The boots of the Vampire Knight crunched against the frozen wooden planks.
He glared at the scattered ashes of his fallen patrol and drew a two-handed broadsword from his back, pointing the steel tip directly at Kai.
The orange light from the nearby torches reflected off his iron armour.
Kai raised his left hand.
He intended to fire a quick volley of ice shards to test the commander's reflexes.
Instead of a sharp projectile, a dull ache radiated through his chest.
The magical energy flickered weakly at his fingertips and faded into a harmless white mist.
'Freezing half a lake actually drains the mana pool a lot faster than I calculated,' Kai thought.
He took a slow step backwards to put some safe distance between them.
'I am almost empty.'
"Running out of breath already, little human?" the Knight mocked.
He rested the broadsword against his shoulder and let out a rough laugh.
