Chương 23: Fighting the Priests

I backed away as the circle of priests tightened, forcing me back against the cold, unforgiving wall. I was caught between a rock and a hard place, with nowhere to run and no one to rely on. A few of the priests I remembered seeing around the Divine Throne, which itself was remarkable considering the population of over ten thousand.

A sharp metallic ring filled the air as a burly priest drew his sword. A small lump formed in my throat as I stared at the grith of his arms, which dwarfed even my thighs. Priests like him were known as paladins, knights who channeled their magic power to improve their martial abilities and gain an advantage over the enemy.

"May the gods judge your true nature," Davin cried, casting a second-circle spell, "Holy Star!"

The darkness fled as a small sun-like ball of burning fire appeared above his outstretched palm. The priests relaxed, as though bathing in the warm summer sun, but the light sent chills throughout my body. I trembled uncontrollably as it ate away my strength and suppressed my mana. I panicked as the familiar warmth slipped away, grasping at the mana with all my might, but ending up drained and dry. Weakened by the sudden departure, I leaned against the wall for support.

"W-what did you do?" I asked. I tried to keep the tremor from my voice, but the unfamiliar magic put a seed of anxiety deep within me. Selena had never mentioned something like this!

"The light of the Divine punishes only the guilty," the priest said solemnly. "It is time for you to receive retribution for your sins."

I reached for my mana again, grasping desperately but coming up empty. Unable to muster the will to resist, I was grasped by the Paladin and thrown to the ground. The impact shook me, the cold stone of the floor bruising my shoulder. I groaned, looking up to find myself in the middle of their encirclement.

Suddenly, I was in the warehouse again, curled into a ball on the floor. The taunting priests rained kicks and insults onto my trembling body, continuing until I continually cried out in pain. Davin's hard leather boot pried under my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes.

"This is where you belong," he smirked, "In the dust beneath our feet."

I shuddered at his words, words I was intimately familiar with. They pierced me like an arrow, digging up the thoughts and memories I'd tried so hard to bury. Of loneliness, abuse, and abandonment. Had I really been so naïve to assume this world would be any different?

"Useless filthblood," the librarian spat, sending me sprawling with a kick. I hit my head, hard, my horns aching where they struck the ground. A trickle of warm blood crawled down my cheek, mixing with my tears and spilling onto the ground.

Davin squat down beside me. "Pathetic." He grabbed one of my horns and jerked me up to look at him again. "You're nothing without the hero to protect you. As the prince said, you're a waste of time and resources. "

Was he right? I didn't know anymore. I imagined Soltair, standing beside Trishe, and fighting hordes of shadowy demons, but I couldn't see myself in that picture. I had too many limitations, was too much of a burden. My mind wandered back to the warehouse, from the fury of Kaitlyn to the enveloping light of Soltair.

"No," I whispered, raising my eyes to stare into his. "You're wrong." As long as he believed in me, I could keep going. I would not give in to despair. Not again.

His eyes hardened and he raised a hand. "Then I'll take great pleasure in breaking you."

His fist crashed into my cheek, knocking me from his hand to the ground. Blood filled my throat, making me cough, but struggled to my knees, falling against the wall for support. Suddenly, the world was bathed in a soft golden glow, like I was wearing yellow sunglasses. Magic circles spun all around me, the invisible building blocks of the myriad spells within the Divine Throne. From the runes creating the false sun to the enchantments fortifying the walls. Additionally, the feelings of which priests were using their mana solidified, a soft white light emanating from their bodies proportional to their strength.

Davin raised a hand and chanted a spell. Desperately, I used my newfound sense to pierce the false sun's light and find my mana. Suppressed as I was, I only managed to draw a trickle, but it was enough. Acting on instinct, and without chant or runes, I cast a spell.

"Aegis!"

Small darts of light erupted from Davin's hand, flying toward me like shards of glass. Moments before they struck, a shimmering golden light sprung up, warding them off. The spell strafed the ground around me, biting into the floor and sending chips of stone in all directions.

"How?" someone gasped. "The Holy Star!"

"Demon magic!" Another hissed.

Invigorated by the flow of mana, I stumbled to my feet. Blood leaked from a myriad of cuts and scrapes, running down my flesh, but I wouldn't face them kneeling. Davin met my smoldering eyes and took an unconscious step back. I didn't have much strength left, but their hesitation gave me confidence.

"Kneel and apologize for your rudeness, and we can forgive you," he said, reaching into his coat pocket. "Otherwise, we'll make you regret ever stepping into these halls."

"No matter what happens, you can never make me regret coming here," I said strongly, refusing to break eye contact. Soltair's face lingered in my mind, only disappearing once my will was firm.

"Then break!" he hissed.

Several spells shot out from the priests, but I could see them all. The runes, the chants, the flow of mana; strengths and weaknesses were apparent in my gaze. Attacks of holy light, ice, electricity, and more filled the air, raining down upon me. I manipulated the Aegis, deflecting them all. The Paladin charged toward me, bringing his sword down, blade first. I was surprised at his naked intent to kill, but he fared no better than the rest. Even after their bombardment died off, the Aegis stood strong, with only a few hairline cracks marring its surface.

Taking advantage of the reprieve, I quickly chanted one of the few non-Fate spells in my arsenal. "Gust!"

A strong gust of wind blasted from my hand, knocking the priests away and clearing a path to the corridor's entrance. For some reason, manipulating the air currents in such a fashion didn't count as combat, probably because it did no direct damage. I gasped in relief as I ran through the opening, limping over the sprawled bodies of the priests as quickly as I could. The light of windows ahead beckoned me onward, promising safety.

Right when escape was within reach, my mana writhed in a warning and the gold flashed within my eyes. I turned to see Davin standing within the collapsed circle of priests. He withdrew an amulet from his jacket and raised it above his head. Unsurprisingly, the amulet was a sun cast from solid gold, set with a large ruby in the center. The gem released a brilliant light and three magic circles appeared around it.

"You could have had it easy," he murmured, staring at me with something that resembled pity. "Now burn!"

I instinctively cast an Aegis, throwing as much mana as the first-circle spell could sustain into the shield. Brilliant beams of light surged out of the amulet, twisting through the air like ribbons of purifying fire. I could feel the immense power emanating from the spell, and knew my shield wouldn't hold.

The light struck the Aegis, slowly but surely breaking it apart. I began casting my newest spell, the one I'd only learned yesterday. Sweat rolled down my forehead as I concentrated, marshaling what remained of my mana and crafting three magic circles. The sound of shattering glass filled the room as the ribbons of light penetrated the Aegis, headed straight for my heart. Their heat scorched the air, making it hard to breathe.

Shouting the final words, I released the spell. The magic circles spun in front of me, catching the ribbons and absorbing them. The air hummed as the rings shivered, and I prayed they could withstand the power. After all the light was gone the magic circles glowed brightly, each of the runes filled to overflowing. Davin's eyes widened as I thrust my hand forward.

"Reflection!"

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