"Larpard…?" Ereskia choked out, eyes widening.
For a moment, she struggled to process what had just happened. Everything had unfolded in a blur. In one second, a flicker of motion, a flash of light, and suddenly, Lucian was howling in pain.
It took her a breath to understand.
Somehow, magically, her brother had broken free of the parasite's grip.
And then, through sheer force of will or a spark of power, Larpard had regained control over his mana, and used it brilliantly.
He'd created a clone of himself, a decoy to lure Lucian's focus. And the moment Lucian dropped his guard, Larpard struck, using the black crystals that he took from the pillars, the ones their father's sword left behind.
"AAAAAARRRRRRRGGHHHHHHH!"
Lucian's scream tore through the chamber, raw and furious, as the poison surged beneath his skin. Veins along his face turned a sickly black, the wound oozing with venomous blood.
