But only for a moment. There were many so-called 'duels' in the Temple, most of which ended in death. The one with Solomon was unique for various reasons, Solomon's survival only the least of them. Now that Skulduggery was actively trying to remember, though, the details slowly swam up. Not just another death. Not just another death, because he'd gone in for the killing blow and been... distracted.
Distracted by 23 observers, who were there and yet not there. Somehow, someway, they'd been the ones who ended up dead. At the time, Vile hadn't particularly cared how it worked, or why. At the time, 23 simultaneous deaths was still enough of an overwhelming power surge that it distracted him from everything else. That changed as time went on, as he grew more powerful, as he needed more death just to remain stable.
He blinked as the implication of Solomon's words sank in. "That was you?"
Vile had been the one to absorb the power of those Necromancers' deaths, but he hadn't tried to drag them in. He hadn't expanded his awareness. Now that Skulduggery was able to think objectively about it, it had been more like their awarenesses were simply tossed into his.
Either Solomon instinctively reached out for extra power to defend himself, just like Vile had done the first time he discovered the ability, and Vile was more than powerful enough to intercept without realising; or, Solomon sensed what was about to happen, and... basically tried to feed the hungry lion before it ate him. Tossing slab of meat after slab of meat into the gaping maw without thinking.
Maybe it was some combination of the two.
"I wasn't holding back." The cars revved around the ring, slamming into each other with never-ending zeal, and they gave Skulduggery something to focus on as he spoke. The last time he talked frankly with Solomon about this, Solomon had been either delirious or unconscious the entire time. This, knowing the ex-Necromancer could hear and understand every single word plus a great deal besides, was a good measure harder. "I just..." Forgot. "... wasn't interested in you, anymore. By the time I might have been in a position to put two and two together, I wasn't giving anything or anyone in the Temple a second thought. Or a first thought."
That fight had probably haunted Solomon for the rest of his life, and Skulduggery was only just now remembering it. He didn't quite mind the guilt that threaded through his thoughts along with that realisation. It was a nice change of pace to feel guilty about something so comparatively trivial. Guilt for forgetting a duel, rather than guilt over killing someone.
no subject
But only for a moment. There were many so-called 'duels' in the Temple, most of which ended in death. The one with Solomon was unique for various reasons, Solomon's survival only the least of them. Now that Skulduggery was actively trying to remember, though, the details slowly swam up. Not just another death. Not just another death, because he'd gone in for the killing blow and been... distracted.
Distracted by 23 observers, who were there and yet not there. Somehow, someway, they'd been the ones who ended up dead. At the time, Vile hadn't particularly cared how it worked, or why. At the time, 23 simultaneous deaths was still enough of an overwhelming power surge that it distracted him from everything else. That changed as time went on, as he grew more powerful, as he needed more death just to remain stable.
He blinked as the implication of Solomon's words sank in. "That was you?"
Vile had been the one to absorb the power of those Necromancers' deaths, but he hadn't tried to drag them in. He hadn't expanded his awareness. Now that Skulduggery was able to think objectively about it, it had been more like their awarenesses were simply tossed into his.
Either Solomon instinctively reached out for extra power to defend himself, just like Vile had done the first time he discovered the ability, and Vile was more than powerful enough to intercept without realising; or, Solomon sensed what was about to happen, and... basically tried to feed the hungry lion before it ate him. Tossing slab of meat after slab of meat into the gaping maw without thinking.
Maybe it was some combination of the two.
"I wasn't holding back." The cars revved around the ring, slamming into each other with never-ending zeal, and they gave Skulduggery something to focus on as he spoke. The last time he talked frankly with Solomon about this, Solomon had been either delirious or unconscious the entire time. This, knowing the ex-Necromancer could hear and understand every single word plus a great deal besides, was a good measure harder. "I just..." Forgot. "... wasn't interested in you, anymore. By the time I might have been in a position to put two and two together, I wasn't giving anything or anyone in the Temple a second thought. Or a first thought."
That fight had probably haunted Solomon for the rest of his life, and Skulduggery was only just now remembering it. He didn't quite mind the guilt that threaded through his thoughts along with that realisation. It was a nice change of pace to feel guilty about something so comparatively trivial. Guilt for forgetting a duel, rather than guilt over killing someone.
"Is it ever going to happen again?" he asked.