Chapter 2: Lost Arrivals

“Sara! Push that ass along; we'll be late!” A woman dressed in a vibrant green dress is being dragged along by her friend.

“Shut it; I know a shortcut.” Sara directs the girl to an alley just ahead.

In the lazy embrace of the tea club, where the aroma of freshly steeped blends wafted out into the street, patrons lounged in contentment, their murmurs blending with the soft melodies of the lone pianist. The atmosphere was one of serene indulgence, with each sip of tea accompanied by the gentle notes that emanated from the brightly lit piano, cramped on the small stage of the cozy confines of the shop.

“Hello, and welcome!” The lights all fell as the dim street flooded into the small club. A panicked silence consumes the room. A wave of sweet tones washes over them, radiating from a man standing atop the piano. As he plays, sparks dance and sing along to his melody.

Running down an alley, two women dart by a man leaning against a wall with his hollow face contorted in a grand smile.

Click ...Click…Hiss…Pop!

The alley shrinks as the sound echoes. The women rushing to reach their destination stop cold as the sun drops off of one of their faces finding a blade leaving her chest.

“I know you’ve all come here today to listen to some music. Let's say we elevate this show!” The man's hand shoots up as the room fills with cheers, the pianist in shock looking to the club owner in confusion as he motions to go on. A light wave of lightning cracks as the bow slides across the strings of the violin, a melody of light and sound fill the hearts of all. The glow of the sparks dance across the man's suit fine, tight and sleek, his arms bulky and covered in metal and gears the faint hiss of steam dulled by the music.

“Run….RUN!” All that can escape her mouth as she coughs on her blood. The blade retracts from her chest to the sound grinding and pops. Sara looks back over her friend's shoulder to see a man standing very oddly, his face appearing draped over his skull with no expression at all as he stares at the ground with his arm pulled back ready to stab again. Hiss..POP! The arm flies towards Sara.

“Earth Release: Wall!” The words slip out on instinct. The stones on the ground race upwards catching the man's arm before the blade can reach her. Sara looks to her friend collapsed on the ground bleeding out.

“Why…” Sara shakes away her fears.

“I won't let you die. I promise, I'll get us out of this.” Sara turns to face the attacker. RIP RAP leaving skin and fabric behind he rips his arm free of the cobbled together wall. Click…click..click…Hiss the man leaps into the air, remnants of skin flap away revealing an arm of metal holding the knife. “Earth Magic: Drakonische Veröffentlichung!”

“IN HERE!” voices burst through the somber melody of the club as officers begin rushing in. “DO NOT MOVE, YOU BRAIN DEAD PIDGIN!” The officer climbs up onto the small stage and stands on the edge, before he can grab his gun from his side one of the floating music notes strikes connects with his chest as he jolts from the shock falling back.

“Tisk tisk tisk, did no one ever teach you it is rude to interrupt a performance.” Vox bows to the crows. “Thank you for your time today.” All the notes floating in mid air shatter in unisan showing the area is light and sparks. As Vox makes his way outside as the police grasp at their eyes, unable to follow, he is struck in the arm.

“Dam’it I missed!” A woman peering down the sights of a long rifle with tanks of luminous fluid on its sides and a crystal barrelled rifle lays across a rooftop. Her golden hair tied back resting on a leather jacket. “Flame release: Spontaneous Combustion!” Vox’s arm erupts in flames as pieces of metal fly off in all directions.

The warm light of the day leaves the alley. Sara stands surrounded by a swirling globe of sparse sand and gravel as it rushes along her limbs. The attacker bursts through the vale of sand to where Sara was but a moment ago, tracks of sand left in her wake as she slid out of the way. Crack! Sara lands a kick into the attackers chest staggering him backwards, Thud! She slams her fist into his chest as he hits the wall. The sand thinly coating her arms begins to form scales and claws as the walls of the alley are eroded away. A piercing whale erupts from the puppet as it heeps down its face still sporting an exaggerated smile.

“Good shot.” Vox staggers back his gauntlet in pieces, his arm left exposed muscle and burned flesh. Vox begins to rush down the street towards the sniper. A heavy gust of wind stops vox in his sprint.“Surrender peacefully, and I won't take your life. I am sure you've heard of me.” A man floats in the air above vox, he sports a rugged leather jacket adorned with brass buckles, paired with denim trousers and boots featuring brass gear and elaborate pipes. His tousled brown hair and hazel eyes add to his rugged charm as his gas mask hides the rest of his face from view.

“Grey the Dispatcher,” Vox stairs up at the man as he stands victoriously in the air. “I know who you are, and I know you cannot win this fight!” Vox grips his numb arm and begins to channel lightning into his palm.

“He's charging a level 2 spell; I would recommend you don't let it touch you.”

“Moracanna, my eyes are working just fine. Not as well as your gifts, but well enough to move.” Gray reaches out his hands and the winds begin to swirl around the two of them. “wind magic: Vacuum!”

“I'm gonna rip that smile from your face!” Sara darts towards the puppet leaving a trail of sand in her wake as her feet glide along the ground. Balls of fire break through the vale of sand surrounding them. Sara swipes them away with a tail of sand. Rumble..Crack.. The claws find their mark and crush the puppet against the wall. Sara turns to greet the two additional puppets now grinding ear to ear at her with their hollow faces.

Fists fly as Grey and Vox match each other, never landing a hit as they predict each other's every strike. “Where did you learn to fight? We are in a vacuum with no air and your magisuit has been damaged. You will run out of air soon!” Grey draws his knife and lunges at vox’s stomach. vox brings down his limp arm smacking away Grey’s arm then grabbing him by the gas mask.

“What will you have once your mask is gone!” Vox screams as he rips with all his might to remove the mask, though no sound can escape his mask. As a burst of air rushes between them.

“ This Vacuum is my realm to control. I won't lose here!” Gray throws up three fingers behind his back. “You know Vox, You fight much like someone I used to know. Back during the war, I worked alongside someone who could keep his breath for minutes on end. Would your name happen to be…”

“Thunder magic: Ball Release!” A ball of lightning flickers out from below Grey, shocking him and stunning him in place as sparks shoot from his body arcing across any metal it can find. “It would be such a shame if you carried a canister of liquid oxygen on your back that you used to breathe…”

Booom….

The two puppets rush towards Sara. Bracing for impact, Sara crosses her arms. Crackling fire shoots from behind Sara towards her friend. Her eyes go wide as the flames envelope her, the puppets dash past picking up the fallen.

“no…No..NO!” Pleading with the air as her friend burns away, Sara looks back to see the puppets have all disappeared. A loud siren breaks the silence as the flames spare only her clothes.

“Great Beast Attack Detected…..Great Beast Attack Detected” Rips across the city as Sara runs back the way they came leaving behind the blood stained remains of her friend amidst the piles of lifeless sand.

“ Morcanna… Finish this…. Sing out… Little Songbird” Grey lay on his stomach, his back torn apart as his ribs lay poking out, his flesh thrown about as he lay there as smoke and steam act as his cloak.

…HMMM…POP…HMM..

“Fire magic Level 3: Eruption!” The fluid begins to drain from the vial into the rifle. The plasma in the barrel shifts colors rapidly. Morcanna fires a shot. Trailing behind it, a fine stream of sparks cracking the night as it leads the way for the ever expanding flames trailing behind.

Vroom..Crackle..Crackle

“Thunder magic: Spring Evening Blossom's!” A massive tree of lightning springs into existence all around Vox shielding him as it catches the flames in mid air.

“Songbird… fly free…” Gray rolls to his back looking up as sparks and embers rain down and the buildings around them begin to burn.

Whirl…Swoosh…Whirl

“Wind Magic Level 2: Jet stream..” the nearby air begins to gather and draw towards a singular point into the Eruption of flames forcing them even hotter. Just as I deserve for everything I've done, goodbye my old friend. Let my sins be burned away here in this wave of Hellfire. Grey’s body combusts along with everything on the street as sparks fly.

“ I am afraid this is where I will take my leave.” Vox bows to the display of power. The mass of magic rips through the barrier of lightning exploding on impact.