[It's the Witch who arrogantly answers, even before he turns to look. The necromancer and their thralls remain focused on their task.]
"Reclaiming our heritage."
[The man turns at last, and one of the torch carrying thralls follows him. The Witch assesses Zack in a moment, seeming undeterred by the sword.]
"Another Chimera? I suppose that's good enough. You'll pair nicely with this one when I rebuild my collection."
[A spell crackled from his fingers, condensing into a glowing blue that was hard to look at. It formed into a whip that he uncoiled with a snap of electricity that made the heap of Monster and weighted netting behind him flinch.]
Zackkkk-- [Kaede grated between jaws that wanted to slam shut again. Being electrocuted was, in fact, still incredibly troublesome.] -n't, don't let--touch you.
[A thrall jabbed her with the lance again, and Kaede's coherence dissolved into a furious snarl. Driven by new resolve, she wrenched a spasming arm loose--and swatted at the lance, knocking it off-kilter. The necromancer barked something at the thrall, and the Witch glanced back over his shoulder with a disdainful frown.]
"Don't damage the feathers. I want them pristine."
[ Reclaiming their heritage? What does that even mean? Zack frowns, his grip tightening on his sword, but when he's immediately identified as a chimera and there's mention of a "collection," he feels a weight drop into his stomach. Now that he's closer, all he has to do is shift his weight and crane his neck to see who they've captured like a rabid animal in one of their nets.
Or he tries, but then magic sparks into the Witch's hand, bright enough that Zack has to lift one hand away from his sword to shield his eyes from the light.
But then he hears a voice, hears that voice speak his name, and his blood runs cold. Zack's arm falls back to grip Organics' hilt and then, for just a moment, he glimpses Kaede's face, before another one of the thralls steps forward to try and shock her.
"Don't damage the feathers. I want them pristine."
Zack's hands squeeze around his sword's hilt as he sends the witch a death glare, his bright eyes as far from friendly as they can get. How messed up in the head did you have to be to think that you could just corral monsters like they were objects, pieces of property? ]
You're not rebuilding anything.
[ Taking note of the magic-imbued whip, Zack realizes that this isn't going to be easy, but that doesn't stop him from charging at the witch all the same. If he has to endure some pain to put a stop to this, he will; it won't be any worse than what Kaede's already suffered.
As soon as he's in range, he thrusts out with Organics, then swings it at the witch in a wide cleave. ]
[Kaede's voice crackled into a hoarse snarl, more animal than human as the shock lance made contact with her side. But this time, she was able to latch onto it before her hands clenched to convulsive fists. Her limbs jerked back--and yanked the lance out of the thrall's grasp. The undead continued holding position, mimicking the last orders it was given like the morbid puppet it was.
The necromancer gestured angrily at the remaining thrall, who dropped their torch in favor of using its lance. This time, this jab, Kaede wasn't able to grab for it; the electricity jolted through her muscles and the Chimera collapsed into an angry, twitching heap.
The torch guttered, sending the lights flickering.]
"And who are you to judge what must be done?"
[The Witch facing Zack took no further notice, focused on the sword and the opponent behind it. That swing covered the entirety of the street from end to end, forcing the Witch to step backwards. But as he retreated, the whip snapped into motion, flicking beneath the sword and lashing upwards, crackling with the same voltage that had knocked Kaede down.]
"Without direction, the mind of a Monster falls to bestial shambles. We provide guidance--and discipline. Submit, and no harm would have befallen you."
[ Who is he to judge? Zack could throw the same question right back at the Witch, if he were so inclined. Who was he to assume that Monsters couldn't control themselves and could only be allowed to live if they were kept leashed by someone, used as tools and weapons rather than treated like people?
But Zack already knows that trying to argue with this man, especially in the midst of a fight, isn't going to actually lead anywhere. These Witches are beyond reason, their beliefs so ingrained that they could never be convinced that Monsters are anything more than beasts that had to be subjugated to maintain safety.
If Zack is somehow feeding into that by fighting against him so fiercely, he honestly doesn't care. All he cares about is getting Kaede out of harm's way, and seeing that she's fighting back with all that she can only spurs him forward with more conviction.
The whip snaps in under Organics' wide arc, the tip hitting Zack square in the abdomen and sending volts of lightning magic through him, forcing him briefly to one knee. He won't stay down for long, though, and after gritting his teeth and steeling himself, he pushes back to his feet and charges forward once more. ]
You're wrong! And that's not for you to decide.
[ This time he forces the tip of his great sword forward first, aiming for the Witch's belly. ]
[The Witch holds his nerve and position after he snaps the whip back to wind up for the next strike--and pivots on his heel like a matador, letting the Chimera rush straight through the space he once was in. Though he turned so the blunted edge of the sword was facing him, the blue-white glimmer of a shield sparked at Zack's passing.
The blade struck the remaining thrall instead, sinking through its back like a knife to paper. The sword disrupted the connection keeping the corpse upright, and the thrall dropped the shock lance from its spasming hand. Its controlling necromancer turned on his heel, face twitching in a rare show of emotion as a spell from his hands dragged the fallen thrall to its feet.
The remaining torch sputtered out against the cobbles, plunging the alleyway into dimness. Fires still lit the distant sky and blotted out the stars, but they didn't reach here.
The chain net restraining Kaede clattered to the ground, empty. It wasn't made for holding shadows.
For the first time, the Witch didn't respond with more insufferable calm. He frowned, holding his whip at bay to instead raise a fist and snap a magelight into life with his fingers. The blue-white glow lit up the alleyway again--but the shadow Zack cast was more than enough to hide in. A dark thing that didn't belong settled in it, the same shadow that drifted between the trees when Zack and Kaede first met.]
"I suppose this must be another Monster's trick. A pity there's no children to appreciate it."
[ Even if Zack hadn't been able to cut down his intended target, there is a spark of relief when he takes out one of the thralls. It's short-lived, though. Unless he stops the necromancer, these corpses are going to keep getting back up. If there's anything that's an abomination in this alleyway, it's these creatures that are sad husks of their living selves.
In the darkness it's hard to make out much, but Zack can see more than most with his sharpened Monster vision. He gathers that Kaede is able to free herself from the net, and soon enough puts together that she's taken to the shadows in much the same way as when they met in the Wilde. How she does it he's less clear on, but that's something that he can ask her once they're safe.
Now the tide is turning in their favor, and Zack can see that the Witch is faltering, if only slightly. His lips lift up into a cocky smile as he holds his sword in a two-handed grip, at the ready. ]
You gonna leave us be now? If you don't, I get the feeling you're gonna regret it.
[ He's giving them an out, even if there is some beast within him that would like nothing more than to keep up the hunt. For now, at least, he manages to quiet it. Kaede's safety remains the priority, so if he can defuse the situation? All the better.
Still, he can sense her at his back, ready to leap out at the slightest provocation. ]
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no subject
"Reclaiming our heritage."
[The man turns at last, and one of the torch carrying thralls follows him. The Witch assesses Zack in a moment, seeming undeterred by the sword.]
"Another Chimera? I suppose that's good enough. You'll pair nicely with this one when I rebuild my collection."
[A spell crackled from his fingers, condensing into a glowing blue that was hard to look at. It formed into a whip that he uncoiled with a snap of electricity that made the heap of Monster and weighted netting behind him flinch.]
Zackkkk-- [Kaede grated between jaws that wanted to slam shut again. Being electrocuted was, in fact, still incredibly troublesome.] -n't, don't let--touch you.
[A thrall jabbed her with the lance again, and Kaede's coherence dissolved into a furious snarl. Driven by new resolve, she wrenched a spasming arm loose--and swatted at the lance, knocking it off-kilter. The necromancer barked something at the thrall, and the Witch glanced back over his shoulder with a disdainful frown.]
"Don't damage the feathers. I want them pristine."
no subject
Or he tries, but then magic sparks into the Witch's hand, bright enough that Zack has to lift one hand away from his sword to shield his eyes from the light.
But then he hears a voice, hears that voice speak his name, and his blood runs cold. Zack's arm falls back to grip Organics' hilt and then, for just a moment, he glimpses Kaede's face, before another one of the thralls steps forward to try and shock her.
"Don't damage the feathers. I want them pristine."
Zack's hands squeeze around his sword's hilt as he sends the witch a death glare, his bright eyes as far from friendly as they can get. How messed up in the head did you have to be to think that you could just corral monsters like they were objects, pieces of property? ]
You're not rebuilding anything.
[ Taking note of the magic-imbued whip, Zack realizes that this isn't going to be easy, but that doesn't stop him from charging at the witch all the same. If he has to endure some pain to put a stop to this, he will; it won't be any worse than what Kaede's already suffered.
As soon as he's in range, he thrusts out with Organics, then swings it at the witch in a wide cleave. ]
no subject
The necromancer gestured angrily at the remaining thrall, who dropped their torch in favor of using its lance. This time, this jab, Kaede wasn't able to grab for it; the electricity jolted through her muscles and the Chimera collapsed into an angry, twitching heap.
The torch guttered, sending the lights flickering.]
"And who are you to judge what must be done?"
[The Witch facing Zack took no further notice, focused on the sword and the opponent behind it. That swing covered the entirety of the street from end to end, forcing the Witch to step backwards. But as he retreated, the whip snapped into motion, flicking beneath the sword and lashing upwards, crackling with the same voltage that had knocked Kaede down.]
"Without direction, the mind of a Monster falls to bestial shambles. We provide guidance--and discipline. Submit, and no harm would have befallen you."
no subject
But Zack already knows that trying to argue with this man, especially in the midst of a fight, isn't going to actually lead anywhere. These Witches are beyond reason, their beliefs so ingrained that they could never be convinced that Monsters are anything more than beasts that had to be subjugated to maintain safety.
If Zack is somehow feeding into that by fighting against him so fiercely, he honestly doesn't care. All he cares about is getting Kaede out of harm's way, and seeing that she's fighting back with all that she can only spurs him forward with more conviction.
The whip snaps in under Organics' wide arc, the tip hitting Zack square in the abdomen and sending volts of lightning magic through him, forcing him briefly to one knee. He won't stay down for long, though, and after gritting his teeth and steeling himself, he pushes back to his feet and charges forward once more. ]
You're wrong! And that's not for you to decide.
[ This time he forces the tip of his great sword forward first, aiming for the Witch's belly. ]
no subject
The blade struck the remaining thrall instead, sinking through its back like a knife to paper. The sword disrupted the connection keeping the corpse upright, and the thrall dropped the shock lance from its spasming hand. Its controlling necromancer turned on his heel, face twitching in a rare show of emotion as a spell from his hands dragged the fallen thrall to its feet.
The remaining torch sputtered out against the cobbles, plunging the alleyway into dimness. Fires still lit the distant sky and blotted out the stars, but they didn't reach here.
The chain net restraining Kaede clattered to the ground, empty. It wasn't made for holding shadows.
For the first time, the Witch didn't respond with more insufferable calm. He frowned, holding his whip at bay to instead raise a fist and snap a magelight into life with his fingers. The blue-white glow lit up the alleyway again--but the shadow Zack cast was more than enough to hide in. A dark thing that didn't belong settled in it, the same shadow that drifted between the trees when Zack and Kaede first met.]
"I suppose this must be another Monster's trick. A pity there's no children to appreciate it."
no subject
In the darkness it's hard to make out much, but Zack can see more than most with his sharpened Monster vision. He gathers that Kaede is able to free herself from the net, and soon enough puts together that she's taken to the shadows in much the same way as when they met in the Wilde. How she does it he's less clear on, but that's something that he can ask her once they're safe.
Now the tide is turning in their favor, and Zack can see that the Witch is faltering, if only slightly. His lips lift up into a cocky smile as he holds his sword in a two-handed grip, at the ready. ]
You gonna leave us be now? If you don't, I get the feeling you're gonna regret it.
[ He's giving them an out, even if there is some beast within him that would like nothing more than to keep up the hunt. For now, at least, he manages to quiet it. Kaede's safety remains the priority, so if he can defuse the situation? All the better.
Still, he can sense her at his back, ready to leap out at the slightest provocation. ]