Maxwell saw his family under attack and a flood of adrenaline hit his brain like a hammer. Like his memories from when he was Tom his senses immediately went into overdrive, but unlike Tom, Max was suddenly aware of the Magical energy all around him and could feel it wanting to mold to his will.
Time seemed to expand as his brain went into overdrive, magic pervaded everything, the air in peoples' lungs, the clothes everyone wore, the blood in people's veins. Max could suddenly sense it all and with a disturbing certainty he knew he could ignite, drown, suffocate, or disincorporate every person in this room with a stray thought. A second had passed and the unhooded woman's foot struck the ground, the Beastkin and hooded woman were only a step farther from their quarry than the first woman.
The magical connectedness expanded rapidly as iron filings under the pull of a magnet would spread the magnetism. Soon the entire space of the room seemed one with Max. Maxwell sensed the enchanted protections woven into the trio's armor and adornments. Elemental magics would be of no use against these assassins for they came well informed and well prepared.
"No!" Max commanded to the trio. An energy expanded from him and those nearby gave him space but watched the assassins. The trio were already a third of the way to his father, Mizik, and Matthias, each going different directions. Mizik had hurled fire at the Beastkin bearing down on him which the armor dissipated instantly without harm. Matthias was pulling a serving platter from the nearest table to use as a weapon or shield. His father had pulled an ornate dagger from somewhere.
"I SAID NO." Max screamed furiously. Mentally envisioning all the magic in the room aligning to pull the three away from his family. A sudden communal awareness that something else was happening washed over the room, the guests then simultaneously lowered themselves to the floor with a gentle moan.
The only ones standing were the trio, Max, and his family. The assassins' stride broke immediately as they exchanged confused then increasingly terrified looks. "I didn't sign up for any cult bullshit" the Beastkin growled. They looked at their quarry to who was as confused as them but peering toward Max.
Mizik took the distraction as a chance to hurl more magic, but this time, the magic didn't even coalesce a proper glass of water, let alone ice that could possibly do damage. Matthias attempted to enchant his makeshift shield and the spell also failed. Mizik's face fell as he glanced toward Max, realizing what this means. The hooded female realized that somehow the 8 year old may be the biggest threat given the rest of the family's reactions and changed her target from Matthias to Max.
Max realized he was being threatened and his only outward response was to sneer in disgust. The woman lightly bounded between the empty spaces on the floor, deftly avoiding all the entranced guests. That is until she collapsed on the floor as her leg gave out. It was graceless and unexpected. The woman rapidly rose but upon standing, she was still afflicted by something, she seemed to be gaining and loosing control of her body randomly. One of her legs would give out, then her arm, she had dropped her weapon but already realized she had bigger problems than that.
Max was envisioning ethereal people grabbing the woman and pulling her back, there were chains around her and although his magic wasn't moving her physically, he was glad she was effected in some way. Max recalled having Space magic but hadn't had any practice with it, he was trying to use it but was failing.
The woman realized she was loosing the battle after her back muscles started giving out. With a final burst of energy she screamed as she shot a pleading and terrified look to her comrades. She collapsed to the floor. Max could still feel her struggling against him, attempting to reassert control and become a threat to his family once again. Immediately Max imagined a box bailer and car crusher from his life as Tom and the struggles lessened. Max kept imagining more and more pressure, until a flash of light appeared from nowhere and a gem manifested and fell to the ground. Max felt no more resistance and was again able to focus on those threatening his family.
"SoulMage" The Beastkin muttered as wonder became terror...
"He's a child Blathor! He couldn't possibly do that! They're rich, it's all an illusion trap!" The woman called to her remaining companion.
"But the smell..." Blathor said.
"I'm sure they paid extra for that detail... C'mon." the woman cried lunging for ...