The two powerful magics clashed. Premier's had the upper hand, but my sheer, uncontrollable magic lashed against his, turning the tide. Premier struggled to maintain the spell that bound me and the one in his hand. His face twisted in concentration. He needed to choose one spell to strengthen; he could lose his grip on both. The burden on his mind, spirit, and body were great. He was a few steps away from me. He had only to touch me to kill me, yet each step he took looked like his feet were mired in mud.
I struggled to lift my arms. I needed them to channel my spell. I clenched my fists, and my forearms bulged. I yelled, using both magic and my physical strength to break free. My right arm was loose from Premier’s binding spell. My clenched fist almost smacked me in the face when I pulled it free.
I stretched my arm at Premier. Instead of fighting his spell and trying to break it, I let loose the pent-up magic that was eating me from the inside. The elemental magic blitzed Premier. Rainbow colors sparked and sizzled through the air. Because I shifted the magic and ignored his spell, his binding spell on me renewed. My body twisted in agony. I pushed aside the pain and weariness, using my emotions to fuel my magic. I had to end it here. For Krystal's sake, for Alexandria, and for my friends.
Premier's mastery of magic was incredible. He maintained the binding spell, the death spell, and put up a defense against my onslaught of magic. My elemental magic clashed against his invisible shield. The bright colors swirled around him, yet they never did him any harm. His spell had weakened, but he continued to move closer.
My feet hovered above the ground. I was still pinned, but I was able to bring my left arm up. I let loose even more magic at him. Blood trickled out of my nose. The noise and pain in my head grew louder as my life force left me. It slipped away along with the magic I cast. The neverending abyss called out to me. Although I didn’t want them to, pieces of my soul went towards it.
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.”