Shards of Felwyn

Recursive Application

"You will die someday, Cosmo." Molniya barked from across the room, flanked on either side by Elias and Lysander. Lileth stood behind the others, under the form of a dark elf. He had known the shifter well enough to see through their disguises. "That day is not today." She flashed him a triumphant smile, readying her spear towards Cynderad.

"Beast of darkness and shadow!" Elias's voice filled the room. "By Tatiova's light, I will show you agony!" Hoisting his claymore to the sky, the armored man charged across the chamber towards Cynderad, more hatred in his eyes than Cosmo had ever witnessed.

Lileth, on the other hand, raised a tall, dark bow of hawthorne in front of themselves, pulling back the drawstring and knocking a steel arrow. Molniya engaged with her spear as well as lightning magic, when she could ensure nobody else would fall victim to her electric prowess. Lysander, after Cynderad had been sufficiently distracted, rushed to Cosmo's side, who still remained on the ground.

"How in Felwyn?..." Cosmo was at a loss for words, staring at Lysander's eyes with disbelief.

"We were still within the Blue Palace when we received your message. I know not how you attained the power to scry all of gods-damned Felwyn on your own, but I trust you'll fill me in later." He rumaged past the armor he had been given in the Boiling Pot, searching the pockets below for a moment before producing his wand. "We had convinced Arlinn to allow our return, but just as we had made our final preparations, the Conclave made contact with us."

He breathed slowly, clearly attempting to steady his breath and ignore the raucous battle that was happening not even three yards away. He readied his wand towards Cosmo's forearms, where the burns from Cynderad's attacks were the bloodiest and, much to the injured boy's surprise, Lysander muttered an incantation he had only heard Elias speak.

"Reinégen." He spoke after another deep breath. Upon seeing the shock on Cosmo's face, he shook his head in a way that said: "Not right now." "The entity offered to use their power to transport us here instantaneously, as you were in need of help. They told us that you would not prevail were we not to show ourselves."

Relief flowed through Cosmo's body as the spell started to take its effect. His emotions, then, bubbled to the surface, filled with pride and gratitude for his friends. He gazed over at Elias, Molniya, and Lileth who were laying their lives down for him. Cosmo looked back at Lysander, his cousin, his brother, and his friend. In that moment, he cared not whether their blood was the same, nor for the pain radiating front he injuries he had gained during battle. All he held within his heart was a desire to fight once more, alongside the family who had helped him through everything.

"Lysander?" Cosmo spoke, rising to his feet as his companion continued to heal him. The spell cut off, the turbulence too much.

"Yes, brother?" He smirked, as though he already knew what Cosmo was to say.

"Let's end this." A feeling of finality washed over the two as they made eye contact before returning to the battle.

Cosmo's wounds still stung as he fought, Lysander having little time to actually heal him. Despite this, his companions made up for it in excess, pulling the weight that he along could not have shouldered previously. The four made their assault as one driving force. As Cosmo would retreat, Elias would defend the positions he left open, Lysander would parry the attack, slashing with such ferocity that even thier abomination of an adversary could be stunned by the force. Molniya would strike with small castings of Izkra or make vicious jabs with her spear. The entire time, Lileth remained stalwart, firing a continuous volley of arrows, even as the battle moved about the cavern. In some time, Cynderad had been weakened consistently.

"Ralak yn Cyskil!" The demon had enough time in between attacks to shout the incantation desperately.

"Shield yourselves!" Cosmo cried, the pain from moments ago flashing in his mind, the sinking feeling of dread making its home in his stomach.

"Schrank!" Elias, who had become separated from the group, manifested a shield, bashing it into the bare-bones figure of Cynderad. Cosmo whipped his head back and forth as smoke began to plume from the beast's mouth, searching for his companions. Snagging Lysander by the neck, lunged for Molniya, who was busy growling an incantation.

"Finau." Cosmo spoke the incantation, the basalt rising once again to protect himself and his friends from Cynderad's attack. The violet flames roared over the cusp of the barrier, threatening to melt the very rock that it was comprised of. As the spell began to subside, Cosmo gave one final order. "Molniya!" They made eye contact over the sound of broiling flames. "Aim for the head."

The lizardwoman nodded, clutching her spear with determination as she rose to her feet swiftly, pressed her foot upon the stone barrier, and leaped through the air, the grip on her weapon tight. Lightning wreathed the attack, the full fury of the lizarfolk displayed with one grandiose attack that the other members of the party could only stand and watch. It felt as though an eternity before the attack landed, the spear lodging itself deep within Cynderad's head. Molniya landed on the ground sloppily, falling to her knees and scrambling away.

Then, for a moment, time seemed to stop as Cynderad remained still and silent, standing in the middle of the cavern upon spindly, fleshy legs. Its arms lay limp at the sides of its mangled torso, halfway butchered from the barrage of attacks it had suffered. An arrow clattered to the floor from it's neck, black blood oozing onto the floor. Then, it began to howl.

At first, he was sure it was the sign of the demon's death, the painful screeching encompassing whatever slew of emotions the demon could still feel. Cosmo's gut twisted as Cynderad's form began to change once more, its crippled body bloating at an exponential rate until its fragile and strained skin could bear the load no longer. In an expression of finality, the monster's carcass detonated, throwing everyone to the chamber floor with force. As Cosmo clung to consciousness, his vision dark, he smiled, smiled for Lysander, and for Elias and Molniya and Lileth. He smiled for Dreyniv, Hallar, Agnes, and for everyone who he had saved. But most of all, he smiled for Langston. And for his home.