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In the Blink of an Eye

Kai wanted to fight. While he'd enjoyed his regular sparring sessions with Hakan back when his life knew a semblance of normalcy, they'd only ever been a way to pass the time and exercise simultaneously. He certainly never felt the desire to fight for the sake of fighting as he did now; even in school, he'd been an amiable child and had rarely gotten into scuffles.

Well, it looked like those sparring sessions were going to come in handy today. In addition to the power of the sea currently inhibiting his body, of course.

Kai had never wanted to fight anyone more than he wanted to fight his uncle right now.

Above, heavy clouds began rolling overhead, signaling the brewing storm. Despite the quickly-darkening sky, Kai knew that the morning had passed while they argued, bickered and fought on the cliff. It had to be noon by now, though the noon sun was hidden behind thick layers of gray, pregnant clouds.

We will not fight. The Spirit abruptly declared, shattering Kai's high spirits.

But you just said we were going to put him in his place! Serves him right for trusting the Spirit's word! Not even ten seconds had passed and he'd already changed his mind!

Patience, my Prince. And a little trust, if you can muster it.

Kai's brows furrowed in confusion. Patience? Trust? What was the Golden Merman going on about?

If not by fighting him, how do we intend to teach Zolban a lesson?

I intend to teach everyone here a lesson they shall never forget. Trust me.

Trust the Spirit of the Sea to not let him down this time? He found that difficult to do, given their history. But then what choice did he have? He certainly wasn't the one holding all the reins. He barely understood what was happening all around him.

Kai inwardly sighed. What choice do I have? That seemed to be his life's running theme lately.

The Spirit laughed melodiously and it was like a choir of angels had burst into song right over his head. You are the Crown Prince of Astria, and the rightful heir to the throne. You must learn to make others do your bidding.

I... don't follow. What others? What bidding?

A sudden surge of energy raked Kai's body. It felt as if he'd collided with some sort of force field, or a lightning cloud. He couldn't quite describe it. Well, whatever it was, it felt good. It was similar to the surge of power he felt just before exposing Zolban who'd been hiding behind an invisible cloak, but it was also different.

What's happening? Are we fighting? God, he hoped so. Kai had to admit that this taste of the Spirit's power was... intoxicating. Invigorating. Awesome. He could understand why so many coveted it. It was worth coveting, if you were into that sort of thing.

Extend your arm upward and point your outstretched hand at the sky, the Spirit instructed.

It was the Spirit's serious tone of voice that made Kai comply and do as he'd been told. Uncertain, he slowly raised his arm, the palm of his hand stretched wide open.

A fat droplet of rain splashed onto his palm. Somehow, the barrier allowed the ocean spray and rain in, but it kept certain people in and certain people out. Truly spectacular magic in its selectivity, he had to admit. He briefly wondered what other sorceries these merpeople were capable of.

What are we doing? Kai tried to not sound as impatient as he felt; to do as the Spirit requested of him in a reluctant show of faith, but it was damned difficult when all the mermen around him were staring at him as if he'd lost his mind.

Suddenly, he heard Marius hiss, "Don't you da-"

The Spirit laughed derisively.

The energy that had been willing up inside Kai surged from his gut, snaked up his arm and then shot out of his outstretched hand in the shape of a glowing purple ball, much like Zolban's attack on Hakan. It flew upward at bullet speed and struck... something not too far in the air. Cracks appeared in the sky, and for a foolish moment he thought the sky was breaking.

Kai gasped as realization dawned on him. Erasmus' barrier!

The invisible dome that had kept even Marius from teleporting them out of here shattered into a million pieces and disappeared just as a bolt of lightning zigzagged across the gray sky.

Like a pouncing black panther, Marius launched himself at Kai, his blue shark-like eyes aglow.

Kai blinked. He was no longer on the cliff.

He blinked again.

"Wha..."

In the blink of an eye, the all-powerful Spirit had teleported him off the cliff to someplace he had never seen before.

Startled, disoriented and with heart thumping painfully against his ribcage, he started to turn in a circle, trying to take in his new surroundings as soon as possible.

And lost his foot.

Rather, he stepped off a ledge, it seemed. Kai started to plummet.

*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

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