(dang ;-; welp tiime to prepare a funeral)

Gallagher then landed a finishing kick to his barrier, the entire thing shattering like glass and falling to the floor. The magic circle flickered a couple of times before disappearing completely.

He looked up at around the room. The soldiers were shaking slightly in fear, while the Grand Duke had long since left the scene.

(Dogman has numbered days, but we'll see how long he can go. Wasn't even expecting him to last this long, honestly surprised.)

Lowell Brichalles
The barrier shattered and Lowell lurched forward, snarling as he directed his attention on the cowering soldiers still in the room. He looked in no shape to fight, but it didn't stop him from making his approach, intending to tear them limb from limb as he left a trail of ichor behind him. He didn't even seem to acknowledge Gallagher, too focused on hunting his prey.

(T-T)

The soldiers saw this, and straightened up, running at the pair. Gallagher had no trouble taking out the soldiers that ran at him, since he was simply ignoring the pain the holy magic had caused him.

(I'm not set on killing him (I'm too attached), just looking at the logistics here.
The Empress is definitely not going to be allowed to keep him by her side like this thanks to the church, if he can even make it into the palace.
Wouldn't be surprised if Es just panics and outright smites him into ash if he somehow found his way back in without panicking the guards.

Plus uh.. There's this requirement now to heal him. So yeah. He's going to get destroyed by anyone with an ounce of faith. People get hung at the gallows for less acts of heresy. XD

But hey, might help him out if dark magic is suddenly less of a forbidden thing in Arkaos.)

Lowell Brichalles
Lowell managed to grab one by the sword arm, locking his jaws over his head and biting down with his fangs. The snap of bone echoed through the hall and the agony of the man was apparent in his last breaths as the hellbeast carved out a hole in his chest, ripping out a glowing essence with his claws.
He dropped him in a bleeding heap to the floor with a bit of a chilly laugh as he devoured the soul energy with no hesitation.

(well :p the people are already scared of dark magic, so uhh after the whole civil war thing, they're probably going to want it banned forever. Which wouldn't be good for Gallagher and the Empress. )

Gallagher glanced over at Lowell, seeing what he had just done. It was nothing new, but it was like the guy had lost his sense of humanity. Which seemed like he did. Riping out souls was not something someone with any ounce of humanity left would do.

(oh yeah.
The options I have for Lowell involve him either dying, seeking out an exorcist/convincing Es to treat him instead of killing him which is now going to take a lot of effort on Lowell's part because I highly doubt he'd want to lose his powers, or remaining in hiding like he was before. Or any combo of them. So.. fun.
At least it's a good excuse as any to drag Es by the wing into their shenanigans.)

Lowell Brichalles
Contented, he straightened his posture, looking over Gallagher hungrily for a moment before he seemed to recognize him.
"We.. need to leave. Now." He snarled at him lowly, seeming to lack any of his previously held composure.

(Yes.
drag Es into ALL the shenanigans)

He nodded, turning and jumping out the window, before dashing back the way they came before more soldiers arrived to take their heads.

(Es is going to be so sick of this, lol)

Lowell Brichalles
Lowell followed him out the window, landing on all fours to the ground below. He sprinted down the hall, making his way outside with a bit of an uneasy pant. The pain was easy to ignore at this point and strangely, he found that some of his heavier wounds were slowly resealing themselves. But the hunger for more bloodshed seemed to numb his normally sharp mind.
Right now, he was still focused on escaping, but it was hard to ignore as he briefly pondered the safety of him heading back to the Empress with Gallagher. He didn't trust himself not to snap. Not anymore.

(periodt)

Gallagher simply jumped over the walls, completely ignoring the gates. He knew the danger of Lowell being around her, but if he even growled at her she would quickly take him out. No matter how much they bonded, no one was more important to him than the Empress.

(At least Lowell's smart, unlike Lyon who once walked into a church to ask for directions and got a bible thrown at him by a priest, lmao)

Lowell Brichalles
He didn't bother jumping over the walls, ripping a wolfman sized hole in it by bending the bars of the gate with ease before slipping himself through it.
"Gallagher. I need you to return without me. I'm.. sure you already know this, but I would prefer if you refrained from telling her what has happened. I would like to be remembered with a shred of humanity still attached to my name."
He sighed and stood to his feet.
"And should I try to return, I need you to kill me. Promise me."