The two of them launched themselves at Thorne, their magic flaring to life as they attacked. Alexander summoned a burst of flames, while Lira called upon her shadow magic, weaving tendrils of darkness around Thorne's limbs.
The chamber was filled with the echoes of clashing spells, the air thick with smoke and the acrid scent of burning magic.
Thorne's dark magic surged around him like a living thing, tendrils of shadow lashing out at Alexander and Lira. He moved with a confidence that bordered on arrogance, wielding his dark power with devastating precision.
"You're too late, Alexander!" Thorne shouted over the roar of their magic. "The Legacy of Fire will be mine, and there's nothing you can do to stop it!"
Alexander gritted his teeth, dodging a bolt of dark energy that exploded against the stone wall behind him. then he summoned a blazing flame to his hands and hurled it toward the professor.
Thorne deflected the attack with a wave of his hand, the flames dissipating into smoke. He retaliated with a surge of shadow energy that coiled around Alexander like a serpent, but Lira was ready. She weaved her hands in a complex pattern, casting a spell of illusion that caused Thorne to see multiple images of Alexander and Lira darting around the chamber.
Thorne hesitated, momentarily confused by the illusion. Sensing an opportunity, Lira took a deep breath and concentrated, summoning all of her magical strength. She cast another illusion, this time making it appear as though she was attacking Thorne from the left when in reality, she moved to his right.
In that split second of distraction, Lira struck. With a swift motion, she slashed through the air with a shadow blade, cutting off Thorne's hand, which bore the magic ring. The severed hand fell to the ground, the ring rolling away across the stone floor.
Thorne screamed in pain and rage, clutching his bleeding stump as he staggered back. "You… you'll pay for that!" he snarled, his voice filled with venom.
But Alexander and Lira didn't give him a chance to recover. Together, they launched a coordinated assault, their spells weaving together in a dazzling display of fire and shadow. Thorne was overwhelmed, his defenses crumbling under the onslaught. With one final, desperate cry, he fell to his knees, the dark energy around him dissipating into the air.
Alexander and Lira quickly moved to the magic circle under their feet, their hands glowing with energy as they worked to disrupt the runes that powered it. Slowly, the circle's glow began to fade, the dark magic that had fueled it flickering and dying out.
Alexander and Lira quickly moved to the sigil, their spells tearing into the dark energy that pulsed from it. The sigil flickered and dimmed, its power fading as they destroyed it piece by piece.
As the magic circle fell dark, a moment of tense silence filled the chamber. Alexander and Lira exchanged a look of relief, their hearts still pounding from the battle.
"It's over, Thorne," Alexander said, his voice filled with a mixture of relief and exhaustion. "You've lost."
Thorne looked up at them, his face twisted in a sneer. "You think this is the end? You have no idea what's coming. It is only the beginning."
Before Alexander could respond, they heard footsteps approaching from the passageway behind them. Just then, the chamber doors burst open, and Dean Aqua, Dean Ignis, Selene, and Elara rushed inside, their expressions a mixture of concern and determination.
"Alexander! Lira!" Selene called out, her voice echoing through the stone walls. "Are you both alright?"
"We're fine," Alexander replied, his gaze still fixed on Thorne, who was now kneeling on the ground, clutching his bleeding wrist. "We managed to stop Thorne and shut down the magic circle, but he's not making much sense."
Dean Ignis stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he looked down at Thorne. "He's a madman, drunk on power. We'll take him into custody and figure out what to do with him."
Selene and Elara joined Alexander and Lira, their faces filled with relief. "Thank goodness you're both okay," Selene said, her voice filled with emotion. "We were so worried."
Elara nodded, her eyes wet with tears. "You did it. You stopped him."
Alexander smiled, looking at Lira. "We all did it. Together."
Lira smiled and nodded, "Yeal, we did. And we will go back soon."
Dean Aqua stepped forward, her face filled with relief. "Thank goodness. You've done well, both of you. Now we need to get Thorne into custody and—".
Before she could finish, the magic circle beneath their feet flared back to life, glowing with a dark, pulsing energy. Everyone's attention snapped to it, confusion and alarm spreading through the group.
"What's happening?" Elara shouted, her eyes wide with fear.
"You fools," Dean Ignis sneered, his voice dripping with malice and contempt. "Did you really think it would be that easy?"
Before anyone could react, Dean Ignis thrust his hand forward, releasing a blast of fire that struck Dean Aqua square in the chest. She was thrown back with a cry of pain, slamming into the wall behind her and collapsing to the ground, her robes smoldering.
"Dean Aqua!" Elara screamed, rushing to her side. others immediately took a defensive stance towards to Dean Ignis. Alexander's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. "Dean Ignis… you're the real one behind all this?"
Dean Ignis laughed, a cruel, mocking sound that echoed through the chamber. "Of course, I am! Thorne was just a pawn, a means to an end. The Legacy of Fire is mine to control, and with it, I will reshape the Academy in my image!"
Thorne, still kneeling on the ground, bowed his head in submission. "Forgive me, Master. I have failed you…"
Ignis ignored him, stepping into the magic circle with an almost reverent expression. "You all never understood the true power of the Legacy of Fire. I've waited too long for this moment," he murmured, his voice filled with a dangerous excitement. "And now, nothing will stand in my way."
Alexander, Lira, and the others watched in horror as Dean Ignis raised his hands, the runes of the magic circle flaring brighter and brighter. The air around him seemed to shimmer with heat, the temperature in the chamber rising to unbearable levels.
"Stop him!" Lira shouted, her voice filled with urgency. "We can't let him activate the circle!"
As Dean Ignis began to draw power from the magic circle, Thorne struggled to his feet, dragging his severed hand and blocking them.Though he was weakened and disarmed, his severed wrist still bleeding, Thorne was far from defeated. His eyes glowed with a dark energy, and despite his injuries, he was still capable of formidable magic.
"I won't let you interfere with my master's plan!" Thorne hissed, his voice low and venomous as he glared at Alexander, Lira, and the others. "You've only seen a fraction of my power."
Selene and Elara exchanged a quick glance, "We'll take care of him," they said, their voice steady despite the chaos around them. "You three focus on dean Ignis."
Selene and Elara didn't wait for Thorne to make the first move. Raising her hands, Elara summoned a wave of fire magic, flames roaring to life around her. Selene, standing beside Elara, quickly began weaving her hands in intricate patterns, summoning tendrils of shadow that danced and flickered in the air like living creatures. The two of them moved in unison, launching their combined attack at Thorne.
Thorne reacted swiftly, raising his remaining hand to conjure a dark shield that deflected Elara's fire and Selene's shadow magic. The spells collided with the shield, sending sparks and tendrils of shadow scattering across the chamber.
Thorne reacted swiftly, raising his remaining hand to conjure a dark shield that deflected Elara's fire and Selene's shadow magic. The spells collided with the shield, sending sparks and tendrils of shadow scattering across the chamber.
Elara gathered more fire in her hands, hurling a series of fireballs at Thorne in rapid succession. The flames streaked through the air, their heat intense and searing as they closed in on their target.
Thorne twisted to the side, narrowly avoiding the first two fireballs. The third one struck his shield with a loud crack, shattering it and sending shards of dark energy flying. Thorne stumbled back, a look of shock and anger crossing his face.
Selene seized the opportunity, her hands moving faster than ever as she summoned a thick curtain of shadow that descended upon Thorne like a wave. The darkness enveloped him, wrapping around his limbs and binding him in place.
For a moment, it seemed as though they had him. Thorne struggled against the shadows, his movements frantic as he tried to break free. But Selene's magic held firm, her control over the shadows unyielding.
"You're finished, Thorne," Elara said, her voice cold and steady. "Give up now."
Thorne's eyes blazed with fury and crazy. "Never!" he snarled, his voice filled with defiance. With a surge of dark energy, Thorne managed to break free from the shadows, his body erupting in a burst of dark magic that sent Selene stumbling back. He quickly countered with a blast of shadow energy aimed directly at Elara.