Folly & Agendas & Talulah

(STC) Chapter 24: Atlas...

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This Chapter will be subject to future changes!

I apologize to those who have made it thus far,

but I plan to rewrite this chapter in the future

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Virtues lie here...

Where streams hold blood...

When the night is absent...

And disappear under the surface...

"So what do you think Talulah?'

"Kaiser Rye is still alive even though he had a sword through his abdomen.'

"Are you surprised this happened?'

"I knew this would happen.'

"And this is certainly not his first."

I was utterly baffled by Kaiser Rye's escape from death. His Arts are far more complex without his control. I saw Crownslayer drive a machete through him; I saw the pool of blood beneath him; I saw his dying breaths. And yet, he is still alive.

His tenacity is still supporting him despite his flaws, like a soldier fighting without an arm.

When will he just die?

He has already caused enough stress for me.

I shielded my eyes with my hand when Kaiser Rye's body glowed a bright white. He was lying on the ground struggling to stand up. Crownslayer was sent flying by the blast, but she was still in ample condition to fight.

The ground had a small crater encrusted with Originium crystals. Rye was lying in the center of it with bloody, tattered clothes. He climbed out of it only to meet my glare. His head looked upwards to the sky, then he looked at me with presumably squinted eyes.

I was standing on top of a flat roof observing the scene as Crownslayer charged at him. Rye had his shield with him, and he blocked her attack before it could land. The sounds of metal reverberated through the area as a beam of black interrupted their scuffle.

I leaned forward to get a glimpse of the new figure that entered. A small Cautus in an oversized jacket was capable of stopping Crownslayer's assault. Some other person stood beside her wearing the same black outfit, but he had a mask on concealing his identity.

Interesting...

As I stare at the new contestants I realized that the Cautus was familiar. She was the same one that managed to stop my Arts from incinerating her little circus troupe.

"You should go now Talulah."

Koshchei doesn't make the calls here. I continued to watch the battle as the little Cautus used her Black Arts to stop Crownslayer, but she underestimated an assassin and almost paid the price.

Rye used his Arts to divert her attention and the two of them engaged in close-quarter combat once again. But this time he had support from the little Cautus as he fought. He never launched an offensive attack however; instead, he just kept using his Arts to deter Crownslayer's efforts.

Seeing that this little foray is getting nowhere, I decided to end it.

I pulled out my earpiece and dialed it and put it in my ear. I pressed a button and spoke, "Crownslayer, retreat. You'll deal with him next time."