The Kingdom of Broken Glass

Through her tears

(Julian's POV)

Julian fought with the speed and grace of someone who had been fighting for way more years than him. He is easily one of the best in the class, if not the best. He was fighting Leon, a boy he had talked to a couple times and had a sort of friendship with. But still, all friendships disappear when Julian is on the battlefield. Even with Liza he doesn't take it easy on her, she definitely doesn't cut him any slack either though. Julian liked this, it helped to keep him on his feet. Liza was very quickly catching up to him and had a good chance of beating him in their next fight, he just had to practice harder to stay on top.

Julian was pulled out of his thoughts as Leon sent him flying into the air with a gust of wind. While above the field, Julian held himself in the sky and through an illusion over Leon. To everyone watching it looked like Leon just had something caught in his throat as he was desperately trying to bring in air but couldn't. To Leon, he could very clearly feel Julian's hands wrapping around his throat and choking him, even though Julian was nowhere near him. Physical magic was where Julian excelled, he could so easily grasp the threads coming off of people and twist them to his liking.

Only when Leon fell to his knees did Julian let go of the illusion. He dropped back to the ground and sent a force of wind in Leon's direction, sending the boy flying back into the stone wall.

Nathaniel nodded and smiled as Leon tried to get up but couldn't. Julian felt satisfied with his performance, but he could still hear the voices of people calling him weak. He knew he had to keep working harder or else those voices would never leave.

As Nathaniel called the next boy onto the field Julian could feel himself getting angrier and angrier. He pictured himself as he was a couple weeks ago, trying to hide behind Violet, a girl who was at least eight inches shorter than him. And yet she still doesn't agree with what he is doing, he's trying to better himself and she keeps trying to remind him of who he used to be. It was like she wanted him to stay afraid, making it so that he can never leave from behind her back. Julian knew what she was doing and it infuriated him. She thought he was an idiot, that he couldn't see it.

Nathaniel started the match and both boys got into position. Julian could feel himself shaking from rage and when the other boy went to conjure a weapon, Julian ditched the magic and tackled the boy to the ground. He went on to punch the boy until his knuckles were bloody and the field was silent.

Julian got off the boy and looked over to Nathaniel who was peering at him with his eyes squinted. He walked to the wall and sat down next to Leon, who had been helped up and was currently gulping down water like his life depended on it.

"Good job," Leon said to him. At first Julian thought he was being sarcastic but Leon went on to say, "No really. Nathan loves this stuff, just pure rage, shows that you can fight even without the magic."

Julian nodded at him and went to wipe his eyes, only to stop because of the blood on his hands. The next fight started and Nathaniel walked over to Julian, nodding his head that he walk with him.

He got up and they started to slowly walk under the pathway around the field. "You did amazing out there," Nathaniel told him. "That's what I want to see more of from everyone here. Too many people rely on their magic to save them, I like that you have something more powerful than that." He grasps Julian's arm quickly, "But I'm also not blind. I seriously doubt Agon was able to make you that mad."

"Agon?"

"The boy you just throttled on the field." Oh.