Aggravated disappointment washed over the injured woman as she watched the ocean manifest from one of Sephira's portals. The water fell in a massive cascade following an ear-splitting shock wave that garnered the attention of everyone in ear-shot. Smoke from the drowned fire lifted in thick grey plumes. All the courage the masked citizens had encouraged in themselves to raise an attack on the Element stronghold had been quite literally for nothing. In a single trill, a single mage had made their attempt at rebellion and change a vain one. The feat the rupturer had just achieved, however, was one that even Max had to appreciate. She only wished the Flame Element's talents were ones she'd elected to wield against the corrupt organization the Rusalka so desperately wished to destroy.
Even the newcomer, who had faced Copper Mask, had performed well in their perilous conflict. The Elements had discovered for themselves a new loyal ally fit for combat. Unfortunately that would likely make him yet another future opponent for Max. She only would've preferred he'd found himself compelled to kill like she had, rather than let the rebel be handed over to the enemy. Raven Mask certainly hadn't been afforded that mercy.
Maxine nearly guffawed when she successfully slipped the feathered mask from her fallen foe's face. She should've recognized the pompous voice the moment she spotted the man's platinum blond hair. She sheathed her blade. The lifeless body lying at her feet belonged to a man she was indeed familiar with. His death was not one she regretted much though.
Just as much a light-weight in battle as you were a drinker in the tavern, Cassius.
"That depends." Max lifted her eyes to find Sephira's withering expression when the berating finished. Her own face remained disconsolate though her brow raised slightly in challenge. "Did you really have to risk your life over a fucking building?" Her attention dipped back down to the knife still wedged in her side, the irritation practically radiating from her. Fingers wrapped reluctantly around the handle of the throwing weapon. Then, with a grimace, she tugged the blade out of herself. The benevolent Element rushing toward her with bandages was met with the bloody point jerked in her direction. "Do. Not. Touch. Me." The healer innocently raised her palms and backed away, leaving Max to ineffectively plug the wound with her free hand. It was only when she'd been sure her warning had been taken seriously that the knife was cast harmlessly upon the ground.
Elements ran about like ants in the wake of the attack on their stronghold. Her stony gaze glanced over the few bodies of the masked rebels that hadn't managed to escape. It was truly a waste. Yet when her eyes settled on those belonging to the captured Copper Mask, her stare turned decidedly more threatening. If he had anything worthwhile to offer Sephira in her search for answers, the Rusalka hoped he'd share what he knew. In the event he elected only to sell out his rebelling brothers, it would not doubt take her very little time to discover his identity and make him pay for his betrayal. The warmth of her own blood oozed between her fingers. She needed to go.
"I warned you this would happen." Max painfully limped over to retrieve the cloak and the cane she'd thrown at Raven Mask in anger. She turned only once more to find Sephira where she stood, her expression troubled. "Be careful, Blackwood. These people...they're not worth your life." Just as quickly as the glimmer of concern came with a thought, it was asphyxiated with the arrival of other ideas. Her expression quickly darkened again. "This will be the last time I bleed for any Element," she promised before abandoning the bloodied street that had served as their battlefield. The Rusalka rounded a corner into the shadows of a nearby alleyway. She stumbled only once, her hand leaving her wound to brace herself against the wall. Max only allowed herself a few trills to compose herself before pressing on toward the Order of the Adunih, a smeared, red hand-print left in her wake.
Even the newcomer, who had faced Copper Mask, had performed well in their perilous conflict. The Elements had discovered for themselves a new loyal ally fit for combat. Unfortunately that would likely make him yet another future opponent for Max. She only would've preferred he'd found himself compelled to kill like she had, rather than let the rebel be handed over to the enemy. Raven Mask certainly hadn't been afforded that mercy.
Maxine nearly guffawed when she successfully slipped the feathered mask from her fallen foe's face. She should've recognized the pompous voice the moment she spotted the man's platinum blond hair. She sheathed her blade. The lifeless body lying at her feet belonged to a man she was indeed familiar with. His death was not one she regretted much though.
Just as much a light-weight in battle as you were a drinker in the tavern, Cassius.
"That depends." Max lifted her eyes to find Sephira's withering expression when the berating finished. Her own face remained disconsolate though her brow raised slightly in challenge. "Did you really have to risk your life over a fucking building?" Her attention dipped back down to the knife still wedged in her side, the irritation practically radiating from her. Fingers wrapped reluctantly around the handle of the throwing weapon. Then, with a grimace, she tugged the blade out of herself. The benevolent Element rushing toward her with bandages was met with the bloody point jerked in her direction. "Do. Not. Touch. Me." The healer innocently raised her palms and backed away, leaving Max to ineffectively plug the wound with her free hand. It was only when she'd been sure her warning had been taken seriously that the knife was cast harmlessly upon the ground.
Elements ran about like ants in the wake of the attack on their stronghold. Her stony gaze glanced over the few bodies of the masked rebels that hadn't managed to escape. It was truly a waste. Yet when her eyes settled on those belonging to the captured Copper Mask, her stare turned decidedly more threatening. If he had anything worthwhile to offer Sephira in her search for answers, the Rusalka hoped he'd share what he knew. In the event he elected only to sell out his rebelling brothers, it would not doubt take her very little time to discover his identity and make him pay for his betrayal. The warmth of her own blood oozed between her fingers. She needed to go.
"I warned you this would happen." Max painfully limped over to retrieve the cloak and the cane she'd thrown at Raven Mask in anger. She turned only once more to find Sephira where she stood, her expression troubled. "Be careful, Blackwood. These people...they're not worth your life." Just as quickly as the glimmer of concern came with a thought, it was asphyxiated with the arrival of other ideas. Her expression quickly darkened again. "This will be the last time I bleed for any Element," she promised before abandoning the bloodied street that had served as their battlefield. The Rusalka rounded a corner into the shadows of a nearby alleyway. She stumbled only once, her hand leaving her wound to brace herself against the wall. Max only allowed herself a few trills to compose herself before pressing on toward the Order of the Adunih, a smeared, red hand-print left in her wake.
