Page 163

He sprinted forward quickly, his four legs giving him more speed in comparison to Strolguil’s two human legs. When he got to his feet, Rurik was on his injured side and out of sight.

Startled, Strolguil turned his head, shocked when he hadn’t been able to see him in front of him. He didn’t know he was so close and he stepped back just as Rurik slashed his real claws towards him.

Thinking his slash was intended to be a death blow, he tried to cover his throat and it gave Rurik the opportunity to slash across his face. His claws had been precise, and he managed to cut into his other eye, rendering him utterly blind.

Rurik knew that without Amalia blinding him on one side, he would never have had the opportunity to get this close to him safely. He tried not to think of that since he still didn’t know why she’d done it.

The man was yelling, his hands tense as he tried to handle the pain. This was his opportunity!

Scuttling forward, he leapt for him with his claws poised to end this. He landed on top of a bubble shield and was unable to penetrate it. Strolguil had protected himself completely while he was trying to deal with being blinded.

Then he crossed his arms with his injured eyes clenched shut tight. He threw his arms open.

The shield exploded with fire, sending Rurik hurtling across the room. His scales protected him from the flames.

“You think because I am blinded that I cannot see?!” he shouted, his face turned in his direction, but not fully. “I am done with this! You will falter!” He pulled a vial from his pocket, and Rurik readied himself to shield his body. “You will give me what I want!”

Strolguil drank the large vial of red liquid and threw the empty container against the ground to shatter.

It filled his nostrils with the scent of blood from his kind before Strolguil lifted his hands to the ceiling and began chanting out loud. Dark grey clouds formed against the ceiling, starting from above the Witch before growing in size.

His eyes widened. He couldn’t fight against a storm!

He unleashed fire and Strolguil threw one hand forward. Red lightning crackled towards the ground, blocking his attack. It sparked towards the walls, trying to reach out while it cracked the stone floor with its force.

It remained until he stopped breathing flames.

Lowering both his hands, the storm he’d created in the room remained, and would continue to do so until Strolguil did the spell to remove it or died.

Rurik had already dealt with this magic firsthand, and his wings had been broken because of it. He warily eyed the storm above, knowing he had to be careful not to be struck.

Strolguil turned his head to the side with his ear facing forward.

Vulnus.He released that slashing claw force, and Strolguil shielded himself.

He saw the attack!?It had been silent!

Rurik took in a breath for fire, and Strolguil’s head and hand shot towards him. Red lightning struck towards him, and he rolled away to dodge.

The booming of thunder loudly echoed in the room.

How is he seeing me?Rurik had thought with his eyes gone that he wouldn’t be able to strike towards him with accuracy, but that lightning strike had been heading right for him!

Strolguil had his head turned to the side once more.

Rurik walked to the side, his claws clinking against the ground. Strolguil’s hand shot to him, and lightning struck down where he was standing.

Rurik rolled away once more.

How?He had barely done anything but move a few steps!

The Witch didn’t move, his head turned as if he was listening, and Rurik waited to dodge an attack while he thought.

Then he stilled completely when Strolguil didn’t try to strike him where he stood.He does not know where I am.

He was listening to the sounds he made. His sharp inhale for breath when he planned to release fire, his paws and claws tapping against the ground.

If I move, he will hear me.That was how he was sensing his location!