“What was the catalyst that began the end of the Burning Times?” he asked, holding out his hand to allow the summoned training stick to form before holding it out to her.
Taking the stick with a grimace, Seren sighed. “Someone discovered the ability to burn out magic from the bearer.”
His own training stick formed in his hand and he dropped into his stance, his muscles tense and ready for a fight. Seren arched a brow, but never one to be intimidated she moved, striking at his abdomen, but he blocked it without a single thought. Pulling back she gritted her teeth.
“Hardly seems like a fair fight,” she said.
“It never is,” he said, righting his stance. “What were the long-term implications of burning magic?”
This time, he was the first to strike though he gave her plenty of time to anticipate his movement. To her credit, she did. As soon as his weapon made for her right arm, she stepped to the side, narrowly missing the hit.
“You were actually going to hit me!” she stared at him open-mouthed.
Amusement, unfamiliar and tenuous built in him. “What did you think this was, Miss Marudas?”
A sight he had grown accustomed to formed before him as Seren steeled herself. She hadn’t been taking this seriously, but now she saw the challenge for what it was. It was one of the things that called to him in her.
“It would leave the witch or wizard without magic and they would no longer be a danger to humans. After the vessel, when humanity was restored to magic users, burning out magic was used as more of a control tactic,” she said.
He shouldn’t have been surprised she was paying attention in Magic History. Her mind stored information much like his own. Seren lunged, this time aiming for his feet, but he lazily dropped his own stick to block her. She didn’t stop. Her attacks came consistently as if she had wielded her weapon her entire life.
“Define control,” he ordered, sidestepping her attack.
Not used to sparring, Seren was already slightly breathless which was terribly distracting.
“If a witch or wizard was determined to be a threat, it was used to eliminate them. If the enforcer does not stop burning at the last drop of magic, it will drain through life force next and be fatal,” she said.
It wasn’t what he had meant when he asked her to define it and the consequence was that he lost his balance momentarily. That she had so casually defined his father’s fate felt like a reminder of everything he had sabotaged. Her stick sank into his shoulder and he flinched at the shot of pain.
Seren drew back immediately, eyeing him. “Did you let me do that?” she asked breathlessly.
Rubbing at the injured appendage, he shook his head. “No.”
“What’s wrong?” she asked, stepping towards him.
Her sympathy was the last thing he wanted. He shook his arm out and took his stance once more. Seren heaved out a breath as if this were all one large inconvenience and did the same.
“How else is it used?” he asked.
Seren began her attack, but she was slower than before, tired. “When a witch fails to complete their schooling she is subjected to burn out as a consequence.”
“But not wizards.” He supplied.
Seren stopped abruptly and if he had one less ounce of control his attack would have hit her, but he stilled his arm. Her chest heaved violently as she fought for breath and sweat dripped from her forehead.
Holding out her free hand, she gestured toward him. “You aren’t even fazed. I feel like I am dying and you are just standing there as if we were having tea.”
Despite himself, he felt his mouth quirk up in a smile. “I practice.”
She eyed him in a way that made him nearly shiver and was entirely unhelpful. Clearing his throat, he stood straight.
“Why is it only witches who are subjected to this law?” he asked, trying to redirect the conversation.
“Because wizards sided with the humans in the Trinity War and the result was endless restraints on witches to keep them in line,” she said. “What is the point of this lesson?”
“The point is, Miss Marudas, that the world is designed to subjugate and limit witches. By even teaching you this skill, I am in breach of the treaty that ended the war.”
She stepped closer. “Then why do it?”
