by Liam McGinley ’28
Peeta groaned, shaking his head. He gazed at the shell of his once kind lover in front of him. Felix did the same. They grew weaker. Arms went limp and hands cramped as exhaustion overtook the couple. Peeta couldn’t push Felix or himself anymore. This would cause both of their demises. He couldn’t do that to Delia or their kids.
Peeta huffed, putting his hands up. Felix stiffened, adjusting his stance. Peeta closed his eyes, exhaling. Sweat beads formed on Peeta’s forehead as he tried his best to recollect his consciousness.
Peeta opened his eyes, lip quivering. “I refuse to fight you anymore, Felix,” he said, putting his hands down gently. “They’re pushing you to the point that it’ll kill you for overusing your magic. You already crossed that path once before and I refuse to let that happen again. You can’t do this anymore. I can’t do this anymore. It’s time for us to stop before we venture to the point of no return.”
Felix huffed, shaking his head. Peeta begged him to stop yet Felix was persistent. Peeta continued to beg but his pleas were pointless. The Aargeons had a tighter hold on Felix’s mind than he originally thought.
Felix twirled his fingers, huffing and grimacing. Peeta looked at Felix’s hand alarmed as his once pure white magic began to grow darker. Peeta stiffened. That was unnatural for Felix’s magic. It appeared that Felix somehow absorbed part of Peeta’s magic.
Felix shook his head, still twirling his fingers. “I will not yield,” he claimed. “A fall from this height would surely kill a mortal man. I wonder what it would do to a crystal. “
Peeta floated backwards. “Felix,” he warned, shaking his head. “Your magic is changing for the worse. You physically can’t bend dark magic but your magic continues to darken because of this. You need to stop. We can fix this together.” He slowly extended his hand, begging and urging Felix to take it.
Felix huffed, holding his hand up. “You dare try to distract me,” he roared. “I will destroy that crystal and you. I won’t let myself face defeat from you and this unborn child!”
Peeta’s facial expression dropped. He pursued his lips together and shook his head sadly. “You’ll only destroy yourself,” Peeta began. “If you cast that spell, who knows what will happen, Felix? I don’t know what corrupts your magic right now. However, surely you can feel the difference while using it, can’t you?”
Felix glanced over to his golden stained hand. It held a ball of magic that casted an eerie gray glow off of it. It was peculiar. Sinister even. Yet, to Felix, it felt exhilarating.
Peeta gulped, hand shaking. “I don’t know that magic,” he stuttered. “Felix, please, if you cast that spell you could hurt yourself. I love you and I can’t let you cast it. Who knows what the price may demand of you for that magic!”
Felix turned his head, shaking his head. “I don’t care,” he uttered, eyes slightly twitching. “The voices intensify. I can’t rid myself of them unless I kill you both. Who cares about the price?”
Peeta shook his head. “No,” Peeta mumbled. “No, Felix, don’t do this.”
Felix only stared. His hand shook as the magic surged through him. Peeta’s mind raced and his chest tightened. He didn’t want this to end this way. He had to protect at least one of them if he couldn’t save them all.
Felix tilted his head and casted that magic straight at Peeta and the crystal. Peeta yelled his name before falling from the sky rapidly. Felix stared at the sight, emotionless as the voices diminished. Peace washed upon Felix’s mind after the absence of it for what felt like eternity. Felix basked in the tranquility.
Crack. Felix jumped. Another crack. He stared at his arm that pulsated off that same unknown hue. When the burning arised from his neck, Felix began to scream, overwhelmed by the sensation.
Felix screamed more, grasping his head, letting himself drop from the sky. His thoughts raced and his senses were shot. What happened next was unknown. His vivid thought was only blackness overcoming him.
