"Tch...so that's how it is, hm?" Kraai said as he looked back at the gate.
"What is it Kraai?" Lucid asked.
"His mask seems to protect him from mental manipulations..." Kraai replied. "..and reflects it back upon the original caster...other magic spells as well, I imagine..." This new revelation didn't really surprise Kraai much. He had almost expected it, especially since Lucid wasn't able read the man's mind earlier, but it probably wouldn't have mattered much to him anyway. Still, it was best to keep Lucid from taking control at the moment since his mind was already warped enough as it was. It was a very bothersome turn of events, regardless.
With his mind still merged with the gate he was able to reform it, but he still had to protect it from anyone else who might try to attack it.
Kraai stood across from the intruder, silently observing him for a moment when two flying creatures crashed to the ground nearby. A mighty gryphon with her wings held out in a threatening manner was locked in a fierce battle with a demon she had pulled from the sky. Talons and claws slashed at each other as the two fought, their cries of pain piercing the air already filled with the sounds of shouts, explosions and the clanging of weapons.
"Too noisy!" Kraai suddenly growled, setting the demon ablaze with a hateful glare. The gryphon, sensing his anger, quickly backed away from the burning demon and gave a small apologetic bow before flying back to her post. Kraai didn't seem satisfied until the demon had burned down to mere ashes, and only then did he turn his attention back to the man before him.
"How bothersome," Kraai muttered in annoyance. "There's too many distractions here for a proper battle. Allow me to set up a barrier..." he said, but didn't wait for an answer before using the gate's power to form a large magical barrier which surrounded them and the gate. Once the barrier had been completely erected, the two found themselves in a strange and empty landscape that seemed to stretch on forever.
"Don't worry, this isn't a trick." Kraai began to explain. "This barrier will merely protect us, as well as the gate, from any outside harm or interference." He pointed to the shadowy image of the gate in the far distance. "The area within this barrier is also much larger than it seems...in case you need some room to run," he taunted. "Oh, but one thing...only when there is a victor, will this barrier be negated, so I imagine we'll be seeing alot of each other for now, so..."
As Kraai turned away from the man, the blackness inside the barrier suddenly changed to a snowy scene of a forest clearing. All around, great trees stood, their branches heavy with snow, their skeletal forms reaching towards the white sky as if trying to find the sun. A lone weeping willow bent over a frozen pond, her bare boughs blowing in the gentle, but cool breeze as snow continued to fall from the bleak white sky, covering the ground and trees with new layers of snow.
It could be said that this was a peaceful scene of perfect silence, but this was not entirely true. If one listened, then they could hear it...the sound of trees as they creaked under the strain of heavy snow, the sound of the breeze as it blew through the branches, the sound of water as it flowed below the thick layer of ice, and the sound of snow crunching beneath one's feet.
"Let's play a game..." Kraai suddenly said, breaking the silence as he turned back to face his opponent. "...but first I would like to know the name of the one who hides behind a mask. Why is this I wonder?" Kraai smiled devilishly. "Are you afraid?"
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