Jeff Inlo - Pure Choice

"And that is the danger. With all of your power, you should be aware of the travels of the soul."

"Now you'll tell me about some higher plane of existence? Spare me that as well. It is nothing more than a fanciful refuge for those that will not take the step into higher existence themselves."

"Don't you see?" Enin almost pleaded. "That's what Dzeb tried to tell you. You are not headed toward a higher existence. You don't even…"

"Don't try to save me," Ansas interrupted. "I don't need to be saved."

"But you do, we all do. If you put all of your faith in only yourself, you're going to be disappointed."

"And now you wish to teach me about… what?…some ridiculous myth created by people unwilling to see the truth? Save it for the giant. These miniscule people that pray to their small gods, they have no idea. Their pathetic illusions are no match for the infinity of what is inside me. My thoughts can create spectacles beyond the grandest descriptions of their meaningless and so-called divine legends."

"You're being arrogant and ignorant. This may be your last chance. Try to understand before it's too late. I do believe you understand evil in its base form, but you're disregarding the influence of a greater power. It's bad enough that you set this path for yourself, but you have endeavored to bring others with you. You are pulling them away from hope as well, and that is a grave mistake in judgment."

"Wonderful. Another sermon."

"Call it what you wish, but Dzeb is correct. You no longer cast black magic. The energy within you has turned into a lie. It is a deceit that will bring you to a very bad end."

"So says the wizard that understands he can no longer win. I, on the other hand, will see this to its conclusion."

Ansas then looked to all those gathered around Enin, even gave a passing glance to the spell casters that carried his energy within them.

"For those who don't understand what that means, let me be clear. I will make my stand here on this high ground. If any of you think you can change my plans, you are mistaken. The arasaps will remain in the woman immune to magic. I will continue to use her to purify others. She will go mad in time, but that is irrelevant. The purity of magic and the advancement of those that recognize it are far more important. I will replace the pathetic elf that failed my expectations, and I will find new spell casters that are adept in other hues. There should be no mystery about what I intend to do."

As Ansas continued to reveal his purpose, it was his own allies that showed the most interest. They had previously heard his explanations, but all of them-particularly Neltus-held to their suspicions. They did not believe the sorcerer offered up his own energy just to prove a point, and it certainly wasn't out of a desire to be generous and benevolent, a suspicion that Ansas confirmed with his next statement.

"I have not shared power for the sake of simply giving it away. I will use my energy to cross dimensions and gather strength. By bringing others into the folds of my being, I will prove that the purity of a single hue is the path to a higher existence. Those that are gifted with the proper abilities will learn that, through me, they can release the shackles that have been passed down to them. They will grow, and more importantly, I will grow with them. The energy that courses through me will be the common link, and their abilities will expand mine. I will never have to stain the purity of my magic, and yet I will have access to power beyond imagination."

"There are limits you should not… cannot cross," Enin warned.

"Limits? And what limits are those? The ones held by the weak grasping on to their myths and legends? The ones too scared and confused to realize that we control what we can become?"

"Ansas, it is you who is no longer in control. You are spiraling into an abyss. This might be your last chance. The ebony magic…"

"Don't bother with your ridiculous attempts to fool me. I know what power rests within me. It has always been pure and it remains so. I will use it to purify others, just as I will use the human woman."

"I can't allow that to happen," Enin said sadly, realizing Ansas had chosen his path and it was one that would indeed lead to a terrible tragedy.

The sorcerer, however, found only anger in hearing the wizard's tone.

"Allow? What? You think you can snap your fingers and my will no longer matters? You think it's that easy?"

"Easy? It's not a matter of hard or easy. It is a matter of necessity. You must be defeated. I know that, and so does Ryson. I have no intention of humoring you with some kind of wizard's duel. Just as Holli has said, I have nothing to prove, but the delver has several important issues with you."

Just as Jure had done, Enin turned his back on the sorcerer as he looked to his friend. The great wizard began to see everything unfold, and he understood who was meant to battle the sorcerer.

"A person fighting for something they believe in is far stronger than a person fighting for their own glory," Enin reminded the delver. "It is your task to battle the sorcerer."

Ryson was shocked. He had no misgivings about making the sorcerer remove the arasaps from Linda, but he was surprised at the sudden turn of events.

"Are you sure?"

"Trust me on this, you are the one who must do this. Most important, it is within you to save your wife, and you must do so now. Remember what I have said. Do not think so much about defeating Ansas, he is not a threat to you. He can only hurt you if you let him. Think more about saving Linda, there is a difference."

Not needing to hear more, the delver did not hesitate to act. He said nothing further to Enin. He didn't even pause to consider his surroundings or his tactics. His life revolved around speed, and it would be with speed he would assault the sorcerer.

Disregarding all others, Ryson bounded toward Ansas and was upon the sorcerer in an instant. The delver did not draw a weapon… not the two war blades at his hips or the Sword of Decree from the sheath across his back. He struck Ansas with his bare hands and in rapid succession to completely demoralize the sorcerer. Ryson wanted Ansas to realize that he could strike at will and there was nothing that could stop him.

Not wishing to render the sorcerer unconscious, Ryson targeted areas that would cause the most severe and jolting pain. He hit Ansas in the spine, the neck, the ears, every joint, and under the ribs. He used an open hand, struck with the base of his palm, and hit certain spots several times to elevate the level of punishment.

Never giving the sorcerer a chance to react, he continued moving, twisting and turning in random fashion. He ducked, then sprang upwards. He altered his pace, never allowing himself to become a target. He pounded away fiercely, but with just enough control to keep Ansas from passing out.

It was difficult for him to remain focused on his objective. Enin told him to think about saving Linda, and that was paramount, but punishing Ansas and unleashing his own anger quickly crept into his consciousness. Each time he felt his hand crash into Ansas' body, his emotions leapt ever higher. He did not want to believe he took enjoyment out of the attack, but he could not deny the growing stimulation that washed over his being. He wanted to hurt the sorcerer, make him pay for what he did in such a way that Ansas would never consider assaulting Linda again.

Ansas was overwhelmed. He did not expect the sudden battering. He tried to bring a spell to his lips, but with each smashing blow from the delver, a flash of pain burst his concentration. His muscular body and the burning will of his overriding conceit kept him from bowing to the barrage, but there was little else he could do. He remained upright and on his feet. Believing his physical attributes were capable of handling his opponent, he tried to swing at Ryson, but he could not connect against the swift moving delver. He grunted with each stab of pain, but issued no other cry or plea.