20 Mage vs Mage

As soon as I thought of it, I launched a blazing Fireball. The fire spells here seem to explode on contact or when in contact. Synthia taught me all the basic spells for all the elements, so I have a general idea of what they do on the battlefield.

I just never actually used them until now. I've chanted them and memorized them, but never actually thrown or actively tried hurting someone with them.

My Fireball was enhanced so it was somewhat bigger than what I had thought. It soars through the road as the mage I was against hastily chanted a spell.

"Hear me, Water god. Oh mighty ones who pour to those in need. Heed my answer and lend me the waves that can drown those in fear. Rain down on those who deserve it. Cleanse me, Rain wall!" The mage slammed his staff as a magical circle with a pattern appeared and gushed out a wall of water that emerged from the ground, a blanket of water stood seven feet.

My Fireball collided with it, fizzing an hissing as steam rose from the impact.

My fire isn't going to get through, but seeing how he has to maintain that spell, I can strike!

I imagined the earth protruding out of the ground, I wanted to hit this guy with a piece of the land.

I then placed the palm of my hand to the ground and flicked up towards him. Suddenly, the earth cracked underneath my palm as pieces of the ground moved towards him, it jutted and cracked as it continued towards him. He didn't see it coming as once it got close enough, a long piece of collected pieces of the ground sprung out and slammed into his stomach.

As that happened, my fireball had already dissipated. He groaned and hit the floor, holding his stomach as my spell vanished, crumbling into the ground.

I must've hit him good, now to-

"Ice storm!" The mage blurted it out, he must've been whispering it to himself as he collapsed!

Above him, a magic circle appeared in a blue hue. As they grew larger, I saw that icicles emerged from them, Then one shot out.

I barely dodged it as it penetrated the carriage, even almost hitting Lilith who also moved out of the way.

Shit, these icicles are sharp and fast. How the hell am I going to dodge this? I saw that multiple were spawning from this circle.

A wall. I clenched my staff and slammed it down as I used an earth spell to conjure up a stone wall from the ground.

It sprung up fast enough that only a few icicles flew by, some of it whizzing close while others were off by a large margin. I don't believe the user has any real control over those kinds of spells.

I heard the icicles slam into the stone wall from the other side, The wall felt like it was crumbling just from the impact. It felt like an endless stream of Ice pummeling it.

Shit, I can't hold this. There is such a difference between us two. While I may know many of the basic spells, I don't know how to utilize them. This guy probably has years of experience on his hands.

"When the mountains cry, when the ground rises. The great Teher shall lend me his power to erode those in my way! Granite Toss!" I heard the man chant that one out. But I didn't know it.

What the hell was it? Was that an intermediate spell?

Then I felt a rumble from the other side of the wall I created, it was like a piece of the ground was being torn from its natural place.

He's going to throw a fucking rock at me?!

I immediately stopped casting my Stone wall, and ran to the right as the Icicles were still shooting. I'd rather get hit by one of these then get crushed! As I moved from the stone wall, I saw that the man was crouched on the ground. Eyeing me as above him, there was a bundle of pieces of the ground hovering.

Wait, he baited me. He knew I'd run from hearing that shit, Didn't he?

"Gotcha, you little shit! Once I'm done with you, That girl is going to be one hell of a pet for someone!" He yelled, he flexed his open hand that wasn't holding his staff and aimed at me.

The Piece of ground that was hovering seemed to have been catapulted towards me.

Ok, think! Uh, What's a way to avoid being crushed? I'm not fast enough to even move it in time, And I don't have any spells that could probably break that shit!

Wait, Maybe my air spell? If my Air blast was that strong to push a grown man into the trees, then maybe I can push myself out of danger!

I Immediately turned around From the boulder and aimed Forward. Imagining a huge air blast, my spell erupted from my staff and pushed me back at a tremendous speed.

"H-hey what the fuck?" The mage seemed surprised by it. He was seemingly defenseless as he had to hold that position for the spell of his.

I spun around and used that velocity to swing my staff right at him, Smashing right into his lowered head. That impact sent him flying a few meters. He tumbled into the forest and hit his back on a tree. Once he lost his focus on his spell, The Piece of ground that he grabbed seemingly toppled down where it used to be and the icicles ceased to shoot, it's magic circles vanishing.

Did I win? I think I won! That strike should've knocked him out! Holy shit!

But then, I felt a sharp pain in my left arm. when I looked I saw that a shard of ice had struck it.

"Oh.." That was all I said before the pain kicked in. I completely forgot that the ice spell was still going, one of the icicles must've hit me at some point.

The intense cold from it hit me, the pain from being pierced hit me. I crumpled to the floor, dropping my staff. I needed to use my healing spell.

Maybe I could patch this up. I can't believe I didn't feel this shit when I was fighting him. All that adrenaline must've numbed it.

But that isn't a problem right now.

Looking up, I saw that the man had slowly gotten up, he wobbled and stumbled before finding his balance. When he looked up at me, I saw that his face was still bleeding. There was a wicked grin on his face as he walked towards me.

Shit. I got to do something. Every time I moved, my left arm screamed in pain. I had my right arm holding it at the moment just from the sheer pain.

"Y-you little fuck…you almost got me. And you know what? Fuck that money. Fuck that girl and YOU. I'm just gonna kill you both. I've killed kids in the past, you know? But you, I'm gonna take it nice and slow." He said, I could hear him coughing blood and spitting as he said that.

Once he got close to me, he yanked me by my hair and kneed me in my stomach.

"Gaah" I let out, I tumbled backwards and I crumpled.

Well shit. I haven't even reached ten years here and now I'm bleeding from my arm and about to be slowly killed by this man.

Fuck.

I coughed and winced in pain as I felt the icicle slowly melt.

Shit, I got to get Lilith away from here.

When I turned to the carriage, I saw that she wasn't there anymore.

Huh?

Before I could even think where she went, I felt a sharp pain as the mage stomped his foot right on my left arm wound.

I let out a scream as I felt his boot dig into my wound. I could feel my tears coming down as the man continued to stomp on me.

"Haha. Looks like your friend left. But don't worry." The mage leaned in to me, I could see that now that scar was visible actually reached to his left side of his. He was deformed. "Once I finish you, I'll take my sweet time with her. Maybe a little action, haha."

That pissed me off. Just hearing that made me pissed. It reminded me of what someone in my old life has said. "I'll take my time with her, don't worry, she's asleep." That echoed in my head.

Using my right hand, I wanted to cast that same earth spell. Only this time I wanted it to pierce through him.

But as I started to power my mana, I saw a blur.

A gray blur that was lined with a red line that followed it. I recognized it. I've seen this before.

Back when Lilith and Gerald sparred. That Same red color. Only this time, it was right behind the mage.

"Hraaagh!"

Before the mage could even react, a sword pierced his stomach, jutting out of him as his blood spilled right on my face.

Ignoring that, I still powered up my earth spell and I casted it. A long sharp piece of rock flew from the ground and found itself lodged into the man's side.

"Gah, gaa-uhhh…." He slumped to the left as the sword was pulled out of him, half of his body still laid on me.

When I looked up, I saw Lilith. She had a serious face, a frown and her eyes held bloodlust. Her left eye was burning red as she looked down at me.

"Are you ok, Kota?" She asked, swiping her sword to get rid of the blood on it.

I didn't say a damn thing, as I looked at my hands that were covered in blood. The pain in my left arm still hurts. But this…

I stared at her, I saw her face had a bit of blood on it. And when I looked down I saw that my clothes were in blood.

Blood. Blood.

I looked at the mage, and saw his crumpled body as crimson red liquid flowed out of him.

We just killed someone.

*Some Moments ago*

[Lilith's perspective]

I awoke in a rumble, our carriage seemed to have slowly moved when I woke up.

"H-huh? What's happening, Kota?" I saw that Kota was looking at me- or no, he was looking past me.

A sword ripped through the left side of the carriage as a man seemingly came through it.

I instinctively grabbed the handle of my sword, almost ready to attack, but Kota held me and aimed his staff at him. Suddenly, a burst of wind blew right out of the staff, Sending the man flying backwards right into the trees.

Kota? Was that your magic? I've never seen it so strong like that?

I shouldn't question it, it is Kota. And Kota is strong.

"Woah…" I was stunned.

I've Seen mother use her magic that much, but I knew that she had some strength to hers. But it didn't compare to what Kota had just did.

Surely that man is dead or unconscious?

Kota stood up and looked out the back of the carriage before hopping out. Where's he going?

"Lilith, stay here." He said.

I saw another man down the road, a cloaked man.

Is that who sank our carriage? Is he going to fight Kota?

I clutched my sword handle even tighter.

I haven't been trained in any styles, but something told me I should fight. Something is going to go wrong.

And their fight ensued. Kota shot a fireball but it was stopped by the mage's water wall. It seemed Kota managed to hit him, but the mage summoned some magic circles. I could see Ben from here something was going to come out. But Kota did do anything.

That's when the first shot happened, it nearly missed Kota and almost me. It slammed into the carriage and I jumped back in time to stop it from hitting me.

I need to move. I saw Kota grow a stone wall from the ground, this is my queue to go.

I hopped out of the carriage and found that my left leg sunk into the ground.

Great. I pulled as hard as I could. Once I got my feet out, I ran to the side next to some trees. As the battles ensued, I saw the mage pull a piece of the ground above him.

Is he going to throw that at Kota?

I unsheathed my sword and readied myself. Kota needs my help.

But I stood my ground. My legs wouldn't move.

What's wrong?

I felt my whole body shut down, it was like my body didn't want to communicate.

Move! Kota is in danger!

I felt sweat drip down my chin, what is wrong with me?

I saw Kota somehow manage to fly under the rock and smack the mage into the forest just a couple meters away from me.

He's hurt. Do something, Lilith.

I still couldn't move.

I'm afraid. Something about this is scaring me.

I saw the mage had somehow managed to survive as he walked out of the forest and kicked Kota.

Please. Move!

I'm afraid he's going to die! I'm…

I'm afraid that I'm not strong enough.

I'm afraid of not being fast enough.

Kota is strong and now he's on the floor bleeding and I'm not doing anything!

I gritted my teeth…I can feel the anger in me rise.

Why am I like this?

Was it because I was told I was weak?

Is it self doubt that's plaguing me?

I borrowed my hands into my head. This is confusing me.

But that was cut short when I heard Kota scream.

That's it. Kota is going to die and I'm not doing anything. The one friend who's been there is about to die.

No.

My blood was burning, boiling in rage and fear.

NO.

That crossed it. My body moved on its own. Faster than I thought.

I can be stronger.

I can be faster.

I want to be as strong as Kota.

I just need to…

I felt it. A surge of energy formed into my left eye.

My peripherals enhanced, I could see the mage's movement before he could even act them out.

Is this…the dragon blood running through me?

I readied my sword and zoomed right behind this man.

I pulled the sword back and thrusted with all my might.

I won't let you kill Kota. Or anyone else..

But a splash of blood hit my face, but I didn't care.

All I cared about was ending this man's life before he took another.

I saw him crumpled down his side. Blood pooling out of him.

Then I looked at Kota, who was looking at his hands and body.

"Are you ok, kota?" I asked. I cleaned the sword by swiping the blood off.

This feels…too natural to me. Killing.

I know it's wrong…but it was in good deeds.

I don't think Kota sees it as that. I can tell.

He's thinking about what we've done. He clutched his wound as he kept shaking.

"Oy, Kota! Lilith!" I looked to my right and saw Derrick and Edward running back to us. Both of them were bloody as well, Derrick carrying a man over his shoulders.

Derrick looked at Kota, giving him a straight face.

"Kota…did you do this?" Derrick dropped the man on the ground, kneeling in the pool of blood next to Kota.

"…I-..I…" Kota couldn't finish his sentence.

Derrick Ed looked at me and so did Edward. I think they were looking for confirmation so I nodded.

"Ah shit…" Derrick rubbed his forehead in frustration.

"…Too early…no…shouldn't have." Edward said.

"Let me talk with him." Derrick moved the dead man that was over Kota, allowing Kota to get up.

Kota still looked shocked and he kept staring.

"Lilith, go help Edward tend to the carriage. He'll tell you what to do." Derrick looked at Kota and patted him. "Kota, let's have a talk. Oh, hold on."

Derrick Walked to the man that he had seemingly beaten and captured. Making sure the man was unconscious before pulling out of his bag a rope to tie him.

"Come on, Lilith." Edward looked at me, waving his hand as he headed to the carriage.

I followed suit and looked back as Derrick kneeled on his knee to chat with Kota.

I hope Kota will be ok…