Ripples of Shadow
Chapter 8 - A Grave Mistake

How did she move that fast? Almost before she could react, fiery spheres the size of large boulders were hurling at Mitsume’s face. She blinked through space a few feet to her left, just in time to see bolts of violet energy streaking towards her new location. Again she blinked, and again arcane energy was soaring at her. Blink, blink, blink. Faster and faster Mitsume teleported around the massive rock, and each time Kaihlyn had an attack of arcane energy about to slam into her. It’s like she knows where I’m about to blink to…there must be a way…

Suddenly a thought occurred to Mitsume. She blinked again, this time directly behind Kaihlyn. The warlock whirled around, arcane energy erupting from her staff straight at Mitsume’s chest. Mitsume blinked again, into the air several paces above Kaihlyn. Almost without thought she poured magic straight down to where the warlock was standing. Fire, frost, arcane, all of it slammed into the ground. The rock shuddered under the incredible magical assault. As Mitsume gracefully glided to the ground, a small crater burned in the rock. Her eyes scanned her surroundings, Kaihlyn was no where to be seen. There’s no way that I just…

“Nicely done. Good improvisation! Mmmhmm now it’s my turn…” The voice from the air taunted her. The air around her quickly grew dark, almost too dark to see. Her vision was restricted to a dozen or so paces; she couldn’t even see the edge of the rock anymore. Growls and laughter filled Mitsume’s ears…her skin prickled. Out of the darkness rushed demons of every shape and form. Dozens and dozens of them, straight at her. Mitsume’s jaw set as the first wave hit her. Arcane energy exploded from her body and tore the demons apart, dissipating their corporeal forms and sending them back to the Twisting Nether.

The rock shuddered again as more and more waves of demons met the arcane energy flying wildly out of Mitume’s body. Grabbing her staff with both hands she summoned all of the energy around her. With a yell she released a wave of energy that enveloped the whole rock. Violet magicks rocked the ground she stood on and tore at the very air around her. The demons were all destroyed in the maelstrom of energy that was Mitsume’s very being. The darkened atmosphere returned to normal, and Mitsume saw Kaihlyn walking towards her several paces away.

“Well then, I did not expect that!” The warlock laughed as she walked towards Mitsume. “Your are exponentially more powerful than when I first met you, mmm yes. You have proven to be quite the adept pupil!”

Mitsume sagged under her own weight, leaning on her staff. “I gave everything I had at the end, yet you seem barely phased besides a little soot on your face!”

Kaihlyn smiled and put a hand on Mitsume’s shoulder, her blue eyes twinkled. “There are many things you have yet to learn, but you are progressing at an incredible rate. Come, let us prepare for tonight. We’ll head back to Dalaran and get something to eat, I’m famished!”

Mitsume stared after Kaihlyn for a moment, her jaw hanging open. The woman was hungry?! Mitsume felt like her body was about to explode from the shear amount of magical energy she handled today and the woman was hungry! Mitsume’s jaw snapped shut as she saw Kaihlyn form a portal in the air. Through it, she could see their rooms in Dalaran. She followed Kaihlyn through the portal, and was glad to be off that damned floating rock. Tonight certainly would be a challenge, and she only hoped she was ready.

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