Next Mage

~Oliver's

POV

The fire seared through my veins, the glittering heat building up at my fingertips and making them tingle and spark.

I looked back one last time through the milling crowds of mages, screaming and fighting, spitting and gnashing teeth. Red lights flashed wherever I looked, the Ragnarok mage's eyes gleaming in the fading daylight.

On the other side of the battlefield, leaning on a tree next to Terra was Marilla, Emma keeping close watch over her two unconscious friends. She caught my eye and gave me a grim smile, her usually cheerful, pale-green eyes darkening with worry.

I smiled, as if to reassure her, and turned back to where the Ragnarok was thrashing about, snapping at mages left and right, red eye wild with fury and madness.

The it's blazing hot orbs turned to me.

I froze in fear despite the red-hot flashes seething through my limbs with unreleased energy and the creature's flaming, crimson gaze. My whole body was jumpy and ready to retaliate, even if the Ragnarok only moved so much as an inch. The foul beast seemed to know what was happening.

"Ssssso," it hissed slyly, it's one eye tracking my every move, my every breath, every time my chest rose and fell, as if it could strangle me right there and then; until I choked and ran out of air, my eyes rolling back into my head as my skin turned blue...

The Ragnarok's eye gleamed like a shining red dagger, and I snapped out of the trance, gritting my teeth and glaring determinedly at the spot behind the monster, careful not to look into it's deadly eyes.

"Hmmm...you're smarter than I thought you would be," the beast's mouth stretched wide in a devious grin, the two corners unnaturally pulling upwards until it's whole face seemed to be made entirely out of mouth and rows of sharp teeth. "Let me make this quick, shall I?" The Ragnarok's claws raked the glistening black rock beneath it, a large crack in the earth inches away from it's legs. The sharp sound echoed through the battlefield and cut through the noise like a knife through butter, causing every single mage to cover their ears.

The sound screeched into my head, like nails on a chalkboard, and I cringed in agony, sighing in relief when it finally ended, the noise fading into silence.

Everyone had stopped fighting, even the Ragnarok mages, pausing to stare at the scene that was happening before them.

A boy and a monster.

Good and Evil.

Light and Dark.

A battle.

The Ragnarok snarled before crouching down, tail lashing behind it and whipping two unfortunate Ragnarok mages into the endless depths of the gigantic crack running through the earth.

Eyes darting from left to right cunningly, the monster's lean muscles tensed, my own body doing the same. My breathing quietened to soft inhales and exhales, my throat seeming to close up in fear as adrenaline pulsed through my body and the heat built up at my fingertips, about to release--

The Ragnarok gave a massive leap, clearing the giant, gaping mouth of the crack entirely. Everyone watched as the best flew overhead, landing behind me with a solid thump, claws scraping and scrabbling for grip. My eye widened in fear.

The power suddenly shot out of my limbs, warmth and light emanating from my body and throwing everyone backwards in a dry wave of heat. Mages cried out in shock as my fingertips began to glow a bright red, the vibrant color spreading up my arms, my legs, overtaking my body.

Energy ripped through me like the fire that was building up at my fingers, the fear I had suddenly dissipating as I began to feel like I was invincible. I felt a red light beam from my eyes, but not like the Ragnarok mages'; this was softer, gentler somehow.

I gazed all around in surprise, my whole body glowing now, taking in different people's expressions:

Shock, worry, fear, joy, triumph...

My face stretched into a grin as I noticed Marilla leaning against Emma, her warm brown eyes wide with mixed emotions, happiness and worry, the golden facets twinkling like shining stars. She was awake. My grin became wider. Then I saw the Ragnarok.

It was looking furious, the ferocious beast snarling like a caged tiger and baring it's sharp teeth menacingly. Red eye flashing with rage, the creature began to advance slowly, ominously, expression looming and full of rage. The corners of my mouth dropped.

Then I shook my head, feeling the power release from my body, and the giant cracks filled up with searing-hot lava, overflowing onto the battlefield...

"Everyone, get away from the cracks!" I shouted as loud as possible, the heat entering my lungs as I whipped my gaze around the clearing, but not choking.

My teammates fled to the far ends of the field, some even heading slightly into the dark forest. I noticed Destan help Emma carry Terra and Marilla towards the sides and sighed in relief. Holding my hands out in the direction of the Ragnarok, I bit my lip.

The beast came closer.

"Don't take another step," I growled, surprised that it was steady and not at all shaky. I glared at the beast, but it didn't flinch.

"Oh, what are you going to do, burn me just like last time?" It purred shrewdly, ugly snout bunching up in a wicked, mocking smirk. It's grin widened as I gasped in shock, my blue eyes widening. "Oh yes, I knew it was you who did this," the Ragnarok continued viciously, drool dripping from it's hideous jaws as it indicated the hole in it's skull with a pointed claw. It's red gaze sharpened.

"And you're going to pay," it hissed. Charging towards me with it's claws out, ready to strike, it's bony body a blur against the dark scenery.

I felt the power pulse through my veins, shooting out from my body in waves and preventing the Ragnarok from coming any closer, like a large force of wind that was pushing it back. The lava bubbled and blistered, and I moved my hands, surrounding the Ragnarok.

The beast seethed, hissing irritably and swatting at the fiery molten liquid, as if to try and put it out like it was a mere flame. I clenched my jaw, holding back a satisfied grin, and concentrated on moving the lava closer with all of my might. The magma inched closer and closer to the thrashing beast like a praying mantis, slowly creeping up, ready to devour it's prey...

I made the lava stop, centimeters from the Ragnarok's body, but not before it bubbled and spattered and finally sizzled loudly, landing on the skull on the Ragnarok's tail.

The creature howled, lashing it's tail as the lava ate through the seemingly bony material like acid. Building the lava up around the beast like a wall, I gritted my teeth before giving a grunt and closing the lava wall entirely around the Ragnarok like a flaming igloo.

With my final burst of power, I cooled the lava down, the bright, oozing magma turning quickly into solid, shining black obsidian.

The Ragnarok pounded against it's rocky prison, the sound of it's partly destroyed tail clubbing against the walls, slowly demolishing the black stone.

The glow my body had been emitting faded away along with my sight, my vision blurring in an out of focus as I tried to keep my balance.

Muffled shouts echoed in my ears, as if there were warm earmuffs covering them and preventing me from hearing anything else. My limbs flailed as I tried to keep my balance, white spots blinking in front of my eyes like flashing lights.