Page 56 of A Storm of Fire and Ice

“Stick to the plan!” Brontes reminded us firmly. My mind raced, trying to recall the intricate strategy.

“I see that you’re working with that hag Moira,” Obsidia sneered. “She can try protecting her beloved academy, but she can’t protect you!”

Obsidia thrust her hands forward violently. Space dust recoiled from her strike in a shuddering pulse. Ready this time, I threw myself clear of the shockwave.

“Phase one, now!” Brontes yelled.

Right. Ice attacks first. Feel dead inside . . .

The lecture hall came into my mind, the history exam in front of me, ticking clock, shuffling papers, stifling silence. Utter mind-numbing boredom.

My emotions flattened in response. I fixed Obsidia with a glacial stare and flung my palms out. Jagged shards of ice materialized, swarming toward her. Beside me Fannar did the same, multiplying the frozen onslaught.

“You think these pathetic tricks can defeat me?” With a snarl, Obsidia dispersed the volley of ice. But Fannar and I continually replenished them from all sides, hemming her in.

“Phase two!” Brontes shouted.

Fannar and I veered away. Brontes and Gwyneira replaced us, conjured a massive tornado, swirling with sharp ice particles, around the Cosmic Enchanted. Obsidia’s screams echoed strangely as the whirling shards sliced her with countless cuts.

“Get out of my way!” she shrieked furiously, finally bursting free.

“Retreat!” Brontes barked.

We turned and fled, luring her after us over the spiked rooftop of the building. Brontes and Gwyneira laid down obscuring veils of frosted fog as we ran.

Obsidia pursued, spitting curses. “No you don’t. I won’t fall for this again!”

When she paused to blast through their frozen clouds, we were ready. Fannar and I ambushed her with jets of fire, swallowing her in a blazing inferno. Her agonized howls were chilling.

But with a burst of power, Obsidia surged through the flames straight at us.

Shit! She’s supposed to run away!

Before we could react, her hand clutched Fannar’s throat in a vise-like grip.

“You can’t defeat me!” she hissed. “You’re not even a Cosmic Enchanted!”

Rage boiled within me. I launched myself at Obsidia, cracking a kick against her ribs. She gasped, releasing Fannar. Her magic flickered erratically as she tumbled backward.

“Phase three, now!” Brontes yelled.

Phase three . . . that’s the storm attack!

“Ready?” Fannar asked, turning to me.

I nodded, steeling myself. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

We unleashed a torrent of flames upon Obsidia, but she matched us strike for strike. Her wild eyes stayed locked on us as we dueled.

Brontes and Gwyneira quietly crept forward. The plan was for them to ambush Obsidia from behind while Fannar and I kept her distracted with our attacks. If only it had been that easy.

“Four against one isn’t fair. But don’t worry, how about I even the odds a little?” Obsidia smirked.

Before they could reach Obsidia, she braced both of her hands. Instantly, the surrounding space grew heavy and cold, vibrating with an eerie hum of magic. A dark ball swirled between her palms, bolts of black lightning snapping from its center.

“Let’s see how you fulfill the ‘Storm of Fire and Ice’ prophecy if I put out the fire first,” she taunted menacingly.

Obsidia unleashed the sphere of deathly energy, a crackling menace of darkness hurtling through the void. Its pure malevolence seemed to warp reality, leaving a trail of frigid emptiness in its wake.

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