The cobblestone alley reeked of sulfur and ozone, the acrid stench left in the wake of wild magic. Lanterns lining the street flickered erratically, their enchanted flames struggling to hold steady against the roiling energy in the air.

Two figures stood at opposite ends of the alley, their silhouettes cast in sharp relief by the wavering light. The younger boy, no older than twelve, clutched a silver dagger in one trembling hand. His other hand glowed faintly, a swirling orb of green light taking form as he whispered an incantation under his breath. His face was streaked with dirt and blood, but his wide, panicked eyes betrayed his inexperience.

At the far end of the alley, the older boy – perhaps fifteen – grinned, a cruel, confident curve to his lips. His hands were bare, yet sparks of crimson magic danced between his fingers like playful embers. “You really thought you could take it from me?” he said, his voice low and mocking. “That was brave. Stupid, but brave.”

The younger boy took a shaky step backward, his heel catching on loose stones. “You don’t understand! If you keep it, it’ll consume you!”

The older boy laughed, a harsh, grating sound that echoed off the narrow alley walls. “Consume me? It chose me. You don’t even know how to use it.” He raised a hand, and the air around him seemed to ripple with heat. “But I’ll show you what it can do.”

With a flick of his wrist, he hurled a bolt of fire down the alley. It roared to life, illuminating the street in blinding orange light. The younger boy barely had time to react, throwing up his glowing hand in desperation. The green orb expanded into a shimmering shield, and the fireball exploded against it with a deafening crack.

The force of the blast threw the younger boy backward, his shield flickering like shattered glass. He scrambled to his feet, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The green magic coalesced into sharp tendrils that shot forward, snaking through the air toward his opponent.

The older boy’s grin faltered as he sidestepped the first tendril, but the second wrapped tightly around his arm. He snarled, his free hand igniting with crimson fire that he slashed at the tendril. The green magic recoiled, hissing like a wounded serpent, but not before leaving a raw, blackened mark on his skin.

Their fight became a storm of color and chaos, the alley alight with bursts of green and crimson. The cobblestones cracked beneath their feet, and the enchanted lanterns shattered one by one, plunging the scene into a dance of shadow and light.

The younger boy’s voice rose above the chaos, cracking with fear and desperation. “You don’t understand! If you kill me, the curse will take you next!”

The older boy hesitated for just a fraction of a second, his flame wavering. In that moment, the green magic surged, a spear of light aimed straight for his chest.

But the older boy was quick, too quick. He twisted, dodging the blow, and with a roar, unleashed a torrent of fire that swallowed the alley whole.

When the flames subsided, the younger boy was nowhere to be seen. The alley was scorched black, smoke curling into the night sky. The older boy stood alone, panting, his hands still crackling with residual magic. His grin returned, sharper than ever, as he turned and walked away.

Behind him, in the shadows, a single green light flickered faintly before vanishing into the darkness.