Filleon could only react with his eyes as he followed Illiah’s bow release the silver arrow from his fingertips yet again. And, yet De’jard deflected the arrow with ease once more, and sent the arrow flying into Filleon’s direction. Filleon quickly ducked and rolled to the side without thinking.
Is he trying to kill me?
It was all too fast. To think was simply asking to die. Especially in front of these two.
“Nael,” Illiah commanded, “End this filth.” The seemingly mild dragon perked up its large, horned head and snorted. But Filleon watched De’jard raise his staff in its direction. He seemed to mutter something under his breath but Filleon couldn't catch the words as they died beyond the demon's lips. Filleon's eyes widened, his nostrils flared, and his muscles tensed.
It was too late.
The dragon roared at De’jard and blew a brilliant deep-red and orange flame that engulfed the demonborne and everything around him.
The burst of pressure shoved Filleon into a large log that lay innocently some meters beind him, snapping it in two. Stunned and barely conscious, Fillon lay within the rubble – forced to oversee a fight that may just kill him for baring witness to it.
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A blue, spherical light slowly emerged from the depths of the roaring flames. As Nael’s breath subsided, the shining orb burst and shoved the dragon back with a squelch. Filleon watched De’jard become free from his large cloak, revealing strange black markings throughout his bare leathery arms which continued down his back. Most demonborne’s don't have tails like their demon ancestors did, but Filleon noticed this one had a tail that resembled the likeliness of a male lion with the same leather brown color with a large tuft of black hair at the tip. It's common for someone to call a demonborne a demon for the sake of simplicity. But this was different
He placed a hand on his chest, but his heart continued to pump harder. T-they shouldn't exist anymore.. Filleon was beside himself in horror. If De’jard was in fact a demon, Illiah and his dragon, by the Gods, even the entire Juran Military wouldn't stand a chance. I don't have a choice but to see this through. No matter the cost. My daughter... surely he... can save Sarai.
De’jard brought his staff down and raised his free arm above him, “Shalar, Precious,” he shouted without breaking eye contact with Illiah. The large, thought to be dead, raven fluttered down to De’jards hand and collapsed into itself with its wings. Blue flames spontaneously erupted where the bird lay and created a pillar of blue flame towards the sky. The brilliant display woke Filleon up completely from his spiraling thoughts. All doubts were cast aside.
Filleon knew what he must do.
The pillar grew wider and wider completely surrounding De’jard. Heat more intense than the volcanoes of the southern isles made Filleon back himself over the split log and hide behind it.
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Just then, great midnight blue wings burst from either side of the flames, rivaling the dragon’s very own.
“My king we must leave now,” Illiah urgently said. Filleon had never heard Illiah sound so desperate, but he stayed put and kept his eyes fixated on the emerging beast being born of the flame. “Please, my king,” Illiah said and stretched out his hand. “We must away this very moment or I cannot guarantee your safety. I promised your daughter I would return you to her. You should understand the implication.”
Filleon calmly turned to meet Illiah’s eyes as if posessed by the power before him, “Commander, I thought I gave you a direct order and told you to return to the castle. The business I have with this demon is between me and him.”
Illiah grunted in frustration and reached for another arrow from the quiver on his back. “Nael, suppress,” Illiah commanded. The dragon rose up higher above the treeline from its low hover and belted a draconic roar which was followed by a stream of green flame at the pillar of fire. The trees swayed and bent from the force of the blast. Filleon had never witnessed anything of the like before, and knew there was more to come. And it was all for the sake of his daughter’s suffering.
It is worth it. She is worth it. My lineage will continue.
A pulse erupted from the clash of flames. A sparkling teal wave of flame-like energy cascaded over the leafy forest floor. Every few seconds another pulse, and another, and another. Until suddenly, it stopped. Nael’s draconic green flames stopped and the great dragon snorted smoke out of its nose in triumph. Filleon looked up to Illiah who seemed poised to strike with his arrow as soon as he saw something.
It no longer seemed to be so hot. The flames subsided and Filleon took a shy step forward before a final eruption of teal and midnight blue violently shook the forest.
Wildlife that seemed to leer and lurk scattered and fled. What emerged was something Filleon never would have thought possible. Something legendary in its own right. He had only seen magic of this scale once and it was merely a demonstration from one of the most powerful wizards to have existed. Thankfully a family friend.
The giant spread its wings and blew back the flames from within and the giant beast cried. The cry was deep but not raspy. Loud but not screeching. The raven had become a dazzling midnight blue phoenix with De’jard riding on top its back just as Illiah was on his dragon, Nael. The bird was the same size as Nael and seemed bigger due to its large body and long legs.
“I thank you for your patience,” De’jard cackled, “Precious and I have not had much time to practice this spell, so she had to get used to it.”
Illiah growled and released his arrow, but the phoenix merely melted it with a snort. De’jard smiled, “Now, where were we, boy?”
Filleon knew Illiah was young for an elf at less than a century’s age, but noticed how the comment dug at him. The usually calm, and calculating elf was now flustered and very emotional despite the attempt at commanding a solid poker face.
“Nael!” Illiah commanded, and with a roar, the dragon quickly spread its great wings and launched towards the sky. De’jard sneered and lazily pointed towards the sky. Precious cawed and followed after them leaving Filleon on the ground to stare into the sky and try to follow the situation.
Even if Filleon had wanted to sneak away, he knew he wouldn’t get very far without one of them finding him almost immediately. The demon seems to be almost everywhere he is and knows his every move, while Illiah had been known to be the best tracker in the region.
Filleon merely folded his arms and awaited for the aftermath of the greatest duel he knew he would ever witness. Then, they disappeared into the clouds, igniting the dense cloudline with the intense blaze Filleon had ever seen.
But against all hope to see something mythical, all went quiet for a few moments before Filleon saw Precious and De'jard float down to the ground in front of him.
"I am sorry for such a quick ending, My King," De'jard spoke up, "I know you expected a show, but I am in a bit of a hurry." He hopped off of Precious and heavily landed onto the ground. His saunter up to Filleon was slow, but calculated. Filleon knew De’jard was attempting to casually intimidate him with his prowess.
He succeeded.
De’jard almost mockingly stood in front of Filleon, towering above him with a fully straighened back. The glowing eyes hid his cracked smile between the shadows. "My King, have you ever heard of Equivalent Exchange?"