Someone charged at Stathis, and she slammed her shield into them, knocking them backwards, with enough force to smash them against an ornamental pillar. It rocked and swayed before falling over, the bust on top shattering when it hit the floor. The person’s skin started to melt and shift, Stathis thrusting down at them with her sword, sacred power glowing along the blade.

It slid into their chest, puncturing into muscles and slicing through bone, making them cough up blood and black goo, their body still shifting and melting. She drew the bladed upwards, slicing through their shoulder and up into the bottom of their neck, then flicked her wrist to try and sever their head. It was already regenerating, the head held on by thin strands of flesh.

Then they twitched and spasmed, black lines of energy flowing out from their body, their skin withering and fading into dust, leaving just their bones. Stathis turned to see Armoniki, looking satisfied, an arm reached out, dark motes of energy fading into their skin.

‘Hmph. So inelegant.’ Skotadi looked unimpressed, her robes shifting, arcane runes and symbols streaking over the surface. ‘Even in times of strife, then…’

A yell sounded from above, someone leaning over the internal balcony and shooting a bow, Stathis raising her shield, the arrow thudding into it.

‘You can discuss style later! We need to get upstairs.’ She could hear the fire, crackling and roaring above them, smoke streaming upwards. ‘Janaxia, keep an eye out for anything that might be dangerous. And the two of you – don’t wreck anything, but if you see anything you can drain or depower, do that, as there’s probably something dangerous going on. And try not to get into fights.’

Armoniki stepped into a shadow, starting to fade from vision. Skotadi changed her clothing, forming armour that was even more ornamental than Janaxia’s, more like ornamental grillwork rather than anything functional. Stathis opened her mouth to object, but Janaxia was quicker, putting a hand on Skotadi’s shoulder and staring at her. There was a brief and unheard contest of wills, before Skotadi surrendered, her clothing reforming into something vaguely more practical.

‘Stay behind me, and be careful.’ There was a wide marble staircase ahead of them, and Stathis charged upwards. A scream sounded from above, another body slamming into the floor with a sickening impact. ‘If that’s you, Semari, watch out! We’re down here!’

‘Then get your asses up here!’

Stathis glanced up – thick, black smoke was broiling from the upper floors, along with the sounds of combat. She could see that the landing wound around, with another staircase at the end. There was nothing for it but to keep going, running upwards, hoping they could get to the top quickly!

Magical runes flashed into existence, a cold aura sucking at Stathis’ body, trying to slow her down. She powered through, and then the field broke, the runes blinking out of existence. She “heard” a telepathic murmur of satisfaction, but couldn’t tell which of the two had been responsible.

Someone burst out of a doorway, a blade in hand, and swung at Stathis. She raised her shield to block, feeling the strength of their attack, her own blade lashing backwards. Eldritch blasts hurtled from behind her, peppering their body with impacts, slamming them into the wall with enough force to crack the plaster.

They tried to protect themselves, but Stathis was faster, impaling them through the chest, blood oozing up and soaking down their chest. That wasn’t enough to kill them, the wounds already starting to close, but Janaxia stepped past, raising her sword-stick and bringing it down on their skull. Although the strike wasn’t that forceful, the wood glowed with a black light, smacking against their skull. Their eyes opened wide, a rattling gasp coming from their chest, their skin starting to wither and draw close against their bones.

Stathis didn’t stick around to watch as their body withered away into dust, already moving ahead, ready to fight. She smashed against the wall, using it to check her momentum on a tight corner, taking the staircase two at a time.

Now she was on the top level, opposite doors from which streamed with thick, black smoke. She could see movement, fast and furious, the smoke too thick to make out any details, and could hear the crackle of flame, feeling a heat against her skin.

An explosion shattered the air, the wall shattering into shrapnel, masonry pinging off her armour. The flow of smoke got more intense, a flaming figure swinging oversized fists, leaving a trail of orange flame as it moved. Around it was a fiery inferno, a wizard’s lab, but with everything burning. Something exploded, a toxic-looking burst of green smoke adding itself to the thick haze. A lash of energy sliced through the smoke, and Stathis caught a glimpse of a robed figure, a metallic rod in their hand, before the smoke flowed back into the space, hiding them from sight.

The flaming shape roared, a bellow of heat making Stathis start to sweat. The light and heat made her eyes sting, but a smaller figure was dodging around it, Semari evading the attacks, although her clothing looked a little singed. Arrows shot out of the smoke, with enough force to blow the smoke away, clattering off the walls.

‘You three, be careful and lend support if you can!’

She ran towards the smoke and flame, watching as Semari jumped backwards, flaming fists sending up an explosion of burning shrapnel from the floor. Stathis waved her sword, trying to part the smoke and make it easier to see, slicing her sword towards the flaming figure. Even getting that close made the heat almost unbearable! Her sword ripped away a whisper of flame, the yellow glow winking out as it was severed from the main body – did the thing even care?

Semari’s face and arms were shiny with sweat, reflecting the flames from the creature. She tried punching forward, but was driven back by how hot it was.

‘Too damn hot! I can’t get close! Stab it for me!’

Stathis swung her sword through its centre of mass, feeling resistance, her blade catching and slowing on something before coming out the other side. Heat transmitted itself down the blade, the metal starting to glow redder, conducting itself into her gauntlets. It growled, spitting up motes of fire, setting fire to a table, parchment notes catching on fire.

‘Where’s the wizard?’

A concussive blast struck her from behind, making her stumble forward, into the flaming creature. Heat flared all around her, biting at her skin, her hair starting to ignite. She flailed with her sword, trying to step through and out onto the other side, even the burning air now seeming cool in comparison, as she healed herself.

When she spun around, she could see, on the other side of the flaming pillar, the robed figure, hood down to reveal a narrow, drawn face, holding up a strangely-constructed rod, black metal gleaming along one edge of the wood, coming to a savage-looking ridged tip, set around a red gem. He bent his fingers into a mystic shape, multiple spheres of darkness appearing, before they shot out towards Stathis. She managed to move her shield into position, but two of the spheres simply punched through, both slamming into her chest and knocking her backwards, into the smoke.

‘Semari! Deal with him, I’ll take the elemental!’ She hooked a foot around a table to steady herself, then tugged her leg, sending it forward, towards the burning figure. The vials and bottles on the table slid forward, some falling off the table and shattering, acrid fumes adding themselves to the smoke, making Stathis gag, before charging back forwards. She could feel the smoke getting to her, cutting off her air, making her body slower and weaker.

The fire elemental seemed to be missing any face, or obvious targets to attack, but she sliced her sword through it, cutting away long streamers of fire. Was that making the central mass any smaller? She couldn’t tell! It lunged for Semari who backflipped away.

Behind her, a wizard’s duel had developed, blasts and bolts flickering through the air between Peresperan and the others, magical power making the air crackle and shimmer. Both Skotadi and Armoniki were hiding behind Janaxia, who had her teeth gritted, flinging out bolts. A shadowy barrier was protecting them, absorbing some of the attacks heading their way, but more got through, slamming into Janaxia and knocking her backwards.

Semari jumped at Peresperan, fist coming back for a punch. He managed to twist, bringing the blade-rod up to slice at her, cutting it across her chest. The gem flashed red, lines of crackling energy pulling themselves from Semari’s chest and arcing through the air, landing in the gem. He flicked his wrist and then they shot back, the lightning now edged in red and black. The unearthly lights hit Semari, making her rise up in the air, her body tense and crackling with energy, limbs held at painful-looking angles.

Stathis raised her shield just in time to block a swinging punch from the elemental, feeling heat lick and lash around her shield, sucking away even more air. Her head was pounding now, her vision starting to narrow – she needed air!

When she tried to sidestep the flame, it moved with her, growling and spitting embers. Stathis winced, and then charged through it. The heat was even worse now, her armour not having cooled off since last time, the heat conducting itself through her padding into her skin, making her skin prickle and burn.

In front of her, Semari writhed in pain, suspended in the air by spiralling energy, her body painfully tense. She slowly managed to raise her hands, before slamming them together in a loud clap, breaking herself free of the enchantment, and dropping to the floor. Her clothing was now even more singed and battered, her skin reddened and raw.

She hissed in pain, part of her clothing falling off, burned beyond saving. When she tried to jump at Peresperan, he swung the rod, sending a concussive pulse-wave through the air and knocking her backwards.

Stepping through the fire hurt, her skin starting to burn and peel, her healing not fast enough to keep up with the fierce heat. Even swinging her sword to try and clear the thick haze from her way didn’t help much, the fire rumbling and growling around her, her armour getting hotter and hotter.

Skotadi stepped out from behind Janaxia, her fingers blurring through an arcane pattern, a skein of darkness appearing between her fingers, and then shooting forward. Where it touched Peresperan’s barrier, it clung in place, glowing with a red glare, starting to dissolve through it, the bubble of energy getting noticeably thinner, although it was still able to absorb another barrage of bolts from Janaxia.

Another step, and Stathis was clear of the fire creature, but a tendril of fire lashed around her waist, hot enough to burn through her armour, searing her skin. She swung behind herself, trying to clear some space, feeling slight resistance. Her gauntlet was starting heat up, scorching her palm, but she managed to keep hold of her sword.

‘Foolish sister! You should have sworn fealty to me!’ Peresperan turned to Janaxia, levelling the rod at her. Energy glowed on the tip, gathering into a large sphere, before a beam shot forth. It pierced Janaxia through the chest, shooting through her and out the other side, disappearing into the smoke.

She staggered backwards, face ashen and grey, veins dark and twisting on her skin, pulsing with dark energy, before raising a hand, fingers bent and twisted. She spoke a single word, spiked-edged tones echoing around the place, audible even over the crackling fire. Just the echoes were enough to make Stathis’ bones tingle, sending spikes of second-hand agony through her.

Peresperan gasped, red lines tracing over his veins, making them stand out, his breathing now ragged and pained.

‘So, you have… learned much, my sister… But you were ever the weaker of us, and that… has not changed.’ A line of energy appeared from the rod, and he raised his arm to send it lashing forward.

Semari charged into him, jumping onto his shoulders and bringing both of her fists down into his face, then tipping her body backwards to flip him onto the floor while twisting her legs. Bones cracked as he tumbled over, Semari tightening her body up to keep the lock on, grabbing an arm and wrenching it, probably dislocating joints. Magical energy shimmered, a black-laced flow of air cutting into Semari and driving her backwards.

Peresperan was struggling to rise, a tornado of dark energy now obvious around him. One of his arms was obvious dislocated, dangling limply at his side. He flicked his other wrist, sending the whip-lash snaking forward to hit Semari. It slashed against her, latching hold and pulling more black lightning from her body.

‘When I have defeated your minion, then you will be next!’

‘I think not, my brother. Today you will be broken – you may kneel to me, or you will face nothing but the taste of oblivion!’ Janaxia’s hair was billowing now, her red lash flaring crimson, eyes dark and bright. She spoke a rapid series of un-words, a long tendril of darkness shooting out from her hand and grabbing hold of Peresperan. He was pulled forward, and then a dome of impenetrable darkness appeared, everyone inside disappearing from view. The sounds of magical combat could be heard, short, clipped words sounding out. Semari was dragged forward, still attached by the lash, running to accelerate as she plunged into the dark sphere as well.

Unable to see, Stathis turned back to the fire elemental. She had to take several steps backwards, trying not to trip over knocked-over magical apparatus, unable to bear any more heat. She tried kicking a chair at it, but the thin wood vanished in a puff of char and ash, not even slowing the thing down.

More swings of her blade sent ribbons and trails of flame licking away from the main body, but it didn’t seem deterred, reaching towards her with flaming fists again. Even blocking the attacks sent another heatwave of flame over her body – if this went on much longer, she’d be cooked inside her armour! She backed away, before lunging in and skewering it through the centre of it’s body, slicing upwards, creating a corona of flames. The backing fires intensified, the ceiling now catching alight as well, the heat finally too much for the dense wood.

The floor beneath her creaked, some of the boards collapsing, falling into the room below. She could see the supporting struts, starting to char from the intense heat. She ducked low, feeling another fist-strike swoosh over her head, the heat making her dizzy. But the gap was large enough that she could swing her sword, cutting into the rafter beneath. Her sword bit into the wood, burning with a clear, white light, as she dragged it backwards, feeling the wood give way beneath the sharp edge. It started to crack, unable to bear the weight bearing down on it.

Stathis moved backwards, waddling awkwardly, staying crouched low and slashing downwards again, hearing the creaks and groans get louder. From within the sphere of darkness, Stathis could hear intense chanting, the surface rippling and bubbling, different from the usual smooth curve.

The fire creature roared, the wave of heat blasting Stathis’ hair around, evaporating the sweat off her forehead. It stepped forward, striding over the crack, the edges now fully aflame.

Metal thudded into wood, arrows embedding into floor, shooting through the amorphous body. They forced it backwards, punching holes through the flaming body, although they quickly reformed.

The crack suddenly widened and gave way with a shattering crack, becoming large enough to swallow up the elemental. It dropped down to the next floor, the heat becoming less viciously intense, as it howled in anger.

Before it could climb up, Stathis retreated, looking around for Parth – she was squatting on the staircase going up to the rooftop, energy winding around her bow, another arrow nocked.

Stathis moved towards the dome of darkness, unsure how to proceed. When she tried poking the darkness with her sword, the surface bubbled and seethed, tendrils lashing out at her, forcing her back. She could pick out different chants and spells, bursts of energy exploding outwards, flares of fire and ice. What was happening inside there?

She looked up at Parth, who shrugged, an arrow still nocked and ready, pointed into the darkness. At least she hadn’t shot it yet!

BEGONE! It was both Skotadi and Armoniki, broadcasting a savage bark. The sphere of darkness exploded outwards, sliding over Stathis. After the blistering fire, the all-consuming chill was almost welcome, cooling her off, even as it blinded her. She tried to stay still, shield up, not wanting to risk tripping and stumbling while blinded.

And then, just as suddenly, it was gone, light, and heat, rushing back. Janaxia was stood in front of Skotadi and Armoniki, arms spread protectively, her skin still pale and grey, fingers twisted into spell-casting positions, arcane power flickering around her. Semari was on the floor, her flesh marked with deep rents and a winding black ribbon, slashed into her skin. There was no sign of Peresperan.

Parth was still keeping her arrow trained on them as Stathis ran forward, checking on Semari – she was still breathing, but her body was tense, her eyes staring vaguely upwards. Golden light shone out as Stathis healed her, and then Semari inhaled convulsively, spitting up blood-stained spit. Stathis picked her up and threw her over a shoulder. The rod had fallen to the floor, the whip-cord now physical, metallic and shiny.

‘Is he dead?

Janaxia frowned, looking uncertainly, as Skotadi and Armoniki glanced at each other and smiled, Skotadi speaking, brushing her disrupted hair back into shape. ‘He will not be a problem any more.’ She smiled, her fangs gleaming. Armoniki chuckled, the two of them suddenly looking akin for once. They both moved at the same time, holding a hand up and the whip-cord starting to fade into black dust, streaming towards the two of them, the rod falling apart.

‘I’ll take your word for it. Is there anything else you want to do here? I’m not sure how much longer the place will last. And I’m hoping that the building collapsing will be enough to deal with the fire elemental!’

The creaking, groaning of wood and plaster got louder, more of the floor collapsing, angry howls coming from below.

‘Can you do anything about that?’

‘Hmmm, perhaps it would be best to be elsewhere, yes. I would hope that enough physical damage would deal with the thing – it would certainly be easier than another confrontation with what seems to be quite a powerful manifestation of raw elemental energy. I would propose a strategy of watchful waiting, more specifically from a nearby café. If the creature should survive the collapse, then we can deal with it, and we will have the advantage of at least a short rest. And if it doesn’t, then, well, all the better. And I think that myself and these two are both deserving of a reward, wouldn’t you agree?’

‘Let’s get a move on! I don’t know how much longer this place can hold up.’ The creaks and groans were getting even louder now, Parth already dropping down and starting to run down the stairs, vanishing into the smoke. ‘Get moving!’

Janaxia managed an inelegant, but very useful, haste, Armoniki keeping up, Skotadi taking a few steps before hastening her own stride, skirt shortening to allow greater speed. Stathis bought up the rear, Semari on her shoulder, hoping that bumping her down the stairs wouldn’t cause any other injuries.