Rune mage

Chapter 31: best laid plans

They had decent ideas, the group of a dozen or so who wanted me dead.

And that was their literal plan- me dead. We had one more day of fighting and they had layers of plans on how to take me down.

And some of those plans might have worked had I not been there to hear them.

Instead I was prepared. When they left, I kept the unseen rune running- a good way to burn off excess power- and added runes around the arena and others like dew drops to my web design.

Some of the dew drops would cause more damage than others, but I was pleased with the end results.

By the time the sun was rising and others were beginning to show up, I felt more than ready to be done with this exam.

The army officers showed up early, studying the arena and the early arrivals with lidded eyes. I released the unseen rune, so that it would appear as though I teleported into place.

A few of the other final year students startled, but the army officers simply stared.

They were used to surprises.

I walked closer to them and decided to offer to add some protection to their positions.

"Officer," I said. "I can offer some protection from...damage done due to magic. I don't think anything will escape the dirt, but...if you would like a rune of protection I can offer to place runes down here."

The officers glanced at each other.

The general stoped closer. "Why would we need protection?"

I smiled- it was a bit too toothy to be a pleasant smile. "Just in case."

"Let him do it," Fa Mai said from behind them. He held up the runed charm I had left for him.

The general nodded. "Proceed." He shared a look with Fa Mai. They knew each other enough to communicate a lot in just a look.

I got on my knees and quickly had a string of protection runes where the officers sat. I glanced over at where the healers stood and frowned.

They weren't likely to help me. But they would help others.

Without speaking to the army officer I wandered closer to the healers.

"We don't need your help," one healer said.

I looked at her, then at the others, who similarly looked stubborn and prideful. So I shrugged and walked to my designated spot.

It wasn't long before the rest of the remaining final year students arrived. There was only around half of the students fighting today. The rest were in the stands, their tests finalized already. There were rules and standards about when you were done and I had memorized them at some point. All I cared right then was staying alive.

The group of students left were generally the strongest, most powerful mages, with some exceptional fighters mixed in.

They didn't look happy, and some of them planned to continue their attacks on me. Which would have been spectacular if I allowed them the chance. Instead I activated the outer ring of my web, letting power flow freely. It took a lot of start up power, but since it was steadily draining all magic from those not protected, it would run itself.

The general shouted for us to begin and the fighting started.

No one bothered me at first. I watched calmly as the fighting around me steadily eliminated opponents.

Then simultaneous attacks came from multiple sources. This would have worked had I not been prepared. A multi pronged physical attack combined with multiple mage attacks would have overwhelmed me.

Instead I released all of my dampeners, opened most of my storage runes, and let my magic become one with the web design. It was glorious and for a moment I was almost lost to the euphoria of holding onto all that power.

Two of the dew drops exploded as intended, sending dirt and dust and students flying.

Noticeably, nothing made it past the barrier protecting the army officers.

But the healers had to scramble to avoid being hit with debris.

Another two dew drops triggered, trapping attackers and draining them instantly to the lowest possible level.

There were still twenty dew drops available to me, but I waited.

They came at me, as though hoping numbers would topple me.

From behind them I could see Isa and Fredric watching, no opponents to face.

Fredric raised a brow. Did I want help?

I shook my head and let my magic flow. They wanted to see what a rune mage was capable of? I would show them.

The mage students in the arena began to drop as their power disappeared. I couldn't hold all of the power headed my way, it would be like containing a tidal wave. Instead I pushed it all back as pure power, like lightening unleashed.

The screams started almost instantly. For those still standing I sent out a sound wave attack, each exhale booming with waves of power. In short it was my own multi pronged attack, laying down auditory sound attacks with physical pain and draining their magic.

When everyone was down, except Isa and Fredric, and even they looked rattled, I pulled the power back towards me. It was tsill too much, so I refilled all my stores of power, and then sent the rest to the arena web to wait. What was left needed to be used, so I triggered the wellness runes I had laid down.

Fredric and Isa walked toward me and then stood at my side. They smiled at me but said nothing.

"Will you not fight each other for the top placement?" One of the army men asked into the silence that followed.

We looked at each other then shrugged.

"I demand Logan be tried for intentional harm with possible fatal implication to others!"

I had expected this based off of what they had planned if nothing else worked, which was why I had added the wellness runes. Evan was healing even as he tried to look more broken.

Fredric looked at me and then at Evan. "Has anyone died?"

There was no response for several heartbeats.

"No one has died," Fa Mai answered.

"In fact it looks like the healers have very little work to do," Lee added.

"Then I demand the right to a duel!" Evan said.

"Are you stupid?" Isa asked.

"Admit defeat," the general said to Evan and stepped onto the dirt.

Then he looked at me. "We will determine your fate separately."

To Frederic and Isa he said, "you will have your pick of positions."

I was pretty sure my fate was to be killed.

And a week ago I would have let them.

But I had stood in the ring and fought to the end with the entirety of my power.

I was not going down without a fight.