Two O'clock

A tall place? Check. An iconic place? Check. I felt somewhat confident that someone as showy and ostentatious as Two would choose that sort of place as her observation spot.

Realizing something else, I directed my hand to the side and zapped an annoying mosquito that I only noticed because I was specifically looking for it.

The bug raised sparks and smoke as it fell to the ground.

“What was…” mumbled Kai, looking at me as we ran.

“All this time, she literally bugged us,” I said, gritting my teeth and cursing myself for not noticing this sooner. “That’s how she always knew where to find us!”

On our way we met further Two clones, but beat them handily.

Finally I could see it again—Shellkeep’s famed clock tower. It wasn’t as impressive as the rumors claimed, but then again, I came from a world with skyscrapers.

As if timed to our arrival, the clock started chiming. It was now two o’clock.

Was there some cosmic joke in there, too?

From where we stood it was impossible to see if she really was standing on the top, but I was convinced of it. This unfortunately meant it was time for a painful decision.

“Saga,” I said. “I’ll have you fly there. That’d be a nice surprise attack she probably won’t expect.”

“Yes,” she said, not a shred of hesitation in her voice.

“Wait, are you sending her there alone?” asked Kai in shock.

“My spell won’t last if I send all of us there, and as much as I want to do it by myself…” I swallowed. “I know Saga’s our best bet. I won’t be able to maintain it for long or see what you’re doing there, though.”

“Do it,” she said.

I nodded. As much as I wanted the credit, if anyone at all had to beat Two alone—it was fine for it to be Saga.

“Go and slay her,” I said, tapping her surprisingly thin shoulder. Immediately Saga took off to the sky and we could no longer see her. I focused on maintaining my spell while gazing above.

“I don’t know if this was the smart move…”

“Oh, we’re obviously going to follow from below. Let’s see if we can figure out how to reach the top!”

Unfortunately, before we could even move, I understood my mistake—and the fact that we were the ones caught by surprise.

“—I knew you’d fall for my decoy,” said an amused voice from nearby. Kai yelped and was suddenly grabbed.

I turned around in horror to see a situation not unlike what happened a few days prior.

While Kai was taller than the woman, she still grabbed his hand, causing him to drop his bow, while another placed the knife against his throat.

“Damn… we’ve been had,” Kai hissed.

Two herself cackled. That laughter was starting to annoy me. “You’ve left yourself way too open, boys. I do applaud you for falling for my trap, though.”

“Let him go,” I said, trying to sound confident. “You want a fight? I’ll give it to you. But stop being a coward!”

She laughed. “This isn’t about cowardice. I’m trying to teach you a lesson, sweetie. Although it doesn’t seem like you understand…”

How could I? What I could understand, however, was that things looked dire. Just like last time, I had no spells which would meaningfully hit only Two while sparing her victim, or at least not give her enough time to hurt him.

Was Saga my only hope?

“And don’t even think about the woman. My lovely doppelganger’s keeping her busy right now.” As if she was reading my thoughts, she cruelly denied my chances. And then laughed again. “I will give you a choice.”

“A choice…?”

“Don’t listen to her, C! It’s probably just a tri—gah!”

I gasped as she took the knife and stabbed Kai with it. Fortunately not in the throat or anything, but blood still gushed from his shoulder, and it looked very painful.

“No talking from you, boy,” she hissed at him with a toxic smile. “Your silver tongue will not work on me. —Now, where were we? Right, a choice. I will not avoid any of your attacks. However, I will keep Kai close by… and my knife feels a little slippery. You should be able to take me out. However, you’ll be taking out your little ‘friend’ here as well. Well, what do you say?”

“What… that’s crazy,” I said. “You’re insane! What are you playing at?”

Not trying to even deny it, Two unleashed a hideous laughter that sounded completely unhinged. Even Kai looked disturbed while still in her grasp and under her mercy.

“Choose, C!” she called, taking some steps back. “If you want to, I can take him along with me and we’ll postpone this show for now… or you kill me now! Do it if you can!”

I was honestly speechless.

What did any of this mean? She looked like this was nothing more than a game for her. Was she betting on me not killing my own comrade? Was she confident I’d never hurt her if it meant sacrificing Kai as well?

…I wondered about that.

The guy was at times utterly insufferable.

He was a total chick magnet without even trying. Popular, athletic, all-around nice guy… He ruined many of my chances and was in general an asshole.

Then again, he was also my only friend in the world, for all that counted.

And I was jealous of him. Obviously.

It might make me sound like a horrible person… but part of me thought that this sacrifice was fine. Even with the excuse that it would take down the evil Two.

But I had to be better than that, right?

“Well? Ready to fight me?” Two yelled.

“Yes!” I said. “Don’t worry, Kai… I’ll save you!”

Kai’s face did not look relieved in the least at my declaration. And to be honest I had no concrete plan, either.

Could I dual wield a damaging spell and a healing spell to kill Two while at the same time saving Kai from my attack? Sounds dubious.

There had to be something. Some way to separate them so I could deal a blow… however, not even any of the spells Jarred taught me seemed able to do that. Even of those that might, they pretty much required me to touch the target.

“Two!”

My attention was taken away by a nearby shout. Or rather than nearby—it came from above. Looking up, I could see something right at the top of the clock tower.

“I’m coming to get you!”

Saga leapt over the edge.