Ayup, I joined two chapters together, because I can! So, enjoy the story! I'll write up more ASAP. School will give me ample time to continue writing up this tale, in fact ^^'
Chapter 2:Barret, Kyle
Barret was barely surprised to find Aria in the library. Everyday, when he got to school, the girl was already there, reading her spell books. In fact, one day he locked the door before leaving. The following morning, he found her reading aniway. When asked about the locked door, she showed him her mother's spare key.
He remembered the day she brought him her first spell book, fireball. He had explained her how to read the book, and use it to throw fireballs. He also remembered the smile on her face, when she finally managed to use it. The teacher was sure that the sparks that flew out of her hands that day triggered her burning passion for magic. Soon, she found other books, scattered around the town. Most of them were in bad shape; her mother helped her to repair them. She continued to train, until she managed to defeat Fiersome using the Dragonbane spell. She also managed to bring her father back by recreating the Omnigate spell.
She continued to study. At 14, she managed with her friend Mia to create a new spell, Holy Fire. The spell was only a fusion of Shine and Fireball, two spells she had known for a long time, but it was only a beginning. She kept working, every day, until she managed to invent another spell, and another.
At 16, she was able to use spell without any books, or staff.
Sometime, Barett wondered if Aria's power had transformed her over time. She was stronger, and faster than most boys of her age. Once, the fiery girl got in a fight with Orland. The elf tried his best to hit her, and failed miserably: Aria was simply too fast. And then, suddenly, Aria was behind her opponent. A single kick sent him head first in the fountain.
Barret sat down opposite of her, and began correcting a test he had given the previous day. Alvarna, being the only village with a school, had begun to attract kids of others villages. Barret and Mana taught to thirty students, from eight to eighteen years old.
He was halfway through his third exam when he looked up. Aria was no longer studying her spells. She was staring at the ceiling, thinking.
"How do magic works, Barret?"
"Well, I should be asking the question to you, not the opposite."
"Seriously."
"Fine. Humans and monsters have two form of energy: their life force, and their runic force. The life force is a measure of health, while the runic force is a measure of energy. For example, runic force is used to throw fireballs, water a field, play music, etc."
"But using magic is different than, say, raising an arm."
"Not really. In both cases, energy is used to do something."
"How is runic force regenerated?"
"Well, by resting, and eating. Earthmates can also regain energy by tending to the earth."
"So, you are saying that everything uses runic force?"
"Yes."
"But how can the portal that summon monster work, then?"
"Nobody knows. Logic says they get energy from somewhere, or they wouldn't stay open for very long."
"But they must be using rune force!"
"Why?"
"Because when I used the Omnigate spell, it tired my very much."
"Look, I don't know why. In fact, nobody knows why those gates exists at all."
The girl stayed mute for some time. Then she spoke again, grinning.
"Hey, I want to show you something I invented."
"Really? I don't suppose you will let me finish my correction, instead?"
"Hush. Come, you won't regret it."
She half-led him, half-dragged him, to the dojo.
"Look I know you want to show me once again how good you are with swords. But I really don't have time."
"Just look!"
She brought out some practice dummy. Then, she drew her sword, and stood there for a moment. Barret began thinking about leaving, when she began her demonstration.
Her sword turned white. She ran at inhuman speed, and hit one of the dummy.
For a while, she seemed to flow in and out of existence, raining blows. When she finally stopped, the dummies were all broken to pieces.
"Awesome, isn't it?"
"Wait... What? What happened?"
"It's a fighting style I created. I use magic to move faster, and hit harder."
"Incredible! Can you do it again?"
"No... not really."
"Why?" Barret was pretty disappointed.
"This technique uses phenomenal amount of energy. If I lose control of it, the power will start tearing my muscles really badly. Using it for longer than a few seconds isn't safe."
"Wow... do you think there is a way to make it safer?"
The exhausted woman stayed mute for a while. Then she answered:
"No, it isn't possible. Not with runic power, anyway."
"Not with runic power... what do you mean? You found some other way to use magic?"
"Well, I'll tell you if it works. See you soon!"
"Stay out of trouble, alright?"
"I'll try."
Having finished the day's work, Kyle walked back home, satisfied. The crops were ready for the harvest. As usual, a vast numbers of buyer had shown up. During her father's absence, Aria had decided to grow fewer, higher quality crops. The farm was famous for offering the finest fruits and the tastiest vegetables. But the biggest cash income for the farm were the rare, exotic flowers that Aria grew in the dungeons around town.
Things had changed much during Kyle's disappearance, but nothing matched the farmer's own change. His time spent in the first forests had profoundly affected him. For a start, time passed differently. It seemed to him that days lasted much, much longer. He always had been an overachiever, but these days others wondered how was possible for him to do the work of three men, alone.
He ate different food, and couldn't stand alcohol anymore.
One thing that scared him a little was that he had gotten very good had reading the minds of his fellow villagers, a fact he tried to keep to himself. He was sure some of the smarter villagers were wondering, though. The farmer always knew more than he wanted to.
However, his new "ability" , as he called it, didn't work on his own daughter. Strangely, he felt a bit weird when she was around. A very, very subtle emotion he couldn't put his finger on.
How his precious little daughter had grown so much was a mystery to him. He wondered if she would give him grandchildren, one day. Aria was very secretive about some things, and he wasn't even able to guess if she even had a boyfriend.
He was shaken out of his thoughts when somebody knocked on the door. Opening, he saw Mia.
"Hello, Mia! How are you doing?"
"Fine. I'm looking for Aria"
"Can't help you. I've given up on keeping track of her whereabouts."
"She didn't tell you anything, this morning?"
"No, nothing unusual. What, is something wrong?"
"Everything is fine. I'm just looking of her."
She was obviously lying. The poor girl looked very upset.
"Listen, you can tell me what is wrong."
To his surprise, the elf was on the verge of crying.
"Aria found something at the dig site, three days ago. Since then, she have been avoiding me."
Kyle was taken aback. The last days, Aria had acted completely normal to everybody else. She had smiled and laughed, like usual.
When did she begin lying to everybody?
"Listen, you know how Aria is. She is probably doing something right now, and doesn't wish to be disturbed."
"But why didn't she tell me? I'm her best-friend."
"Well, I..."
His word were cut-off by a terrible scream. Kyle collapsed to the ground, holding his ears. In the barn next the the house, the animals started panicking.
"Kyle, what happened? Tell me!"
The poor farmer tried very hard to speak, but couldn't. He got up, and shakily made his way toward the barn.
Inside, most of the beasts seemed as panic stricken as him. He staggered to the lift, Mia at his side. They went all the way down to the shrine.
In a daze, they both ran to the end of the tunnels. Soon, they found Aria, sprawled on the ground, her sword broken to pieces. Next to her, a hooded figure was busy reading a book.
"What happened?" Asked Mia.
"Your friend messed with things she didn't understand. She has already paid for her crime."
"No, you can't mean..." stammered out the girl.
Kyle's head was spinning. Everything was happening too fast. He dropped to one knee, and tried shaking his daughter awake.
No reaction.
Mad with grief, he picked up the broken blade and ran toward the murderer. The figure merely waved it's hand. Kyle flied trough the air and crashed in the wall.
"You would be her father, right? Kyle, if I remember well. "
"Why?" Asked the girl. "Why did you kill her? She was a good person. She helped everybody!"
"It was only a shell. A thinly built facade. Look how fast she changed, once she found that tablet. Her fragile disguise crumbled up. "
"But... Why? How did it come to this?"
"Eight years ago, she used the Omni-gate spell to bring her father back.
But little did she know that Omni-Gate isn't an ordinary spell. It's an invocation."
"An invocation?"
"An invocation. These spell books were used by Invokers, long ago. Of course, you elves know them by another name."
"Blood wizards."
"Exactly."
Kyle tried mightily to speak.
"Can't speak, human? It's the your punishment! You were brought back to life by a forbidden spell."
"This is lunatic! Aria only tried to help!"
"Maybe. But she has gone beyond the breaking point. Using forbidden magic is like a drug. In her mind, Aria was going crazy from the deprivation. Once an invoker cast his first spell, there is no going back for him. You know this to be true."
"This isn't possible! You killed her! I'm going to avenge her."
The elf brought up her hands. A blast of light hit the creature, who didn't react.
"Rune magic cannot affect me. I'm sorry, but you know too much. You will die buried in those cursed ruins."
The figure grabbed Mia, who tried vainly to get away. Soon, strange voices began to echo in the void. Kyle closed his eye, waiting for the inevitable.
The chanting stopped suddenly.
"It can't be!" Raged the creature.
Aria was standing in front of it, holding Mia. Her eyes shone with terrible power.
"Disappear! You have no business being in this world!"
"Fool! You are cursed!"
Aria began singing. The figure howled in pain. The soothing words woke up Mia, who watched the creature being banished to it's world.
Soon, only the three of them were left.
Mia screamed something in Elvish.
"No, it's not true." Replied Aria, weakly.
More screaming. Mia took her friend's hand, and ripped away the glove. The hand underneath it was covered in red tattoos.
"Mia, please."
The young elf turned her back and walked away. Aria stood there, sobbing. Her father took her in his arm.
She continued crying in the dark for a long time.