I know, I know. It's too short. -.- I wanted to give you guys a really quick update, because life for me is going to be complete and utter hell for the next two to three weeks. Just a heads up, because you know I love y'all. ^^"

Oh! I accidentally forgot in the last chapter to quote where I got a particular line from, so I'm doing it here. Some of you might have seen Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows. THAT is where I quoted from. ^^ I'm sorry I forgot to cite it. If you haven't seen the movie, I highly recommend you do. It's EXCELLENT.

In any case, quick review responses. And have I ever mentioned how amazingly grateful I am to look in my email inbox and see "New Review" in there? I love reading all your comments, especially since most are good. ^^

Thunder of Life: Yeah, no more microscope. For now.
"Strained relationship" I believe would be an understatement. Magiya has never really had any people skills… she just didn't mess with the people who didn't like her personality. -.-" And I'll agree with you, she can be a real piece of work when she wants to be.
And you're right, in reality I love horses, you can't tear me away from them. I thought that having a character hate them for once would be a nice change. -w- Thanks so much for reviewing again!

Kirei Ryuusei: Yeah, the movie was fantastic, wasn't it? X3 I think the pony part might have been my favorite bit. Only, Magiya wasn't riding a Shetland Pony; she was riding a 16.3 hh horse… of some type. I'm not sure of the breed, but I'm not sure it's really relevant for the story. O.o Glad you enjoyed!

ImInvisibleForNow: Yeah, Artix is a character, isn't he? X3 I'm glad you like the pairing, I do too. ^^
Hi there, nice to meet you. :)
I tried to steer away from the cliché crap in this story, and I agree, it makes it so much more of a pleasure to read!
And of course, querida! Why wouldn't I continue it, I love it too! How did you know the things I dream/drool over? O.O *nabs chainsaws and throws chapter in the air* CATCH!

Two weeks passed.

It was still late summer, of course; that didn't change. But while the days stayed warm and comfortable, the nights began to grow unusually cold. Leaves hadn't yet started to fall from the trees around my small house, even though many of them had begun to turn glorious shades of gold, amber, scarlet, and burgundy. In short, the season was beginning to finally shift towards autumn.

However, despite all the chaos from the Moonridge battle being over and done with, my studies weren't going much better. Until my mind had cleared and was settled enough for me to focus on the task at hand, Warlic had tasked me with creating the right combination of resources and ingredients from books to create a sort of spell or potion that would allow one to alter the temperature of the air surrounding them in a small radius. This was proving exceedingly difficult for me, seeing as I was unable to concentrate on what I was doing in favor of just reflecting on what the past couple weeks had brought.

"Magiya!"

I was roughly jerked out of my reverie by the sound of my mentor's sharp tone, and my head shot up from where it had been resting on my arms on top of the book of spells. My sudden awakening caused my hand to accidentally bump a vial of sinister-looking, bubbling, toxic-green liquid, resulting in it falling from the table. However, just as it was about to hit the stone floor of Warlic's tower, I caught it at the last second. That was when I saw the hem of the dark blue robe and the feet.

Grimacing, I lifted my face to see Warlic's frustrated amethyst gaze, and internally groaned as I replaced the small green bottle, preparing myself for the newest lecture. One that you deserve, my subconscious muttered snidely.

"I don't know what else could possibly be occupying your head right now," he began sternly, "But this has to stop."

"I know," I murmured, cradling my head in my hands. "I'm sorry, I'm trying, I really am—"

"I don't need excuses," he cut off quietly, before pausing and moving his hand around me to close the book resting on the table in front of me. "If you are unable to apply yourself properly, these lessons will have to come to an end until you can." Warlic was well-known for being unusually blunt, but this was only the third time it had ever been directed at me. At least it stung enough to clear my head a little bit.

Without another word, knowing anything I said now would only make it worse, I rose from the simple wooden chair, bowed my head to him as was customary, then left the tent… tower? I'm not sure. I know the tent was a portal to the tower Warlic shared with Cysero, but I wasn't sure what to call it. Oh well.

Upon emerging into the blinding sunlight, I felt strangely warm fur winding around my lower legs, and sighed forlornly, dropping my left hand onto my Pridemaster's head.

"C'mon, Kai," I murmured, taking the first step that would lead me to the portal at the edge of Warlic's field. "Let's go home." My pet and friend turned his emerald-colored, expressive cat eyes on me, and I sensed he was after an explanation. But then, he was just an animal. For all I knew, maybe he was just reacting to the sound of my voice. "I can't… concentrate. I can't focus. And I don't know why!" The last word was lost in the portal as I stepped through. Though, that wasn't exactly true, I realized unwillingly. I knew why I couldn't put my mind to my studies… I just didn't want to think about it. I didn't want to think his name.

Once I was on the other side of the portal and in Falconreach, I ran a hand through my hair in frustration.

"What am I going to do, Kai?" I pleaded, almost as though expecting an answer. All I got in reply from my pet was a green-eyed stare. "I know, I know" I muttered under my breath. "I need to… keep busy. Yeah. Distract myself." As I spoke, I began a quick, determined stride down the main road of Falconreach, heading for home. As with every other time I walked this lane, there were inevitably people who recognized me, and called out in greeting. As with before, I paid them no mind.

That won't work, though, the part of my mentality I was constantly wanting to murder said in a singsong tone. You already tried that with Warlic and your training; and you saw how well that went.

I growled inadvertently to myself, just walking faster. Kai, of course, had no trouble with keeping up. Physically, he was much stronger than I was. Then again, that shouldn't come as much of a surprise; almost everything was stronger than I was without my magic. My fury continued to rise, only going higher and higher, and I finally broke into a flat-out sprint, running as fast as I could. My feet hit the ground in a rhythmic one-two pattern, and my irritation at that led back to the first time I had inadvertently encountered Krieger, who was the one who had put me in this position. The one-two pattern of his feet on the floor of the Hydra cave…

No. I can't think about this. I can't think about him.

I must have made the journey from the portal to my small cottage in record time, with my anger spurring me on. It wasn't anger at Warlic at all. Nor was it completely at my impossibly short attention span (although that may have been part of it). No, it was him. Why did he have to be the thing my incessantly moving mind supplied to ponder when I was bored!

I burst through the door of my house, and the very end of Kai's tail had just barely made it through the doorway when I slammed it as hard as I could behind him, almost seeing red. A non-silent rumble of a growl made me stop, though. My eyes slid sideways and down to meet the nearly lit-up gaze of my Pridemaster, and when I saw his emerald eyes, all of my anger drained out of me like a plug had been pulled. If I didn't know better, I would swear my close friend and pet was telling me to calm the fuck down.

With a frustrated groan, I flattened my back against the now-closed door, looking up at the ceiling as I sank to the floor. I allowed my staff to clatter to the wooden planks that made the floor of my house at my side as I cradled my head in my hands and curled my legs up in front of my face.

"What am I supposed to do, Kai?" I whispered hopelessly, looking at him out of the corner of one dark blue eye. "I can't get him out of my head, and I hate him."

No you don't, my subconscious murmured gently. You do care for him. Now show it and apologize.

"But I can't find him!" I wailed, my eyes watering as Kai simply sat at my feet, just watching me.

Talk to others, Magiya. Find him. Someone is bound to know where he is.

"Would he even want to see me, though?" I sniffled, hating the tears starting to slowly leak down my cheeks. I was sure that by now, my face was red and blotchy, and that just had me burying my face in my arms in humiliation. "I insulted him last time I saw him! He—he hates me!"

He'll forgive you, it's how he operates, my consciousness consoled softly. He can't hold much of a grudge against anybody, much less you. He likes you.

"Not anymore," I said shakily, scrubbing the heel of my left hand across my eyes to get rid of any trace of tears. It mostly worked, but fresh ones continued to flow. "After… that… he hates me now. I went to try and find him so I could bring him to Elysia, like she asked, but he saw me and he left! He doesn't even want to look at me."

Mentally, I saw my better self throw its hands up in the air in frustration. I'll be back later when you're being a little more sensible. Don't do anything stupid!

"No guarantees," I muttered dispiritedly, rubbing at my eyes again. I pulled my flat shoes off and tucked my toes under my pet's warm fur as I sat against the door, and rested my arms on my knees. Occasionally, I would sniff, just aftereffects of the crying. I ran a hand through my dark hair. "Damn that man," I murmured without any real anger; if anything, I sounded… hopeless. "Why did he have to pick me to harass?"

As usual, Kai didn't answer.

I DID WARN YOU. This was short, and just to show you how torn up Magiya is... and how she's not smart enough to figure that out.

But I wanted to give y'all something to sink your teeth into before I have to go offline for a couple weeks… School's getting a little crazy. -.-" Again.

Anyway.

Hope you all have a good week, and I wish you all well until the next chapter. Thanks for hanging in there.

Juliet