Maki had only one thought as she moved away from the middle of the hall where a fight was about to unfold.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!"
Maki felt the distinct sense that she had just stepped into something that she really, really should not have as her mentor-but-apparently-traitor-(Ish?) faced off against the maybe-evil-sword-spirit in her mind after trading accusations. Or, really the sword spirit had accused Mira, who had... Not resisted too hard and instead sidestepped the issue by declaring her intent to destroy the intruder and simply remove this revelation from Maki's mind. But the sword spirit was still kinda evil looking and hadn't given any reason that it was
better-
She was conflicted.
The sword spirit knight took a half step back and held out it's sword, using one hand as an anchor point and the other to flick the blade through a practiced series of movements that almost incidentally cut apart the volley of fireballs that Mira directed at it with a snarl and then vanished between overlapping explosions.
Despite this Mira was not satisfied, volleying more darts of intense flame into the cloud of dust and smoke timed to hit along with arcing embers that resulted in more explosions. The casual way Mira wove her attacks into a greater whole without even seeming to made Maki eye her nervously, in the half second of respite she got as the Knight/Star waited to see the results of her bombardment on the target. Regardless of how this fight ended she was not enthusiastic as to what would happen to her afterwards...
"Is this all the mighty Ebon Lord can do? Cowering in a corner, unable to face my might?!" Mira laughed.
NO.
The obscuring could faded forcefully and revealed that the knight was in the same guard position that it had started in. In the same place perhaps. And more importantly, lacking any indication that anything had impacted their armor.
YOU MISUNDERSTAND.
The knight darted forward and Mira contemptuously raised a hand, the fireball within exploding to send the knight flying back. Or, it would have, if the knight hadn't
cut the shockwave in half. And then, the two ancient warriors started fighting. The knight was inviolate in it's shell of steel, the dark blade that was it's prison proscribing an area that Mira simply could not penetrate with her swords of solidified flame, or light it was hard to tell. Glowing crystal? If Maki was going to be honest she couldn't follow the cut and thrust of this match any longer as two forces far beyond her own abilities ground against each other.
YOU POSSESS NO ADVANTAGE HERE.
The two warriors disengaged, Mira losing her composure at this declaration from her foe. She had also gained armor at some point in the fight in the form of golden... Half plate, she thought Izumi's brother called similar things, and white cloth. It's purity was marred in one spot underneath the left arm where blood trickled from a missed stab at the heart.
"And how did you get to that claim?"
YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE TO POSSESS KNOWLEDGE OF THE SOUL.
Mira's face worked in shock and the knight raised a hand, forming a mass that had a dark core and flickering light along the edges: a twisted copy of the firebolts the elder Star had been throwing previously. She snapped out of the way but the knight had followed the strike in and swept in with a strike that the Star caught with one blade. She abortively tried to strike with her second weapon while in the bind but the force behind the blow was enough to pick her up and toss her down the hall.
The Star scowled, eyes darting, before her gaze fell on the lone bystander. "Maki!"
Said younger Star started in surprise from following the clash of arms. "Hwa?"
"It shames me to admit it but this foe is beyond my power!"
"And? What do you expect me to do?!"
HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN ALREADY?
"Forgotten what? I-" Her jaw clicked shut. The Crystal Stars were famous for their power of sacrifice... But the benefactor of her sacrifice didn't have to be
herself.
"This individual is a powerful force of Evil. If we let them live than many lives will be lost and our mission endangered!"
Maki worked her jaw and looked to the knight.
THE LIGHT IS NO BETTER THAN THE DARK IT OPPOSES. BOTH PREY ON HUMANITY AND IGNORE THE COST OF THEIR CONTEST. BOTH MUST PAY FOR THEIR DEEDS.
"The Light works for a better future for all of Humanity!" Mira leveled one of her swords at the knight accusingly. "It is people like you that struggle against our vision that makes these sacrifices necessary!"
AND WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT THAN THE SORCEROR-KINGS OF IND WHO SACRIFICED OTHERS TO EXTEND THEIR LIVES?
"They killed for their own benefit while I guide my pupils down the correct path! Maki! Aid me and your name shall be remembered in glory forever!"
YET YOU MAKE THIS CHOICE TO EXTEND YOUR LIFE.
Both combatants looked at Maki and she shrank away, paralyzed by indecision. Were it any other day she would have sided with the elder Star in a heartbeat... Yet she knew more of the way of things now.
"I- I
can't." She half sobbed. She couldn't abandon her friends when there wasn't a clear cut benefit. When it might not be the
right thing to do.
"...I see." The elder Star said softly. "Then, for this, I believe my oaths will accept my death."
There were no more words to be shared. Mira blazed anew with magical power, continually barraging her foe as she closed for the kill. The knight faltered in their defense and Mira lunged forwards. There was a quick flash of movement as light blades scrabbled off of dark armor.
Mira and Maki both gave strangled gasps at the sword point that jutted downwards from under the elder Star's sternum.
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