Ohh no!

Talleth stood back to bask in the attention that was being lavished upon him. After all these years of hiding, it felt good to be the center of events, the person to whom ever eye was drawn. It was very different to his usual modus operandi of moving unseen and invisible.

“I see that you’ve figured it out Cerion.” He congratulated, “pity that it won’t help you.”

Elstridge had been frozen due to his startlement, but quickly he regained his wits. Casting a glance at Orion, he straightened. “Guards!” the Prince bellowed.

There was a sharp ring as the the Honor Guard drew their swords, united as one man and began to advance on the interrupting Photographer. The nobles began to pull back, but at the same time, morbid fascination with impending bloodshed kept their eyes riveted to the dais.

“No!” commanded, Cerion, the tone of authority clear in his voice. “Your swords can not hurt him, and your lives will be forfeit should you try. Stand down Captain!”

Hesitantly the Guard looked to their leader who in turn looked to his Prince.

Elstridge’s pride fought for a moment with his good sense, but a glance at Cerion’s face made him reconsider. A wave of his hand and the Prince also began to back away.

“Not so fast… brother” said Talleth.

Suddenly a circle of bright beams encircled the prince, bringing an abrupt end to his attempted escape.

To Orion’s eyes, those beams emitted a strong wave of heat. Even as Elstridge reached out to touch the beams, the Embermage knew that to do so was death. “Don’t!” he shouted. Elstridge gave him one startled look and stopped in mid reach.

Talleth looked mildly surprised. “You realize what they are boy?” He asked, eyes narrowing.

Suddenly directly in front of him, a source of heat began to form. To his strangely dual vision, it seemed that it came from highly concentrated light. In that moment he realized what power a Photographer had.

“Light is energy and intense light can generate intense heat.” He replied calmly.

Talleth laughed, “well done Orion! Now feel the pain which mere light can bring.”

The heat became overwhelming and bright beam of laser like intensity shot out towards Orion.

Light is faster then any other force on earth, even faster then the fastest brain speed.

However Cerion had already considered this possibility. As the beam entered an area not a foot from Orion’s body, it began to distort and lose its focus.

Talleth noticed and the beam faded. With a shrug, he dismissed the shield of incredibly moist air that Cerion had created.

“You can stop one beam Hydromancer… but you can’t stop a hundred. At my thought, everyone in this Ballroom will die.”

Cerion grit his teeth, but then Azrael stepped forward. “However one thought from me… and you will also perish, Photographer… or did you not notice the bonds of air which could rip your body to shreds.”

Talleth’s right eye twitched slightly as he attempted to move his arms. Locked as he was in a cocoon of air, he wasn’t having much luck.

“I’ll remember this Azrael; I still have time to complete my mission.”

Light erupted without warning between the four weather arts users, causing Azrael to lose her concentration for a split second. In that moment, Talleth vanished.

Cerion’s eye’s narrowed. “Orion, can you see him?” he asked his younger brother, aware of the heat sense.

“No,” replied Orion, looking slightly puzzled. “He simply vanished.”

“I was afraid of that.” Sighed the older brother.

“Hydromancer Cerion!” barked the Captain of the Guard. Cerion spun around. “The Prince, he’s gone!”

Orion also had turned and stared at the place where Elstridge had been but moments before. This was very bad.

***