Ardwyn’s mind cleared, and he recalled the earlier events in crystal detail. He realized he had been hypnotized into entering the fog, following blindly without any will of his own. Now alert and aware, he understood that this had been a trap.
Ardwyn struggled to look up, but complete paralysis gripped his body. Only his eyes could move, darting down to the spot where a tunnel of energy pierced his heart. It siphoned his life force skyward, toward the witch Gwynn, who spread her palms to capture his essence.
High above, an energy umbrella pulsed with waves of green light. Gwynn grew stronger, her face turning more maniacal. Her eyes widened as she fed off Ardwyn’s essence, her power growing.
“The potential in this vessel is strong,” Gwynn said, indifferent to Ardwyn’s pain. To her, he was merely a tool to achieve her goals. Her purpose seemed clear: to drain his life force and feast on its power.
When will this stop? Ardwyn wondered. Until I’m dead? Until she’s drained every drop of my life force?
With his senses restored, questions flooded his mind. Why me? What does she want with my energy? Will she kill me?
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
The answer seemed to be yes. Another stabbing pang of pain shot through Ardwyn’s body as he lay there. This must be what death feels like. He thought. When the body is ready to release the soul. Almost no energy remained in him. Weakened, even blinking sent waves of pain reverberating through his skull and down his body.
Ardwyn summoned all his remaining strength to move his fingers. Nothing happened. He tried again, focusing every ounce of his concentration on moving his hand, desperate to break from the paralysis. He sensed this was his last chance.
A final idea came to him. One last effort to break free. What if he focused on creating the energy bolt in his palm, just as he had on stage before the professor and class? He struggled to recall the sensation. Focus on the palm of your hand, the professor had instructed. Or something similar. Feel the warmth of the energy. Don’t fight the world. Instead use the elements of the world for your own purpose.
Ardwyn focused, closing his eyes — the only muscles he could still control. Above him, Gwynn continued to drain his energy like a vampire, intent on extracting every last drop.
Focus. He concentrated on creating the energy sphere in his hand, hoping it might sever the witch’s connection to his heart. Immobilized and helpless on the floor, this was his only chance.
A warm feeling stirred somewhere beneath his chest, then grew, enveloping him in a gentle comfort. Was this what death felt like? The body giving up in the final moments to the gentle warm tug of death.