A vortex of void energy spiraled from his hand.tearing chunks of stone from the cave walls. He launched himself forward, and the strength of the wind swirling around him caused the ground beneath his feet to crack.
The cave trembles as a coil of ice spikes shoots towards me from the ground. I leaped aside, and a wide dent formed on the cavern roof.
I ignite my flames, bright and burning hot as if it can feel my rage. I threw a punch, but my fist collided with the rock where he stood. He moved like a shadow, swift and silent to appear behind me.
A chain of ice snaps out of nowhere and wraps around my forearm, chillingly cold. I groaned from the biting coldness of it .it was like the frost was gnawing straight through my flesh. I jerked my arm and dragged him closer. His eyes widened, not expecting it.
I thrust my fist into his face, flames exploding outward. He crashes into the cave wall, rocks shattering around him. He rises again, his expression unreadable. "You are, though."
"I bet you heard that before coming to look for me, " I said and slammed my foot on the ground. Flames race across the floor in a wide arc. He leaped and suspended in mid-air stretching his hand again
The whole cave floor was covered with frost.
A towering shower of water started falling furiously in an attempt to quench the fire I had ignited.
I turned towards him, and he flashed a sadistic smile. I raised my hand and placed my palm on the now cold cavern walls. Destroying this place will eventually take me out of whatever place he had dragged me to, and I have no time to waste.
The walls cracked, and the explosion lit up the cave like an inferno. Through the smoke, I saw him descending silently. In his hands, a spear of dark void appeared. He shot it toward me and he shifted, still midair before landing to avoid the cutting beams I aimed at him.
I directed a burning hot purple flame toward the spear. And the two weapons crashed together, each fighting for dominance over the other. The entire cavern began to shake violently huge chunks of stone falling from above. The steam of it lowering the visibility in the cave.
"I want to at least know your name and the reason why you are attacking me. I said. He looked at me, that annoying smirk never leaving his face. "You don't deserve to know the elders' motive for doing anything." I chuckled."Just say you know nothing about his plans. It's not that surprising since dogs like you are the ones who end up getting discarded first. I laughed, seeing the veins popping on his forehead.
"Shut your mouth, you brat," he shouted and hurled ice spikes that were not delicate , these are massive, jagged ice spears, their edges sharp enough to split a bone. They shot towards me in a wild cluster, tearing through stone pillars and shattering against the ceilings. Some lunges straight for my chest.
I twisted my body aside, flames heating the air around me, but the frost kept fighting back. Another spike shot from the wall behind me, fast and merciless. It grazes my shoulder, carving a line of pain across my whole body.
His voice echoes through the cave. " You are encouraging me to finish you off earlier than expected. I snarled, " You don't get to decide whether I will leave here alive or not."
One spike rises beneath me, too close I barely avoid it. I grabbed it. My hands burn the frozen surface and I rip it from the ground hurling it back at him. I spin through the air.
He raised his hands to crush the oncoming spike, and with that seconds of inattention from him, I vanished and appeared behind him. I grabbed his shoulder in a tight, deadly grip. " Let go of me," he said, his voice quivering from the pain of his burnt skin. " I plan on leaving this place alive, so you must take this," I said and ignited his body in riftflame.
The spike he intended to crush before I sneaked up behind him smashed into the wall behind him, exploding into icy shards that rained across the cave.
And in the midst of the showering shards of ice. He stood there his form now faintly visible through the flames. He looked me in the eyes the hate in his gaze intensifying as if it was now directed at me and not because I own the rift mark. " We shall meet again, Prince Iael." He said and vanished alongside the cave we were in. I appeared on the shore of the river.
I saw my friends at the riverbank all buttered and bloody. My heart leapt to my throat as I rushed towards Serena who was lying on the sand unmoving.
"What is wrong with her, what happened? I asked them my voice quivering, fearing the worst.
She turned towards me and flashed a small smile.
I inhaled sharply "You... This damn woman why were you lying there like a dead dog"
"Cut the crap I know you were worried." She sat up. "Don't worry we are fine this blood doesn't belong to any of us."
Jafet signed from behind me. "If you are all good can we get going. Because I am famished.
Serena glared at him "Does nothing better stay in that pig head of yours?"
He smiled and answered "Your glare is not even intimidating, I bet you are hungry as well let's get going.
"That punk," she said, and turned to me." Are you sure you are fine?"
I ruffled her already messy hair and said: "Of course I'm fine."
When the first shimmering rooftops appeared beyond the mist, our breath caught in our throats.
The city was like nothing I ever imagined. It glowed, every building seemed to be carved from moonlight marble. The air hummed not loudly but with subtle vibrations as if the whole city breathed magic.
" This is amazing " Serena commented her eyes wide with wonder.
"And to imagine such a beautiful place was hidden from us," I said roaming my eyes over the enchanting scenery.
"Let's get a carriage and head to the main city i bet there will be a fine inn to receive us, "Jafet said stopping a passing carriage.
The carriage came to a stop at the crest of a hill overlooking the towers scattered below. I stepped out followed by my comrades.
The sky of Lumeris had a ceiling of scattered flat star-shaped specks that floated above.
"What are those, " Serena asked the coachman pointing towards the sky. " They are called Astral remnant" he answered " souls of the ancient mages that are watching over the city" Jafet continued "And how do you know that " Kevin questioned looking at him suspiciously he chuckled without answering.
Staring at those star-like luminous specks I felt the uncanny familiarity as if I had known them for eternity.