Magic 10

She took a deep breath, preparing to cast a spell despite the chaos around her. Her friend Ajani had once told her that all magic came from the land, but the strongest mages found individual ways to channel it in battle. Some chanted words to focus their minds while others cried out the names of their enemies. For Elspeth, she learned how to channel it through the ritualized motions of her blade. She was still using the power of the land, but the patterns focused the magic, like sound blasting through a horn.

Three of the creatures charged her simultaneously, but Elspeth’s spell was complete. Strength surged through her and empowered Xiro, too. She heard him shout a battle cry as the unexpected energy flooded his body. A creature clamped its jaws down on her forearm, but she barely felt it. Elspeth brought her sword down and practically severed its head from its body. She shook her arm violently to dislodge the lifeless head from her arm. Another tried to gore her with its horns, but she kicked it back and it stumbled into another one. After the impact, the two turned on each other. They tumbled to the ground. The one on top slammed its head into the other. Then it ripped out its throat with its teeth and began to eat the other’s flesh. In horror, Elspeth watched the gruesome spectacle of cannibalism against the backdrop of flame.

Theros: Godsend, Part I, Chapter 2