The Magic

The Battle of Destiny

It was early morning when all of the students met in the courtyard.
Rick stood with his father in the centre but was dwarfed by him. All of the students were standing just outside of where the magical barrier would cover if activated.
Several of the men that worked for Rick’s father stood with Rick and his father in case they were needed and the rest stood with the students, intimidating them to stop them from acting out.
They had just received word hours before that Liam had been defeated by three Magics.
Instantly Rick’s father had guessed that Leon was one of them.
In front of the people in the courtyard centre was a woman on her knees with her hands tied behind her back.
It was Liana.

‘So it looks like Erikson won’t be coming back to save you.’ Rick’s father taunted.
‘I guess so, but I wouldn’t need him to save me from a coward like you Jacob.’ Liana insulted.
Jacob brushed off her insult.
‘Do you actually think that by killing me you’ll make Liam come back?’
‘I don’t really need him back, he was just a convenience. No I just want to kill you to send a message.’
‘The only message you’ll be sending is that you’re too afraid of the people you’re trying to control to actually be a good leader, that don’t care about anyone so long as you get what you want, and that you have to be stopped.’
Now Jacob was frustrated. He turned to his son and looked him dead in the eyes. ‘Kill her.’ He ordered coldly.
Rick hesitated for a moment. There was a part of him that didn’t want to do it. It took his father yelling at him in order to make him obey.
‘Yes sir.’ He said shakily.

Collin and Blaine could do nothing but stand on and watch helplessly.
‘We have to save her.’ Collin said to Blaine quietly.
Slowly Blaine shook his head. ‘We can’t, we would just get killed as well.’
‘We’ve lost enough friends already Blaine! We can’t just stand by and lose another.’
Blaine wished he could do what Collin said. Standing and watching was driving him mad.
There was a brief pause until Collin finally asked Blaine something that made him change his mind.
‘What would Leon do?’
The question was something he had been asking himself. He kept trying to tell himself that Leon wouldn’t want them to pointlessly throw their lives away but he knew that that isn’t what Leon would want or do.
No Leon would risk his life to save one person even if there was only a slim chance of success.
This was something Blaine couldn’t deny.
‘You’re right.’ He finally admitted. ‘Wait until they let their guard down then we go.’
‘Right.’

Slowly Rick stepped in front of Jacob and the bodyguards, shakily raised a hand and aimed it at Liana.
His eyes met Liana’s and she stared into his.
‘I don’t blame you for this.’ She said attempting to make him feel better.
‘I’m sorry.’ He whispered so that his father wouldn’t hear.
Liana smiled at him, she genuinely didn’t blame him and if anything pitied him. ‘It’s ok.’
A black swirl of mana came out from Ricks hand and then formed into a ball.
‘Do it Rick.’ Jacob ordered.
Rick could feel a lump in his throat, he swallowed it.
‘Now!’ Collin said as he went to run towards them.
It was too late. Rick fired a blast that covered Liana entirely.

It took a few moments for the dust from the blast to clear and when it did there was no trace of Liana’s body.
Jacob was surprised. ‘Where the hell is the body!?’ He shouted at Rick.
‘I.. I don’t know.’ Rick was both confused at the situation and terrified of his dad.
‘I know where she is!’ A voice shouted from behind them.
The group turned around to face the person who had shouted and so did all of the students.
Liana stood behind the person who had swept her away at the last moment. Her hands were untied and she was unharmed.
‘While I understand that you feel that you must do what your father tells you to, murdering innocent people is something I will not allow, Rick.’ The person was Leon.