Catalyst(113)

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.