Chapter 3: Unwanted Foes
"Did you really think you could hide from me?" Lady Beatrice purred, her voice dripping with malice. "This changes things. Now, hand over the rings."
The shard of stone in her hand pulsed with a brighter, more menacing purple, casting grotesque, dancing shadows on the walls of the hidden library. The air grew heavy, charged with a raw, uncontrolled magic that made the hairs on Alex's arms stand on end. He could feel a faint tremor in the floor beneath them, a sign of the sheer power Lady Beatrice was wielding.
Maria's hand tightened on his arm, her fingers digging into his skin. He could feel her fear through the rings, a sharp, icy spike that mirrored his own. But beneath that fear, he also sensed a flicker of something else. Defiance.
"I don't think so," Maria said, her voice surprisingly steady. She stepped forward, placing herself directly in front of Alex, shielding him with her body. It was a reckless, impulsive move, but he understood it. She was buying time. But for what?
"Foolish girl," Beatrice hissed, her eyes narrowing. "You cannot hope to—"
Suddenly, Maria's smartwatch buzzed, and a series of notifications appeared in her field of vision:
------------------------------------
Skill Mimicry: Ready
---------------------
MP: 247/300
------------------------------------
New Skill Detected!
------------------------------------
Target: Lady Beatrice
Skill: Telekinetic Manipulation
(Advanced)
Mimic? [Y/N]
------------------------------------
Warning: High MP Cost!
------------------------------------
Maria didn't hesitate. She mentally tapped "Y."
A surge of energy coursed through her, hot and unfamiliar. It was different from mimicking physical skills, more intense, more demanding. She could feel it draining her MP rapidly. But she couldn't stop now. Not when Alex was defenseless.
She focused on Lady Beatrice's aura, on the swirling purple energy that surrounded the stone shard in her hand. She could see the flow of magic, the intricate patterns that controlled the telekinetic grip. It was like watching a complex dance of energy, a deadly ballet of power.
Alex, she projected through the rings, a sense of urgency and a rough image of the stone shard. The shard. She's controlling it with her aura. I can try to disrupt it, but I need a distraction.
Alex, receiving the fragmented image and the raw feeling of urgency, understood instantly. He might not be able to use his weapon, but he wasn't entirely helpless.
He took a deep breath, focusing on the connection through the rings. He tried to project a sense of calm, of reassurance, back to Maria, hoping to steady her nerves.
Then, he did the only thing he could think of. He started talking.
"You know, Lady Beatrice," he said, his voice echoing through the silent chamber, "for someone who claims to be so intelligent, you seem to have overlooked a few minor details." He deliberately mirrored Maria's words from earlier, hoping to buy her time and maybe, just maybe, get under the woman's skin. He could feel a slight flicker of annoyance through the rings, a sensation quickly followed by a surge of determination from Maria. Good. She was focused.
"And what details might those be, Your Highness?" Lady Beatrice asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. The stone shard in her hand pulsed with a brighter, more ominous purple, casting grotesque shadows on the walls. The air grew heavy, thick with the smell of ozone and something else, something acrid and unsettling, like burnt sugar mixed with decay. It was the smell of corrupted magic.
"For one," Alex continued, stalling for time, "you seem to assume that we're after the same thing." He gestured towards the scattered scrolls and the ornate box. "Perhaps our interests lie elsewhere. In, say, ancient history. Or, perhaps, the surprisingly poor construction of certain sections of this palace." He subtly shifted his gaze towards the cracked ceiling, hoping Maria would pick up on the cue.
Analyzing structural integrity of the chamber, Matt's voice chimed in his mind. Multiple stress fractures detected. Ceiling is unstable. Recommend inducing localized collapse.
Not yet, Alex thought back. Wait for my signal. He needed to keep Beatrice talking, to keep her distracted.
Maria, thankfully, seemed to understand. She took a slow, deliberate step forward, her gaze fixed on the ceiling, her aura shifting, the colors swirling as she concentrated. He could feel a faint tingling sensation on his skin, a sign that she was using her system. He just hoped her aim was true.
"History is written by the victors, Your Highness," Beatrice retorted, her gaze flickering between Alex and Maria. "And I intend to be the one writing it."
"A noble goal," Alex said, his voice cold. "But perhaps a bit premature. You see," he continued, his gaze fixed on Maria, "true power lies not in brute force, but in understanding. In knowledge."
He saw a faint nod from Maria, a silent acknowledgement. She was ready.
"And what would a scientist know of true power?" Beatrice sneered, the word dripping with contempt. "You play with your toys and your gadgets, while we wield the very essence of magic itself."
"Magic is just another form of energy," Alex countered, his voice rising slightly. "And energy can be understood, manipulated, controlled." He saw a bead of sweat trickle down Maria's temple. Whatever she was doing, it was taking a lot out of her.
"Enough talk," Beatrice growled, her patience finally snapping. She raised her hand, the stone shard pulsing with an unbearable light. "I will take what I need, and then deal with both of you."
Now, Matt! Alex thought, his gaze fixed on the ceiling above Beatrice.
He felt a faint vibration through the floor, a subtle tremor that only he, with his enhanced senses, could detect. It was Matt, activating a small sonic device he'd planted earlier, one of his many contingency plans. The device emitted a high-frequency sound, inaudible to human ears, but designed to exploit structural weaknesses.
Maria, channeling the principles of telekinesis she'd observed, focused her will on the weakened ceiling. Her newly mimicked skill, though a pale imitation of Beatrice's, was enough.
A hairline crack appeared above Beatrice, then another, and another. Dust rained down, followed by small pebbles.
Beatrice looked up, her eyes widening in alarm.
"I believe," Maria said, her voice strained but triumphant, "this is where we part ways."
With a final, concentrated effort, she mimicked the force she'd seen Beatrice use earlier, amplifying it with her own will. A section of the ceiling, directly above Lady Beatrice, gave way with a deafening roar.
Tons of ancient stone and mortar crashed down, engulfing Lady Beatrice in a cloud of dust and debris.
Maria stumbled back, her energy depleted, her aura flickering weakly. The strain of mimicking such a powerful ability had taken its toll.
Alex rushed to her side, catching her as she swayed. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
"I will be," she gasped, leaning against him, her body trembling. "Just... need a minute." She looked up at him, a weak smile on her face. "Did we get her?"
Before Alex could answer, a furious roar erupted from the pile of rubble. The stones shifted, then exploded outwards as Lady Beatrice emerged, her clothes torn, her face contorted in rage. Her aura blazed with an almost blinding intensity, a maelstrom of corrupted purple and angry red. She was injured, but far from defeated.
"You insolent whelps!" she screamed, her voice hoarse with fury. "You dare to defy me? I will crush you both!"
She raised her hands, and the very air around them crackled with dark energy. The library, already weakened by the collapsing ceiling, began to shake violently. More cracks appeared on the walls, and dust rained down from above.
Alex knew they couldn't stay there. They were trapped, outmatched, and Maria was running on fumes. He looked around frantically, searching for an escape route.
"Matt, options!" he hissed under his breath.
Analysis: Strategic retreat is the only viable option, Matt responded. Probability of successful escape: 52%. However, escape route is currently blocked by Subject: Lady Beatrice.
"Not helpful, Matt," Alex muttered. He looked at Maria, his mind racing. He had to think of something, and fast.
He looked at the rings. An inventory system. Linked communication. There had to be something they could use. The activation items. The feather. It was a long shot, but...
He grabbed the pouch from the table. Fumbling with the drawstring, he pulled out the shimmering feather.
"Maria," he said urgently, "I need you to trust me. Can you appraise this?"
He thrust the feather towards her. Maria, her face pale but determined, took the feather, her fingers brushing against his. A faint jolt passed between them, a spark of shared energy.
She held the feather up, her system activating. A window appeared, displaying information about the feather. But before she could read it, Lady Beatrice lunged forward, her eyes blazing with fury.
"Enough games!" she shrieked. "I'll take those rings from your lifeless hands!"
Alex reacted instinctively, pulling Maria behind him, shielding her with his body. He raised his hand, pointing his depleted stun gun at Lady Beatrice, a desperate, futile gesture. The weapon was useless, its energy core depleted from the overcharged blast he'd used earlier. He'd been a fool to think he could defeat her with such a crude device. Now, they were both going to pay the price.
Lady Beatrice shot a bolt of dark energy; as it traveled, Alex's gaze met Maria's, and in that instant, he knew. They had lost.