The storm mage was a dark skinned man with a youthful appearance. He looked younger than me, but there was a ruthless coldness in his electric blue eyes. He looked human, but there was something inhuman about him.

I watched him carefully, attentive to every twitch or flicker of movement. I tried to sense his core, but there didn’t seem to be one, instead it felt more like his entire being was mana, almost like Stylnyx but different.

The rain stopped pouring and the storm clouds cleared to reveal the first of two suns peaking over the horizon. Despite the fading storm, his aura filled the air like a noxious mist.

“Who are you?” I asked again, hopeful he’d answer this time.

Lightning struck close behind me, close enough that I could feel its heat. I trembled as the wound on my back ignited with pain as my body recalled being grazed by his power before.

I was hesitant to look away from the mage, but when I heard a wet thump, like something heavy falling in mud, my curiosity got the better of me. Behind me, a body, burnt beyond recognition, lay on the ground. I couldn’t say if it had been male or female, human or elf, as its defining features had been melted away. Judging by a dagger, clutched tightly in the melted hand, I could guess they had snuck up with the intent to kill me.

I turned back to the storm mage, confused by his actions, but not enough to question him.

Meeting my gaze with a smile, he said, “I don’t really have a name, but most call me Styrmir.” The man took a step forward, moving several yards at once, to stand before me. With his mouth now next to my ear he whispered, “What you should be asking, is what I want.”

An instant later he was several yards away again, standing just in front of Silvia.

Prompted by his statement, I nervously asked, “What do you want?”

Viciously he snarked, “Justice.” His voice crackled like lightning as the sky clouded over again. For a moment I felt the urge to run, like I would die if I didn’t get far away very quickly. Then all sense of threat dissipated as Styrmir casually uttered, “But that has nothing to do with you.”

Feeling more confused and unsure than ever, I decided against following where he was trying to lead me. My concern was Silvia, whatever Styrmir wanted was his business.

My mother was still breathing and the bleeding from the cut she suffered didn’t seem bad, but it was concerning that she hadn’t move at all since taking Gerald’s punch.

I took a cautious step forward, still keenly focusing on Styrmir.

He frowned, looking from me to Silvia then back to me again. “You care for this elf?”

I froze.

As though pleased by my reaction, a wry grin formed on his face. Energy coursed through his eyes, making them glow as if he was preparing a powerful spell, but he could have just been sending mana though his eyes intentionally. Hidden behind his flickering eyes there seemed to be a sort of fickle amusement, but whether it stemmed from humor or anger remained unclear.

"No." I finally answered, feeling foolish having made such an obvious mistake.

Styrmir laughed aloud and shook his head ruefully. "That wasn’t very convincing.”

I tensed as he knelt beside Silvia and extended a hand to touch her face. On contact blue sparks leapt from his fingers and spread over Silvia’s body. My breath seized in my throat as she twitched violently, then her body went still.

It happened fast; too quick to react to, but my body burst into motion anyway. Styrmir moved to block me before I reached her, saying, “Next time be more cautious.”

Behind him, Silvia stood upright. She appeared perfectly healthy except for the cuts and bruises already healing around her arms and legs.

As soon as Silvia regained consciousness, I was flush with relief—until I saw the fear written plainly in her wide green eyes.

“Silvon! Where is—”

Realizing she was probably asking about Mirina, I said, “Safe,” speaking firmly.

Styrmir clapped slowly as he said, “Good, you learn quickly.” He glanced toward the north end of the camp and added, “Go that way if you want to get her back."

Silvia vanished then, whisked away in a flash of blue light; Styrmir followed immediately after.

The band of outlaws, still spread through the camp, rushed after the blue streak, leaving their leader behind.

‘I can’t hold him much longer,’ Stylnyx began. ‘But don’t you need his light. Now could be a good chance to take it.’

I had considered the same. Gerald was a beast through and through. The sins he’d committed deserved no mercy, and I was already thinking of making him my first target anyway. My only hesitation was Lumia and her obvious opposition to Illudrasile’s plan. If she were here, I might have chosen differently, but she wasn’t and Gerald had made things personal by hurting Silvia.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

I’d get her back from Styrmir and eliminating Gerald now would make that easier. Lumia would understand. Standing just in front of the giant man who was wrapped in Stylnyx mist, I readied my tether.

The moment I cast the spell, every negative emotion I felt was multiplied several times over. Fear filled me with a desire for greater power. The pain and memories of those I’d lost pushed me to repress my morality. Then anger consumed me fully, drowning out everything else.

I was angry that Mirina had to endure such an experience, angry at what Gerald and his men put Silvia through, angry that Styrmir had taken her. Most of all, I was angry at my own powerlessness and inability to protect the ones I loved.

The tether was nearly in place, but I wasn’t going to just take his mana without seeing his face. I wanted to watch him suffer and writhe at my will. Growling through my teeth, I commanded, “Release him.”

The mana tether locked around Gerald’s core as the dark spirit retreated into the green blade.

“RRRAAAAAAAGGG!” The beastly man, oblivious to my tether, roared in anger as he flung my weapon to the ground. “You will pay for that!”

I rolled my eyes and called the sword back to my hand. I didn’t waste time with words. Immediately I drew a huge amount of mana from his core in an effort to refill mine swiftly.

Gerald stumbled a step forward, no doubt he noticed the mana drain. His eyes locked on me with savage ferocity that might have shaken me, if I wasn’t confident he could no longer do anything meaningful against me.

“I thought you looked familiar, but then I remembered you being older.” The Beast said with a look of sheer joy. “I’ve been waiting a long time to pay you back…nineteen years it’s been, but I’ve learned something since then.”

For someone who recognized the magic I was using, his expression lacked fear, concern, regret, frustration, or any of the expected emotions displayed by others in his situation. His reaction was closer to how Sizal reacted, but he had been able to counter the spell somehow. Gerald couldn’t so he should have realized…unless there was something I missed.

Testing his defenses, I swung Stylnyx’s blade twice, channeling mana through the sword to form a wind blade with each slash. Gerald laughed, not even attempting to dodge. When the blades struck him, there was a sudden feeling of emptiness in my core.

A barrier wrapped around the man and absorbed my attack completely.

Caught completely by surprise, I tried to pull more mana from Gerald, but was unable to do so. The tether was still in place. He had more than enough left. Mana was leaving his core and yet as I pulled none of his mana came to me. Instead it tracked a short way along my tether then spread out into his body.

“I remember you being better at this too.” He laughed again. “Or maybe it just seemed that way then.”

Without another word, he lifted his whip and swung it toward me. I ducked under it again, raising Stylnyx to shorten its length.

The sword couldn’t slice through. Instead the whip wrapped around the blade and with a mighty yank, my weapon was flung away.

I couldn’t see exactly where Stylnyx landed, only the direction he flew in, I wasn’t swift enough with telekinesis to catch him before he fell and with the blade out of sight, I couldn’t retrieve it.

“This is too easy!” barked Gerald. “It’s like I’m fighting a child.”

I couldn’t pull mana directly from Gerald, but I could still absorb ambient mana from the air. As I built up mana in my core, I dodged consecutive lashes from the spiked whip.

Using burst, I dashed away hoping to get far enough that the tether would destroy Gerald’s core. I couldn’t keep burst active with so little in reserve, so I had to time my activation like Vorlin taught me, using the spell each time I pushed off the ground.

I should’ve known better than to try running away. Burst was a basic spell and as I’d seen there were better movement spells as well. I should’ve considered that Gerald might know one.

After three steps, I smacked into his broad chest and he closed his arms around me. Every muscle in his body seemed to swell as he pushed mana through them. Because of the tether I could sense every drop of mana as it circulated through his mana veins.

I was helpless in his grip, the crushing force of his swollen biceps and pectorals threatening to break me.

The emptiness in my own core grew deeper as I was forced to strengthen my body to withstand his attack. I hadn’t felt so outmatched since the time when my uncle nearly killed Lumia.

My thoughts were drowned in the sound of bones popping, my body bent backwards until I thought surely my spine would snap. My ribs burned with pain and tears streamed down my cheeks. All hope drained from my mind leaving nothing but despair.

The Beast didn't stop even after breaking my arm. With the added weight he increased his pressure and crushed my ribs together, forcing air from my lungs. I was desperately drawing in mana, using it immediately to strengthen my body as much as possible, but I couldn’t keep up with Gerald. It was like he had a bottomless well of mana to draw from and I was working with a single bucket.

I remembered then the golden light that had enveloped me as child, the ability that gave me absolute control and even allowed me to pull mana out of my uncles spells. I hadn’t understood then what it was, but now, I thought I knew.

As my vision began to blur, I called to the light.

The world went dark, blood pounded in my ears and all sensation faded. There wasn’t even pain. Everything ceased except for the glow of the light inside me. A wave of warmth washed over me as the brightness took shape within me. At last it solidified into a beautiful white sphere around my core. I could already feel it’s power, greater than anything I had words to describe.

My core filled quickly, just as it had when I was younger. Mana spread through my body, healing my wounds—even mending the broken bones—and filling me with strength.

The world came back into focus as Gerald released me and shuffled backward.

I dropped to the grass taking in my first full breath in several moments, but not gasping. My lungs had felt full since the moment I summoned the light. I wasn’t breathing air, but mana. It felt as if my entire being had become one with mana.

‘Styrmir must have a light,’ I thought, ‘but then there were only twelve and his name wasn’t on Illudrasile’s list.’

I pushed the thought aside. Right now what mattered was dealing with Gerald.

Looking up, I saw the man had burns covering his exposed arms and his shirt was charred. “You aren’t who I thought…but I’ll break you just the same.” He growled.