The spell froze everything it touched entirely. Insects shattered and broke apart, before being carried off by the wind. His composite mana had waned because of the spell's intensity. As the ice drew closer he ended the spell. He let go of the vacuum mana, and a burst of fog rolled away from where he stood.
Casey dropped to his knees. His sight had unfocused and he felt a terrible strain while breathing. The air just wouldn't come to his rescue. Eventually he fell unconscious.
Casey woke up after a moment. The head had been frozen at the center of the spell. Held up by dead flies. Most of the swarm had turned into temporary crystals. Right now they were more ice, than animal. He saw that legion had died smiling, it seemed like the battle had brought him joy.
"I may look for you in the future."
Casey heard a voice. He struggled to turn his head, rubbing the stubbles of his chin against the gravel floor. He couldn't find it's source, and instinctively he looked at Legion, whose head had become black, and rotted. And slowly it became just bones.
Casey shifted on the floor, and even that was a struggle to him. He felt like he could fall while lying on the ground, so he settled on a comfortable spot, and fell asleep right there.
Later Casey felt someone role him onto his side. His ears were ringing probably because that person kept screaming into them, he groaned and the person finally stopped it. Time passed before he could hear again. The air felt cold because of the spell, and his complete lack of composite mana. He found himself shaking in the cold.
The full moon hung above the quarry field. There were many approaching sounds. There was discussion, camera flashes, the sound of a gate screeching, and sirens. At least two types of sirens. He passed out again.
........
He felt a numb pain in his hands. The smell of oil paint floated to his nose. The cold, painted air of the room, made Casey subconsciously grip the covering.
Hours passed and he finally woke up. The tinted window allowed in dark light. Despite the dishonest color, he knew it was most likely afternoon. This kind of color was familiar to Casey, it was so similar to the view of his father's truck windshield.
He wore a gown. There were two shades of blue, in patches, just like the sheet that he tussled with. The ticking of a clock echoed, the hospital was deathly quiet.
The walls had all been painted grey. On the left panes of glass completed the rooms interior. Casey felt tiredness. They had hooked him to IV's. The quiet drips hadn't done away with his soreness. But his whole body had felt its limits earlier, and he was happy with soreness.
"Why are you so quiet?"
Rico had sat in the corner. His eyes were hard and baggy. Casey could barely look at his friend. The expression was pure anger.
Rico got up.
"You almost died Casey. You could've died fighting that thing." He leaned in. "You should see what they're saying about you."
"Who? If you mean online, they never say anything good about us sorcerers." Casey sat up. Being careful of the IV line. "That's why I don't go online."
"But you've got to take care of yourself. You're fighting for people that don't care about you? Come on man."
"Rico! I'm a sorcerer! That's my job!" He had hit a nerve that Casey found hard to hide. "When things get serious that's what we're here for. We have power. If we don't do it we'll let people die. And besides you'd do the same."
Rico shook his head. And didn't refute the proposition. He moved back to his seat, and stretched to relax, obviously staying up had been hard .
"Whatever you say, then. Just do better for your own sake."
Rico frowned and remained quiet. They sat like that for a minute, but Rico was naturally a gossip. It didn't take long before it showed.
"When you get out of here, are you gonna look for Kiana?"
Casey reeled, and his expression became contorted.
"What the hell does that have to do with you? You make me wonder sometimes."
"That's just you being shy. "
Casey chewed the side of his mouth, it probably calmed a nerve.
"So, how does she look? Wait, don't tell me."
Rico immediately lost himself in laughter, and Casey smiled.