Hallor Chronicles

CHAPTER XXXVI. - WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

               I instantly panicked when the earthquake started. Fear taking away the remaining energy out of me, my knees give out and I am unable to hold my balance. I crumble on the grass in a split second. Some of the girls screamed, Reilly and Solya tried to guide everyone to safety, and Woreus kept yelling at me through the bond. Not knowing who I should focus on, I let my head drop as I stare on my fingers clutching the grass and dirt.

The ions in the air shift, run through everything standing in their way. My mind is distracted, thoughts clashing and the head voice won't shut up, but somehow I can feel the enrgy move clearly as if it is just me and this pure power in the whole world. Concentrating on the flow, I follow it with my eyes like I could actually see the stream of energy and pause when I find its goal.

Energy shaped like swords and spears hover in front of the barrier. They get organized neatly like they are pieces on a chess board or soldiers on a battle field. Before I can do anything or even warn someone about it, the magical weapons fly into the barrier, piercing it all over from both sides.

It didn't take long, and the cracks spread through the full length of the barrier until it couldn't hold anymore and broke into pieces.

A wave of heat and energy like from a nuclear bomb blasts out. Initially, I have only felt the pressure from it, but I was numb to everything else. At least until something inside my body breaks and immense pain spreads all over. The bones are intact, my skin is untouched, yet it still feels like I have fallen from a skyscraper directly into a volcano. I can't tell if I am screaming or not. All I want is to get out of here, to survive.

Crippled by the pain, I can't focus on anything else. The blood inside me is boiling and I have to find every last piece of my will to keep fighting and moving.

Only when Woreus arrives to my side the pain seems to get lifted slightly. My brother is struggling as well, but is in a better condition than I am. I clutch to his fur tightly, trying to get a grip to stand up, maybe mount him too, so we can escape fast. Not able to hold myself on my legs, I keep crashing down on my knees.

All the energy I need leaves me completely when I hear screams and wailing. My hands give out too and I search for my friends.

The girls are lying on the ground, clutching their chests or limbs, whatever they can to lessen the pain. And we are not the only ones. Students are running out of the academy and pile up in the courtyard. As soon as they escaped, their bodies slam on the ground, like someone hit them with an immobilizing spell.

It doesn't take long until the whole school is outside. All of the students, professors, staff and even the magical creatures. All together and mixed. Doesn't matter if they are a magician or a demigod, they are next to each other and the barrier... is gone.

The principals and the council members are trying to push through the pain and hoard everyone at one spot, but the chaos is the one ruling here. Those that cannot handle the pain are squirming on the ground. Others are able to move and are trying to go to where the teachers are pointing at, stumbling and stomping over the bodies scattered under their feet. The worst ones are the students who push away people out of their way, even use powers at them. Wind, telekinesis... anything that can clear their path so they can escape this place. Bodies fly around, falling with a thud followed by a crunching noise of bones breaking. It makes my stomach lurch into my throat and I want to stop them, but I have no idea what to do to help out.

Frozen on the spot, I kneel next to Woreus and stare at what feels like the end of the world. The only one not panicking are Ledon and Mairi who walked out of the building casually, taking their time and are definitely no affected by what's going on at all. The anger cools down my boiling blood and I want to confront them, but I get interrupted by someone calling me.