Dash Against the Rocks
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Ashe hustled to the lower slopes of Sheffield’s government district under the protection of the Vanish spell. All around her during the trip down were soldiers valiantly protecting the more wealthy citizens and hangers-on. She would trust them in their duties while the red mage princess would find the source of the most potent attacks.
Disheveled rock and housing greeted the princess’s eyes upon reaching the homesteads of the fleeing aristocracy. These were once bastions of defense now reduced to nothing more than rubble and difficult terrain. The crush crush sound swelled in her ears as she got closer to its source.
Ahead of Ashe laid bare was what remained of the largest estate in Sheffield. She heard tell that this was the home of those closest to the city’s former quartier. Family, friends and a bright future, all dashed upon the stone like an obscene art installation.
“I had arrived too late…” She spoke in mourning, which caused the field of bent light shielding her from view to fade away and give her position to the rock monster.
“Forgive me!”
Ashe tapped into a reserve of power far beyond what others were capable of. The strain on her heart, on her soul was unbearable, but this was required to rectify her sloth.
“I call upon the power of magick most Arcane! Flames of passion and darkness, fires of inspiration and desire, ARDOR!“ The zone containing the golem would be engulfed by the ancient mixing of both fire and darkness. Ashe hoped it would be enough.
The Golem was confused by the woman becoming defensive with him. He had a feeling she was an ally to his master, yet she was chanting a spell? Was the spell for him? No, it couldn’t be...
And yet in the next second, the giant roared in pain from the spell searing the earth he was made of. What was she doing?! She was an ally! She served the shadowy men! She was supposed to celebrate this, even help him in the destruction from what he saw the others do!
No....she wasn’t an ally. She was an enemy now.
Bellowing in rage, the Golem charged toward the woman, each step shaking the ground with a deafening boom accompanying them. He then reached out toward her, hoping to slam her into the wall like all his other victims. She was an enemy to his master now. She had betrayed them. She deserved to die, especially here with no one to mourn her.
She should have stayed hidden. She would have lived then.