The Long Night

Magic flashed as Kiaki and Velena looked around, both covering one another as they fought through the fog. Exhaustion weighed down their bodies, it was hard to see, and the combined attacks of both Diluvian leaders were whittling down what energy they had. However, despite the pain, they never faltered beneath the onslaught.

They couldn't. Not when so much was at stake.

Velena felt vibrations in the air for another attack.

"Kiaki-dear, toward your left!"

A crystal shield appeared to deflect a black-steel maul downward in response, cracking behind the force as the weapon continued its arc deep into the cobble.

The shockwave shook the entire street.

"To think your strength extends this far even after a few hours of combat." Their minotaurus opponent grunted. "Impressive. I can see why half the world fears you."

Velena tensed as she rose earthen pillars behind her, just in time to block a mist-filled swipe. Rock crumbled as claws gouged out a chunk.

"It's true. They haven't lost their edge despite the slander." Rathgara retreated back into the mist after her failed attack. "Though perhaps it's been dulled a bit by age and exhaustion."

Several brutal swings barreled at them from all angles once the tigrin was clear, bombarding the duo as they tried weaving out of the way.

Kiaki shot back slag bolts in response, buckling the minotaurus' armor and searing skin.

"You should've engaged us earlier then, before the dukedom caused a stir. We could've promised you a far better fight in that case."

As Stahl recovered, Rathgara chuckled—something that'd once been uplifting before this fight—then launched several more stakes of mist at the duo.

"That was exactly the point. If we want to accomplish our goals, it was imperative you weren't at your best."

Velena conjured walls of stone to block the attacks, but a few made it through the defense this time, slamming against armor and drawing blood.

She and Kiaki flinched as a maul followed up.

"Even still," Stahl chuckled, his attack smashing into them like a battering ram. "You're proving to be very difficult. We would've thought that the knight-earl would wear you down a little more."

Kiaki bristled as she tanked the blow for them and bones cracked. Her poleaxe resonated with vita magic in a desperate counterattack, bashing the minotaurus off-balance and down to the street.

"Hypocrites!" she shouted as she cratered the obsidian-haired man cratered into the ground, swinging in an arc into the mist toward Rathgara next.

"Don't tell me the Diluvian colluded with my brother?! That makes no sense! After what he did to people like us? What twisted goal do you have that would require such a disgusting action? And what damned reason could he have for helping you?"

Her attack cut across the approaching tigrin's chest, drawing blood.

"You misunderstand, Vice-Captain!" she snarled. "All we did was nudge things into place for his 'recruitments'. He was nothing more than a pawn. Though thanks for reminding me of him, I'll have to ensure he's properly taken care of once we wrap things up."

Rathgara jumped to slash at Kiaki, mist smashing through a few crystal shields as it rended plate down to her leg. Then, just as the vice-captain was forced to her knees in a yell of pain, she lunged at Velena.

"As for our goal? You two know full well I would never back a cause without merit." A claw was deflected to the side as Velena backed up. "If you want to understand, join us. Bring the worldwalkers to our side. It's not too late before we use the artifact, we can still work together to—"

Diamond abruptly slammed her backward onto Stahl, more of it rising upward around the cultists. Before they could recover, Rathgara and Stahl had been trapped within its confines.

"There, that should buy us some time," Kiaki said, panting as her leg bled to the stone. "We need to talk."

Velena sighed at her wife's action, using the brief reprieve to heal their wounds as they exchanged thoughts.

"If this is about Rathgara's offer then don't be swayed. Whatever their goal is, it's not worth the butchering of thousands."

She shook her head as healing waters stretched around her form. "It's not about joining them, it's what was just said: 'before we use the artifact.' Did you hear that?"

Velena's expression dropped as it registered.

"…It seems a few of our guesses was correct then. That's unfortunate."

"Which makes it even more vital the worldwalkers not fall into their hand, not if they have the ability to utilize those accursed things."

Kiaki motioned toward the cathedral in a grimace as flesh formed back into place. "Speaking of, that pulse of power from before—the one that felt like divine aura. Do you think that those two are safe?"

"Considering we're still fighting? I'd hazard so. Though there's not much we can do now while we're occupied."

Velena frowned over toward the diamond prison growing cracks with each second. "We can check once our fight with these ones is over. For now, all we can do trust is that our training served them well, and that the wards will do their job with those traitors gone."

She glimpsed toward the northern reaches with its approaching storm clouds, continuing her thoughts as she healed other parts of her wife.

"I have another concern though. I felt a presence coming from the Galelands into town earlier. Who do you think it might be, another Diluvian?"

Kiaki had to pause for a moment to answer, breathing heavily as bone weaved together.

"I'm unsure. However, if the worldwalkers are still safe, I highly doubt it. If anything, it's possible that they're here to help, though for what reason I can't hazard a guess."

Velena's nodded as she mended a wound to her wife's breast, noting the gash torn from her chest plate. "Fair. It's best to look on the bright side. Anything would honestly help with how large the Diluvian's raid was this time."

They exchanged the slightest of smiles in pants as the last healing seeped in.

However, before they could breathe more, diamond was split open by a furred fist and black-steel maul, wind bursting forth from the break.

"Had enough conversation?" Stahl asked, rising from the shattered prison with a grumble. "No idea what you were saying, but if it was about the worldwalkers, you'd be correct to worry. Reathe plans quite thoroughly."

Velena immediately took up her stance at the half-elementaling's mention, conjuring roots from the pavement to surround them.

"Just what are you talking about? I know how conniving that fiend can be, but how is that relevant—"

She cut herself off as realization dawned.

Rathgara let out a breath as she and Stahl readied themselves for another bout. "Finally understand? I apologize for the underhandedness of this operation, but it's necessary for the wellbeing of this world. With both of us and Reathe here, our task is but guaranteed, so lay down your arms now or—"

A volley of water bullets shot at the cult leaders, surging through the air like a torrent.

"It's good to know that some things never change, Rathgara. You still run your mouth in honesty. Thank you for confirming who's involved tonight. It doesn't ease our worries, but it gives us a scope of who we have to defeat."

Velena continued blasting as sweat streamed down her face, one after another in a relentless barrage. Armor, robes, muscle, and fur were bombarded in pain, only stopping once the strain to keep it up became unbearable.

Rathgara and Stahl grimaced after the barrage ceased, their pained expressions dropping somewhere between growls and acceptance as blood dripped from their wounds.

"Don't grasp hope so tightly," Stahl said first in a rumble. "Even if you repel us and foil the capture the worldwalkers, there are contingencies already in motion. Divine essence will be ours regardless."

Rathgara readied herself looking at Velena. "Stahl is right, our victory is close. Our dirtied hands will bring suffering to an end. Can you say the same thing while beneath the dukedom? Or will you continue to be oppressed, hiding away a potential key to all of our freedom—"

A blast of earth slammed into her jaw to shut her up.

The tigrin's brow flattened. "…I understand that we may not agree, but to keep interrupting my sentences? You can be so damn catty, Velena."

She raised another attack to respond with, but her wife lunged first, smirking before engaging on her behalf.

"Then you should say something of substance." Kiaki attacked, weapon humming in energy to igniting the atmosphere.

"Because those two are more than just keys. They'll be heroes."