ตอน 24: Price of Arrogance

Kael's patience finally snapped. How dare these uncultured peasants defy him, a royal prince of the Azure Kingdom! Just because they had a few strong individuals, did they think they could disregard his authority?

"You little brat!" he snarled, lunging towards Pyrrhus, his royal decorum momentarily forgotten.

But Pyrrhus wasn't the helpless child Kael assumed him to be. With the agility of a jungle cat, he danced back as he narrowly avoided Kael's grasp.

Kael straightened, his face contorted in a mask of rage. "You decide how this goes," he hissed, his voice dripping with venom. "If you want to play rough, I can play rough as well."

Pyrrhus didn't flinch. With a flick of his wrist, a razor-sharp wind blade shot towards Kael's face. But to his surprise, the spell dissipated harmlessly against the prince's armguard, a shimmer of magic rippling across its surface.

Both Kael and Pyrrhus were taken aback. Kael hadn't expected such a powerful and precise spell from a mere child, while Pyrrhus was shocked that his surprise attack had been thwarted so easily.

Pyrrhus quickly recovered, reaching for a needle and sending it flying towards Kael. But the armguard reacted again, a blast of wind knocking the needle off course, sending it careening into the distance.

'Enchanted item,' Pyrrhus thought with a frown, his mind racing.

Kael, stunned that this child had conjured such power, felt a thrill of greed. If he could harness this talent...the throne would be his! No, more than that – visions of a unified kingdom, vast and powerful, danced in his mind.

Kael let out a smug chuckle, his eyes gleaming with malicious delight. "Not bad for a kid who still wets the bed," he sneered. "But you were still sucking on your mama's milk while I was mastering the arts of magic. Let me show you real power."

He pressed his palms together, a tiny spark of fire flickering between them. It grew, crackling and spitting, sending waves of heat across the clearing. A wicked smile spread across Kael's face. He wouldn't kill them, not yet. But pain would teach these peasants their place.

Pyrrhus watched it with wide eyes. He could feel the intense heat emanating from the growing flame, a primal warning that sent chills down his spine.

Suddenly, the familiar hum of his system filled his mind.

[Accessing Codex]

[Spell Name]: Infernal Ray

[Description]: The user focuses their energy, summoning a small spark of flame that grows brighter and more intense with concentration. When ready, the user directs the flame toward their target, releasing it as a powerful, concentrated beam of fire. The longer the user concentrates, the more potent the beam becomes, capable of melting through armor and barriers. Upon release, the Infernal Ray shoots forward with searing heat, incinerating anything in its path.

[Archiving Spell]

Rage ignited within Pyrrhus, a white-hot fury that dwarfed the sparks he could conjure. "What the hell is wrong with this world?" he seethed, his voice a low growl despite his child's body. "Is killing the first thing that comes to mind for everyone?"

Each time he'd tried to avoid conflict, to be the bigger person, it only led to more suffering. And now, this arrogant prince dared threaten Cora.

Pyrrhus's gaze snapped towards Milo, Erik, and Finn, their cowardly grins twisting in the firelight. They had tried to kill him, and he'd shown them mercy. Yet here they were, hiding behind this would-be tyrant, hoping to see him fall. A cold resolve hardened his heart. This time, there would be no mercy.

Cora, her eyes wide with terror, tugged at his arm. "Pyrrhus, let's run!" she pleaded, her voice a desperate whisper.

"Create a water screen," Pyrrhus commanded, his voice a chilling contrast to his childish face.

Cora hesitated, her eyes searching his. This wasn't the playful, mischievous Pyrrhus she knew. This was a stranger, his gaze hardened, his jaw clenched tight. It scared her, but beneath the fear, she felt a flicker of trust.

With a trembling hand, Cora conjured a thick wall of water, its surface shimmering like a protective shield.

Kael merely scoffed. "You think that pathetic little puddle will protect you?"

Pyrrhus ignored him, his focus now on the enchanted needle spinning in his hand, a miniature cyclone of wind and mana. If Kael wanted a fight, he'd get one.

He poured every ounce of his will into the earth, feeling the ground tremble beneath his feet. With a resounding crack, the earth erupted, sending a wave of dirt and rock hurtling towards Kael.

The prince stumbled, his concentration broken, the Infernal Ray sputtering out as he fell backward with a cry.

"You insolent brat!" Kael roared, picking himself up.

Pyrrhus didn't waste a second, his hand blurring as he launched the enchanted needle.

It whirred through the air, a miniature tornado of razor-sharp steel, trailing a dust cloud behind it. Kael, caught off guard, barely managed to raise his armguard in defense.

The impact created a deafening crack as wind magic collided with wind magic. The clearing was engulfed in a swirling vortex of dust and debris, obscuring everything from view.

"You little insect!" Kael roared, pulling out his sword, his voice barely audible over the deafening wind.He swung blindly through the dust. "I'll cut you down!"

But Pyrrhus was faster. He disappeared into the dust cloud, his movements a blur as he channeled his soul sense. Through the chaos, he could pinpoint Kael's every move.

Kael's sword slashed through empty air, his eyes wide.

Suddenly, a sharp pain erupted in his stomach. Then another in his chest. And another. Needles pierced his flesh with agonizing precision, forcing him to his knees.

The prince screamed, collapsing to his knees, blood seeping through his fine clothes.

As the dust settled, Pyrrhus stood over him, the enchanted needle spinning menacingly in his hand.

Bram and Jonathan watched from afar. Jonathan's concern grew with each passing moment. "We need to stop him," he insisted, his voice tinged with worry.

But Bram remained unmoved, his gaze fixed on the younger mage. "He needs to learn," he said, his voice low and unwavering. "This is a chaotic world, and sometimes, mercy is a luxury we can't afford."

Jonathan pursed his lips, a frown creasing his brows. He knew Bram was right, but the sight of Pyrrhus anger twisted his gut.

In the swirling dust, Finn, Erik, and Milo cowered, their bravado shattered. "Let's go," Erik whispered, his voice trembling.

"Where do you think you're going?" Pyrrhus asked, his eyes narrowed. The bullies turned to face him, their hearts pounding with dread. They had pushed him too far, and now, they would face the consequences.

***

A/N:

There's a lot of conflict in my world 😆. But lots of opportunities to prove themselves as well. I hope you liked the chapter.