Osram Time: 10:10, February 24, 2295

  Inner Sanctum, Vault of Primal Urges, Mare Imbrium, Near Side, Osram

  "Prefect, this is nonsense—" Kaori began, but Dilinur cut her off with a sharp gesture.

  "Kaori, watch our flank. Your Highness, please direct our troops."

  Joon-Seok hesitated, clearly torn. Finally, he inclined his head in acknowledgment, raising his voice despite the pain. "Amber-Eyes, Conjurers, hold position. Bloodtroopers, maintain the perimeter."

  A circle cleared around them as Imperium and Sand Lotus forces withdrew to the edges of the chamber.

  "A shame you weren't a Lotus," Amir said quietly as he stepped into the circle, his warstaff twirling in his hands, golden light trailing from its tip. "Few outside Venus recognize the old ways. Fewer still would risk themselves when they command superior numbers."

  Dilinur's Fan snapped fully open. "You speak of freedom while invading territory that isn't yours. Your hypocrisy knows no bounds."

  "Surak?ita? Asi!" Amir's first incantation came with blinding speed, his staff tracing golden symbols in the air. A wave of Solar energy surged from the ground beneath Dilinur's feet, threatening to engulf her.

  "Nakha Bandig?ha!" Dilinur countered in Devavā?ī, her Psi Fan sweeping downward. Crimson energy coalesced into nail-like projections that pierced the rising golden wave, disrupting its pattern before it could fully form.

  Amir's expression registered surprise before settling back into focused determination. "Indra Kavacha!" A shimmering violet barrier materialized around him as he advanced, his warstaff a blur of motion.

  The physical strike came from the left while a second spell—"Agni Prakā?a!"—manifested as a blinding flash of solar energy from the right.

  Dilinur's Fan snapped upward to block the staff, the impact sending vibrations through her arm, while she averted her eyes from the flash. Even so, spots danced in her vision as she staggered back.

  "Mā?sa ?alya!" she hissed through gritted teeth. Her index finger extended beyond her Fan, a thin crimson spear of energy launching toward Amir's barrier.

  The Blood Finger Spear shattered against his shield, fracturing into crimson motes that dissipated in the charged air. Amir pressed his advantage, staff whirling into a series of strikes too fast to track with the naked eye.

  "Sūrya Vajra!" A concentrated beam of solar energy erupted from his palm between staff strikes.

  Dilinur's Fan opened wider, its silver edges catching the beam. For a moment, the energy hung suspended between them, neither advancing nor retreating. Then her Fan began to glow red-hot from the strain.

  "Impressive resistance," Amir acknowledged, not slowing his assault. "Chandra?ila Pravāha!"

  Quantum blue Lunar energy—unusual for a Sand Lotus warrior—rushed from his staff like a tidal wave, threatening to overwhelm her already taxed defenses.

  Dilinur felt her boots sliding across ancient stone as the force pushed her backward. Her Fan trembled in her grasp, silver edges beginning to warp under the dual assault of heat and pressure.

  Around them, both forces watched in stunned silence. Even Shazmeen's projection had stilled, her usual mockery absent as she studied the duel with clinical interest.

  "You fight well, Khatun Altai," Amir called over the roar of energy between them. "But you fight for the wrong cause. The Imperium only values you for what you can give them, not for who you are."

  Sweat beaded on Dilinur's brow as she maintained her defense. "You know nothing of my reasons!" she countered, though part of her wondered if his words held a grain of truth.

  "I know the Imperium sees you as Unblooded," he pressed, circling slowly. His staff swept low, a feint followed by another Solar incantation: "Raviprabhā ?akti!"

  Golden rings of energy cascaded toward her, each one threatening to bind her in place. Dilinur twisted, her Psi Fan tracing complex patterns to disrupt their formation.

  "Agni ?ūla Hana!" Her counter-strike manifested as a scythe of flame that cut through Amir's rings, dispersing them into harmless sparks.

  But he was already moving again, his staff becoming a conduit for another spell: "Sūrya Pratibimba!" Multiple images of Amir shimmered into existence, each one perfectly mirroring his movements, each one advancing toward her from different angles.

  Dilinur's eyes narrowed as she tried to discern the real threat among the illusions. "Your tricks won't save you, rebel scum," she warned, though her breath was coming faster now, her Aether reserves depleting with each defense.

  All versions of Amir struck at once, staffs descending in perfect synchronization.

  Dilinur dropped to one knee, her Fan sweeping in a complete circle above her. "Darpa?a Māyājāla!" Mirroring her opponent with a Mirage spell, she created a amythest-hued dome of reflective energy, momentarily confusing the illusory phatasms.

  The real Amir remained unbothered as his staff connected with her shield, shattering it in a cascade of silver fragments. Dilinur rolled backward, barely avoiding the follow-up strike. As she regained her footing, she felt warm blood trickling from her nose—a sign of dangerous Aether depletion.

  "You're reaching your limit," Amir observed, his own breathing still controlled and even. "There's no shame in recognizing when a path leads nowhere."

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  His next spell came without warning or incantation, a blindingly fast surge of golden energy that struck Dilinur squarely in the chest. She stumbled, her Psi Fan nearly slipping from her grasp as pain radiated through her body.

  "Why not join the Sand Lotus instead?" Amir pressed, his voice softening. "Help us protect humanity from those who would enslave minds. Your talents would be valued, your heritage celebrated rather than hidden."

  Dilinur tasted blood as she straightened, her silver fan held before her like a shield. For a moment, doubt crept into her mind. What if he was right? What if the Crystal in Imperial hands meant the end of free will? What if—

  No.

  The hesitation lasted only a fraction of a second, but Amir saw it. His expression softened further, his guard lowering ever so slightly. "You see it, don't you? The truth behind—"

  "Mā?sa ?alya!"

  Another Blood Finger Spear shot from Dilinur's extended index finger with deadly precision, catching Amir in his moment of distraction. It pierced his shoulder, drawing a surprised gasp as crimson energy disrupted his psionic field.

  Dilinur pressed her unexpected advantage, her Fan describing complex patterns in the air. "Rakta Unmāda!"

  Blood from her nose fed the spell, amplifying its power as crimson energy surged through her body. Her movements became supernaturally fast, her Fan leaving afterimages as she advanced on the wounded Amir.

  "Agni ?ūla Hana!"

  The flame scythe caught Amir across his chest, sending him staggering backward. His warstaff moved to deflect, but Dilinur was already inside his guard, her Fan striking with the precision of a rapier.

  "Impressive recovery," Amir acknowledged, wincing as he repositioned. "But misguided loyalty. Sūrya Rak?a!"

  A desperate shield of Solar energy formed around him, but Dilinur's bloodied Fan cut through it like paper. She had found her rhythm now, each strike flowing into the next with deadly purpose.

  "My loyalty isn't blind," she countered, her Fan describing another arc. "It's a choice. My choice."

  Amir attempted another spell—"Chandraprabhā Vāyu!"—but Dilinur's counterattack came faster.

  "Kanta Kajavala!"

  Thorny barriers erupted in precise patterns, not to stop him, but to guide his momentum. Amir's form crashed through them, his balance compromised as thorns tore at his robes and flesh. Before he could recover, Dilinur closed the distance, her Fan now pressed against his throat.

  "Yield," she commanded, her voice steady despite the blood trickling from her nose. Around them, both Imperial and Sand Lotus forces had frozen, watching the duel's conclusion with bated breath.

  For a moment, Amir's eyes flashed with defiance. Then, recognition of his defeat settled across his features. He lowered his staff, the golden glow fading as he inclined his head.

  "By the sacred laws of Shakti Spardhā, I concede," he said, his voice carrying throughout the chamber. "The duel is yours, Khatun Altai."

  A murmur of surprise rippled through the Sand Lotus forces. Several Krypts tensed, as if ready to rush to their leader's defense, but Amir raised a hand to stay them.

  "The terms were clear," he continued, his gaze meeting Dilinur's. "We shall withdraw, as promised."

  Dilinur's Fan remained steady at his throat. "First, remove the Mark of Torment from His Highness, as agreed."

  Amir hesitated, his eyes flicking to where Joon-Seok stood watching, his arm still limp at his side. "The Prince has much to answer for. The Mark would serve as a reminder of—"

  "The terms," Dilinur interrupted, pressing the Fan more firmly against his skin, "were clear."

  After a long moment, Amir nodded. "So they were." He turned toward Joon-Seok, his staff tracing intricate patterns in the air. "?ānti Mukti Dattvā."

  Golden light flowed from his staff toward the prince. As it enveloped Joon-Seok's form, the tension visibly drained from his features. He flexed his previously injured arm, surprise and relief washing over his aristocratic face.

  "It is done," Amir said, lowering his staff. "Honor demands I fulfill my part of the bargain."

  Dilinur stepped back, her Fan still at the ready but no longer directly threatening. "Then withdraw your forces, as promised."

  Amir's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer. "Consider what I've said, Khatun Altai," he spoke quietly, so only she could hear. "When you stand before the Crystal, ask yourself who should wield such power – and to what end."

  "That's my judgement to make." she retorted in an even tone.

  He raised his voice, addressing his forces: "Vedhs, covering fire! Krypts, extraction pattern!"

  The Sand Lotus warriors responded immediately, shifting from offensive to defensive postures. The Vedhs unleashed a sustained barrage, not aimed to kill but to create a barrier of golden energy between the two forces, facilitating their organized retreat.

  "They're retreating?" Kaori's confusion was evident as she tried to find an opening through the energy barrier. "Strike Teams, pursue!"

  "After them!" Joon-Seok's command carried over the chaos, his arm now fully functional. "Amber-Eyes, tracking fire—"

  "Belay that," Dilinur's voice was steady despite her lingering exhaustion. "They're honoring the terms of Shakti Spardhā. We shall do the same." She felt Kaori's quick glance, measuring. "Your Highness?"

  A moment of tension stretched between them. Then Joon-Seok nodded, his aristocratic features showing a hint of something. "Very well, Prefect." He turned to the troops, his natural authority reasserting itself. "Reform ranks. Standard containment protocols!"

  Shazmeen's projection flickered as she maintained her healing magic. "He may return with reinforcements," she said, her usual mockery tempered by something new as she turned to Dilinur. "If you'll excuse me, Prefect, I'll look into their psionic footprints."

  "That would be best." Dilinur's Fan folded as she held it close to her thighs, silver edges catching the vault's remaining light. The blood had begun to dry on her arms, but she could still taste iron at the back of her throat. "Our objective remains the Moondust Crystal."

  As Shazmeen's psionic apparition dissipated, the Imperial force reorganized with practiced efficiency. Bloodtroopers formed new containment patterns while Amber-Eyes established firing positions. In the distance, the last golden glow of the Sand Lotus retreat faded into darkness.

  "Teams Dragon and Tiger!" Kaori called out, her daggers gleaming. "Advance pattern, sweep and clear." She glanced at Dilinur, adding: "With the Prefect's permission, of course."

  Dilinur nodded, noting how the other woman's subtle deference carried none of its usual theatrical flair. "Proceed. Conjurers, deactivate barriers. We press forward as before."

  As their forces moved to secure the chamber, Dilinur caught glimpses of strange patterns in the stone itself – geometric shapes that seemed to shift when viewed directly. The air grew thicker, charged with potential that made her Fan vibrate in response.

  "Amber-Eyes, check your bolts. We'll be ready for what awaits inside." Dilinur's voice carried quiet certainty as she led them forward. Blood still stained her robes, and her Aether reserves were slow to replenish even as she sipped from her bottle of Indra-Sprite, but her steps remained steady.

  Somewhere ahead in those depths waited the artifact that could reshape the balance of power throughout the Five Realms. And despite Amir's warning – or perhaps because of it – Dilinur was more determined than ever to claim it for the Imperium.

  The Crystal would be theirs. Whatever the cost.

  April 11 (Friday). Be seeing you!