They both immediately could feel the shift in aura as they came out of the woods and upon the last village attacked. Their feet shifting beneath the sand that covered the ground of the entire village. The damage to the buildings looked as though they had been hit by a sandstorm. But that was next to impossible to happen since there wasn't an even a beach remotely close to the area.
Rin knelt down again as he picked up a handful of the sand and let it fall through his fingers.
"Magically imbued, as I thought. This is the work of our rogue mage." Rin said standing now "He's close..." he muttered to himself now
Xylia's eyes widened as she looked on in horror unable to believe one person could do much damage. The destroyed and damaged houses and buildings only contained bloodstains and sand. Not a single body could be found.
But it was this very sight of carnage that made her understand even the very delicate nature of magic. But she would be lying if she said she wasn't afraid. Afraid of such destructive power, power she herself had, the power to freeze everything around her, she did not want this gift nor ask for it.
"Magic is not often the fix many think it is. It comes at price, whether you can pay it or not is irrelevant, it takes its piece. Often awakening in times of crisis, anxiety, raw emotions, stress... basically, being human." He said walking onward before coming to a stop and looking back at her as she was truly in awe of this
He now continued to move on as they followed a trail only Rin himself could seemingly track. They moved out the village and back towards the mountains now, finding a hidden path, Rin feeling the lingering traces of this sand mage's aura. But it started to become a little more present as they now moved along the face of a rock wall
"We're getting close now. Be on your guard, remember your training." He said seriously as they came to a break where a waterfall was and a vast ravine that dipped down
As they moved closer. Rin felt a large spike in aura and immediately grabbed Xylia throwing themselves back. A large explosion of sand burst out from the waterfall now.
As they fell backwards Xylia felt her breath quicken as they plummeted rapidly. Anticipating when they would hit the ground. Rin taking her in his arm as she clung to him tightly now trusting him to land safely.
"I GOT YOU! LOOK AT ME! I GOT YOU!" Rin shouted as she looked at him with pure terror but nodded as they they continued to fall, burying her head in his shoulder now she waited for the worst
Rin gathered aura of his own, using it to slow their descent and manipulate the air enough. As the ground came faster he braced his feet and hardened them like gems. The earth spell on top of the wind spell cushioned their land but making a sizable crater.
"Breathe, deeply. You have to be able to keep calm in battle." He said helping her up swiftly as she was still panting
This is what all their training had been for. Now she understood why he was so harsh in getting her to understand. In moments like this she would not have time to catch her breath, she would have think and act on the fly and make in the moment decisions.
More sand came bursting out getting their attention. The way it moved and exploded outward, it was truly a sight to behold. A man in red robes with red shaggy hair, and glowing orange eyes of fury stepped forward. He was wheezing some from using so much power to control the sand.
"So this is who they send? A one armed traitor and his apprentice. I expected a whole squad of Holy Knights to be marching." The man said as the sand swirled and moved with him as though it were alive
"Well you should understand most all. Politics. Can't have too much noise being made. But I haven't come to give peace, though you must be well aware." Rin said drawing his sword now
"The old man trained you well too then." The rogue mage said as the sand seemed to contract more before exploding out
Rin reacting first as he activated a wind spell to increase his movement speed, simple but effective. Xylia reacted on instinct as well dropping the temperature rapidly and causing the sand coming at her to freeze. With his own strength Rin now slashed at the Rogue mage only to be blocked by a blast of red sand. Upon contact Rin could tell and feel all he needed.
'Sand mixed with metal deposits and gems, crushed and broken down, and blood.. it's all this sand craves..'
Another wave blasted at him forcing him to use both a wind and earth spell simultaneously, earth to further strengthen his foot and wind to make him soar even higher. Taking off he caused a momentary quake of the ground as it imploded from the sheer force of his jump.
"HAAAAAH!!!" The rogue mage cried out as a new wave of sand launched its way at Rin
Xylia froze even more of the sand. The look her eyes was one of determination.
"You..." the sand user growled and began breaking down the ground around him more, grinding and turning it into sand and launching it at her now
Rin immediately slamming into him and knocking him into the face of a rocky wall. The pair stood ready as another wave of sand blasted at them. Rin inhaled deeply exhaled spewing out a jet of water from his mouth, Xylia matching and mimicking his style exhaling a blast of cold breath that instantly froze. Water and ice together, clashing against the sand caused to soak and freeze. Making it useless.
Rin moved in another flash leaving another crater where he stood. Delivering a powerful slash with his sword he began swinging at the rogue mage who dodged expertly each incoming attack. Rin surprising him with by inhaling rapidly and spewing out a torrent of fire from his mouth. The rogue blocking immediately with a slab of earth jutting from the ground as he manipulated more earth around him. Creating a landslide of the rock wall. Together Rin slammed his foot down on the ground hard and dragged creating a large crater and gash causing the ground infront of him to rumble and quake, all the while Xylia gathered her strength and brought her arms down causing the temperature to drop rapidly again. These two spells combined stopped the incoming avalanche. As she fell to a knee now feeling the strain of using up so much aura at once, feeling that container inside of her emptying with each attack.
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"Remember what I taught you, use your environment to your advantage." Rin said as he helped her up slowly "It's more than just about using that aura in the air, take it in." He reminded her as she focused her breathing swiftly, taking slow deep breaths as she could feel the mountain air all around her rejuvenating her body
Xylia understood even more so now. Magic was a mental tax, but it was also just as physically demanding. Practically every muscle in her body ached. This why Rin pushed her so hard to build up her stamina. It really did take its piece, but it only invigorated her more to push herself harder.
They both immediately felt and witnessed as the frozen avalanche began to shift and crumble into sand now. They both could not believe what they were witnessing. As it swirled up and around the rogue mage his breathing was even more strained and looked like he barely was able to stand. The look in his eyes was even more crazed, his mind was all but deteriorated. The magic was slowly gaining sentience through this one's body.
Xylia could feel it most of all. The look on her face contorting to one of true shock and disgust, witnessing the true horror of what untamed and uncontrolled magic did to the person. She would not allow this to befall her. She would not allow this monstrosity to hurt anyone else. She poured more aura into her next attack and clapping her hands together making the icy wind snap at the rogue's wall of sand and shatter it. But once again f
The ground beneath her feet began to crumble now, her reaction to this too slow for Rin's liking as he hurled a large gust of wind at her and sent her flying back into a large shrubbery near the trees that bordered the open space they did battle on now.
Rin now moving again as he charged the sand mage again.
"Go! I'll hold him off!" Rin said as drove the sand user further into the mountain's ravine now
Xylia had rushed forward after regaining her breath and able to get up. But Rin was already gone. She could feel the intense sparks of aura crashing, hear the sounds of explosions and magic, feel the shaking of the mountains, all happening so rapidly. Truly frightening her how good Rin must really be.
She exhaled through her nose running for the high ground to find where they had been knocked from initially. She knew she couldn't help Rin now, but just as well something else was drawing her here. The way the last village had been attacked, wasn't normal, this sand mage was after something. Only taking food, medicine and clothes. He was hiding something, or someone.
'Another like him? Could this be a whole coven of some sort?' Xylia though as she made it back to the waterfall
Now moving slowly she stretched out with her mind and aura feeling the entrance to the cave. She could feel the faint presence of another, their aura flickering and small. Xylia now only more confused and concerned, but her instincts telling her what she needed to know.
'A child?' She thought now as she approached the mouth of the hidden cave
Wandering further in and maneuvering around the rocky formation she followed the warmth of a fire nearby, rounding a corner she saw various discarded cans and containers of food, a pile of clothes and other used draught vials, the kind she saw in the apothecary shop, medicine for some kind of fever.
That's when she heard the faint shuffling of feet her head snapping in the direction of the noise, noticing a small girl hiding behind a wall of rock, half peeking out. She could feel this child was the one this rogue mage had gone to such lengths to protect.
"Are you... gonna hurt me?" The small child asked as she moved out a little more
Xylia most taken aback as she shook her head no. Merely offering a hand out to the young girl and smiling gently. The small child came out now slowly, clutching a teddy bear as she coughed some. She needed proper care, that much was clear.
Her thoughts and feelings shifting in her heart and mind. Like she could start to understand what Rin had talking about all this time. Something about this child, was different...
"It's okay..." Xylia managed to say softly
She could feel it as it shocked even her. The ice in her throat was melting even more, it scared her. The power that surrounded this young girl, her voice returning faster than she was ready for it to. So much rapidly changing, she wasn't ready for it, but she would meet it nonetheless.
The young girl could see the conflict in her eyes, but saw the desire and gentleness in her as well. Xylia's aura glowing its own soft white. The girl immediately tackling Xylia in a hug still holding onto the stuffed animal.
Xylia herself feeling her heart melting as this small child held onto her tight. Her own arms holding the small girl close.
"I'll, take you.. home." Xylia shakily said to the girl as she looked up with large curious eyes
That's when the cave itself began to shake, loud cracking magical spells colliding getting louder. Xylia standing and holding the young girl close as she hurried out of the cave, having now wrapped the child up in her scarf and jacket. She knew she had to get away as fast as she could...
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Rin had gone back to old ways now relying on Fire magic. With each powerful kick he threw at this mage, it was followed by a trail and explosion of fire. He couldn't remember a time when it was so strong...
Anger is a powerful tool, only when you temper it, like a blade. Fire can burn out of control, consume, that is not our ancestor's way, those of the fire clan. No matter what you do or where you may go, never forget your roots.
His sister's words ringing in his ear as he drove himself to move even faster. He inhaled sharply and exhaled a wall of fire. The sand mage blocking with his own wall. The battle now turning to one of endurance, who could put out more energy before the other ran out.
The raw fire scorching and burning the sand, causing it to turn to glass and melt, while the smell only became stronger, of melting glass and gems mixed with burning blood. The sand mage gave another loud cry slamming his fist into the ground now and causing another quake forcing Rin to leap backwards and high into the trees.
He didn't want to use this. But he had to. Now placing the hilt of the sword in his mouth and outstretched his hand now. Gathering wind in the palm of his hand, the cool air being sucked in and compressed, aura condense and sharpening the air into blades, hundreds of razor sharp blades of wind, spinning in all directions to make a sphere.
With another flash he was gone, causing the branch he stood from to explode. He was now high up in the air, hurling this wind spell at the sand mage now.
His opponent throwing up a massive and tightly packed sand dome, as the wind sphere hit the sand it exploded.
The hundreds of razor wind blades slicing through the sand causing the sand user to go into even more a fit of rage.
A massive explosion of sand erupted outward in all directions, swirling and writhing, refusing to settle down and would consume the whole of the mountains.
Rin landed as the sand mage caught sight of him. Panting now, he had very little aura left, having nearly emptied his own container and even drawing upon the elements naturally was also just as tiring. Having two methods for using magic was useful, but even more taxing. He was smiling a little to himself.
'So this is it? Battle... mother, father, sister.. forgive me and my sins, someday I will return and have earned your forgiveness.' He prayed to himself
The image of Xylia seeping into his mind now. This was it, something about destiny had drawn them together, be it for some grander purpose or just where he allowed his feet to take him.
'Forgive me Xylia, I don't know if I have strength.' He thought to himself not knowing if his thoughts would touch her mind and hear them with her heart
Using all he had left he charged forward, hurling the sword from his mouth at the sand user, instantly knocking it out of the way with a writhing and whipping beam of sand. As he ran faster, his hand glider across the sand covered ground, gathering what aura he had and infusing into this sand now, making a completely new sphere. With one last push he leapt into air as he hurtled down at his opponent.
"YOU CANNOT EVEN HOPE TO STOP ME!!!" The sand mage shouted as he launched all he had at Rin
Rin slammed his new sphere into the sand, only absorbing the mage'e sand. The sand mage couldn't believe his eyes, nobody could control his sand.
"IT'S OVER!" Rin shouted as he broke through and slamming the large sand sphere into the mage
This sent him flying into the face of the mountain, he cried out as he struggled against the sand that was now turning against him, gathering towards him, covering him, consuming him.
"You have no idea what you have done! He will not stop!!" The sand mage shouted in defiance at Rin
Rin himself still holding onto what little strength he had as he picked up his sword now. Instantly turning as he heard this.
"He wouldn't leave his mountain fortress. He's not strong enough." Rin said sternly now as he limped the sand mage's way
"You.. really think.. he'll come down? He'll send, another.." the sand mage said his strength now being sapped away, what little was left of his psyche being consumed, the ramblings of a deadman
"Then I'll have to be on my guard." Rin replied simply
"You.. fool.. you don't, know what she is.." he said his words growing weaker as the sand had now entombed most of his body
Rin now even more confused and concerned as the grip on his weapon tightened.
"He will not lay on her. I will not allow it." Rin said his tone deepening now
The sand mage immediately gave a weak chuckle.
"He cares.. not about your woman, clan dweller. But you will soon, understand." The sand user said gritting his teeth now as the sand now moved up his chest and covering his hands before consuming him whole now
Rin knew not what this one spoke of. Only that it would come around to bite himself in the ass if he did not take care of what mattered. He looked to the mountains, they called to him, he could easily slip away. Slip away from it all, retreat to higher ground and meditate in the mountaintops. Let Xylia be and live her life free of his troubles that would follow him...
His hand instinctively now moving to the necklace he wore. From his homeland, from his family, from his grandmother...
'Go on.. she needs you.. don't make my mistakes..'
The image of a woman with long flowing brown hair and dark blue eyes came into his mind. She wore black robes like himself, worn by those of the Darkness sub clan, very much like his own. And around her neck was the very necklace he wore now. A thin silver chain with a leaf shaped gem pendant.
Rin finally making a decision, he turned around and began limping off in the direction of Xylia. The pages of the future had yet to be written, but a new change that no one could see had been set in motion.
Looking back out the land, past the mountains, towards the fog. Something was brewing, changing, coming...
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