“No, I think I’d quite prefer not becoming a puppet.” I responded as mana pushed out of my heels, drawing the first rune in a circle. This time I’d go with a flame wave, and hopefully reduce her ‘Puppets’ to ashes so she couldn’t use them anymore.

“No? Hmm I’ll take your preference into consideration. You know, I’m actually quite impressed that you managed to take down, what, seven of my puppets on your own. I mean, they may be inhibited by my spell but... they are still much higher level than you, you know.” She walked slowly towards me, the bodies shambling slightly but making no moves to attack yet. Perhaps she was the type of enemy to monologue. That could be a blessing for me.

I began to pace, making myself look nervous as I glanced down the various streets. I kept pouring mana into the runes and focused a bit of attention on [Portent], noticing thin strands of mana coming from each of the bodies within the skills range. Briefly I wondered if I’d be able to cut through or disrupt them, but I felt I wouldn’t be able to just yet.

“Aaaw are you scared, kitten? Don’t worry, I take gooood care of all my favorite puppets. I wouldn’t send you to do such menial tasks as these poor adventurers!” The masked woman laughed maniacally, and raised her hands up, the strands of mana moving with them. I couldn’t tell what they were going to direct the bodies to do but I hoped all five of them would come at me.

I felt the final rune snap into place and began writing a second rune circle, a portion of my concentration split to hold the rune without activating it. “Why are you here Miss, why Linden and whats the purpose of this ritual?” I asked meekly, my voice quivering as I continued to play into the exhaustion from ‘Fighting’ a number of higher level opponents. I did keep shuffling my feet in what I hoped looked like random movements, like pacing or like I was trying to amp myself up for the coming clash.

“Inquisitive lad, are ya? It doesn’t matter either way, either you’ll be lying dead on this street or you'll be mine.” She tittered emphatically, her laugh like a knife on a dinnerplate. It grated at my senses.

Before I could forma reply, a thought came through from Luka. “Sorry Papa, on way.” the thought was short but welcome. I had to stifle a grin, an extra helper would be tantamount to facing this woman at least long enough for one of my party members to find us. “Humor me, then, if it truly matters not.” I challenged as I kept my attention on her and the strings of mana controlling her zombies. “Besides, should I not know the name of one who may become my master?”

Without saying a word, one of the shambling flesh lumps began rushing towards me far faster than I had expected. Due to my two spell circles being developed, I couldn’t leave the small area around me. I dodged backward, feeling the connection with the spell waver, before I cut the arm of the corpse off at the elbow. The figure did not react and only continued to pursue me as the others stayed in their space.

“Oh, honey, I’m quite sure you would prefer if I just kept talking. You must adore the sound of my voice, uhhuh?” She spoke in a condescending tone, amusement clear on her voice. “Well, lucky lucky I can talk and my puppets can slaughter you at the same time! Say thank you master!”

I ignored her, focusing on not being struck. As the dead man came after me, the one remaining arm swung at me. I felt the whistle of the wind as I backstepped, and attempted to lop off the head. I was aware that being headless wouldn’t stop the woman from being able to control it, but wanted to try to cut through the sting of mana attached to the body. I coated my blade with my own mana as it flew through the air, and slashed through both the neck of the ghoul and the string. The body crumpled and I let out a relieved sigh.

“Oh wow. Clever of you. But that wont be enough, oh no no no. Not enough at all.” She raised her hand and I saw the new mana string attach itself to the puppet. I let out a heavy groan and glared at the woman. While the zombie rose again, I chopped off both legs and its arm.

“Oh, now that might be harder for me to fix.” She laughed loudly, callously, not caring for the figure I just mutilated. Three of the remaining four bodies lurched forward, chasing after me. I pulled my completed spell to me, maintaining it and another one that was a rune away. I didn’t complete it as the more finished runes there were, the greater the concentration to keep it active.

The first figure to arrive was the one whose head I removed at the door. Once he was in range, with the other two just behind him, I released the first spell. A wave of fire lit the ground around me, and I was thankful that I was around twenty feet from the building. The wood could have easily been engulfed and if I were closer the chance that I burned the civilians alive was large.

The three zombies each staggered back from the woosh of flaming energy that projected from my position. The robes they were wearing lit like tinder, and the smell of burning flesh quickly wafted into the air causing me to gag slightly. The one I had dismembered sizzled and quickly burnt to a crisp within the clothes it was wearing. I took a few steps forward as the burst of flame vanished, all that remained being the flames on the clothes of my enemies. As I took the next couple of steps, and made sure to remove the three zombies legs while the puppet master was lacking visibility, I finished the next spell. It was another five rune spell, the haste one. I felt it was likely my only chance to get close to the clearly higher leveled woman.

“Oh my. So easily removing my toys from the board. You know that only makes me want you more?” Her grating giggle struck at my ears and I frowned. “Come now, why wouldn’t you want to join me boy? Is it because you think what we are doing is... vile” She spread her arms, now bereft of mana strings from what I could see within my sphere of mana sense. She walked toward me as her last puppet collapsed, its string revoked. “I suppose these weaklings wont be enough to stop you. Can’t believe I have to get serious for some petulant brat who hasn’t even upgraded his class. Oh well, what can you do, eh boy?”

I felt a scream within me as [Intuition] told me this was not a fight I could handle. I gulped and mentally prodded [Compendium Actualization] to see how close it was to another activation. The bodies around me continued to sizzle as the metal armor they had been wearing cooked them, even as the flames dissipated.

“No need to be so hasty, I’m sure you have other puppets you can use?” I said with some false bravado. I felt my meek or nervous act wouldn’t fly anymore. She knew there was more to me than my sword.

Before I could react, she was before me, a clawed hand reaching for my face. The only reason I had time to react was due to the combination of [Portent] and [Intuition]. With the duo of powerful sense abilities, I jumped back, kicking off the cobbles with great fervor, sending a strand of mana into the rune circle to activate the spell. I felt my tired muscles come alive once more and my second backwards step was that much more powerful, sending me further away faster.

I felt the wind brush against my nose as her clawed hand whistled passed. I danced to the side a bit, my feet working overtime as I pinged Luka for his location. I kept the woman in my sphere, attempting to ensure she couldn’t surprise me but with her speed I wasn’t sure if I’d be remotely able to keep up. Time seemed to slow down as my mind went on overdrive, pumped full of adrenaline and a touch of fear. I felt more than saw when she twisted and lunged at me again, hand extended and claws reaching out.

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I leapt back once more, careful to stay within the range of my mana manipulation so I could continue to write another rune. As I moved, a burst of wind lashed out at the robed woman pushing her back. Without it I wasn’t sure I’d be able to dodge her. One thing was certain, there was a twinge of magic at her fingertips and I knew that should I let her touch me in the slightest I’d likely be done for.

I continued to pour thin mana through my foot, feeling the pathways close to only let out a trickle. I watched the woman turn to face Sky and used the opportunity to move a touch further away, ready to dodge to the left or right when next she assailed me. My sword was in its longsword form, and I wasn’t prepared to waste any mana changing it. This was not a fight I could half ass, and if my [Intuition] told me anything, it wasn’t a fight I could win whatsoever.

“So, so you have a helper? Curious, I didn’t hear her before but her beating heart cannot deceive me. Smaller than a human, or any of the other humanoid races. A companion perhaps?” She laughed again but turned away from the building nearby atop which was Sky. “No matter, once you are my puppet I’ll have you personally slaughter it.”

I frowned at the woman, but didn’t have any chance to retort as she burst into motion. With her hand extended she lashed out at me again and I was forced to step to the right and forward, twisting my blade to knock her arm out of the way. As I moved I felt the magic of my haste spell fade, and I slowed to my normal speed much to the chagrin of my opponent. Each time my foot collided with the ground a new line for a rune was written. I cursed my inability to use my elemental mana, believing that with it I’d stand a much better chance.

I shook away the thought as I retreated to the other side of my circle, the edge of my range. Panting, I stood and watched her, content for now to dance about if it gave the others time to deal with their foes and come help me. Not once did I think of fleeing, as that would, undoubtedly, lead to my death. She was faster than me, if I diverted my attention from her I doubted I’d be able to keep up.

As she came at me once more I felt at my mana pool and winced, [Portent] and my spells were draining my core quickly. In my moment of brief distraction, the puppeteer nearly managed to catch me, but only made a few holes in my shirt. I finished another rune circle as I dodged away and focused on myself as the epicenter as a burst of flame swirled around me, the heat of fire evaporating some of the sweat that accrued during the battle thus far. I called on Sky to use wind to exacerbate the flame and turn it into an inferno, and she obliged. I wasn't positive what her range was but a small tornado whisked its way into the center of the circle, surrounding me and sending the flames further and hotter than just my spell could manage.

Dust and foliage quickly got caught within the tornado and was lit, sending flames even further even as my spell faded. A nearby building not made of stone caught flame but I didn’t sense anyone inside so I brushed it off. I heard a minor curse as the flames licked at the womans robe, forcing her to tear it off and toss it to the side.

As the flames and wind died down I finally caught sight of the woman, save for her face. She bore tanned skin and dark hair. On her wrists were a number of bracelets that didn’t seem to move regardless of how she did, and on her hip was a dagger that looked more ornamental than anything. Ritual knife? I thought to myself as she stood back and panted, her eyes, the only thing visible through the gray mask, glowered at me. Her armor was form fitting and made of an unknown leather. It was cracked and beaten, used armor but still functional. It, along with the bracelets and knife at her side, bore a scent of magic.

“Fire mages are the worst,” She lamented and glared at me before straightening up. “No matter, after so much battle you must be striking on your reserves, yes?”

Needless to say I didn't answer. In the brief respite as the cobble around me sent waves of heat from its surface, I attempted to connect once more to my elemental mana. I needed an extra bit of power in order to keep her at bay, and tugged on the lightning mana. I felt it resist and so I begged it, thankful that only it and the rest of the mana in my core could hear my plea. Please. If you don’t help we could die. I need you, please. Help me fight this foe, we can resume the tantrum later.

I didn't have much hope that the mana would follow my command, so for once I asked it to instead of exerting my influence over it. It almost felt eager once my plea was registered, eager to be used. The mana crackled in my veins, numbing me and just sending it through my pathways set my muscles on edge. I groaned as I took a few more steps away from my foe, the mana writing into the world my will. I knew I didn’t have the time for an twentyfive rune spell, but an empowered five rune sword aura spell could help me defend. That, and I felt [Compendium Actualization] come off of its cooldown. I briefly wondered if the haste spell would work differently with lightning mana, but I pushed aside the musing. I didn’t have the luxury of thinking my actions over.

As I began yet another runedance, my opponent stood up straight and drew the dagger. Its edges were jagged and used. Chips were taken from it, but still it looked sharp, deadly. She gazed over at me before her eyes flickered towards the rooftop housing Sky. I frowned further, taking a few steps toward her in an effort to intercept her, as well as trace a few more runes. We stood like this for a few moments, watching each other for the next move. And then, she burst into action.

Luka, Sky, hold her down or trip her up if you can. Luka, rock spikes in her feet if possible! I sent the fox’s through the connection we shared. I received a yip of acknowledgement from both, thankful they understood me. I felt a few notifications go off but ignored them. Now was not the time to get distracted.

I backed away quickly, the extra reach granted by her dagger nearly undoing me as I finished my rune circle. Briefly I wondered if a wave type would have been better but dismissed it. I didn’t activate the spell as I felt Luka and Sky attempt to disrupt her movements. Without them I feared I’d have already succumbed to the dagger as I dodged once more. Before activating my spell I used my skill to create another haste spell. This one would take an even greater toll on my body, meaning I really only had five seconds left to fight her. Without it, though, I feared I’d meet the blade far sooner.

As I was midstep, lightning mana poured out of my pathways and formed a second five rune circle. I could technically make eight total but I had no seven rune circles designed and so I simply cast haste with the elemental mana. My body felt as though fire ants were treating it as though it were their home. Energy flooded my fatigued body and in the same moment, lightning crackled on the edges of my sword. I moved to parry the incoming dagger, and to both my and my enemies surprise, moved much faster than when I used haste before. My sword clashed with the small ornamental dagger and knocked it to the side. I felt a bit of the electricity disperse but not as much as if I sent a wave of it her way.

She cursed under her breath and nearly dropped the knife as her hand and arm momentarily went limp. Her eyes widened within the mask, before her expression tightened. Wordlessly, she came at me again, my magic not enough to paralyze her as I’d hoped. As she came at me, spikes of earth pierced the cobbles and moved to entangle her feet but she easily dodged them all. She raced toward me and I was forced to block, moving much faster than I was used to. My muscles barely needed a command from my brain, instead relying on my instincts to move to my defense.

Over the course of the next second, my blade and hers clashed a half dozen times. Without [Portent] and what I was now considering calling ‘Lightning Burst’ instead of ‘Energy Burst’, I’d have been eviscerated. I felt my muscles pull, and strain themselves. The aching under the movements was enough strain for me to grimace as I moved. But I didn’t relent, and the wind around me helped me move even quicker.

I realized I’d likely have no chance to escape, but if I could land a solid hit on her and disperse the remnants of my lightning mana there was a chance I’d be able to force her into a retreat. Unfortunately there wasn’t a great opportunity to do so. With seconds left on my spell I struggled to simply parry and dodge her attacks.