Seven Years Ago
Heartsbane stood erect, calmly eyeing at the insolent sparrows that adorned the Guild's walls. Concentrating, he trapped the bird in a cage of raw will and brought it down to his eyes. He laughed, a short, barking, laugh, and aimed a burst of lightning at the bird's wings. A sharp squeak emanated from the sparrow's beak as the tips of its wings were cruelly seared off. Heartsbane did the same to its legs, and then dissipated the mental cage around the fowl. It dropped like a rock to the hard earth, and lay there, chirping in pain and fright. Heartsbane coldly smiled, then slowly pressed his booted foot down upon the struggling creature. The sharp retort of broken bones cracked in the air.
"That's a bit cruel, ain't it?" the man in the black hood was sneering at him, like he was a superior.
Heartsbane quickly turned and laid his blistering eyes on the provocative man. He surrounded him in a will cage, just like the sparrow, except for one deadly difference. The cage was closing in on him and nothing could break Heartsbane's will.
"Excuse me?" a chilling voice echoed around the courtyard. Guild members quickly turned toward the disturbance then averted their eyes. The students were well aware of Heartsbane's prowess, and rumours were circulating of disappearances of men who insulted the powerful young man.
"I-I didn't-" the hooded man struggled to talk as fear gripped him.
"No, I heard what you said. I meant if you wanted to take it back?" Heartsbane's yellow eyes gleamed.
"Y-yes, Heartsbane," the man sputtered as the cage constricted his chest.
"ENOUGH!"
The guild members turned swiftly and saw the Guildmaster striding toward Heartsbane. Their eyes met, and there was an outspoken challenge between the two.
"What is it, Guildmaster?" he spat out the title through clenched teeth.
"Get away from him. Now."
Heartsbane drew himself up, and energy seemed to crackle from him.
"Don't even try," mouthed the Guildmaster. Heartsbane gathered in his will and sent a powerful wave of energy at the elderly man. He flicked it aside and brought Heartsbane into the air.
"I could break you! Do not try and overpower me, I am much stronger. Now go, and leave him be!" he dropped Heartsbane back to the hard earth. He began to walk away.
"You have sealed your fate this day, Guildmaster," Heartsbane called after him, enraged. A shiver went unwillingly up the teacher's spine. He knew it was true.
Once the Guildmaster was out of sight, Heartsbane turned menacingly toward the cowering hooded man and held out his hand. Trembling, the man dropped five gold coins into his hand. Heartsbane contemptuously threw him against the wall and walked away.
From the window, the Guildmaster shook his head.
