Salos in the Mansion

Salos was unsure what the paint was doing to him, but he could see the look on the young witch’s face. He wanted to defeat them, but his own polite nature made him want to help her feel better. 

“Don’t let what she is saying hurt you. You seem to be looked down on more by the others around you. I know that feeling from my own family. Don’t focus on what she is saying and do things your own way. You will fight better that way.” Salos said in a comforting voice. Inside he was kicking himself because he knows he is giving a pep talk to someone he was fighting. 

After finishing his small talk, he backed up and charged ahead at her with his sword.

(Basic Attack)

Salos would find his opponent momentarily distracted by his pep talk. For all intents and purposes, Livvy was considering his words carefully. Locked in thought she did not have time to react to Salos's slash which hit her head on. As the pyromancer expected a lot of resistance, he put a lot of force into the attack, sending the small girl flying from the impact.

A short, sudden shriek of pain was all Salos heard from her as she was launched across the room, yet Livvy's resolve remained strong. Pointing her palms downward, the witch released two jets of wind to stop the fall. In seconds, she called back her tools and was ready to fight, throwing one more mirror behind Salos.

"Th-Thank you... for your words..." she shot the pyromancer a determined look. "Prepare, mister."

Salos: (Basic attack - 40)
Livvy: (Magic Mirror)

---

Salos: 30 willpower + Painted(3/10) + Flameblade
Livvy: 25 stamina, 30 willpower
Canvas: 10 stamina
Mirror: 1 stamina

Salos couldn’t help but smile. He was getting into this fight and was happy that she seemed to be too. Salos knew his blade was about to go out, so he decided to charge her once more to use it. “Show me what you got.” He said both challenging and encouraging her.

(Basic attack)

Livvy took his assault head on, strengthening her barrier with one hand and painting with the other. The pyromancer's sword had enough power to break through, he could feel it. However, it did not have enough time.

Stuck in the motion of attacking, Salos was met with two spectral brushes swinging at him from opposite sides. Deftly, he ducked under them, only to notice too late that one was aimed specifically at his legs. Now his entire body was smeared in red, if only for a moment.

The small witch pushed him back with another gust of wind as he fell on his back, feeling a foreign force overtaking his body. He had never experienced this kind of power before. Salos could almost call it magic, but the thing entering him and messing up with his mind, it was utterly alien.

"Do you feel it? The rage boiling in your body." Livvy spoke to him, more eloquent than ever before. There was an ominous air about her. "Let it burn."

Salos: (Basic attack - 11)
Mirror: (Reflection - 21)
Livvy: (Red - 87 + Reflection - 20)

---

Salos: 30 willpower + Painted(4/10) + Red
Livvy: 25 stamina, 30 willpower
Canvas: 10 stamina
Mirror: 1 stamina

Salos could feel his blood boiling a little. He could feel anger burning inside him. He needed to let it out. He created a new whip of flame, even hotter than before and aimed at the small witch with a furious look in his eyes.

(Flamewhip)

The rage-infused whip hit Livvy across the face, leaving a searing mark on her cheek. More pained screams came from the little witch, followed by a smile that could only be described as ecstatic. She reformed the shield that was pierced by Salos's whip, trapping the pyromancer's arm in it.

"And now you burn." Livvy declared as she performed a sequence of multiple strokes. Red and Yellow mixed in with Salos's form, giving his flames a lifelike parallel inside the painting.

Salos: (Flamewhip - 46 > Livvy)
Livvy: (Yellow - 30 + Reflection - 96! + Red - 87 + Reflection - 14)

---

Salos: 30 willpower + Painted(7/10) + Orange + Yellow(on hold)
Livvy: 21 stamina, 30 willpower
Canvas: 10 stamina
Mirror: 1 stamina

Salos pulled at the barrier with his arm trapped in it to get it out. Before he could, he realized that he could attack her directly. He formed a fireball, squarely aimed at her. He felt so energized that he could fire off two. He needed to do some damage to her now.

(Fireball and fireball)

Salos shot a fireball straight at her. His bold decision surprised the little witch, but she was willing to even trade hits in order to win. Using his still unfavorable position, she braced through the pain and hit him with a blood red brush.

"I... won't... lose..."

Salos: (Fireball - 46, 55)
Livvy: (Red - auto-hit + Reflection - 23)

---

Salos: 30 willpower + Painted(8/10) + Orange
Livvy: 17 stamina, 30 willpower
Canvas: 10 stamina
Mirror: 1 stamina

(Changed some things about colors because a few combos made no sense. Yellow now is put on hold when Orange and Green are active.)

Salos keeps pulling at the barrier, trying to free his arm. He decides to try another attack to knock her back. He channels heatwave to try and knock her down. He didn’t want another thing of paint on him.

(Heatwave)

The pyromancer's wave blasted Livvy away, as well as himself, creating a large chunk of distance between them. It was strange that the little witch was empowering him, but if that meant his victory, Salos would take it.

Livvy desperately tried to rebuild her shield, as well as channel the power of the orange paint through herself. This was the time to strike for Salos.

Salos: (Heatwave - 52, 84)
Livvy: Stunned

---

Salos: 30 willpower + Painted(8/10)
Livvy: 14 stamina, 30 willpower + Orange
Canvas: 10 stamina
Mirror: 1 stamina

Salos was surprised when they were both knocked back. He knew now was the time. He created a fireball tht burned hotter than before in his hand and launched it towards the artist girl . He needed to strike before she could get her defenses fully back up.

(Fireball)

With great dexterity, the pyromancer's magic found its target once again. Livvy's shield was not reforming fast enough, but it was too late for the little witch to realize. The projectile violently exploded on contact with her body, immediately setting her ablaze.

"Burns... It burns... Have to... go on."

Livvy ignored the pain; she limped towards the Canvas. Fire ate through her clothing fast. It was only a matter of time until reaching her skin. But she did not yield. With one last stroke, the painting was finished. Salos felt as though his very soul was being ripped from his body. It was painful, terrifying, and most of all, fleeting.

He had lost a piece of himself. The man couldn't tell exactly what, but part of him was not there anymore. A cold void where the warmth of a soul once resided.

If this kept up then he would die, forever trapped in the paintings of a small girl. With one down, Livvy refreshed the Canvas to a blank state, putting her masterpiece underneath it.

"Beautiful..."

Salos: (Fireball - 2, 96)
Livvy: (Red - auto-hit + Reflection - 54 + Reset)

---

Salos: 20 willpower
Livvy: 12 stamina, 30 willpower + Burn
Canvas: 10 stamina
Mirror: 1 stamina

Salos looked at her shocked. He never realized what her paintings did. He knew he couldn’t let her finish another piece. He creates a whip of flame aimed at her head. He was done sparking with her. He was now determined to take her down.

(Flamewhip)

The sudden realization that his very soul was being taken away from him gave Salos a burst of adrenaline. All bets were off, there was no safety to be had with this fight. A loud crack roared through the room. Salos struck without restraint, without hesitation.

Livvy's pained scream followed. The small girl had barely enough time to try and douse the flames when the whip crashed down upon her. The blow made her whole body jerk backwards, her back hitting the cold, marble floor. A burning red mark was left on her forehead, matching the color of the fire still devouring her.

"This'll be over quick." Maya took a glance at the downed Livvy. "Never stood a chance."

Salos: (Flamewhip - 92!)
Livvy: Stunned

---

Salos: 20 willpower
Livvy: 8 stamina, 30 willpower + Stun + Burn
Canvas: 10 stamina
Mirror: 1 stamina

Salos launched another whip attack. He knew that she was stunned and now he planned to capitalize on her moment of weakness. He was furious but he did feel bad about what the other witch had said. “You are strong, but I’m afraid I can’t afford to go easy on you now. Sorry” He said feeling a little bad about his attack.

(Flame whip)

"It's not nice to lie to her, you know." Maya commented. "We all can see you have plenty more mana to go around. Something tells me you're barely even getting started."

Livvy dragged herself along the floor, barely avoiding another lash of the fiery whip. She saw it too, what Maya was talking about. Salos's energy flow was as strong as ever; his efforts barely scratched the surface of his potential power. He was definitely going easy on her, and despite it, she was on the verge of defeat.

"Ro... I'm sorry..." Livvy muttered, casting a water spell in order to douse the flames.

There was no answer from the crimson haired witch. She watched the small girl with the same emotionless expression, not even reacting to her pain.

The witch had no chance of winning, that she knew all too well. It happened many times before and this would certainly not be the last. Livvy conjured another mirror behind Salos, hoping to prolong the inevitable as much as possible.

Salos: (Flame whip - 3)
Livvy: (Douse - 82 + Magic Mirror)

---

Salos: 20 willpower
Livvy: 8 stamina, 30 willpower
Canvas: 10 stamina
Mirror 1: 1 stamina
Mirror 2: 1 stamina

Salos gave a small but sad smile. He knew that she was dispirited. He decided he wanted to put an end to this as fast as he can. To prolong this fight would be to further shame the younger witch.

"I respect you as a fellow magic user. If reverence of the skill you have shown me, I will show you my full power. It will also give your loud mouthed cohort over there a sampler of what she will be getting. Prepare yourself." Salos said in a very respectful but serious tone of voice. He started to focus his energy to go all out.

(Flame Charge)

Livvy channeled her own healing magic to try and alleviate some of the pain. She seemed to form a smile watching the flames dance around Salos. His aura was impressive. It was much more than she could ever generate. This really was the end, but somehow, through all of that, Livvy was happy.

With newfound determination, the little witch launched a barrage of strokes at him. The strikes happened simultaneously, perfectly catching him in the middle of his initial dodge.

"Thank you." was all he heard her say as she waited for his attack.

Salos: (Flame Charge)
Livvy: (Outline - 77 + Reflection - 88! + Reflection - auto-hit)

---

Salos: 20 willpower + Painted(2/10) + Flame Charge(3)
Livvy: 8 stamina, 30 willpower
Canvas: 10 stamina
Mirror 1: 1 stamina
Mirror 2: 1 stamina

Salos gave her a serious look as he created two swords, one in each hand. He charged at her with a flurry of attacks.

(Trueflame dance)

In truth, there was nothing the little witch could have done at this point. His speed far outmatched her own as not even the mirrors caught up with him fast enough. She held her arms out, reinforcing the barrier as best she could. One strike was all it took to shatter it. What followed was a graceful and deadly dance of fire and sword. Each movement precise and powerful, the swords cut through Livvy from all directions.

"Enough."

Before the final blow was struck, the voice of the leader rang out, and with it, a wave of force strong enough to stop Salos in his tracks momentarily. To stop him from that distance, this woman was extremely dangerous. "She can no longer fight."

Her voice was commanding and powerful. At her words, Livvy stood down on the ground where Salos had left her, curled up into a ball as a result of the intense pain she was feeling.

"Victory is yours, hero." the crimson haired witch declared, motioning a servant to present a plate of potions to Salos. "Her very special brush, should you desire it, is yours. Or perhaps you would like for your soul to be returned instead. Time to choose."

Salos: (Trueflame dance - 84, 22, 55, 66, 94!, auto-hit, 34, 70)
Livvy: (Forced Surrender)

---

[Salos has won against Livvy. He may now choose his reward. He can choose to either take the Chromatic Dream or to restore the wp stolen by Livvy.]

Salos may also choose one potion from the following list and consume it immediately.

- Dose of Certainty: restores 5 wp
- Bit of Flavor: restores 10 wp, requires a roll above 30
- Gulp of Tension: restores 15 wp, requires a roll above 50
- Sliver of Fortune: restores 20 wp, requires a roll above 70
- Riskbreaker: fully restores wp and increases it by 10, requires a roll above 90

“I’ll take the part of my soul back.” Salos answers the leader with a small nod. Salos takes the potion label dose of certainty and drinks it. He walks over to where Livvy is and offers her a hand to help stand up.

“I may not have liked you taking a part of my soul, but you do have real talents as a magic user and an artist. Maybe you could paint another picture for me sometime, without using my soul for it? You did put up a heck of a fight.” Salos says as he offers her some comfort because he could tell that she didn’t get any from the others.

Salos turns and looks at Maya. He points as her. “Your next, loudmouth. Don’t think I forgot all those cheap shots you took at both me and her during the fight. I can’t stand people like you most of all.” He focused his gaze at her, fierce determination in his eyes.

Livvy accepted his offer. He could feel her hand trembling, hear her uneven breathing. She was, in every sense of the word, battered up, beaten and broken. Even her previous enthusiasm seemed to have faded away as soon as she heard his request.

"A-All right..." Livvy looked down at the floor as she walked to the Canvas. Slowly, she pulled out her previous painting, enough for Salos to get a good look at it. It depicted Salos standing surrounded by flames, whose tips bent in a clockwise formation, the same directions his hand appeared to go into. Bright embers enriched the painting, like bright stars in the night sky, they made it look that much cozier.

It was titled. "Drawn to the flames." Salos could swear it was real, as if she took that exact moment in time and froze it forever; no, even more than that. His flames looked like they were burning still, even on the Canvas. It was truly a delight for the eyes, one that was promptly torn asunder by a crying Livvy.

"Mister..." she called to the fully revitalized Salos. "Reconsider... pick the last potion..."

(By restoring his soul, Salos has regained full WP, meaning any potion besides Riskbreaker cannot heal him. Riskbreaker increases his max WP by 10, so it is the only potion that can actually grant him any benefit.)

Salos decided to take her advice and panicked the last potion and swallows it down. He gives her a warm and thankful smile. "Thank you. You are a nice girl. I hope one day we can meet again under better conditions."

Livvy walked towards her fellow witches, unable to look them in the eye.

"Another day, another free potion." Maya taunted the small girl as she stepped forward to face Salos. "Let me show you how nice I am~"

Salos: (Riskbreaker - 57)

---

Salos: 30 willpower
Maya: 30 stamina

"I have had it with your smug additude. I will make you pay for your comments before. I hope you are prepared." Salos said with a look of annoyance. He was determined to take her down a few pegs.

He focused a fireball and aimed right for her face.

(Fireball)