Chapter 28 THE PRICE OF BEING FOLLOWED
Magnus and Xyra walked in silence across the grassy field. It was already mid afternoon, and they were a good distance away from the last town. Both of them couldn't help but notice that it was a little strange with just the two of them. Darren had been the one to start most of their conversations. Hopefully, Astrid would heal quickly so that he could catch up.
A sigh escaped Magnus's lips for about the hundredth time that day. He reached into his pockets and drew out a few of the talismans. They weren't all that big, perhaps the length of a small bird. They were small enough for all six to fit in just two pockets. He was even able to hold all of them in his hands. He was currently just looking over them, a smile on his face. Wind, lightning, fire, healing, steel, and water. Just six left! I'm already halfway there.
He clutched all of them tightly, his smile becoming a thin line of determination. He was going to get the last six. He would do whatever it took. Nothing was going to stand in his way now. Just wait. I'll definitely get them all this time.
"Hey," began Xyra softly. That was the first thing she had said to him since they left the town. "You hate the Sorcerer's League, right?" Magnus gave her a quizzical glance. What's she getting at?
"Yeah…"
"Why?" Her voice sounded so sad. "Why do you hate them? All they're trying to do is give people who weren't born with magic the chance to use it. What's so wrong about that?"
"Nothing," he stated simply, his voice lacking the spite it had once had when talking about the league. "But just to let you know…most sorcerers see their magic as a burden. Guess people always want what they can't have…"
Xyra was about to ask yet another question, wanting to know why he had sounded almost nostalgic just then, but she didn't get the chance. Before she knew what was happening, he had grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her next to him. A second later the ground erupted right where she had once been. The up burst of rocks eventually ended, and they all fell back to the ground, leaving a hole in their wake.
Xyra just stood there next to Magnus, confusion crystal clear on her face. She had absolutely no idea what had just happened. She did know, however, that if her companion hadn't done anything, she could have easily been killed. That was a close one…but why did the ground suddenly explode?
"Come out," demanded Magnus, his harsh jade eyes scanning the area. "I know you're here."
"What's going on?" whispered Xyra.
"We're being followed," he responded lowly. "I didn't say anything before because I wasn't sure what his intent was. He's been following us since we left town."
"Perceptive," said a deep voice coming from above them. They both looked up, and floating a good distance away was a sorcerer. He was decked in black garb, his cloak and sash colored scarlet. His dark hair and eyes only added to his sinister appearance.
"He's a black sorcerer," Magnus whispered. "We best be careful." Just as those words left his mouth, the sorcerer descended in an instant, landing easily on the hard ground. There was a smirk on his face, and a confident one at that.
"Sorcerer," he called, referring to Magnus. "If you give me the talismans, I'll leave."
Magnus almost started laughing. Such a request was nothing short of insanity.
"Yeah, as if," he said, repressing a laugh. "There's no way in hell I'd ever give these up." He smiled and leant down towards Xyra. "Draw your sword," he whispered.
"What?" she questioned. She didn't see how a sword was going to help against a sorcerer.
"Trust me. Just draw your sword. It's resistant to magic, right? As long as you use it, he can't hurt you."
"Hope you're right…" She reached to her side and drew the sword as Magnus released her wrist and moved away. The black sorcerer just laughed a bit at the gesture.
"Little girl," he began mockingly. "A sword can't do anything against me." To prove his point, he raised his arm and instantly cast a fire spell. The sphere of flames flew right towards her, but it was quickly drawn towards the sword. When it came in contact, it completely dispersed. The sorcerer was in shock.
"Wow…" said Xyra as she stared at her Khukuri blade. "It really did work…"
"How?!" the black sorcerer shouted. He tried again, sending a lightning strike her way. However, it was simply absorbed just like the fireball. "Why won't it work?"
"My turn," stated Magnus. He placed his hands together and then drew them apart, a sphere forming there. It was a swirling mass of white and red light. He threw it at the other sorcerer, praying it would work. However, he wasn't that lucky. The black sorcerer quickly set up a barrier, and the spell was harmlessly dispelled.
"Pathetic," the man stated. "Let me show you a real spell." Despite his threat, he didn't move. He was standing perfectly still, a smirk still on his face. Suddenly, in the air next to him, a sphere appeared. It was black and maroon in color, the two different lights swirling around each other. It wasn't very big, but most spells didn't have to be in order to be destructive.
Magnus and Xyra both stood there, waiting for something to happen. However, he didn't send the sphere at them. Instead it struck downward, hitting the ground and then completely disappearing. Absolutely nothing had happened.
"What kind of spell was that?" asked Xyra mockingly, a confident grin on her face. "It didn't even do anything."
Magnus seemed a little confused at all of this. He knew there had been more to that spell, but he couldn't figure out what. I'm sure I've seen that one…I probably know it too, but I just don't remember. He turned his attention downward in hopes that he would be able to recall just what was going to happen next. His answer came faster than he had thought it would. Beneath Xyra, the ground was turning black.
Without hesitation, Magnus ran forward. He threw himself at Xyra, tackling her from behind. Just as he got them both out of the black area, a huge torrent of purple and black light shot up. Only seconds ago, Xyra had been standing there.
As Magnus and Xyra hit the ground, they both glanced back to watch the spell. It was amazing to say the least. Neither one had been expecting that.
"Damn," she heard Magnus whisper. "That was a Ventus."