Combined Training:(Dreamer/Chase) The First Clash!

[Chase Caldera]

Chase watched as his dagger struck Dreamer who appeared to have been knocked slightly unconscious from the fall. Things were going well. Not only that but a light drizzle of rain was starting to fall which would help him even more. However it appeared that Dreamer was not yet finished. He managed to pull out the knife and somehow counter the poison. Chase cursed softly but wasn't all that surprised. Dreamer was if nothing else persistent.

Dreamer's spell however was quite annoying. Suddenly there were tentacles of black magic all around Chase heading towards him at a pretty good speed. "Naur en' taren" he said and a large fireball shot towards Dreamer. It was more of a distraction then to actually damage Dreamer although if Dreamer's shield didn't hold up then it could cause a good amount of damage. Ideally it would force Dreamer onto Chase's trap.

The second Chase had finished the first spell he started his second "Trafnidiaeth llawer" He said. His teleport took effect a split second before the tentacles reached him. Once more he went through the twisting spinning world of teleporting.

Chase reappeared at the far side of the field near the council mage. Something shot by Chase and buried itself in the mage. "Oops" Chase thought to himself, Dreamer had somehow managed to throw Chase's very own knife back at him and it had been so close to him he had accidentally teleported it alongside himself. Chase would have to make sure that it didn't happen again. Now to see if Dreamer would finally walk into his trap.

[Jasen "Dreamer" Masters]

Dreamer didn't move, he didn't need to. He watched, he waited, and his patience paid off in a moment. Chase disappeared, causing Dreamers spell to crash against the force field keeping the outside world safe. "Woops" he though, chuckling to himself. Staring at the fireball Chase had sent after Dreamer, he shook his head as he caste a spell.

"Light on light
Surround but don't fight
Magic on tap
Lets bring it into our trap"

Fire was pure energy that produced light. Using the light that came from the fireball itself, Dreamer surrounded the fireball and trapped it. Smiling, Dreamer closed his eyes and breathed. Something stirred inside Dreamer the more he used his magic, the darker side of him was watching. Breathing in and out, Dreamer reached out with the darkness singing,

"Shadow must find
the boy in my mind
Hurry Hurry
were running out of time"

A minute went by quietly before dreamer knew were Chase was.

"Illusions cast
One,two,three
go there fast
to the boy i see"

A dozen more illusions of the ball of light surrounding the fireball appeared and did as he bid. With the fireball, they flew away from him, off to attack the unknowing Chase. Dreamer smiled, he was beginning to enjoy the little battle. He never knew battle could be so much fun, Dreamer didn't want it to end, although he knew it must soon. Between the magical and physical tole the battle taken on both Chase and Dreamer, it would have to end quick if either one of them were going to leave the fight alive.

[Chase Caldera]

Chase flew back up into he sky as the rain started to fall more heavily. Hopefully here he would be able to launch a surprise attack on Dreamer. Dreamer was still inside the trap Chase had laid earlier so it shouldn't be to hard for Chase to sneak up on him. All he needed to do was caste a simple illusion and by the time Dreamer realized what was happening Chase would have already won.

Suddenly a dozen balls of light started heading from Dreamer towards Chase. It was impossible that Dreamer had managed to summon that many in such a short time. Even if Dreamer somehow had it would leave him exhausted and unable to continue the fight. Something was up Chase could feel it.

"Sul" Chase whispered sending a small wind at the approaching balls trying to probe them with his magic. Strangely enough his wind met nothing. Well not quite nothing Chase realized in the middle slightly towards the right his wind was eaten up by something.

Chase cursed as he realized what was going on. Dreamer had caste an illusion first. Except there was one real ball of energy approaching Chase at an increasing speed. "Trafnidiaeth llawer" Chase whispered once again. This time teleporting directly behind and above Dreamer. Chase decided to risk a massive attack on Dreamer before Dreamer realized where he was.

"Corwynt o 'sbin' o gwmpas fel y dwr a thân yn cwrdd i wneud dinistrio" Chase chanted as quickly as he could feeling the strain of the spell. This spell was huge. Chase was creating an actual tornado centered around Dreamer. Not only that but too make doubly sure that Dreamer would not be able to block a fireball would shoot down from the air as the water that was starting to collect on the ground would hold Dreamer in place to keep him from moving.

"Lets see how your famed shields stand up to that" Thought Chase to himself.

[Jasen "Dreamer" Masters]

It was unpredictable, Chase's sudden appearance above him and his long spell. Dreamer gritted his teeth through his smile, the boy was causing another problem for him. Fortunately for Dreamer, the boy seemed to be careless with both how much energy he was using, and how he was using it. Dreamer felt the pull of the wind around him as it was intended to do. From that he could only assume that Chase was also drawing the water beneath him to immobilize him as well, what was new was the fireball heading towards him. Chase was correct, the spell was going to hurt, alot in fact.

Hopefully, not as he intended though.

Dreamer fought to keep himself upright as he watched the fireball draw towards him. It wasn't necessarily fast, it didn't need to be when its prey was caught in a trap. He watched, and waited, when it drew near Dreamer took in a breath and began to sing his spell, although it couldn't be heard real well.

"Shadow Shadow
come and play
lost and hollow
Have no delay"

Dreamer felt the change momentarily as he was turned into an actual shadow. He wasn't necessarily a shadow per say, although his form was darkened and he felt light, he was mid air and not attached to the ground. As Dreamer felt himself become detached, he was able to float out of the way of the fireball. Missing Dreamer, the fire hit the water, causing steam. With Steam now released into the air, the tornado that was supposed to serve as Dreamer's trap, played into his hands. The tornado began to cause the steam to stir around and rise quickly in Chase's path, also masking anything inside.

Perfect.

Now came the hard part, Dreamer felt so detached from everything as a shadow that he had to take a moment before he could summon his magic. It was frightening, to be so lost to everything. Dreamer held onto himself with such a frighteningly firm grasp, he didn't want to literally lose himself to the darkness. Rising up, Dreamer finally sang his spell that would release the shadow, the pain from the steam coming with it.

"Release your hold
Drop and fall
Shadow unfold"

Dreamer's form cracked and the shadow form began to fall and dissipate until Dreamer was himself. By that time, he was drawing near for the attack. Dreamer's skin was burned, really bad, and his lip was bleeding from where he was biting it too hard. Fortunately, after his attack, it would all be worth it.

Having projecting himself forward with the shadow form, the quickly rising steam served to push him the rest of the way as well as mask him. Drawing his blade, Dreamer began to quietly sing his spell during the rising.

"Blade be drawn
cast this song
poison be given
leave him paralyzed after striken"

It was Dreamer's turn to return the favor after being paralyzed. The best part was, as far as Dreamer knew, there was no record of Chase having a talent in White magic. Which meant, he could not heal it's effects. Soon he appeared right out of the steam, and in front of Chase. "Boo!" he screamed, unable to hold back his humorous comment. Bringing the blade forward, The blade was aimed towards chases stomach. If it were to hit, it would be minutes before full paralysis would take effect. If not, well then Dreamer had to figure that one out quickly.

[Chase Caldera]

Chase watched as Dreamer avoided yet another of his attacks. This time Dreamer had somehow managed to turn into some form of darkness and avoid the fireball. Chase cursed, how had Dreamer managed that. Chase had to admit he grew jealous. Chase planned out his attacks perfectly leaving Dreamer no escape and then Dreamer pulled some strange new technique out and somehow slipped through. Not only that but Dreamer had gotten by Chase's trap as well.

Chase's angry musings were cut short as Dreamer appeared out of the steam in front of him pointing a dagger at him. Chase only had a split second to do something.

Reacting quickly he batted the knife out of Dreamer's hand with his left hand. Chase winced at the large cut in it getting a large cut in it while pulling four more of his tokens out of his pocket with his right hand and throwing them at Dreamer. They should activate instantly. Simultaneously he whispered "Cyllell thrafnidiaeth" Teleporting not himself but the falling knife into a position where it would fall on Dreamer a split second after the tokens hit him.

Chase murmered, "De" getting out of Dreamer's reach just in case he somehow managed to avoid all of Chase's attacks. Chase ripped a strip off his shirt and used it to bandage his wound.

[Jasen "Dreamer" Masters]

Dreamer didnt know what happened, one second he had Chase, and then he was screaming from pain as he fell. A current was passing through his body, sending constant pains in each of his bones. Running like barb wire through his veins. That and the burns from the steam, leaving him with boils on parts of his skin under his sweaty clothes. Dreamer hit the ground for a second time and the impact caused his body to jump for a moment, just enough to dodge the blade that landed where his face should have been a moment ago.

Dreamer lay face down against the dirt and considered the possibility of surrender. Of giving up and just letting go, and yet, he couldn't do it. Dreamer knew he needed to defeat Chase,weather it be stubbornness or dislike for the boy, Dreamer knew the council had sent them both there for a reason. Only one of them was going to leave there alive, and with Dreamer in such a weakened state, he wouldn't put it past the council to have someone else finish the job if Chase wouldn't.

Unable to move, Dreamer had to whisper his spell,

"I am broken
but not dead
I am alive,
but not whole
Heal my wounds
whatever the cost
do it soon
or i will be lost"

Cracking could be hear immediately as the spell took place as the fractured bones came together and mended themselves, some having to bend back into proper places. Dreamer screamed, he didn't care anymore if anyone heard him, he was not defeated. When the spell ended, and Dreamer could get up, he wiped away his tears and picked himself up. For all intense and purposes, he should be dead, it was a miracle he survived the fall. Now that he had saved himself from the brink of death, he shouldn't continue the battle. Yet he had to, every part of him screamed to continue. He was more than made, he was furious at Chase, and he wanted Revenge.

Dreamer looked up at Chase and smiled, if only to mock him, and began to laugh. Dreamer knew the boy, he would be disappointed after believing Dreamer was dead. Raising a finger, he gave it a little wiggle as he said, "Tch tch tch". He was mocking the boy, toying with him, daring him to strike. Dreamer had only enough energy for a few more spells, possibly, so he knew the battle had to end fast if he was going to walk away alive.

Physically ready while Mentally and magically drained, Dreamer stood waiting with his mocking smile.

[Chase Caldera]

. his anger grew as Dreamer managed to heal himself. He ignored the fact that it must have cost Dreamer a huge amount of energy to focus on how unfair it was that Dreamer could walk away from any attack. Chase could already feel the paralysis from the knife starting to affect his hand and there was nothing he could do about it.

Chase decided that he would end things now. He just needed to think of an attack that would kill Dreamer before he had the chance to heal. Chase refused to allow Dreamer to get away once more. He flew through the rain thinking of what he should do

Finally inspiration struck Chase. He knew what he had done wrong so far. He had been relying to much on either elemental magic or dark. What he needed to do was try to combine the two in one spell instead of using several different spells.

Chase took his anger beating it and a large portion of his remaining magic into his next spell "Sarff chythraul llid o ddŵr asidig" The water from the rain in the air around Dreamer started to collect in a ball above him. Suddenly it turned bright green almost glowing. The water turned into a slithering snake of water that headed for Dreamer. However this wasn't just any old water. Anything that touched it would be melted instantly. Even the rain falling upon it burned away making a constant soft hissing noise

Chase sat for a moment breathing heavily and admiring his handiwork. While the spell had drained most of his remaining stamina he had to admit it was the perfect spell. Even if Dreamer teleported the spell Chase could just order the spell it follow him. Although it would buy Dreamer some time. Chase sat back contemplating his upcoming victory over Dreamer. Soon Dreamer would be a pile of sludge and Chase would be the undisputed strongest black mage in the guild. Life was good, Chase thought to himself.

[Jasen "Dreamer" Masters]

Dreamer watched the snake like figure looming towards him, fangs bared. He could tell it was dangerous to attempt in touching because of its acidic nature. If it reached him, he would be dead, no doubt about it. Dreamer doubted he could repair the extensive damage that that Acidic snake would cause, and creating a shield was out of the picture because he didnt know if the snake could eat away at it. In the end, he had to get creative.

"Shadow stalk
Shadow prey
Come forth and mock
Come forth and slay"

Dreamer felt the built up energy release as his shadow grew for a moment and then detached itself to soar in the sky. As it flew, its features became more distinct, move visible. In mere moments a hawk created from shadow was flying high. As it passed the snake, its talons grasped the snake and held. Its acid had no effect, its bite did though. The snake turned its attention to its capture and began to bite. The Hawk in turn began to peck at the snake, leaving gashes in the acid scales. Soon the two forms simply flashed from the impact of their magic together, and disappeared.

Dreamer stood tall, still with his mocking smile, and glared up at Chase, "Coward!" Dreamer screamed.

[Chase Caldera]

Something snapped inside of Chase as Dreamer somehow managed to summon a hawk of darkness that attacked Chase's acidic snake. Chase felt himself grow strangely disattached to the world. A savage and side of Chase awoke and it only knew one thing! Destroy the man that stood in Chase's way.

"Don't" Screamed Chase his face twisting with fury "Call me a coward!" Chase drew up the last dregs of his magic for his final spell. He knew just what to do. "This ends now!" He yelled as he chanted at the top of his voice "Tân tywyll o gynddaredd uffern yn dinistrio fy ngelynion a dod adfail ar yr holl ydych yn cyffwrdd"

To describe the fire that Chase shot at Dreamer as black would be an understatement. It was more then simply black fire. Instead of spreading light like most fires it instead ate any late that came near it. It itself was a color beyond black just looking at it would make one think of despair and pain.

It was that spell that Chase shot at Dreamer laughing insanly as he did so. Finally Dreamer would die!

[Jasen "Dreamer" Masters]

Don't Call me a coward!

This ends now!

Maybe it was Dreamer's sanity, or it could have been what little control he had left from over-exerting himself magically. Whatever it was, something did snap within Dreamer, and his eyes blazed golden as he recited his own counter spell.

"Darkness and Light
Come, Come and fight
The darkest night
the brightest sun
Come, Come and fight
So Shadow will have won!"

As Dreamer caste his spell, his veins began to grow dark around his arms as he gathered the power around him. Shadow's began to collect in between his hands and form. Dreamer looked up and saw Chase's fire leave him, smiling, Dreamer chucked his own spell at his opponents. They sailed away at blinding speed, Dreamer watched with a crazed look in his eyes. He heard laughter, was it him? It could have been, he wasn't paying attention.

Just before the spells made their impact, something happened.

They missed

They didn't necessarily miss, more like they never collided with each other. Each opposing spell didn't stop, their direction merely shifted to opposite sides. Coming no where close to either of them, the spells slammed into the shield surrounding them. The shield, the very thing that stood between the battle and everyone else, didn't have a chance. It shattered into pieces. Dreamer looked around for the intrusion, it couldn't have been Chase, he couldn't have possibly diverted both their spells.

Then Dreamer saw him, Merlin.

Merlin was standing in between them, both hands held high at each of them. Merlin first looked at Chase, and then Dreamer, and although it was too far to see his face, Dreamer could feel the disappointment. For a moment Dreamer became confused, Didn't Merlin plan this?

Then everything went black.

[Chase Caldera]

Chase watched through a daze of exhaustion as his spell missed Dreamer's and both the spells crashed into the surrounding shields smashing them to pieces. Suddenly through the growing fog in his vision Chase saw Merlin standing in the middle of the battle field with a sad look on his face.

Merlin looked at Chase and murmured something. Chase felt himself collapse whether from Merlin's spell or Chase's own exhaustion he didn't know. All he knew was blackness.

[Jasen "Dreamer" Masters]

*MERLINS POINT OF VIEW*


The day had been like any other, nothing too noticeably out of place. He had woken up early to collect Arthur's laundry, Polishing Arthur's armor, Cleaning Arthur's room, and of course, cleaning out the stables to Arthur's horse. All in all, it was a light day with not much to do. In between each of his individual duties Merlin was able to check on the guild every now and then. Each visit bothered Merlin, and he couldn't quiet figure it out until he was leaving for the third time and it hit him.

He had yet to see either Chase or Dreamer.

That was cause enough for worry. It was almost sad to admit it, but the Guild was the boys' lives. There whole universe seemed to be revolved around the guild, in between their own individual practices and their mage duties, Merlin himself was uneasy about their quick progress. Time and time again he had advised the boys to take breaks, that they should leave separate lives as well and balance things, but neither would have any of it. Chase would give some excuse for not needing anything other than the guild, or that he had all he wanted. Dreamer would agree with Merlin, and then go on with his current progress. It was amusing, and yet infuriating at the same time.

Yet today was different, neither of them were to be seen anywhere around the guild. Something was often said about the two of them, or even seen rushing down the halls or studying alone in some part of the guild. Today, he couldn't stress his worry enough about seeing neither of them. They weren't exactly discrete about their childish feud. Sure, Competition was good for progress, but these boys took it too a new level all together. They worked themselves to the bone to defeat the other. It was frightening to Merlin, although the other Mage's found it humorous that the younger talent made such fools of themselves.

That's why Merlin had suggested the battle.

Both had coincidentally discovered their talent for the Dark Magic as relatively the same time. Although Dreamer had a head start climbing the ranks, Chase had managed a way to advanced until both of them were waiting for their Mage test. So, Merlin had made a suggestion to the council that the boy's should battle their feud out. It was common for the age, sometimes you just needed to fight. Merlin had hoped that he could end their feud and let them progress to their proper status at the same time. Like killing two birds with one stone.

Killing, oh crap!

Deep in his thought about both Chase and Dreamer, he was surprised when he felt something magical, dark, outside Camelot. It was a shock to say the least, and his first instinct was to assume they were being attacked. The odd thing was, he only felt it for a moment and then it was gone. It was odd, almost like the magic was being suppressed.

Oh double crap!

Merlin ran, he would have to deal with whatever Arthur's punishments would be later. He ran as fast and as hard as he could until he got to the stalls, he thought for a second before he jumped on Arthur's horse. He was going to be in alot of trouble when he got back. It was his only choice though, to credit Arthurs limited knowledge of horses, Arthur's was one of the finest in all of Camelot. Battle ready, it had alot of stamina and was very fast and agile, the perfect beast to get him to where he needed to be. Oh god he hoped he wasnt too late!

*two minutes later*

Alright, Merlin would admit he cheated in getting to where he needed to be. He had momentarily slowed down time long enough to get to where he felt the magic. It was an emergency though! Arriving at the dome, Merlin could see the intricate magic at place. It took him a moment to notice that the dome wasn't so much as to keep people out, but to keep them in. It was a prison like sphere, used for other magical criminals, with a slight difference. This one was at least five times stronger, with extra layers, and magic seemed to have been allowed in it. Something caught Merlin's eye, and he looked over to see a man laying down, a knife sticking out of his stomach.

Alarmed, Merlin rode the horse over and dismounted, tieing the horse to a nearby tree. He didn't want to get in trouble for losing the finest horse in Camelot. Getting to the man, It took Merlin only a second to determine who it was. Daniel Regulus, he was one of the few Dark Mages that the guild allowed to join. Not only did he have enough power to monitor other Dark mages and keep them in line, but he was a respectable but stern man, who used his gifts responsibly.

And he had a knife sticking out of his gullet.

Merlin waved his arm and spoke the words to remove the dagger and caste it aside while healing the wound. As he did, he noticed he was also under the influence of a paralysis spell. That was unnerving, and yet impressive. When Merlin was finished, the man still didn't wake, although he was only napping. As a man of sixty three, he didn't have much endurance. All the better, Merlin wanted to handle the problem at hand without any interferences.

With that, he turned and walked into the dome.

Merlin watched the fight and was honestly lost for words. Watching the boys go at it, Merlin had never seen a magical battle so intense. Both boys never let up, although Dreamer did stall for a minute when he had to heal himself from a long fall, he got back up. The boys were so stubborn, Merlin wanted to rip his hair out and beat the boys upside the head with a stick. Then all of a sudden, things changed. The attacks became deadlier, more precise, more dangerous. It was only moments before a collision between two of their spells, whose impact would have probably killed all of them, and anyone unfortunate enough to be nearby. Reaching out, Merlin forced the spells to change course so they would clash into the shield around them.

A shield made to keep powerful Mage's inside, and the boys had simply shattered it. Many things went through Merlin's head, one was fear. Not for himself, but the boy's and what their power was doing to them, and what it could do to other people. Then disappointment, both had let their emotions get to them and it almost cost them their lives and the lives of others. It was an irresponsible use of their gifts. As Merlin reached out to both the boy's minds, after making eye contact, he put both to sleep in an instant. One looked like he was waiting for the kill, the other was laughing like a mad man. He felt it was best if they were both indisposed for the moment.

Looking between both of them, Merlin was hit with Anger. There was only one group of people that could have assured what happened here. That was the Council of Mages. They went behind his back and sent both these boys out to kill themselves. It sickened him, and yet it was exactly what he wanted, so he became angry with himself. Clenching his fists, he had only one though before he sent out mental messages to White Mages in the guild.

He had no choice, both Dreamer and Chase were now Dark Mages.

[Merlin Emrys]

Guys, this thread is brilliant! It has demonstrated both of your magic skills from a wide range of perspectives, and you really pushed both of your characters to a whole new level. The standard of writing was really high, as was the standard of original ideas that you both used in the fight. It was obvious how well you had planned out the fight as well. Dreamer, loved the last post from Merlin's viewpoint, you RP him better than I do!

Well done both of you, and congratulations on both achieving the level of Black Mage. You definitely deserve it after the amount of training you have put in!