Chapter 30
CHAPTER
I focused everything I had on the fire-leash.
It was all that kept me grounded, but also the one thing consuming my energy, like the wick of a candle slowly burning the wax around it.
The fact that I hadn’t lost control was more surprising, considering I had never really attempted this before.
I had never practiced my magic. All my life, the flames had been rejected, and yet they kept burning bright for me even in this moment, despite when exhaustion threatening right around the corner.
We reached the wall of the Aetherion village as the sun was about to dip beneath the horizon, soon giving way for the night.
Nicron stood there, casually leaning against the stone wall before his eyes flickered in our direction.
For a brief moment, I caught his eyes widening in surprise, before he regained control over his face again.
“Get Michlael,” he ordered a guard on the inside, as they nodded and went running. “Well, well, look at you, fire mage.” He smiled widely, clapping his hand in an attempt at praising us.
“A temptation demon, no less?” he added, as he eyed it up and down. “Usually most initiates settle for shadow demons on their trials…”
I pressed my lips together, I would’ve too, if it wasn’t for my lack of skills.
By now, the temptation demon had quit snarling, locked down underneath my fiery chains, given up, broken.
“So, did we break a record or something?” Ashley asked, placing a hand on each side of her hips.
Nicron cocked a brow at her, a low scoff escaping him. “You took more time than the average mage, however, you made up for it by bringing a temptation demon… I’d say you evened out.”
“We—” Eve barked, before Lionel nudged her, silently telling her to not cause a scene.
Nicron’s eyes slid to my shoulder, his eyes locking in on the rips in my clothing, from where the claws had burrowed into me during the ambush.
Slowly, he pushed off the wall, stalking closer as his eyes were locked on it, reaching out his hand as if mesmerized.
Was it not normal? Or was it the fact that I had stopped bleeding and already begun healing that had him so fascinated?
Before his fingers reached my shoulder, Malakai’s hand shot out, locking his wrist in place.
Nicron’s eyes darted towards him, turning cold.
“I wouldn’t touch her so carelessly if I were you,” Malakai said coldly, shoving Nicron’s arm back again. “You could get hurt.”
Nicron smirked, but didn’t respond. He took a step back from me, his eyes remaining on Malakai.
Between them, I saw how Michlael swept in, using his ability to control the air around him, levitating, almost flying.
He moved rapidly, as if sprinting, but he looked relaxed, a faint smile as his eyes landed on me.
“Ah, what a fine catch indeed,” Michlael smiled as he landed slightly in front of Nicron, claiming his space.
“Did she pass then?” Lionel interrupted, causing a brief pause as Michlael eyed him. “Yes, ungifted one, but that was merely the beginning.” His tone changed, ice coating it while facing Lionel, who stiffened.
He was aware that some of us were without powers then. Still, he hadn’t threatened them or cast them aside… Was it because of me and my unique element?
“Nicron, take the others with you,” Michlael ordered, before returning his attention to me. “We have something to finish before you’ve passed.”
“Why only her?” Malakai cut through, the challenge lingering between them.
“Because none of you have the power required.”
Michlael didn’t give him as much as a glance, waving for Nicron to step in. “She’ll be back at the inn before midnight.”
The others stared at me, as if awaiting my signal, were they to fight them off or let me go? I hardly knew myself, but I ended up nodding towards them to follow after Nicron. They looked torn, but began to follow the water mage.
Except for Malakai who lingered, studying me for any sign of fear.
“I’ll be fine, I’ll be back before you know it,” I reassured him.
No reply, no comment, not even a smug sound, as he turned and walked away from me. I swallowed hard, it didn’t make me any less nervous, yet I wasn’t sure if any words would’ve either.
Once alone, air surged from Michlael, forceful enough to pin the temptation demon to the ground. “You can relax now.”
I let out a breath and my shoulders sank, fatigue hitting hard as I had been on edge all this time, given my all to keep that thing contained.
Michlael watched me, a slight chuckle leaving him when he saw the exhaustion overwhelming me. “It seems you haven’t practiced your magic… I bet you’ve kept it hidden for a long time, coming from the other side of the border and all.”
“Yes,” I panted, not even able to fake a firm voice.
“Walk with me,” he ordered flatly, as we began walking away from the entrance. My legs suddenly felt shaky, my adrenaline crashing hard.
“Demons are sadly common throughout our lands nowadays,” he continued, and I had to focus to hear him. “Mostly because of the lack of knowledge.”
“What… what do you mean?” I asked weakly.
“You know how to kill a demon, right?” he turned, facing me.
“Yes, you shoot or stab until it no longer moves,” I shrugged ignorantly.
A wide smile appeared on his face. “As I thought, all of you from the other side of the border are clueless.”
“Sorry?” I muttered, straightening myself.
“You need to get quartz into their system,” he explained, and I jolted at the word. “Or else, they’ll simply crawl back up.”
Quartz.
That’s what Malakai had said, what he gave me from the pocket of the mage he had slayed. I hadn’t thought about using them before, after all we wanted to capture one alive…
“Oh.” I played along with a surprised face, the best I could.
“There’ll be one last trial tomorrow,” Michlael said, eyes locked on mine as if taking note of my every reaction. “Then you’ll be one of us.”
“What about… my friends?” The words slipped out of me, I was aware he had called Lionel ungifted, and feared for what would happen to everyone who was not a mage.
A beat, as Michlael stared off into the distance, considering it. “As long as they don’t cause us harm, and you fight for us, I don’t see a problem.”
What?
Was it really that easy? I chuckled surprised, as a smile fought its way onto my lips. “Really?”
“Don’t expect all Aetherion’s to show such kindness towards them , though.” His eyes slid back. “Just because they’re safe here, doesn’t mean they will be at another Aetherion village.”
My smile died off, and I nodded slowly. It was his way of saying that he was the merciful one. As long as I committed to them with my power, he would keep his end of the deal.
Then his eyes lost their glimmer, as he stared at me intensely. “How is life there?”
I felt coldness down the length of my spine, how much could I tell him? “Starved.”
“I can imagine,” he said flatly, his expression not changing.
“Why do you ask?”
“Believe it or not… I had friends over there once,” the corner of his mouth twitched, as if holding back a smile or a fond memory trying to press through his blank face. “But they were killed, an accident, because of the war.”
Suddenly, it felt like I was able to understand him a bit better… he seemed to hate the war as much as I did, perhaps winning him over wouldn’t be as hard as I had imagined? First, I needed to be accepted, gain his trust. Then surely, we could become allies and try to figure everything out.
We already had our way into the Ashen Corps through Malakai and the Aetherion would open up through our relation with Michlael. If both sides could reach an understanding, that could change our fates, reshaping the entire world and future.
Michlael picked something from his fancy robe, a small pink gem. The demon burst into a rage next to us, still held by his gale, but what once had seemed calm and broken now rose in defiance again.
Fear.
It knew that this little stone would kill it for good, making it impossible to return.
A dangerous smile appeared on Michlael’s face, as he in a swift motion shoved the piece into the demon, using his magic to empower his thrust, forcing it through its skin.
The demon shrieked, a piercing sound, forcing me to slap my hands over my ears. Its body began emitting steam. Slowly, parts of it turned to ash and drifted away on the wind.
It took only a couple of seconds, before nothing of the terrifying monster was left.
“See?” Michlael mused. “Gone, forever.”
After that, Michlael escorted me back to the inn as promised. I was met by an anxious Ashley on the doorstep.
“You’re back!” she sighed, relief showing in her face. She grabbed my hand and forced me along with her, to the room I had stayed in.
“What are you doing?” I murmured, my eyelids threatening to close at any moment, my energy depleted.
“I swiped some food for dinner for you, here,” she brought up a piece of meat, wrapped with cloth that she had hidden in her pocket.
“Ashley, I’m sure we can get food whenever we want here,” I arched a brow at her.
“Really?” she seemed genuinely surprised. “Well… old habits die hard.”
I smiled at her, accepted the meat anyway and gave her a long tired hug. “Thank you… for always looking after me.”
She patted my back. “Don’t get all emotional, it’s only food. You can repay me by purchasing some materials for my bombs or something.”
“I’ll make sure to uphold that promise,” I chuckled, as we pulled back.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” she added, a faint smile. “The rest of us are chilling for a bit downstairs, Malakai was going to talk to Nicron or something.”
“Why?” I asked curiously.
“You’ll have to ask him yourself,” she shrugged. “Tomorrow, though, you look dead; get some rest!”
“Yes, mom,” I said, giving her a look as she shook her head at me, before she headed out of my room again. I sighed, practically dragging my feet to the bed. On the edge of it I saw new clothing placed out, looking exactly like the ones I had received the day before, but clean and folded.
I guess another bath wouldn’t hurt… I had to clean off my shoulder anyway.
This time I made sure to take my time, no one was in line waiting to use the bathtub. The water was warm and comforting. I finally left, not because I wanted to, but because of the fear of falling asleep and drowning in the water.
I peeked at the table downstairs when I passed, everyone was there, talking, smiling, except for Malakai. It must’ve been long talks with Nicron if he still wasn’t back?
Perhaps he was slithering his way into their ranks too, who knew.
Once back at my room again, I climbed into bed, pulling the cover over me and embraced the cozy warmth. My heart beat loudly, my pulse quickened as if I was being chased. Slowly, I opened my eyes; the room was dark, nothing here but me.
No magic.
No red threads.
I bit my lower lip, forcing my eyes shut again.
Stupid heart, stupid brain.
Even if he was trying to invite himself in again, I wouldn’t let him.
I tossed and turned, before peeking again. Still nothing.
Shit, I felt pathetic. Luckily for me, no one else got to witness my own dumb behavior. I turned again, closing my eyes as I took a deep determined breath. No more.