The warehouse had never felt more suffocating. Rose paced back and forth, the echoes of the last few days weighing heavily on her. The violence, the chaos, the moral compromises—she was exhausted in every sense of the word. She needed to clear her head. She needed to be alone.
Slipping on her cloak, she stepped into the cold night. Fog blanketed the docks, muffling sound and softening the glow of distant streetlights. Rose felt a twinge of guilt leaving without telling Glaistig Uaine, but she needed this. She needed space.
Unbeknownst to her, a specter watched from the shadows, its presence cloaking Glaistig Uaine as she followed silently. The specter's power allowed her to move undetected, a wraith in the night. She trailed Rose with a faint, amused smile, curious about her little sorceress's late-night wanderings.
---
Rose's steps led her toward the quieter edges of the city, where the fog thickened and the streets were eerily quiet. She turned a corner and nearly collided with someone—an awkward girl with wild, damp curls and an oversized jacket with that looked like it had been through too many winters and a black mask with yellow eye protectors that looked like bug eyes.
"Sorry," Rose said quickly, stepping back.
The girl stared at her, startled. "No, it's okay. I wasn't paying attention."
The two stood there for a moment, sizing each other up. The girl seemed nervous, but there was a spark of determination in her body.
"You're out late," Rose said, breaking the silence.
The girl shrugged. "First night out. Thought I'd see what I could do."
Rose tilted her head. "You're a cape?"
The girl hesitated, then nodded. "Trying to be. Don't have a name yet, though."
"I'm Rose," she offered with a faint smile. "What's yours?"
"...Taylor," the girl replied. Her voice was quiet, almost hesitant. "You're not from around here, are you?"
"Not exactly." Rose's smile turned wry. "Just... passing through."
They started walking together, their conversation cautious but surprisingly easy. Taylor talked about her reasons for becoming a cape, the desire to make a difference despite everything stacked against her. Rose listened, finding herself drawn to the girl's sincerity. It was refreshing, a stark contrast to the enigmatic and often unsettling presence of Glaistig Uaine.
As they talked, Rose's thoughts turned to the possibility of finding allies—people who could help her navigate this strange and dangerous world. But every time she thought of Glaistig Uaine, a cold knot formed in her stomach. What could she do about someone so powerful, so unpredictable?
---
Their tentative camaraderie was interrupted by raised voices in the distance. A man's voice, low and filled with menace, carried through the fog.
"I don't care if they're kids. Anyone who crosses me dies."
Rose and Taylor froze. The voice came from an alley up ahead. Rose turned to Taylor, her expression serious.
"Go find the kids," she said firmly. "Help them. I'll deal with him."
Taylor hesitated. "Are you sure?"
"Go," Rose insisted. "I'll be fine."
Taylor nodded reluctantly and disappeared into the fog, her steps quick and silent. Rose squared her shoulders and stepped into the alley, her wand already in hand.
The man waiting for her was massive, his presence radiating danger. Tattoos snaked across his arms, glowing faintly in the dim light. Heat rippled off him in waves, and Rose could feel the temperature rising with every step he took toward her.
Before she could speak, a familiar voice whispered in her ear, sending a chill down her spine.
"Little sorceress," Glaistig Uaine purred, suddenly appearing beside her. "Do you know who you stand before?"
Rose jumped, nearly dropping her wand. "You followed me?"
"Of course," Glaistig said lightly, her glowing green eyes fixed on the man. "And it's a good thing I did. That's Lung, the Dragon of Kyushu. A monster among men. A worthy foe."
Rose's heart sank. She had heard of Lung—his reputation as a warlord, his terrifying power. This was bad. Very bad.
---
Lung didn't wait for introductions. With a roar, he charged, flames bursting from his mouth as his body began to transform. Rose threw up a shield just in time, the heat crashing against her barrier in a wave of molten air.
Glaistig Uaine moved like a phantom, her specters materializing around her. They struck at Lung with ghostly weapons, their ethereal forms slipping through his defenses. Lung roared in fury, his claws lashing out as his scales hardened.
"Focus, little sorceress," Glaistig called, her tone almost playful. "If you hesitate, he'll burn you alive."
Rose gritted her teeth and fired off a series of spells, her reluctance warring with the knowledge that Lung wouldn't hold back. Her bolts of magic struck him, but his transformation only accelerated. He was getting stronger, faster, more dangerous.
Glaistig Uaine watched with amusement as Rose struggled. "You're holding back," she said, almost tauntingly. "Do you want to die?"
"I'm trying not to kill him!" Rose shouted, her frustration boiling over.
"Then step aside."
Glaistig raised her hand, and a new specter appeared—a towering figure wreathed in spectral flames. The specter's power lashed out, freezing Lung's fire mid-air and forcing him back. But Lung wasn't done. His body continued to grow, his strength escalating with every passing second.
---
Rose's resolve cracked as the fight dragged on. Desperation clawed at her, and she began casting larger, more dangerous spells. A bolt of dark magic struck Lung in the chest, sending him crashing into a building. The building groaned under the impact, bricks crumbling as flames licked at the edges.
Glaistig Uaine, unbothered by the destruction, smiled as Lung began to falter. She stepped forward, her hand glowing with an eerie light. Rose realized too late what she was about to do.
"No!" she cried, reaching out to stop her.
Glaistig ignored her, placing her hand on Lung's forehead. His body went still, his flames extinguished, and a wisp of energy rose from him, twisting into Glaistig's grasp.
"It's done," Glaistig said, turning to Rose with a serene expression.
Rose stared at Lung's now lifeless normal body, her heart heavy with guilt and frustration. "You didn't have to kill him."
"He was a danger," Glaistig said simply. "Now, he's mine."
Rose clenched her fists, anger and helplessness warring within her. Deep down, she knew Glaistig was right—Lung was too dangerous to leave alive. But that didn't make it any easier to accept.
Glaistig stepped closer, her smile faintly teasing. "You're not making as much of a fuss this time, little sorceress. Are you starting to see the threads?"
Rose glared at her, her cheeks flushing with anger. "You're insufferable."
"And you're adorable when you're angry," Glaistig said with a laugh.
---
They left the scene quickly, the sounds of sirens growing louder in the distance. As they returned to their shelter, Rose felt the weight of the night pressing down on her. She had crossed a line tonight, using magic she swore she'd never touch again.
But what scared her more was how easily Glaistig Uaine had taken a life—and how, deep down, Rose couldn't entirely disagree with her decision.