TormentedDragon
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A wave of relief washed through her, accompanied by amazement. Many a mage had she fought against, and they had all either attempted to destroy her or to steal her binding from Faradh. Not one had ever simply decided to let her be, especially not when she was, indeed, so vulnerable. She could give no response, so alien was this to her. And as she stared, frozen in inaction, something most strange occurred. A small, magical being appeared from nowhere, and entered into his ear. His body was transformed into light, and two other sources of similar light caught her attention. The woman in furs and the man in metal, along with the wall she had flipped, disappeared in similar fashion. And she was left, alone, unnoticed, and free.
One of those left within the arena sheathed his sword, and left, slowly. It seemed that whatever the cause of this combat, it had come to an end. Again, relief washed through her. There had been a nagging instinct that to run from this place would have ended badly, the same kind of instinct that accompanied the urge to disobey Faradh... but that had been when she was bound. And now, that feeling was gone. She could leave, and so she did, slipping her way across the metal floor with as much speed as she could muster.
Once out the gate, she sped her way across the ground, ignoring the crowds save for whatever threat they might possess, seeking a safe haven. There was, indeed, water here, and multiple sources presented them to her. One she avoided, for it lay past a gate similar to that she had just left. Instead, she found her way to the city's spring, slipping into its water with a sigh of relief. No longer needing her combat mass, she reduced her self to little more than a droplet, and focused her attention on the world around her.
It was not long before she gathered what she had not understood before. This was a tournament, a Championship, where the entrants competed for the favor of the Lords. That, perhaps, was what had freed her. In entering the arena, she had been bound to the purpose of Water, and Faradh's binding could not remain. Yet the pirate had been chosen as Water's Champion, and not her. There was mixed regret and relief in this... regret that she had not been judged worthy, and for the power that would have come to her. Relief, however, for she was not bound in any way, now, and need not fight unless she so chose.
Her options were many, now. She could leave here, leave this world entirely, and return to what she had been before Faradh had... what had the pirate called it? Enslaved? Slavery? The words sounded ugly, the concepts behind them abhorrent to her, who had known nothing but the mage's domination for years. There was Faradh, though. He would be furious at her escape, and would without doubt hunt her down. He would not succeed in binding her again, she was too wise for that now. But the idea of letting him be felt wrong to her. Faradh... Faradh would have to die, killed as he had forced her to kill so many. That, seemed right.
Yet her thoughts kept returning to the man who had let her go. He had been enslaved (and yes, that word fit well), so he had said. Could his word be trusted? Just why was he here? Why did he seek Water's favor? These questions ran through her mind, and with them came something else, something almost new. Something she recognized she had learned while bound. It was an idea. Perhaps this man could be... of use. It would not hurt to linger, and to watch.
She was rested now, and so she expanded, choosing a bit more mass than strictly necessary, just in case. Up from the spring she rose, walking out of it in human form, yet not as she had appeared in the arena. That form Faradh would recognize, for he had chosen it for her. This form was taller, its colour different, yet still enticing. Shorter hair, this time, kept away from the face, and red, not the iridescent silver it had appeared before. Green eyes, not blue, with a longer face, and slightly stronger features. And she wore a dress, now, rather than a wrap or a silver suit, a simple affair appropriate to a commoner woman.
She still drew glances, but these were due to the inherent beauty of her form, and the fluid grace with which she moved. She spotted a few of Faradh's lackeys, their faces worried, and smiled when they looked at her and noticed nothing. They would live, for now. She had no desire to kill. Rather, she found her way to the stands, charming her way into a spot with a good vantage point, and settled in to watch. Already the champions were beginning to fight, and great powers related to their respective elements were being shown. Energy drew her attention for a moment, and a shudder went through her as she recognized the danger in such a being. But the pirate was her main concern, and on him her eyes locked. How would he fight? Would he survive? Would he win? She would see.
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