He used his daggers to slow his descent, landing in the final corridor with a soft thud. A few of the surrounding citizens went into a panic at his sudden arrival, however, they quickly calmed down once they got a good look at the black armor.
~Even with his commandment, he shouldn't be able to reach here too fast,~ Vondell thought to himself, side-eyeing the moonflowers. He'd probably never be able to look at them the same way again. Though it wasn't like he was much into flowers to begin with anyway.
He wasted no time heading towards the exit. He'd seen the path from above, he just had to make it out before The Labyrinth shifted again.
As he walked out the exit , the smoke on his fingers faded. He would've used his little flying trick again, but he probably got himself in enough trouble doing it the first time. Nothing was allowed in Antras's airspace without Helen's approval, not even the birds. The only reason Reana, the head of security and a powerful child of storms, hadn't struck him down was probably out of respect. But any more stunts, and she'd likely have to act.
*
He reached Itzel's villa twenty minutes later; a host of attendants were waiting for him outside, ready to welcome him in.
It was a massive thing, as large as a castle, larger than even The Hall itself. Like most other villas its design was based on its owner's ancestral home; in this case... Leeds. It featured a Victorian mansion, nestled at the center of a massive courtyard —a fully anointed space for Itzel's guild members to have their training.
The mansion's walls were porcelain white, and its roof was a pale blue; matching the colors of the central path that led to the main doors, and the doors themselves.
"Lord Itzel was waiting for you," one of the attendants said, trying to keep up with Vondell's wide strides.
Vondell didn't respond, that Ser Gregory had already used up what little social energy he had to spare. The rest was to be used on Itzel. He'd take the scolding, and leave the second he was handed the cuffs.
"However, he was summoned by High Lady Helen. Captain Azura will be hosting you in his stead," the attendant continued.
Vondell sighed at that, stretching a little right as he made it to the doors. The good news was this would be quick, the bad news was, it would also be more energy taxing.
The second he opened the doors, a bolt of lightning came thrashing at him. He sidestepped the attack with minimal effort, and it struck the courtyard behind in an electric explosion.
"You're late," a woman's voice called out.
"And apparently a bolt of lightning will change that," Vondel replied.
A woman with pearl white hair stood at the center of the entrance hall. She was adorned in pure white armor and wielded a halberd over her shoulder.
"Do you know what we do to latecomers?" she asked with a wild grin.
"Give them the cuffs to your griffon so they can make up for lost time?" he replied.
"No. We punish them," she replied, before pointing her helbeard at him. With that, she turned into a bolt of lightning, blitzing at Vondell with a thunderous roar.
Vondell had Surth drawn right as the bolt was upon him. Lightning met steel, and sparks flew all around the room.
The attendants had been wise enough not to enter with Vondel, and they, along with some of the other members of Itzel's guild, watched from outside.
"Come on Azura, I don't have time for this," Vondell said, slashing the bolt back. It struck one of the marble pillars in the entrance hall, and Azura reappeared at the center of the impact crater.
"I should've been down in the oasis by now," she said, wiping blood from her mouth. "The least you could do is help me stretch ," she added with a grin, pointing her halberd at him again.
She became a bolt of lightning once more, however this time she was faster.
It struck Vondell in the chest, and as he stumbled back. Azura appeared in front of him, her halberd rushing to pierce his skull.
Vondell used Surth to recover his balance and his free hand to redirect the halberd. Jolts of lightning rushed into his body, the pain was immense, but not unbearable.
"You're slower, Black," she shouted, driving a knee into Vondell's chest. His armor bent under the pressure, and he was thrust into the air.
She pointed her halberd up, thundering towards him in a blinding streak of lightning. It struck him in the chest again, and he was rammed into the ceiling. Dust and debris fell to the floor, and a woman's laugh filled the hall.
"Come on. Aren't you the great shadow of Antras? Use that sword of yours. Use your magic. Use something," she said reappearing on the floor. " I'm an hour late for the raid, and I'm not going to be satisfied until my blood's hot," she shouted, her halberd resting over her shoulder.
The crowd outside had gotten bigger, and everyone stared up at the crater, trying to make out what was going on behind all the dust and debris.
"Fine," Vondell called out from deep within.
His scars surged with bright red light and his veins felt like they were carrying boiling water.
Surth whistled loudly, spewing out smoke and ash like dragon breath. The cloud of grey and black filled the entire hall in seconds.
He didn't want to turn Itzel's mansion to rubble, but Azura was a rowdy woman, and he knew she truly wouldn't be sufficed until he hit back hard.
"That's more like it," Azura shouted, pointing her halberd at the ceiling.
Vondell snapped his fingers in that instant, and the smoke went up in flame. An explosion shook the entire manor, sending stress cracks all along the walls and pillars.
Azura's lightning bolt failed before it could even be formed, and she reappeared sprawled across the floor.
She was laughing.
Vondell snapped his fingers again, causing chunks of the pillars and walls to crack off.
The mansion's blessing activated, and the walls and pillars began to repair themselves.
"Is that... all?" Azura muttered from the ground, trying to pick herself up.
Vondell snapped his fingers again. And again. And again. Slowly but surely, the damage from the explosions overcame the blessings, and the entrance hall was reduced to rubble.
"I think this is enough, Captain," one of the guildmembers watching from outside said. The doorway had a faint golden glimmer covering it, likely a barrier set up by several scions outside.
Azura lay in the center of a large crater, her hair and armor charred black.
"She's not conscious," Vondell called from the ceiling, before landing on the ground with a thud.
His entire body was steaming, and the hand that held Surth was missing three fingers, burned off until the knuckle. His scars hurt so much that it felt like something was constantly trying to rub his skin off with glass.
"Someone get me the cuffs," he said, smoke coming out of his mouth as he spoke.
"And water. Someone get me cold water," he added. He could hear his flesh sizzling against the scalding armor.
The attendants rushed off to meet his demands, while the guildmembers stood at the door, watching him.
His vision was blurry, and his head felt light. However, he knew he would not be given the sweet release of unconsciousness.
So long as no sealing weapon was used on him, he would stay conscious.
He would be forced to endure through any pain the gods so willed.
Through every pain the gods so willed.