Snippet #2682665

"Ah, but the staff is the traditional weapon for a mage: elegant, versatile, etcetera, etcetera. A sword is shiny, but it is of no use if you cannot get close enough to use it," Antius argued, speaking as though they were within a lecture hall back at the Academy rather than attempting to kill each other beneath the Colosseum of Opynonias. As she redirected his flame towards him, he frowned slightly, reaching out with power to redirect it in to a nearby wall. It was impressive that she managed to care control of an element conjured by his own magical power, but it had originated within him all the same.

"And magical power will gain you nothing if your throat is cut," Ada retorted, growing more annoyed by the other mage's smug tone by the second. She ignored the screams of the soldiers who came to close to Antius. This fight was beyond them now and she could not afford to lose any advantages she had through base sentimentality. She arched an eyebrow as he conjured illusions of himself as all five of him arced lightning towards her.

"Please, I can see through mere party tricks," she sneered, raising her sword to redirect the real torrent of lightning with quick chant. She frowned as the Antius she redirected it at faded away.

"You cannot win," the images intoned solemnly. What proceeded was a dance of magic and mayhem as Antius attempted to keep his distance while Ada fought to close it. As the fight went on however, she began to notice something. Within the last five minutes, none of his attacks turned out to be real. Growling with that realization, she ceased fighting and intoned a nullification spell. Not only Antius and his copies faded away, but also that of his companions. She cursed as she saw that the entrances around them were blocked with rubble.

"They must have slipped away during the battle. It seems he's learned a couple new tricks. No matter. He cannot have gotten far.

****

As they made their way down to docks, Antius grimaced, wiping sweat from his brow. He had used a lot of mana to fool Ada. Illusions were never his strong point. The gambit would never have worked if he didn't have the sheer power to pump into his illusions. Already, he could feel his body succumbing to the aftereffects of the elixir early.

"We need to find a ship," he stated, pointing out the obvious as the group weaved their way through the crowd. Doubtless the guard will be upon them soon. They did not exactly blend in.

"There's always a disreputable captain ready to smuggle people out of the city for gold or work. We just needd..." Lir began only for Antius to interrupt her with a gasp. He recognized the sight of that dark skinned elf running for her life anywhere.

"Danairia!" he shouted, trying to get her attention. If that elf escaped, she had to have a destination in mind. It was their only chance at the moment, he knew.