20.

Clash of Fire

“Why do you continue to accompany me?” Mundus asked.

Radi looked at him. She was lying down on the grass next to his sitting figure. “At last he speaks,” she said and grinned.

He frowned.

“After weeks of travel it is only apparent I wish to know what your destination is. Perhaps if we had not come across that small lake yesterday I would have disappeared for lack of baths,” she teased.

Mundus let out a frustrated growl. He should have just killed her but that would have only meant more trouble from Blethinette. It was bad enough he had disobeyed her orders and left without her permission. Blethinette would not follow him—she had other more important affairs to attend, he knew—but unfortunately this other annoyance had.

Something had bothered Mundus more than Blethinette’s wrath and Radi’s irritating presence. There was an increase in Spirits in Demon World. He had spotted two since he crossed over. Two more than he would usually see in a span of a year. Mundus was unsure what such a thing meant, but it made him wary.

“Lost in thought once more, are we?” Radi’s voice was heard.

He glanced at her. “As earlier mentioned,” he said, “I simply search for my father’s fortress in order to recapture it.”

She Radi perched up on her elbows. “Of course, my young prince, but why have you sent your Spirit away?”

It was questions like those that made his sword hand twitch. “I have sent her to scout the area.”

“Liar. You have sent her to hunt for something only she can find and have stayed behind only to deter me. That is why I linger. I aim to discover what it is you search.” Radi smiled at him. 

His sigh was drawn out.

She sat up on her knees and leaned towards Mundus, her face inches from his. He lifted an irritated eyebrow at her.

“What is it?” he hissed.

The dark orange eyes that peered at him appeared like the glow of embers that could roar to life at any moment. Her tanned complexion only intensified it. She placed a finger on his jaw. Her orange nail polish had mostly chipped off.

“Why not simply return with me? My lady will not be as furious if I return with you. We can simply use your lie and claim you bounded off in hunt of your father. My lady would perhaps even enjoy such a reason,” she said.

He pulled away from her. “Leave me be.”

She sat on her legs, her expression icy. “There is nothing for you here. I am unsure what you search for exactly but I believe it to be related to that female mortal.”

“I ordered you to leave me be,” he threatened through his exposed fangs.

Her eyes narrowed. “She holds nothing for you.”

Mundus’ fist collided with her jaw before he even knew he threw the punch. Her neck stretched so fiercely it seemed it would rip off her shoulders. She turned to face him and the orange glow in her eyes blazed into a wildfire. Radi answered him with a punch of her own. Though her attack did not reel his head, a thin line of red escaped from the corner of his mouth.

They eyed each other in silence as Radi’s broken jaw and Mundus’ split lip healed.

When Radi gained the ability to move her mouth again she grinned. “Such a violent reaction.”

Mundus stood up.

“You do know she really loves you. Of your mother I speak,” she said.

He paused and faced her. “I am aware of such.”

“Then why are you so cruel to her?”

“Cruel?”

“You claim to be on her side yet are never physically there. The crusade to sweep the human land of mortals that was supposed to be led by you was instead led by Erian and Cerus. Your only lengthy return to her was because of her intentions to at last cross to Demon World. To cross into the realm where your infatuation resides.”

Mundus gazed at her face but felt no rage. There was a hollowness he could not recognize, yet it made him smile.

Radi looked up at him as if he was crazy. “Mundus?”

He sat back down, his small grin dissipating. “Perhaps I had never belonged.”

“What?” she asked and tucked a strand of her flame colored hair behind her ears as if that would decipher his words better. 

“What of you?” he asked.

Her face scrunched up. “Of what do you speak?”

“What of your claim on my mother’s side? What of your desertion of that irritable—”

“No!” She stood and glared down at him.

He smirked and laid down on the grass. It felt good to be back on the side of the conversation with the upper hand. He watched as she turned around and picked up her sheathed sword from the ground. It was attached to the brown makeshift belt she tied around her waist.

Mundus’ head turned as he felt Lina approach them. At last she returns.

Within minutes, the Spirit appeared next to him, her face flushed and her eyes bright. “Master! This one—oh!” She covered her mouth with her hands and eyed Radi.

The she–demon snarled at her. Lina brought her hands down and stuck her tongue out at her. Mundus jumped to his feet and stood between the two before the threat of their looming brawl came to fruition.

“Lina,” he said to her, his eyes asking her a silent question.

She stared at her master and pulled her lips into a straight line. Lina condensed herself into her usual ray of light and entered Mundus’ sword that was on the ground a few feet away.

Radi rolled her eyes. “Shall we continue on our little journey now?”

He didn’t answer and only walked away, knowing she would follow.

Lina, he called to her.

“Master, please stop being sad,” she said, her own voice ringing with melancholy.

Mundus sighed. Not so long ago, he would have snapped at her, but such things didn’t happen anymore. Not after all of what Shadow had told him. Not after those words that led him to the realization of how stupid he had been—how stupid he was.   

“Master is not stupid!” Lina said, her voice cracking as if she wanted to cry.

He gave a small smile. I am quite so. Radi’s claim that Reyna holds nothing for me is indeed the truth.

“Master shouldn’t listen to Mother’s useless Guard!” Mundus could see her flustered face in his mind.

Nonetheless I shall attempt to…He shook his head. Lina, you have discovered its location, yes?

“Yes, Master. It is not far. Once this one found it, this one stalled as Master’s orders told this one to do.”

Mundus clenched his jaw. What of the Spirits?

Lina bit her lip. “Is Master sure that Shadow Spirit is telling the truth? This one has seen all the Spirits and this one knows it is strange, but Shadow is scary.”

What of the Spirits? he repeated with more emphasize.

She hesitated. “This one did not see the Spirit Master asked about.”

The demon prince fell quiet and stared ahead at the passing blurs of black, green, and red. We shall head towards the Aqua Oscura then.

“Is Master sure? Will Master even be able to find the mortal girl? After all the things Master did, will the mortal girl even understand?” Her voice was a whisper with the last question.

Mundus scowled but it wasn’t because of what she said. I have understood far too late, yet I shall attempt nevertheless.

“But how will Master get rid of Mother’s Guard?” Lina asked. “Will Master kill her after all? This one believes Master should.”

He chuckled. Perhaps there is need to kill her after all.

Lina giggled.

 “Are you done speaking to your little pet?” Radi snapped.

Mundus glanced at her. She was running next to him, her fiery hair whipped back by the speed. She met his stare and opened her lips to say something else but something ahead caught her attention. Mundus felt it too and grinned.

It appears I have discovered a distraction to entertain Radi.

The two demons came to a halt and the Magika essence they both sensed appeared into view a few yards in front of them. He was sporting mortal clothing and had as many piercings as ever.

“Well how are ya guys doing? Out for a couple’s stroll, huh?” Gahn grinned at them.

Mundus glanced at Radi. Her fangs were bared, narrowed eyes glaring at the Teleporter. He was also staring at her, a hand in his pocket, grin widening.

“Radi, I believe your capabilities in deterring this idiot,” Mundus said.

“Of course, my prince,” she answered, eyes still on Gahn. The Teleporter seemed to flinch at her words.

The demon prince darted away from the pair, half expecting Gahn to chase him, but he didn’t. Mundus almost felt terrible for leaving those two together alone.

~*~*~

Gahn watched Mundus disappear from the corner of his eye. He wanted to chase after him, but he kept himself grounded by keeping eye contact with Radi. Auronmar had given him his orders.

“Mundus will either come to my replica or the original. Despite which one he goes to, Reyna will find it. Her blood had been spilled on the shrine and it will draw them both. You are to make sure Mundus flees off alone.”

“Had to make it hard for me, huh, Master Auronmar?” he said to himself as he donned on a pair of fist weapons.    

Radi answered by drawing her blade, flames blossoming to life as it left its sheath. “Oh my dear Gahn.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He grinned. “I know I’m adorable.”

He knew Radi stood no chance against him. It would be easy to slit her throat and be done with it. It had always been that easy of a win towards any opponent, but it was Auronmar that made it difficult. Him and his bizarre notion to keep as many Superior demons alive as possible. Gahn understood his notion of trying to keep the highest tier of Magika alive within the demon species, but a threat was still a threat and should be dealt with a quick decapitation at least. 

Gotta do it Master Auronamr’s way though.

Gahn launched, hand into a fist to draw the blade on his knuckles across her stomach, but before he could even reach Radi, he pulled back. His right arm was scorching was pain. He recoiled and looked down.

His arm was entirely blackened and blistered, but his hand was the worst. Lines of charred ivory cradled by paddings of burnt flesh now served as his fingers. His fist weapon turned into melted, silver ice cream and dribbled down his knuckles and fingers, occasionally molding over his exposed finger bones. He was going to have to pick out the metal if he wanted to heal properly.

Gahn growled at Radi both out of pain and anger.

She had not moved from her position, a smile on her face. The sword in her hand, however, had lost its flames.

The Teleporter gingerly lowered his injured limb. His skin on his arm stretched and cracked, breaking open to expose his radius bone.

Gahn swallowed his pain and kept his hard hazel eyes on Radi. “Not even gonna use ya own Magika? Gonna rely on your Spirit’s?”

She placed a hand on her hip. “We are both aware if I do, you would emerge the winner. This is the reason why I captured such a Spirit: to at last kill you.”

Radi’s physique flickered like the projection of a mirage, but she really was standing there. Gahn could sense her. He clenched his uninjured hand as he understood what he was seeing.

A rising ring of transparent blue–white flames encircled Radi. It sprouted from the ground and rose up endlessly into the sky. Up against the celestial blackness, the flames were visible.

That’s how he had been burned. He had punched a wall of fire. It would have taken his entire arm off if he didn’t have speed on his side. The flames had moved from her blade to the environment around her, but it also seemed like Radi couldn’t move from her position.

The two demons stared at each other, caught in a stalemate. Gahn almost wanted their battle to stay as a standoff. For them to stay standing until they died and rotted away.

But ya can’t, he thought and grinned. Man, I’ve never been standing around doing nothing for so long in a fight.

 Gahn put away the fist weapon that had lost its twin and Teleported. He didn’t know how much room was inside the area Radi was standing in, but it was the only thing he could do now if he wanted to at least have her within attacking range.

Fire bit his back and the overwhelming scent of burned hair infiltrated the air as Gahn’s ponytail was singed off. Despite being surrounded by fire, Radi flesh was a warm and welcoming sensation on his chest. All his pain momentarily disappeared as if her touch was draining him of his agony.

Don’t ya be stupid now, Gahn.

He grabbed her with one arm, knocked her feet from under her, and shoved her down to the ground and through the fiery ring. The flames dispersed as soon as Radi’s skin grazed it, but not before Gahn’s other arm touched it. His shoulder burst open, presenting the bones nestled in his opened, charcoaled flesh like a grim offering.

Radi hit the ground—Gahn’s godly speed too fast for her to keep up—with enough force to knock her sword away from her hand. Its usual flames overtook the blade, grass around it unburned.

Despite her being unarmed, Gahn wasn’t going to risk it. He smashed his foot onto her neck. A small crack followed by a faint wheeze was heard. Radi’s hands flew to his foot, clawing at it and his legs. Her lips flared out, exposing her fangs, but no sound came from her mouth. Gahn watched as her light brown face darkened with her soundless struggle. The silence made it seem like it was a dream, everything playing in slow motion.  

He flexed his left hand; black flakes fell to the ground. Keeping his eyes on Radi, he inched his hand to his ear. It felt too fast. The air around him rubbed his flayed nerves—the ones that were left—raw.

His fingers clasped his dangling stud, the silver too cold and foreign against his skin, and he pulled out his bladed lance.

Radi’s eyes widened, releasing the tears caught in the rim of her lashes to fall into her ears. Gahn gazed at her glossy eyes. They looked like sunsets caught under an unexpected summer shower.

Gahn sighed. Sorry Master Auronmar. I have to break ya “no kill” rule. She won’t stop till she kills me. A sad smile grazed his lips. I would know.

He stabbed his spear into her bare stomach. Blood brimmed around the wound, oozing down her sides and down into her belly button.

The Teleporter saw Radi’s eyes flutter. Red seeped through her fangs and trickled down her lips. When Gahn lifted his foot, a small fountain of blood erupted out her mouth and splashed on her face.

He retrieved his spear with a fan of blood that made him cringe almost as much as the stinging agony his arm was screaming at him. He positioned the blade over Radi’s throat.

She laughed.

Her voice was raw and broken, her lips and cheeks were sticky, but the words she spoke were clear and loud. “I recall a time when you once loved me.”

The weapon in Gahn’s hand almost fell. His entirety froze—limbs, thoughts, emotions—until he could only see white. He blinked and Radi’s face came to view. Despite the blood and tears on it, her smugness was visible.

“Yeah,” Gahn said, “and I remember when ya loved me back.”

The sound of blade piercing flesh was heard.

~*~*~

Blethinette’s icy silence only enhanced her fury. It had taken almost two weeks for Erian and Cerus to return, but now they stood before her inside the portal room. They appeared tired and thirsty, and Flow gave a small whimper behind Cerus’ feet.

Blethinette didn’t care.

“We are to kill them all,” she finally spoke.

Erian and Cerus stiffened.

“That does include the ones I have recruited. I shall deal with those myself. You two are to dispose of whatever filth of them is left on this world.”

Erian opened and closed his mouth.

Blethinette glared at him. “Speak if you must, Erian! I do not possess the time to deal with your uncertainties.”

He gave a small bow. “My queen, I am afraid I do not understand. Surely her majesty can kill off the mortals remaining in this world quicker than myself and Cerus?”

“Y–yes,” Cerus added. “her majesty’s powerful See Mahou—”

“Silence!” she hissed. “Cerus, your superior senses should be able to sniff and locate any mortals in hiding. The same applies to your See Mahou, Erian. Or do you two doubt your own capabilities?”

“No, my queen.”

“No, your majesty.”

Blethinette scowled. “Clean and wash yourselves before you commence. Once you have completed this task, we shall be returning to the Demon World in search of my rogue son.”

She exited the room before they could say anything else. The hallway’s floor was cold on her bare feet but did nothing to cool her demeanor. Not only had Mundus left but Radi as well. Perhaps she did it to retrieve her idiot son, but that does not excuse the execution of an action taken without her permission.

Blethinette unclenched her teeth. She hadn’t even noticed she had been doing so. She sighed. Why does my son constantly leave my side?

Her foot fell onto a warm spot on the floor. She looked down to see black. The darkness stretched up like a huge, upside down drop of black water.

She growled. “I do not have the patience for you at the moment, Spirit.”

It hovered in the air like an oversized balloon dripping with tar. “I merely come to warn you, Divine. The same warning as always.”

“Yes, yes,” she said rolling her eyes.

“This is the last I warn you, Divine. Do not go through with it.”

She waved its words away. “Do not pester me with your idiotic warnings. You still reside under my control, something you should not forget.”

Blethinette walked past its floating figure.

“Though I have taken your See Magika, I do not believe you to be blind, Divine,” she heard the Shadow Spirit said.

She said nothing and kept walking. Blethinette hated looking into its empty green eyes. 

***************

Author's Note: Hello there! ^-^

Thank you so much for reading and stuff. I'm kinda out of it right now, so I'll just say...thank you. Even though I just said that.

Dedicated to mochajo33 for all your votes on my story. Thank you! ^.^