Mel - Spellmaster

Screams filled the air around the pair of vayrons. Melanthios’ mind was blank, he felt nothing for the people and reoseans running from the terror he had unleashed on them. His markings shimmered as his lightning cracked through the air unrestrained. His wild magic gave way to terrifying creatures made of stone and lightning. Massive zataro-like creatures tore through the small town, leaving nothing recognizable in their wake. 

Llyr stood next to his friend with a twisted smile on his face. This village was one Llyr had grown up in and then was exiled from. This was his revenge, years in the making. 

Melanthios watched on from the edge of the forest that surrounded the village. His flat, emotionless expression never shifted, no matter what the creatures of his design did. This wasn’t the first time he had let his magic go without any control; in fact, it would be easier to count how many times he used his magic with control. Each time, the chaos of his magic grew and took a toll on Melanthios. As his dispassionate eyes took in the destruction, he knew he would be sleeping for days afterward, but perhaps that was for the best. 

“This is amazing, Mel,” Llyr gushed as he bounced from paw to paw with barely contained excitement. “I’d say it is safe to say that you’ve mastered your magic!”

Mel grunted in response. 

Llyr saw the small pink vayron before Mel did and cursed. It had been years since Mel spoke to Eulalia, and every day that passed, Llyr had an easier time manipulating Mel and his frightening magic. However, Llyr found that any vayron that reminded Mel of her would reverse any influence Llyr had over the nightshade puller. 

Eventually, Mel spotted the same young pink vayron running away from the village. The magic in the atmosphere around them shuttered for a brief moment as Mel briefly thought of his old friend. Llyr watched as the strength of his friend’s magic seemed to wane. The pale blue puller quickly whispered words to Mel, to poison him against the childhood friend that called to Mel from the dark corners of his mind. 

The words Llyr whispered to Mel sank in, and the creatures of lightning and stone surged to life, stronger than they had before. They roared with the anger and pain that Mel refused to feel or acknowledge. Llyr slid back to his place, standing near Mel with a dark, satisfied smile on his lips.

Llyr and Mel watched the display of magic rip through the town. It would have been magnificent if it hadn’t been so deadly. Mel knew this would be the greatest his magic ever would be because he and Llyr had been training for this. Month after month Llyr told him stories of this terrible village hidden in a cluster of islands in the far distance of Vitalus. And this is where they were, the village with dark secrets now battered to the ground and buried under rubble. 

‘This isn’t right,’ A weak voice whispered in Mel’s mind. 

Mel shook the voice away and focused on funneling his magic into his creatures as they continued on their path of destruction, heading toward the village's main hall and church. As the creatures drew nearer to the village's largest buildings, Llyr’s excitement grew. 

‘Lies,’ The voice returned, gently reminding Mel of the doubts he had when Llyr first approached him with this idea. 

Llyr could see Mel’s expression flickering through emotions, and the blue puller had to look around to see if Eulalia was somewhere trying to pull Mel away from him. However, Llyr couldn’t see anything that would suggest the pink puller was anywhere near them. 

“Mel, what’s going on?” Llyr hissed as one of the stone creatures crumbled. 

‘Lies.’ The voice inside Mel’s head covered any words spoken by Llyr. 

Mel closed his eyes and tried to force the voice away, tried to focus on his magic. The wild lighting cracked around them. It ricocheted off the crystals around them before the bolts scorched the earth and trees around them. Another zataro-like creature rose from the ground and circled the pair of vayrons. 

“This village…” Mel started.

Llyr faltered for a second before he answered, “Is evil. Everyone in this village has done crimes so dark and evil they shouldn’t be repeated.”

Llyr’s tone offered no room to argue. Mel looked at his friend as the voice in his mind grew quieter, yet it still insisted Llyr was lying. However, Mel chose to believe Llyr and locked to voice down, shutting it out. 

Mel nodded and sent his intentions to his stone-creatures. Llyr was in awe at the evolution he saw take place. The creatures grew and seemed to wield Mel’s lightning. Llyr could see the teal bolts flickering between the cracks of rocks that made up the creatures. The creatures advanced on the church and hall before the group of magically made monsters crushed it with a blast of lightning. 

Mel gasped and slumped to the ground as his monsters crumbled to the earth. The lightning magic flashed into the sky before rain gently fell. Mel was exhausted; it took all the energy he had left to remain awake and conscious. 

“Amazing,” Llyr breathed with his dark glee. 

The pair took in the sight of the decimated village. There wasn’t anything left to see. Buildings were levelled, even the most fortified buildings were dust, crushed into the ground as if they were never there. 

Mel’s tired mind took in the destruction and his friend’s expression, which revealed how happy he was, but Mel felt numb. The voice whispered one last time that it was a mistake before Mel’s consciousness faded and the rain fell harder. 

“Mel?” Llyr asked as his friend went limp on the ground. 

“Mel?” Llyr asked again, but this time checked for a pulse. When he found the weak heartbeat, he released his relief in a large exhale. 

“Let’s get out of here,” Llyr said as he used his magic to pull Mel’s body along with him. 

Adaline watched on, her pink body trembled as she watched the two monsters disappear into the rain. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do, but she couldn’t stay there. 

‘North, find me to the North,’ A soft feminine voice whispered to Adaline. 

The young vayron didn’t question it. The voice gave her something to do, something to distract her from mourning the loss of her family and friends. So, she headed North. 

[1089]