Duel by David Doss (good books to read .txt) 📖

Jerbin quickly scanned his surroundings and saw a realm that was void of substance and life. There was no color, only shades of grey of things that once were. Blast marks scarred the cold grey marble floor before him. His attention was drawn back to his master mere feet away. Spells ran through his mind, spells of protection and death, powerful spells if his strength could hold out.
Drizlan, the old grey wizard stood before Jerbin with orange flames burning in his palms. He threw the fire spell at Jerbin’s head, and Jerbin deflected the fire with the quick reflexes of youth.
“Master, why?” asked Jerbin.
“You will never understand the vast power that dark magic can bring,” Drizlan replied as he searched his mind for another powerful death spell. No sooner did the words leave his mouth he was bound in place. “Aww, you think a web spell will hold me? Try again, young mage,” Drizlan laughed at the student.
“Master, I don’t want to kill you, but I will if I must,” Jerbin thought as he prepared his next spell. He reached deep down inside for the magic he knew could end this duel if he could but harness the power. Jerbin opened himself more and more to the power, but before he could cast his spell, he was engulfed in a bubble that slowly shrank against him, sucking the life-sustaining air from him. He began to fade into the darkness of sleep and death as his body succumbed to the lack of oxygen. He barely heard his master laughing as his hearing faded.
“You are weak, young mage, and you will always be weak. You will die weak.” Drizlan turned and took two steps when he heard a loud pop. He whipped around and saw Jerbin lying on the floor, shards of the bubble disappearing around him.
Jerbin looked at his master with loathing as he fought to regain his breath. His mind went back to the age of twelve, when Drizlan took him in after his parents died in an attack against their little town. With tears in his eyes, Jerbin said, “No, Master, you are weak for joining the side of evil. I must kill you, though I wish not to.”
“You honestly think you can defeat me? You are just a mere boy!” Drizlan mocked.
“Master, I know you are powerful, but I cannot allow you to continue in your evil ways. I’ve loved you like a father, but the man before me now is not the same. You must be stopped.” With determination, Jerbin rose from the floor, wiped the tears from his eyes, and again reached deep inside for the magic. With his hands behind his back, he tried to keep his master talking so he could regain the focus that he needed.
Drizlan cackled. “You kill me?! If you loved me like a father, you would join me and let me train you in the dark arts. We could be masters of this world! We are like gods! However, you will not join me; therefore, you are against me. So, now you die.” Drizlan reached back and pulled, a lightning bolt forming in his hands. He whipped it towards Jerbin, aimed for the heart.
In a flash the bolt hit Jerbin’s magic shield and glanced off. In a flurry of motion, a purple orb hit Drizlan right in the chest, exploding and burning deep into his black robes. Drizlan was thrown back fifty feet and crumpled into a smoking pile. The smell of burnt flesh choked Jerbin as he looked upon the man who once saved his life. Tears streamed unchecked down his cheeks. His shoulders hunched and he fell over with exhaustion.

Publication Date: 07-07-2011

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