Love against magic

Love against magic

Flora's POV

The moon hung low and pale above the clearing, Every shadow felt deeper under its glow, every sound sharper. I stood among the trees at the edge of the clearing, my breath slow and careful, my fingers trembling against the bark beside me.

Before me, Maverick and Kael circled each other.
Neither spoke at first. The quiet was worse than shouting. It pressed against my ears until my heart felt louder than the wind rustling through the leaves.

Maverick’s coat was torn, blood staining the sleeve where Kael’s last spell had grazed him. Yet he still stood tall, jaw clenched, eyes locked on the man who had shaped both of us.

Kael looked almost bored.His dark cloak drifted around him like smoke, and the faint purple glow of twisted magic curled around his fingers.

“You’re slowing down,” Kael said lightly.

Maverick wiped blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.

“I’m just getting started.”

I swallowed. Even injured, he sounded stubborn. Defiant.That was Maverick.

Kael tilted his head, amused. “Still pretending this is about strength?”

His eyes flicked toward the shadows where I stood. I felt his gaze land on me even though I hadn’t moved.

“It isn’t,” he continued softly. “It’s about weakness.”

Maverick’s voice cut through the clearing.

“Leave her out of this.”

Kael chuckled.

“Oh, but she’s the reason we’re here.”

His hand lifted slightly.The air twisted.Dark magic burst forward like a storm.Maverick barely raised his hand in time. A shield of pale blue light flashed to life but Kael’s spell slammed into it with brutal force.

The ground cracked beneath Maverick’s feet.His shield shattered.He was thrown backward across the clearing, crashing into the dirt. My heart lurched in my chest. Maverick groaned, pushing himself up on one elbow.

Kael walked toward him slowly, boots crunching over broken earth.

“Pathetic,” Kael muttered.

Another pulse of magic spiraled around his fingers. I felt it from where I stood. It was the same magic he had taught me to wield.

Maverick forced himself to stand again. His legs shook slightly.

“You done talking?” he rasped.

Kael smiled faintly.

“Not even close.”

His hand moved again. The spell this time was sharper and thinner. Like a blade made of darkness. It struck Maverick square in the chest.He gasped.The magic didn’t explode. It sank into him.I felt the effect immediately.It was a draining spell.
Maverick dropped to one knee.His breathing became ragged.
Kael’s voice drifted across the clearing like a teacher correcting a slow student.

“You always relied on brute force,” he said calmly. “But power… real power… is about control.”

Maverick glared up at him.

“You mean cruelty.”

Kael shrugged.

“Same thing, sometimes.”

I gripped the tree beside me harder.Something felt wrong. Not just the fight.The way Maverick was looking at Kael. The way he kept getting up.
Kael lifted Maverick off the ground with a flick of his hand.

Invisible magic wrapped around him, suspending him in the air.

Maverick struggled, choking as the pressure tightened around his throat.

“Tell me something,” Kael said, strolling closer.

Maverick didn’t answer.

Kael’s eyes flicked toward me again.

“Was it worth it?” he asked.

Maverick followed his gaze.

For a moment our eyes met.Even across the clearing, even with magic crushing the air from his lungs, there was something in his expression I had never seen before.

“Yes,” Maverick rasped.

Kael frowned.

“Yes?” he repeated.

Maverick forced the words out.

“She’s worth it.”

My breath caught.

Something twisted painfully in my chest.

Kael looked… confused.

Then annoyed.

“Oh, Maverick,” he sighed.

With a sharp gesture he slammed Maverick into the ground.

The impact shook the clearing.

Maverick didn’t get up this time.

Kael stood over him, magic swirling lazily around his hand.

“I warned you about attachments,” he said coldly. “They make people predictable.”

He glanced toward me again.

“Flora.”

My body stiffened.

“Come here.”

For a moment, I didn’t move.

Then slowly, I stepped out of the shadows.

Moonlight spilled across the clearing as I walked forward.

Maverick’s eyes widened slightly when he saw me.

Kael watched my approach with quiet satisfaction.

“There you are,” he murmured.

I stopped a few feet away.

Maverick looked terrible. Bruised. Bleeding. Barely conscious.

Yet when our eyes met again, he still tried to smile.

“Hey,” he whispered hoarsely.

My throat tightened.

Kael gestured toward him.

“Finish it.”

The words hit me harder than any spell.

I stared at him.

“What?”

Kael’s voice remained calm.

“Kill him.”

The clearing went silent.

Even the wind seemed to stop.

Maverick’s smile faded, but he didn’t look surprised.

Kael continued speaking like he was explaining something obvious.

“You’ve learned everything from me,” he said. “You’ve proven your strength. But loyalty must be demonstrated.”

His gaze sharpened.

“Kill him, Flora.”

I looked down at Maverick.

His chest rose slowly.

Painfully.He didn’t plead. He didn’t beg. He just looked at me.And suddenly the memories came rushing back.Maverick laughing when I accidentally set a training dummy on fire.
The way he used to sneak food from the kitchens for me when Kael kept me training too long.
The quiet conversations under the stars when the world felt less cruel.

Kael’s voice cut through my thoughts.

“Well?”

My hands trembled slightly as magic began to gather in my palms.

Kael nodded approvingly.

“Good.”

Dark energy swirled around my fingers.

Maverick watched me quietly.

“Flora,” he said softly.

I couldn’t look at him.

“Don’t,” he added.

My breath shook.

“Don’t what?” I whispered.

“Don’t let him decide who you are.”

My vision blurred.

Kael scoffed.

“Spare me the melodrama.”

He stepped closer behind me.

“End it.”

My hands glowed brighter.The spell was ready.One blast.That was all it would take.My heart pounded.

Kael leaned near my ear.

“Show me your loyalty.”

Something inside me snapped.

I turned.The magic exploded from my hands but not toward Maverick. It was tow
ards Kael.The blast hit him full in the chest.

For the first time since I had known him—

Kael looked shocked.

He staggered backward as the magic slammed into him, tearing through the air like a storm.

“You—” he gasped.