Several pedestrians gasped and jumped out of Ellyne’s way as she exited the bar. For a moment, they shared glances, with nobody sure what to say or do. Not even during the height of the war, when she was both a most feared enemy and a lauded hero, did she receive this much attention.
“Word travels fast,” she mumbled, muscling past the forming crowd and leaving them behind even as she heard several claps and cheers. “Fools,” she spat. “They have no idea.”
She sensed the irony—about how she herself was always clueless, building the bridge as she crossed the chasm. This was no different, except she knew some information very few others knew, which provided confidence for a change.
She carefully watched those around her riding on hoversticks, driving in vehicles, or simply loitering nearby. It wasn’t as if she didn’t trust them but … no, she didn’t trust them. And they were all sheep, submitting to the Ilserate or whoever currently wielded the largest weapon, all the while being grateful for the scraps of magic they were fed so they could live their lives in relative comfort and convenience.
And, apparently, magic was indeed more reliable, as there were more people about, making liberal use of it.
At this point, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do—take magic away from everyone, give magic back to everyone … or just tell everyone what to do and kill those who got in her way. The third option was the most palatable.
She was probably the most powerful being on Seralune—a title Nicole once held. She could do what she wanted and go where she wanted. Who could stop her? Everyone feared her. True, some revered her, but she was certain there was fear, too.
“It’s the mage breaker!” a man nearby shouted, pointing to Ellyne. “Hey, everyone! It’s the mage breaker! We love you!”
Using flocia, Ellyne pulled the man to her and grabbed him by the throat. She scowled, mere inches from his face, feeling nothing but anger inside. The man gasped and sputtered, trying to loosen her grip. Such a thing would get him nowhere, however, as she channeled flocia to enhance her strength without effort or thought.
She could kill him and there was nothing anyone could do. Sure, they could try to apprehend her or maybe mark her as a wanted fugitive but that would all be for show. They couldn’t stop her.
His eyes pleaded with her. “Please,” he gurgled. “I’m sorry.”
She released him, dropping him to the sidewalk, coughing and gasping. He clutched his throat and stared up at her, dumbfounded and confused.
“I’m sorry, “he sputtered meekly, lowering his gaze to the ground. “I didn’t mean to—”
She ignored him, leaving him behind both physically and in her thoughts, wondering if she should’ve killed him.
For the first time ever, she felt unrestricted. There was freedom in power, and she had plenty of both. No longer did she have to live life always looking over her shoulder. The Ilserate couldn’t control her and the Kithrak couldn’t touch her. Oh, they’d both probably try but she was confident it would go poorly for them.
No, her fear was gone, replaced with confidence, and she welcomed the opportunity to send everyone fleeing from her. The Technicians and the Teranyne Order hadn’t even attempted to pester her. It was, however, only a matter of time before one of those groups attempted to manipulate the situation and perhaps try to use her. The very thought excited her and made her giddy. Let them try.
Was this why the Kithrak and the Ilserate subjugated the people of Karnascus? Because they could? Certainly, they had other reasons, but she wasn’t sure they needed any. No, the more she thought about it, the more believable it became that they simply wanted control. The T-helm experiments—turning people into ravenous grika—proved that well enough.
She wanted answers but, more than that, she wanted to be rid of all of them—the Kithrak, the Ilserate, and the flying lizards. Since nobody else seemed equipped or motivated to perform this service, it appeared the task fell to her alone.
And she still wanted to be rid of flocia more than anything—no matter how much she loved the power. It was unnatural and it corrupted everything it touched. It was a cancer she needed to cut out. She would get rid of it completely… somehow. However, not before she overthrew the oppressors and placed herself in a position of power.
But she was getting ahead of herself. First, she needed to expel the lizards from Seralune. That seemed the easiest part of the whole thing. If she fought them hard enough, they’d leave, wouldn’t they?
Having time to think it through more, doubt began to creep in, and she began to wonder just what it would take to force them to leave. She knew next to nothing about them except they were tough and persistent. But would they remain if she relentlessly attacked them?
And then she’d deal with the Kithrak … and then the Ilserate. Those two seemed like they’d be easier after getting rid of the lizards. Ellyne’s task list appeared to be getting longer.
Suddenly, the mission felt insurmountable. These were wars fought by armies, not one person. And wars lasted years. But she was more than just one person, wasn’t she? It wouldn’t be easy, and it may take some time, but she could do it. She’d already sent a message to not only the lizards, but to everyone on the planet.
A Kithrak patrol approached. Three bots conspicuously stuck out in a sea of people as they tried to navigate the busy street. Ordinarily, they would glide around or over people but the new bots—those with legs—had a tough time getting around in crowds. People tried moving to avoid the patrol, but such an action was difficult when there was nowhere to go.
Ellyne confidently strutted toward the approaching bots. She was curious as to how they would react to her presence once they identified her. Her confidence swelled. And though she knew she needn’t hide or flee, she still felt the urge. After so many years of trying to fly under the radar, this was a new world for her.
“Old habits,” she mused. “Come on, let’s see what you do once you notice me. I’m right here.”
She didn’t have to wait long. It was obvious the moment the patrol detected her. She saw the bots stop and two Kithrak conferred while the crowd flowed around them.
Ellyne, however, didn’t stop, and the two Kithrak noticed immediately. She could see concern in each of their three eyes. That concern quickly turned to fear.
“They’re sending out higher-ranking mages,” she mumbled. “Not even trying to blend in anymore, as if they want everyone to see them. They must be trying to appear in control, but I bet they’re worried about something. Probably me. Good.”
The patrol abruptly changed course, heading toward a nearby alley. The bots made no effort to avoid people and the mages shoved pedestrians out of their way using magic.
“You’re running?” Ellyne laughed, hurrying after them. “Oh no, you won’t get away that easily.”
She hurried after the patrol, having an easier time with the people around her than the bots were having. While the Kithrak and bots had to work and muscle through the crowd, Ellyne found everyone willingly moved out of her way. Some shouted, some gasped and pointed, and others simply gave her a wide berth.
“Go get ‘em, mage breaker!” someone shouted.
“The mage breaker? Where?” she heard a woman say.
“Over there!” someone replied. “She’s chasing the patrol! Hell yeah!”
Ellyne paid them no mind. She was fixed on her targets and followed them into the alley. There, she saw them scurrying away from her and a grin crossed her lips.
The two Kithrak spotted her and immediately began casting their spells with fear in their eyes as they tried backing away. She cackled and watched them as both their spells fizzled.
The bots awkwardly lumbered on mechanical legs, moving between her and the mages, obviously trying to block her. Ellyne laughed some more, feeling the two mages tugging on flocia, attempting more spells, but she somehow kept it away from them as if it belonged to her only. She was unsure how this worked, but there was no time to ponder the situation.
Her first urge was to draw her weapon, but she stayed her hand and instead slashed the air in front of her with her finger, sending a radiant wave of blue energy at the bots. The blast collided with two of the machines, sending various sparking scrap and shrapnel in several directions.
“That’s new,” she mused, inspecting her hands. “Wonder how I did it.”
The two Kithrak muttered to each other with shaky voices, pointing at Ellyne as they slowly backed up. The remaining bot raised its gun, but Ellyne was already too close for it to adjust its aim. Another bolt of energy flew from her hand, tearing through its armor and leaving a smoking husk.
She felt the Kithrak tug at flocia as they again tried to cast their spells, but it refused their commands, remaining with Ellyne instead. If only she knew how she was making that happen, she could literally bend the entire planet to her.
“It’s okay guys,” she sneered, “performance anxiety’s an actual thing, and it probably happens to everyone. But you never really had a chance in the first place.”
She raised her palms and bathed the two mages in blazing energy.
“Get out of my city,” she muttered before she turned and strutted out of the alley. “And get off my planet.” A sizable crowd gathered to witness the spectacle and stood in stark silence as she moved through them. They gave her room to pass, gasping and whispering as she exited the alley.
Observers in the street scurried to move out of her way, saying nothing and letting her pass unmolested as the sea of onlookers literally parted for her. Pride and confidence swelled within Ellyne. She was invincible—a beacon to the people of Karnascus—and she would rid the city of anyone and anything that stood against her.
“We love you, mage breaker!” a man from the crowd shouted.
Ellyne stopped briefly, clenching her fists. The urge to turn and yell at the crowd was overwhelming, but she resisted. How dare they speak to her!
“I’ve been fighting for you urchins,” she whispered to herself, “and you still sit on your asses, gobbling up magic and letting everyone control you. You’re pathetic. Get up and do something for yourselves.”
“You’re our hero!” another man shouted.
“No,” she shouted back, “That I’m not.”
Her pace quickened and she wanted nothing more than to escape the throng of worthless sycophants that clung to whatever shreds of magic they had. They would pledge their undying allegiance to anyone who showed immense power. Right now, it just happened to be her but tomorrow it could be someone or something else.
“Now move out of my way,” she shouted, her hands suddenly glowing with red energy.
The air around her crackled and her arms tingled as she threw a bolt of raw flocia into the air. “I said MOVE!” she shrieked.
People scattered. Some screamed, others gasped, and a few were trampled in the panic, but none of this concerned her. She hated them for being subservient, for using magic and, most importantly, for being in her way. They should’ve been thankful she didn’t turn her flocia on them. They got to live today, and that was their gift for leaving the area.
“That’s right,” she mumbled, “flee. You’d just be cannon fodder for what comes next.”
Ellyne sauntered out of the alley and into the street where many of the onlookers had fled. Most of them scattered or tried to hide when she emerged, but it appeared they were still captivated by her and couldn’t completely pry themselves away.
“Free yourselves!” she shouted. “Stop being servants of the Kithrak or whatever other power comes along! Magic is a prison! The sooner you accept it, the sooner you’ll be free!”
Her voice echoed through the street. The people she spotted in the area remained, watching her, but nobody spoke, and nobody moved. They looked at one another and then back at her.
“It’s time for us to rise up,” she continued, “and take back our city! The Kithrak are not the peaceful magic stewards you think they are! They’re using you! The Ilserate is using you.”
Ellyne stared up at the sky, watching the hulking ship hovering high overhead, waiting for any sign of activity. “Any second now,” she mumbled.