Death's End

Chapter 27 - Mind

A massive cage of hardened lights closed in on the wraith, causing it to shriek in rage and lash out in all directions with its skeletal arms. Its lanky fingers belied enormous strengths that tore off the light spears, unscathed and fearless. The cage trapped him with no other effect, not even the mildest signs of damage.

It has indeed evolved, Mirayoung thought, remembering how the light rays could still scratch and graze the wraith when it had a shadow. Now it was in a transition stage, close to but not yet a Mind Wraith. If she were to describe it, it would be like the metamorphosis of a butterfly, where it had become a pupa. Its decaying, sagging flesh would start to become more well formed and a curved long spike would grow from the hooded head, pairing with the glowy eyes to form a truly sinister look. By that stage, it would be a complete Mind Wraith.

"Be off! All of you! Bring Holz or Fermand, but no one else," Mirayoung yelled at the mage-blacksmiths, who were already scrambling before she completed her sentence. She renewed the cage spell, adding multiple layers that intertwined with each other but the wraith brushed them away. With each passing second, it became more agitated.

"Keep it caged. I will strike with Empyrean," Jerius arched and pressed his fingers together, creating an intricate sign. Then he pinched his lips, seemingly in preparation for something as he mouthed old words that only those of the Lyvia's bloodline could muster. He was not of that bloodline, but within him, Lyvia's arcane flowed.

He then had both palms up.

Even from within the cage, the wraith noticed the potential risk to it, even if he did not understand what it was. Its instinct to survive flared. Its command of nature, of magic that coursed through the living beings who sought to undo it increased with every passing moment. Around the two, a sudden swirl of wind picked up, howling like the hordes of blood-mad barbarians and echoing the anger of a greedy storm god.

It can cast spells now, thought Mirayoung, splitting her attention on two different spells. Parallel casting was a technique reserved to the most skilled mages out there. With half a mind, she attempted to negate the spell around them and the other, she kept the barrage of light spears on the wraith, trapping it within.

But even as she countered the swirling force, the wraith mustered more. It did not need to be better than an archmagus in commanding magic; it needed only to surprise her, while her concentration was split. The spiraling wind rapidly grew more agitated, mirroring the wraith's frustration and rage as if nature given life. It came to the point it swept both of them off their feet as the Empyrean flame Jerius conjured shot out from both palms; the white-hot flame of the heaven that claimed to burn even souls into cinder struck the ceiling, scattering over in distributed damage. The dangling orbs of light either exploded or fell, shattering around the wraith but otherwise leaving it unhurt.

Recovering back on her feet, Mirayoung paused for a second as cold dripped down the length of her spine. An ancient voice spoke from somewhere near...too near for comfort. Every consonant was twisted, like an alien mouth taunting the language with which it spoke.

"Is that the wraith? It felt like my heart was being ripped apart when the voice was there," Jerius said, with a palm on his chest.

"Ignore it," Mirayoung said, backpedalling while signalling Jerius to do the same to increase the distance between them and the wraith.

Breathing hard, he said, "I can't muster Empyrean. That voice...in my head is interfering with my spellcasting. I'm finding it hard to complete an incantation."

"A Mind Wraith can do that to you just by its presence, which lets you hallucinate voices that are not there. If I'm to describe it, it's like an area of suppression. Now I want you to pay close attention to what I have to say," Mirayoung said, unfurling the belt of nine daggers. "Do not let it touch you. Do not let its attacks hit you. Do not attempt to block. Move out of its way. You hear me?"