Morning Eight
Two mages rose separately in the dead of the night, a peculiar feeling had disturbed both of them during the lightest of sleeps. Both of them had been ready for any nightly noise or slight magical disturbances but this felt something different and ominous. Not ones to take it lying down, they prepared themselves and ventured out into the night cloaked hallways of the Mages Council. They wonder though the halls cautiously, all the normal lights of the hallways had been extinguished. Both Mages, unbeknownst to them, were etching themselves closer towards each other. It was if they were guided by fate to the same place.
The first of the Mages peered vigilantly around the one the corners, he saw a lone flame torch in its bracket outside one of the Mages sleeping chamber. The light from the torch was blinding him and created a well of impenetrable shadows. He pondered for a moment about what he should do. While he contemplated, the other Mage move wearily down the other side of the hall towards the light. Once the second Mage was close enough to the light, he realized where he was. He was just about to walk more quickly to the illuminated Door, when a second light appear suddenly up ahead, the light came from a ball of flame and it revealed its owner, the Illustrious Illusionist. The second Mage had no time to call out as the ball of flame hurtled its way down the hall towards him. Instead he waved his hands and a wall of water appeared as a shield. When the fireball connected the shield turned to steam obscuring the hallway. Once the steam started to dissipate the Supreme Sorcerer then stepped out of the mist revealing himself to the Illusionist. “Halt!” he called out raising out a hand as warning. The Illusionist made his way closer and offered empty apologies “Didn’t see you there Sorcerer. I wonder what brings you out at this time of the night?” The Sorcerer challenged the Illusionist back with the same question. The Illusionist held up both arms in a shrug. “Just felt like the place to be. Wanted to make sure our friend was undisturbed this night.” Both Mages looked at the door of the sleeping chamber. The Illusionist continued. “Now, you wouldn’t be here to kill our friend, would you? Because if you are, I’ll have to stop you.” The Sorcerer laughed. “Once again I ask you the same thing.” Then he looked at the Illusionist suspiciously. “Though I have no guarantee that you have not already killed him.” The Illusionist shrugged once more. “Only one way to test that. Shall we?” The Sorcerer nodded and pushed open the door. Both Mages walked inside.
A third Mage, the Cunning Conjurer slept peacefully inside, not even disturbed by the noise outside nor the intruders in his room. The two other mages sighed and rolled their eyes in unison. “What allows him to sleep so peaceful?” asked the Sorcerer. “Protection I guess, I asked him to protect himself yesterday so maybe that’s why. Or he has no fear. Although…” The Illusionist peered closer at the Conjurer “That doesn’t seem right…” The Sorcerer watched as the Illusionist outstretched a hand. A ball of energy gathered then and just as the Sorcerers widened in recognition and shock, the energy shot out from the Illusionist and struck the sleeping Conjurer. The conjurer lifted off his bed and his eyes snapped open, though they did not see. Blood started to pour from his body pooling on the bed underneath him as though he was covered in hole yet none were visible. Finally the Conjurer slumped back on the bed.
The Sorcerer screamed with rage and fury, he too lifter up his arms and he collect his magical force into his hands. “The killer reveals himself as last!” He declared and then he shot the energy towards the Illusionist. The Illusionist didn’t even cower from the sorcerer attack. Not because he thought he was safe but rather because he was in shock. The magical energy cracked through the air towards the Illusionist but then hit a magical barrier, a deep musical note emanated from the collision and shook the Illusion action. The Illusionist reached inside his robes and pulled out an Earth Mana Orb. He looked at it and then it shattered in his hands into useless fragments. More to himself than the sorcerer he spoke out loud “But the spell attacked the body not the soul… Wait… that means…” The Sorcerer, who was beginning a second attack, hesitated at those words. He watched the Mana Orbs fragments fall to the ground, when he looked up he saw the Illusionist performing a spell at him. With no time to react properly he covered his head with his arms as a mere adept would. He had enough time to feel shame as the spell hit.
A moment passed. And then another. The Sorcerer uncovered his head and looked to the Illusionist. “It was a protection spell.” Explained the Illusionist. “It wasn’t me that killed the Conjurer, here look!” The Illusionist took out an Air Mana Orb and held it up with one hand. With the other, he collected some energy and shot it at the Mana Orb. It crumbled into useless fragments. An apparition appeared of the Majestic Magus appeared. It soundlessly echoed with fury and a venomous hatred directed at the Illusionist but then it faded away into nothingness.
“So what now? Did the Magus kill the Conjurer? If so, what about the Thaumataurge?” asked the Sorcerer. “Way ahead of you, we take care of that soul next!” The Illusionist grabbed another Air Mana Orb and held it up. However a sweet voice behind him spoke. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” The Sorcerer and Illusionist spun around to see another apparition. This time of the Tenacious Thaumataurge. It looked much more substantial than those souls who had been eviscerated. The sweet voice continued “It wasn’t me who killed the dear Conjurer.” The Illusionist didn’t care, he raised the Mana orb up ready to destroy it. Another voice spoke. “Ok, it was me who killed the Conjurer. The two Mages spun around once more to see another apparition. This time it was the Adventurous Adept. He sat on the body tapping his fingered against the skull of the fallen Conjurer. More apparitions started to materialize around the two Mages. “I wish you would have a bit more respect for my body…” said the pained voice of the Conjurer. The Sorcerer was shocked once more but the Illusionist just looked sad and spoke to the Conjurer. “I’m sorry friend, why were you not protected?” The Conjurer responded. “It doesn’t matter anymore, you will join me soon enough.” The Illusionist shook his head and looked away. “Fear not sorcerer, they can’t hurt us while we have this protection. And I know what I have to do to end this.” The Apparitions laughed and another more menacing voice rang out. “It’s too late, you should do a stock check on your spells! The Warlock stepped up with Fire dancing from her finger tips.
~~~
Pyrrhic victory