The battle continues; most wouldn't have realized Virgil had fallen, if it wasn't for the bond, but Niara breaks away, to help him battle the assassin, keep her off of him as he works to disrupt the spell. That seems to be the opening the marilith was looking for, though, as she bats Svala aside, and rushes at Draiss from behind, weapons ready to skewer him...<br/><br/>When time seems to slow.<br/><br/>He can see the battle perfectly, now; weapons locked, in various engagements, the marilith rearing up behind him, to strike him down, which he hadn't seen the first time, but had happened. He can feel his senses returning, gaining insight into everything in the scene, just as he can feel the tremor that was starting to pass through the ritual, as before.<br/><br/>What he hadn't seen before, though, was what interested him the most. Far above them, in the massive cavern, a hole suddenly cracks through the roof, a small figure hurtling through it, seemingly moving at normal speed, to his slowed perceptions. It catches itself in midair, and turns back towards the hole, just as a second figure emerges from it. The two figures clash... and it's like a spark going off in a fuel tank. The world is enveloped in white; the trigger has been pulled.<br/><br/>And he knows who one of those figures was.<br/><br/>________________________________________________________________<br/><br/>"Draiss.... Draiss..."<br/><br/>A hand on his shoulder, shaking him. "Draiss, wake up... please, wake up..." A familiar voice, female, this time, normally quite neutral, but full of emotion, worried emotion. He's in bed, and can feel the presence of nearly a dozen figures around him; the sense of concern in the room is palpable. His harem, as well as Maura and Daminor; he can feel his avatars, as well, nearby, but not in the room. This is a private moment, for him and his allies.