Next Mage
57.Water-1

~Marilla's POV

Fog gave way to the cloudy night sky as I moved up, up, up, higher and higher, my breath hitching as the air began to thin.

I tried to break away from the spinning threads of wind that kept me airborne, but even though they were so that they were almost invisible, the whirlwind didn't break, no matter how hard I kicked or how loud I screamed. I need to protect Oliver.

I need to save Oliver.

I can save Oliver.

Realization struck.

"Cam! Carissa! Let--me--go--urgh!" I struggled against my wispy bonds, shouting downwards, wishing that the twins would hear me. Then I fell silent, hoping that there would be a response.

For a moment, there was nothing, all except for a slight screaming noise coming from below and the shallow breath of the wind howling softly in my ears.

And then, as quickly as I had risen, I was plummeting downwards like a shooting star, the fog swallowing me up in it's thick, grey embrace, leaving behind only clouds and stars, showing no trace that someone had been there, screaming into the dark night.

dashy line thingo

The ground was coming closer and closer, and I was falling faster and faster. Closing my eyes, I prayed that I wouldn't break my neck, that someone or even something would catch me, hoping that I wouldn't die before I saved Oliver-- Black sand crunched, inches away from my face. A cool, light breeze suspended my whole body mid-air for a moment, before it dropped me. I covered my face with my arms before I landed head first into the sand.

"Oomph," I grumbled, spitting out small bits of sand. Immediately jumping up, I began to frantically search the raging battlefield for any signs of Oliver.

Between the surging bodies, magic flying through the air and the reverberating clashes of metal that rang throughout the area, I could barely see or hear anything besides calamity. Neither the mages nor the enemy seemed to be winning or losing.

I looked over to the glowing mass of air and magic that was Cam and Carissa. They were still using their Ultimate.

Good, I thought, relieved. I pushed the fact that the twins' glow seemed to be fading to the back of my mind, gritting my teeth determinedly and scanning the area for Oliver. Panic rose with every passing second, and for a split second, I wondered if the Ragnarok had hidden Oliver away, or perhaps had even eaten him--

There.

Adrenaline shot through my veins like fire.

Dashing across the sandy beach, pebbles and sand flying up behind me in a dark cloud, I raced towards Oliver.

As I got closer, I realized two things. One, that he had two huge, bleeding gashes, one on his stomach and one on his right leg. Gagging, I took in the horrific sight of the blood and pus oozing out out of Oliver's wounds, his legs and arms splayed out awkwardly like a broken puppet.

Two, someone else was already beside him.

Oliver's mother sobbed, tears welling up in her grey eyes; streaming down her cheeks; dripping off her nose and onto Oliver's pale, cold body. My chest ached with both devastation and the lack of energy as I rushed up to Oliver's mother. Tears blurred my vision and streaked down my sandy cheeks in tiny rivulets as I crouched down beside Oliver's mother, not caring if there was a war going on all around us and turning my back on all the chaos.

To my surprise, a cold, tear-stained hand met mine, and Oliver's mother looked me firmly in the eye, her mouth a thin line. Nodding, I took in a deep breath.

I understood.

Gathering up my energy, I imagined all the magic I had building up at my fingertips and summoned a water bubble, which began to glow a bright blue; and the energy coursed through my body like a raging river as I prepared to release it-- "Marilla!"

I barely glanced at Oliver's mother before I was flying through the air, the water bubble losing it's glow and falling back onto the shadowy sand in small black spatters.

The air was knocked out of me as I landed on hard, spiky rocks, the pebbles digging into my flesh and causing tiny pinpricks of blood to appear on my skin. Feeling winded, I sat there among the rocks for a few moments, panting for breath, the adrenaline that was rushing through my body causing me not to feel any pain whatsoever.

"Marilla! Move! MOVE!"

It was Emma's voice shouting this time, high and frantic, and as my eyes focused, I realized who had pushed me.

A burly, hefty-looking Ragnarok mage was dashing towards me, beady eyes flashing a violent crimson, teeth gnashed in a hideous expression, ax raised, ready to deliver the final blow--

Scrambling out of the way just in time, my eyes widened as the weapon came swooping down, like a vulture onto it's prey, a hand's breadth away from my cheek. Metal met with rock with a dull clang, the rocks clacking against the hard silver material.

I ran.

The Ragnarok mage followed after me in hot pursuit, but the weight of the heavy-looking ax seemed to slow him down.

Finally, dropping his weapon, the mage caught up to me, and my lungs burned for air as I tried to run faster. Everything except for my assailant was a blur, voices and shouts slurring together and bodies merging together as I raced by. "Help--" I screamed over all the noise, choking for air at the end of my sentence.

But it was too late.

The Ragnarok mage kicked my feet out from under me, causing my arms to flail as I landed on the ground yet again, my legs sprawled out behind me. I screamed, and my voice hitched, and the Ragnarok mage brought his fist down in a swift attack--

And then he was on fire.

The mage yelped in terror as the flames licked at his pale, sallow skin, causing it to blister. From behind him, Emma gave me a quick thumbs up before rushing off to scream at some random Ragnarok mage that was attempting to attack Terra. I grinned and let out a breath of air that I didn't realize I was holding, my limbs shaking with sudden relief as the Ragnarok mage fell to the ground, flames nearly eating up his whole body now.

Gasping, I scrambled off the ground and dashed back towards Oliver.

Taking his cold, pale hands in mine, I kissed them gently before summoning a large water bubble.

Focus your energy...try not to rush...don't think about anything else besides saving Oliver...

Focusing my thoughts was a challenge.

I gritted my teeth in frustration when I realized that Cam and Carissa's whirlwind had disappeared, leaving behind only a few wisps of cloud and fog.

We didn't have much time left.

Ragnarok mages descended upon the twins, but a few mages on our side rushed to their aid. I sighed in relief when I noticed Terra tossing the twins a sword each, and concentrated on helping Oliver. My fingertips began to tingle slightly, a cool, refreshing feeling overtaking my body, and suddenly I was abuzz with energy.

Then my hands began to glimmer.

The bright, sky-blue color traveled up my arms like shimmering ripples over a clear pond, and it was hard not to marvel at the beautiful glow as it swam across my body.