Clos runs across the outer bridge of
the fourth level in the city. It's only a thin bridge without a railing that was
designed for construction purposes more than travel, but for the moment it is
serving as a route for retreat. Behind him there are city guards giving chase.
As he's about to reach the other side he sees more troops approaching. He stops
realizing continuing forward will only get him more trapped. When he looks back
though, the city guards are already almost on top of him. Still trying to avoid
conflict Clos leaps off the edge. There is no third floor beneath this area so
he doesn't land until he hits the second level. The drop is fairly hard on his
body causing him to roll slightly. If he was a human, or this wasn't the night
of a full moon, he might not have been able to handle it so well. However under
the current circumstances, he is able to shake it off simply enough and starts
moving again.
Elsewhere in the city, Bacard runs
the crystal sword through a warrior mage of the second order. The blade becomes
stuck in the body though. Bacard kicks him into a blood goblin. Quickly he takes
a step back drawing the long sword he carries at his side. This is the same long
sword which Angel once faced during their duel. His step back was not out of
fear, but to help shield Ilsa. As he draws the sword he parries a knife wielded
by a Shadow-Walker. There are so many enemies and they all just keep coming.
Their like roaches. Ilsa is behind him limiting his movement options. She may
have cast some invisible magical armor on herself to help keep her safe, but
she's still his responsibility. He won't let anything happen to her. Besides,
he still needs her. It is her magical orb of light over their heads which is
allowing him to still fight these Shadow-Walkers. If it wasn't for that, they'd
be nearly impossible to see in the night like this.
She said she cast one of those
invisible armor things on him as well, but he's not going to put all his faith
in something he can't see or feel, even if he has faith in her. Instead he'll
have faith in his skill and his unwavering determination. This isn't a fight to
take them out in one hit; this is a war of attrition. He's exhausted, but that
fact doesn't matter right now. He won't let anything happen to her, and he won't
lose. Since his movement options are so limited, that means he needs a different
strategy for defense. In this case, the best defense is a strong offense. As the
enemies come rushing in towards them, he shouts out, "Come on! I'll take you all
on" He quickly splits the long sword into two separate blades and swings them
outward in a half circle slashing at all of them.
Meanwhile, Elegon releases a fire
ball at an enemy. As he comes out of the move he realizes there are more moving
in to take that one's place. In just a matter a few seconds he's surrounded.
Elegon just smiles. Suddenly a Circle of Flame bursts around him catching all
his attackers within the fire. One of the attackers burst through the flames.
The burning victim charges right at Elegon, ignoring all pain. In honor of its
courage, and its stupidity, Elegon raises his sword and drives it right into the
creature's jugular. Its pain is over quickly.
Not much farther away, Valice is
fighting a troll mercenary. A ball of fire burns over both of their heads
illuminating the area in case of Shadow-Walker presence. It seems that the elf
Brianne is after and whoever else had the keys sure brought a lot of help.
Valice slashes the throat of the troll causing it to fall over backwards. It
hits the ground with a loud thud from their enormous weight.
As Valice moves forward his attention
is caught by something in the alleyway. He starts to think to himself, 'Could
that really be him?' His thoughts are answered. Cutting down a large demon the
individual which Valice saw can now clearly be seen. It is Maes, the man who is
known well at their school. His red hair and the scar over his eye make him easy
to recognize. There were conflicts on the way he left the school and there is
still bad blood there among many of the students as a result, but right now
Valice is happy to see another warrior he can trust.
Maes approaches Valice, "You'll have
to forgive the lack of formalities right now. Four of the other guards and I are
trying our best to help. Luckily our lord was out on a drinking spree so we were
out when this all happened."
Valice asks, "I appreciate the help,
but speaking of your lord shouldn't you be protecting him right now?"
Maes answers, "I had a few of the
other guards take him to safety. I figure the best way to protect him will be to
help clear these pests from the city."
Valice smiles at the comment. If
there is one thing Maes appears to know how to do it's to follow the rules that
duty and honor demand, but at the same time still follow his heart. That's a
balance that Valice has never learned to do effectively himself. He has only
been able to do one or the other. Before it had always been his duty, brought up
to be an honorable warrior protect and serve a lord with pride and dignity, but
since he met Brianne things changed for him. While he is still a man of pride
and dignity, traits that have become a part of his very being, when he's around
her he finds he can follow his heart. However, in exchange though, his
dedication to duty has wavered. Unless he can soon find a balance like Maes, the
time will come that he must choose between duty and his heart. As things stand
now, his heart would win.
Clos turns a corner as he flees his
pursuers. However, this turn seems to be a dead end. He quickly stops and turns
around. Unfortunately his exit is already blocked off. His heart to fight is
still wavering, torn between survival and hurting people that may be innocent.
The lead of the guards blocking off
his path approaches, holding a military fork in hand. Clos takes a step back
trying to keep some distance. The guard smiles, "Scared wolf? Good. You should
be. Because you're going to burn just like those kids and that elf --"
The eyes of Clos go wide the word
used to describe her. His mind flashes back to that night when his wife and
children died and their screams of agony. There were guards laughing at the
time. The horror of the fact is reflected in the eyes of Clos now. Suddenly, his
hesitation is gone. Clos undoes his sword belt and drops it to the ground.
Gloatingly the guard adds, "Giving
up? Glad to know you've already lost."
Clos takes off the red trench coat
and lets that hit the floor too. In an almost eerily calm voice he replies,
"Giving up? No, I'm not giving up. I'm giving in."
The guard asks, "Giving in? Giving in
to what?"
Clos glares at the guard. The look in
the eyes of Clos is that of a man intent to kill as he says, "To the wolf inside
me. He's been calling to get out." Suddenly Clos starts to transform into the
giant sized wolf. All the people start to move back in fear of the sight. It's
almost amazing how shocked they react. This entire time they've been hunting him
because of what he is, and yet they've never seen it until right now. Stories of
it and seeing the real thing are not a true comparison. Unlike his previous
transformation at his mansion with Angel, this time he is in control. It may not
be the same rational control of his human form, but he's not just some mindless
beast this time. The two are one, man and beast in one form, against one enemy.
Clos pounces forward and attacks.
Elsewhere, in the mansion of the
Vunte House there is a motionless hand on the ground. Blood is pouring out onto
the rug. Young Bacice and the doll are no longer present.
