Burning Down

They were shocked to see what lay infront of their eyes. The whole city was being burnt down. There were Firemen running around with hoses and ladders, trying to rescue the people. Firemen were all non mages. The mages of the city were busy fighting those mages from the other dimension. The mages from Earth and those from the other dimension could be easily recognised as those mages from the other dimension were armoured. Thick armours made of copper and silver. The city was in total chaos. They could see people running, screaming and searching for their beloveds. They could see the armoured mages flying around on dragons and casting spells on the Earthlings. The mages here had no means to fight them as our powers cannot equal theirs. Still we didn't lose hope. Our mages kept on trying. A lot of people were injured. There were casualties on both sides.

Aster could see everything burn down. Everything he loved. Everything he knew. Hogman was trying hard. He had already killed 4 or 5 of those invaders. He was struggling with another now. One who seemed more powerful than all others. Hogman's present opponent was a man in a silver armour which covered his body completely. He was sitting on a dragon. He had huge eyebrows and small eyes. Those dark brown eyes glowed mischeviously. It was clear from his face that he was afraid of wars. He was fighting for someone else. That was clear.

But Aster spotted a strange familiarity. He felt that he had seen that man somewhere. A certainty that he had met that guy somewhere. Aster scratched his head in confusion. Sienna and Eren exchanged confused glances and asked Aster what the problem was.

"I've seen him somewhere." Aster replied, looking at the man fixedly. He was trying to recollect.

Aster was running through a forest. Dragons came to attack him. Dragons tamedby mages. They attacked him. "You will die", one of them had said. Suddenly, Aster remembered. It was him! The very person who attacked him.

Aster told about this to Eren and Sienna as quickly as he could. They were confused. But now, they had no time for confusions. They had to decide. Decide quickly. In the end, they decided to fight.

"ASTER BROWN! You escaped last time you won't escape now!" A voice thundered.

It was him. The armoured mage. Their leader. The mage who had attacked hoan once.

Aster could see the mage's eyes scanning him thoroughly. Hogman and the other people were surprised at the sudden words. Hogman looked at Aster. Astor's innocent face, now showed fright. He was afraid that he won't be able to fight back.

Sienna took hold of Aster's hand and started running. Eren followed behind. It was their duty to protect their friend. Hogman continued his fight with the mage. The mage saw Aster running away and turned towards him. He drove his dragon behind the three teenagers. Sienna was terrified seeing the beast more closely now. Eren was afraid of the beast too. Aster who had already had an experience with those dragons, was less afraid among the three.

The teachers had a duty to protect their students. They came in for help, but were hold on by other armoured mages. Hogman was busy fighting other mages too. It seemed like the mages came here only to get Aster. Hogman was curious about this. He wanted to save that boy whatsoever.

Aster and Sienna ran into a dead end. Even bumbed on them. Now they hadno escape. Nowhere to run. They had ran so far, that they had come to a deserted place. That's when Sienna understood the armoured mage's trick. He had gotthem detached from the main battleground. Now, they had no backup. No one to rescue them.

Aster noticed something on top of the dragon. There was a woman tied to an iron rod. A beautiful woman. A woman with thick black hair and captive black eyes. But, she was crying. She covered her face in her arms when she saw Aster looking at her.

The armoured mage saw Aster looking at her, and smiled sadistically.

"That's what she get's for saving your life." He said laughing. "She will remain our slave forever"

'It's her. It was her, who saved me that day. ' Aster thought.

"No Denver! NEVER! I'm not your slave and will never be! You and your master will be killed. Aster will kill you." The woman said.

Denver look out his knife and tried to slit the woman's throat. Sienna quickly used a spell and the knife fell off from his hands. Now Denver turned to them. He looked at them angrily. He turned to attack them. Eren and Sienna got ready for an attack too. Aster stood behind them, not knowing what to do.

The dragon breathed fire on them. Eren's perfect spell extinguished all of those flames. Then Denver started using more powerful spells. It was getting more and more harder for Sienna and Eren to counter his spells. They knew, that they could not hold on for long. Aster watched all of this in fright.

Denver turned to the woman and said "Look Tania! Didn't you see? He can't even cast a spell! " He laughed.

Tania's eyes were burning with fury.

"Aster! what are you waiting for? Attack them! Conjure the sword! ASTER!" She cried out.

"I.....don't know..... I DON'T KNOW HOW TO CONJURE IT! " Aster screamed.

By this time, Sienna had lost all her energy. Denver saw this as his chance and casted a very powerful spell, which send Sienna flying on the air. She hit the ground hard. She fell on her back and could not move. Aster ran to where Sienna had fell and tried to heal her. But his spells never worked, it did not work now either. He cried out seeing Sienna lay motionless on the ground.

Now it was Eren alone. He was facing Denver. He suffered innumerable injuries. Still, he did not give up. He fought with all his might. Eren was losing his energy too. Rapidly. He knew, he could not hold on for long. But as long as he could, he will, because, he was doing it for his friend. Denver flew his dragon to where Eren was standing and picked him up with his hands. Denver used his knife to stab Eren on his right arm. The arm most useful in magic. Eren let out a groan.

"Didn't you see your friends suffering? Surrender yourself and I'll spare their lives." Denver said.

"Leave him Denver! You can take me!" Aster said with tears flowing down his cheeks. He knew that, it was him who pushed them into trouble.

"No... Aster... Don't do that! This is a... trick... He will kill you." Eren said.

" Aster, you can get your sword. Fight back Aster. Don't give up without trying, Aster!" Tania pleaded.

"All they want is me. I'm ready to go if the free you and spare their lives." Aster said.

"You are a fool Aster. What they want is your power. Your powers are much more than what you realise. You are a fool. You do not even know to use your gifts. You're useless, Aster!!" Tania shouted.

Aster could feel his blood boiling hearing these rude words. That was too much. He could feel the heat building upon his body. Tania's words had motivated him. It gave him strength and courage. He wanted to fight. He wanted to rescue his friends. His arms gained strength from nowhere, his skin turned orange. He was burning. He could feel the flames now. He wished for the sword. The very next instant he had the imperial sword in his arm. The shining silver sword. Aster was more courageous and bolder now. But he wasn't sure of his capabilities.

The teachers and Hogman came running to the place to see Aster holding the sword and glowing orange, letting out flames from his body. They were shocked to see this scene. They also saw Sienna lying on the ground and Eren lying injured on the black beast.

Denver casted his first spell, his first attack on Aster. A thousand knives came flying towards him...