Gaius watched the golden cape billow behind the seemingly frail figure as the man walked excitedly across the courtyard. Worry was written all over the boy’s face as he looked around at the deserted sky library. The President had clearly used his authority to clear out its occupants, and Gaius was willing to bet it was not for a good reason. He steeled himself and continued following the Mage.

A familiar sight greeted him. Candles lit by silver flames circled an open tome in the open field. Dried blood stained its pages as usual, but the book was glowing a purplish silver this time. Coupled with the cloudless night sky, the scene before him was positively ominous. Benedictus gestured for him to move closer with a huge smile.

“I managed to reactivate the spellcraft. Turns out this sky library was constructed at a point in space rich enough in arcani to fuel such a potent spell,” he said, grinning at the orange glow beginning to engulf the boy. “Look, Gaius. The magic within you is reacting as well!”

“You’re still missing the last tome.” Gaius struggled to look at Benedictus past the glow. “You can’t complete the counterspell without it.”

The Mage snapped his fingers, extinguishing all the candles immediately. The light faded from Gaius as well.

“I have confirmed that Vulcan is in possession of the last tome.” Benedictus placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “We’re so close now. All I need you to do is convince-”

“No!” Gaius flinched violently, backing away from the man. “I’m not listening to you anymore! You framed my parents, didn’t you? Did you plan all of this from the beginning?”

Benedictus looked at him silently.

“So you did find out after all.” He placed his hands behind his back and faced away. “Should’ve known that giving you access to my library was too high a price to buy your favour.”

The Mage turned back suddenly. “Look. You’re a smart kid, Gaius. Don’t let the past blind you from the future. Look at us now, working together like old partners. Why let that stop everything I- we have achieved?”

“What do you really want, Benedictus?”

“How about peace in our future? That’s what you want, isn’t it? To create a better future for society? Trust me, Gaius. I can-”

“Enough with this.” Gaius shook his head. “What do you really want from me?”

“You really shouldn’t speak over your President like that, Deusdedit.” The man’s expression hardened as a gust of cold wind appeared all of a sudden. “I’ll forgive you this time. I didn’t want to let you know in case you couldn’t handle the truth, but I’ll tell you since you asked for it.”

“I need you to die, boy.” Benedictus looked at him grimly. “Our world is built on a frozen time bomb. These tomes act as a seal for the demon, Abaddon. Only by completing the spell within them will we be able to seal Abaddon away permanently. Unfortunately, one of the tomes has been absorbed into you, and you will die in a major explosion when the spell within you releases all of its arcani.”

The boy’s eyes widened.

“I cannot let Abaddon return to this world. Our magic is a borrowed debt from him, and he will be back to claim everything, to destroy it all. That’s all that demon wants to do. We need to cut him off from our world. We must finish what General Faustus set out to do.”

“What’s wrong with the way things are now?” Gaius said. “As long as the three tomes are still here, Abaddon cannot physically enter our realm. They have already survived for more than two thousand years. Isn’t that good enough?”

“No, that won’t be enough!” Benedictus stepped forward in anger. “Are you really suggesting that we risk dooming our world to an apocalyptic hell? And besides, the seal draws on the power balance between magi and meta. With each advancement in technology, our reality is affected. Metas have always had more natural power than magis, and reality is only further tipping the balance to their favour. They draw power from the reality we have manipulated for the better. Activating the seal isn’t enough. We need to strengthen it.”

A chill ran down Gaius’ spine.

“H-how?” he croaked with a dry throat.

“Genocide.” The President’s eyes were cold. “Eighty percent of the current meta population will be chosen at random and culled. Being the largest city in the world, I believe this solution will have a significant impact. Metas will be monitored strictly, and should their numbers get too high again, I’ll just repeat the culling.”

“By the gods, you… you’re crazy.” Gaius stepped backwards in horror. “The parliament will never agree to something like that.”

“Then it’s just a pity they have given me the power to enact any law during emergencies.” Benedictus chuckled sinisterly. “Two Tier Five metas destroying our artificial island in a fight should suffice. If not, the annihilation of this sky library when the energy in your body is released should provide me with sufficient grounds to declare a national emergency.”

“I’m not aiding in a genocide!” Gaius raised his fists. “There must be another way!”

“There is no other way. You would be saving the world, my boy. Order must be re-established, and the world will celebrate your sacrifice.” Benedictus reached a hand to him. “The gods gave you a chance to be a magi for a reason, Gaius. Be the hero that you’ve always wanted to be.”

“No, not like this.” An orange glow ran through the Sorcerer. “You’ll get the tome over my dead body.”

Benedictus sighed as his staff materialised in his hand. He turned away and closed his eyes, shaking his head in disappointment.

“Typical meta, unreliable to the last.” His voice was barely audible. “Then so be it.”

The Mage turned around suddenly and slammed his staff on the ground, blasting Gaius away with a shockwave before he could react. The boy tumbled on the floor as the last tome fell from his coat pocket.

“Oh, what’s this?” Benedictus asked in surprise. “So you did manage to get the last book from Vulcan. Finally…”

He threw his head back with a victorious laugh and stretched a hand out to summon the book. It flipped in the air, hurtling towards the man’s palm.

And froze in mid-air.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“What sorcery is this?” His hand trembled, struggling to pull the book towards him.

“Not sorcery,” a familiar voice said. “Psychokinesis.”

A blast of orange energy hit Benedictus in the face. He cried out in surprise, stumbling backwards as he let go of the tome. It soared away from the man, as though it was tied to an extended rubber band that he had just released. An outstretched hand seized the book out of the air.

“You alright, Gaius?” Felix helped the boy up while he brushed the dust off his clothes. Gaius nodded, getting into a martial arts stance while Felix and Kleopatra stood beside him. Grand Mage Benedictus stepped forward calmly.

“Give it up, Benedictus!” Kleopatra yelled, holding up a camera. “You’ve just admitted to your crimes on camera. There’s no talking your way out of this one!”

“Alcaeus Vulcan. Even your daughter has become such a thorn in my side,” Benedictus snarled. “No matter, actions speak louder than words.”

A golden light ran through his body, donning the Elemental Mage in a shiny golden armour. He floated up in the air, carried by the chaotic wind that swirled around him.

The orb on his staff glowed fiercely.

“I got this!” Felix shouted, emitting a psychic shield around his companions.

It shattered as a thunderbolt collided with it, and the boy collapsed to the ground with a yell. A stream of ice coated the floor almost immediately after, but Gaius carried his body away just in the nick of time.

“Well, shit.” Felix staggered to his feet, rubbing his head tenderly. “Forgot I’m weak as hell now.”

“I wouldn’t call that shield weak. That thunderbolt had nearly enough power to destroy a building.” Gaius danced around, dodging the rain of lightning striking the ground around them.

“Thanks, Felix!” Kleopatra gave Felix a thumbs up. She spun her staff around like a seasoned spearman and summoned dozens of gargoyles.

The Grand Mage was now hovering in the air. Thunder crackled and snow swirled around him like a personal freak storm. The gargoyles charged towards him, but Benedictus’ elemental shield proved too strong for them. Roars of defeat filled the air as they were vaporised instantly by the lightning crackling around the Mage.

Benedictus scoffed and turned his attention to the girl. He pointed his staff at her.

A stream of fire seared the air, colliding with a much smaller beam of blue energy. Kleopatra trembled in focus, but the firebolt was quickly pushing her spell backwards. Her eyes widened with fear and desperation.

“You won’t be leaving this place alive!” Benedictus roared, increasing his power output. “I’m in control!”

A pink beam of psionic energy added into the chaos, breaking the connection before the spell reduced the girl into ash. Felix’s eyes flared as magenta light surrounded the Mage’s staff.

It trembled in the man’s hands, although the telekinetic force was not nearly strong enough to yank it out of his grasp. Benedictus growled, pulling his hand back along with Felix instead. A golden barrier around him materialised as the president grinned sinisterly, waiting for the boy to crash into it.

Which was exactly what Felix was waiting for.

His other hand glowed brighter than ever as psychic energy pooled within it, and he threw a punch at the magic shield. The Mage cried out in both pain and shock as the barrier disintegrated.

“Kleo, now!” Felix called out, rolling away.

Beams of light battered against Benedictus before he could recover. His body spasmed and flinched from the hits as he gradually backtracked. Kleopatra slowly walked forward, keeping up her rate of fire. The wand that she had kept for herself at Angelo’s hideout had an unusually high amount of firepower, but she could not afford to let up against such a powerful Mage. Gaius rushed in, reaching for the other book-

“Enough!”

The trio screamed as gold coated arcani exploded from Benedictus and knocked them away. A blizzard began howling immediately, breaking off pieces of the marble statues that stood around the courtyard.

Kleopatra and Felix quickly directed arcani to their feet, anchoring themselves to the ground before they were blown off the floating piece of land. But Gaius had a different idea. He rushed into the storm of chaos and freezing winds.

“What are you doing?” Felix yelled at him. Gaius ignored the cry, his eyes flaring a bright orange as he flipped over the first piece of rubble hurtling his way.

The Sorcerer darted around, dodging the debris as well as using them as leverage to leap off to the next piece. The wind threatened to blow him off course, but he seemed to be making use of it to generate more momentum instead. The pinned teenagers watched in awe at Gaius somersaulting through the chaos, as though he knew exactly where each piece of rubble would be even before they reached their position.

His eyes hardened with focus as the boy twisted over a desperate fireball tossed his way. Ice balls burst from his palms, freezing Benedictus in place. A golden light ran through the Mage’s body in response, breaking him free of the ice easily.

“Foolish boy,” he growled. “Did you really think that could hold me-”

The sound of rock crumbling interrupted him. He looked up in horror as the huge statue of Themis crumbled, dragged down by a pink essence that wrapped around it. It gave way and fell onto him before he could move out of the way.

Benedictus screamed in pain, his legs crushed beneath the broken pieces of statue. His breaths were ragged as he struggled to pull himself out from the weight of the granite pinning him down. The trio walked towards him cautiously.

“Gaius… Gaius, please… Get me out of this.” The President’s voice was thin as he stretched out a hand weakly. “Please, I’ll do anything…”

“Do better.” Gaius pressed the Veritas rune to the side of his bloodied head. Benedictus gasped weakly as a golden glow flashed from his eyes. The boy pulled out an arcani nullifier and hooked it around the Grand Mage’s neck.

Gaius turned back-

“No, wait! Surely what I’ve done doesn’t grant me a place in the gaols? Think of all that I have done for you!” Benedictus pounded his fists weakly against the broken Themis statue. “If you do this, there will be anarchy! I’m your President; you need me. Help me, damn you!”

“Girl…” He looked pleadingly at Kleopatra. “Your father would never have wanted this to happen. Without me, society will collapse.”

Kleopatra looked away defiantly.

“You, meta boy…” His eyes shifted to Felix as he snatched the meta’s hand desperately. “I gave metas a place in our society. I’ve helped meta-kind so much. Please. You can’t let them put me away…”

“Enough lies, Benedictus.” Felix’s eyes stopped glowing as he shook the man’s hand off. “You are not fit to be our President.”

“Short-sighted, the whole lot of you.” The scar on Benedictus’ face re-emerged as he glared at the Sorcerer with vile hate. “This is all your fault, Gaius. I should have just killed you and taken the tome when I had the chance.”

“You’re right,” Gaius said bitterly. “This is all my fault. I should never have trusted you. It was my desperation for answers that led to this moment. It was my impatience to be a hero that blinded me to your true intentions. But no more. Your plan lies in tatters. You will be held accountable for your heinous intentions.”

“You were a gullible sucker, just like your parents. I would rather die than be incarcerated by the likes of you.”

“I couldn’t agree more, Cosmo,” an unfamiliar voice said from behind them.

The trio whipped their heads back, narrowly avoiding a flash of silver flying towards them. The dagger pierced into Benedictus’ chest, and his mouth hung open in a silent scream for a long, agonising moment. His lifeless body collapsed.

Slow claps echoed around as a figure in pure white robes sauntered towards them.