The Bloodforged Kin

Chapter 256 248: Jaidyn - A Fight for Night Itself

Jaidy and the unicorn chased the black unicorn across the tops of the stone towers, each leap one closer to a plummeting death. Despite the mythical speed of the unicorn, they couldn't catch it. Jaidy realized that it'd never be fast enough.

But I know how to be fast enough.

She kneed her mount one more time, pressuring it to put on one last burst of speed. They leaped once more and Jaidy felt that the moment was just right. She slammed her Playground domain down over the area and leaped off the unicorn, sliding to a stop without losing her feet. In her Playground she was faster and more agile - and she had her powers. She turned back to the unicorn that had led her this far. It whinnied and backed away as she approached, but she reached out and made gentle shushing sounds.

"I know this was hard, and I know I was mean. I'm sorry about that. Thank you so much for helping me. You can go if you want." She reached for it again, wanting to pet its muzzle one last time, but it snorted and back away, turning to sprint off through the barrier of her domain. She sighed in disappointment before quickly collecting herself. She supposed she couldn't blame it - she had been mean.

She turned and looked at the black unicorn. Its horn had lit up with a burning fire and it lashed out at the barrier. She gasped in shock as cracks spread across the barrier where it had hit.

"You can do that? You shouldn't be able to do that!"

It gave her a condescending look before lunging forward again, sending more cracks through her domain's barrier.

"Wait! Wait! I just want to talk to you!" She approached with short steps, hand held out plaintively. It gave her another look of derision before turning with a snort and galloping away.

"No!" She cried. She clenched her fists, anger making them shake. "Okay, fine. You know what? I'm super fast in here too!"

She took off at a sprint and the chase was on.

They were streaks against the backdrop of the terrain, one a streak of the purest black limned in fiery reds, the other a pink and yellow blur of a dress and pounding feet. Her short legs were a blur of motion as she kept pace - barely able to keep up but never quite out of reach. It looked back over its shoulder and saw that it hadn't lost her. With another snort of irritation its hooves lit on fire and it began to run across the air itself.

"Oh, that's so cool! But guess what I can do?" Jaidy activated her Wind Dancer skill and leaped into the air, arms out wide as she took flight to follow it.

They turned, twisted, and juked through the sky. The unicorn whipped a fiery tail and blasts of fire shot back at her. Jaidy barrel rolled through them, narrowly dodging each. Tears were streaming from her eyes from the wind and she was smiling so broadly that she was glad there were no bugs up here to get caught in her teeth. She'd never had this much fun!

Its spell ran out at the same time as hers and they both landed hard on another outcropping, yet neither stopped. It looked at her with frustration and turned to run again, this time leaping straight off of a cliff's edge and falling to the darkness below.

"Nooo!" Jaidy screamed as she watched it plummet. At the last moment she saw it disappear into a shadow as if it was a portal.

"So cool! But I can do that too!" She was out of flying power but she wasn't going to let that stop her. Her skills were her toys and she could play with them whenever she wanted! She'd seen the way the Torres family used their skills in ways that they were supposed to, and if they could do it then she could too.

She borrowed some energy from her other skills and forced them into her flight power, feeling it twist as it tried to reject it. She pushed until she felt it stretch, then give in. She didn't have much of it, but it would be enough. She took a few steps backwards then ran, leaping off the edge and aiming for the shadow that the unicorn had disappeared into. Just as she got to it she activated Shadow Step, willing it to take her to wherever the unicorn had gone. She knew it wasn't supposed to work that way, but she told it to and told it not to be bad. It listened and she appeared directly in front of the waiting unicorn, just in time for it to breath a cone of fire in her direction.

With a scream she used the last of her flight power to dodge to the side of it, falling to a tumble along the rough stone. She banged her elbow hard and cried out in pain. She didn't have any healing pills like the adults did - they never let her have any - so she could only wince and rub it where it was hurting.

She stumbled towards the unicorn on shaking legs. They were in a narrow ravine that was bordered on three sides. Jaidy was blocking the only way out and the unicorn looked behind itself, stamping its hooves and shaking its head in frantic panic and anger.

She held up her hand again, trying to make her voice soft and soothing. "I don't want to hurt you. I just want to talk. That was really fun up there! We could have so much fun together!"

It eyed her defiantly. Jaidy took a step back when it breathed in a deep breath.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"Don't…"

It continued to inhale.

"I said don't!" She could have used her powers - she didn't know if they'd work or not, but she thought it might be a mistake. She didn't want to force it - she wanted it to listen! She saw the red start to form in its throat.

"You're being bad and not listening! If you don't stop I'm going to punish you!"

The fire continued to build and Jaidy realized that she had no choice. Channel Lightning surged out of her hands, slamming into the creature and interrupting its fire breath spell. It whinnied in surprise and pain, then collapsed - every muscle spasming.

"Oh no!" Jaidy ran to in, kneeling down beside it and petting its muzzle. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to hurt you! I just wanted to talk!" Its eye rolled in its head and its muscles continued their electric dance.

Thaloriel, can you hear me?

Yes, Lady Jaidyn.

Can you come to my Playground? I need your help!

I am not permitted to assist you with this part of the trial, Lady Jaidyn.

Not for the trial - I think I hurt someone and I need to talk to it!

Thaloriel shimmered into existence beside her, sharp eyes taking in the situation in an instant. "Mistress," his voice was breathless in wonderment. "This is… beyond what should have been possible. Do you know what this is? Who this is?"

"I just think he's like you. Can you talk to him?"

He nodded and knelt, placing a hand on the unicorn's head. "He is scared, Mistress."

"Tell him I don't want to hurt him!"

"He's not scared of pain, or even death - he's scared of enslavement. He understands what the trial entails and his part in it. He will not be bound, even at the cost of his life."

"Tell him I don't want to enslave him! I just wanted to see if he wanted to come with me - to live in Home and to be my friend. But he doesn't have to! If he wants to stay here he can. I will leave him alone forever if that's what he wants." She wiped away tears and tried really, really hard not to sniffle.

There was a longer pause. "We have spoken and I have reassured him that you do not seek to imprison or enslave. There would be rules and contracts, as with all things, but he understands this. He also understands that this trial is a prison unto itself. And…" he said the next part with no small amount of awe. "He respects your strength. I think, Lady Jaidyn, that that is the most important piece of all."

"Okay, so tell him the same deal I told you! About living in my Home! But tell him that he doesn't have to take it if he doesn't want to!"

Thaloriel chuckled. "You repeat yourself unnecessarily, Lady Jaidyn. He understands - but I will communicate your wishes."

When they exited the trial it was night - warm but with a slight chill, lit by the full moon and multitude of stars. Jaidy sat on Shadowember's back, whooping with glee as they ran. The sprites ran alongside them, their tinkling laughter as joyous as hers. Even Lady Tutu ran with them, tongue lolling behind her as they sprinted through the night.

Shadowember's whinny sounded more like a roar as he trumpeted to the night sky - his first true night since he'd been contracted by The System. The tip of his horn began to glow a deep red, the fiery light traveling its length. When it touched his mane the mane burst alight in flame, the fire only tickling Jaidy as it whipped across her face. She cried out in glee as his eyes glowed brightly and his hooves began to burn.

Together the two of them surged into the night, leaving even the sprites behind as they rode faster than flame, faster than darkness.

Home residents:

Name: Wood Sprite

Level: ?

Type: Magical Fae Creature

Description:

Sprites are mischievous, yet protective, fae creatures that are closely attuned to the forces of nature. Their skin acts as natural camouflage and armor, mimicking the appearance of their type. Despite their small size, they are fiercely protective of those they care for and skilled in illusion magic and subtle control over nature.

Abilities:

Ethereal Slash:

The sprite's nails and claws are magically imbued, able to cut through most materials and able to bypass minor magical defenses.

Nature's Grasp:

The sprite can manipulate plant life in their surroundings, causing vines, thorns, or flowers to emerge to bind or entangle enemies for a brief period.

Fae Speed:

Their speed is magically enhanced, growing stronger when in environments attuned to their nature and weaker in others.

Elusive Aura:

The sprite can transform into a subtly glowing aura that allows them to find shelter in elements of their nature (Woodland Sprites in plant life, Fire Sprites in fire or magma, etc.). Enemies suffer a disadvantage when trying to hit targets in the aura.

Natural Armor:

A sprite's body is magically hardened to withstand damage, taking on the characteristics of their nature.

Name: Shadowember

Species: Hellfire Unicorn (Prime)

Innate Abilities:

Flameform

: When emotionally charged or in battle, mane, tail, and hooves ignite with harmless fire (to allies). The fire can burn enemies on contact.

Shadow Step

: Can phase short distances through shadows. Capable of using natural or magical shadows to teleport.

Sky Gallop

: Can briefly run across the air itself by hardening motes of magic and heat into invisible platforms.

Hellfire Roar

: Unleashes a blinding pulse of red fire and shadow in a cone, causing extreme fire damage. Used sparingly due to its draining effect.

Contract Powers (granted to Jaidyn):

Ride the Night

: While mounted, Jaidyn is immune to all forms of flame and fire.

Shadowmeld Bond:

Jaidyn can use minor teleportation abilities in tandem with Shadowember - phasing onto his back within 30 feet, even if separated.

Flames of the Unbound: (Limited Use) Can burn away restrictive magic like binds, cages, or suppression spells once per day.