Reaching Retribution(90)

Back when I trained a few times with Colin, he told me to get creative. That’s what I need to do right now. Get creative. Zahtri has probably seen every trick in the book. He can probably assume what I’m going to attempt next. I’m creative. I know that. I can think of something he’s never seen before. I can do something he won’t expect, but I need surprise on my side if I plan on coming out of this alive. If he reads my mind or somehow sees my plan, we’re all screwed.

I look back at the crowd again and see a column of fire ablaze off to the side. I know either Incendia or Bragden is responsible for this. Is someone hurt? I want to take more time to assess my surroundings, but Zahtri’s attempts to thwart my shield are becoming stronger. I won’t be able to keep it up for much longer.

Scanning the crowd one more time, I search for a specific pair of eyes. Colton has his back to me, also scanning the field. He’s looking for Liam, who is standing with Natalie directly across from him. I can see him from where I’m standing, but Colton wouldn’t be able to see him through everyone. Seeing Dravin moving effortlessly through the mages and Gadramicks, I gather up my anger and concern and push the emotions toward Liam. He will know it’s from me when it reaches him.

Zahtri is still trying to break down my defenses. I take a small step backward as I wait for Liam to look in my direction. Come on. Come on, Liam. Liam jumps and looks around confused. I watch as realization dawns on him and he looks up at me. With my eyes, I look in Colton’s direction. I don’t have any way of communicating to him that Colton needs his help. Liam’s gray eyes leave mine and move across the field. Spotting Dravin, he nods and begins to maneuver over there. At this rate, they’ll both make it to Colton simultaneously.

During training sessions, Bragden told me to look for weaknesses in my opponents, but what if there aren’t any? What do I do then? Zahtri is cocky, but he is rightfully so. Even though he did not come about this magic naturally, he has a lot and he definitely knows it and understands how to use it. Nothing I am doing is giving me any advantage over him.

One thing is for sure: I’m not going to back down. Even though I don’t have a plan, I’m going to pretend like I do. It’s worked for me in the past. Who’s to say this situation is any different?

With that determined, I take a step forward. Just one step, but Zahtri looks a little surprised at my sudden move. I ignore the pain that shoots up my leg with each movement and casually walk to him. When Zahtri threw me into the tree, I landed on the ground at an odd angle. My ankle twisted beneath me as I fell, but I can’t show any weaknesses. I know Zahtri is in pain too, but he’s not giving me anything to use against him, so neither will I.

I take another step forward. Zahtri’s footing fails as he stumbles backward. I continue my forward progression until the edge of my shield hits him. Zahtri is standing a foot in front of me, waiting for my next move. It has to be me who initiates what happens next.

The wind picks up as I call my magic to me. My magic is the only thing I have going for me at this moment. Zahtri doesn’t think I’ll be able to beat him because he doesn’t think I’ve released enough magic. Magic is always going to be a part of me. Before, I had too much running through my body at once. I don’t have to release anymore. My magic easily obeys me and is there for me when I need it.

Now, it’s not all running through my body. It’s not trying to compete with everything inside. My magic is moving through the air around me. It is still a part of me, but it is not actually in me. What magic I have in me is what I’m supposed to have as a mage. Everything else is just what I need to accomplish this task. I don’t know if I’ll still have all this when everything is over. I don’t even know if I’ll be around when everything is over.

I place my hands together and form a ball of electrified energy, similar to what I did during my training sessions with Colin. The magic crackles as the orb forms. Zahtri looks down at my hands confused as to what I am doing. I just need a little more energy.

I’m not trying to end all this right now. I just need a slight distraction and more time to call the rest of my magic to me. I need to anger Zahtri enough to get him to act. I need him to act without thinking. He needs to let his anger for everything going on take over and completely control his actions if I have any hope of being successful.

“Are you going to kill me?” Zahtri asks as he moves to the edge of my shield. I know that he’s taunting me, trying to get me to react. “Are you going to watch the life drain from my eyes? Are you going to be able to live with yourself knowing that you killed a man?”