((A significant portion of the expository dialogue has been converted into narrative for ease of reading.))
The explosion overlaps with another one, long ago and far away, the smoke dark and hot. Elidibus has seen Popp cast Sizzle as a combat spell during practice, although it usually smells of burnt wood or nothing at all. This one smells meaty.
When it clears, it has hit the man standing protectively in front of the person having this memory. When he falls to his knees, exhausted and in pain, his back is a scorched and bloody mess, showing through what's left of his burnt tunic. He shows a warm and gentle relief for the two people he was protecting first and foremost, before admitting that the foe they're facing is far beyond their ability to defeat. The former Dark Lord Hadlar, now Dark Commander Hadlar under Dark King Vearn and stronger than ever before. Hadlar himself stands where he is, arms crossed, watching and listening.
"Dai, Popp... I ask that someday you two defeat Vearn, the Dark King!" There's confidence in his voice, but also desperation.
"Master, do you intend to die?" Popp, the body having the memory. Soft, disbelieving.
"Master, I'll fight with you!" Dai, the other boy. Loud, desperate.
The Hero Avan uses the last of his magical power to hit his allies with a defensive spell that coats them in metal, rendering them immobile but impervious to anything Hadlar can do to them. Hadlar himself declares this stupid and a waste, but he seems quite pleased by it, and the look and nod he exchanges with Avan puts off their conflict for just a little longer.
The two pendants he takes out of his coat are Insignias of Avan, proof that a student has completed their training and graduated. He fixes one around Dai's neck, expressing regret that their training was cut short at three days, and stating that if they'd continued for four more, he would have certainly become a true Hero. He gets as far as saying Popp's name before being immediately cut off with a scream - Popp does not want the pendant, he does not want him to do this. Avan's surprised face blurs - Kaclang doesn't block speech and it doesn't block tears, either.
"I don't care if you were the Hero once! Why are you doing this?! You said yourself you can't beat him!"
"It's because I can't beat him that I must risk my life. Besides, Popp, I believe the power we gain through training should be used to help others. Perhaps my power was granted to me by the gods to protect you on this day. I know that someday you'll understand. So, hold onto this for when that day comes."
Popp can't actually stop Avan from approaching him or acknowledging him as a student, he can only beg him not to do what he is about to do.
"You haven't officially graduated and you're already so emotional. You'll need to work much, much harder to become heroes worthy of those!"
The light tone and goofy grin isn't the last of Avan his students see up close. That would be the wounds on his back as he turns to face his foe.
The fight is brutal. Whatever left the cuts oozing teal across Hadlar's green flesh, Avan doesn't seem up to replicating the feat. Neither of them have any magic left. Hadlar moves lightly on his feet, dodging around or other every swipe of the hero's sword. Avan takes blow after blow as the former dark lord seems intent on beating him to death with his bare hands. Avan's clearly good at what he does, but injured and terribly outmatched. Eventually, Hadlar kicks the blade right out of his hand and closes in... at which point Avan, hands glowing, jams his fingers straight into Hadlar's skull.
The process sounds painful and unpleasant for them both, and Hadlar very quickly goes from smug to panicked. As they grapple up close, as the power crackles and builds and charges, Avan explains that you barely need any magic to cast this spell. What you do need is life energy, to convert into pure explosive force.
"Megante!"
There's nothing to see but a multicolored riot of rainbow light, nothing to hear but the deafening rumble of the explosion. A light, painless physical pressure as the magic slides off magically hardened skin. Then, the cold of the Town as reality reasserts itself.
Popp is coming to, disoriented and with that particular memory quite fresh in his mind from the feeding and unable to move because he's protectively wrapped up in feathers.
cw: suicide
The explosion overlaps with another one, long ago and far away, the smoke dark and hot. Elidibus has seen Popp cast Sizzle as a combat spell during practice, although it usually smells of burnt wood or nothing at all. This one smells meaty.
When it clears, it has hit the man standing protectively in front of the person having this memory. When he falls to his knees, exhausted and in pain, his back is a scorched and bloody mess, showing through what's left of his burnt tunic. He shows a warm and gentle relief for the two people he was protecting first and foremost, before admitting that the foe they're facing is far beyond their ability to defeat. The former Dark Lord Hadlar, now Dark Commander Hadlar under Dark King Vearn and stronger than ever before. Hadlar himself stands where he is, arms crossed, watching and listening.
"Dai, Popp... I ask that someday you two defeat Vearn, the Dark King!" There's confidence in his voice, but also desperation.
"Master, do you intend to die?" Popp, the body having the memory. Soft, disbelieving.
"Master, I'll fight with you!" Dai, the other boy. Loud, desperate.
The Hero Avan uses the last of his magical power to hit his allies with a defensive spell that coats them in metal, rendering them immobile but impervious to anything Hadlar can do to them. Hadlar himself declares this stupid and a waste, but he seems quite pleased by it, and the look and nod he exchanges with Avan puts off their conflict for just a little longer.
The two pendants he takes out of his coat are Insignias of Avan, proof that a student has completed their training and graduated. He fixes one around Dai's neck, expressing regret that their training was cut short at three days, and stating that if they'd continued for four more, he would have certainly become a true Hero. He gets as far as saying Popp's name before being immediately cut off with a scream - Popp does not want the pendant, he does not want him to do this. Avan's surprised face blurs - Kaclang doesn't block speech and it doesn't block tears, either.
"I don't care if you were the Hero once! Why are you doing this?! You said yourself you can't beat him!"
"It's because I can't beat him that I must risk my life. Besides, Popp, I believe the power we gain through training should be used to help others. Perhaps my power was granted to me by the gods to protect you on this day. I know that someday you'll understand. So, hold onto this for when that day comes."
Popp can't actually stop Avan from approaching him or acknowledging him as a student, he can only beg him not to do what he is about to do.
"You haven't officially graduated and you're already so emotional. You'll need to work much, much harder to become heroes worthy of those!"
The light tone and goofy grin isn't the last of Avan his students see up close. That would be the wounds on his back as he turns to face his foe.
The fight is brutal. Whatever left the cuts oozing teal across Hadlar's green flesh, Avan doesn't seem up to replicating the feat. Neither of them have any magic left. Hadlar moves lightly on his feet, dodging around or other every swipe of the hero's sword. Avan takes blow after blow as the former dark lord seems intent on beating him to death with his bare hands. Avan's clearly good at what he does, but injured and terribly outmatched. Eventually, Hadlar kicks the blade right out of his hand and closes in... at which point Avan, hands glowing, jams his fingers straight into Hadlar's skull.
The process sounds painful and unpleasant for them both, and Hadlar very quickly goes from smug to panicked. As they grapple up close, as the power crackles and builds and charges, Avan explains that you barely need any magic to cast this spell. What you do need is life energy, to convert into pure explosive force.
"Megante!"
There's nothing to see but a multicolored riot of rainbow light, nothing to hear but the deafening rumble of the explosion. A light, painless physical pressure as the magic slides off magically hardened skin. Then, the cold of the Town as reality reasserts itself.
Popp is coming to, disoriented and with that particular memory quite fresh in his mind from the feeding and unable to move because he's protectively wrapped up in feathers.