It was dark by the time Magnus arrived in Oshibana and his usual smile was not on his face tonight. There was nothing to smile about tonight. There was only preparation, acceptance and, once things were done, celebrating a life well-lived. This particular spot was secluded - a private piece of land owned by Magnus' current client and their family. Before him was a somewhat large, yet somehow still humble house. The lanterns about the house were all dimmed except for the two braziers in the porch and the four braziers that had been placed around the yard that Magnus now stood in. Upon the porch, illuminated by the fires either side of him, sat a man considerably older than Magnus was, battle worn with tired eyes that had seen too much and more. Yet in spite of this his body had somehow remained powerful - weaker than it once was of course, but still muscular and still able to fight one last good fight.
"Master Warwick. It is time."
At Magnus' words the figure got to their feet and his eyes rose to meet his would-be slayer's.
"You are the one they call Magnus then? I was told to expect you. You...are a warrior yourself, yes? Then you know what I ask and why I ask it." The man's voice was slightly raspy, a sign that age had indeed come for the exhausted warrior. Magnus remained motionless. "I do. May the Gods give you a seat worthy of your strength and the suffering you have endured." Magnus began. The two men then bowed their heads and closed their eyes. "Warwick Mason. May the Valkyries take you to Valhalla, to stand side by side with your friends and family, to seat upon the throne you made in life and in battle. May you and your enemies now rest side by side, and let past battles be forgot. May the Gods see you tonight and accept you, and fight Hel for you, as you fought Hel for them."
A solitary tear trickled down the elderly man's face, a small smile crossing his lips.
"Now, Warwick Mason, we give the Gods one last show of strength."
The elderly man nodded. "Give me your all son...and may the Gods accept your act of kindness tonight."
The two men bowed to one another and then the elderly man drew his sword and shield proper. Magnus responded in kind, the black and white aura coating his body as his magic pulsed through him. Warwick made the first move, an sudden surge of speed as he attempted to smash his shield into Magnus, an attempt to stun his younger opponent. But Magnus was already on the move himself.
"Chaos Control!"
Magnus' Aura grew thicker as he sidestepped the shield bash with ease courtesy of his enhanced movement speed. Warwick responded with the sharpness that only a man of war could achieve, bringing his sword out to the side in an attempt to catch Magnus in mid-motion. Were the man younger, he would've likely been a split second faster and hit his young opponent. Alas even with his still impressive speed it was not quite enough. But Magnus wasn't going to let this man die without feeling that euphoria when a strike lands. He created a small, almost insignificant pulse of magic that smacked against Warwick's blade, feigning a blow. Magnus grunted as if the blow had hit him, and jumped backwards a few feet. Warwick completed his turn and was face-to-face with Magnus once more. Now it was Magnus' turn to attack, as he brought his hands together in front of him.
"Chaos Blast!"
A burst of black and white magic surged from his hands and shot towards Warwick. The aged warrior brought his shield up to block the attack and succeeded. But alas the shield itself was as worn as its bearer, as it cracked from the pressure of the blow. Warwick felt this and immediately cast it aside, swapping to a two-handed grip of his blade. He was already on the move mere milliseconds after the blow, faster now without the weight of the shield. Yet still not fast enough as Magnus ducked under a side swing, then backflipped away from a low swipe. The Chaos mage was already preparing his final blow as he turned upright, black fist-sized shards appearing in front of him.
"Purgatory Shard!"
The shards flew out and all found their mark, hitting Warwick square in the chest. For the briefest of moments time froze as the elderly man soaked up the pain he was feeling. Then, finally, a smile broke onto his face and his eyes closed as he slumped to his knees and finally fell backwards to the ground.
Magnus sighed and closed his eyes himself, silently praying now for the man's departure to the afterlife and, he believed, to Valhalla. After a minute he walked to the body, removing the mans helmet and kissing his forehead, as was custom of the warriors of the crucible.
"Valhalla claims you as a champion. Now rest."
With that, Magnus returned to his feet and looked up at the windows of the house. Sure enough he could see the faces of Warwick's remaining family looking back at him, tears streaming down their faces. He bowed to each of them and they returned the gesture.
With his morbid task completed, Magnus walked away from the building. His work was done and he was to be gone before the family could lay the body to rest in earnest.
"Master Warwick. It is time."
At Magnus' words the figure got to their feet and his eyes rose to meet his would-be slayer's.
"You are the one they call Magnus then? I was told to expect you. You...are a warrior yourself, yes? Then you know what I ask and why I ask it." The man's voice was slightly raspy, a sign that age had indeed come for the exhausted warrior. Magnus remained motionless. "I do. May the Gods give you a seat worthy of your strength and the suffering you have endured." Magnus began. The two men then bowed their heads and closed their eyes. "Warwick Mason. May the Valkyries take you to Valhalla, to stand side by side with your friends and family, to seat upon the throne you made in life and in battle. May you and your enemies now rest side by side, and let past battles be forgot. May the Gods see you tonight and accept you, and fight Hel for you, as you fought Hel for them."
A solitary tear trickled down the elderly man's face, a small smile crossing his lips.
"Now, Warwick Mason, we give the Gods one last show of strength."
The elderly man nodded. "Give me your all son...and may the Gods accept your act of kindness tonight."
The two men bowed to one another and then the elderly man drew his sword and shield proper. Magnus responded in kind, the black and white aura coating his body as his magic pulsed through him. Warwick made the first move, an sudden surge of speed as he attempted to smash his shield into Magnus, an attempt to stun his younger opponent. But Magnus was already on the move himself.
"Chaos Control!"
Magnus' Aura grew thicker as he sidestepped the shield bash with ease courtesy of his enhanced movement speed. Warwick responded with the sharpness that only a man of war could achieve, bringing his sword out to the side in an attempt to catch Magnus in mid-motion. Were the man younger, he would've likely been a split second faster and hit his young opponent. Alas even with his still impressive speed it was not quite enough. But Magnus wasn't going to let this man die without feeling that euphoria when a strike lands. He created a small, almost insignificant pulse of magic that smacked against Warwick's blade, feigning a blow. Magnus grunted as if the blow had hit him, and jumped backwards a few feet. Warwick completed his turn and was face-to-face with Magnus once more. Now it was Magnus' turn to attack, as he brought his hands together in front of him.
"Chaos Blast!"
A burst of black and white magic surged from his hands and shot towards Warwick. The aged warrior brought his shield up to block the attack and succeeded. But alas the shield itself was as worn as its bearer, as it cracked from the pressure of the blow. Warwick felt this and immediately cast it aside, swapping to a two-handed grip of his blade. He was already on the move mere milliseconds after the blow, faster now without the weight of the shield. Yet still not fast enough as Magnus ducked under a side swing, then backflipped away from a low swipe. The Chaos mage was already preparing his final blow as he turned upright, black fist-sized shards appearing in front of him.
"Purgatory Shard!"
The shards flew out and all found their mark, hitting Warwick square in the chest. For the briefest of moments time froze as the elderly man soaked up the pain he was feeling. Then, finally, a smile broke onto his face and his eyes closed as he slumped to his knees and finally fell backwards to the ground.
Magnus sighed and closed his eyes himself, silently praying now for the man's departure to the afterlife and, he believed, to Valhalla. After a minute he walked to the body, removing the mans helmet and kissing his forehead, as was custom of the warriors of the crucible.
"Valhalla claims you as a champion. Now rest."
With that, Magnus returned to his feet and looked up at the windows of the house. Sure enough he could see the faces of Warwick's remaining family looking back at him, tears streaming down their faces. He bowed to each of them and they returned the gesture.
With his morbid task completed, Magnus walked away from the building. His work was done and he was to be gone before the family could lay the body to rest in earnest.
-END-
WC: 925
WC: 925
