Embers of Magic

The Cold Does Actually Bother Me, Elsa.

“Zahir has attacked Gelida.” The boy stated grimly as the train came to a stop, throwing us into the floor. I tried standing up even though my entire world felt shaken and made it to my feet just in time see the windows of the train cave inwards, shattering into a thousand shards that cascaded downwards in sadistic dance of razor sharp edges. I didn't even have the opportunity to see what had caused any of before Zarah rushed passed me, charging forward.

Her stance seemed entirely off balanced as she swung her blade over her head, gripping it tightly in her right hand. A woman slightly older then us met her blade half way, throwing Zarah further off balanced. She wasn't right handed but she had no choice now and for the first time since she told us what happened when Josh and I were separated from the group, I understood what had frightened Rain this much. Zarah was in a fight she couldn't possibly win. Not in her condition.

The woman in front of her looked towards her coldly.  Her eyes hadn't even the slightest bit of colour in them, nor emotion. Her hair was dyed a stark white and shaved away around her ears in a Mohawk. She dressed similar to the way Zarah would usually – combat boots and all black but with the same kind of Kevlar armour I've seen one of the guards wear in the vision I had before we reached Metamorph. It was a dark Grey with a red streak running through the center.

“Keira, what are you doing here?” Zarah asked with her teeth tightly clenched together, still reeling in pain. “Business.” She responded coldly as she flashed forward, quickly shifting her weight onto her left foot, twisting it around weirdly before leaping, looking over shoulder then following through with a kick into Zarah's chest. She gasped as every bit of air got squeezed out of her lungs by Keira's boot. She collapsed onto the floor.

“Zarah!” I yelled as I felt my hands heat up, turning a bright orange before sparks flickered between my fingers. I charged forward as I readied myself to hurl whatever magic I had in me at her attacker.

“Capture the girls. Kill the others.” She commanded. For a brief second, her command caught me off guard. I had no idea what was going on around me but I was pretty sure she had been the only one. Of course, I was wrong. Before I knew it, a kick similar to the one that hit Zarah hit me from behind before I could even come closer to her. I felt my momentum carry me into the floor so I twisted, hoping to soften the fall with my arm. As soon as I heard the sickening pop in my shoulder, I knew all hell had just happened. I yelled in pain as I held tightly onto my arm, nearly scared I'd lose it after I dislocated it.

My attacker quickly moved towards me, placing his foot against my throat, holding me down. He was dressed similarly to Keira, only his face had been covered, leaving only a narrow opening for his eyes. His armour also lacked the red streak that made Keira's pop out. I looked around the room and saw another dressed exactly the same way, charging towards the boy who stepped back quickly, rummaging through his pockets in desperation, hoping to find something useful.

“Leave our friends alone!” Rain yelled and she and Josh charged towards us, ramming their shoulders forward. My attacker briefly removed his foot from my throat and stepped sideways, tripping Rain up and causing her to hit the ground. Josh continued charging towards Keira but he was just as outmatched as Rain was. Maybe even more so. She twisted effortlessly as she slammed the handle of her sword against the back of his neck. He hit the ground and shifted around groggy.

My attention went back towards the boy who was the only one of us still standing. He was backed against the carriage walls as he held four small pebbles in his hand, each with bright blue engravings on them.

“Algiz!” He yelled as our attackers each took a step back away from us, startled. A blue symbol burned into the air above his head that looked like an inverted peace sign without the ring around it. A faint blue bubble glowed around us and before I knew it, the pain through my shoulder dulled out and my thoughts cleared up ever so slightly. Josh slowly managed up into a nearly vertical position. I swung my good arm forward, sending a jet of flame forward,  blasting my attacker backwards. I tried standing up.

Keira's eyes narrowed further as she gritted her teeth, charging towards the boy who was the only one not surrounded by a protective bubble. A second symbol glowed over his head as everything around us slowed down. Even Keira halted her attack as she tried to grasp what had been going on.

“Isa.” He spoke softly as the glass began crystalising. Frost crept up through the carriage and my breaths became visible – the orange glow in my hands quickly died out. I never liked the cold. Even before I found out I was a fire bending demi-god.

The frost quickly made its way towards Keira, completely freezing her feet against the ground. The boy smiled. “Raidhow! Ehwaz!” He yelled again as two more symbols burned into the air above his head – a straighted out R and M. They glowed brighter then the previous ones and eventually, became blinding. I held my arm out in front of me, trying to shield myself from the light. By the time the light disappeared, I felt disoriented again. My whole body shivered and my injured shoulder burned in pain.

“I hate traveling like that... ” I spoke as my feet began sinking into the snow. “Where are we?” I asked as the boy began looking around, eventually locking his eyes onto a thick cloud of raising smoke in the distance. “Gelida.” He responded.

Zarah got to her feet as she walked towards him, tapping on his shoulder. “Not bad, Madjus.” She complimented, earning a weak smile from him. “Gale Witherstone.” He introduced himself as Rain and Josh rushed towards me, tending to my shoulder.