Meanwhile, Applin was quick on rushing through the halls and reaching towards the exit, though not to leave. She'd look out to her side and see Dahak was chasing after. If she were to leave now, Dahak would simply go back and finish off Harvard while he was busy against Barklode, or worse, intervene with the chaotic ensemble Stolas and Zazel were doing. She needs to buy time, and the fact she has to do it all alone does make her afraid. It wasn't until she noticed there was numerous markings laced across the walls. Runes that would most likely lead out to another exit, a way to reach out without having to worry about any excess consequences.
Yet even with that opportunity, she refused.
She'd set up her hammer once more, waiting against the walls. When Dahak came close, Applin was quick on the draw in swinging it over his head. However, such would be met with a quick bite into her hammer, breaking it away. Any pieces that remained were visible in his mouth, as the snakes embedded in his tongue began to dissolve and absorb the energy away, the magic vanishing before her eyes. The Vampiress was quick on making a second hammer to get distance, but she was immediately grabbed by her neck from the brute. "Damn... for a brat your size, you sure got a lot of stamina. Must've saved it up when you were doing your escapades, huh?" He taunted as he squeezed his grip making her struggle to breathe and choke under him.
"Ghh... Guh... Gwahh..." Only mumbles and choked grunts were made before the Tyrant.
"And just when we thought we were gonna have problems. What a joke. You brats tried playing hero and now you're gonna be killed as a result. I'll make sure this is quick for you. I'm not trusting anyone with hammers after being told my future."
"Guwh... Fuh... Thure...?" A word finally escapes her lips, perking up the man's curiosity. He'd look to his left and right, seeing if anyone else is listening, before finally dropping his tough persona.
"Okay, you can't snitch on this. Not to a soul, okay? Not even if you're dead and resurrected as some sort of spooky ghost. I know I'm supposed to kill you and all that, but I'm scared this amount of bad karma will get back at me. I'm gonna do some nice stuff to balance it out, but just promise me this okay?" The Vampiress' eyes widened as he'd act soft. Here he was, strangling her until her skin was beginning to bloom blue, and now he's acting as if he just broke something and doesn't want to be tattled on. Hesitantly, she nodded, a bit concerned for her well-being, as she tries to escape his grasp. "Okay... So... There's this girl, yeah?"
"Seh... Serhiouh... shly...!?"
"SHHH!! Not like that! I'm not into her like that! It's just... she told me something. She's a fortune teller, yeah? The ones with the Tarot Cards and Crystal Balls, things like that." His voice softened as he explained, even choosing to lower her down as he gets on the floor and sit down, trying to make casual conversation. "I was told a warrior with a hammer or mace would be the end of me, and so I tried to make sure that never happened. I just signed up in this place because... well, if the sun really is gonna turn everything into monsters, I wouldn't have to be worried about it, y'now? I still want to rule as a King here... even if my actions are... pretty divisive."
THWACKK!!!
"GAH! HEY!!!" Dahak would recoil back as Applin would raise her arms and make a hammer to swat the brute back, the heavy head pinning him into a wall and forcing him to let go, finally allowing her to breathe. "YOU COULD'VE BEEN NICER WITH THAT! I WAS OPENING MY HEART OUT HERE!!"
"AND STRANGLING ME IN THE PROCESS!?" Applin screamed back.
"NOT MY FAULT THE WEIRD GUY WANTED YOU DEAD! I'M JUST TRYING TO FOLLOW ORDERS HERE! HONEST!" Such a response would have her swat into the walls, hammering as much as possible in outrage, hoping she gets a chance to land a hit on the Tyrant. As she did, however, she noticed she hit one of the markings by accident, most likely letting its magic loose by accident. She tried to pay no mind to it, until it began to talk. Rather, until it began to sing.
"Myyy mother told me..."
"Someday I would buyyy..."
"Galleyyy with good oars..."
"Sail to Distant Shores..."
"Eh? Who talking now? Oi, oi! What's that disembodied voice!?" Dahak would shout, trying to find where such sounds came, until he'd see the markings glowing, flashing even. The Tyrant grew concerned, backing away in knowing this must've been a plot planned by King in some manner. He tried to see who would be willing to do such set-up, before having his eyes widened. "No way... Yo, lil' kid-"
His words were cut off as soon as he saw Applin's face. It was sharp, her eyes staring aimlessly at what's in front of her. All she did was listen to the song, and knelt down, ready to sprint ahead.
"Stand up High in the prowww..."
"Noble Barque I steeeeer..."
"Settiiiiing course for the Haaaaven."
"Hew... Many... Foemen."
"Hew... Many... Foemen."
As soon as the lyrics ended, she threw herself across the halls, almost possessed, with Dahak panicking and following closely behind, almost forgetting his mission. "H-HEY! HOLD ON! I'M SUPPOSED TO KILL YOU HERE! DON'T RUN AWAY FROM ME! THAT'S NOT FAIR!!" He'd shout, all composure broke as his true personality was exposed: A soft soul forced to play the role of a Villain, all to preserve his own life. Applin, however, could care less. It was as if her will was taken and directed by the voice. Any attempt the Tyrant had, Applin senses were heightened and allowed her to predict his next move, quickly ducking over his swing and making a hammer form so she can trip him up when she paused herself, before aiming a brutal swing to his hips, expelling a large amount of energy, all to feed it to the runes, all to make the song louder. It was a decision she consciously made, solely because she could feel herself getting stronger with that voice.
A possible weapon to use against Barklode, and a way to repay her debt in the Hospital.
"Go away. Now." She barked, an order before sprinting off again, yet Dahak relented, following behind, even when half of his energy was lost to the runes. He was still confused as to how she gained this much, especially moments after being on the backfoot.