A/N: This is for my pod AU and features Cassandra Sandmask and Brahm Dawncaller. I love them so much I am so sorry for treating them like this.
She should have used the tower shield.
It was such a dumb mistake. The heat had been beating down on them from all sides. She could feel the magic- the sheer power radiating from the presence of the slumbering titan. It was happening so fast and the pressure alone was threatening to make her explode. Everything was riding on this moment. Everyone was riding on this moment. She was Atlas, the world was heavy on her shoulders, and she had made the wrong play. She’d dropped the sky right on her own head and the only person she could blame was herself.
She should have used the tower shield.
She was running out of mana. She was running out of time. The weakness had started in the tips of her fingers so many rounds ago. Now it held tightly onto her very bones, her very soul. If he hit her again she was going to lose. She knew that. He knew that. She could see it in his dark eyes when he looked at her. The pain. The fear. He wasn’t better off himself. His knuckles were white and his fist tightly clenched the remains of his deck. She couldn’t tell if his grimace was from seeing his cards or from the pain. She should have known it was the pain.
She should have used the tower shield.
“I have a-” “No.” He’d told her no. His face had been set with determination and he looked so strong in that moment. She hadn’t noticed all of the sweat on his brow. She hadn’t noticed the way his hands shook as he spoke. “Take a heal. He hasn’t got much let in him.” He’d always known what to do. He was the smart one, she was the muscle. That’s how it had always been. She trusted him. She’d trusted his smile as he looked at her over his shoulder. “We’re gonna be okay, Cass. I promise.”
She should have used the tower shield.
It was so warm when the light of the healing spell washed over her. It was so different from the blistering fires that raged all around them. Her fingers were still stiff but it felt like new air had graced her lungs. She took a deep breath. It was hope renewed. She could do this. They could do this. They were going to be okay. Just like Brahm had said. He hadn’t lied to her before. She knew he wasn’t going to start now. She breathed out, a smile spreading across her face as she watched the green light shine from the sigil next to her. Her smile was cut short when the pixie appeared across from her.
She should have used the tower shield.
“Foolish boy.” His voice would’ve made her blood run cold if her heart hadn’t already stopped beating. “Brahm. Brahm!” The warmth was no wear near as comforting as it had been moments before. Her fingers flexed over her staff. “Brahm! Why?” She could hear him casting his spell from across the sigil but she couldn’t bring herself to look. The tears were already starting to blur her vision as she locked onto his eyes, dark as freshly turned soil. “You’re going to be okay, Cass. I love you.”
She should have used the tower shield.
“Brahm!” Her voice burned as she screamed his name, watching his dark skin slowly lose it’s rosy warmth, sucked away by the spell. What was the spell? How strong was it? How much life did he have- He dropped to his knees before slumping to the side. “No, no, no.” She couldn’t breath, her voice caught in her throat. The light drained from his circle, dissipating into the energy swirling throughout the dueling sigil. Cass tried to run to him, but the magic of her own circle pushed her back, holding her in place. She choked back a sob.
She should have used the tower shield.
“Stand down or end up like your foolish friend.” The dark wizard was standing a little bit taller. He had regained some energy from his attack. Her teeth pushed against each other, shaking as she held onto her staff for dear life. “No.” His staff struck the ground, the sound echoing throughout the chamber. “Then die.” She could barely see her cards through her blurred vision, but she already knew where the spell sat in her hand. She raised her staff, golden lights flickering against the hard silver of her eyes. “No.”
She should have used the tower shield.
She didn’t watch Malistatire fall. She didn’t care. She ignored the clatter of her staff and the way the stones scraped against her knees as she dropped to the ground next to him. None of it mattered. She pulled Brahm close, whispering pleads over and over into his unhearing ear. “Brahm, Brahm, please say something, Brahm.” “Cassandra.” Cyrus crouched down next to her as he spoke. “Cassandra you have to let him go.” “No- no-” He gently took Brahm out of her arms, laying him back on the cold stone. “I can’t- I should have-” “I know.” Cyrus pulled her into his chest, her tears staining his yellow robes. “I’m so sorry. We both lost someone that we loved today.” He stayed there with her, holding her as the embers died.
She should have used the tower shield.