Goblins

Odin moves us above the knights in the yard. We fly out over the field where a battle is clearly waging. A large flaming ball comes for us.

"Was that ally fire?" Jessica spins to see the giant flaming balls are coming from our ballistics.

"They'll trying to kill us." Odin scoffs. "Don't worry. My shields are in place. Magic can only go out not in."

"Are those considered magic?" I ask.

"Yes. It's a duel attack."

"And if there was no magic?"

"I can dodge. The shield is for targeting spells. The rest, you may just fall off."

I grunt. "Need seat belts on your magic carpets." I close my eyes recalling the vast field. There are knights out there already. Blue knights used to battle. I can believe they'll handle whatever comes. The goblins were still coming, though. And it's definitely not easy. "I need to be seen as the target, Odin." I stand up. Jessica grabs hold of my arms. It helps steady myself. I nearly fell after all. Even if we're only hovering, the rug is moving beneath us.

"I can land." Odin offers.

That sounds like a bad plan. "Can you give me a platform, though?"

"Us a platform?" Jessica asks.

Odin nods. A piece of earth grows below us. It's steep cliffs surrounding a small platform. "I'm going to stay to the air, though. Good luck."

Jessica and I stand on the platform. The goblins know I am the murderer. They can feel it. That rage they have will be directed at me. Jessica sends out her cross bolts, which is making decent work of them. She has gotten better since I saw her last. And these goblins aren't trying to guard their bodies in their rage. "I can't kill them fast enough."

I came out here to use my magic. Or truly to have my magic use me. I close my eyes again weighing everything. They're coming for me.

"Friendly fire!" Jessica calls out.

A curse runs my head as I look at the incoming fireball. 'Save my country. It can't end here.'

The rumple below us has our platform crumble into the ground, but then earthquakes rattle everything. The goblins are being eaten by the ground, trapped in a way I never thought possible. Will they find a way to escape? Am I burying them alive? It's my magic. I can feel that. The fire ball that almost hit us goes far overhead crashing into the earth and being swallowed up.

"Did you just use Earthquake?!" Jessica calls out. With the noise of the spell, any quiet words wouldn't be heard.

Speaking, though is impossible for me at the moment. I'm lucky to have awareness with the spell still going. As the ground settles, I crash to the ground feeling mana drained. The level of spell needed to handle everything... Would be tough on me if I had all my skills.

No. I'm blacking out.

I'm not ready for the full access of all my mana.

Because these spells are something I'll be able to repeat. I'll be able to completely reform the land to suit my interests.

"Thomas!" Jessica places hands on my chest. I can feel her there as my mind clicks off.

I come to on Odin's magic carpet. "Ugh."

"That's what I meant by you're not ready." Odin knocks my shoulder. Jessica has my hand squeezing it. Her relief at seeing me is helpful.

I force her to let go. "Let them believe it's only a contract, please. You're not safe as is." I have my magic backing me. The curse is two fold. Even if I can't use it my way, it does answer the request. As a child, I wouldn't have the knowledge to use any of my magic, but would need the magic's support. I'm not strong enough. Could it be I could handle the level of mana as I just did, but don't have the knowledge? I blacked out though. There's good chance I can 'handle the mana' now. Meaning it won't kill me when a spell is cast, even my top level stuff, but that doesn't mean I am capable of more than just passing out afterwards. As I did this time.

Jessica looks to Odin. "What was that?"

"His mother can use the same spell." Odin says as we fly over the area. It looks like we're surveying, but I'll guess it's to help me recover. "Earth Reconstruction. It costs a lot of mana and many lives. To use it to just reset the field to what it was before though isn't the norm."

I chuckle. "They were ruining it anyway." Sitting up has me dizzy. "Is this what you meant? It's not threat of death, but..."

"Your best magics will knock you out yet. And you'll lose access to them until you can cast the spell."

I frown. "Then I need to learn the spell."

"I'll get you copies of your parents spell books. You should be able to manage all of them once the block is gone."

I exhale. I solved the problem. "Did I get counted as murderer that time? Or did they count as spell sacrifice?" Which still marks me as murderer, but not in the same class.

"The latter." Odin can read people. Most won't be able to guess my kill count. Now it'll be in the thousands. There were a lot of goblins out there. "Ready to face your parents again? The real test begins soon."

"Stop calling everything a test, Odin."

"Better than pointing out the real consequences."

I gulp. "Can you use resurrect?"

"No. That's your mother's spell."

I press my chest. So I should be able to. Would the magic listen? Would I be fast enough?

"We're heading back. The field is clear."

I exhale trying my best not to think too hard about it. Jessica grabs my hand again, but I shake her off. I don't want anyone thinking we're anything more than fellow knights. Not just to give her time as a knight, but to make sure they can't use her to get to me.

Because I know they most definitely can use her to get to me.