autumn rain

It hit him dead-on, with the audience looking away, not wanting to see their prince reduced to a pile of melted bones, but though steam and smoke filled the air around Seraph, he was unharmed, albeit soaked. His aura had protected him, undoing the magic enhancement on the water, so when it hit him, it was chemically inert. The moment the blast ended, Seraph dropped his defenses, gasping for air from fatigue. What he would give to be even half as powerful as he was a year ago. He didn’t have time to rest, as Phune immediately commenced another attack. A continuous jet of water slammed against his raised palms and clashed with the light aura before him. Every loose drop hitting the ground smoked from the acidic burn, a reminder of what would happen if his strength or focus faltered for even a second.

Ziradith scowled. “That bastard humiliated me, forcing me to hide from everyone and stay sealed up, out of sight and out of mind. And how is he still alive?! You put up that bounty, and no one can stick his head on a pike!”“He’s been killing bounty hunters since he arrived.”

“Our plan is working well. The losses you’ve given the church have cost them more money than their wins have earned them. Now, they are turning their attention to other contenders. I don’t know how you’ll pull the strings with that barrier up, but I trust you to provide good results.”