Tabatha was having her warm moment with her unconscious grandsons lying peacefully beside her, until a voice interrupted.
"So... I've thought about it for a while now," Viola muttered nonchalantly, wiping blood from her blade.
Tabatha's hand stilled over Vasir's hair. "About what?" she asked, not breaking her gaze from her grandsons.
"I think I'm going to kill you and take the kids. Hehe." Viola said it as casually as one might announce dinner plans, the faintest smirk curling her lips.
Tabatha's eyes sharpened, her pupils narrowing. This wasn't unexpected.
"I know, I know," Viola continued, predicting the question forming in Tabatha's mind. "You're probably wondering why, right? Kids with that kind of magical potential will fetch a high price on the slave market, you see. Too high for me to just walk away."
Tabatha rose slowly to her feet, a chill settling over the room as she faced Viola. "Just as I thought," she replied with chilling calm. She let go of her cane and cracked her knuckles. "Did you truly believe I'd let you leave here with knowledge of my grandsons' awakening?"
Viola's smirk faltered, her eyes darting around the chamber. Her assassin's instincts alerted her to something strange: a concealment spell, woven tightly around the chamber, sealing them in. No one could enter, exit, or even hear the clash that was about to ensue.
"Crafty old hag, aren't you?" Viola muttered, her creepy smile widening as she readied her stance.
Tabatha pulled out a gleaming blade. The weapon was stunningly crafted, its hilt inlaid with precious magical ores, and the blade forged from platinum, shining with an ethereal glow. Viola's eyes widened as she recognized its significance.
"That blade… could it be?" Viola stammered.
"Yes," Tabatha affirmed, a dangerous gleam in her eye. "It's that blade."
Without breaking eye contact, Tabatha began to move her blade through the air beside her, carving intricate symbols into the very fabric of reality. Golden light poured from the sigils as ancient runes formed, emanating a power Viola had never encountered before.
"Summoning ritual: Guardian of Heavenly Secrets—Chiron, emerge!"
Tabatha's voice rang with authority, each word a command that echoed through the magical web of the chamber.
The glowing sigils collapsed into a single, enormous tear in space. From within the split, a mighty hoof appeared, followed by a figure draped in divine armor. Emerging fully, a centaur with a middle-aged man's face, ruggedly handsome with curly hair, took form. His silver armor glinted with celestial engravings, and he emanated a majestic, otherworldly aura.
Chiron knelt, bowing his head to Tabatha. "Rise, Chiron," she said gently. "I am no longer the Maiden. I thank you for answering my call."
"My lady," Chiron replied, his voice deep with reverence. "You will always have my utmost respect. Command me as you wish."
"Do you want me to eliminate this abomination of a woman clad in obsidian armor?"
Tabatha placed a hand on his shoulder. "Haha, I'll take care of her. Plus I don't have such mana anymore, to let you fight. Take my grandsons outside, to the location I mentioned. Guard them until I come to retrieve them."
Chiron gave a solemn nod. "As you command, my lady." He knelt down and carefully gathered the unconscious Vasir and Raveer, cradling them securely in his strong arms.
Viola watched, her face twisted with frustration and a hint of fear. She had lost control of the situation and knew it.
Chiron turned back to Tabatha. "It fills me with great pride to be in your service once again. I shall guard these young ones with my life."
"Thank you, Chiron." Tabatha's lips softened into a rare, grateful smile.
With a powerful kick, Chiron leaped gracefully into the rift, disappearing into the void, leaving Tabatha and Viola alone in the chamber, the crackling of ancient magic still hanging in the air.
As the tear in space sealed shut, Viola readied her blade, her posture shifting from amusement to lethal intent. "You really think summoning some celestial horse can save you?"
Tabatha's expression hardened, a glint of fierce determination in her eyes. "Save me? No, Viola," she said, brandishing her enchanted blade. "It's you who should worry about being saved."
Without wasting a moment, Viola sprinted toward Tabatha, unleashing all the raw power she could summon. The sight of Tabatha's otherworldly blade and the celestial guardian had unsettled her, and she no longer wanted to take chances. She had to end this quickly.
Tabatha, however, was ready. With a fluid motion, she sidestepped Viola's deadly strike and observed the next move with cold precision. Every swipe from Viola was met with graceful evasions from the old woman, as if they were dancing rather than fighting. Tabatha's movements were calculated, while Viola's were increasingly desperate. She could feel the sting of each failed strike, and the growing realization that she was at a disadvantage.
Finally, Tabatha found the opening she had been waiting for. With a calculated swing of her blade, she aimed for Viola's side. The strike was swift, aiming to end the fight with one blow, but Viola, despite her frustration, managed to twist out of the way, only sustaining a shallow cut along her ribs.
Tabatha gave her a mocking compliment, "You are that bad," she said, her tone cool and unbothered.
"Just shut up!" Viola snarled, gritting her teeth. The cut only fueled her anger. "It's time to finish you off," she spat, clearly desperate. "I can very well see that you only have a fraction of the power you wielded before."
With a defiant roar, Viola closed the distance, settling into a defensive stance. Tabatha, sensing her plan, started to move, but it was already too late. Viola's body trembled with latent power as she chanted in the ancient language, summoning the forbidden energy that would turn the tide of battle.
"SARVA ADHIGARAM,"
she intoned, the words ringing with an otherworldly force, shaking the air around them. It was the invocation of universal authority, a power that transcended the physical laws of this world. A surge of dark energy wrapped around her, emanating from the depths of hell itself.
"SARVA ADHIGARAM: Retainer to the Demon Night Warden!"
Viola declared as the energy exploded outward, the very air crackling with the weight of the spell.
In an instant, her obsidian armor pulsed with an ominous dark hue. Her body became cloaked in shadows, and two jagged horns erupted from her forehead. Her once-normal blades were replaced with dark, jagged weapons that seemed to hum with a malevolent energy.