The Magic

Right and Wrong

The ground shook with fear as Black Magic shone out from the centre of the courtyard.
Students had begun to evacuate immediately as the Black Magic stopped just before the observation area. There was no sense in staying to watch the battle conclude, they needed to get as far away from the blast range as was possible. It was fortunate to the bystanders that Leon had just managed to raise a magic barrier in time to contain the blast and fortunate for Rick that Collin had managed to cast a spell that grabbed him by the ankle and pulled him to the observation area.
But the same spell that was saving the observers and everyone else on the island was imprisoning the person using it.

Leon could feel the Black Magic lash and rip against him.
His clothes tore and his skin cut and bruised as it did, yet he remained casting his spell, not daring to move his arms from their upright position. Quickly his mana drained, he could feel his strength draining and Jacobs magic just kept on coming until finally Leon couldn’t hold it back any more.
In a sudden explosion of magic Leon’s barrier collapsed.
The ensuing explosion from Jacob’s attack blew apart most of the observing area and rubble was sent hurtling through the air.

The damage to Leon was incredible. He skidded across the ground with no way to stop himself from the shock wave of the blast.
Finally he came skidding to a stop at the other end of the courtyard. His clothes were tattered and torn and blood ran down his arms and head, he was barely conscious.

Jacob wasn’t even out of breath, his attack seemed to have barely drained any of his strength.
‘Such a foolish boy.’ He mocked as he walked towards Leon. ‘For a so called powerful Magic, you we’re defeated easily enough. I guess your speed means nothing when you can’t move.’ He wasn’t far from Leon now.
‘Ughh…’ Leon groaned as he slowly tried to get back to his feet.
‘Ohh so you are still alive!’ Jacob said surprised as he knelt down next to him.
Blood covered Leon’s left eye so he had it closed, he couldn’t look at Jacob and this made Jacob mad.
‘It’s not over yet…’ He said weakly.

Jacob angrily grabbed Leon by the collar and lifted him into the air.
‘So weak and pathetic. It surprises me how you were able to defeat Erikson let alone Rick. I guess I’ll just be kind and end you quickly.’
With the last of his strength Leon managed to look up and at Jacob.
‘Why? Why are you like this?’ Leon sounded saddened, not at his end but at the lack of understanding he had for Jacob.
Jacob looked at Leon with a dissatisfied glare. ‘Why do you think? I’ve lived my life as a Blank and lived with the disgusting mistreatment of this world. People look at anyone different with such distaste and malice because of these cursed magic colours, but none are looked down upon more than Blanks. Through no fault of their own do they have no magic colour and yet they are looked at as blight. So I deem this world not worthy, and I will change it so that all people are the same and equal, even if I have to kill those who would defy me. Now tell me Leon who is the real villain of us? The man who wants to create a better world, or the boy who would defend a heartless one?’

Jacob’s words pierced Leon’s heart as if Jacob had driven in his own blade.
All this time he had been trying to save a world that had hated him. This world was cruel and unfair and its people were cold and callous to anyone different, was it really worth saving?
These things ran through Leon’s head. There was truth to them, but also a lie that he could not ignore.
‘So Leon answer me, which one of us is villain here?’
For a moment it was difficult for Leon to talk, but something inside him begged him to fight, begged him to not give up and as he finally was ready to speak he remembered. Remembered his friends, his family, what he was fighting for and everything important.
‘I-‘
‘Yes?’
Leon’s hand suddenly clutched Jacob’s wrist with enough strength that he couldn’t pull away.