Cassidy's Point of View

The Slums

Chuckling, Rudnurth merely watched passively. "Feel free to challenge me as much as you wish. It matters little." You could hear the amusement in his voice. "Elincia has already been dealt with, and Arceana was wise to hide when she sensed my presence." Then he brought his hands up as I struggled in vain to get loose. "However, there are more important matters to attend to."

No spells were cast from the monster as he used pure magic to restrain Alwin, who struggled to keep Rudnurth's magic at bay. Greigh broke free momentarily but was quickly captured once again before Kheri followed suit. Ayda cast a spell that destroyed part of his magic and broke free, which got his attention to focus on her.

"You are the second Elf to try and challenge me. Surprising." He then moved his magic towards her as she teleported about the area.

"Get him, Ayda!" Kine called out.

"What can one measly Elf accomplish?" Rudnurth asked as he also teleported before her, and she yelped as he grabbed her.

"Unhand her, you monster!" Alwin shouted.

He chuckled. "I will not harm her. Do not worry. You have talent, child." Levitating her before him, he gestured to her. "I am interested in your name though."

"My name is Ayda Farro. I am a student-" His hand quickly reached out to her neck, and he began choking her.

"Farro, you say?" He asked in a dangerous tone as he seemed to twitch unstably.

"Let her go!" I shouted as I continued to struggle in vain.

"While I loathe lying, I must admit that I said things far too hastily." He then began squeezing her neck, which made Alwin roar, but he was unable to do anything. "It would appear that there are few things I will need to take care of here before I deal with Arceana."

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Thrashing wildly to try and escape was useless, and my head hung limply. Glancing through my bangs, I watched Ayda kick and claw desperately to breathe. A wicked smile came to Rudnurth's face as he squeezed ever so slightly. However, he dropped her suddenly and fell to both of his knees as his eyes widened. All of us were let go, and Alwin teleported his sister to his side.

Rushing over to her, I spoke. "Are you okay!?" Alwin was healing her.

"Yeghs." Ayda was barely able to croak out as she coughed horribly.

Looking back down the street as the others moved over to us to regroup, I saw Rudnurth quickly slam face-first into the ground randomly. The airships also moved back since they were now free, but those on board seemed just as confused.

"What is happening!?" Rudnurth shouted as his magic began to flail about violently, which forced Alwin to teleport us all further down the street. "Who dares make me eat dirt!?" He stood and looked around like a rabid dog.

It wasn't until Floyd slowly pointed towards the sky that we all looked up. My eyes widened in horror when I saw Arthur slowly flying down with blood dripping from his prior wounds. How he was even able to move, I had no idea. However, the two airships and Zugal in the area quickly cleared the way as he descended with his eyes focused on Rudnurth only. They looked so strange without his eyepatch, but both had a strange symbol.

"There are no words to describe how delightful it is to see you again, Rudnurth." Arthur called out, but instead of looking at him, Rudnurth's eyes widened as he froze.

Arthur's Point of View

The Slums

Slowly touching the street, thanks to my eyes slowing me down, I watched Rudnurth's back carefully. He was low on magic compared to what he controlled at the mountain, which told me he was fighting at a disadvantage. That worked in my favor since I was still horribly injured. Either way, it wouldn't have stopped me from coming to see him.

He slowly turned towards me, and his eyes shook while his face paled. "Surprised to see me?" I asked.

"You…" Rudnurth said in a shaky voice. "It cannot be. You died…"

Stepping towards him, he quickly summoned his magic at the ready as he eyed my wounds. "Heard you were sealed away. Was in a type of seal myself, but I am happy to see you."

Rudnurth opened his mouth to reply but quickly regretted it when I slammed my fist into his cheek. The blow sent him flying outside of the slums and into the Hollow Forest. Jumping after him with a boost from my eyes, I landed not too far from where he rolled to. He quickly got to his feet and glared at me as blood ran down his chin.

"You have always been impertinent," Rudnurth began as he looked at his blood. "But to make me bleed is a grave crime."

"Save it. Your heart's going to be in the palm of my hand once I rip from your fucking chest." My energy began to float about the area, which made Rudnurth even more wary. "A little blood on your chin is the least of your worries."

"I do not remember you as one to boast so barbarically." He commented.

"And you still shrink away from the responsibilities of your actions." Rolling my neck as and then tapping my wounds again, I continued. "I am looking forward to this."

"Finally dying?" Rudnurth asked rhetorically.

Closing my eyes for a moment, I opened them to glare at him. "Not killing you was one of the biggest mistakes of my like, Rudnurth. Maybe I should've been more forceful, or perhaps I should've been kinder, but either way, it is because of that we are here now." Walking towards him got him to crouch down. "But you ruined everything I worked for and betrayed me."

"You took my throne and my family from me!" He roared. "I took back what was mine!"

"Had you stayed, they never would've left your side, but you abandoned them." Was my calm, matter of fact, retort. "It matters not. No more second chances, Rudnurth."

With a roar, his magic shot out into the surrounding area as trees, stones, water, and more began to levitate into the air. "I am the King!"

Shaking my head as I looked back at him, I replied. "You're nothing more than a coward."