Chapter 3

Hitomi-Fantasista will be having several points of view, that'd make it interesting.


"The librarians are women, wearing grey robes and the tokens are rectangles, red in color. You really want to do this so soon?"

"Worth trying. I'm not afraid of them. Night is ideal for this sort of stealth thing," I replied. He raised a brow.

Ilkar slowly unbuttoned the top of his shirt. He did have some muscles though not bulk. He unhooked a chain with a blue ring hanging off it. "I should give you this."

"Ooh, what is it? Is it a present?" I looked through it but it seemed so ordinary.

"If you are discovered, touch it. This Ring alerts me immediately. Take it as an emergency step." To my astonishment, he planted a kiss on my forehead.

I returned the special key. "Here it's yours. What door does it open?" I rose and gestured to the bed.

"Thank you."

"Ok. Sleep well." I looked outside, the night was young. Fine, would give a few hours before I went into action. Hehe, always got a kick out of nicking things. I looked at his chest lifting and falling, but he was not deeply asleep. When the time came, I said the incantation, padding into the dangerzone. Soldiers were talking loudly and bantering. All their keyrings were the same, no good. I prowled from floor to floor, eyes keened to the maximum. I had excellent vision and hearing skills.

Then I spotted a woman in grey. Her hair was tied up in a bun, wearing spectacles. She passed by a group of soldiers and let them hug her. Unusual tokens hung off her belt. Bingo! Now the question was how to extract them from her. Provided this spell continued to last, I could sneak them out but the librarian kept walking and running. I trailed behind the lady to a bookroom upstairs. The air felt cooler here.

She continued walking about, flipping records, muttering to herself. I didn't let her out of sight. This place must be some kind of library. Where could the restrictive section be? The woman went to a table and stacked more books and scroll- cases. I crouched beside her table.

This could be hours. The Cloak spell was not my best one. I attempted to take the tokens, but they were tightly attached. I crouched down and used the Ring. Hey you awake?

He responded with a gasp, Felicia! Have you been discovered?

No, no chill. Now I see a lady with red tokens. She doesn't seem to be slowing down. I need more time but this invisible glamour might wear off.

Ilkar hesitated. Then he replied, say this Dalachodladh. It should hasten the process. Cloakwalk may be just a few more minutes. If it's too risky.

I'm pretty sure I can take the pass. Ah yes she has a few, how many of them you need?

He said one would be sufficient. It was still alright, until suddenly the lady bumped into me and I fell on my butt. Oh shit! My hands were returning back to color. I whispered the words picturing the magic but to no avail. She glared at me. "Excuse me, what are you doing here, servant?" her voice was sharp.

I grinned but unfortunately didn't have my friend's persuasion. The librarian did not grab at me but marched to the table. Zapping her fingers, she was pressing many buttons that had appeared. I couldn't let her alert anybody so I jumped on the table too and grasped her hand. The woman struggled, growling. "Dal a chodladh!" I said looking directly at her. This one didn't have any mana concept.

She sagged and fainted on the ground. We were behind the table and I pulled one token free. As I was about to make a getaway, more people came in. Some were guards, some were gentlemen and ladies. Why were they crowding this place at night? Libraries should be open in the day. I cursed and stayed hidden.

The entrance was chock full. The elf still did not sound energetic. I was sorry to have to wake him. Well I would wait patiently. Unfortunately nobody wanted to go off. I was behind a cart of things and crawled to the entrance. Maybe no one would suspect me if I made a run for it. That was going to draw a lot of attention.

Lady Luck didn't want to help me this time, thanks a lot. I'm doing a kind deed too. I scowled. The woman began moaning and some men were noticing that. Ilkar I've got it. But suddenly the whole place is crowded.

I'm coming. Don't run or draw attention.

Um the place is on the higher floor. I added.

I know, we're connected.

Handy piece of ring! I tuned back to what the woman was slurring. The sleeping spell was on her so the people were not able to hear her. Please, please don't let her say it's me. Some had even come in front of my cart where I was behind. I readied to scoot under and slip between shelves.

Nearby something fell with a resounding smack. The blue ring vibrated in my hands. He was here! "Oops how clumsy of me," the elf exclaimed. "I am sorry." Crouching down, Ilkar and I locked gazes. He nodded slightly and mouthed- follow me. I slipped out from the other end of the cart. Ilkar blocked me from view, looking at the people gathering around the woman. Nobody seemed to notice.

We left at an even pace.

Damn I could've pulled this off myself! I must have dropped in standards. Back in his room, Ilkar was so fatigued he fell into bed immediately. "With luck she will forget everything." He smiled, clasping the token.

I repeatedly said I felt sorry. He blinked,"Why? You succeeded."

"I've made you tired. You should be resting." I folded his blanket. And I think I muttered more things. When I looked up the Julatsan was already sound asleep. I covered him with the blanket.


The next day, I awoke finding that Ilkar had not risen yet. This was weird, normally the elf was an early riser. The sun's rays made the surface golden and glittered off the metallic surfaces. Our beds were adjacent but enough handspans for personal space. He had drawn the sheet across. Actually there were other beds too, I didn't know why he chose this one.

I wanted to touch him, try to touch his ears too.

Ilkar sighed and moved. I had just touched his hair. Quickly I pretended to be innocent and busied myself looking at the rack of clothes in the corner. "Morning," I said.

He replied in a groggy tone and rubbed his eyes. Peace and quiet, until several sharp knocks rapped on the door. I dove under the clothing. Ilkar grumbled for the person to wait and then took a shirt to wear. He took his sweet time. Then he peeked outside and opened the door. Another human came in and she was dressed like a servant or chambermaid. She put down the breakfast tray. They appeared to know each other, for Ilkar did not get mad and she poked him in the chest, chiding. He shook his head putting hands out in surrender.

They spoke in low tones. "Yes I have the child. You can come out now," he said.

Now the elf was wearing a cream undershirt and dark pants. "This is Flo another friend. Felicia." He introduced us.

Flo beamed. She seemed older than me, hair cropped short and had freckles all over her face. "Hey."

"Outdone it again, mage. I'm almost jealous of you."

"What? Any news?" Ilkar feigned innocence like a boy.

She slipped out a small paper roll. He read it. Flo nagged that she always got worried between correspondence. I chuckled. Hm maybe they were together. "Never been easy being with you, elf."

"Aw I'm sorry. Thank you. I appreciate everything." He whispered something to her.

When she left, it was almost on my tongue to ask. She could be trusted? When Ilkar and I reached for the jug of tea at the same time, our hands brushed. Like a lizard's skin, frigid. Huh? I studied my friend. He should be feeling warm. Unless elves had different body temperature. "Ilkar, do you want to wear another robe or cloak?"

He had his eyes closed while he enjoyed the tea. Then he ate the cereal. "I'm fine, don't worry. Not casting today."

"But, I doubt anybody will feel cold to the touch." I normally did not insist. I almost wanted to pick up a cloak and make him wear one. He smiled. "Flo knows, about me? Safe?"

"Um. She is always alert for information." Ilkar refilled my mug. I didn't know how to feel, happy that another person was helping in the business of spying, or worry about reliability. Ilkar was with his own thoughts, plainly not going to chat. Even though he did not snap at me, his tone was dreamy and distant.

"I see. You're- angry that I might be from Xetesk. And Serif being mine?"

The elf looked astonished. He had quite an expressive face, anger, happiness and hurt showed easily. "Not angry. I'm from Julatsa, we normally don't keep Familiars. Since it has bonded, it's imperative we save it soon. I knew someone's demon, when it was shot, he suffered the most terrible pain."

My heart skipped. I stopped worrying about our problem and my mind filled with panic images of what-ifs and Serif burning and so on. "I did try to call him. No answer. I don't know how to get him back. Maybe trapped."

Ilkar gave me an appraising look. "Forgive me, on the Xetesk debate. I forget your life is different and you wander around. I'm old. Is that right, didn't have one house?"

"I'm glad we're ok. Ah yes, I moved around towns, if I got into trouble, I wouldn't be able to stay. I had a mother once. She went off, and then so much fire."

He came close to pat my back. "Maybe someone is looking for you. Try not to give up, look at it this way, every person has some concern and love."

I felt teary and rubbed my eyes. "Yea. What about you? Any girls?"

"Hehe I can't count them. Among my.. friends we had some conflict… and we all acted rashly." He joked, then got sober. Ilkar busied himself with the domestic stuff like clearing the dust, and sweeping the floor. I wanted to talk with him more, but he was in his own world. Yes elves didn't look their age.

I didn't need taking care of. Somehow it would sound rude and ungrateful if I bluntly stated this. Instead I planned what to steal next, if I could get hold of some sort of treasures…. "I was thinking, of going to do research in the library today. Can you stay here?" Ilkar remarked.

What? I didn't like being cooped. "Can't I come? I'll disguise as an apprentice or something." I gestured to the other robes, though they were too long for me.

"You'd be more bored there. Why don't you try to talk to your Familiar? And maybe Flo will come by again later. I need you to pass her a message."

He selected a pale cream robe and slipped it on, which made him look even frailer with the sunlight filtering in. "Are you warm enough?" I asked. He nodded.

Flo would come in with her own key. If the knocks were very loud, I was to hide and not open the door. "Sleep and eat. With luck we can accomplish everything properly, Gods protecting…." Ilkar murmured. I told him good luck, uncertain if he heard me.


I lay down and closed my eyes. In a long silence, Serif barked. I asked, "Where are you?" He seemed to be trapped behind a barrier of some kind, an enclosed place and I was so worried. If I knew where I would get him. Serif scratched at the wall and tried again and again. "Show me." When we were on the run, Serif had remained a tiger until we reached a more crowded tavern and he had vanished. I had never tried to call him.

Instead flashes of a woman's face floated in front and I began weeping. Mother! I lost it! I'm sorry. I could not see her face clearly, instead her height was imposing and she turned away. I sat up, sweating profusely and covering my face. Why did she go? At least tell me if she was alive somewhere?

Always abandoned, always alone. I hated this feeling. I want to believe that there is love and someone waiting for me. I decided to focus on the mana thing that Ilkar spoke about.


Outside the Aranos deep forests, a battle of assassins and villains was about to come to an end. The tall elf buried the sword deep into the chest of the man. Warm blood splashed his armor and face but he did not flinch. Spinning quickly, he avoided the flying blades of the enemy. In a blur of movement the rest of them died, eyes wide open.

But he felt no hatred, nor satisfaction.