[IRP] Beginnings of Change

[WyvernSlayer]

The skirmish erupted as one of the prisoners behind Yuri unleashed the first shot.  In seconds, the Keepers were scattered, and Yuri was helpless to react as Faulkner charged at him and tackled him to the ground.  He fell to the ground hard, struggling against the Inquisitor’s spear, which was pressed lengthwise across his neck.
 
“Yuri, my friend…!  You have rescinded your faith, cast your noble virtues to the wind…” Faulkner taunted as he strangled Yuri.  “And to think the signs were there the whole time!”
 
“grrrggh… gurgle” Yuri struggled to push the spear away.  His strength was fading quickly; it wouldn’t be long before it gave entirely.
 
“No one else noticed, but I did!” Faulkner crowed.  “You can’t use Elimine’s magic anymore!  She has forsaken you, just as you have forsaken your saint and Emperor!”
 
Yuri strained to give one final shove against the pole on his throat.  The pressure lessened for an instant, but Faulkner leaned over top of him and drove the spear back down with a grunt.  Yuri’s hands fell away from the contest.  Consciousness wasn’t far behind.
 
As his vision blurred, Yuri was able to catch a glimpse of the battle around them.  These people he had saved… the people he didn’t know, but had thrown his life away for, were still on their feet.  Fighting.  Resisting.  Never giving up.
 
Never give… up…  Yuri’s vision went black.
 
But only for an instant.  No! he thought.  I can’t die here!  I won’t!  These people still need my help!  Yuri forced himself back to Earth, back into the pain that was now dangerously close to crushing his larynx.
 
Blessed Saint Elimine, grant me the strength to fight and outlast, grant me forgiveness for sins of the past…
 
As Yuri mentally recited the creed from his prayer book, suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Yuri noticed his hands had begun to shimmer.  His vision cleared, and while the pressure on his throat was overwhelming, he found enough strength to reach up and grab the spear with one hand.
 
Faulkner noticed this, and Yuri could see his expression snap into one of shock just before Yuri’s other hand sent a shockwave of divine magic directly into his midsection.
 
Shwinnggg!  A ringing tone echoed around them as the light spell flashed a blinding aura around the two Keepers.  Faulkner was blasted off of Yuri’s chest, leaving the spear in Yuri’s clenched hand.  He gasped and choked as he struggled to breathe again, then quickly righted himself.  His head was still incredibly dizzy, and he had to steady himself on the spear to keep the head rush from toppling him again.
 
Faulkner rolled onto his knees and heaved.  “How?!”
 
“Yaaaaaahhhh!” Yuri’s hands glowed again, and the energy traveled up into the tip of the spear, guided by instinct.  A narrow beam of golden light shot out from the spade head, searing straight through the Inquisitor’s head.  There was no entry or exit wound, but Yuri could see the life escape Faulkner as his eyes rolled back and he flopped over onto his back, his face still paralyzed with incredulity.
 
As the light beam vanished, Yuri dropped the spear.  He looked down, at his trembling hands.  There was no light anymore.  Where… where did that come from?  Yuri slowly picked his head up and looked into the night sky.  He whispered his thanks to Elimine, picked the spear up from the ground, and returned to the group.