Illusions

“Don’t make me rip this place apart looking for you,” said Jaya.

Suddenly, a small flying form appeared, launching upward out of a building— a flying mage in blood-stained robes. She backhanded it, and it vanished, popping like a soap bubble at her first touch.

A heartbeat passed, then another image of Jodah popped up from out of nowhere. Despite herself, she swatted at it, and it vanished as well.

Then another, and a fourth. Each appeared from a different quadrant, and each vanished at the slightest touch. Jaya swatted them away absently, looking for the caster. Once revealed, the illusions had a bluish tinge around their borders. They were shams, meant to distract, and Jaya was obviously peeved that they succeeded.

“Where are you, Jodah?” said Jaya. “Come out and fight like a man.”

Another blue-tinged Jodah rose up right before her. Jaya lazily brought up a large hand, looking at where it came from for some sign of the archmage.

This phantasm, however, dodged her off-handed slap and flew up in Jaya’s face. It pulled out something from its vest, something shining in colors that should not exist on Dominaria.

“Gotcha!” said Jodah grimly, and Jaya realized that this image was the real archmage, but by that time it was too late.

***

The Shattered Alliance, Chapter 18