Wizardness

“Look out, Tark” Tobias heard someone yell. The sound of the fire was nearly deafening, so hearing anything at all was surprising.
Tobias set himself into the center of the fire. There was something malicious in the fire. Something set on destroying him. He could feel someone there. He felt his body, his spark respond to his demands. His arms, crossed in an X in front of his face morphed into a shield. The flames were pushed aside from his face.
He felt the rocks slide beneath his feet. He knew he didn’t want to get pushed, so he tried to step forward against it. He pressed down harder. The earth buckled beneath his foot. He stopped sliding. He stepped forward.
He was suddenly flung aside. He tumbled and rolled away from the fire. He used his momentum to roll to his feet. He slid to a stop. Red was pushing into the fireball from the side. She had redirected it away from Tobias, which hurled him away.
“I’m clear!” he roared.
She pivoted away and let the line of fire flare off into the distance.
Tobias envisioned the Fist through his thread, “HELP! Someone bring Draganvil!”
Through his vision he saw Giggles cry out in alarm while the other 3 jumped. He narrowed the connection before he saw anything else.
Red had come back to join him, she pointed at the horizon, “Look, it stops there. It’s heading towards us.”
The fire abruptly cut off and a figure hurtled towards Red and Tobias. It continued to accelerate, Tobiaas could hardly track it.
Tobias pushed Red away from him and rolled the opposite direction. As he stood, something smashed into his jaw. He flew backwards with the punch, leaving his feet. He briefly lost consciousness, then found himself still connected to a fist. He lashed out with his foot, sending his attacker flying away from him.
Tobias tucked inward to protect himself. He landed, hard. He dug deep into the ground. Dirt liquefied around him. He shook himself off and stood in the crater. His vision was blurred and his feet were wobbly.
The barracks door flew open. He didn’t have time to focus on that, as his enemy was launching another attack. The man, Tobias had figured that much out, was setting himself to shoot something at Tobias.
As the attack launched from the outstretched hands, a shadow stepped between the two of them. Liquid fire sprayed towards the figure, she held a sword up sending the spray wide of both of them.
“Catch!” Plain’s voice rang in Tobias’s mind.
Tobias looked up to see Draganvil hurtling through the air at him.
You better catch me! Draganvil cried.
Tobias saw the maul gleam in the blaze of fire. He jumped and caught the maul. He was quickly pulled to the earth, but he landed lightly.
“Fist, form up behind the enemy. On my mark, hit him with whatever ranged attack you’ve got.” he sent.
“What about Rose?” Ronlique asked.
“I’ll get her.”
Tobias watched in awe as the blast of fire changed direction. First, it split on either side of Red, then the flames beyond her cooled, finally, she seemed to consume the flames. Her hair getting brighter and hotter with evey shift in the flame.
“Ready.” The fist sent in unison.
“3…2…1…mark!”
Tobias launched into the air on 1, by the time he sent mark, Red was in his arms and being swung out of the way.
A blast of cold hit their enemy. A blast of air followed. Pellets of sling stones shattered on the target. Finally, Ronlique’s blade glanced off the target to slammed into Tobias’ shoulder.
He staggered and spun. Red was thrown from his grasp. He lost sight of her as he rolled and pulled Draganvil back to crush their enemy.
As he swung, Red let out the blast of fire she’d absorbed into the enemy.
Whatever they’d been hitting, was shattered into nothingness as soon as Draganvil made contact. There was a rebound of energy, the Fist was blown back. Draganvil was nearly ripped from Tobias’ hands. He focused on his grip as he tumbled through the air.
“Any eyes on the enemy?” Tobias sent.
“No.” Plain’s rumble sounded concerned.
“How’s Rose?”
“She was fine last I saw her. She blasted him too.”
“Good” Tobias could almost hear Ronlique’s smile.
Tobias noticed a form on the ground not far from him.
“Let’s form up around Red.”
Tobias offered a hand to Red, she was on her back, sprawled out. She scowled at him and took his hand. She nearly pulled him down pulling herself up. The fist quickly formed up around her. Ronlique gave her a quick once over and then a hug. Red made a tight smile. She turned to Tobias.
“What the hell was that tackle for?”
“I didn’t want you to get hit with any cross fire from the fist.”
“How did you know?”
“I told them to.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Tobias shrugged, “I can’t.”
He walked over to the small impact crater. He couldn’t make out much other than scarring from all the attacks.
“What do you mean, ‘I can’t’ can you, with Ronlique?”
“It’s my spark. You don’t trust me. I haven’t earned the ability to do that. I’ve barely earned much of anything with Ronlique. I think I could only talk with her because she was with the rest of the Fist.”
Tobias turned back to Red, her hair was flames, again. She grabbed what was left of his shirt. She tore it away.
He chest was marked with residue from the attack. On his left shoulder there was a deep dark black cut, the shape resembled Ronlique’s weapon. On his abdomen, by the lightening like cracks, there were thousands of tiny flecks, arranged like a blast of wind.
She took a step back as the shirt ripped. “What the in the damp?”
Tobias noted movement behind Red. “Fist form up!” he sent.
Red’s head snapped. She scowled, but noticed his attention was behind her and he was set in a stance.
The halfings were boiling out of the barracks. At least a dozen of them. They carried no weapons, but looked ready for a fight. Tears were streaming down a few of their faces. A few were screaming incoherently.
Suddenly Commander Lee was there. He was glowing. His uniform was in tatters, but he didn’t look hurt.
“What is this?” He demanded. “I was simply punishing ‘Or der BOY’ when you mutinied”
“Punishing?” Tobias asked.
“Yes, for not completing today’s training. I guess I’ll just punish the full fist for your disobedience.”
“Fine, punish me. Leave the rest of the fist out of it. Leave your… Slaves out of it too. You’re clearly hurting them.”
“It’s far too late to leave them out of this. They attacked a commanding officer.”
“If you’d only announced yourself when you attack!”
“Who else could it have been.”
The halfings lurched forward. Two raised their hands. The ground between the Commander and the Fist burst upwards. It formed into massive boulders.
Break them! Draganvil cried.
Tobias launched himself into the air. He swung with all his might on the first ball. He shattered it. He was flung backwards, as was the pair of halfings. The other ball, collapsed back into the ground below. Tobias felt himself get pulled backwards. He threw up on himself. He could see blackness and spots.
He heard Red cry defiantly at Commander Lee. He couldn’t understand her words, though.
Eventually, his vision cleared and the ringing in his ears faded. He was surrounded by the Fist.
“What’s going on?” He asked, slurring his question.
“Lee’s left for now. He said he’d punish us more severely if we missed our training tomorrow.” Red answered.
“He shit himself when you shattered that boulder thing.” Dar’kid said.
“Hmm, let us get you cleaned up.” Plain said.
“Red, wake me up in the morning for training.” Tobias said. Plain lifted him and he was out before they even reached the barracks.