Chapter 5
I was awoken by the sound of birds humming a peaceful tune across the forest. Wings flapped in rhythm with the leaves, creating a gentle harmony. Branches danced with the wind. Light filtered under the big open trees, sharp and blinding at first, hot, but surprisingly soothing. The cotton-candy-blue sky plastered over the horizon, visible from the endless road.
Amongst the beautiful nature, a presence lingered.
A shadow lingered beneath an oak tree, searching for an opening to attack, their eyes pierced by three wandering travellers.
Thalia let out a loud yawn, her body popped as she stretched, she sighed feeling comfortable.
"Urgh!" she groaned, rubbing her shoulders before yelling loudly "wake up! Time to start moving!"
"Mhm… wait a second" I muttered, trying to escape Thalia's screaming by turning my head away.
Thalia sighed. "Come on! The journey will last ages at this rate!" she walked out of the tent huffing and puffing in annoyance. "And I'm hungry!"
I forced my eyes open. "fine, I'm awake, I'm awake…" I groaned
"If we take that road, we will get there in about 2 weeks!" Thalia continued. Her words faded into the background.
I just nodded and got ready for our journey, I couldn't help by thinking about the two heartbeats, were they mine or Kian's? Or someone else?
I swallowed, trying to clear my head, I let out a whispered instead, "I have a feeling… something's following us."
Thalia eyes glided to me, her expression a bit surprised, cheerful but cautious. "Oh? I don't see anyone. But hey, maybe it's another boar. Or a serpent."
Later that day
"It's a crystal serpent!" Thalia's voice cracked, panic flashing in her eyes.
"what should we do?" I screamed. "this is definitely not a safe cave to settle in!"
"I have a brilliant idea, lets, run!" Thalia dashed
"What?" I shouted in frustration. "I thought you had a plan! You always have one!" I grabbed Kian's hands tightly before tailing behind her.
The serpent hissed, scales glinting like glass in sunlight. Its body rippled across the clearing, tail slicing through trees as if they were paper, its pupils thinned, ready to attack.
"If you want to kill it, you'll need magic!" Thalia explained, whilst dodging all the serpent's attack. "And since you're only skilled at healing we're basically cooked!"
Her eyes met my panicked eyes briefly, before anyone could predict anything, the serpent's thorned tail lashed out, slamming Thalia into the lake, her body gasped in surprise.
"Fucking hell" she gasped out. "do you know how to make shields?"
"Thalia!" I croaked "let me heal you!" I spoke. "uh no… I'm skilled at healing, remember".
"if we don't get out of here, we're fried" Thalia warned. "Does Kian have any magic? That isn't healing?"
I gently placed Thalia's hand over my shoulder, before pulling her up gently. "Uh, Mer folks usually unlock their powers at 4, and he is three. Unless they unlock it early." I held Kian's hand tightly as the serpent grew closer to us.
"We are severely outnumbered, Thalia is injured I can heal, and Kian is just a child. And this stupid gem isn't helping me like it did last time." I thought deeply. I managed to take Thalia and Kian behind a huge rock, before pulling out the gem.
"How does it activate, gosh!" the serpent slithered impatiently towards the rock.
"Plant magic: cage!" a voice echoed throughout the cave, suddenly, green like branches spread across our direction, forcefully pulling the serpents into an army of vines.
"is everyone okay over there!?" the sound grew closer. "I won't hurt you.
Without a second thought I placed the gem in pocket before screaming out "Yeah. We're here!"
The voice hurried to our direction. It was a boy either the same age or a couple years older than us looked at us frantically. His pointy shaped ears wobbled slightly.
"oh my gosh! Wait! Let's get you all out of here. I know this is sudden, but does anyone know healing magic!?" he spoke hurriedly.
"I do" I spoke.
"that's good, can you please heal her?" he continued.
"Mhm, don't worry" I gently pulled the water out of my pouch with my magic before splashing it on Thalia's wounded area. Watching as the water glowed before the healing began.
Time skip: Other POV- BEFORE THE INCIDENT
"I can't believe it! I'm finally done with this mission." I hopped happily. "I just need to pass through the serpent and I'm at silver dust.
With a huge grin on my face I moved through the quiet spooky part of the forest, occasionally meeting boars that I killed with ease. Within no time I was at the lair. I jumped between rocks and hardened crystals.
"this is going to be easy" I walked. Suddenly I heard a name being called out. A woman's voice? No women should be here.
I quickly sprinted to the scene, only to see the serpent, two girls and a little boy. With no hesitation I chanted my spell.
"plant magic: cage" I aimed my vines towards the serpent, watching as the vines pulled it in a cocoon like cage. The animal screeched, desperately trying to escape my magic.
"that should hold it for a while." I muttered before screaming out. Within no time I heard a woman's voice answering. My legs raced to their direction, only to see a girl with pink hair injured. A little boy holding the girl with black hair tightly and the girl with black hair preparing to attack, she seemed on guard. I tried to reassure her, telling her that im not a threat.
HOURS PASSED
I saw her use her magic. Water magic. The 3rd strongest type of magic. I wonder why she only knows healing magic.
Narina's POV
I'm so glad he helped us, without him we would've been dead. I'll thank him once I'm done with my healing.
Why did he keep looking at me when I used my magic? I still have so many questions about him.
Kian walked up to him holding some cooked meat. "Food?" he cocked his head to the side cutely.
"yes! I'm hungry, thanks man" he eagerly took the meat.
OTHER POV-
"mm- this is delicious, did you make this little man?" I spoke, with the meat still in my mouth.
"no" he waved his head "Thalia did."
I laughed "I was joking, you're too young to be cooking."
"I guess, I should properly introduce myself. I'm Ravi from silver dust, I just came from a mission and I'm on my way to the best school in silver dust. I'm a plant user, I'm an elf, I'm good at potions I have plant magic, um I'm 17..." I spoke quickly. "I'm guessing you two are also headed to silver dust judging by you appearance here.
"Yeah, we are also headed to silver dust, to register a place in the school. I'm glad we have a similar goal" the girl on the floor spoke weakly. "you can help us get there"
"sure, the more the merrier is what they usually say." I paused "um who are you three?"
"Thalia, I'm 16, from the Eden empire so I have no magic. But my strength is good".
Did she just say Thalia? "Like princess Thalia?" my eyes widened.
"yes, Thalia, you don't have to call me princess. Thalia is fine."
I will be travelling with a princess!? What!?
"I'm Nerina. I'm not a princess though, I just have water magic- "
Wow, she's gorgeous, I said before noticing something.
"but it's mostly healing- and this is- "before she could continue the young boy spoke happily.
"I'm Kian! And im three!" he counted his fingers before showing me
"aw that's cute, and what's your magic?"
"it's like mommy's!" he rejoiced.
"Mommy? He's your son?"
"It's a long story" she continued.
"anyway! We can't really go anywhere since it's late. We have to stay here. Away from the beast?" Thalia interrupted
"you're right, my vines can't hold him for long. So we aren't safe, hmm" I paused. "I guess we have no choice but to go deeper in the cave, we could make a small hut with rocks so it doesn't spot us. We need to move fast then!" I stood in front of them "well! Thalia are you ready to walk!?
"yeah" she spoke before getting up slowly. "let's go"
Thalia slowly limped on Nerina's body, i found it sweet, they seem to trust each other very much!"