Spellcaster series #5: The Sage

The End Times

TRISTAN

As the storm grew, the feeling of dread thickened; a harbinger of the end times.

Sam had his back towards us, his voice soaring above the rain and the screams for justice. He punched the air as he preached against traitors and disruptors of peace. He fed his listeners with fear and war against murderers like the other Sages, Vicky and me. Many were swayed and ate up all his words while a handful still remained resistant despite his persuasion.

On the rooftops of some buildings, shadows moved in careful silence. They perched themselves, armed with only their daggers which they readied in their hands, and watched the whole thing unfold. Elite Vampires were most skilful in the arts of subtlety, something I had learned from Heidi who was taught by Vicky.

An aura behind me—a friendly. He leaned into me and whispered as he handed over something small and cold into my palm.

"May the light of the stars be with you."

I clenched my fist and channeled my energy from it to break Sam's magical bind on my wrists.

The four soldiers before us trained their rifles to the ground and waited for orders of the execution. Sam approached us one by one, as was the rule of the law, to ask if the prisoners of an execution had any last words. The fifth soldier, I noticed, lifted his rifle and aimed towards Sam who stood before me. My cousin had a nonchalant look, like he always did, despite his smugness knowing he was winning the war.

"Perhaps I do," I replied when asked about my last words. "Look behind you, dear cousin."

The fifth soldier, instead, turned to the other four and fired his shots. They dropped dead and he began to shoot the others. The crowd began to break out into a frenzy as chaos ensued. Frantic screams pierced through the night as the storm wore on.

I channeled my energy and projected it skywards. The storm above us flashed with lightning and thunder. While Sam was distracted, I gathered the lightning from above as they flowed towards my palm. Sam eyed the bolts of electricity and his gaze fell on me, wide and in disbelief.

"Elemento Lightningus!"

I directed the massive lightning towards him which sent him hurling backwards and crashing into a group of panic-stricken soldiers. I felt my energy course through, alive and well. I channeled the heat from my lungs and let my aura radiate in bright red.

"Is that Captain Bells?" Vicky gasped, staring at the soldier that was shooting the others.

I paused and turned to see her revealing herself, disguised as one of Sam's soldiers. As disorder descended upon Orchidville, the Vampires, led by Brian, held off the djinns that were surrounding everyone.

"Do you feel that?" She asked again, her red eyes bright and her fangs bare. "There is a heavy feeling in the air."

I felt it too. My energy swirled inside me as I scanned the pandemonium around us. Vampires fighting djinns, civilians pushing back soldiers. Sam was nowhere to be seen until an unseen energy threw me from where I stood. The others were also hurled into the air too, sending us into the tumultuous crowd. Sam stood on the stage where I was, towering over everyone. A hand reached out to me. I looked up to see Bells.

"I got you, sir."

She pulled me up and handed me a wand. My wand. I eyed her questionably.

"Your wife kept it. She asked me to hand this to you."

"Where is she?" I asked.

"She told me to tell you and the others to extract her. It doesn't make sense to me so I'm hoping you understand it."