<<I am Voras, and i am an ice witch, haven't you realised already?>>, the guy shouted at Hektor. <<Or are you that stupid and you can't tell? If she can't handle a little bit of cold then she is not the one for me!>>. He took his arrogance up in the sky with him as he flew above Hektor once more, with his fake laugh echoing all around. Hektor stood there watching him, pondering his next move. He didn't want to fight, he was clearly out of his league here but he still had to save her.

<<She is just human, and in the ice for several days.>>, he tried his luck again. <<You have to let her go.>>. But Voras wasn't having it. He was having two birds with one stone here. Got a perfect woman to torture before mating with her and he had the chance to beat the ass of the defiant Hektor. Maybe, just maybe, if he was able to make him return to his coven his Master would reward him generously.


<<Oh, the kind and chivalrous Hektor. Always the bigger man, aren't you?>>, he crossed his arms midair. <<Well, go on, save her. I will be standing right here, lifting no finger whatsoever. Just watching you try to break through my spellwork, with the tiny little knowledge of yours. It will be rather entertaining!>>, he exclaimed in genuine amusement, and flew on the top of the bank where he sat, crossed his legs and rested his chin on his palms, in total mockery of Hektor.


He knew he would fail. He knew he didn't have half the education or experience of Voras'. He knew he would make a fool of himself in front of him. He knew he had to try, though. So he looked at Voras and smirking, he shifted his focus again.

<<Then let me entertain you.>> he said calmly, but Voras heard and stiffened his smile.


Despite being a bit tired from his previous effort on breaking the ice, his power levels rose easily and a slight blue glow started shimmering around him. That took a lot of his energy but he didn't care. He jumped high in the air and let his magical strength combine with his physical as he landed hard on one foot. He jumped again, and again, and again. Voras's laughter was faint in his ears, but very much distinguishable. He ignored it with all his might. And then he heard it, a crack. He stopped, panting and looked at it, fists clenched on his tighs. Then he jumped again, and caused a louder crack. Voras's laughter was abruptly halted by a gasp. Hektor was born a water witch, and Voras knew about it. He was certain that Hektor couldn't do anything about his magic ice, but once the ice cracked Hektor could access the water underneath it. He didn't have time to think, though. The moment Hektor stopped still, trying to catch his breath, his innate magic was doing the work needed.


Hektor had locked his eyes on Voras, breathing heavily, but smiling victoriously, without breaking eye contact. Then the air got thinner and the temperature rose. Voras catapelted himself from the rock he was sitting and evoking hurriedly his power he threw another lightning at Hektor, trying to distract him from manipulating the water, but he was too distressed to hit target. Hektor didn't need to move. In a second, the ice on the surface broke in big pieces and blasted high, and a huge chunk hit Voras, throwing him fifty meters away. Lena was left floating on the surface, and as the water was being magically warmed, she seemed to return to a consious state. Hektor paced on the water towards her, satisfied and relieved at her sight, but he was not yet close enough when Voras swooped down and grabbed her. Hektor got really angry.


<<NO!>>, he shouted, and stretched his arm in an attempt to reach her. And as soon as his arm was stretched, the water of the lake got together forming a tall wirlwind, stretching at the direction of his pointing fingers. And right then and there had Voras realised the reason why the Master Warlock wanted Hektor back in the coven so desperately. He didn't fear that others will follow his example and disobey Him, as was discussed all those years. He was afraid that Hektor's unsupervised power will be His ending. And that was the last thing Voras got to think about.


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Everything was back to normal again. Lena returned home safe, and told everyone what had happened. Although in some disbelief, they payed a great deal of money and commodities to Hektor for saving Lena and the Festival, and told him he was welcome to visit any time he wanted. Hektor departed light-hearted, content that he shifted the perspective of this little, insignificant village to his behalf, but knowing that he will never be safe enough to stay in one place permanently. His journey was far from over yet.