Magi Games

Task 6: My Entry

A burning sensation stung Greo's side in rolling waves... pulsing, throbbing, the pain worsened with every second that ticked by.

No, Greo thought boldly. Not here. Not like this. He had accepted his fate and had given up; he'd even said goodbye to his friends. Yet something deep within him refused to simply lay down and die. Perhaps it was the survival instinct that supposedly existed in most living creatures. Perhaps it was Greo's own stubborn nature. Perhaps it was his strength or... Perhaps it was something else, something Greo didn't realize he had. His friends... What would they say if they could see him like this, just giving him? Never before.

Never again.

Greo's fingers clawed at the dirt, dragging his beaten and battered body forward by just half an inch. He screamed as the movement tore through him. Gasping for breath, he pulled himself forward again. And again. And again.

Agony...

Tears formed in his eyes and spilled over onto his blood-streaked cheeks involuntarily. Greo gritted his teeth and hissed from the sheer agony pulsing through him. Greo wheezed, feeling something hot and sticky beneath him. Blood formed a pool beneath him which forced him to crawl through his own blood.

Fingers embedded deep into the dirt, Greo's muscles strained as he pulled himself a little farther forward. His body wailed in protest and his voice echoed it. Burning, searing pain... Black spots flickered in his fading vision as his breath came in harsh rasps. Exhaustion swept over him and his muscles became heavy, oh... so heavy.

No... Not... like... this!"

*****

Three mentors and a powerful Elite Magi dead. Kyren couldn't help but continuously glance back at Naya, who clutched Rya tightly in her arms.

Rovad glanced at the gathered Black Dragon members as they stood on the palace steps. "The Gamemakers have called us in for a special meeting, but only the representatives are allowed to go. Jeythr, now that you are back, you, Kyren, and Benjo are the three original members. Hywel, I want you to replace Greo for now, and Logan, I want you to replace Syra. These are only temporary. Let's go."

Kyren kissed Rya on the forehead as she giggled. "Don't worry, Daddy. Naya and I are gonna have lots of fun!"

"I'm sure you will, sweetheart," Kyren murmured and leaned to give Naya a kiss on the cheek. "Please keep her safe." He lowered his voice so only she could hear.

He followed Rovad, Hywel, Benjo, Jeythr, and Logan, into the palace. Inside, several dozen other Magi were already gathered. Directly across from the doors, Evina, Pimret, and Thulok stood together in a line.

Rovad led the five of them to the left of the door where they gathered to make room for the guild following them. Benjo grinned at Opal and she blew him a kiss, but Opal and her guildmates headed toward the right.

Kyren's eyes met two of his old friends'; Jae and Eiridian clutched hands, beside other members of Guild Valkyrie that Kyren barely recognized. Off in the distance, Knight's Watch eagerly awaited the Gamemakers news and Mordzar was among them. Kyren had no idea the metal mage was still alive and he wanted to say hi, but the last guild filed in and the doors closed behind them, creating silence in the entire room.

He slid his eyes over the members of Silent Phoenix, expecting to see Eriswen there, only she wasn't. Where was she?

"Thank you all for coming," Evina said, her peppy voice unusually lower in pitch and wavering slightly. "The Republic Senators advised us against this, but we wanted all of you to know the truth of the dire situation."