Lyssara glanced at the devil that had sent her flying in the white expanse, her figure nearing the red circle. "I didn't think that you would be this lacking in terms of combat." Jarren remarked with a playful grin painted on his face. In his hand a blade glimmering similar to the one Lyssara had.
"You don't have to be so hard on me!" Lyssara shouted, instantly closing the distance with Jarren. Her attacks in Jarren's eyes far from refined, sluggish and with windows he could have ended her life. Lyssara who was absorbed in her torrential of attacks was caught off guard with the sudden advancement Jarren made.
He countered her downward slash leaving her open.
*Bam*
He landed a punch on her gut that made her figure wince in pain as she staggered back. "How could you hit a lady like that!" Jarren remained unfazed with the accusations thrown at him. "You're nothing more than a soul in a vessel. How damaged the vessel is does not matter, what I'm intrigued with is the mind and the soul."
Lyssara was now in heavy pants, her vision beginning to blur from exhaustion as her opponent remained perfectly untouched. "I can't beat you!" She stated. "Of course you can't, you were never meant to. I just wanted to see how much damage you can cause. From here feel free to use your elemental."
Her eyes shone with determination as a grin flashed on her lips. Jarren changed his stance as a veil of his own darkness coated his body. Lyssara let out a guttural cry as her body was covered in black flames making her shine akin to a small sun.
*Bam *
Jarren clashed with the walking nova, his smile persisted before the space echoed with clashes of the two. Their movements grew more erratic and unpredictable, the estoc in Lyssara's hand now bathed in flames. Jarren watched her movements, the weapon moved as if an extension of the main body which pleased him.
'Not bad, but there's way too much room for improvement.' He mused inwardly as he came to a stop. Lyssara didn't as she closed the distance between the two.
*Whoosh*
In an instant a flame like hand formed behind Jarren's frame wielding a cleaver that dropped.
*Tang*
His armor managed to block the attack, Lyssara however didn't seemed perplexed as swirling her figure came behind Jarren and with a clear cut struck his torso. A satisfied smile formed on Jarren's face as he dropped his weapon. "I knew that you would be able to crack it eventually."
The flames that swallowed Lyssara's frame began to subside, a look of elation forming on her face. "Each time you blocked, I noticed the excessive power behind it which would leave you open to side attacks." Jarren cracked his neck, his focus shifting elsewhere as the ring faded out of existence.
"So are you ready to witness the death of a horror and live to tell the tale?" Lyssara glanced at her estoc that hummed faintly, lost in her thoughts. "Does she have to die? After all hasn't she been through enough?" Jarren's sharp gaze was her response, not that of apathy or scolding but intrigue. "Death for such a troubled miss is the best option for her. After all don't you think that she has suffered enough?"
Lyssara couldn't find a response to his statement as she put her tuck away. "If so then it would be best to let her rest." She concluded aware of the volatility of the game. With Callista and Clomere, her words were no more than air to the two, at a larger scale capable of drawing attention however at the moment she was nothing more than a breeze.
"So how has your progress in the game been?" Stretching her hands for soreness, Lyssara hesitated as she gave her response. "It's staggeringly easy for now. I've been able to clear the second floor as well. However I'm sure that you have something planned for me. I know your games."
A low chuckle escaped Jarren's lips. "You know me? Then if so you should know what I'll do next." Silence filled the space between the two. "I haven't completely read through you but I'm content with the progress I've made." His chuckle turned into a ridiculing laugh. "Or course you have."
Lyssara's gaze of Jarren narrowed, inwardly disappointed with her abysmal work of understanding what he really was. "What! You shouldn't belittle me Jarren, or Solon or whatever your name is." He didn't need to ask where she had learnt about that name. 'Callista definitely has been rather comfortable with you, huh?' He wondered as the space began to fold revealing another figure.
Lyssara's face transformed from scrutiny into that of shock as she saw Seryn. "Seryn! Where have you been?!" Her question met with silence as Seryn drew her dagger aiming it at Jarren. "Let's see if it was worth it to break you so soon."
*Bam-Bam-Bam*
Lyssara's ears were flooded with the clashes of the two. Despite their incredulous speeds, she had no problem keeping up with them. 'She's definitely gotten stronger in comparison to before but there's something about her.' Lyssara watched as Seryn faced Jarren.
As much as she didn't want to confess, she was taken aback with her fighting prowess. 'There's something about her that feels...removed.' She finally concluded as the space was now reeking with acid and venom. Lyssara who had moved far away could still feel the potency of Seryn's innate skill.
*Thud*
Seryn managed to land a punch on Jarren's jaw forcing him to move back. She persisted which brought the fight to an end as Jarren in a flash blocked her subsequent attack following it with a punch that landed squarely on her face. Dazed with the turn of events, Jarren proceeded to execute a sweeping movement bringing Seryn's frame crashing to the ground.
"Not bad, definitely better than Lyssara." Seryn didn't flinch as she brought herself to her feet before glancing at Lyssara, the lady who had been with her when she faced existential dread and post suicidal ideation. Still, no word came from her lips as her figure vanished from the space.
"What did you do to her?" Lyssara fearful of what Jarren might have done. "You would have to ask the elves, they lobotomized her to make her forget that she was captured. Of course I merely added to the experience something that would make her more than she could ever hope of being." His words hinting at something malevolent that she couldn't piece.
"You stripped her of all emotions?! If so then how will you get your kick of watching her break down?!" She was disgusted with what she said however she had to know what had driven him to make such a decision. "Progress, my dear. I had to choose between you or Seryn and well your witness to what I chose."
Something inside of Lyssara didn't sit well with his words. 'Progress for him to play his stupid games with gods. Seeing us as nothing more than pawns.' Her face grimaced before leaving the space as well. Jarren however remained unfazed with the conclusion she had come to. 'There's no need for her to live a lie.'
He laughed before his figure left the space as well.
...
Lyssara fidgeted with her fingers, anticipative of Seryn's return as she was done with her dive.
[{Player Seryn has completed the first floor}]
The notification making Lyssara wonder if she was meant to be pleased or concerned. Seryn came to the second floor meeting Lyssara who rose to her feet seeing her. "Seryn, are you okay?" Her inquisitions met with silence and a cool unnatural gaze. "Of course." And with that she began the dive before Lyssara could ask any more questions.
She could only watch as she went away hacking at the undead that came her way before going deeper into the floor. 'You should thank me, she would have broken eventually.' Jarren mused inside Lyssara's head. Lyssara said nothing as she heard his cackle follow his words. 'I'm sure that I would have helped her to navigate through it Jarren.'
A silence that made her figure freeze followed. 'It's just as I had thought, you've learnt nothing about me.' And with that his words in her head ceased to be. Lyssara was left at the start of the second floor, unsure of whether to give chase to a person who was no more of her former self. Her mind still distraught with how casual and indifferent Jarren was with the situation.
'He really doesn't care.' A fact she already knew and yet as time began to tick beside him, a false sense of security had began to cloud her judgment. Recalling Kaelin's question of why see played in his play, she was now unsure of what to respond. She had seen it as her extracting answers out of Jarren but now, she knew how ignorant she really was.
'He was merely playing me at the moment. I've made no progress with him and yet he teases that he can be comprehended.' Covering her face with her hands, she let out a disgruntled sigh. 'It's nothing more than a ruse he plays. A lie he weaves ever so beautifully.' She concluded as the realization began to wash over her.
...
Hesta's face tightened hearing the words from her wife. He was aloof with the fact of distance would solve the problem however now knowing that it was Jarren, he was unsure of what move he would make. 'It would seem that he doesn't harbor any malice towards us and it's probably for the best that is stays that way for as long as possible.'
He concluded as he poured a wine to help digest what he had heard. "What should we do?" Nysa asked with a look of worry plastered on her face. "It would be foolish to get in his way however it looks like we won't have to worry about that. We can report it to the capital but the investigation would likely be postponed before it's taken seriously."
He sighed, recalling of the multiple sightings people would claim of seeing Jarren or Callista which turned out to be a waste of time to the knights. "And with the ongoing war, it'll only take longer before they address it. It would be best to wait for now and see how it unfolds." The conclusion making Nysa's face turn into that of concern.
"With such a tight noose around our necks, are you sure that we can't do anything to stop him?" Her words making Hesta let out a frustrated sigh. "I'm sure, I'll report it to the capital after I'm done with my work." His hands reaching for the stack of papers before his attention was lost in his work.
"You have as much interest in this as your daughter. The two of you are so complacent with the wolf staring down at you. Are you waiting till you're bleeding to look out for help or reach for the knife!" Angrily placing the papers down, Hesta showed a helpless gesture at his wife. "It would seem that you want me to do something but what exactly is it?! Please do detail it for me and I'll make sure that I get to it!"
His tone showing the rage masked beneath his face. Nysa who had never had his husband lash out at her was taken aback. "If we die then I know who I'll blame. Looks like I'll have to take matters into my own hands." She didn't bother elaborating before storming out of his office. He glanced at the open door, wondering whether to go after her or leave her be.
With a sigh, he brought himself to his feet. 'Who knows what this woman might do!' He concluded as he grit his teeth. Kaelin on the hand was ready to dive into her game before a loud bang brought her to stop. "Who is that banging on my door like a lunatic?!" The door swung open revealing her answer.
"Mom? What is the meaning of this?" Behind her Hesta finally managed to catch up, his face riddled with eye bags and lines hinting at exhaustion. "From now on, I forbid you from interacting with that evil man!" Kaelin let a sigh as her focus drifted to her father. "Darling, we all get it that you want to protect our daughter however let's look at this rationally de-"
Nysa cut him off, her tone filled with judgment. "Do you hear me Kaelin? Or will I have to leave you out in the streets!"