"Oh, look at that, your own little guardian pets." he jokes as some aircraft start to approach. Unlike him, however, I did not turn my attention away from the battle. I know I have grazed him and delivered blows. So why was he still taking this as it was?
Did I perhaps have to call back my magic? Escalate the fight in order to do my duty? I admit, my Lord Sl'Ayiysab was not a subtle man. He'd have blown this city up should it mean saving his family.
But, perhaps I could save the embarrassment to His Majesty?
"Why do you continue to run?" I decided to ask him before a loud clash of steel rings out around the city. His sword had caught my spear tip and his arm did not quiver.
"I prefer the term... Dance." he says before he suddenly retaliates. And, to my surprise, I was now forced to back away. His relentless chase, however, I stopped with a flurry of blows. I may have only been one man, yet the illusion of a whole square of pikes lay before him.
Like the cannonball that broke such tactics, however, his sword tip made it through. Until my fingers swiftly blew it away. And, with the opening that my actions had made for myself. I swung my spear's rear spike at him.
Initially, I scored a hit right through his jaw. At least, I thought I did, but the sound of gnawing drew me back. It confused me at first, but, I saw the finer details too late. For he was right on top of me.
"HAH!" he let out as my shoulder suddenly burst open with an exaggerated flow of blood. And, then, I picked it up, he had started healing my wound just to gloat. A power that I had to admit was as terrifying as it was elusive. Normally, a witch played by a set of rules, he was invalidating it all.
How could he change where he stood if he could also strike with an enlightened sword? How could his voice boom so far if he could become one with the wind? How did he freeze me still when his blows cursed one with perpetual pain? What exactly was he...?
"Do not get ahead of yourself." I tell him as I swung around him to then thrust up. However, to my shock, no blood came as the sky boomed in response to my piercing blow. His hand just removed the spear and he balanced on it. And his foot soon found my face.
"While you are here, I have a request for you as I cannot find him right now." he started to say as I jumped away. Twirling my spear about defensively and attacking each of his blows. What I could not grasp, however, is why new wounds opened on my body. I felt no sting from his steel, I just felt the wounds suddenly open.
Suddenly, I then fell to my bloody, pierced knees, "If I must die to save Lady Larishazza Sl'Ayiysab, I will gladly meet Lord Undwote!" I tell him before I sliced my useless legs off. Bouncing about between my spear and hands as I reinvigorated my attack.
"Embarrassing, start walking again, please." he says as I suddenly strike him with my bare foot. Hooking his head with a returned leg and plummeting against his face. The blow that should've mattered, however, missed completely. My normally true spear-aim drew no blood or sounds of pain.
And, to my true embarrassment, I came to a halt as I took in the futility of my actions. If he got close to me, I tried to slay him. But, a new wound would suddenly open up and stain my garb further. The walls were dripping with several times my actual blood amount...
"Good, good... So, the favour you will do for me..." he starts to say as he sheaths his sword. Yet, even as he presented himself so openly. I knew that I would not be able to harm him. So I gritted my teeth and stared as dozens of new cuts kept opening up.
Where were the spells!? I could not see or sense any! What degree of mastery did such a low-minded man have...? And, for the sake of His Majesty's empire, was there more like him...?
"There's a particularly unique student within Suhurlodst. I want you to tell him I want to see him!" he told me before he started to cackle in laughter.
"GAH!" I let out as blood suddenly filled my mouth. It was as if I just swallowed many small blades in one go. However, when I looked down, I saw his sword was in me. From back to front.
And, somehow, we were no longer on the wall of the city.
"Off you pop, go." he encourages before he vanishes with a tap of his sheathed blade. However, I suddenly dropped down to my knees yet again. I groaned and moaned and tried to call back my magic. But, I was too weak right now to heal my broken body.
And I understood what his method was... He wanted me to show adherence to my willingness to live... Unfortunately, I would have to play into his desires. So I slowly began to struggle onwards towards Suhurlodst Academy.