Chapter 70: Fighting a Rank 2 Lightweaver
My first instinct when I saw the priest was to grab Kiran and Blink Step us both to safety.
Unfortunately, that instinct led us straight into an invisible barrier with enough force to knock the breath from my lungs. We stumbled backward, and I cursed under my breath as I realized what was happening.
Behind us, the priest had forced the peak Rank 1 Skybound's hand onto the activation rune. The chamber's ancient defenses had sealed us inside with our would-be executioner.
"Master," Azure's voice cut through my rising panic, "the Lightweaver... he's Rank 2."
That information should have been reassuring. After all, theoretically, a Rank 2 was much less threatening than the Rank 3 and 4 practitioners currently devastating the academy above. But something about the priest's serene smile made my blood run cold.
I didn't have any confidence in beating a Rank 2, but if the chamber wasn't sealed, I might have at least been able to escape. Now though...
"Kiran," I asked, keeping my voice low, "how long will the chamber stay sealed?"
He shook his head, eyes fixed on the priest. "There's a master rune outside. Only an elder with the corresponding key can deactivate it. The plan is usually for them to let us out when it's time to join the battle, but now..."
A rune flickered to life on the priest's hand – the one still gripping the peak Rank 1 Skybound's wrist. The marking was beautiful in a terrible way, resembling a blooming flower made of pure light.