by Marc Johnson
I was dying.
I was using too much of my own mana to fuel my blast at Premier. The fire within me wavered and flickered, dimming with each second. Coldness crept into my skin. Goose bumps ravaged my body. I had to fight to stay conscious and focus my raging magic at Premier.
My magic wasn't enough. Premier kept taking one small step after another. I poured more mana into it, making the pain in my head even worse. The blood from my nose was like a river. My eyes started to bleed.
It was no use. Premier was in front of me.
“Die, boy!”
CHAPTER 25
Premier brought his hand down, bringing death with it. Before he could touch me, a huge gust of wind sent him flying towards the opposite wall, slamming him down hard. His concentration broke. He released me from his grip, and I slid to the floor. I barely had enough energy to look up.
Master Stradus stood over me, bathed in blue mana. “Are you all right, my boy?”
I lifted my tired head and wiped the blood from my nose and cheeks. I blinked several times, trying to bring the world back into clear view. I forced a painful smile. “I'll manage. Thanks for saving me, Master. How did you get here?”
“We've breached the gates.”
He sighed, and I sensed Master Stradus had used up some of his power to help those outside. I wished he hadn’t. We were going to need all the strength we could muster. If only we could get to my potions and restore our strength.
“What in the Pit made you come in here and fight Premier alone against my wishes?”
I motioned to the princess's still body with my head. “Her.”
Master Stradus nodded and gave a tight-lipped smile. “I understand. We'd better hurry up and get her to safety. We haven't much time.”
We were out of time.
Premier rose and faced us. His robes were singed and tattered. His face was scratched and bruised. He didn't seem to notice. His black spell was still in his hand. I thought he would have let that go when he let me go, but he had somehow held on to it. He narrowed his eyes at my master.
Master Stradus helped me up, never taking his eyes off of Premier.
“I know you,” Premier said.
“You did once, a long time ago.”
Premier was quiet as he thought about it. “That wind felt…familiar.” His dark eyes gleamed with recognition. “Stradus, is it?”
My master nodded. “I see you’ve taken the egocentric name of Premier. And I thought you were just joking.”
“Yes, and you still have your head in the clouds, Stradus.” The spell ate Premier's own hand, and he didn't care. Master Stradus was right. Premier had lost his mind. I could make out only madness in his pure black eyes.
Master Stradus studied Premier, fiddling with his long, white beard. “I see time hasn’t been good to you.”
I stared at my master, wondering why we weren't attacking. I was exhausted and needed the breather, but standing here was also giving Premier a chance to recover. What were we waiting for?
Then I felt it. Master Stradus was using this time to gather in energy. I had to do the same thing.
I stopped gasping for air and drew in mana from the life all around us. Master Stradus gave me a subtle nod. I looked at the princess still on the ground, praying she would wake up and escape.
Premier chuckled. “If only you knew. I’m not the only one, Stradus. But I do like that beard you have going for you. That and all your white hair makes you look like one of those so-called wise fools on the Council.”
The globe on my master’s staff swirled as he gathered energy. “Thank you.”
“And a staff, too. I don’t need a useless tool to focus my power. I may be old, but I’m not a weakling like you.”
Master Stradus ignored Premier's taunts, continuing to draw in energy.
Premier glanced at me. “Quite an apprentice you have there, Stradus. He has potential. It’s too bad he's never going to reach it. I'm going to kill him, and then I'm going to kill you.”
“You mean you're going to try, old friend.”
“Always the hopeful one, I see.”
“And still the mad one, I see.”
The two wizards stared at each other, filling the room with powerful energy. It thickened the air, leaving its touch on everything and everyone. The ancient, dense magic made the hairs on my body rise. Even the princess stirred, but she didn't wake. I wished she would so she could escape. If it was dangerous in here before, it was going to get a lot more dangerous now. All that power ached to be released.
Our magic came out based on our strongest mana. A strong breeze circled the room. My fire surfaced to my hand. Premier's Art was the black mana he tapped into.
Premier drew power from himself. The spell around his hand consumed it. His skin peeled back until I saw the muscles. Then they disappeared until there was nothing but bone. With each horrific change, the spell grew stronger. He didn’t cry out in agony, nor did his face twitch in pain.
Master Stradus’s face scrunched up, and his eyes were squinted. He studied Premier's hand like he would study me when I performed magic. I wished he had the chance to tell me what he knew about Premier’s magic.
A thunderous silence filled the room while we studied each other and debated who would make the first move.
Premier smiled in his arrogant way. “Suppose I get rid of your apprentice, and it can be like old times?”
Premier released his now chest-sized death ball and flung it in my direction. By instinct, I raised my hand to deflect it with my fire.
“No! You can't affect it with elemental magic!” Master Stradus said, pushing me out of the way. I knew that. I should have remembered it.
I dove to the floor, grunted, and released a fireball at Premier. It didn't touch him. Premier stood there with his eyes closed, as a barrier of magic protected him. “Premier's up to something. He's in a trance.”
“Watch out!” Master Stradus yelled. We leaped out of the way just as the ball went flying past. The ball moaned, aching to kill something. The sound sent a shiver to my soul.
“What do you want me to do, master?”
“Damn him. He didn't give me enough time to gather in mana. I'm going to work on that. I'll be invisible to him. Attack him directly. He'll be vulnerable once you get past his defenses.”
Master Stradus walked away and stopped on the other side of the room. He released the power he had been holding, until a white light glowed around his body like a firefly. His eyes became pure white.
Premier's spell stopped moving. His head turned, and his eyes shifted around the room, passing over my master as if he wasn’t there. “Stradus, where did you go?” His black eyes focused on me. “No matter.”
The black ball of death started its descent again, flying and spinning through the air until it was almost upon me. I swayed like a cat, getting ready to jump. I was too tense. I jumped too soon. Instead of me fooling the ball, it changed direction, heading right for me. I conquered a gust of wind and pushed myself in the opposite direction. The ball skittered past and went off the other way, wailing in disappointment. This was my best chance to attack Premier.
I rushed to tackle him. I was exhausted from the magic I had performed earlier, and hoped his shield only applied to magic. It didn't. I yelled out in pain as I collided with the magical shield. I tried to punch him, throwing all my weight behind it. The shield seared my hand. My knuckles burned. I thought that at least Premier couldn't perform any more magic while he worked these two.
I was wrong.
Premier's human hand slung a fireball at me. I deflected it. He cast more. I had no problem blocking these weak and easy spells. He frowned in concentration, which meant he was hurt, tired, and not all-powerful. I deflected some of the spells back at him, but they did no harm. He continued to cast them. I didn’t realize his misdirection until it was almost too late.
I dodged the death ball at the last possible second. Its musical death passed by and the spell went
straight towards Premier. He tried to change the spell's direction. It clashed against his barrier. Premier struggled, lifting his arms and grunting to push the spell away. He succeeded, but his protection flickered; the magic waned. That's when I saw my chance.
I rolled up my sleeves and gathered my strength, remembering the first rule: only magic can defeat magic. “Wind and fire unite, cause great harm to this parasite.”
Fire spewed out of me, combining with the wind. I hurled it at Premier, putting all my strength into it. It consumed Premier in a wall of fiery wind that shot up to the ceiling, slashing and burning him through his shield. I tried my best to keep the wall as solid as I could, but the spell put a great strain on my mind and spirit. I had already used up too much power against Premier.
I glanced at the death ball to see if it might be slowing down. It was, but only a little. It still headed in my direction with the same furious appetite it showed earlier. I fueled my spell with more mana, feeling Premier’s shield weaken even more. It wasn't enough. His hungry spell came. I breathed heavily, not sure if I could move fast enough to dodge the death ball. It got closer, moaning incessantly, scratching at my mind and soul. I cursed and released the spell, diving onto the hard floor. My shoulder recoiled from the pain.
Looking up from the floor, I saw her move with cat-like grace. The princess had my dagger in her hand, and darted behind Premier. She brought her hand down to strike. Premier saw her too. He twisted in time to avoid her death blow. She struck him in the shoulder.
Premier yelled, “Bitch!” He propelled her back with a blast of wind. He held her in place, drawing the air from her lungs. She clawed at the invisible force and gasped for air that wouldn't come. He stretched out his hand. “Goodbye, Your Highness.”
I got up and ran. I used my own magic to cut off the spell he used to hold her. He had another spell ready. I reached her in time and caught her unconscious body.
Fire sprang from Premier’s fingertips, and I cradled the princess and shielded her with my own. I summoned up what little magic I could, keeping the flame from hurting her. The intense heat screamed to burn me. My exposed neck scorched as the flames brushed against it. I pushed against his magic with my mind, willing the fire to die down. Blood dripped from my nose once more, and I crumpled. How could this simple spell be hurting me so much? I focused, remembering that fire was my element. Not his.
I didn't have the power to stop or deflect his spell. As I looked inside the spell, I saw the magic Premier used to fuel it. It was difficult to stop magic at its source. One had to bypass the wizard's defenses and touch the person's soul. I used the fire as a conduit, traveling within to its wondrous heart. I reached out to Premier's mana, crushing it and extinguishing the fire.
My sweat-drenched body throbbed. Every sore muscle cried out in pain. I saw the princess, unconscious but unharmed. At least she was safe for now.
“Bravo,” Premier said. His death spell hovered in front of him. “But it was all for naught.”
Premier's spell flew towards me. I didn't have any more magic, and even if my body could move, I wouldn’t. If I did, he would kill the princess. I held onto Krystal's body, praying I would take the brunt of the attack and that Master Stradus would have the time he needed to defeat Premier.
I stared into the ball, seeing my reflection gazing back at me in its smooth, icy surface. It was calm and peaceful for something so dangerous, coming to devour me.
“Let him be!” Master Stradus said. He jumped in front of me and pushed his ancient staff towards the death ball.
The white light around his body transferred to his staff. He shoved it in front of him, pushing all his will and might into it. The staff came alive, moving and hissing. When the death ball came into contact with the snake, the two powerful energies struggled, each one vying to be the winner in the deadly contest. Master Stradus's body wrinkled and cringed, but he held fast.
“Stradus! It's time to finish this!”
“You will not win, Premier. Do you hear me? You will not win!” Master Stradus said it with such ferocity, it shook my heart.
Blinding light flashed everywhere, stinging my eyes. The life and death that came from both my master and Premier shook the foundation of the castle. The trembling tower felt as if it would fall apart at any second. Premier and Master Stradus’s high-pitched yells pulsated through my head, shattering my ears. Magical tidal waves splashed me, brushing against my soul. Premier's cold magic made me want to give up and die. Master Stradus's magic filled me with energy, making me want to live. Feeling them fight each other was akin to being burned, then frozen alive—not my body, but my soul.
I hunched over the sleeping princess, trying to protect her from all this. My meager body wasn't enough. I took the brunt of the spells, yet she stirred and squirmed in my arms. Her body wasn't trained to deal with these magical forces. I wished I could shield her from this with my magic. I had none. By the gods, why didn't she leave when she had the chance, instead of trying to kill Premier?
Because she wouldn't have left. This was her kingdom, these were her people, and she would fight until she succeeded or there was nothing left. This was as much her fight as it was mine or Master Stradus's. Maybe more so. I would help her carry the load as much as I could.
Master Stradus glowed as bright as a polished coin and as pure as the freshest milk. He wasn't going to lose; he couldn't lose, not with all this power and years of experience.
But Premier's power was greater than I thought. He made one final press. It was enough. Master Stradus gave one heartrending cry as Premier’s dark magic overtook him.
The death ball entered Master Stradus, and I could only watch.
CHAPTER 26
“Master!” I cried, reaching out to catch him. I was too late. The death ball burrowed inside him, and he collapsed to the ground. His staff became motionless and snapped. I had failed him. The backlash of the magic crushed me. I screamed until the magic scattered and disappeared.
I laid the princess's body on the ground and rose. I could do nothing but stare at Master Stradus's lifeless body. I couldn't believe he was dead. It was all my fault. He came here because of me. He fought because of me. He died because of me.
“Goodbye, old friend,” Premier said, gazing at Master Stradus's corpse. “It was…good to see you after all these years.” Premier's black eyes focused on me.
One of the first things Master Stradus had taught me was that in learning to control my powers, I had to hold back. If I relaxed too much or if my emotions overwhelmed me, I would lose control of my magic. I remembered the family I had traveled with and the harm I caused them. But this was no time to hold back. Premier had countered or survived all the spells I had cast. There was only one move left. Krystal would want me to do this. I had to defeat Premier, for the good of the people. I couldn't worry about my own safety, or even hers. She had taught me that Alexandria was more than just her.
My eyes met Premier’s. “No more!”
I went against all of my training, letting my emotions overwhelm me and fuel my magic. I thought about all of the people that had suffered and died because of Premier. From the little starving boy in the street to the king and to the people who were dying right now. Each one of them was on my mind. Lastly, I thought of how much pain Premier caused the princess, and how he killed my master.
My anger swelled over the pain and grief. It boiled and splashed throughout my body. The power begged to be released. It wasn't enough.
I thought of how the children in Sedah, especially Nathan, teased and bullied me; how my father died before I ever got to know him; how poor my mother and I were. Every time I had been wronged, embarrassed, or shamed came to my mind. Tears poured from my eyes from all the hurtful memories that came. The streams of water burst into flames.
This was all a game to Premier. He didn't care about these people. He didn't care about anything. Everyone was just a pawn to be used. It didn't matter if it was the creatures of the Wastelands or
the people of Alexandria. He only cared about himself. He would destroy anyone that got in his way.
The flames crept out from every pore in my body, surrounding me in an aura of fire. The emotional storm threatened to suffocate and smother me. That's when I risked doing what I had been trained never to do.
I let it all go.
The fire spewed out of my body, saturating the entire room. It burned everything, leaving only the princess and Master Stradus unharmed. The elemental magic headed for Premier. He put up a counterspell. The flames clashed against his shield, never touching him.
Premier smiled in triumph. He knew what I did was a last-ditch effort. All wizards could let their strongest mana come out of their body, yet it had no focus, no control. It wasn't a spell; it was more of a deathspell.
My fires weren't hot enough. Premier couldn't attack me, but he didn’t have to. I couldn't keep this up forever. I needed to get past his defenses. I needed to give it everything I had until there was nothing left. Even if it cost me my life. It was all or nothing—there was no in between.
I dug deep into my soul. Deeper than I realized was possible, and to a place few had ever gone before.
It was there I found the strength I needed.
I clenched my fists and screamed. The flames burned faster, brighter, and hotter. Premier struggled to maintain his shield. The searing flames transformed, becoming black and more powerful. The black flames made me feel like I could do anything. Nothing would stand in my way. I could barely control the magic. It was enough not to explode. My body ached until it burned and I became fire.
The otherworldly fire smashed into Premier's defenses and shattered them, enveloping Premier.
Premier tried to counter my magic, but he couldn't. His incantations failed. All the magic he used burned away. Premier screamed while the dark fire ate him. Blisters and boils popped, then peeled away. The black fire savored his flesh. Premier continued to cast spell after spell even while being burned alive. My fire ate his spells, using them as fuel for the fire.