Chapter 17

The Titan

“First strike’s mine!” Emil shouted. He bounded from the ground, propelling himself into the air with all the ease he’d shown since they met. His movements were a bit sluggish, but he managed to keep a course straight for the titan. Vivian scoffed loudly, and began to take aim with her arrow.

“Flank it, Eddie! We shouldn’t stay clustered,” Meredith said. Her best friend nodded, darting to the side with her before they split away. Emil had nearly reached the titan by now, his blades jutting out as he began to spin. Vivian fired, the searing burst of enchanted energy going straight for the face.

“Gravity For-” The two attacks were mistimed, and Emil was forced to break off his own so Vivian’s could explode on the giant’s face. He spun out, his blade barely nicking the foe before them. “Vivian, watch it!”

“Then stay out of the way!”

“Now isn’t the time, idiots!” Meredith yelled. The titan was flailing, screeching about while one hand covered its eyes. Eddie skidded to the side, magical bursts of wind forming in his hands. He fired them and they buffeted the creature’s side, but it didn’t take notice. Its eyes, soon recovered, cared far more about the two that had attacked it head on, particularly Vivian. With an open palm, the titan’s other arm swung down.

The attack caught Emil, who plummeted to Vivian’s feet with a groan. She began changing her bow around to its sword, but the movement was too slow. Meredith looked back at Eddie, who turned his palms on her and sent the wind racing for her backside. The air sent her forward, sword bared to get right between Vivian and the titan. With a shattering clang, Meredith’s blade flew up to meet the titan’s hand, straining as she was pushed into Vivian along the ground.

“Now is not the time for this. Work together. You heard the Beastmaster, Vivian. This thing is after you and your weapon for whatever reason, so fighting this way won’t help anyone!” Meredith shouted. She could feel her blade buckling in her hands, hoping it would hold. An idea hit her brain, and she turned her head to look at Vivian as best she could. “Now help me out! Enchant my sword, or none of us are getting out of this!”

“Don’t talk-” Vivian must have seen something to end her words, because her lips pouted, and her eyes twitched unpleasantly. “Ugh. Offensive Enchantment, Penta-fortis!”

Meredith’s blade glowed red, feeling light and sharp in a way it never had before. She pushed forward, Vivian aiding her (if just to get her off), and the sword lopped off one of the titan’s fingers.

Grooooarrr! It roared, resonating around the entire block. Many of the Corps members in the background reacted, some fighting harder to try and get through to them. The hand that had been assaulting them recoiled, but the other came forward in a crushing fist.

“Wind…Shield!” Eddie fired off his orb of compressed wind, getting right between the girls and the fist. It made it just in time, the creature’s strike blown off-course. Emil shook his head, kneeling on the ground with a foot backwards. “Get it! I’ll give support!”

“On it!” Emil said. Once more, he fell sideways, zipping through the air with his gravity. This time, Meredith was pleased to see, he wasn’t heading for the face, but the legs. He reached them before the creature could recover and made a gash around the trunk of a leg. Particles floated away from the slash, but it wasn’t enough to bring the titan down.

“Duck!” Meredith felt pressure on her head as Vivian pressed down, taking aim once more, though not with her bow. Instead, enchanted energy was sitting on her blade. When she slashed forward, a ribbon of light flew out, and then another, both aiming for the same place Emil had just been attacking. From her position, Meredith charged forward, head low with her blade still glowing the angry red.

Her feet raced along the clutter-filled road as she ducked beneath the creature’s legs. Then she slashed, cutting halfway through, but still not bringing it down. Her ponytail whipped out as she faced her battle companions. “We need to all strike at the same spot at once! Normal attacks aren’t getting this thing! We’re only keeping it distracted…”

“Maybe it’s weak to some sort of element,” Eddie said. The titan was shaking its head, eyes locking once more on Vivian. She yet again changed her weapon, loading the energy projectile with trembling hands. Meredith dug her feet into the ground and aimed for the other leg, Emil diving in with her. “Vivian, can you enchant someone else’s magic into your own attack?”

“No! I’ve never…” Her words faltered, the shimmering energy projectile fading a little. “I only use attack and defense enchantments. And even if I could, why would I entertain that idea? What difference would it make? I can do this without any of that kind of magic!”

“All right, then just fire! Right for where they’re attacking!” Eddie yelled. Meredith cut forward with Emil, both driving into the same spot with a yell. The titan raised its giant hand to attack Vivian once more, intent on crushing her, but stumbled at the acute pain it felt arcing along its leg. “I’ll support you! Just go!”

Vivian gave no verbal response, but her energy arrow fired itself up again and she took the shot. Meredith kicked off the leg, freeing her sword from where she’d stabbed. The titan’s great fist aimed for Vivian, but Eddie fended it off with a fiery arrow that exploded and sent the fist aiming for the next best thing: the two below its legs. Vivian’s arrow soared through the air. Emil grabbed to Meredith and pulled her back to avoid the crushing fist coming for them, getting out of the way before it could collide. Eddie aimed his other hand, sending three spears of ice whirling into the air. The aim was impressive, Meredith could admit, joining with Vivian’s own energy burst akin to a shield. They both hit the damaged area, cutting across the leg.

The titan stumbled while Emil continued to carry Meredith through the air, touching down near the others. He looked up at the thrashing beast, and said, “That’s not gonna be enough…”

“Of course not,” Vivian said, her bow held sideways. “Taking its legs out is good in theory, but we lack the firepower.”

“Or we just don’t have enough time to even launch an attack. This thing is relentless!” Emil said, crossing his blades in front of him. Meredith scowled in agreement, holding her own sword aloft. The titan was already on balance again, both arms coming forward in a haymaker, with one smashing into the nearest building.

The fist descended, on course for Vivian. Dust began to cloud their vision from the debris in the area. Meredith could barely see beyond her sword but for the reappearing shadow, as if it sensed their defeat was imminent. That wasn’t a fantasy, given the cracks she saw along her blade. The four drew together, even Vivian realizing their best chance at survival.

The titan struck home, its fist pounding down where they stood. Eddie fired an orb of wind outward while Emil and Meredith pushed forward with their blades. The three simultaneous attacks acted as a shield, guarding against the heavy impact. The ground cracked and crumbled under their feet. Emil was brought to the ground. Eddie formed another arrow of fire in his hands, aiming up for the face while Vivian did so, too. Meredith and Emil were pushed further, the horrible cracking noise sounding from both of them. She called out to the other two. “We can’t…hold this…Do something, Vivian!”

“It’s after you, Viv! So, either help us or get the hell out of here!” Emil shouted. Vivian’s scowl didn’t go away, but screwed itself into one of concentration as she aimed her bow upwards. Through the gaps in the titan’s missing fingers, Meredith could see some members of the Corps running their way, slicing at the distracting imps.

“There’s the enemy!” one of them shouted. The titan didn’t care all that much. This doubled when Eddie and Vivian fired, their heated energy colliding in midair to meld together unintentionally. The joined attack raced forward into the titan’s head, where it pierced through the side.

“Now push!” Meredith shouted, and she and Emil gave great screams, changing the directions of their blades to slash upwards. It made a mere scratch on the titan’s palm, but was enough for them both to break free. Combined with the earlier magic attacks, the titan was sent reeling backwards, each step shuddering. Its arms were as a windmill while it regained its balance, and one such movement brought off the top of a whole building that fell towards them.

There was no need to tell everyone to run, all four of them splitting in separate directions. Unfortunately, the falling building took up the whole of the road they were standing on with nowhere to run. Some of the Guardians backed away. Meredith held her sword up, while Eddie touched the ground, rippling with magic. Neither thought it would do much good, but Meredith held fast, her eyes only flicking to Vivian, who was firing her bow off at the falling construct. All it did was break the debris apart.

The titan took another shuddering step forward.

Meredith felt her knees buckle, her eyes squinted nearly shut from the dust that was irritating them. Eddie pitched forward to grab on to her, stabilizing himself and aiming upwards. Yet the debris never came.

It was suspended in midair, Emil up there with it and holding it in its floating position. Veins were pulsing along his arms; his blades having fallen to the ground for a moment. Meredith lowered her own, noticing how some of the building that had broken apart was creating a set of floating stairs. Meredith looked to him.

“I’ve never…suspended anything this big before…” Emil grunted out. His arms sagged a little bit, the building dropping a fraction with it. “Don’t have much magic left, either. Just enough…for one strike up top.

“Make it count.”

Meredith’s eyes widened, realizing just how much he was straining to hold on, long enough for her to get one blow in. It was the greatest assistance he’d ever offered. She reached up, wiping the sweat and dust from her eyes and turning to the lowest piece of building. She brandished her blade and began running, preparing to leap.

“Giving you a boost, Mera!” Eddie yelled, flinging both hands towards her. The wind cascaded outward, lifting Meredith’s body upwards and onto the first stepping stone. She let the momentum carry her forward, leaping from one chunk to the next as each dropped beneath her. Eddie ran over to where Vivian was, still shooting at the debris to break it up, and pulled her away. Meredith continued her ascent until she got just within range of the colossus’s head.

The titan wasn’t paying attention to anything but Vivian, hand reaching through the destroyed building. Emil’s strength ran out and he let go of the brick and mortar. It began to hit the ground to shuddering effect. Meredith made her final leap, plunging her sword down into the surface of the creature’s head. The flickering red on her blade began to disappear, the enchantment fading away.

“Now, men! Fire everything you have at that beast’s head! We’re not going to have children doing our work for us!” one of the Guardians below said. Meredith turned, her hair whipping around in the wind as she saw the contingent from earlier approach. Some of them were holding cannons, aimed right for the beast whose assault had halted. “Defend the Metropolis! Fire!”

The cannons burst with magical energy, impacting all along the titan’s body. Meredith ripped her sword out, preparing to jump to where Eddie and Emil were waiting, the latter supported by the former. The titan rocked, sending Meredith capitulating forward, only stopping upon the sight of the snarling beast that was charging at the men.

“Look ou-!” Her words were cut off as the titan jabbed its head forward, into what remained of a building. Meredith slammed into it, coughing as she felt glass cut her skin. Eddie and Emil were running for her, calling her name, but her ears were ringing, grip loosening on her sword. The dog, none other than Cario, came bowling across the Guardians, leaving nothing to chance.

Meredith continued sliding down until she was caught in the arms of the two boys. A trickle of falling stone was heard and from the dust emerged a broadly-grinning Caleb. His hair bobbed with every single movement, his arms stretched out wide. The ambushed Guardians struggled to recover, while the titan shook its head. Meredith felt herself getting woozy, but she pulled herself together, just in time to see the Beastmaster snap his fingers.

“Earthquake. I’m done wasting time letting them play with you.”

GRRRRRRROOOOOAAAAAAH!

The scream was so loud that more windows shattered and buildings crumbled. The titan before them raised its foot and brought it crashing down. Spires emerged from the ground and chasms were formed. The ground split away, separating the Guardians from the battling quartet. Caleb remained on their side of the chasm, his eyes trained on Vivian. The blonde took aim at him with her weapon.

She received no opportunity to fire. One of the spires created from the titan’s attack jutted up right from under her, tossing her into the air and the side of a building. She gave a hacking cough, and then slid down the surface of the building, to the ground. Vivian didn’t move.

“Viv!” Emil yelled. He was about to race to her, but Eddie pulled him back, a spire just missing him. The trio collectively held their breaths, waiting, and the attack ceased. The Guardians groaned, none of them getting up; nor did Vivian. The titan was heaving, but its wounds were healing. “It won’t…go down…”

“Then we need to make it,” Eddie said. “I…I might have an idea, if you work with me.”

“What do you have in mind?” Meredith squeezed her eyes shut at Emil’s question and pushed off the boys to stand. Her sword felt weak in her hands, but she found the strength to walk. She gave no agreement or disagreement. Eddie knew he had her support.

“I’m going to freeze this area, just like before…It might not work well, so I’ll distract it as best I can. You guys push with everything you have to take out its legs! I’ll stop that guy from getting to Vivian!” Eddie shouted. He didn’t wait for their approval. Eddie just plunged his hands to the ground, frost particles coming from them.

The ice shot outwards, slick and cold. It raced along the broken ground, icing up the spires of earth, making them brittle. The frost reached the titan’s feet in no time, encasing them, before it continued on to the advancing Beastmaster and trapped him, as well. Meredith and Emil made their moves, both skating forward in silent alliance. From above the ice, Emil snagged his blades, holding them forward as they reached the beast’s legs. The Guardians on the other side of the chasm began to stand, reloading their cannons.

“Now, Emil! Same time!”

“Titan, Earth-” Caleb’s order didn’t come in time. A fireball and an orb of wind collided with the titan’s face, while on its backside the Corps had launched their second round of attacks, for all the good it did. Either way, the colossus was distracted, and in that distraction, the two teenagers struck. Their blades, damaged as they were, found purchase in the wounds that had once been there, and with a cleave, they slashed clean through, skating out on the other side.

They barely twirled around and out of the way, heading back for Eddie, when the titan began to collapse. Its legs gone, it could no longer support itself, falling backwards towards the Corps members. They screamed and ran for cover before it impacted, causing another shudder through the area. Meredith breathed loudly, but knew the battle was far from over. She turned to Caleb, the Beastmaster having never taken his eyes from Vivian…and moving forward with a diamond-dusted Cario at his side.

“Vivian! Get up!” Meredith yelled. The girl refused to stir. Meredith skated forward. Cario changed its target and scrabbled in her direction. “Outta my way!”

Cario bounded for her, but Meredith swiped her blade, cutting the canine across one of its legs. The demonic dog fell back, hitting the ice with a whimper. Meredith skated, getting in between Caleb and her rival. She held her sword up, threatening the man. He stopped, no longer smirking or looking playful at all.

“No…further…” Meredith gasped out. “I told you…I won’t let you hurt anyone else further.”

“So many heroes…” Caleb sighed out. His eyes narrowed, cutting straight through her. “I’ve no more time to deal with you. I’ll not leave empty-handed. So, move, or I’ll make you regret it.”

“I’ll regret it if I do move.”

The Beastmaster stopped, his tongue licking at his lips. His hand raised up, and he snapped.

The ground shook. The titan got back up. Its feet were growing back, reanimated with darkness and shadows. Its body grew even bigger, horns jutting from its head as its fists became like claws. Meredith switched the placement of her sword around as the titan whirled its arms. The attack missed Caleb entirely, smashing into buildings and sending debris over the fighters that remained. The Corps had long fled, surrounded by another pack of enemies the Beastmaster had summoned. One of the fists came flying through the dust, slamming into Meredith’s side.

She gagged, thrown away like a rag doll. Her grip loosened and her sword flew well outside her control. It clattered on the ice floor, too far from her. Eddie and Emil were both caught by the strike, tossed into buildings, the same as her. They all slid down, collapsing to the side, but before Meredith knew it, a large paw was on her head, holding her down. The titan was slowly moving forward again, its giant hand outstretched towards Vivian.

“Stay there. I’ve a weapon to collect, and you’re no longer amusing me,” the Beastmaster spoke, walking forward. Meredith strained under Cario’s hold, her eyes barely seeing the sentinel titan and her fallen friends, each struggling. Regardless of their strength, their path was blocked by the giant’s foot.

“Viv…ian…get…up…!” Meredith called, pushing against the icy floor. Cario’s growl and extra pressure precluded that. “No…Is this…is this why…?”

“Does one need another reason? People are so spineless, living in their peaceful bubble the Corps created for them. I’ll break that, show them the true joys of the next world. Just one step closer,” Caleb said, now standing above Vivian. He was reaching down for the bow still in her hands, the glee coming back to his face.

No! Meredith screamed in her head. Her muscles were on fire, pushing against every inch of Cario that was constraining her. She slipped, but kept pushing. Desperation fueled her veins like a key in the lock. Everything was throbbing inside her, spreading through her. Lights were appearing all around, including one on her belt, more distinct, more effortless. Each of them was pulling towards her, offering help. Meredith reached back, grabbing the broken blade that was still there and stabbed upwards.

Cario gave a loud, yipping whimper, releasing its paw from her, and Meredith began to stand. Exhaustion was ever-present, yet the burning need filled her. A voice echoed in her head, telling her to not give up. Her fingers were tingling, power brimming within the hilt of the broken blade as she stood. The titan fixated on her now.

“I won’t let you…Back…off…” Meredith grunted, every word hissing out between breaths. Caleb stopped, tongue still licking between audible breaths. His fingers rested on the bow, but it wasn’t budging, causing him to look at Meredith with a quirked eyebrow.

“And you’re to threaten me with a broken blade? You should have stayed down, girl, just as you should have in Frostfall Cavern. Then you wouldn’t be in pain now. You’d be in the arms of the goddess.”

“Broken or not…I’m going to stand,” Meredith said. The titan was turning, each step creating a tremor. Its fist began to rear back. “That’s what a Guardian does: they stand up, again and again. They move forward, no matter for what or for who. Even if it’s someone like Vivian.”

“Naïve thinking, girl.”

Meredith continued pushing, ignoring the taunt that the man had made. Her shoulders heaved with every breath, yet the fire inside her kept her going. The blade that had called to her, that refused to leave her, was akin to a warm blanket, wrapping itself around her. There was something there, and for the first time, she knew what it was: a soul, calling for her to connect with it. It was bridging the gap, forcing the last lock open.

“I don’t care. I’m going to defend her, just like the rest of this place,” Meredith said, grip tightening. The fist was coming back down, looking to crush her. The light swirled within the blade, and Meredith reached out for it, as she always had, yet without even realizing she was. She took its hand. “I hate Vivian. I hate everything she stands for. But at the end of the day, I still have my dream, and that means making sure you don’t hurt her, right up until the end. I don’t care if we go back to being unable to stand each other…Right here and now…

“Vivian, I will protect you!”

Giving one last scream inside her legs, Meredith stepped towards the colossal fist that rained down on her. Meredith’s leg pivoted on the ice, and she finally reached forward. The light blossomed within her, connecting with that soul beyond her own. It smiled at her, encouraging her, and spoke. Now strike!

“Grrrrraaaaaah!” Taking the power of that soul inside her, the spirit of the blade was summoned forth while she swung it. Her body glowed with light as the broken blade slashed at the titan’s hand. The earth bubbled and rumbled, and then burst out of the ground in a white haze. More powerful than the titan’s own earthquake before it, the churning stone impaled upwards over each area of the titan’s body. Caleb jumped back towards his wounded pet as the titan screamed.

“No way…Earth Magic…and Light Magic…? Impossible…” Eddie breathed, barely audible in Meredith’s ear.

“No…not that,” Emil said. Meredith only heard the final words as her last-ditch attack pressed on. “That’s…Soul Magic?!”

Meredith finished the arc of her blade, the magic fading before she realized it. That visible soul winked at her before pulling away. The lights hung around, faint, but existent, and Meredith began to fall back as the titan gave a single, final gasp. It hit the ground with a great quake…and faded away. The stone spires of Meredith’s attack remained.

She hit the ground, back feeling the cold and exhaustion seeping in. There was also a newfound warmth, as if that which was kept behind lock and key was now free to spread. She breathed, her chest heaving up and down while she lay there. Her hand still held to the blade, and when Meredith looked to it, the voice spoke, fading into obscurity, like it was tired.

Nice work, Meredith Childs. You’ll become a fine Guardian yet…Until we meet…again…The voice vanished into a void, the light becoming so dim in the sword, it was a pinprick. Hoping to examine it, Meredith turned, only to remember that Caleb was still standing there, eyes wide.

“It’s impossible…Three?” he mumbled. His hands reached up to mess his already bizarre hair. “I should have seen it from Cario’s reaction…but…she knows…” The Beastmaster’s eyes flicked back and forth between Meredith and Vivian, trying to decide which to take his pick of first. He soon decided to take care of both of them. His fingers snapped, and more dark particles formed, a winged dragon arising from them.

“No…” Eddie breathed out, the despair in his voice evident. Meredith struggled to get up, but found her body heavy; heavier than it had been before, and she realized. She’d used magic. Now, it had drained her, left her prone to whatever was coming next. “Mera…run!”

“Mera! You have to move!” Emil said. He floated an inch off the ground before falling back down.

The mighty dragon gave a roar, maw lined with razor-sharp teeth, what looked like a storm of darkness brewing there. It was set to consume Vivian and her both. Meredith tried to lift the blade, but had no strength to do it. Caleb stood by, watching their helpless forms about to be destroyed.

A black shadow passed overhead, obscuring all in darkness.

Eddie closed his eyes. Emil fell back. Meredith watched the dragon come to consume her, yet held no fear.

There were lights shining overhead, and the sky was dyed red with sunset.

The dragon’s head came back a bit, prepared to fire.

Then its maw snapped shut, a strike of lightning searing it from up above. Meredith tore her gaze up there, the lights revealed to be people, jumping from a skyship that was overhead. There were five in total, a further two hanging out of the windows of the skyship, as a second skyship passed it. One of Meredith’s eyes closed. So, is that what those lights are…souls…?

“Woohoo! Mission time!”

“Jay, focus…” Air whooshed out, warm and calming as the five landed on the street where the fight had happened. The Corps members on the other side of the chasm suddenly cheered, more raucously than Meredith would have ever imagined. She looked up, the shadows of the five figures blocking her view, though she could see the emblem of the Corps on the skyship, taking aim at the already busted plaza below.

“This place is a mess. It’s up to us to clean it up. Our task is at hand,” a third, familiar, and by far the most authoritative voice spoke. From his shadow, Meredith knew he wore glasses, his stylized tiny hair-spikes giving him away if his voice had not. “I’m sure the Presidential Plaza will be secured. In the meantime, Bruce, Trent, head for Guardian Tower. Emily, Jarvis, behind me into town.”

“Damn, why do those two always get the fun assignments?” the one called Jarvis, presumed Jay, spoke.

“Because we know how to hold back.”

“You might not believe it, but we’ve let people win tournaments that way.”

“Boys, please stop. The Metropolis is in danger. You’re spending far too much time with Amelia lately.” The one named Emily turned, revealing her red hair tied in a bun and a pair of metal knuckles on her fists. “Captain Raymond, your own plans?”

“Take out this monster and the one behind it.” Eddie’s eyes had snapped open, and Meredith felt an unbidden smile come to her face. Caleb was certainly scowling as Raymond, no doubt her Raymond, drew his blade and held it aloft. “We won’t suffer this intrusion any longer. Tempest Squad, move out!”

“Sir!”

The dust disappeared, the one named Jay creating blades of wind that cut it apart before he went racing past where Meredith lay. She saw him hop aboard one of his blades while the one named Emily chased after him. Bruce and Trent slid across the ice to the chasm, leaping it with ease towards the monsters still surrounding the tower. Raymond, however, turned. His sharp glasses reflected the light of the setting sun, and his metal blade morphed and changed shape, crackling with blue lightning.

“Get him!” the Beastmaster called out, pointing towards the new target. Raymond’s eyes grew sharp, his black hair shimmering in the red-gold sun. The dragon dove, mouth opening again as its clawed wings snapped out, the burgeoning darkness inside spewing out.

“Begone, beast! Liquid Lightning!” The dragon’s black matter assailed Raymond’s body. Not a fleck of the dangerous particles touched him. Electricity shot in all directions from the barbed weapon that Raymond’s sword had become. It evaporated all of the darkness, and the second the dragon got close, he stabbed upwards and cut straight through.

Shocks perforated the creature’s body for a moment, halting it in midair and causing it to convulse wildly. Then the creature exploded in a dark haze. Raymond turned his gaze upon Caleb, his weapon once more changing shape with sparks into a lance.

“You are the one who has harmed the Metropolis?” he asked. The Beastmaster did not answer, Cario whimpering at his feet now. He did scowl, and Raymond derived his own conclusions. “Yes, I see you are. Then I will put your attacks to an end!”

The metal sparked, elongating with heat and electricity both in a beautifully powerful display. Caleb held his hands out, wisps of black smoke beginning to form a line of creatures to protect himself. Raymond refused to wait and he hurled the spear forward.

It spun, giving off searing electricity that scorched the ground. The blade cut through all of the shadows and stones, eviscerating them before they could even finish forming. Cario barked, but it did little good as the spear jabbed into Caleb’s side without him knowing.

“Gehah!” the Beastmaster cried out, pitching to the side. The spear in his abdomen transformed into liquid that continued to contract electricity. The weapon flew through the air, back into Raymond’s hands. “Tempest Squad…the Corps’ premier Guardians. How did you get here so fast?!”

“Our Chief Commander was concerned when he heard of a certain possibility, so he came straight over, and sent us with him,” Raymond said. “Now, your scheme is at an end, whatever it may be!”

Caleb scowled, all sense of his mission or playful enjoyment having disappeared. He looked towards the tower, and Meredith could see his forces were now fast disappearing thanks to the likes of Bruce, Trent and whoever was manning the skyship. The black wisps of Caleb’s magic were lesser, as well. One of his hands clasped his new wound, bleeding into his black robe. His lips frowned and then turned into a smirk, licking his lips. “Well, it would seem so. Pity.”

A sudden snapping of his fingers followed, and a final horde of black imps surrounded the Beastmaster, along with a giant bird, just like one he’d summoned in Frostfall. Raymond’s weapon changed to a blade and he struck inward, the lightning scorching each and every enemy there in a dazzling sight. Yet Caleb had already got far into the air. He gave a single look of disgust to Raymond, who looked upwards, before an appraising one to the two sprawled girls followed.

Meredith glared at him. He chuckled.

In a flash of darkness from the bird, he was gone.

There was a moment of silence, and then Meredith saw the black haze around the city disappear, the monsters vanishing from existence now that their master had departed. She breathed out, and her brother transformed his weapon back into a basic blade, sheathing it. He sighed loudly while silence settled on the Metropolis.

“Tempest Squad saved the city!”

“The Corps’ heroes!”

“Three cheers for Tempest Squad!” A cry of great joy rose from the Corps members that had been laid low by the titan. Raymond didn’t care, surveying the area with a studious and concerned expression. He expelled a breath, touching to the spires Meredith had created. He soon noticed Eddie and Emil lying there.

His eyes lit up.

“Eddie? Eddie Montgomery?!” Raymond skated forward, nearly slipping on the ice before he was at Eddie’s side. “What a surprise to see you here! You’re so grown up!”

“H-hey…Ray…” Eddie groaned out, fatigue showing on his face. Raymond reached down and ruffled his hair.

“You the one that did all this street damage? Never thought your Earth Magic could get so powerful. Or that you’d even be in the Metropolis.”

“Wasn’t my magic.” The statement had a profound impact on Raymond, the young man straightening up. Eddie shakily raised a finger, pointing it right at Meredith. Raymond turned.

He looked dumbfounded, and she just grinned at him. All of it was soon followed with a look of tremendous pride, both of them realizing that for her lifelong struggle, Meredith had unlocked her magic potential at last. Raymond skated over, kneeling down again as he held a hand out. Then, the bespectacled man grinned and said, “Been a while, little sis. Good to see you.”

A breath and a pause. Then…

“Sure has.” And she reached forward to clasp his hand, brother and sister reunited at last.