The Magitrix: A Flame Awakens

Chapter 11: Chris Gets Knocked Over

"Excuse me!" Chris pushed past another council member as he ran to the plaza, causing them to cry out and give him a warning glare. "Sorry! Can you move, please? I need to get past!"

Finally, he yanked himself out of the mix of Luxamagi, stumbling forward. He let himself breathe out. Where is the Electron? He scanned the plaza for Kazuma.

Chris spotted him almost immediately. He was laying in the middle of the circle, gasping, and Magi surrounded him, including, still, the King of Light. He was hunched over the boy, wings folded and arms crossed, whispering something. He tried to edge closer to hear what they were saying, but everything was just so loud he couldn't catch what was said between them. It frustrated him beyond measure.

"Guards, King Lumos cried out suddenly, causing Chris to start. "Take him away." His guards, previously standing on the outer edge of the circle, moved forward, poised to grab him and shackle him in chains from the manacles two held. "Throw him in the dungeon." Lumos glanced up, a freakishly blank expression on his face. His eyes gleamed as he watched two grab the boy by the arms, hoisting him up. Kauma's head dangled by his neck. "Manolium bars. We wouldn't want him to escape, now would we?" Lumos smiled, a little bit of feeling put back into his face. The guards began to put the chains on him. He offered little resistance.

"Oh no you don't!" Something large and heavy suddenly slammed into Chris. Pain exploded in his shoulder, driving him to the down under the thing's weight. His side exploded with even more pain as they hit the ground. Ow. He could see stars, dancing and colorful in his vision. It was laying right on top of him now. He found it hard to breathe under its weight, taking him back almost immediately to the day before.

Chris let out a gasp. "Get... off!" He pushed out with his arms.

"Oh!" The thing tumbled off of him, standing up. Not thing- person. "I am so, so, so sorry!" She cried, looking horrified. "I didn't know someone was standing there until it was too late!"

The thing- person- had long gray hair put up in a braid, and dark blue eyes that looked right through him. She had the same earring as her companion, and even wore similar clothing to him, too- tight black pants, black combat boots, and a gray tunic with a large blue stripe. She also had small gray wings adorned with light blue swirls. I guess all magi have wings, Chris realized. Kazuma must be a half-magi... like me. Us. The aspect both freaked him out and excited him.

Her eyes flitted to the guards, who had paused to stare at her. She shook her head. "I have things to do. I'm Dreamer. You?" She extended a hand to help him up.

Dazed, and a little out of it, he grabbed her hand. She pulled him up, and once he was on his feet, he gasped, "Chris... Robinson?"
"Your dad was a terramag?" She asked, looking confused. "But you have red hair... and you also have green eyes. That makes sense." She smiled. "Well, it's nice to meet you. Sorry again! Bye!" She dashed away from him, towards Kazuma.

Chris blinked back more pain, and fought back nausea. His bruises were starting to throb. What... was that?

"Let him go!" Dreamer shouted. Chris could only look on in shock as the girl jumped toward the guards and put one in a chokehold. The guard staggered back under her weight, making a gagging noise. "He's my friend!"

The pain in his head and sluggishness prevented the realization from coming sooner. That girl's trying to save him! She probably knows the Electron... The next one shook him to his core. That means she's in the resistance! Questions filled his head once again. Why was there a resistance in the first place? Why did they hate the King so much? He wasn't that bad, surely.

He looked at the King, with his unassuming gaze and crossed arms. Sometimes he seems crazy, but he's okay, Chris thought, but then he sighed. I also barely know him. There was probably some reason for the Resistance's actions, and he would find out soon enough. Having to wait for answers made him irritated- but it was better than none at all.

King Lumos started. "What-" he began, but shook his head. "Deal with her. Please."
The guard Dreamer had a hold over grabbed her arms and finally swung her over his head, getting her off of him and slamming her body onto the ground. He let go and jumped back, seeming terrified for his own life. Chris couldn't blame them.

She screamed and kicked as one guard quickly grabbed her legs, another with manacles, restraining her. She tried to punch the guard with the chain, and managed to get in a good hit to his jaw, but then the one she was attacking before grabbed her arms, making it impossible to fight. They quickly chained her hands, feet, and even waist so she couldn't get away.

Chris couldn't help but be impressed with the girl for trying so hard, despite her failure. He was so impressed he kind of hoped the guards had a hard time keeping her locked up. He could just imagine it- Dreamer making her prison guards so miserable they practically begged the king to be placed elsewhere. The thought raised a giggle from him.

However, his good humor was short lived. Chris was quickly snapped back to reality when, after the guards forced her onto her feet and started to half-drag her toward the castle, Dreamer somehow burst out of their grip, and, ignoring their shouts, did a hopping sort of thing over to Kazuma. "Kazuma! Are you okay?"

"Dreamer," Chris heard him whisper-growl. "What in the name of the Lord of the Winds are you doing here?" He raised up his head and glared at her. "I had it! It was going according to plan!"

"Obviously not. Either you have a horrible aim, or the Concilium is up on the steps," she joked, but Kazuma flinched. He pressed his mouth into a tight line, and said, "Just- don't die in prison, okay?"

She nodded. "Kay. Got it."

Almost on cue, the guards reached her, grabbed her and pulled her away from him. "Let him go!" She screamed, struggling like she was prey trying to escape from hungry lions. "Please! Please. I'll do anything! Just let him go!" Her voice turned into a sob.

Chris saw the guard who Dreamer attacked and King Lumos exchange a look. The guard stepped back, releasing thr girl, and pulled out a vial with blue dust in it. He tossed it to the shackle guard. Struggling to keep her still enough, they opened it and sprinkled some of the dust onto her nose.

Dreamer breathed in, inhaling the powder, then stiffened. "No!" She gasped, eyes widening in recognition. She slumped, allowing them to finally get a good grip on her. "No..." Her eyes drooped, and the guards began to pull her towards the castle. Chris caught a last "I am so... sorry..." before her eyes closed, and then she was asleep.