Combat Scars

    "Stand still," Masark said, holding his hand out. The man's hand began to glow brightly, and as the light grew, Myllia's body began to move less.
    "Why... Why can't I move?!" Myllia struggled, "Release me!"
    "Masark, what are you doing?" Garadaine asked quickly.
    "She doesn't seem to be a very willing participant," Masark replied, the light from his hand growing stronger in intensity, "it's no doubt an effect of the curse. Most mind controlling curses are like that."
    "I'm putting my trust in you," Garadaine said nervously, "but don't go too far."
    "Trust me," Masark looked over at Garadaine and smiled.
    "R...release.... me....!" Myllia struggled.
    "Now..." Masark said, lowering his hand, the bright light slowly disappeared, "let me see..." Masark lifted both his hands slowly before Myllia, who was still standing perfectly still before him.
    "What are you doing now?"
    "I'm assessing this curse."
    "How do you do that?" Garadaine asked with interest.
    "It's actually quite simple," Masark turned to him, "Everyone has an aura, your studies in the magic arts has taught you that already. A curse is a spell type that alters that aura, typically for the worse."
    "The opposite would be a blessing spell, which alters auras for the better?"
    "Exactly!" Masark smiled, "Greylen has taught you well so far."
    "I... am... not... a... lesson!" Myllia struggled, growling.
    "What these spells do," Masark continued, "is mask or cover or even replace the aura of an individual. By doing this, you can control what happens to that person. The more effect the spell has on the target's aura, the stronger control the spell has."
    "I would imagine a mind control curse would have to be pretty strong then,"
    "Depends on the target. Some weak minded people can be controlled quite easily."
    Myllia growled louder in response, her words too garbled to understand.
    "So how do you assess the curse?" Garadaine asked, trying not to smile.
    "You simply need to feel out how much of the person's aura remains..." Masark said, turning back to Myllia and once again raising his hands before her. Closing his eyes, he began to hum softly and low, as if meditating. Garadaine lifted his hand to her as well, closing his eyes and mimicking his cloaked companion. He could almost see Myllia's aura before him, a dark pulsing sphere with a small, light colored core. The outer area felt cold, harsh, a stark contrast to the warmth of the core. It reminded Garadaine of the last warmth in a body ill protected from a harsh winter storm.
    Suddenly Masark jumped back away from the woman before him.
    "Masark!" Garadaine opened his eyes, looking at the man, his face covered in sweat.
    "I've... I've never felt such a strong curse..." Masark panted, his breathing almost made Garadaine believe the man was frightened. "Whomever cast this spell is a master..."
    "What will you do?"
    "I will still have to try to break the spell," Masark said, closing his eyes. He began to wave his hands slowly about the air, humming once again in his low, soft tone. As he did so, Garadaine could feel the air about him become thicker, heavier, as if he was in a dense fog. Masark's humming began to grow louder and louder, and Myllia seemed to now be in some pain.
    "Myllia, hold on..." Garadaine whispered. He swallowed a large lump in his throat as he saw a tear run down her cheek. Masark's humming had now turned into a chant in a language that Garadaine had never heard. As his words grew louder, his hands began moving through the air faster, his fingers writhing in different formations and symbols.
    A flash of light suddenly blew Masark backward against the trees nearby; Myllia slumped to the ground. Garadaine rushed to her, but as he approached she began to scream. Startled, Garadaine took a step back, and watched as she fled from them.

    "Myllia, wait!" Garadaine shouted.
    "Let her go," Masark said, out of breath. He slowly got to his feet and returned to the Prince's side.
    "What happened?"
    "As I said, I've never felt such a strong curse. It had permeated almost her entire being. I tried to break it, but it was too powerful for me."
    "So it wasn't broken..." Garadaine said, putting a hand on his hip.
    "Not yet," Masark said, wiping his brow.
    "What do you mean?"
    "I was able to weaken it slightly, think of it as a crack in an eggshell. As weak as the chick is inside the shell, the crack will grow bigger and bigger until the chick breaks out."
    "So she'll break free with time?"
    "Hopefully..."