'There are several schools and systems of magic that exist within our realm, Natural Philosophy being the capital of which, given its diversity. It is in the other schools that most practitioners believe true magic is found. For the systems of their uses can only be achieved through the application of the incomprehensible concept of willpower. The most prevalent example of this phenomena in recent history, can be observed in the actions of dragons, and their magic of lies.'
-Qu Fletcher.
~~
Murphy and his new monster stared the dragon down with vicious intent. The golem stood in front of him with its blade at the ready.
"That is interesting," the dragon said calmly from across the battlefield, sounding as if he was only a few feet away. "You’re a better liar than I took you for, boy."
Murphy considered his words carefully. His control over the golem was dependent on how much he believed in his own false story. He felt his influence over the beast falter just slightly, and quickly resolved his belief, taking ahold of the thing entirely once again.
The dragon seemed to notice, and its calm demeanour began to fade fast.
"Do you really think you can take my power," the beast scoffed indignantly. "I'm a God, you miserable worm."
Murphy felt a shimmer wash through him, and his control over the golem waned again. The metal giant shuttered, and turned its head to face the Warlock.
"No," he thought to Uundah. "I've changed my mind."
Again, he thickened his resolve.
"We're not dying tonight."
He intensified his control, believing with all he had in the lie in the back of his mind. The golem turned back to face the dragon, and tightened its grip on the hilt of its blade.
"How dare you," the dragon spat. "You need to learn your place, little Warlock. Damn what the Promethean has to say about it."
Before Murphy had a chance to question whatever the beast was on about, the dragon raised its hand high and clenched its fist.
Lightning struck down in the same instant, strong enough to shake the ground and loud enough to sting Murphy’s ears. Though the Warlock never flinched. In the lightning’s crater, a white ball of hot power remained. It pulsed and swirled, starting to take the form of a snake as it stretched out.
Murphy ignored the magic, and glared hate at the dragon.
"I said no," he said, cold and calm.
The forming power fizzled and popped as they fought for control, until Murphy decided it was time.
He shook his head, and slowly raised his hand, brandishing a mocking middle finger.
The power flickered, and ceased to be in the next moment.
"What?" The monster barked. "I'll show you.."
It began to speak, but was cut short by a heavy mass of onyx golem flashing forward and embedding its fist into the things ribs.
The dragon slid back on its feet, and retaliated by swinging its foot at amazing speed into the golems head. The golem stumbled, but didn't fall. It swung its blade in an upward arc, catching the monster's cheek as he tried to dodge. The blood turned to vapour as soon as it touched the air, and the golem took the distracting opportunity to bring its blade back around, cleaving into the beast's forearm.
The dragon screamed in agony, shrouded by the red mist spewing from its arm. It flashed away, getting some distance from its metal foe.
"Do you think this will be enough, wark?" It growled at the Warlock.
Murphy didn't even smile. He just pointed, and the golem began its next charge.
"I've had enough of your empty words, dragon," he shouted.
"I've had enough of running, and enough of being told my place."
The golem flashed forward, ramming the dragon with a knee to the gut.
Murphy focused on the thought of his friends in Malnir, and his determination grew.
"There are things I still want from this world, and I won't let some lizard take that from me."
The golem grabbed the dragon by his horns, and tossed him at speed into a remaining pillar of stone.
Murphy thought about his time with Barberos and his people, and his shimmer intensified again.
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The dragon attempted to flash towards the Warlock, but was cut short by the golem kicking in the side of his knee before he finished his sprint. He crashed into the ground and slid, still carried by the momentum of his attempted attack. He stopped just a few feet from the Warlock, and looked up at him with hate.
"Today is not your day Dralkir-Kaini," Murphy said with a vindictive smile.
"I once promised a man I'd piss on him, and I intend to see that through."
The golem descended onto the dragon's spine, encouraging a pained scream to leave the beast's chest. The dragon was lifted by his horns, and thrown once again to the other side of the battlefield. It flashed to meet the beast on his way down, and chopped with its greatsword at the beast's writhing body. The dragon folded on the metal, and was flung into the stone below with incredible force. He bounced, the impact loosing one of his curled horns. Before it had time to stand, the golem bought its blade straight down and through the beast's chest, pinning him to the stone below.
The beast struggled, but was pinned down harder by the golems heavy foot on his right arm.
It was raining softly by then, calming the tense air as the silence set in. Murphy slowly approached his trapped enemy. Regardless of how firm he held his temporary belief, he couldn't help but be cautious. The monster remained silent and still, face down on the stone. A red cloud of steamy blood surrounded the foe, oozing onto the ground and setting an all too ominous sight. As he neared the monster, his senses were filled with an overwhelming dread. The dragon's chest jerked up and down, and for a moment, Murphy thought the beast was about to break free.
Until he heard the laugh.
Deep and grating, the dragon chuckled. He raised his head, and looked deep into the Warlock's eyes.
"I think I understand now," he said through a jagged, toothy smile.
Before Murphy could react, the monster in front of him shimmered.
All at once, the golem disappeared, the dragon stood proud, and Murphy felt his belief in his lie shatter. The beast was unharmed, less one horn. Murphy tensed to cast a spell, but felt his body go limp in response. Instead of falling to the ground, he floated gently upwards. An unseen force pulled his chin up to meet the dragon's eyes, and Uundah cluttered to the ground.
He felt the O'jin’s panic match his own, but begged him to remain the spear with an unspoken and unthought urge. If the dragon wasn't paying attention to him, then at least one of them got to survive.
"It's no wonder they're so interested in you," the beast said ominously.
"Who's they? Can't imagine you have too many friends," Murphy struggled against the words, but refused to give the dragon the satisfaction of his fear.
"In time, young wizard," he responded, holding the tell-tale smile of someone that was up to something.
He glanced at the horn on the ground nearby, and frowned at the captured Warlock.
"That was my favourite horn."
Murphy felt his limbs go tight, straightening out below and beside him.
"I'd say you look fine, but we've both seen your face."
His voice was hoarse as he struggled against the pain that shot through his arms and legs.
The beast chuckled.
"I'd take your tongue, but somehow I don't think that would shut you up."
It looked him up and down slowly as Murphy’s limbs tightened more.
"You broke something of mine, and you took something too. It's only fair that I show you the same hospitality before we part ways."
Murphy winced, feeling his muscles start to tear.
"I took nothing from you, stupid lizard," he said, fighting to speak.
"On the contrary, little worm," the beast reprimanded.
"You took my power. That's not something your kind has any right to wield."
Murphy wanted to scoff, to question what the monster was claiming. He wanted to know who the Promethean was, and why they were apparently so interested, but the pain was too much.
His arms started to twist, sending ungodly pulses of pain deep into his core. The dragon's smile spread further, and his excited eyes grew wide. There was a pop when his shoulder left its socket, and a crack in his other arm. He cried out in agony, unable to hide his suffering any longer. The beast raised his hand in front of his face, fingers spread wide. The gesture was nothing but a show, since it clearly didn't need to do anything for its magic to work. He clenched his fist, and both of Murphy’s arms snapped in several places, twisting into a gory mess.
Murphy screamed so loud his voice cut out, and his vision lulled as he struggled against passing out.
His arms went limp again, sending another fresh wave of agony through his body.
The dragon laughed again.
"That's something broken," it said, obviously amused.
"Now for me to take."
His joyful smile grew sadistic and he narrowed his eyes. He stepped forward, and placed his hand on Murphy’s temple.
Murphy breathed heavily, trying his heart out to hurt the beast with his hateful stare. As he watched the monster's face twist into a visage of cruel pleasure, the colours around him began to fade. Not the colours of the trees in the distance, or the browns and greys of the stone surrounding them. The colours that faded were the ones he'd grown so accustomed to over his short life. The unique colours that only he could see, all of the colours of aspect.
He panicked again, but had no choice but to suffer through the virtual blinding he was subjected to.
When the beast was done, the world looked dull and lifeless.
He whimpered, and his head fell to his chest when the beast let go. Slowly, he was lowered to the ground. He felt control over himself once he'd been discarded, but didn't have the strength to try and stand.
The dragon pushed him to his back with a soft kick, but it was enough to encourage more aches in his fresh wounds. He looked up at the beast, blinking against the gentle rain.
"We will meet again one day, Warlock," he declared.
"You can count on it," Murphy threatened with a soft voice, spitting blood from the side of his mouth.
The dragon chuckled again.
"Next time, I won't be so forgiving."
He nodded to the crumpled Warlock, and quietly shimmered away.
Murphy laid in the rain wordless. The pain in his body was immense, but couldn't compare to the anguish of the dull sky above. There was nothing but grey clouds. The colours of the rain had all gone away.