"Stop this madness, Sir Magician!" said a red-haired knight. The fire, the horrors, the fighting—everything seemed to freeze on the Magician's command.
The knight of this empire now stood before him, a proud man protecting a treasure, the magician was sure. But as a leader of the commanding troop, and as a skilled warrior, perhaps he would make a better-controlling vassal than other soldiers that the mage was corrupting.
"Behind you is a treasure you could not fathom the importance of," said the Former Imperial Mage. "I will see it returned to me, and in exchange, you will live."
The red-haired man seemed to stumble over his words, grasping at something he couldn't quite muster the courage to speak.
But the magician gave the knight time, and slowly, the words formed on his lips, "If I give you this treasure, will you spare the city?"
The magician seemed disappointed at the knight's question.
Whether the magician pondered an answer or reflected on the situation, the red-haired knight would never know as the magician suddenly appeared above him.
Red energy burned and blasted the frightened knight to the nearest palace in a blink of an eye.
The powerful mage then raised a single hand before the city's great wall, and the fire rushed forward, stones falling away as the structure became tainted with decay.
He simply stepped across the treasure room, and suddenly, he was through. There he saw guards of Obelia. Disregarding the horror and the spears and swords pointing at him, the mage flicked his fingers.
His fire struck down two more men as he moved silently toward the vanity, his fingers skimmed through the belonging and finally, he picked up a beautiful red string.
An old, worn-down red ribbon, a gift from her that he would always tie his long hair with, whispering something he couldn't quite hear. It seemed possessed by grief, by boundless, immeasurable sorrow, but the magician would simply hold it before his eyes, imagining the soft smile that would surely dance across Athanasia's face the day he would see her again.
"Do not worry," he assured the red ribbon. "I will find you. It is simply a matter of time."
And with that, the magician was gone, vanishing as the body of the red-haired knight came alive within his control. The knight rushed into the battlefield, ripping apart his own troops like a madman possessed.
-Words Count: 410
