Balam: Virgo the Pure (Trials of the Zodiac Book 2)

FANGS AND GAUNTLETS

BALAM

"Finish it!" I shouted, my voice resonating with urgency.

With every ounce of my remaining energy, I channeled my purification spell, pushing the limits of my abilities. Magical flowers burst from the cracks in my armor, ascending into the air in a spectacular display of vibrant petals. They swirled around Zakhar, forming an ethereal cocoon of light. The radiant petals danced around him, their gentle touch dulling his overwhelming rage and helping him regain his focus.

The effort left me feeling immensely fatigued and strangely in control of the situation. The battle had taken its toll on me. Queen Sigrid's curse had really drained my magical reserves when I killed her by turning her into a tree. The memory of witnessing Zakhar's near death, the unbearable fear of that moment, was still fresh in my mind.

The bond we shared was a double-edged sword, as the events of that day had painfully demonstrated. I had never confronted the idea of loss so starkly, a sensation analogous to facing death. This raw emotion pushed me to draw upon the full extent of my purity and plant magic, merging the two magics into a harmonious fusion that would enable Zakhar to tap into his unbridled rage and execute his final strike.

Zakhar moved with a supernatural quickness, even for a giant, his form appearing to flicker in a whirlwind of fury, his speed rivaling the gods. Instantly, his clenched fist connected with Sebastian, who lay prone and helpless on the ground. Once so smug and menacing, the goblin now resembled a terrified child.

The sheer force of the blow was nothing less than catastrophic, an eruption of unrestrained power that shattered the last vestiges of Sebastian's defenses. It propelled him through the sturdy stone walls of our kingdom as though he were a mere projectile.

The impact created a breach in the fortress's defenses, causing the wall to crumble and disintegrate, casting debris into the air. Sebastian didn't get the time to scream as he was enveloped in a radiant, golden brilliance. His very being began to disintegrate, breaking into minuscule, shimmering particles that sparkled like gold dust.

The kingdom, bathed in a surreal and golden radiance, bore witness to a moment of otherworldly transformation. As the golden particles drifted away on the wind, a collective sense of awe and astonishment overtook the onlookers, their eyes wide with the profound realization of the dramatic shift they had just witnessed.

I stepped closer to Zakhar, and he turned his gaze towards me. His once tumultuous eyes, wild with unbridled rage, had now calmed as the last of my cleansing petals landed in his hair, soothing the storm within and vanishing with his fury. It felt like the world had shifted on its axis, and I struggled to maintain my balance. Swiftly, Zakhar darted over and caught me just in time, preventing a harsh collision with the unforgiving stone below.

"That was almost too easy," I panted between breaths, my weight leaning against his robust frame. His heartbeat was strong, revealing the restorative power of my spell and the gift of immortality. Many soldiers rushed to our side, their weary forms bearing battle stains.

The soldiers gathered around us. All had their mouths downturned out of weariness from the just-concluded battle. Fatigue hung heavily in the air, and the grimness of their expressions mirrored the somber mood that had descended upon us. They had endured the first wave of the conflict, but the price had been high, and we all knew there was much more to come. A queen had been killed, and that had consequences.

As I surveyed their sad faces, I couldn't help but recall the harrowing scenes I had witnessed during the battle. The images of fallen comrades, blood-soaked earth, and the desperate cries of wounded soldiers replayed in my mind. It was a haunting experience that left a heavy weight on my chest, and the sense of helplessness in the face of such carnage gnawed at my soul.