The sky boomed and crackled with electricity as storm clouds
rolled unnaturally in from the north and south, converging in the skies above
the ancient battle grounds that had not been used in more than a century. Not
since the last of the old wars had been fought.
Johann, the butcher's apprentice looked up from the carcass
of the meanderbeast he was carving up to see the streaks of lightning shoot up
from over the horizon; up from the grounds below, not down from the clouds
above.
He wiped his bloodied hands upon his apron and ventured into
the village's main street where his master's shop was prominently located.
From behind he heard the stomping of feet fast approaching
as he looked toward the old battle grounds.
Turning just in time to jump back out of the way of the
rushing crowds of villagers, running like mad toward the east end of the
village; towards the commotions erupting there.
Johann caught sight of his friend Verner and yelled to him
through the throng of people stampeding passed.
"Verner! What is all this about!?" He shouted as
his friend approached.
Not slowing, Verner only waved for Johann to join them,
shouting as he pointed east excitedly, "It's a battle!"
Not needing any more of an explanation, Johann threw off his
apron and dashed to catch up with his friend as the growing crowd sped toward
where columns of fire and smoke gushed up from behind the hills that hid the
old wizard battle arena.
Clambering up the west slope of the grassy mound, the crowd
spread out and came to a halt to stand in a line at the top of the hill,
watching in awe at what was happening below.
Two cloaked figures stood at either end of the large field
that was surrounded by the oval shape of the hill that been build up around it
to create the natural arena in days long ago.
Smouldering craters and charred blast marks marred the field
between the two long-bearded wizards as they both breathed heavily from the
exertion of the many attacks they had already reined upon one another.
As the crowd gathered all along the top of the border hill,
the wizards never took their eyes off one another, each lanky man of middling
years squinting warily at their opponent, strategizing their next spell.
The wizard in his grey cloak, covered in dirt and soot,
wiggled his fingers in readiness as the black cloaked wizard flex his fingers
open and close, neither one blinking or making any other move to indicate what
they might do next.
Suddenly, the wizard in black flung his arms forward as his
hands glowed orange and shot forth a giant ball of flame that sped toward the
wizard in grey. At the same moment, the grey shot a hand to the sky and bolts
of lightning sparked from his finger tips, not towards his opponent, but to the
clouds above.
Moving in a blink of an eye, the lightning bounced off the
dark clouds and rebounded down to where the wizard in black stood. Before the
man could react, hitting him directly in the chest.
Meanwhile, the grey cloaked wizard was able to safely jump
out of the way of the ball of flame that flew passed him and exploded into the
side of the far hill wall, knocking the spectators that stood watching flying
in every direction.
As the smoke cleared from each of the explosions, the grey
wizard could be seen hovering above the scorched field over to where his fallen
rival lay prone, struggling to breath.
Glowing green orbs appeared in the approaching wizard's
hands as he came to a landing a few paces from the black-clad wizard, who
lifted a shaky arm in an effort to shield himself ineffectually.
Raising his hands to deal the final blow, the grey wizard
looked down upon his fallen foe with contempt as the crowd watched with bated
breath.
With his arm still weakly outstretched, the black wizard
muttered an incantation barely above a whisper, but with a subtle circular
motion of his badly burnt hand, a magical gate way opened in the space directly
behind the grey and from out of it pour forth a horde of bearded wizards; all
of them wearing the same long black robes as the one laying beaten on the
battle field.
Hundreds of them streamed out of the portal and soon the
grey wizard was surrounded by identical black cloaked wizards; hurriedly he
created a domed shielding around himself.
Once the green glowing shield was in place, he quickly did a
similar motion with his hand as his opponent, only directed at the air above
where the black wizard lay.
From out of his portal, fell an army of his own duplicates,
landing and spreading out to surround the wild-eyed black wizards.
For a moment both sides stood ready to attack at the slightest
moment of the others.
Finally making it back up to his feet, the injured stood,
his shoulders heaving as he seemed to be building his strength up by sheer
will. Then, with a wild, unhinged scream, he cried, "Wizard Fight!"
Both the wizards and the crowd yelled and howled, and the
real battle began.
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