Zailia Connors
My last memory of my parents was seeing them drown to death by a Water Mage. The image of looking into their eyes and seeing the life drain from them still haunts me to this day. I never saw the Mage's face only that they had a tattoo of a spider on their arm and the sound of laughing, horrible laughing as though killing a child's parents right in front of them was something that brought them joy. Every night before I fall asleep I think of the day when I will find the monster who killed my parents and make them suffer in every possible way and then slowly I will fill them with the pain that I have had for 9 years until they are praying, no begging for death to come but it won't come, not until they know what they put me through. On my parent's graves I swear this.
My name is Zailia Connors, I am a Re-Quipping Mage and for 9 years I have trained myself for the day that I will face the Water Mage that killed my parents and bring them to justice. After my parents were brutally murdered I was sent to an orphanage for "special" girls, basically it was an insane asylum for girls between the ages of 5 to 19, but luckily I managed to stay sane in that hell hole till I finally could find a way to escape and live on my own. Now I'm out and strong enough to take on that murderer, all I have to do now is find them.
Stupid enough I thought this it was going to be easy, a month passed, then two, then three and four. I hadn't thought that it would have been this difficult to find a dark mage that used water magic. My plan was to check every dark guild for any water Mages they might have then look for the one that resembles the Mage that killed my parents. But for one thing its not easy to find a dark guild and second there aren't many who use water magic anymore.
I have never been this angry and disappointed with myself since the day my parents died and now I am wondering in a woods and have no knowledge of where I am. I have walked for more than five hours straight and I am no where closer to finding a town then I was five hours earlier. My sore, blistered feet carried me to a clearing where the trees and bushes formed a circle. The trees maintained their circular image up into the sky making the light that engulfed the clearing feel as though it were a spotlight on a stage and I, an actress playing the part of a heroic female knight on a quest for justice, but my daydream was short lived.
Out of nowhere, I hear the yells and thundering sounds of people running coming my way. I got the feeling that I should be prepare to fight. I summon my armor by saying "Requip", then a golden ring forms around my body starting from my feet and working its way up to my head. As the ring starts to move my clothes begin to change, my previous outfit is replaced with battle armor that covers my chest and shoulders, the lower part of my body is covered by a roman battle skirt, my strawberry blonde hair is pushed back by a silver head band and in my hands are two 3' swords. The rustling of bushes coming towards me becomes louder with every second. I get ready to strike at the first creature or person that appears. The sounds are getting louder soon the being that draws closer will stand before me. I can see the bushes shaking as a figure moves to where I prepare to drive my blade into, as I bring my right sword down I am shocked to find not a demon or monster like I thought but a girl about my age with lilac colored hair that's tied into a French braid. She wore a white skirt with blue tights that both were covered in mud and grass stains, her breathing was heavy from running, but as I looked at her face covered with freckles and dirt I can honestly tell you that I will never forget the look that was in her eyes, the only other time that I had ever seen this look was when I saw my parents being killed. This look is the combination of fear, heartbreak, utter misery, pain, and love.
The connection of our eye contact was broken, as the sound of angry yells and footsteps came from the direction that the purple haired girl had come from. She prepared to start running again, but as soon as she could make one move we were both surrounded.
My swords at the ready I looked around to find an opening in their death circle. No good, their defense was too tight to penetrate, so I guess the only option was for me was to distract them until a plan of attack was optional. " I am Zalia Connors, a Re-Quipping Mage. May I ask what your business is with this girl?"
The silhouette of a women all in black can out of the crowd. Her skin was pale white, with black hair that was cut down to her chin that covered her right eye, the eye that was visible was cold and lifeless her expression was the same. "Stand aside filth this is none of your concern."
I could feel the ground shaking from where the frightened girl stood. She reminded me of me on the day I saw my parents killed, the fear in her eyes was the same that I had had. On that day, I had no one to hold me or tell me it was alright, nothing but the image of their dead bodies to remember them by. From then on I had promised myself that I would avenge my parents, but I had also made another promise as well, if ever did I meet someone who needed me I would be there to protect them. This girl needed me now and there was no way in hell I would let anyone hurt her.
I turn around to face the woman who had called me filth. She just stood there as if I were a dog that would roll over at her command. Now that really pissed me off, forget a peaceful agreement or whatever shit she thought I would do, I just wanted to kick her ass into next week. Either she could read minds or the look on my face could kill, because as soon as I readied my stance she came at me shooting all kinds of dark magic my way. I blocked as many spells as I could with my swords. And with those I missed, my shielding magic protected me. But I knew I wouldn't be able to hold off so many attacks on my own. I needed to get the girl to a safe place so I could lead the dark Mages away. I looked to the girl who had been smart enough to stay behind me where my shielding magic could protect her. "On my word I need you to run and hide. Got it?" I told her.
She looked at me as if I were asking her to jump of a 16 story building. Again she reminded me of myself on that day, my mother had told me to run and hide as well and I had given her the same response. I blocked another attack then turned back to her and gave her an encouraging smile. "Don't you worry about me I'll be fine just get yourself to a safe place."
The shock on her face had been replaced with worry.
"I promise I'll come back for you but you have to hide for now! And don't come out of hiding until you hear me say you can ok?" I said reassuring her.
She nodded her head to indicate that she understood then she was off. Running faster than I had ever seen anyone run before.
I turned my attention back to the black cloaked woman and her small army of... what were they? There were some that were transparent while others were not. I thought it had just been the light but now I realize that the group of Mages that I had been fighting weren't really there at all. I looked back at the women and shook my head. "Wow what a dirty trick. You almost had me there. And now that I know your little secret there's nothing to stop me from slicing you to bits with my swords."
I started towards her, my swords held firmly in my hands ready to chop her up into bits. "AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHhhhhhh!" A scream came from the direction of where the girl had ran off just moments earlier. I turned my head back so I could be done with woman and run to the where the scream was signaled, but she was gone, in her place was a doll with ancient writing on it. I step back crushing the arms of two other dolls then I look at the ground all around me where dolls. Finally it hit me, the dark witches plan all along, she replaced her henchmen with puppets while they went after the girl. Leading me to think she was safe as I fought the dolls.
'Oh how could I have been so stupid?!' I thought while I ran to the sound of the echoing scream. Never in all my life had my legs or my mind run so fast. Frightening questions raced in my mind, 'Was she hurt? Would I get there in time? What if I didn't get there in time? What if...'
She was on her knees, two men were holding her up by her arms and standing in front of her was the female puppet master. She stared at me with her uncovered eye, a smirk was plastered on her face as if to say 'That was a nice try but you're to weak and pathetic to help anyone.' Just seeing that woman's face made my blood boil, but seeing that girl in such a lowly state, just seeing those people touch her, something in me snapped.
When I was little my parents told me that I had to control my magical energy, that I could never use it without them around. I never understood why until my first day of training when I lost control, I destroy half the town that day and for a long time I didn't think of using my magic but that changed after my parents died and my only will to live was to train and become stronger so that one day I could avenge them.
I found myself on top of the women my sword one centimeter from her neck. Now, the thing that I must tell you is that when I lose control of my magic, my spirit, soul whatever you want to call it, leaves my body and takes a front row seat to watch what is happening. My control on my body is lost and it does what it will, like for instance driving a sword into a woman's neck. Yet this time I was still inside my body, I couldn't control it but I could still see through my eyes to what was going on around me. The look in the woman's eyes was sheer horror and why not? A blade was being held to her throat. My arm prepared itself to make a fast clean slice. I wanted to stop, I wanted to be able to close my eyes but it was like someone was holding them open. I knew that she wasn't worthy of a second chance but I believe in justice and this wasn't justice, this was murder and I was no murderer.
My blade was about to touch her neck there was no chance of stopping it, just then something grabbed my arm pulling me off of the women. It dragged me to where the lilac haired girl had been kneeling but the two men that had held her down just moments before were now bound to a tree with what looked like vines. I was slowly regaining control of my body. While this was happening the girl who I had thought was just some ordinary girl was apparently a Mage as well and by the looks of it she was a Flora Mage (she could control plants). With a wave of her hand the Mages that I had fought before were engulfed in vines. I was amazed by the power that she welded but something seemed off about the girl. Her movements were forced as if she were fighting against herself as if she... I scrambled to my feet, leaping towards the Flora Mage. She was moving towards the woman whose head I had almost sliced off. I stood in horror my legs unable to move as the Flora Mage commanded a pair of vines to pin the dark Mage to a tree where she was being strangled by them.
With no other option I yelled at the girl, trying to find some way to snap her out of the same trace I had experienced earlier. "STOP! Stop it! If you don't snap out of it you'll end up destroying everything!", I was in tears. "Please, I'm begging you. You need to snap out of it right now!"
It seemed to be working by the look of it. The vines around the dark Mage's neck were loosening their grip and she fell to the ground, and slowly but surely the same went for all the other Mage who had passed out from the lack of oxygen. The life returned to the girls eyes as she came back into control but before she could say or do anything else she collapsed to the ground, leaving me to quickly but gently pick her off of the ground and run as far away from the group of dark Mages and their female leader as possible.
When I felt as though we were far enough away from the dark Mages I stopped at a stream and placed the girl on a small plane of soft grass and let her rest.
For three day she stayed in her world of dreams and for three days I stayed by her side as I promised I would for as long as she needed me.
On the fourth day around sunset I began to fear she might never awake but when I returned from the river after replenishing my thirst she was sitting exactly where I had left her. She resembled a lamb, shy and timid ,but kind and gentle as well. I walked over to the tree I had placed her under and took my place at her side she simply stared at me as though I were from a different world, entranced and curious yet afraid of getting to close. I smiled at her to ensure her that I meant no harm. With that her body grew less tense and she settled back in her seat.
I, being tired from lack of sleep, closed my eyes a fell onto the grass.
The feeling of someone poking my shoulder woke me up. The girl had moved closer so that she was now looking over me, the look on her face indicated that she wanted to ask me something. I sighed knowing that any chance of getting to sleep was gone. "Yes?", I sighed tiredly.
"Um, who are you?" she asked. Her voice was surprisingly stronger and clearer than I had imagined, but also sweet like a bell.
"I am Zalia, as I said to that woman before I'm a Re-Quipping Mage." I looked up as she began to look around as if we'd be surrounded by dark Mages at any moment. "And you mustn't worry about those Mages from before there has been no sign of them since our last encounter."
She returned to her calm state. "So how long have I been asleep?"
"You've been unconscious for three days."
"Three days!?", she yelped.
"Shhhhhhh!" I signaled her to be quiet.
"Three days?", she repeated in a whisper.
I shook my head yes.
"Wow three days."
It was silent for a few moments which made me to think she was down and I could fall asleep. I closed my eyes and dozed of.
"Did I hurt anyone?" She asked.
I opened my eyes surprised that she was honestly concerned for the well being of the people that had haunted her like a doe. "You don't know?", I asked.
She shook her head no. She honestly didn't remember what she did? I thought.
"No. I stopped you before you could."
"Thank god." she sighed letting out a deep breath that she had been holding in.
"So, if I may be so blunt as to ask what your name is?"
"Lexia. My name is Lexia Upson."
"So Lexia, may I ask, are you traveling by yourself? Because I am in need of some company."
There was a pause that made me think she had fallen asleep. "Um Lexia?"
"Are you saying I can stay with you?"
"Well yes that is if you'd like to."
I was engulfed by two arms which made their way around me into a hug. "Yes, yes, yes, yes a million times yes!", she said through giggles and laughs that made me return her hug and begin to laugh as well.
That was the night I met Lexia and made a lifelong wondering companion and friend. We have been on the road together for two months now and have become closer than sisters so much so that she has even begun calling me her sister which makes me smile every time she says it. We have so much in common that we could honestly be born from the same person, like for instance we both lived most of our lives in orphanages or that we both deal with losing control of our magic, but I'm better about it then she is so we avoid any possible fights with other Mages especially the Mages from Widows Web. They've been chasing after Lexia for almost 2 years now so we've been hiding in small towns or lodges but mostly in the woods because it's where Lexia feels the safest, she says it's because it's where she met me which makes me laugh because I feel the same but because I met her.