"I know you're part of it," Enin revealed. "Something tells me you have to decide for yourself."
Jure looked over at Ansas. He had nothing but contempt for the sorcerer. Ansas was everything Jure previously revealed to Enin, arrogant and self-centered. Still, the sorcerer was growing more powerful, strong enough to believe he could actually defeat Enin. But that might have been nothing more than additional conceit.
The elder wizard considered the elf, Scheff. It was the elf that would be his challenge, an elf that abandoned his camp to grow stronger. The elf, however, chose a darkened path, one that relied on self-indulgence and vanity.
With that thought, Jure considered his own path. He, too, had become stronger over the past several seasons, but he did not believe that his aim was solely to better himself. At every opportunity, he had used his magical talents to help the land, not just himself, and he had willingly taken direction from those he trusted.
He searched his own soul to determine what he should do. He knew he did not wish to battle the elf for his own glory, but he also believed, just as Enin had said, that he was there for a reason.
The elder wizard stepped towards Ansas and the spell casters he summoned, creating a large buffer between himself and his friends.
"You want me to face your elf, fine."
Chapter 28
Scheff eagerly stepped away from Ansas. It was his moment and his alone, the first test of his abilities after he cast out the mistakes of his past. From that moment forward, he believed a total immersion in violet castings would bring him closer to fulfilling his absolute potential. He would no longer be saddled with the failings and weaknesses of external influences.
High on the barren plateau, he felt an invigorating rush of anticipation as he faced the elder wizard. He knew little about Jure but understood the old wizard cast white magic in a perfect circle. Previously, he considered striving to attain the same level of proficiency, but that was before he assumed what he believed was a more enlightened course.
After accepting the slice of ebony magic, casting in white was almost an abomination, a deviation from purity. The concept of casting in anything beyond the inherent hue was a consideration that needed to be soundly defeated. By overcoming what he once hoped to achieve, Scheff would bury his previous and faulty convictions once and for all. It was a challenge he relished.
Jure felt no such thrill. He was tired and slightly confused. Very little of what was happening made sense. He felt as if he was being thrust into a struggle that had great significance, but he wasn't sure who had the most at stake.
For his own part, Jure felt he had very little invested in the events transpiring on the high plateau. He wouldn't have minded knocking Ansas around a bit, but he had no quarrel with Scheff. He tried to make that clear as he wished to avoid needless conflict.
"This is rather pointless," Jure confessed, hoping to stir some sense of reason in the elf. "I've never met you before. Why do you think this is necessary?"
"There are very few that can cast in a circle of pure white magic. You are a challenge I have to overcome."
"What in blazes for? I'm not challenging you."
"I am challenging myself. You represent what I once hoped to attain, when I was ignorant of my true potential."
"So you're going to force me to fight you just to prove you made the right choice?"
"No! I already know I made the right choice. The magic within me is now pure. I am centered on the violet hue of my natural abilities. There are no obstacles in my way. All I have to do is remain true to myself and I will be beyond legendary."
"You're kidding, right?"
"Are you mocking me?"
"Mocking? No. I just can't believe what you're saying. What you do here isn't going to make you legendary-no matter what happens."
"This is my first step. Once I defeat you, then there will be no doubt that my pure energy is stronger than any mix of hues. I am pitting my future against my past."
"So you think this is all about what you can do?"
"That is all that concerns me."
"Despite the fact that there's a piece of Ansas in you?"
"That is only a necessary reminder. I can't utilize that energy for myself. It is only the base for what now keeps me focused."
Jure just shook his head.
"You disagree?" the elf asked with a hint of anger.
"You're being used," Jure noted as plainly as he could.
"Used? I am doing this because I desire to do so. Why are you?"
"I wish I knew. Like I said, I think this is rather pointless."
"Yet, you stepped forward anyway," Scheff remarked.
"Because I think I'm supposed to, not because I want to. Big difference."
"Then it is you who is being used."
"Maybe, but we've all got our orders."
"Then that is the difference between you and me. I no longer take orders." Scheff glanced quickly toward Birk Grund and Shantree Wispon. "Not from a captain of the elf guard, and not from a camp elder."
"What about that guy behind you? Aren't you here because he called you?"
"He offered me an opportunity, an opportunity to do what I wish to do… to test my abilities. And it is time I do just that. Prepare yourself."
Scheff brought his hands together. A dark purple ring formed around his wrists. Pointing his arms to the gray skies, he willed the energy up over Jure. The dark violet circle took a position high over the elder wizard's head. It swirled about as it flashed several bolts of lightning at its target.
Jure moved with equal speed. A circle of white magic formed around his body and remained there as it absorbed each fiery flash of violet mayhem. The power of each impact jolted the wizard, but when the purple ring finally dissolved, Jure was still standing.
"You're strong," Jure remarked, "I'll give you that, but I think your bolts would have been even stronger if you mixed in a little yellow or orange magic."
"You are mistaken."
"I don't think so."
"Then cast the same at me, and let us see."
"I don't want to hurt you. I think you're just being misguided."
"Then prove me wrong!" demanded the elf.
Jure shrugged but decided to do exactly that. He cast a ring of power of his own that combined purple, orange and yellow magic. He placed it over the elf and willed it to strike.
The elf reacted by casting a small violet cloud over his head to absorb the energy, but when the bolts of lightning hit the cloud, flames burned through the folds and surges of light erased the purples shadows. The sheer force staggered the elf. Scheff managed to remain on his feet, but the power of Jure's magic shattered his confidence.
In near panic, the elf looked toward Ansas, but the sorcerer provided no encouragement.
"And like that you're going to give up?" Ansas asked with obvious disgust. "One spell and you crumble. I was obviously wrong about you."
Scheff steadied himself. He said nothing to the sorcerer, made no request for assistance. Instead, he returned his attention to Jure.
"I was not prepared."
"Son, that wasn't even my best shot."
"And you have not received mine."
Scheff placed the full force of the storm into one compact spell. High winds, driving rain, flashes of lightning, and crashes of thunder fell upon Jure in one massive wave. The fury was as magnificent as it was devastating.
Jure had just enough time to cast a shield spell composed of every color. The magical field surrounded him completely, and though it buckled and wavered at the intense assault, it held. Still, the elder wizard had to catch his breath as the storm finally dissolved.
"You see," Scheff declared to Jure, as he also gave a quick glance to Ansas, "I am far more now that I am pure. I have shed my weaknesses."
"I never said you weren't powerful," Jure conceded. "I said you were misguided. I still think so."