Demon(#Wattys2017 Entry)

Chapter 28:Shade

Vaussten panted."Yeah...real tough one, real tough." He reaffirmed, looking across at the armored man.

His opponent remained silent, using a cloth to wipe blood from his halberd. He had not said a word the entire fight. No grunt of effort as he ran or swung his weapon, no taunts before he unleashed the darkness, not even a grunt of pain at any stray blows Vaussten managed to land. Nothing at all.

Vaussten had been caught in that odd darkness many times, and had received new wounds each time. His metallic arm had been bashed into a useless rod, hanging at his side. A few scratches were on his face where he had barely managed to avoid fatal blows. A cut or two to his back where he had tried ducking. It was almost impossible to hear him coming, and even more impossible to dodge his attacks.

Vaussten grinned."Shame really...don't even know what you look like, or what your name is. Don't even know what side you're on in this whole mess. Care to tell me?"

The figure did not reply, only leveled the halberd, nothing showing from behind the helm.

Vaussten smiled."Hmm...well, I have to call you something. What kind of story has a nameless foe? How about...The Shade! That's a good name, even fits in with that Dark Magic of yours! What do you say, sound good?"

The closest thing he got to a reply was the being running forward, swinging his halberd down and taking a large gouge out of the cobblestones.

Vaussten laughed."Take that as a yes then! So begins the epic of Vaussten and The Shade!"

He was enveloped in darkness again, and he quickly looked around as the small glimmers reappeared."Y'know...this is getting to be a really dirty trick, you know that?" He heard advancing footsteps and turned."Alright pal, you-"

A glimmer shone small light on the head of the halberd, and he reached up, blocking it as it began to swing down. It burst apart, sending bits and pieces of metal in every direction.

Shade retreated back, holding only a staff. He tapped it on the ground, showing annoyance towards him.

Vaussten laughed, looking at the thin line of blood on his palm."Phew...lucky that broke when it did, huh? Otherwise, I'd be needing a new hand!" He laughed, imagining the look of annoyance that was no doubt on his foes face."In any case, seems you're out of a weapon, and that little trick will only get you so far. What do you say we call it a truce and go off on our merry way, eh?"

In response, Shade whacked the staff against a wall, snapping off the end and leaving him with a jagged point. He leveled it at him, and Vaussten sighed."Well, I thought i would ask, but can't say I'm too horribly surprised."

Vaussten got into a stance as the darkness enveloped him again. He looked around, seeing more of the colored lights. However, he noticed that on one side, what he had previously though was one solid beam, was really many small lights, moving around.

What part of Dark magic would cause this, he wondered. He considered it,then ducked the next stab from Shade, a thought creeping into his mind. He made a mark on the ground, then stood, putting a hand on his foes chest."Aha! So you-"

Shade stabbed forward, catching him in the stomach. Vaussten grunted in pain, and Shade stepped back as the darkness vanished. Vaussten held his stomach, swearing."Ah...got me good, have to admit." He said, quickly tearing off part of his jacket to bind the wound.

He checked the mark on the ground, then looked up. Just where the odd light had been, he saw a swarm of bees, buzzing contentedly around their hive. He laughed."Aha..." He looked over at his foe, noting a bit of blood from his hand on the armor plates. He smiled."Perfect. I've just learned the secret of your little trick. It won't work again, you know."

He laughed loudly. If Shade had any reaction whatsoever to this declaration, it did not show.

The Shade simply focused, making the cloud of darkness appear again. Vaussten grinned, for his plan had worked. Where Shade had been standing, there was a large red dot of light, with a second, smaller dot above it. He ran towards it, dodging as the smaller dot flew to him. He grabbed it, and the dot shattered, scattering in every direction and leaving fragments of light on the ground.

A few seemed to strike a surface, falling to the ground and leaving a dusting of light. He grinned."Found you!" Shade growled lowly and raised his fist.

Vaussten ducked the punch, then spun and kick. He heard a crunch of denting metal, and heard his foe grunt in pain. He laughed."Oh, so you do have a voice! Good, have enough trouble with one mute killer running around!"

The Shade glared and grabbed him by the throat, lifting him into the air. Vaussten gagged, kicking him and attempting to free himself. He gave a hard kick to his arm, and Shade dropped him, giving another grunt. He smiled, reaching out to touch the breastplate."I win."

The darkness dissipated as Shade howled in pain, stumbling back as his breastplate smoked and melted, burning his skin.

Vaussten smiled."Pretty easy, if you know the weakness behind it." He said, walking over as his foe fell back."Want to know something? With very few exceptions, most magic can't be used on living things. A fire Mage can ignite someone's clothes, but not the man himself. A water Mage can manipulate moisture in the very air we breathe, but can do nothing against even a single drop of blood. I myself can't destroy anything with a pulse, much as that would make my life easier. And you..."

He chuckled."Color. Appears because things reflect light. Water, trees, building, living things." He smiled."And your magic couldn't do anything to a living thing either. Not me, not yourself, not the bugs buzzing around. But it works on that armor of yours, explains why you wear it, right?" He laughed."Good trick, really. But, I had a friend faced with a similar situation recently, and to beat the guy, he used-"

He held up his hand, showing his cut."His blood. Something from a living thing, so you couldn't use magic on it. Still reflected that red for me to see, and with the blood on the tip of your spear...easy enough." He chuckled as his foe tried to stand.

He stepped down on his ribs, hearing more crinkles as his armor was crushed and his ribs were cracked."Oh no you don't!" He reached down and tore off the helmet. The result was an average looking Deena. Not handsome, by any means, but certainly not hideous or disfigured in any way either, save for a pair of pink, jagged, mismatched marks on his cheeks. His hair was very long and disheveled, making him appear far more savage and feral.

Vaussten glared."A large Deena, wielding a halberd easily. I've heard of you, and your crimes. Well, one crime in particular, really. A long time ago? You killed two humans in this city and left their son an orphan?" There was confusion on the Deena's face. Vaussten glared, then kicked his head to knock him out. His foe fell unconscious instantly, not even a groan to accompany the pain. Vaussten glared."Odd...can't be too many humans in this city, but....he acted like he had no clue what I was talking about...Giles did get it right, didn't he?" He shook his head."In any case....you're coming with me. For one reason or another....Giles needs to see you." He threw the man's arm over his shoulder and began dragging him off, crushing the helm underfoot as he did.