Book 2 Chapter 39

The grounds of the complex were lit by the dancing flames that circled Reynolds like a protective mantle as the two sides faced off.

Hearing Torvus’s bold declaration, Reynolds sneered, heat pouring off of him in waves as his fires grew stronger by the second. “Oh? Not even that brat could finish me off, but you think you can?”

Nerida froze, her teeth grating as a look of deep loathing crossed her face. Her feature softened suddenly, replaced by a look of resolve as she strengthened the current of water streaming around her. “Then it seems that God will praise me if I take care of you for him” She spoke happily with a soft smile that barely distracted from the manic look in her eyes.

“Oh a feisty one,” Reynold’s smirked in reply. He licked his lips looking Nerida up and down, “That will just make it better when you break…”

“What a great gift for the little one,” Torvus let out a chuckle from nearby, “I’m guessing you’re the one responsible for burning down those villages? I’m sure he’ll be happy if we hand him your body all tied up in a bow…”

The former knight captain turned to the young man with a frown, “Been a while since someone’s looked down on me like this, Guess I’ll just have to teach you two a lesson.” His flames rose once more, spiraling as they started to spin themselves together again.

“Like I’d let you do that again!” Nerida called as she raised her hand. A ball of water broke off from her stream and flew out towards the collecting flame before Reynold could react.

The two forces clashed into each other, creating a burst of boiling steam that shrouded the area. Reynolds ducked, covering his eyes as the heat washed over him, scalding his arm. “ You Bitch!”

The fires around him roared once more, the heat evaporating the remaining vapor in an instant. But when the view cleared, Reynolds quickly realized one of his opponents was missing. Torvus appeared in the same moment, his dagger gleaming as it stabbed towards the former Knight Captain’s neck.

“Fool!” Reynolds roared, his arms jerked as he flexed his back. Fire exploded out along his spine, forcing Torvus to retreat as the flames offered a dangerous welcome.

“Tch…” Reynolds clicked, “ So you’re the assassin they’ve been looking for huh. Looks like they’ll be getting everything they want tonight… Should end up being a pretty good payday for… He stopped as another heavy ball of water splashed against the flames around him. Unable to break through the wall of heat surrounding him, the ensuing steam covered the approach of the follow up….

Icicles, made thicker by Nerida to pierce the flames, tore through the steam as the Priestess fired wildly to where the mercenary had stood. Hearing the incoming whistles yet unable to see through the fog, Reynolds ducked, rolling across the ground before coming up and dispersing the cover once more. He grunted, reaching down to pull one ice blade out of his thigh as he winced.

Torvus took the chance to strike once more, this time appearing from above as his daggers flashed furiously. Reynolds raised his own sword, blocking the strikes with one smooth motion as his sword sparked from the fierce confrontation.

Torvus fell back once again, his body flickering out of the heat around the fire user before there was any lasting damage, He circled counter-clockwise, waiting for another opportunity to strike at the flank.

“You two are more annoying than flies…” Reynolds growled as he blocked another strike from the water priestess. He kept his sword at the ready to counter Torvus as he raised a hand towards Nerida. She readied herself for another attack when she noticed a red and orange line appearing on the ground around her.

Nerida cursed, knowing she wouldn’t be able to avoid this new attack. She readied herself to take the damage head-on when suddenly the world around her seemed to change. She watched for a moment as the flames underfoot moved in slow motion, rising in an almost beautiful illustration of destruction.

She glanced over her enemy toward where Torvus stood behind him. The young man was mimicking the mercenary's pose, one hand pointed out towards Nerida as he smiled playfully. She grimaced at having to accept help from such a source but didn’t miss her chance to escape, diving out of the way just in time to avoid the column of fire that rose just where she had been standing.

She rose quickly and instantly sent another round of attacks toward Reynolds, who stood with a look of confusion as the ice barreled down on him.

In the former Knight Captain's eyes, he had had the water witch exactly where he wanted when she had suddenly moved at superhuman speed, neatly dodging out of the way. Even worse as she sent another attack at him he felt like his body was stuck in thick gelatin, refusing to move as he wanted it to. He cursed to himself, glancing back to where the assassin was standing with a smirk as he held his hand out.

“Always over confident Torvus.” A cold voice sounded from behind the white-haired young man…

Torvus’s eyes flashed as a deep burning pain came from his side just as he tore himself away. He rolled to the side, clutching his wound as he looked back at the newcomer. Silver eyes looked down at him from behind a pure white mask.

Reynolds, released at the last second, screamed. Fire exploding from his own body as the ice struck him. Smoke hung in the air before slowly dissipating to reveal the former Knight Captain, his clothes burnt into rags showing patches of charred skin as he growled at the new arrival. “Took you long enough…”

The white mask ignored him and instead continued to look down at the wounded Torvus, “You didn’t think you could get away, did you? All loose ends must be dealt with…”