Arthur's Point of View

Crawlana

Groaning in annoyance more than from the pain, I watched my portal forcefully close. Bringing my only hand up to where one of the ice attacks destroyed my eye, I felt to see part of my skull had been destroyed. It would seem I needed both eyes to keep my portals open, which was something I did not know. Looking down revealed several wounds through my body along with a gaping hole through my chest. Red quickly started to fill my vision as my blood swarmed around me.

Focusing on the wounds, they quickly healed, and I transformed my hand into its clawed form before returning it to normal. With both my hands back, both my eyes back, and my wounds healed, I cleared the red water from my view as many looked up at me in shock. Including the woman who had held Marina by the back of her neck. Lowering down before her, icy blue eyes followed me.

Creating a smaller air bubble, I examined the women. “I see. You’re just another ward.” One of her eyes twitched. “But that attack didn’t come from you, which means…” My eyes moved throughout the area to find a larger concentration of magic. “You’re nearby. So, Aridian, do you want to continue this meeting through your ward?” I inquired. “Or will you reveal yourself so we can have a little chat.”

“…” The woman didn’t respond as she merely kept her eyes on me.

“Or I could just start killing everyone here?” I offered.

“These are merely people who live in my presence. They have nothing to with this.” She replied.

“And yet, you put them at risk after attacking me.” Was my emotionless response. “Hurting Marina was not a wise move. Why shouldn’t I respond in kind? After all, you struck first.” Reaching out and grabbing the neck of the ward, I hoisted her into the air. “How important is this ward to you?” My grip tightened. “Is she just a plaything like all others I’ve run into?”

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Lifting her in the air, her body shook, and crimson eyes locked onto mine. “Urk!” She let out in pain.

“Mmh.” I hummed as I dropped her.

Letting the water fill the small air bubble I created for us to talk, I floated above the balcony and over the kingdom. Truly, it was a magnificent sight. However, that magic had to come from somewhere. Why couldn’t I see it? Things became even worse as I felt a slash against my chest. My armor seemed to work for once as ice broke against it.

My eyes darted about trying to find where the attacks were coming from as ice started to form all around me. Yet, I was left completely exposed as the attacks continued to come. Drawing Defiance while I moved through the water, some got dragged into the currents of my movements as they screamed out in fear.

Attacks appeared seemingly from nowhere. They were relentless and impossible to track. It didn’t make sense. I was always capable of seeing the forming of magic into spells. Anytime the ice would form, no matter the form, some manner of magic must be used.

I was taken by surprise once more when I felt a constricting sensation around my body. My eyes immediately got to work before I pushed all the water away from me once more. However, things didn’t go as planned. Before I had made another air pocket deep beneath the sea, a tendril of water latched onto one of my legs. It froze over instantly before pulling me back into the water.

Although I was once again surrounded by ice, this time I saw it. The magic was the same color as the water, and ice. A blueish white magic took hold around me and held me in place between the water and ice. Blue for the water, and white for the ice. It was rather genius, but I doubt it was on purpose. Wasting no more time, my body quickly changed as I broke free of my water restraints when I transformed.

Instead of creating a smaller air pocket like before, I removed all water from the area just like I had when I arrived. Between my ability to control wind and my gravity pillars, it was a simple feat. As extra insurance, my energy shot out to fill the air in the water’s stead. Now, with no water surrounding me, the attacks had changed. Ice shot from a distance before it dispersed in midair before it could hurt someone.

A chirping in my throat echoed through the area as those below covered their ears and screamed. Hoisting Defiance above my head, a black orb began to form at the tip. Water began to be pulled towards me as I acted as a center. Parts of the buildings below began to rip from their foundation. Screams of horror could be heard people floated into the air towards their doom.

“I don’t know why you’re so hostile, but I will destroy everything in these depths if you so desire. These people, who have struck first at your command, will be held responsible.” My voice carried for miles. “You, who have harmed me and my daughter, will be held responsible. There will be nothing but a bottomless trench in the wake of where Crawlana once resided.”