Chapter 22.
Jakob's point of view.
Recalling his hupoks back to his waits, Jakob leapt forward, hand stretched out to grab the mage. Swirling like smoke, the fire mage shifted his stance, slipping out of Jakobs grip. A spell was cast, an explosion erupted like a fiery bouquet, petals of destruction unfolding in a chaotic dance, painting the sky with the vivid hues of chaos.
Shielding his eyes from the sudden wave of light, Jakob clenched his teeth as a shockwave pressed into his chest. Dust, ash and smoke whirled in the air sending wisps of distortion everywhere. Jakob, squinting his eyes to protect them from the ash, only barely made out a figure using the force of the explosion to escape to the rooftops.
I can't let him escape, thought Jakob as a trace of urgency pumped through his veins, I've got to get Kreska's chain back to him.
Moving with instinct, treating the huge buildings as giant cliffs, Jakob formed a plan. With a flick of his wrists, he launched the hupoks toward the nearest rooftop. The metal hooks embedded themselves into the edge, and Jakob yanked on the chains, propelling himself upward.
The chase elevated, quite literally, as Jakob scaled the buildings with agile prowess. The rhythmic clinks of the chains and the soft thuds of his boots echoed through the narrow spaces between structures. The rooftops became a chaotic dance floor, where flames intertwined with shadows.
The fire mage, seeing Jakob begin the chase, leaped from one rooftop to another with acrobatic grace. From the mage's fingertips, flames erupted, creating a fiery spectacle that cast an eerie glow on the city's architecture, small explosions pushing him across the gaps between buildings.
Jakobs eyes hardened, and followed as best as he could, hupoks revealing their value as they clung to surfaces giving him a hold to swing and grapple. The rooftop chase transformed into a deadly dance, with Jakob narrowly avoiding the scorching heat of each fireball thrown by the fire mage.. The air crackled with the intensity of the magical exchange, the flames casting erratic shadows across the urban landscape.
Suddenly, the fire mage executed a daring backflip, launching a powerful fireball directly at Jakob. In a split-second decision, moving purely on instinct, Jakob swung to the side, narrowly avoiding the searing impact. The flames licked at the edges of his scarf, leaving a trail of singed fabric in their wake. Footing momentarily lost, that fire mage pressed his advantage, and threw another fireball.
Predicting the trajectory of the fireball, with calculated precision Jakob launched his blades into the sky, their chains extending like the wings of a predatory bird. The grapples latched onto the edge of a clocktower, and with a powerful pull and swing, Jakob dodged the flaming projective.
Kreska, following closely on the ground, felt the vibrations of the chase echoing through the earth beneath his feet. He sprinted with the determination to aid Jakob and reclaim the stolen necklace. The alleys and streets blurred around him as he wove through the city's architecture, his earth magic at the ready.
The fire mage, realising that his pursuers were relentless, veered towards the crowded market stalls. The chaotic maze of people and stalls below promised both cover and obstacles for the desperate chase. The chase shifted to the bustling marketplace, where Kreska had to navigate through the labyrinth of stalls, weaving between vendors and shoppers and Jakob had to navigate across the flimsy cloth roofs that protected the shoppers from the shade. Jakob and Kreska, undeterred by the challenges, pressed on, determined to reclaim the stolen goods and bring an end to the chase.
The pursuit through the market stalls intensified, with Jakob using the Hupoks to swing between hanging banners and leap over stalls. Kreska, relying on his earth magic, ploughed through obstacles with unwavering determination. The market square became a battleground, the clash of elements and pursuit weaving a tale of intensity and determination.
As the fire mage reached the edge of the market, he leaped onto a rooftop, and stumbled, fingers grabbing a loose stone. Jakob, fueled by a surge of adrenaline, swung after him, closing the gap. Seizing the opportunity, Jakob grappled onto a nearby flagpole, swinging across, and launched himself onto the roof again, closing the gap.
Suddenly, the fire mage's magic transformed. Runes, the blue of far off mountains, flickered into existence around his wrists and the very air itself hummed with power. Not expecting a different element, the resulting burst of wind caught Jakob off guard. Hupoks, pushed by the wind, were too late, as Jakob found himself stepping into the gap between two buildings. With nothing beneath him, Jakob tumbled from the rooftop. Panic surged through him as the ground rushed to meet him. A hupok was rapidly thrown to try and give him a lifeline, but it looked like it would be too late…
Kreska, witnessing Jakob's fall, reacted instinctively. Earth magic surged beneath Jakob, forming a cushion that softened his landing. Jakob, shaken but unharmed, exchanged a glance with Kreska, gratitude evident in their eyes.
Without a word passing between them, a single thought of pure trust was shared between them. Individually they might not be able to catch up to the mage, but together, with Kreska's magic and Jakobs acrobatics, they might just have a chance.
"Stall him for as long as you can," Said Kreska as he threw his fists high above his head. Responding to his call, the earth mimicked his action, propelling Jakob into the air with a burst of kinetic energy. Soaring through the air like a falcon, Jakob closed the distance.
Jakob crashed into the fire mage with a force that sent both of them sprawling into the street. Pain shot through Jakob's left shoulder as it dislocated upon impact. The crowd of people scattered, creating a makeshift arena for the impending clash between the two adversaries.
The fire mage, recovering quickly, rose to his feet with a sinister grin. Jakob, gritting his teeth against the pain, mirrored the motion, preparing for the confrontation that awaited them. Rain started to fall from the sky, each drop like the tick of a clock as the pair eyed up each other.
"You're persistent, I'll give you that," the fire mage sneered, flames dancing at his fingertips. "But this chase ends here."
Jakob, using his acrobatic prowess, trying to conceal his injury, twirled his chained blades with a flourish. "Not so fast. I've got a few tricks left."
As the fire mage conjured a ball of fire, Jakob lunged forward, feet barely touching the rain stained ground. The crowd gasped at the spectacle unfolding before them, moving out of the way of the fire.
In the midst of the acrobatic display, Kreska emerged from the crowd, his earth magic responding to Jakob's need. The street trembled as stone hands erupted from the ground, creating an uneven terrain that worked to Jakob's advantage. With nimble movements, Jakob utilised the uneven surface to evade the fire mage's attacks. The street became a battleground of elements—fire and earth, with the hint of a flicker of shadows and lighting, colliding in a mesmerising dance.