7. Reality

Avicia Pov:

When the man was beginning to read the letter aloud, mother transmissioned me with her magic. "If I give you a signal, we go all out."

I nodded at her, still worried about what he was going to say...when it happened.

Father sold us? Everyone of us? For his own selfish reasons? I couldn't believe my ears. I felt betrayed, even as tears began to well up in my eyes. We were sold away from everyone we knew, all because our father, that sorry excuse of a father. Why hadn't he just stayed where he belonged, not here.

Blood boiled in my veins. That wretched man was dead to me, and he had the nerve to sell us away like this? How dare he! How could he do this?! My anger swelled until it overwhelmed me, and I took deep breaths to stay sane.

"AVIE NOW" my mom called out.

Hell yeah.

I threw the plates above and conjured earthen spikes in my hand, I could have just conjured them below the men but my earth magic was still not in my control over the distances.

My mother turned the two glassess into ice as it had water, making it easier for her to control it.

I watched her twist her wrists and they were cleanly shaped into cones of ice, and they both shattered on their targets, one after the other. The man fell backwards, hitting the back of his head on the stone wall behind him. But the other had fire magic, he blocked the attack, melting the icicles.

Soon, everyone started conjuring their spells from all possible directions, and we were lucky that mom could make a barrier in front of us.

My heart thundered in my chest, and I almost lost control again. I took my earthen spikes and threw them as a distraction. Expectantly, they blocked it but it was a bluff so I could run upto them and strike a punch on his knees. My strength was making up for the lack if control in my magic.

His hinds broke with a cracking sound. The man wailed in pain while grabbing his legs and shaking. The man beside her asked , bewildered "You- how, how did you-"

"You're just too weak" I mocked.

My mother raised both hands, sending three large balls of ice towards them.

They hit. Both of them exploded and left a crater which seemed to expand rapidly. I had no idea why, but they just stopped expanding and I could hear more screams.

"It seems as though you've almost killed two of your friends." 'Myung' said. "How fortunate of us to bring reinforcements"

I was conjuring more earthen spikes and dodging some attacks while mom was evidently losing her control. Our disadvantage was that most of them had fire type magic, as if, they knew about my mother's element beforehand. It was almost fascinating to see crescent of red light swiveling all around us.

"This is for my friend." The last attacker said while throwing an explosion which engulfed half my earthen spike, melting it down to its base. I didn't have time to think, and it almost hit me when an ice barrier formed around me, getting the hit instead.

"Be careful baby" She whispered, her concentration not wavering. I felt my eyes burn, but I ignored the sting of tears threatening to fall, continuing to use my power. I needed it more than ever right now. If I could survive this fight, maybe I would be able to talk my mother out of being sent back, or even help her to fight better.

Myung was extremely skilled as a fire mage, as much as I hate to say it, he could easily pass for a scholar from Daara. The way he handled his spells were calculated and precise. I was surprised my mom could keep up with him.

I scurried towards the other end of the room to finish the ones in the back, because I would only get in the way fighting them. I heard explosions from behind, coming closer. My mom had already knocked out few that remained in the front.

"CALL THE OTHERS" Myung screamed at no one in particular, and I saw one man exiting the door, I barely managed to injure his ankle but he was too desperate to wail in pain.

She was fighting with all her might, but she had been caught off guard multiple times. She was struggling, trying to keep herself standing and focus her energy on keeping him busy. The ones who were knocked out, gained consciousness just as fast, and they struggled to keep their balance. My mother closed her eyes and began concentrating, I assume she was using her gift.

And then I got overwhelmed. My brain stopped acting, my heart was screaming to protect my mother...and I did that, completely forgetting that I had kept my guard down.

I started erecting protective earthen barrier in front of my mom, so she doesn't get hurt and lose focus. Once that was complete, I rebuked myself and started conjuring one for me too, when I saw it.

A large ball of condensed fire came hurling towards me. My brain stopped working again, I couldn't even move myself.

Subconsciously I waited for Calia to come in front of me and save me, just like the last time. Then she would cry about it, saying it hurts, and then I would have to comfort her. But it was too late to realize that wasn't the reality. She wasn't here, I'm glad she wasn't...at least she was safe.

Reality can often be disappointing.

The ball crashed into my weakly built barrier. I was sent flying into the wall, making a crack sound. I never knew pain like this existed, and I didn't even have the strength to scream.

I felt useless, I had the gift of strength. A gift of 'Strength' for the one with the weakest mind. I was always strong...until now. It was a feeling that never went away for me, and I never forgot about it. But now that I had it back, I hated it...

My senses went numb, my life flashed before my eyes, I could taste blood on my lips.

My vision went black.