Fate - First Reply Crimson Trails

[Liliana]

Liliana nodded her head, half ducking as the fireball exploded just a few meters away. Her lips thinned, and she let out a long breath.

"I think we're mostly sa-" A sudden crack echoed as the clouds above crashed together, a spike of lightning reaching down and slamming against a shield that Liliana hadn't even noticed was there in the first place.

Her pet mage seemed to shift, sinking to one knee as the shield above them flickered.

"Th-they're pushing my str-strength. My Lady."

The man's voice cracked, desperation tinging his voice as he struggled against the magic of his former companions. Liliana cursed quietly, pulling away form Everleigh and gently touching the mans back. "You can do it."

She offered quietly.

"Just a little further." Liliana urged. "Then we'll be okay."

Briefly Liliana glanced towards Evelerigh. They needed to get farther from the island. They needed to get away. She just had no idea how.

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

Everleigh flinched as that crack of thunder reached the shield, the sound shocking her more than anything else. She frowned, looking over and listening to Liliana speak. They were close to being safe. Brief calculations went through Everleigh’s mind, five powerful mages versus one mage who wasn’t all there and then two dreadlord initiates. Specifically, two dreadlord initiates who couldn’t exploit a magic like telekinesis, pyromancy, gravity, lightening, shadows, blood, or light. Her minds washed over all the abilities of her classmates.

Their chances were so slim. However that didn’t mean that a few plans hadn’t popped into Everleigh’s head. And one stood out the most. Eight-five percent success rate by her logic. It would completely exhaust her though. If her plan failed, Everleigh wouldn’t even be able to try out any of her other ideas.

Without hesitation, she opened the rucksack, dumping all of the collars out of the boat. And then she pulled out every single pouch hidden throughout her body. Dozens upon dozens of needles were then dumped into the rucksack. She moved quickly, and eyes glowed a bright gold.

“I have a plan,” an obvious statement as she grasped her flat blade. “They’re all collected there together on the beach, before we couldn’t risk trying to kill each one individually, too many risks. But now they’re not going to run away because they think if we escape and tell of their whereabouts, it’ll be game over for them when the dreadlords get sent in.”

“But the game is already over, I’m going all in.” That insane excitement was clearly written all over her feature, her voice changing pitch into one related more to ecstasy. She cut her arm, her sleeves being sliced as well to reveal the scars of determination that were soon hidden by the rapid burst of crimson. Steady of rivulets of blood poured from her arm into the rucksack because of of the deep cut that the gambling addict had made.

She closed the flap of the rucksack, beginning to feel dizzy, and quickly shook the bag about. Everleigh held it up the mage.

“Fly this over to them,” she said softly. The lunatic glaze hadn’t left her eyes but it was obvious she was nearing her limit. She held up the shield. “Use the shield to distract them but we need this bag on the beach. When it’s above them, position it so the flap opens up. I’ll take care of the rest.” Her eyes were still glowing gold. If she stopped focusing on her magic now she wasn’t sure she’d be able to harness it again.

 

[Liliana]

Liliana glanced at what Everleigh was doing, still not entirely able to contend with the level of disgust she felt.

The Noble knew that it was essential for her companion to do such things for her magic, but that didn't mean she had to like it. The facts of it reminded her of a slug, or perhaps a poison toad. That odd mucous which clung to their skin.

A shiver rolled over her spine, and she pulled her gaze away.

Her Pet mage did not even seem to Notice Everleigh's task, not until she directly addressed him. A frown touched his face for a brief moment, and he looked towards Liliana. Concern flickered over his features, and then he spoke.

"But It will weaken the shield...you'll be in danger if they focus..."

Liliana shook her head. "It's alright, it's okay. This will keep me safe. This is the only way we'll make it out of this mess. You understand, don't you?"

There was another flash of lightning, the shield above them cracking slightly. Her head shook, and she urged the mage onward. "Come on, you can do it."

He paused, and then slowly nodded his head. Reaching out, his magic wrapping around the bag as he sent it slowly floating forward towards the beach.

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

Everleigh watched the bag float, her eyes trained on it. It seemed the mages on the beach were suspicious of it too, however, only one had tried to attack it. Perfect. However, the fact that the bag was protected with magic made another mage pay more attention to it. The poison eater grinned, after all they had no idea what was going to happen.

“Open it up, it’s directly above them.” She whispered, grinning wildly, one hand gripping at her bleeding arm. “Spread it about if you can.” Her toxikinesis was still rather lacking. Everleigh knew this more than anyone else. None of her classmates knew she had even unlocked such an ability, and she wouldn’t want them to know.

Mostly because she still couldn’t use it even proficiently. During private trials with proctors, there were times when Everleigh could move the poison however she wanted one out of ten times. Sometimes she couldn’t make it move at all. But what she could do, and what she had a higher rate of achieving, was causing her liquid poison to turn into a gas.

As the poison needles fell from the bag, scattering over the mages and the mage, Everleigh inhaled deeply, closing her eyes. It was a slow, long yet steady breath, and she shivered almost euphoric, keeping the breath deep within her chest.

Everleigh exhaled, just as slow as she had inhaled, eyes slowly fluttering open. On the shore, a large cloud of red seemed to rise from the signs in a large, poisonous cloud. To Everleigh it looked like a blooming red spider lily.

“See you in hell, fuckers.” Everleigh said, laughing out weakly right as her eyes closed and she fell back. Moments later, the mages on the shore had fallen to their knees.

 

[Liliana]

It was a sight to see, and one that Liliana was glad for.

Her own magics had been utterly useless here, save for keeping the mage as a puppet. So when Evie had played her final gambit and their enemies fell choking upon the beach she couldn’t help but feel the thrill of elation run through her.

A small smile touched her face, but she gave no raucous cheer as one of her companions suddenly collapsed into the boat beside her. A frown immediately pulled on her lips, and then suddenly the mage fell as well.

She opened her mouth and let out a curse, worried that her magic had failed, but found that simple exhaustion had taken both Everleigh and her pet.

A frown touched her lips for a brief moment as the realization of the work set ahead of her was…well all on her. ”Fuck.”

She cursed.

”Where are the servants when you need them.” Liliana grumbled, her head shaking as she set about moving the sail and taking the rudder of the small ship. The journey home would take a few days, but they had enough supplies stored by the pirates that they should live through it.

All she had to do was ensure her pet remained compliant. A task she was more than ready for.

After all. There was much reward to be had from this mess.