The Magic

The Beast Within

Leon was painfully aware of his surroundings, the harsh world he had realised he was a part of.
This world had been a place that when had had gotten his powers he wanted to protect. But now both the world and his powers betrayed him.
This world, a world he once thought of as a place of beauty and life had taken away what he cared about most. And what he relied on to protect what he loved now controlled him, like some untameable beast hungering for the blood of its prey and no matter how much Leon screamed, no matter how much he tried to convince himself that his body was his own he knew it was not.

Like an explosion of rage his powers had manifested twice before, each time in an attempt to protect those he loved. But the power he experienced now terrified him and although he could still see his surrounded it was as if he was locked inside a glass cage in his mind, a prisoner in his own body.

The monster on the outside moved his fingers like claws and grunted with each heavy breath.
The breaths sent chills up Rick’s spine and each breath was accompanied by a low growl.
Slowly it began to edge forward and as it did the slabs of stone surrounding its feet cracked.
‘What happened to Leon!?’ Collin asked Kellam demanding answers.
‘I don’t know, we didn’t expect this.’
‘Well you have to do something, you let this go on!’ Collin wasn’t just upset but mad as well now.
Erikson just remained silent, staring and thinking.

Rick felt a cold chill run through his body as Leon’s gaze met his, he could feel the hatred and anger and malice in the stare. The mana Leon was putting out wasn’t just a tremendous amount but it had a terrifying feel to it as well.
Finally Rick brought himself to speak. ‘I’m sorry; I didn’t want to kill her. I’m sorry Leon.’
At the mention of his name Leon took off like a bullet, kicking up stones as he did.
Rick had barely any time to react as Leon attacked him, slashing his arm like a claw that was trailed by Blue Magic. Quickly Rick raised a barrier of Black Magic that blocked against Leon’s strike but shattered from the force.
Quickly Leon followed up with a second strike that was blocked by a more powerful barrier that this time didn’t shatter.
Again Leon attacked, over and over, each attack colliding with the barrier until finally it could take no more and shattered.
This time Leon’s attack continued through and scratched Rick across the chest.

Blood ran freely down Rick’s chest as he fell backward onto the ground.
He was defenceless now and Leon was making his last attack, a downward slash with his right hand.
By some miracle Rick found the time to role to his left avoiding Leon’s attack. Quickly Rick blasted Leon away with a beam of Black Magic.
The blast left Leon at the opposite end of the courtyard, yet uninjured.
‘Kill, kill, kill you.’ He repeated.
‘That didn’t do a damn thing!’ Rick groaned as he got slowly back on his fight.
‘I can’t believe he’s so powerful, I’m not sure I can stop him.’

Leon had begun to walk back over to Rick which quickly turned into an incredibly fast sprint.
Rick was amazed by how quickly Leon covered the gap between them.
Everything seemed to travel in slow motion in those last few second.
A trail of light blue mana followed Leon’s claw like hand and as he slashed it down at Rick it was obvious that this would be the end.
But something happened, Leon’s strike fell short.
Rick didn’t know what was happening until a firm voice ordered him to get back.
‘Move it Rick.’ It was Erikson.
Somehow Erikson had managed to get to Rick quicker than Leon and had managed to catch Leon by the wrist.
Rick hesitated; he was taking his time to react to the situation.
‘What are you waiting for? Move!’ Erikson said shouting angrily this time.