Next Mage
57.Water-2

People and mages stopped to stare, only to be blinded by the hot blue light and causing them to cover their eyes. Snarling erupted from behind me, a hideous sound that caused me to stiffen. The Ragnarok, I thought, but, as the name ran through my head, I somehow didn't feel afraid. It's like this magic is making me fearless, I observed.

A peaceful feeling overtook me, like I was listening to waves breaking onto the shore, or rain pattering against my bay window on a cloudy, sleepy day. Closing my eyes, which were now glowing a sparkling blue, I breathed in slowly as I felt the sensation of the cool water against my skin, fluid and malleable, strange yet familiar.

Oliver's wounds were starting to heal, the skin knitting over the gashes and the cuts closing up. The dried blood disappeared completely and Oliver's skin began to feel warmer, no longer pale.

It was happening.

Taking in the feeling of the magic running through my veins, I drew in a breath and held it, opening my eyes as I felt the energy flow out of my fingertips and into Oliver's body. And then I made a wish.

Please live.

Oliver's eyelids fluttered open, his beautiful blue eyes shining like the light that surrounded us.

I beamed with joy, and even as the glimmer that surrounded me slowly dissipated into the air, I felt as if I was shining with something new; a light that didn't need magic.

Then the glow suddenly flickered, and I felt Oliver's warm arms encase me in a tight hug before everything went dark.

~Oliver's POV

Waking up from death was strange.

It was like awakening in another person's body: except it really was your own.

At first, everything was dark. It was just me, trapped in the cold, dark shadows, wondering how long it was going to be before I saw light again.

Then out of the darkness came a crack.

It was small at first, then it became louder and louder, and then a thin, white-blue line appeared, cutting through the black. The line became larger, and a thin spiderweb of fractures began to curl its way through the shadows, like glass cracking.

Then, the dark glass shattered, giving way to a blinding light, and I was then opening my eyes.

Marilla's smile was like the light itself, a brilliant bright blue erupting from her body in waves.

Emotion welling in my chest, I reached out and embraced her, before her arms went limp and the light from her body flickered out. dashy line thingo

Everything around me seemed vague and uncertain, like I was a puppy which had just opened it's eyes, and yet it all seemed so familiar. "She gave up her power to save you," a voice said from behind me, and I whipped around to see the tear-stained face of my mother. My mother.

I reached out a hand to hug her too, but she wrapped her arms around me instead, allowing me to hold onto Marilla. My mind was a jumble of mixed emotions: weariness, confusion, gratefulness, hope, joy. "Hey mom?"

"Yes, Oliver?" Mom replied.

"Can anyone else heal besides Marilla?"

Mom grinned.

"I think I may know someone,"

dashy line thingo

Destan held a large, glowing bubble over Marilla's forehead, and I watched him, restlessly pacing back and forth, wielding a dagger in case of any assailants.

"Are you done yet?" I asked uneasily, biting on my nails anxiously. Destan shot me an irritated look.

"Shut up, lover boy. She's not conscious yet, is she?" He snapped irritably. "So why don't you just be patient? The more you rush me, the harder it is to concentrate, and the harder it is to concentrate, the longer it takes for me to heal her--" "Urgh...why does my head feel like it's been run over by a car?"

Hope leaped in my chest.

"Marilla!" I yelped, gently pushing Destan aside, who glowered and shot me a scowl.

"Oh, thanks Destan, you really helped me a lot, and I'm totally grateful for your humble service," he muttered sarcastically. I glanced at him apologetically.

"Sorry. Thanks," I said sincerely. Destan simply grumbled his reply and ran off to help Emma, who had two muscly-looking Ragnarok mages chasing her around the beach. She seemed to be running in the direction of the Ragnarok, who was lashing it's tail and hissing like a cat at about half a dozen mages who were attempting to attack it. I frowned worriedly, hoping that Emma would be okay. "Oliver?"

I looked down, a grin taking over my face and the worry draining away.

"Marilla."

We embraced each other in a tight hug, and, leaning down, I gently kissed her on the cheek.

"It kinda feels weird to be powerless," she laughed breathlessly, her hazel eyes dancing. Hugging her once more, I realized that I didn't care if I was powerless, as long as I had Marilla. "You know, I really--"

"Everyone! Get out of the way! GET OUT OF THE WAY!"

The sharp scream was piercing, and Marilla and I blocked our ears, eyes wide and alert. Grabbing Marilla's cold palm, I pulled her along towards my mother, who was beckoning for us to follow her, her expression uneasy. But Marilla stayed rooted to the ground.

"Marilla! Quick! We have to go, my mother--the voice--everyone is--"

"Look."

I followed Marilla's shining gaze towards a strange, bright light, orange and red and yellow all melded together in one glowing mass, like a crackling fire. Beside it, the Ragnarok stood still, like a deer caught in headlights. And right in the center of the light was a single figure, wild red hair streaming out from behind her, her eyes like fire as mages fled left and right from her orange glow and rushed into the forest--

Emma.