_Ch. 8_
AMIRIX
Amirix opened up her eyes to her room, and a dull pink light of dawn shining through the window. And just like last time, Tomix was in a chair next to her bed, arms crossed, head dropped onto his chest, sleeping. She half-smiled, and then remembered Zhoom. A gasp passed through her lips, and she sat up at once. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, and rose to her feet. She was quiet, so she didn't wake Tomix. She slid into her Mage's robe, and into her white slippers, and was about to leave when she remembered Tomix. She hesitantly turned, and leaned down so her face was the same level as the other's.
Amirix hesitantly, gingerly placed her right hand on the side of Tomix's face. She ran her thumb with the lightest of touches across his cheek, and her breath caught. He looked so... peaceful when he was asleep. All of his troubles, worries, horrible memories just gone.
But that didn't explain why he spent more time with her than with Riadne. But she couldn't have him because of this; he was with Riadne, and was therefore off-limits. But this didn't stop her from gently pressing her lips against his brow, under the silver hair, for just a heartbeat.
Then Amirix suddenly jerked herself upright, and quietly walked out. On her way out, she saw fresh hoofprints... had Galanoth been here? That was kind of him. She left Khadijah and Tomix in her house, and teleported herself to Serenity's inn. Of course, this was made slightly more difficult by the fact that she had lost her staff when Zhoom had saved her.
She slipped into the inn, the pink light of dawn hitting the windows. She saw Serenity at the front desk, and asked quickly, "Is Zhoom okay? Who's with him?"
"Cysero is with him," the young woman said gently. "He's still got a fever, but it went down during the night."
"Cysero?" Amirix exclaimed, her eyes going wide. "Are you sure that's wise? I mean, not that Cysero isn't great, but he excells in blowing stuff up, and-"
"I felt the same way," interrupted Serenity darkly. "But Warlic promised him he could play with as much dirty laundry as he wanted when they got home if he just got one of us if anything changed."
Amirix sighed, and murmured, "I'll go take over. Make sure he doesn't blow anything up on the way out."
"Will do."
Amirix stepped quietly into the inn room Zhoom was in, and saw that Cysero was gone. Well, that was good, at least. Now she could talk to Zhoom without worries of being overheard. She sat in the chair, and swept his black hair back from his tanned brow to feel his forehead. It did feel a bit hot, but not quite so much as yesterday.
Amirix sighed quietly, and murmured out loud to the figure, "Thank you, Zhoom. I would be dead now if it weren't for you. I... I owe you so much, and I don't think I can ever repay you. But... I don't understand. Why did you step in front of that dagger for me, at the risk of your own life? You knew it was poisoned. I know that sand elves are extremely honorable, and you are. You're one of the most honor-bound people I know, Zhoom. But... you weren't... it wasn't... You didn't have to stop that dagger, much less for me. So why? I know we've known each other for a few years, yes, but all I do is find bounties for you and sometimes help you collect them. Nothing more. And look at me, I'm an absolutely ordinary Mage-in-training. There's nothing special at all about me. So why did you risk your life for mine?"
"Because you are the very future of Lore." The unexpected reply from behind her made her whirl, her black robe swirling out behind her. She relaxed slightly when she saw only a child standing there, a teenager.
She wore burgundy pants that fit her snugly, and dark gray boots that went up to her knees. She also wore a shirt with long sleeves that flared out from her elbow on, but at her wrists were bound with a pair of gold bracelets. It was short, showing her stomach. Over the shirt she had a tight vest that didn't touch her shoulders, only her ribcage and sternum, exposing her midriff. She had large gold hoops as earrings and a crimson sash around her waist. Her eyes were the brightest green that Amirix had ever seen.
"And who are you, to be speaking such things at a young age?"
"My name's Valencia." The young teenager eyed Amirix curiously, then decided she liked what she saw. "And you're Amirix, the Black Mage."
"Pardon?" Amirix was shocked. Only fully-fledged Mages took titles; for example, Warlic was the Blue Mage, and Nythera was the Purple Mage. But she had not earned a title yet!
"I-I-I'm just Amirix, thank you very much," she stuttered. "I am not the Black Mage." Not yet, at least, a small voice told her. But you will be.
Oh, shut up, she thought to the voice irritably. But what does she know?
Valencia just threw her a dazzling smile, then darted out. Amirix followed her. She saw the teenager running down the stairs, but when she touched the ground floor she vanished.
"Did you see someone, a young girl run down here?" Amirix demanded of Serenity. But the blonde innkeeper shook her head, bewildered.
"Nobody," she said in confusion.
"I was talking to someone named Valencia," Amirix muttered irritably. "Then she vanished. Sure you didn't see her? She had short purple hair, and was a teenager."
Then Serenity's eyes widened.
"Amirix..."
"What?"
"... Valencia is a grown woman, who has a residence on the other side of the world. She's a trader of rare items, and her hair stretches down to her thighs."
"You mean... did I see someone from the past, maybe?"
Serenity shrugged. "It's possible. You know that the very top floor of the inn has spirits running amok. Perhaps it was one of them."
Amirix wasn't so sure.
_Ch. 9_
TOMIX
Tomix's eyes flew open as he felt the soundless shimmer in the air; someone was teleporting. Glancing at the bed quickly as he leapt to his feet, he saw it was empty. And Galanoth had left after being reassured that Amirix was alright. But Khadijah was still in his little bed.
But... something felt... off. Then he found it.
The dark, heavy feeling that covered his entire body when he had his Soulweaver gloves on had left part of him. His head, his face, and his chest. He touched his hand to his cheek, where it felt lighter, and a special power was brought forth. He saw what had happened to him, but from another angle.
He saw Amirix wake up, then gasp and sit up. She got straight into her Mage's robe, he saw, and then turned to him. Her face had that expression that he liked to see, but saw rarely. That curious, happy look, loving and thoughtful. She put her hand on the side of his face, gently... right where the heavy feeling had lifted. The next part made his mouth fall open slightly; she brushed his hair back from his face, studied him closely, hesitantly, and then... kissed him. Just a little peck.
Then she left, and Tomix opened his eyes.
He looked down at his Soulweaver gloves, confused. Amirix knew he was with Riadne. And she still loved him enough to kiss him. Suddenly, Tomix felt triumphant. Because he knew that she felt about him the way he felt about her. All thoughts of the whining Riadne were forgotten. He suddenly transported himself to Ravenloss, where Riadne was. She looked up when she saw him, and flew to him, and threw her arms around his middle, singing, "Tomix!"
"Riadne," he said guardedly. "Can I talk to you?"
AMIRIX
However, unbeknownst to him, Amirix had teleported down to Ravenloss right then. She saw the two, and hurriedly backed into a shadow. She knew she shouldn't eavesdrop, but there was no way of getting out of Ravenloss without him knowing now.
"Well, Riadne, here's the thing," muttered Tomix uncomfortably. "Lately you've been jumping to conclusions, and being more... you, I guess, than usual. And..." he trailed off, rolling his eyes. "Damn it, I just can't say this any other way." He met Riadne's confused gaze squarely, and growled, "To hell with you, Riadne. You're not right for me, and I think we both know that. It's over." The redhead's face turned murderous, and she shrieked nonstop at him.
"You jerk! You thrice-damned son of a jackal! I can't believe I liked you! God, how could I be so stupid, trusting an idiot Soulweaver! Gahh!" With a final shriek, Riadne stormed out of the small building, and down Dusk Alley, which would take her to the Weaving Emporium. Amirix did not see Tomix emerge from the building, and after several long minutes she gathered up the courage to go in to see him.
When she saw him, he was sitting in an old, wooden chair, his forehead resting on his clasped hands, leaned forward. His elbows were on his knees, and from her vantage point, his eyes were veiled. Even in his motionless position, Amirix could see the distress in his posture. She knew he knew she was there, but he just didn't look up. She gently placed a hand on his shoulder, and felt him trembling. He was all tensed up.
Amirix didn't know what to say to Tomix, so she simply stood behind the chair over his hunched form, one hand on his left shoulder. At the moment, she knew, no words would help anything. Quiet companionship, on the other hand, might. She knew this was hard for him, telling Riadne it was over, but she had no idea why he'd just done it.
Then again, there was no way he could know about earlier that morning, when she had kissed him. Amirix just didn't know that anyone had that kind of power, save Warlic or Nythera, perhaps. But certainly not Tomix, right?
"Tomix?" Amirix asked very gently. It was soft, only the keenest of ears could have picked it out. There was no reply. "...Are you alright?"
There was still no answer.
After nearly a half an hour, Tomix hadn't moved a muscle, and neither had Amirix. Eventually, though, Amirix had to leave Ravenloss; she had to make sure Zhoom had healed up correctly. Warlic had probably taken good care of him, but as his bounty partner she wanted to make sure; she felt almost... honor-bound, she thought one could say, to ensure he was fine.
Amirix teleported from Ravenloss to Falconreach, and learned from Serenity that Zhoom had left for the Sandsea earlier. Muttering to herself about this draining her power, Amirix teleported straight to the Sandsea, and once she had stabilized herself she glanced around. She saw a figure attempting to get up on the back of a big bay horse, then slide back down to the sand with a grunt. Shaking her head, Amirix ran lightly over to Zhoom, and gently put her hands under his left elbow. She helped him up, then he jerked his arm away from her.
"That is absolutely the last-" he cut off grunting, and a pained expression crossed his face. His hand went involuntarily to the place near his sternum where the dagger had stabbed him. His sharp intake of breath told Amirix that he was clearly in pain. "- the last time I trust you with finding a bounty," he finished, throwing her a dirty look.
"Hold still," she snapped, placing one hand with a feather-light touch on the place where the bandage stretched around his torso, and her hand began to glow bright blue again. She concentrated most of what remained of her magic power on this spot, and she heard Zhoom's breathing suddenly begin to come easier. "Better?" she asked, crossing her arms now.
"Yes," the half-sand-elf replied grudgingly. "But I'm serious, Amirix. That is the last time I trust you to find us a bounty."
"And that's just what you said the last time, when you nearly got yourself killed by undersetimating a bounty. Are you going after him again?"
"Yes, without you."
"Ooh, that's gonna leave a mark."
Zhoom just glared at her with emerald eyes, and she just watched him calmly for a moment. And then her insides began to melt. She couldn't stand against his green gaze, she really couldn't. And she began to wonder who actually could.
"Just be careful," she murmured, turning away. Amirix took a deep breath when her back was to Zhoom, and gracefully waved her arm in front of her. The Sandsea began to melt, and it solidified again into her home. Sighing heavily, she sank into a chair, and Khadijah raced over to her. She tapped his nose, and he growled playfully. She pulled her hand back in surprise for a moment, then realized that Khadijah's voicebox was getting a little bigger. Not to mention his body, as well- he was nearly the size of a small boar now, or a large dog, like a German Shepherd. These were Amirix's favorite type of dog. She tapped Khadijah's nose again now, and he let out a small growl of pleasure.
"What am I going to do, Khadijah?" she asked quietly. There was no reply.
