“Amira?!” Taurise asked, his eyes wide with disbelief. “Why are you here?! I told you to stay in the market!” He turns back to Serian, who is simply watching the scene unfold with his pitch-black eyes, and a wide, curious grin full of malice.

“I sensed something strong, so I came to help!” Amira explains confidently with her hands placed squarely on her hips, her toothy smirk not leaving her face.

“But he isn’t using that much pow-Ah!” Taurise tenses up. She sensed my power… He bites his lip. “Amira, please run away!“

“No! If this guy in dangerous, you’ll need my help!” Amira pouts, throwing her arms in front of her. “I’m strong enough to fight!” Static charges down her arms.

I can’t protect Amira while fighting, especially if my injury is acting up! Taurise’s eyes flicker between Serian and Amira, looking for an entryway back into the fight. “I can’t protect you and deal with him!” He explains truthfully. “Leave!”

“So, you’re saying I’m too weak?!” Amira stomps her foot, glaring at Taurise. “I’m-“

“I have not just one, but two trophies to please my master with!” Serian squirms in delight, his odd mannerisms cutting the two off. “Now… to continue this glorious hunt that only I, Serian Alder, am capable of!” He praises himself, drawing the bowstring back, while the shadow hands rush forward towards Taurise, fingers outstretched.

“Form 3!” Energy surrounds Taurise, and he rushes forward, fists raised. Serian fires his bow, sending a shot straight for Taurise. I need to make sure I keep Amira out of this fight! He grits his teeth, smashing his elbow into one of the shadow hands, evaporating it. He lunges forwards towards the arrow, putting his body right in the direct path. He can’t hurt me with that if I have form 3 active!

The arrow curves at the last second, moving right over Taurise’s head, darting past him, and straight towards Amira. “Damnit!” Taurise curses, firing a energy blast at the arrow. Serian’s arrow veers to the right, and Taurise’s shot passes by it, exploding on the side of the sewer, leaving large, long cracks in the concrete.

“I got this!” Amira declares, drawing her right arm across her body, charging it with electricity. She swings her arm across, shooting out electricity wildly in front of her. The light of the electricity is blinding to Taurise, whose eyes had adjusted to the darkness of the sewer.

The wave of energy catches the arrow, and it starts veering off to the right before turning wildly in every direction. The arrow crashes into the wall, shattering.

“Agh!” Serian cries grasping at his head as he writhes around on the ground. “You will pay!” He cries.

“Heh…” Amira pants, a bead of sweat rolling down her face as static dissipates from her body. “Got it!” She pumps a fist in the air, her other hand resting on her leg.

What was that?! Taurise watches, bewildered. He doesn’t spend much time wondering, as a shadowy hand wraps around him. “Tch!” He squirms, resisting the hands grip. “Let go…!” Taurise grunts, only protected from the hand’s tightening grip by his form 3, which rips small bits of shadowy figure off on contact. “How do you like this?!” Taurise intensifies the aura of force. The hand explodes, little gooey blobs of shadow melting back into the ground.

At the same time, Serian finally recovers from his episode. Gasping for air. “I will make you pay…” He repeats. “You’ve dared to poison the eye’s given to me by my lord…” The archer hisses at the young woman.

“I think… I made him mad…?” Amira, nervously smiling and taking a step back.

“No kidding,” Taurise agreed, keeping a close eye on Serian. The archer stood still, glaring daggers at Amira. Her electricity seemed to have struck a nerve. Let’s think about this.

  “Die die die!” Serian yells, rapidly firing off two arrows, aimed directly at Amira. Taurise jumps in front of her, using the barrier from Form 3 to block both shots with ease.

  “Tch!” He grunts, the barrier dissipating. He holds his right shoulder, breathing heavily, watching Serian melt back into shadow. I need to stop that thing he’s doing with the shadows… wait, Amira’s power is… Taurise straightens his back, standing upright, his eyes lit up. “Amira!”

  “Don’t tell me to leave again!” The spunky girl cuts him off. “I’m fighting!” Serian appears above, raining down 4 arrows in quick succession, his eyes locked onto an unaware Amira.

  However not caught off guard is Taurise, who jumps above Amira before the arrows have been shot, turning to face his body towards the ceiling. He steadies his right arm with his left hand, rapidly firing four counter shots off, obliterating Serian’s arrows in an instant. Turning his body, he gracefully lands with a roll, ending back on his feet. “No, that’s not it! I have an idea!” Taurise explains. “When I give the word, I want you to unleash everything you have,” He tells her.

“Wait-“ Amira tries to interrupt.

“Don’t worry. Just use everything you can!” Taurise looks back, his eyes meeting Amira’s. “I don’t know how much longer I can hold this guy off. So, show me what you’ve got!”

“Right!” Amira nods, tensing her body. Electric charge runs across her body, from her feet to her head.

“DiIEEEEEEEEE!” Serian screeches, appearing from the wall next to them, dark mist overflowing from his body, his bow nocked with 5 arrows. He draws his arrows back.

Taurise acts immediately, lowering himself as he dashes forward. “Form 1!” He grabs Serian’s arms before the archer can fire his shot, pulling him out of the dark portal he appeared from. Taurise pivots, turning his body as he drags Serian through the air, the archer now unable to melt back into the darkness. “AMIRA NOW!” He yells, shutting his eyes, and throwing Serian like a sandbag. Taurise activates his form 3, taking cover on the ground.

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Amira outstretches her arms and hands towards Serian. “Eat this!” She yells at the cursed, her brown eyes burning with fury. Electricity wildly arcs from her body, discharging everywhere it can touch, sending a blinding light though the otherwise dark tunnel. Arcs of blue electricity drag across the concrete walls and paths, leaving dark electrical burns that stain the tunnel. The water becomes charged, flashing a brilliant blue and yellow hue, illuminating the bottom of the channel. The warrior’s barrier of force deflects the discharged energy, knocking it away in every direction. Serian gets hit by a charge, sending the archer into the wall on the opposite side of the channel.

“Form 4!” Taurise yells, sending energy throughout his body, his eyes still closed. He leaps across the channel, his right arm drawn back, his hand curled into a tight fist. Taurise channels all his power into his arm, the muscles in his arms rippling with power. The increased power in the force barrier causes the right shoulder on his shirt to rip.

“My eye’s! My beautiful darkness!” Serian cries in pain, covering his eyes from the onslaught on blinding light. “I will mount your heads!”

Taurise lands with a single foot next to Serian, carrying his momentum as he throws his weight forward, bringing his fist forward punching right at Serian’s gut.

__________________________________

When the light clears, Amira looks up, having fallen to her knees. “Wha-“ She falls forward, collapsing on the ground. Taurise jumps over, landing gracefully next to Amira. He takes a knee, inspecting the fallen girl.

“She seems fine,” He notes, doing a quick checkup. “And no signs of going into a runaway state either… What is she?” Taurise wonders aloud, picking her up. The right hand, which is cradling her head, is covered in blood almost all the way up to the elbow.

“Who’s down there?!” A man’s voice shouts from further down the tunnel. A group of men in green military uniforms holding lamps turn the corner. All of them are light skinned, which contrasts their dark green uniforms. The lights get closer as they run over to where Taurise is standing. They stop when they see Taurise, holding a small teenage girl with a blood covered arm. “Who are you?” The leading officer asks, stepping forward, his hand reaching towards his waist, where a gun sits comfortably in its holster.

“Taurise Aniren.” The warrior answers quickly. “I’ve dealt with the cursed,” He explains, gesturing with his head towards where Serian was left.

“Private Reave! Go confirm that!” The leading officer orders the man standing behind him.

“Sir yes sir!” Private Reave salutes, before running off towards the location of Serian.

“And you,” The officer turns back towards Taurise. “Put the girl down and stay still with your hands up!” He orders with a sharp tone, keeping his hand on his holster the entire time.

Taurise sighs. “Understood,” The tired man gently lowers Amira to the ground, and stands back up, his hands raised above his head.

“Officer Kraden!” Reave runs back over and stands at attention. “I checked the eyes. It’s a cursed!” He explains quickly, saluting.

“What’s the status of the cursed?”

“Dead.” Reave answers, narrowing his eye’s at Taurise. “Only external injury is a large hole through his chest.”

“I see. Dismissed!” The officer salutes Reave before turning back to Taurise. “So you did-“

“Yes,” Taurise cuts the officer. “I killed him,” He explains, his face cold as stone. “I was left no choice.” Taurise gestures towards the uncoinsience Amira.

“Regardless, I’ll be taking the two of you in for questioning regarding this matter.” Kraden informs. “Men! Half of you escort them to the station!” He commands. “The rest, move to preserve the scene!”

­_____________________________________

“Witness reports put you in the market when the attack began.” The garrison commander explains. “Was the initial attack targeted towards the two of you?”

Taurise sits at a metal table in a enclosed, dark, windowless room, opposite a well decorated commander whose wearing an expression of suspicion mixed with curiosity. “Yes. I recognized the cursed’s presence before it had even attacked.” Taurise explains, tensing and untensing his hands.

“And did you kill the cursed?” He asks, the man behind the officer scribbling down Taurise’s first answer.

“Yes.” Taurise answers quickly, tapping a finger against the table. The scribe adds the answer. “You already know this. What’s the point in answering?”

“You aren’t a part of the Order.” The Commander explains, leaning forward. “What gives you the right to usurp the authority of the standing military of Astera and dish out vigilante justice?” He growls, leaning forward, balancing his weight on his left arm. “You have no jurisdiction to act here!”

“So, what should I have done?!” Taurise exclaims, gritting his teeth. “The Order doesn’t protect Tehram, or any of the Sylvani territories! And there’s no way you could’ve dealt with a cursed!” He argued, standing up in his chair. “Should have I let Amira die? Should I have died? Because no one is willing to deal with these Cursed?!” Taurise rages, unsure of how to physically express his rage, pacing back and forth, waving his arms wildly.

Behind Taurise, the thick metal door opens. “Calm yourself, young Taurise!” an older, darker skinned woman orders sternly. with a thick accent. She struts into the interrogation room, blowing a puff of smoke from her pipe. She’s wearing an elegant white shoulder less dress with a fluffy trim, and a tall white hat with a green feather tucked in. “You’ve made quite a mess of things today, haven’t you?” She chuckles, brushing a strand of greying hair out of her face. Her dark brown eyes scan the room.

The commander narrows his eyes. “Lady Urastini,” He pauses, choosing his words carefully. “And what has you barging into my interrogation room?” The commander stands up, brushing off his uniform.

“I’m here to tell you that Taurise Aniren is acting under my authority as a member of the Sylvan legislature, and head of the security council,” Urastini smiles cordially. The older woman twirls a pipe in her gloved hands. “I’ve ordered him to watch over the city for the time being!”

“Forgive me, but this is the first I’ve heard to this arrangement,” The Commander raises an eyebrow. “Why would the commander of this cities garrison not have heard about such an important arrangement?” He snarls. “And you know as well as I that your legislature is nothing more then a charade! The House of Lords oversees the defense of all Asteran territories, including Sylvan!”

“The Treaty of Massarah only bars us from holding a standing military. Plus, I couldn’t allow the cursed to catch wind that I’d brought in a high profile warrior, now could I? Too much of a hassle to deal with the Order throwing a temper tantrum!” Urastini answers politely, not biting at the Commander’s blatant attempts to bait the noblewoman. “Now, we will be on our way!” She pulls Taurise towards the door. “Please do take care!”

“Wait you can’t just-“

“I can and I will!” Urastini answers coldly, her facial expression swapping drastically, like she was swapping masks. “I’m quite done entertaining this charade. I’ll be taking the two you’ve taken in with me, and you will sit down and file a report like a good little soldier!” She chastises the Commander.

“Tch, just you wait till this gets back to the House of Lords!” The Commander spits back, slamming his fists on the table.

“Good!” Urastini fires back. “Perhaps maybe they’ll properly reinforce the city against the cursed threat!” She waves, slamming the metal door on the Commander.

The noblewoman turns towards Taurise, a sly grin returning to her face. “Now then, why don’t we chat?”