Vir left his cave the sa way hed arrivedthrough the shadows. Why Ekanai hadnt pursued him, he couldnt say.
All he knew was that he had to end the demon. Both to escape this place and to do right by Ekanais mory. The real Ekanai, that was. Vir suspected the demon would be disgusted at the abomination that had manifested here.
Vir searched the caves until he found one that suited him. It was a long, narrow tunnel, dimly lit by green bioluminescent moss.
The location favored Vir, the smaller of the two combatants. While they both wielded chakrams and katars, Ekanais height and gangly limbs would only get in the way here.
Calling upon the Foundation Chakra, Vir cald himself and prepared for the battle ahead, though he didnt sink into his mindscape. He wasnt sure just how much ti passed while he was in there, and until hed tested the details, he couldnt risk being caught off-guard.
Virs strategy would leverage the fact that Ekanais physical manifestation was based on Virs mories of the demon. With luck, knowing what he knew now, the Ekanai he fought would be different. He might be more reasonableand hopefully, weaker.
If he wasnt, Vir was going to have his hands full just staying alive.
He shook off the thought. Maiya wouldnt have ntioned conquering his fear if it wasnt critical for this fight. His trust in her was absolute, and so his mind was calm.
Vir didnt have to wait long. Ekanai appeared so paces away, Artifact chakram and orb in hand, snarling viciously.
Hello, Ekanai, Vir said calmly. How are you feeling?
The demon smirked. Never better. Your friend here has made quite the spell. Gave so trouble, but I managed it. Now I need only test it. And soon, he said, holding up another, empty orb, I will have another. Your body will be the perfect vessel for , and your soul will be my weapon. With two soul weapons, not even Fate itself can stop us!
Virs hope disappeared the mont the demon started talking. Ekanai was no less vicious than before. He hadnt changed. And now he had a new, powerful weapon.
No thats not quite right, is it?
There was sothing different about him. The overwhelming, oppressive aura hed emitted before was now gone, and it wasnt only on account of Virs Foundation Chakra protecting him from the demons ntal attacks.
Its my fear! It was sohow strengthening him. And Maiya knew
Logically, it made no sense. Then again, nothing about this place did. If, as Vir suspected, none of it was real, then this fabricated reality was likely bound by a different set of rules. Rules that were obviously impacted by Vir himself.
By vanquishing his fear, hed sohow robbed Ekanai of a portion of his power. It wasnt the outco hed been hoping for, but itd have to suffice.
With Haste active, Vir Blinked forth, spearing Ekanai with his katar.
It was only a distraction. The Chakri Barrage hed simultaneously launched was the real attack. Dozens of the tiny prana disks ripped through the air, filling the entire tunnel.
The demon moved slightly, barely dodging his katar. The Chakris, however, were another story.
Clarity was a powerful abilityoverwhelmingly sobut it had one flaw. Naly, knowledge of the imdiate future was only useful if one could act upon it.
Previously, the demon had been able to do exactly that. His strength, speed, and armor had all been impossibly formidable, allowing him to execute mind-bending feats. That was no longer true.
Ekanai moved a smidge slower now. A weakness amplified by the tunnels tight confines, turning it into a killing field. With his gangly limbs, Ekanai couldnt possibly move his body quickly enough to avoid them all.
He didnt have to. He sunk into the shadows.
It was exactly what Vir had done countless tis to avoid danger. Yet, it too, had a crippling weakness.
Vir grasped Ekanais arm with a death grip. Either the demon had been too preoccupied with Virs Chakris, or he hadnt used Clarity, because his eyes widened in shock and realization.
Virs earlier katar attack had been a double feint. Not only did it divert Ekanais attention away from his chakrams, but it also put Vir within physical range.
Now dodge this, Vir rasped, as a dozen prana disks ripped into the Iksana ghael. Cirayus had said that ghaels are normally physically frail, relying on their stealth arts to be effective in combat.
Not so with Ekanai. His Primordial nature erased such weaknesses. His Prana Armor flared, absorbing the first several prana chakris, but Vir had expected this, too.
Because Ekanai being a Primordial cut both ways.
With his arm still firmly on Ekanai, Vir pulled. Ash prana surged into him, instantly depleting the layer of armor Ekanai had built.
Perhaps sensing the future with Clarity, Ekanai desperately tried to pull away. He failed.
Ekanai hurled Virs own Artifact Chakram back at him, but without hesitation, Vir snatched it out of the air.
Thats my weapon. Did you honestly think it would hurt ?
The demon snarled.
The next prana chakri sliced cleanly through the arm Vir held, freeing the demon to twist away in pain. The subsequent two missed, but the fifth drove into his body, gouging deep, and the last nicked his leg at the ankle.
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For without prana armor, without his dley of magic, Ekanai was just a ghael, like any other. There was nothing to fear here.
Ekanai bled, though none of the wispy essence drifted out of him as it had with Vir and Maiya.
That proves it. Hes just a fabrication. But then what of Maiya?
Virs eyes turned to the orb at Ekanais waist, and to his surprise, found a wispy white essence drifting out from it.
Is that Maiya?
Or was it what had beco of her? Ekanai said orbs were originally powered by the power of souls. Was this really her? Or was it so twisted version of her? What had the demon done to her?
The wisps went straight for Ekanais wound, entering it. The demon dropped his weapon and scread in agony.
One, in particular, had snaked around, avoiding Virs vision. By the ti he noticed, it was too late. Vir watched in horror as the wisp dove into his arm.
He braced himself for the pain of a chakra attack.
Hey, Vir! Sorry for earlier.
Maiya? Vir gasped. Is that really you?
Kinda. Hard to explain. Anyway, keep it up. A few more like that and I ought to be able to take over.
Take over!? Vir didnt have a clue how such a feat could be possible, nor how Maiya understood how to accomplish it.
Explain later. Or maybe not. Ekanai didnt know what he was doing. I didnt either, but it seems like I have a knack for this? I dont get it, really. Anyway, just trust . Love you.
Despite himself, Vir felt a profound warmth bloom in his chest. Maiyas okay! Shes alright! Everythings going to be alright.
Vir still couldnt be sure it was really her, but the elation filled him, nonetheless.
With Ekanai as injured and crippled as he was, attacking him further was hardly a challenge. The mont the demon had lost his arm, Vir grabbed his leg instead. Ekanais only way out was to escape into the shadows, but with Vir draining his prana, Ekanai couldnt escape. He couldnt even activate Dance of the Shadow Demon anymore.
With his other hand, Vir activated Prana Blade and stabbed the demon, waiting for Maiyas essence to fill the wound before striking again.
S-Stop! Ekanai shrieked, but he was in far too much pain to say much more.
If hes feeling pain, it must an Maiya is doing that to him, Vir thought, a bit shocked at how much she seed to be hurting him.
A flicker of pity crossed Virs thoughts, but he cast it aside. This corrupted manifestation of Ekanai had done far worse to Maiya. She was more than entitled to so karmic retribution.
How dare you? the demon scread. I cant die here. Not again. I cant fail again. My purposeargh!
How fitting for Maiya to take over his body when he robbed her of hers.
Vir wondered if shed chosen this thod precisely because it allowed her to get back at Ekanai in the most direct way possible. It was a typical Maiya move.
But that made him question whether Maiya felt the pain he was inflicting upon the demons body. If she was taking over like she said
Okay, thats enough Vir! Ekanai said, grimacing.
Vir froze in his tracks.
Uh, Mai? Is that you?
Y-yeah. Heh. It actually worked! Would you believe it?
Vir stared at Ekanai-Maiya blankly.
What? Ekanai asked, tilting his head.
This is really weird, Vir said. Im beginning to question my sanity.
What, it took you this long? Besides, imagine how I feel! You didnt just have your soul beco inexplicably detached from your bodysothing I didnt even think was possiblebefore being sucked right into an orb!
Virs words caught in his mouth. Im sorry, he whispered.
Ekanai frowned. You beat him. You overca your fear.
I couldnt help you. When he said he was going to turn you into a spell, I I feared the worst. I thought Id lost you. Vir laughed. Look at you. You not only saved yourself, you even took over Ekanai. How is that even possible?
Vir slumped to the ground. It was all too much. He felt like the world was playing with him, trying to test his limits to see how much he could take before he snapped.
Hey, why do I need to be the one getting saved all the ti? Ekanai-Maiya said, one hand on hisher?hip. Now you know how it feels to be on the receiving end, Maiya said softly.
The tenderness in her words were entirely erased by Ekanais scratchy ghael voice. The feeling conveyed, regardless.
I never really considered that. Vir had always assud it was his duty to protect her. As the Primordial. As her friend.
I guess being saved once in a while isnt so bad after all, Vir said, though his heart wasnt in it. Even now, he was absolutely gutted over how he had no way to help her. Even if he had defeated Ekanai, then what? Was Maiya dood to be trapped in that orb until he found a way to restore her?
Vir shuddered at the possibility.
Did it hurt? he asked. Being, er yknow. The orb stuff.
Ekanai scratched his head. A little. It was just really weird. Not having a body, but being able to see everything happening. It was uncomfortable, more than anything. You wont believe how awkward it is not having hands and feet. But er, lets just say Im glad I stopped Ekanai when I did. Every ti he activated the orb, I felt like a piece of disappeared.
Virs stomach lurched. Are you
Maiya waved away his concern. Im fine. Whatever I lost, I retook from him. Dont ask how Im doing any of this. Im way outside my depth here. Still she lowered her voice, Made wonder about all the orbs we take for granted. Did they really all co from souls? Did the Gods do what Ekanai did?
Vir had so many questions, he didnt even know where to begin. Ashani had never once hinted that the Imperium employed such despicable practices. Then again, she never claid that the Imperium created the original orbs, either.
Had they uncovered the magic at so point, and simply built upon it? Or was there a darker side that Ashani wasnt revealingor perhaps didnt even know about?
Questions for another ti. Right now, Vir was filled with mixed emotions about this whole situation. Should he be elated at Maiyas success? Thankful that she defeated Ekanai? Or heartbroken that she had to endure such pain?
So, uh, what now? Maiya asked, though Vir had the sa question.
I honestly dontMaiya! Vir shouted, pointing.
Maiya looked down at her arm, which was steadily dissolving away.
Maiya! No! Vir shrieked, rushing up to her. Nonono!
Prana bled from Ekanais body at an alarming rate as it crumbled away to dust. Vir desperately surged Ash prana into Ekanais body, but to no avail.
Gotta admit. Didnt see this coming, Maiya said nervously.
No. Stop. Stop! Vir didnt even know who he was yelling at. This cant be happening. Maiya! Vir roared. Maiya!
Ekanais body continued to vanish before Virs very eyes, and there was absolutely nothing he could do. Nothing, but watch as Maiyas eyes filled with tears, but she didnt cry.
And if she didnt, how could he?
Maiya said nothing. She simply held him gently right until she was gone.
Vir, whod been holding back his tears, fell to his knees.
But the tears didnt co. His eyes widened.
For instead of an empty cavern, a brilliantly white form stood before him. Maiyas wispy form, exactly as shed been when he first found her fighting Ekanai.
No, not the sa. Maiya shone as brightly as ever. Prana surged through her veinsboth her Ice and Wind prana, but also Ekanais Ash prana as well. Not within hersurrounding her. Then it surged into her body, causing her to convulse. It didn't enter her bloodstream as Vir expected but rather disappeared sowhere deep within her, and her hair shone so brightly it almost looked as if it were on fire.
Maiya!? Vir blurted. Are you
I feel great! Maiya said, whirling. What in the Realms
Vir stared at her dumbfounded. She was alive. Maiya was alive!
He was about to embrace her when she began to disappear.
Not just her. The entire cave crumbled away, leaving nothing but inky darkness.
No. A terrible thought ford in Virs head. What if none of this is real? What if Maiya isnt
Just an hour ago, hed wished it wasnt real. That it was all just his imagination, and that Maiya hadnt endured any of the pain shed gone through.
Now? Now, he was terrified it might all be fake.
Its alright, Vir, Maiya said as her form dimd. Im just returning. Its okay.
How do you know! Vir wailed. How can you possibly know?
Call soti, yeah? Maiya said, as her essence disappeared entirely. Ive missed you. A lot.
Vir tried to reply but felt a sudden lurch. A brilliant white light flashed, and suddenly, he was on a bumpy rough surface in the middle of a circular room.
Green roots covered every inch of the room, and at its center, a tree rose from the roots to form a great trunk.
A trunk that pulsed with prana and chakra.
What in all the realms?
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