New Powers: Part Four

Leom walked into the tent smiling ear to ear but Alex had already prepared. He slammed his staff into the ground and a small burst of fire shot from his staff. It hit an invisible shield leaving the man unharmed and Alex stunned. "Well, that's no way for a guest to treat their host."

Alex jumped in front of Rose and Jasper pointing the end of his staff at the man. Leom devilishly grinned at them, "You must be Alexander. A pleasure." Leom bowed in a respectful fashion. Alex was getting seriously bad vibes from this dude and didn't take an eye off him.

"Well, here we are. I'm told you wanted to talk?" The man raised up, "Indeed I did. Though I wish it were under better circumstances." Rose shuffled behind him, hiding the papers away as they continued to glow. Alex hoped they would activate soon before anything drastic happened.

Alex lowered his staff, "Then talk, we're here now." Leom smiled, "I would ask both you," he pointed around Alex, "and you, to come with me." Alex peered at him, "Why?" Leom put his hand behind his back, "I work for an independent group who wishes the best for mankind, nothing more. We need the both of you to meet our goals."

Alex didn't buy that for a second. Bad guy was written all over this guy and helping people was definitely not on his list of priorities. Leom seemed to guess what Alex was thinking, "I'm sure you don't believe me, why would you, we kidnapped your friend."

Leom pointed at Jasper and he hid away behind Alex. "But it was all to get you here. You are the key, a tool that will lead us to victory." Alex looked at the man, "What does your victory look like? Does it hurt more than it saves?"

Leom lost his smile, "No, it will hurt all who is necessary." As he finished his sentence the papers began to glow violently, "Those are?" The papers were beginning to activate. Leom raised his hand to cast a spell but Alex was quicker.

Alex raised his staff and a rolling wave of fire gushed from the end covering Leom, or at least his shield, in a torrent of fire. It was sure to blind him, but his spell had already been cast. He felt a huge ball of invisible energy hit him in the chest knocking him through the tent with incredible force.

"Alex!" He heard Rose shout before she and Jasper disappeared in a flash of blue light. He landed on the ground hard and rolled to a stop. He was left gasping like a cannonball had been shot through his stomach.

Alex shakily entered his inventory and pulled out a red vile. He quickly swallowed its contents and his breathing slowly returned to him. His body was enveloped by a sweet warmth and he got to his hands and knees. The potion worked well, but he had another problem.

He had missed his opportunity to escape and now needed a new plan. He was left with two options, run or fight. He heard laughing coming from the burning tent and scrambled to find his staff among the firelight. "That was quite the impressive display, definitely surprised me with that one."

Alex finally grasped his staff and pushed himself up off the ground in just enough time to see Leom walk through the human-sized hole left from his attack. He raised his hand and Alex leaped out of the way as another ball of energy struck the ground he was standing on, blowing it away. The attack seemed much more powerful than the first, covering a greater area than had hit him.

As Alex rolled he lifted his staff up and let loose another burst of fire that crashed uselessly against the invisible shield buying him time. He ran behind a half tore down shack to take cover. He didn't have a chance at fighting this guy not until he figured out a way through that shield. Alex did have one advantage.

Rose and Jasper were safe, which meant all he had to do was take care of himself. He could retreat, and telling from the mad laughter coming from his enemy it may not be a bad idea. The laughing died down as the fire dripped away from the shield, "Ha, the same spell again. Surely you are more interesting than this."

A nearby wagon laying off the side of the path exploded into hundreds of bits. "If you're cowering, then I'll just blow away every hiding spot until I find you." A barrel was practically disintegrated next to the shack, the mad man was trying to flush him out. Alex was running down his list of spells, he only had a day to learn new ones so he was still unfamiliar with the bulk of them.

He couldn't summon his wolf, he would just get hurt attacking that shield. He needed something powerful enough to bust through that barrier. Another object was sent flying when he made up his mind. He jumped out of cover and lifted his staff.

"Lightning!" As soon as their eyes met a stream of golden lightning burst out the end of the staff crashing into the shield. Static and sparks flew off and scared the ground, filling the air with smoke. Alex could feel his mana getting sucked up and quickly released the spell.

He coughed and covered his mouth while trying to peer through the smoke. As Alex began to think he succeeded he could make out the undeniable laughter, "Now that's the spirit." Leom stood in the midst of the smoke smiling, his shield showing no sign of wavering.

Alex had already suspected the spell wouldn't work and lifted his staff once more, "Icy Mist!" A gust of cold air blew away the smoke and the temperature dropped below zero. The icy wind began swirling around making a mist around Leom. Ice began forming on the shield and Leom rubbed his chin, "I do not recognize this spell, no matter."

He raised a hand and attacked the icy shell but it resulted in nothing more than a crack that quickly froze over again. Seeing his opportunity Alex ran off behind the shack. He was outmatched. "Run, you won't get far," Leom shouted as he continued to attack his icy prison.