Ten minutes. That’s about all I get per amulet. Sometimes, if I pump more energy into a bolt, that time decreases.

  Ten years ago, back when Kai gave me my very first amulet, I ran out in about five minutes. Couldn’t control my energy. Had to curl up into a ball and weep as sparks of lightning splurged from every part of my body. It was torture.

  Ten seconds ago, when I activated my amulet, it was like welcoming an old friend with a warm embrace.

  Lightning is a part of me. A welcome reprieve from all the thoughts in my head.

  For when I have lightning flowing through my veins, all I need to do is kill.

  And I can kill a whole lot in ten minutes.

  I begin with the three plagued children that crawl towards Zyla’s floating form. Two clump together, so as I blitz across the marsh, leaving a sparkling trail in my wake, I leap forward and, midair, summon forth a spear of lightning. Cranking my arm back, I throw that spear at the two children while coming down on the third. This last one raises its large scorpion pincers to snap at my falling form. I’ll give it credit—it has a quick reaction speed. But lightning enhances my movements. I fall like a blur of crimson and slash down with an impromptu sword of red.

  The plagued child splits in two, its skin blackened, its scorpion-esque legs writhing, kicking the air. The worms that ate through its body now char blacker than the black of their wrinkled skin.

  I quickly glance over to the other two plagued. Unfortunately, my spear only served to stun them.

  However, Zyla finishes my work for me. Her blood ravens of ice and fire swoop down at the immobile plagued and slash at them. In a particularly gruesome display, the ice raven dips low and snatches at the plague child’s eyes, ripping them away with its talons.

  The screams that ensue are ear-splitting.

  I fire a second bolt their way for the hell of it. Then, I set my gaze forward.

  If I’m quick about it, I can clear our path for the next few days.

  Or even…

  I stop that train of thought, remembering Pamela’s warning when I asked her about it.

  “Why can’t I just take to the skies and smite their armies? I could end the war here and now. Kill Masaru,” I told her. This was shortly after she told about Masaru’s existence. When my anger was hottest and my world was red.

  She gave me a calm, calculated sort of look before saying “If only I could, I would certainly allow that. However, there are two issues. First, Masaru is defended by an army of skilled martial men and spirit users. I doubt they’d let you close easily. And, I’m not even including their amulet user. It would be a suicide mission.”

  I nodded, as if that was absolutely no concern of mine. She hadn’t seen what I could do yet.

  “And second?”

  She sighed. “Second, is that any air support I’ve sent, via wind spirit or flying spirit users, have all disappeared when they get too close. They have some way of dealing with that.”

  I nodded again. She squinted at me.

  “Look, Raiten. I can’t imagine how you must feel. But, in order for this to work, in order to guarantee your vengeance, I’d suggest moving with the Mancer Troop. They will carve you a path to certain victory. If you try doing this alone then… you could die. And, even if you don’t care about that, you could die without killing Masaru. That would be a waste. Wouldn’t it?”

  She had me there. Still, it was infuriating. Because I knew, I just knew that I could do it. End it.

  A part of that was my rage talking. Now, reason has come into play. It’s eaten away at the back of my mind for a while now. But, I restrained myself throughout our journey.

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  However… I don’t want to waste this chance. And, why should I? We’re close enough that I can both clear out the immediate path of the Mancers and then take to the clouds. I won’t be foolish of course. But, maybe, just maybe, if I can land a lucky shot…

  I chuckle to myself. Perhaps reason is worse than rage. It gives me excuses.

  With that, I kneel down and stretch my legs out quickly.

  “Raiten?” Umbrahorn calls. He bursts from the ground next to me. “What are you doing? I understand you’re angry, but why did you waste an amulet like that—”

  “Umbrahorn. Do you still have the witch’s scent?” I ask.

  He pauses. Sniffs. “Yes.”

  “Where?”

  “Same way we’re going. So… she’s in the Giant’s Glades?”

  The way she talked about helping me kill Masaru… she made it seem as if it was easy for her. What if it is? What if that’s how Sorayvlad is herding the plagued? What if… she’s been with the enemy this entire time?

  Then, you can truly kill two birds with one stone.

  “Let them know I’ll be back in a bit. Just have to take care of something.”

  “What does that even mean—”

  Before he can finish, I burst from the ground and skip across the roots, taking leaping, lightning-infused steps across the forest. I zoom through the briars, killing anything in my path.

  And then, two minutes later, I lasso a cloud and leap into the sun bleached heavens.

  …

  Souta:

  “Oh, he’s coming our way. That makes things easier,” the witch says, her eyes rolling back to normal now. Her crimson gaze settles on me. I back away a step.

  “What do you mean, ‘he’s coming our way?’ Who? Raiten or this… ‘old man?’”

  “The former,” she yawns, stretching her arm to the sky all cat-like. Then, she places a hand on my shoulder and grips it tight, pulling me towards the hill’s edge.

  “Now Souta. All you have to do is follow my instructions.”

  I want to resist. To tell her no. But, whether it be by some magicks or seduction or just genuine fear, I can’t. Instead, when she snatches my wrist and pulls it up, I let that arm go limp under her command.

  “Activate an amulet Souta.”

  I produce one from my pocket and crush it, allowing the green essence to infuse within me. A familiar power surges forth. I let one of the sparks shock her hand away from mine. She pulls away shaking her wrist. But rather than scowl or get angry, like I wanted her too, she just laughs.

  “Good very good. You seem ready. Now, aim a little to the right.”

  “Aim?”

  “With the spear, Souta. Catch up, will you?”

  I scowl. But, I follow her directions, gripping that tiny stick of a spear in my right palm and aiming it as I would a javelin.

  “Up now,” she mutters. Now I aim towards the sky. “A little, tiny bit towards the riiiiighhht…. And you’re good! Good job.” She pats me on the head.

  I mutter some curses—the few that I know at least.

  “Now. Infuse the spear with lightning and throw it.”

  What? “I’m not aiming at anything.”

  “Oh,” she waves her hand. “That doesn’t matter. But, do be sure to say Raiten and Saegor before throwing it. And whisper the names. Nice and soft. Like this,” she comes close for those last few words—annoyingly breathes into my ear. I move away from her, ignoring my boyish thoughts and instead trying to focus on the task at hand.

  Raiten. Saegor.

  Two men trying to ruin your life.

  And you’ve already had that happen once. Once was enough.

  I take a deep breath in.

  “Raiten. Saegor,” I whisper into the palm of my hand.

  As if in response, I feel the silver stick begin to the thrum with heat and energy. I pull my arm back, infuse it with lightning, let the green sparks wreathe my hand and the spear it withholds.

  Then, I thrust it into the sky.

  And release.

  A deafening boom follows, followed by a sound like screeching death. I don’t see the spear’s movement in the air. Instead, I see how it cracks through the iron-grey clouds and leaves large, perfect circles in them. Great gaping holes mark its flight.

  “What now?” I ask the witch.

  She shrugs. “Now, we wait. It shouldn’t be too long.”

  I sigh and take a seat, hugging my knees, wondering what in the name of the spirits I’ve just done.