Portraits of the Divine

The first ripple was a slow, long, deliberate swell that rolled outward across the black water. Then came the sound; a grinding, deep groooouunnhh, shaking the stones beneath their feet. Joren's breath caught in his throat. The arches ahead seemed to tower over them now, was it like that when they arrived? The surface broke and with it a massive form surged upward, sending a wave crashing across the sunken courtyard. Thick, scale-plated limbs clawed through stone and water alike. 

The beast was an enormous shape, all muscle and ancient hide, twice the size of any swamp beast Joren could imagine. Its back rose in a slow arc, jagged with scarred ridges as its long claws gouged deep furrows into the submerged stone. The sheer scale of it made the surrounding ruins feel like a child's playthings. The arches, the pillars, all of it was somehow growing in size to match this behemoth before them. It could only be the doing of a portrait's power, it didn't occur to Joren that animals could also view them. 

Willow drew a slow breath, her voice low. "It's aware we are here, let's get ready to fight it." She began to morph her right arm into a demon-like arm, claws perfect for puncturing anything she wished. Gus gripped his hammer tighter, voice grim. "Let's go!" Water exploded outward in a crashing wave as one of its massive limbs smashed across the stone, sweeping a pillar aside like driftwood. Debris rained down like confetti as the three scattered to inflict damage when possible. Joren darted sideways, barely keeping his footing on the slick stones. The crashing wave soaked his boots, cold water biting through to his skin. 

Willow moved like liquid shadow, already leaping onto a broken arch, her demon-clawed arm gleaming wet in the dim light. With a sharp snap, she drove the claws into the beast's exposed flank as it lunged again. The hide was like iron. Her strike left a deep gouge between the scales, but it wouldn't go down from such an injury. Gus charged from the opposite side, hammer raised high. With a roar, he brought it down on one of the beast's forelimbs, crushing some of the bones. The impact sent shockwaves through his body, making him look like was electrocuted. 

The beast bellowed, thrashing violently. Its massive tail swept through the water in a brutal arc, sending another wave crashing across the ruins. It connected with Gus, sending him flying into one of the scattered pillars. Joren barely managed to duck behind a half-fallen pillar as stone and debris flew past him. The force of it rattled through his bones, the roar of the creature deafening. Willow didn't flinch. She moved with uncanny grace, circling along the broken arch. Across the courtyard, Gus staggered back, shaking off the shock from his blow. "It's too damn big!" he shouted, breath ragged. "We're not doing enough!" 

Joren's heart pounded in his ears. The energy inside him stirred, he wanted to help slow it down, blind it if he got the chance. Joren was frozen in fear, his mind flashed back to that moment in the woods when he almost used his powers in front of a hunter. He could only recall that sound, Shunk. His mind screamed his words again, If I acted faster... What's the point of these powers if I can't even save someone... and yet, here was Willow using hers like she couldn't care less. 

Another roar split the air as the beast lunged. Willow struck again, her claws raking deep into its snout but the monster's jaws snapped wide, fangs the length of swords. With a surge of impossible speed, one massive tooth lashed upward, catching her mid-leap. She was slammed hard into the stone as the beast's jaw was curling around her torso, dragging her toward the black water. Gus, still staggering to his feet, shouted hoarsely. "Willow!" 

Joren's pulse hammered. His limbs locked tight. He couldn't move. The weight of the memory, that moment in the woods, pinned him in place. 

Shunk. 

If I acted faster— 

The thought sliced through him. He couldn't let it happen again. Not again. Without thinking, the energy inside him surged, wild and desperate, pushing past the fear that bound him. His breath caught, vision blurring. From his hands grew a star, this time far larger than any he had made before. The star radiated an intense heat, it grew to the size of a basketball and began to shine a bright orange. A sudden pulse of gravity ripped outward, an unseen force lashing through the courtyard. Water surged in an unnatural wave causing the beast to shudder, grip faltering, stones cracking beneath its limbs. It was as if a building had fallen on this beast, knocking the wind right out of it. Willow broke free of the monster with a sharp gasp, tumbling clear of the water's edge. 

Joren's knees buckled. The force had come unbidden, uncontrollable any longer. He launched the star like it was a baseball, sending it hurtling on a path of pure destruction. The star collided with the beasts head, running clean through as if there was never an obstacle in its path. The air shuddered with the force of the impact. The star tore clean through the beast's head, a blazing streak of heat and light that seared across the dark water beyond eventually dissipated in a blaze of glory. A tremendous crack split the air. 

Willow staggered upright, eyes wide with shock. Joren defeated this Goliath in one blow, it no longer moved with half its head obliterated. Joren swayed on his feet, breath ragged. His vision swam, the effort of the star and the gravity surge leaving his limbs trembling. Willow approached, shifting slowly back toward her normal form, a sharp grin tugging at her lips. "Told you you'd figure it out," she said again, voice rough but light. Gus limped over, eyes wide as he stared at the massive body now slumped across the shattered courtyard. "...One hit," he muttered, almost in disbelief. "You took it down in one damn hit." 

Joren collapsed. 

Afternoon Next Day – The Inn 

The dim light of late afternoon filtered through the warped shutters of their small upper room. The air still smelled faintly of damp wood and herbs, a far cry from the ruined quarter they'd left behind. Joren stirred slowly, the thin blanket tangled around him. His body ached a deep, bone-heavy fatigue that weighed down every limb. For a long moment, he lay still, breath shallow, mind trying to catch up to what had happened. The star. The surge. The strike. The image of the fallen beast flashed through his thoughts, the way the courtyard had gone still in the aftermath. 

A low voice broke the quiet. "You're awake." Joren turned his head slightly to see Willow leaning back in one of the battered chairs by the window, legs crossed, her usual cloak draped loosely around her shoulders. "You passed out cold," she added, tone casual. "We had to drag you out of there. You're heavier than you look." From the corner, Gus rumbled a quiet laugh. "Didn't think I'd be hauling you back after that showing. What a hit!" 

Joren tried to push himself upright, his arms shook with the effort. He managed to sit, leaning back against the wall with a groan. "How long?" "Nearly a day" Willow replied. "You burned yourself out pretty bad with that blast." Gus set a cup down on the table. "Brought you some tea. Thought you'd need it." Joren reached for it, hands unsteady. The warmth of the cup helped, if only a little. "Thanks…" The three sat in the quiet for a moment, the muffled sounds of the market below drifting faintly through the floorboards. Finally, Joren spoke. "...I didn't know I could do that." He began to tremble, sweat was pouring off his face as he looked like he might cry in utter terror. 

Willow's expression changed completely. "Woah woah woah, what the matter?" She leaned forward slightly, eyes sharp with concern for this young hero. The words caught in his throat. The image of that beast of a man, and the poor Auspex who begged him for his help meeting a gruesome fate flashed across his mind. Gus set a steady hand on his shoulder. "Hey, hey. You saved us, don't forget that." 

He gripped the cup tighter, trembling. "I wasn't trying to kill something like that by using my powers. I didn't even think, it just... happened." Gus gave his shoulder a firm squeeze. "You did what you had to. If you hadn't, that thing would've killed us. We won't let anyone know what really happened out there, so don't worry." Joren swallowed hard, chest still tight. The image of the hunter. The sound — shunk. The pleading Auspex. Now the star, burning through the giant beast, and the terror he felt if somehow the government alliance found out about him and what he did yesterday. 

Joren stared down into the tea, his hands still shaking. The room was quiet now, save for the distant sounds of the market below. No one else would know about him, for now, but deep inside, he wondered how much longer that could last.