, however in front of him were not humans but monsters that wore flesh, insidious horrors planning to end his life.
"I'm sure should the situation arise that you'll be able to fill the role." Jarren's words hanging for far longer than they should. With no side ready to break the awkward silence, a maid finally chimed in. "The hotels are ready." Ulrich laughed it off before taking the two into a carriage.
The disparity of choppers and carriages in the same kingdom was laughable. "I've heard about the development of technology but a change in fashion wasn't what I expected. A collar? It's definitely a strange taste of fashion." The comment had the intent of lightening the mood and yet it seemed that it did the opposite.
"It's not fashion but something far more special. Jarren gave it to me as an act of ownership and I think that it's cute." Ulrich's aged face showed shock. 'Since when have collars now become a sign of romance? This technology is definitely not for me.' He laughed it off following it with a compliment she brushed off.
'Ownership? I didn't know that I got a cat. But as a responsible owner, I'll make sure that you're well fed, clean and not to get too lost. With some extra care of course.' She smiled at the thought of what was to come.