Sagreles gave the woman a slight nod, his tone softening. "I really have no reason to make another move..."
The tension in the woman's shoulders eased slightly, only for her body to stiffen abruptly the next second—
"But I've never needed a reason to do anything!" Sagreles suddenly changed his tone, and a spiraling cone of silver-white light tore through the air with a howl.
The woman was blasted into the air, coughing blood as she flew like a rag doll. Even her wand was sent spinning from her hand.
Sagreles wasn't in much better condition. Though he'd tried to defend himself in that instant, the damage seemed to have appeared from nowhere, impossible to avoid.
Pulling open his wizard's robe, he found a vicious wound across his chest. He gripped his wand tightly, his knuckles whitening with the force.
Fortunately, he could take a beating better than she could, and his wand was still in his hand.
He raised his wand and cast Vulnera Sanentur on himself, then looked up at his opponent to find that the woman was also slowly recovering.
This spell seemed rather troublesome, but he could also sense the chains growing fainter. Sagreles made his decision at once.
A ruthless glint flashed through his eyes as he reversed his wand and pressed it against his own chest.
"Humming Shockwave!"
The moment the blinding white light sank into his chest, Sagreles's entire body shook violently. The woman opposite him let out a shrill scream, and her freshly healed wound split open once more.
Glancing at the woman sprawled on the ground, he felt certain his guess had been right.
"Binding yourself..." He cast another healing spell on himself. As both of them recovered slightly, the chains' color faded further.
"Almost forgot..." Sagreles wore a cruel smile.