Forbidden Magic

Chapter 11

Prudence's body suddenly convulsed with a raw energy that burst forth and filled the room. The force was so intense, it caused everything in the room to shake and rattle, and debris scattered on the floor was flung aside as if by an invisible hand. Myam's magical bond around her throat shattered like glass, and Prudence's eyes began to glow with an otherworldly white light. She continued levitating a few feet above the floor, her hair and dress whipping around her in wild, undulating waves that seemed to move of their own accord.

“You’re a fool Myam,” Prudence’s voice was dark and cold as her blank eyes stared down at the mage, "always have been and always will be."

Myam took some steps back, as he stared in awe at the person before him. He could feel her power pulsating against him, it far exceeded his own. He was not expecting this when he went after Prudence, trying to force her magic forward.

"What are you?" Myam whispered.

A smirk etched its way across Prudence’s face, but she never replied.

Galen dashed to the door in an attempt to escape. He grabbed hold of the handle, tugging it repeatedly with all his might, but the door did not open for him.

"And where do you think you're going?" Prudence cackled, as she watched him struggle with the door. Galen whined, then pressed his back against the door and tried to make himself as flat as he could. His eyes were wide with fear as he stared at Prudence, then slowly slid to the floor.

“M-master...” Galen whimpered as his eyes glanced towards Myam, begging him to do something, before returning to Prudence.

"Leave him be, this is between you and me!" Myam declared, positioning himself in front of Galen with his arms spread wide in an attempt to protect him. Prudence turned her attention back to Myam.

"Oh, I’m afraid this is between all of us. Him for insulting me,” she motioned towards Galen with a slender finger, then turned that finger to Myam, “and you for attacking a defenseless girl."

“You seem far from defenseless to me,” Myam glared.

“Yes, but you did not know that at the time, did you?” Prudence mocked. “Does going after those weaker than you make you feel superior? Does it stoke your fragile little ego?”

Anger flashed across Myam’s face.

He was not sure exactly what he was up against, but he had to think fast before she took down the whole castle. Maybe Prudence was possessed? It was rare that people became possessed, but it was not unheard of for demons and dark beings to do so. He pulled a handful of charms from beneath his cloak, and with a wave of his hand, they hung in the air suspended between him and Prudence. They were symbols of the gods, each blessed by a priest or priestess of each deity. They were used to banish and repel evil, and it was something that a good mage always had up their sleeve.

“The Gods command that you return from whence you came!” He shouted at Prudence, “That girl is your puppet no longer!”

Prudence threw her head back and laughed, “You think that I’d let a dark one take control of me?” she placed a hand on her chest to indicate herself. “That is laughable Myam.”

“If you’re not a demon, then answer my question as to what you are!” Myam demanded as the charms disappeared back into his cloak.

“That is for me to know, and for you to find out,” Prudence growled, and waved a hand, sending objects from the study flying towards Myam and Galen. Myam countered by using a gust of wind to shove the projectiles off course.

“Prudence! That’s enough!”

“Isn’t this what you wanted, Myam? To see what I was capable of. Well, now you have it!” A ball of fire formed in her hand, and she threw it towards him.

Myam, with a determined expression on his face, reached his hands out and stepped toward the raging flames. As he caught them, he felt the heat searing his palms, but he held on, using the momentum to spin around, twirling like a dancer. He flung the flames back towards Prudence, who was taken aback by the sudden attack and swatted the fiery sphere away in a reflexive movement. The sphere landed amongst books, and in mere seconds, tongues of orange and yellow flames started to lick against the paper pages, engulfing them in a fiery inferno. Myam growled in frustration and anger as he saw the destruction being caused, but Prudence did not seem to notice it as she chucked another flaming sphere at him, her face twisted in a wicked grin.

Myam and Prudence continued to play their twisted game of catch, as she whipped another orb toward him only for him to return it. However, this time Prudence was predicting the throw and moved quickly to avoid the incoming projectile. The sphere missed its target and collided with the nearby stone wall, causing a shower of embers to rain down onto the ground. The sparks ignited a liquid concoction that had been spilled earlier, causing a sudden burst of flames to erupt. The force of the explosion propelled Prudence towards Myam, who quickly called forth an invisible barrier to shield Galen and himself from the heat and flames.

Prudence collided with the hard floor. She let out a pained moan as she lay face down, disoriented and confused. Meanwhile, Myam quickly sprang into action, taking a defensive stance, ready to face whatever was coming next from Prudence. But to Myam's surprise, Prudence remained motionless, not even flinching. Myam cautiously stared at her for a moment, trying to gauge her condition. As the flames continued to rage around them, Myam conjured up a rain cloud within the study, creating a sudden downpour that helped subdue the fire. The raindrops sizzled and crackled as they hit the hot flames, but eventually, the blaze began to sputter out, leaving behind a trail of smoke and ash.

Myam cautiously approached Prudence, taking slow and gentle steps. As he reached her, he lowered himself down and carefully brushed her hair aside to expose her neck. Placing two fingers on her throat, he searched for a pulse, his heart racing with anticipation. He felt a sense of relief wash over him when he found a faint but steady beat, showing that she was still alive.

Despite this, Myam couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in his chest. He was torn between happiness that she was still alive and worry about what her continuing to live would cause to the world. He jumped back, ready to continue the fight, as she began to twitch and groan. He watched as her eyes fluttered open, their usual green hue returning. For a moment, she looked at him, and he felt a flicker of worry that she would attack again. But in the next instant, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed to the ground, motionless.